A recent study published in the Journal of Hepatology found dietary and herbal supplements lead to liver damage 20 percent of the time.

“While many Americans believe supplements to be safe, government regulations (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994) require less safety evidence to market products than what is required for conventional pharmaceuticals” Dr. Victor Navarro, lead study author from Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, said in a press release. “With less stringent oversight for herbals and dietary supplements, there is greater potential for harmful consequences including life-threatening conditions.””

From 2004 to 2013, Navarro and fellow researchers examined the hepatotoxicity levels in 839 patients suffering from liver injury, focusing specifically on whether levels were a result of taking supplements or medications. Hepatotoxicity is essentially chemically-driven liver damage.

Injuries From Supplements has Risen 20% in 10-Year Study

Which products caused liver damage?

The 2017 US supplement market is worth an estimated 36 billion dollars. With such a massive industry comes various companies, products, and ingredient combinations. This can make it hard to track down exactly which products are causing health issues. According to a more recent 2017 study in Hepatology, many liver injuries have been associated with bodybuilding agents, green tea extract, and products containing multiple ingredients. From a total of 130 reported cases of liver injury, 45 were attributed to bodybuilding agents, which are thought to be illegally adulterated with anabolic steroids. The remaining 85 cases not associated with bodybuilding agents were attributed to various subcategories. These include single or multiple named herbal products (eg. black cohosh, green tea, kratom), traditional herbal mixtures (eg. Chinese or Ayurvedic herbs), vitamin or mineral or dietary supplement (eg. niacin or multivitamins), and products with multiple ingredients. The products with multiple ingredients accounted for a majority (68%) of the 85 cases. They included product names such as “Slimquick,” “Herbalife,” “Hydroxycut,” and “Move Free.” Unfortunately assessing which ingredients caused the liver damage in the first place is hard, as the products in question contained anywhere from 3 to 20 different ingredients.

Talk to Your Doctor About Your Supplements and Do Your Own Research

Natural vs. Synthetic?

Have you read any articles lately on  FAKE supplements being sold at Walmart, GNC, and others? The question to ask is, “Are ALL supplements the same?” Absolutely NOT! The kind of vitamin supplement or nutritional supplement that a person may need depends on thei diet.  It is always best to get your vitamins (as well as minerals) naturally from foods.

Did  you know that a 100 grams of spinach has healthy amounts of vitamins A, C, E, K, several B vitamins, and essential minerals including iron and calcium.

Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins – What’s the Big Difference?

Vitamins are little organic molecules we need, but we can’t make them or at least we have a hard time making them ourselves. We must rely on our food to keep us stocked with these essential nutrients, but our food is getting less and less nutritious. Fields are depleted by overuse. Pesticides limit the action of beneficial microbes in the soil that help plants draw in nutrients. Fertilizers focus on certain key chemicals and don’t take into account all the trace minerals, organic components, or beneficial microbes that go into good nutrition. And genetically modified foods have made their way into our food supply when we don’t know how they may affect us in the long term.

We refine and process our food so it lasts longer, is more convenient, tastes better, and is even made to be more addictive. We strip out and destroy vital nutrients as we process them. Much of the food we find in grocery stores outside the produce section barely resembles what humanity has been eating for thousands of years. There’s no wonder we have so many auto-immune disorders, food allergies, and growing epidemics of obesity. Our bodies don’t know what we’re ingesting, they aren’t finding the nutrients they need, and they’re begging for us to eat more and more so we might manage to give ourselves what we’re missing.

We all know we need a steady supply of vitamins and minerals so our bodies can function properly. Scientists, doctors, and food companies agree too, so they create cheap vitamins in labs, fortify our foods and beverages with them, and dump them into multivitamins. The problem is these synthetic vitamins are not what our bodies are looking for either

Almost all multivitamins are from synthetics. The same goes for fortified foods. There’s a good reason for this. Synthetic vitamins are cheaper to make and usually more stable. This means they can last on shelves for months or years, be added to foods in high doses, and create small dense tablets packed with insane amounts of every type of vitamin. These vitamins are allowed to call themselves “natural” even when they are actually synthetic because scientists say the synthetics are virtually identical to the ones found in food.

