I’m allergic to myself, in theory. Being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and later Hashimoto’s hasn’t been a walk in the park.  My entire body is at the mercy of my thyroid from weight loss to extreme fatigue.  My body immune system is attacking my thyroid  gland – as if it was foreign tissue and my immune systems ultimate goal is to eventually , completely destroy my thyroid gland.

Some days It seemed that I  could muster up enough energy to take a shower, put on clean night clothes and lay back down in bed for the rest of the day watching Netflix on my days off from work.

I  have tried it all from calorie counting, intermittent fasting, exercising every single day, not eating past a certain time, crash diets, starvation, low calorie diets and most importantly having unrealistic expectations.

I didn’t know that by eating a lower calorie diet this caused my body to become deficient in macro and micronutrients and inadvertently sending my body  a message that I may be in famine therefore for my body to protect itself from dying it slowed down my metabolism in an effort to run on fewer calories to make sure that I didn’t starve. Which of course made my weight loss even harder and I was literally fighting against my own self.

Mentally I was exhausted from putting myself under so much pressure to be that thin girl again that I was before this disorder drastically changed my life. My weight seemed out of control  and I was certainly struggling with it all.

When a person has hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s losing weight isn’t about self control, hard work, or willpower it’s about self love, rest, addressing digestive issues ( leaky gut), finding out what nutritional deficiencies you may have, not punishing your body with to much exercise , fixing adrenal fatigue, avoiding Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals,  adding needed supplements, addressing any  food allergies, removing inflammatory foods, getting plenty of sleep,  staying hydrated and eating real nutrient based foods that heal your body. You see our bodies need the proper nutrients to heal and thrive.

I stopped trying to lose weight and started to gain my health back by doing the needed things that above.

Let’s go over way you can start to regain your health back.

1.How do you avoid Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals?

Reduce Your Toxic Burden

These are commonly found in items like antibacterial soap, deodorant, lotions, and makeup. These things are poisonous. Your skin is the largest organ in the body. Whatever you put on your skin goes into your body. I can’t preach this enough. If you can’t eat it, then don’t apply it to your skin. I understand this might not be 100% doable but every little bit helps your body. Everyday we are exposed to a huge number of chemical toxins without our own doing. It’s in our water,  the pollution in our air,  the insecticides and herbicides that are is sprayed on our food and the chemicals that are spray on our lawns.

Environmental chemicals and toxins, pesticides, BPA, thyroid endocrine disruptors, iodine imbalance, other medications, fluoride, overuse of soy products, cigarette smoking, and gluten intolerance. All of these play a very important role in your thyroid health. A nonprofit group called Beyond Pesticides warns that some 60 percent of pesticides used today have been shown to affect the thyroid gland’s production of T3 and T4 hormones. Commercially available insecticides and fungicides have also been involved. Even dental x-rays have been linked to an increased risk of thyroid disorders.

Homemade Deodorant

3 tbsp virgin coconut oil
2 tbsp shea butter
3 tbsp baking soda
2 tbsp cornstarch
5 drops essential oil of  your choice

Mix baking soda and arrowroot together. Melt your coconut oil & shea butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Mix all ingredients (the baking soda and arrowroot powder) with the oil. Pour into clean small mason jar. Add your essential oil to the mason jar; close with the lid. Give it a good shake to combine the essential oil with the other mixture. By doing it this way, you can still use that bowl to eat with.  Once you mix that essential oil in the bowl, it can only be used for the purpose of making your deodorant. Everything you’ve used is edible except the essential oils. Let cool.

Natural Peppermint Toothpaste

1/2 cup coconut oil

3 Tablespoons of baking soda

15 drops of peppermint food grade essential oil

Melt to soften the coconut oil. Mix in other ingredients and stir well. Place your mixture into small glass jar. Allow it to cool completely. When ready to use just dip toothbrush in and scrape small amount onto bristles.

** Start making  your own all natural Cleaning Supplies.

If you are needing a book with all natural recipes click on this link and order a kindle or paperback version. Awareness has Magic: Creating a Healthy Hypothyroidism Mind, body and Spirit Home life

A Women’s Holistic Holy Grail Handbook for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s: How I healed my Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Disorder with Personalized Nutrition

Poisoned Profit

Lets talk about doing that right now…
Here are several tips you can start doing today to ACTIVELY avoid  these chemicals that are likely interfering with your thyroid function:
​1. Stop Touching Receipts
Receipts have Bisphenol-A (a known thyroid blocker) that is absorbed through the skin whenever you touch one. From here on out ask the cashier to put the receipt in the bag.
​2. Drink out of Glass Containers/Cups
Avoid plastic containers, Water bottles and Canned foods. These contain BPA and/or Aluminum.
3. Drink Filtered Water Only:
Get a reverse osmosis filter for your home if possible. But remember that ANY filter is better than no filter, so just get something.
4. Avoid Plastic Whenever Possible
This means plastic toys, food stored in plastic, food wrapped in plastic, etc. And never reheat or microwave food stored in plastic (this causes more chemicals to leach out).
5. ​Say No to Hand-me-Down Plastic Toys
Soft rubber manufactured before 2009 is made with Phthalates (another known thyroid blocker). This would be things like rubber duckies, not hard legos made of plastic.
​6. Eat Organic Food and Grass-Fed Meats, if you Tolerate Dairy Make Sure it is Organic or Fermented
Or better yet just ditch the dairy because it’s probably causing inflammation in your body. But at least make sure to buy organic whenever you can.
7. Avoid Fragrance
If you see the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the label, run the other way. This is code word for Phthalates.
8. ​Check your Cosmetics for Chemicals
Use the resource Skin Deep by the Environmental Working Group to grade your cosmetics based on how many hidden chemicals they have.

In my book Awareness has Magic, I will teach you have to how to blend oils and natural scents where you can make body butters, lip balms, rose water, body butters, anti-aging facial creams, shampoo’s, detox baths, Vanilla grapefruit linen spray, Kombucha deodorant, toothpastes, non-toxic cleaning recipes and many, many other wonderful things.
Not to mention YOU’LL ALSO LEARN ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND RECIPES.
Awareness has Magic: Creating a Healthy Hypothyroidism Mind, body and Spirit Home life

Homemade Anti-Aging Face Cream
Makes about ½ cup (lasts about 3 months)
Ingredients
¼ cup almond oil or jojoba oil ( find jojoba oil here)
2 tablespoons coconut oil ( find coconut oil here)
2 tablespoons beeswax ( find beeswax here)
½ teaspoon vitamin E oil ( find vitamin E here)
1 tablespoon shea butter ( find shea butter here)

1/2 teaspoon Maluka honey ( find maluka honey here)
2 drops of organic lemon essential oil ( find lemon essential oil here)
Directions
Place all ingredients in a glass jar. Bring a pot filled about 3-4 inches with water to a simmer. Put the jar, without its lid, in the pot, and let it sit there until the ingredients have melted. Stir occasionally. Once the mixture has melted and all is evenly combined, pour it into a small glass jar. Let it sit at room temperature until the cream hardens, close the jar’s lid, and store in a cool place. Apply morning and night after washing.

2.How do you practice self love when your body doesn’t love you back?

Start educating yourself about your disorder.

Practice healthy habits like eating nutrient based foods and exercising regularly

Making time to take care of yourself and do activities you enjoy — whether it’s doing yoga, meditating, gardening, reading a good book, or socializing with friends — this can help relieve stress associated with managing a chronic condition like hypothyroidism.

Practice positive self-talk. Be gentle and encouraging in your thoughts to yourself. Stop the self hatred. There is only one your and love who you are. If there is something about yourself you want to improve then great. Work on that.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that positive thinking can lead to an optimistic outlook on life and has many health benefits, including decreased depression, better psychological and physical well-being, and improved coping skills in tough times.
Join a support group. Surround yourself with people who understand what you’re going through can help you that you are not alone and can help guard against feelings of isolation.

A 30 Day Hypothyroidism Self Love & Advice Challenge That You Can do That Will Actually Work!

3. Fix your gut 

4.Address Food sensitivities

Food allergies 

If you allergic to certain foods it is will involve your the immune system. Your know that your immune system controls how your body defends itself. Your body see’s inflammatory foods as invaders and will kick in your autoimmunity responses.  For example if you have a food allergy to cow’s milk, your immune system will see cow’s milk as an invader. In-return your immune system overreacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing an allergic reaction to start fighting for your body. Being tested for food allergies seems to be easiest way to check to see if you have any food allergies so you can start avoiding these foods and help your immune system become strong again.

Avoiding Food Allergens*

Many people are unaware that certain foods are actually working against their bodies. You should see a specialist and be tested to ensure you have no food allergies. Your lymphatic system can also be affected by your gut. If your gut is inflamed and not healed this is taxing on your immune system which in return is taxing on your lymphatic system. Consider adding prebiotics and probiotics to help support gut health along with eating properly and avoiding these common food allergens. In this book, you will find all the recipes have been created and catered around these common food allergens along with being Keto. I’ve taken them out. After 1 month you can slowly add some back in and see how you react. This certainly wasn’t an easy task but one that I am most proud of. 

Common food allergens that can contribute to an inflamed gut are:

Nightshades

Eggs

Grains (gluten)

Dairy

Legumes

Corn

Soy

Dairy

lectins 

You can find great inflammation and recipes in my book Beyond the Bite: The Keto Autoimmune Protocol Healing Book for Women. 

5.Start Supporting my Adrenal Glands

Your adrenals produce over 50 hormones that tell almost every bodily function what they need to be doing. These hormones affect every function, organ and tissue in the body. Eating refined foods and sugars will cause a spike in your blood sugar levels, which in return cause the body to release insulin and as a result the adrenal glands will release more cortisol. When your adrenal glands are compromised this puts your body in a catabolic state. Which means your body is breaking down. Since your thyroid glands controls the metabolic activity of the body, it will attempt to slow down the catabolic state by slowing down your metabolism. Many of the foods that I had been eating blocked nutrients from being absorbed such as whole grain bread, beans and tofu/soy products. These foods also created inflammation in my digestive tract. When there is inflammation in the digestive system undigested proteins leak into the blood stream creating a heightened immune reaction that often exacerbates thyroid issues. I had to focus more on eating the most nutrient dense foods possible and find my trigger food sensitivities. lastly, eliminate all processed food, high carbohydrates, gluten, corn, soy and sugar, plan meals around protein and healthy fats then load up my plate with vegetables.

I had to start eating  nutrient-dense foods that were  easy to digest and have healing qualities such as

• Coconut
• homemade bone broth
• grass fed meats
• pastured meats
• wild game
• pastured organ meats
• natural fats such as coconut oil
• grass fed butter/ghee
• full fat grass fed dairy
• mineral rich Himalayan sea salt
• wild fish
• Olives
• Avocado
• Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.) Cooked…. (Limit 2x week)
• Fatty fish (e.g., wild-caught salmon)
• Organic hormone free Chicken and turkey
• Seeds, such as raw pumpkin, chia seeds and flax seeds
• Kelp and seaweed
• Celtic or Himalayan sea salt
• fermented foods
• leafy greens
• Nitrate free bacon
• Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds
• Coconut Flour, Almond Flour , hemp seeds and Chia seeds
• ghee
• bone broth

6.Reduce your inflammation

Chronic inflammation can spread and have more harmful effects than just one area in your body. Your body can experience things like higher blood pressure , allergies, create autoimmune issues, experience joint pain, cause heart problems, harmful swelling, bone loss, it can lower your iron levels and it just have a negative impact on your entire well-being. Did you know that chronic inflammation can also raise your reverse T3, which means this might be the reason why your hypothyroidism was created in the 1st place. We must get the inflammation under control. Cut out foods like gluten, sugar, refined carbs, fake foods, soy, and vegetable oils and add in fresh whole fruits, healthy fats and fiber. Start creating your own body lotions and cleaning supplies.

Turmeric Curcumin with Ginger & Bioperine – Best Vegan Joint Pain Relief, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant & Anti-Aging Supplement with 10mg of Black Pepper for Better Absorption. 100% Natural Non-GMO

In all honesty,  there is no one “best” way to lose weight — what works for you might not work for someone else.  Understand that you’re worth more than others perception of you, and that weight is literally just a number. You are so much more than just a illness.

What tests should I have ran for my thyroid?

I don’t know where to start.”

Hang in there. This wont happen overnight.

I know, there is so much information overload that most people are confused as to where to start.  You can start by taking ownership of your health. I wanted you to understand or get a idea of how everything has a part to play in your body. I am on a  path to help you, lead you and inform you through this terrible illness. Being diagnosed with hypothyroidism isn’t just here take this pill and it will fix your issues. Hypothyroidism has a root cause. Once you start addressing the root of your problems then your body can start healing itself. Your body is an awesome design but there is a complex balance between everything. It’s a domino affect. If you have something in your body that is overworked  it will cause a major shift in your body. Don’t worry the good news is it can be healed.

I want to thank you  for reading my latest blog.  Please let me know if you need any support with it. 

Otherwise, are we friends on Facebook yet?  If not let’s do that now, healing Hypothyroidism.   I like to connect on a more personal level there and often; offer social media only products that can only be accessed on my page and share daily updates along with recipes. Remember sharing is caring. Please share and post a comment to this blog! I would love to hear from you. Sign up for my blogs @ thehypothyroidismchick.com .  You can also  Follow me on instagram @ Thyroidismchick or Follow me on twitter @Thyroidismchick.

Health and Happiness,

references:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18617080  40

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23229890  41

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23308399   47

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24913496   48

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/weight-loss-mistakes#section2

https://www.livescience.com/52992-weight-loss-safely-be-healthy.html

https://www.webmd.com/women/hashimotos-thyroiditis-symptoms-causes-treatments#1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950

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