Best Natural Vitamins | Sunwarrior Vitamins for Women, Men & Liquid Vitamins

Sunwarrior Raw Vegan Multivitamins and Enzymes for Him, 90 Capsules

We know that vitamins and minerals are essential for life, and vitamin deficiencies can definitely hurt you. Always read your labels and stay clear of supplements that contain artificial colorings, sodium benzoate, propylene glycol, aluminum silicate and High fructose corn syrup.

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Natural Vitality Organic Life Vitamins, Raspberry Cranberry, 30 FL. OZ

Garden of Life mykind Organics Prenatal Multi, 180 Organic Tablet

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Kids, 60 Chewable

What to do if I have a mineral or vitamin deficiency?

First of all, let me say that I support you changing your food patterns and getting what your body is lacking through the consumption of whole organic foods if at all possible. I am in no way trying to “sell” you any vitamin supplements or as I like to call some vitamins, “expensive urine” but if for some reason, if you can’t get what you need through organic whole foods then I want you to be smart about what you are swallowing and not wasting your money on what will ultimately turn into “expensive urine”.     

This is really a difficult topic to cover because we are all ‘again” not created the same.

In order to get the correct daily dosage is not like as simple as putting gas in your tank. You just simply can’t swallow a pill and call it a day. A recommendation is just that a recommendation. What you may need from the absorption rates, elimination rates, assessing what the vitamin or mineral even does in your body can mean something totally different to you verses the next person that is given the same recommendation. It seems we may be getting just enough to survive but it’s not unreasonable to get enough to thrive! We must pay attention to our diet and blood work, add extra to what we need and pay major attention to what we are lacking.

 For example, if you are low on Vitamin D.

The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is 600 IU of vitamin D per day from foods and closer to 1,000 IU per day from sunlight.

There are three ways to get vitamin D. 1. The most natural way would be exposing your bare skin to sunlight like your arms, legs and face for 20 minutes (No, you do NOT need sunscreen. I absolutely urge you to look at your sunscreen ingredients and see how harmful the ingredients are actually. There are plenty of natural way to make sunscreen or several companies who make great organic sunscreen. I prefer to just apply raw, unrefined, organic coconut oil) 2. Taking a quality vitamin D3 supplement. 3. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin D such as

Cod liver oil — 1 teaspoon has 453 IU of vitamin D

Wild Alaskan Salmon — 3 ounces has 447 IU

Tuna — 3 ounces has 154 IU

Sardines — 2 fillets have 46 IU

Pasture Raised Eggs — 1 large egg has 41 IU

Mushrooms — 1 cup has 2 IU

(Mushrooms are a nightshade. In this book, I urge you to avoid nightshades but I only showed this as an example of foods that are high in vitamin D. Later in the book, I will go into more detail about the foods that will cater to healing your thyroid along with recipes)  

 Not all vitamins and mineral supplements are created equal.

This is what I mean when I say. “expensive urine”.

I am sure there are many companies who sell quality vitamins but I’ve found that Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women – Vitamin Code Women’s Raw Whole Food Vitamin Supplement with Probiotics work best for me because a women’s body is very complex. The company promises that this vitamin has no fillers or binders, it’s made from raw whole foods and nothing synthetic (made from fake chemicals acting like the real thing). This multivitamin also has live probiotics and enzymes plus antioxidants. It is also gluten and dairy free which are issues with people with hypothyroidism and food intolerances. 

This vitamin hits all areas of my female body.  It’s a comprehensive vitamin for breast health, reproductive health, bone strength, skin health, heart health, and digestive support.

Yes, I may sound as if I am advertising for them but I can assure you I am not and I get no kickbacks if you decide to purchase the same brand that I use. I am only sharing with you what I use and why I use it. How would they even know that you purchased their product because I wrote it in my book? There is no way that this company even knows that am on this planet.

When you are searching for a quality vitamin and mineral supplement to take please make sure it’s not filled with fake crap and has no hidden fillers, binders, gluten, soy lecithin, palm oil, basically read the fine print and make sure there are no hidden added extra things. Also, make sure it has everything your body needs for that extra support that you might not be getting with your food intake. I also like to read the reviews that other people have written about the product that tends to help me make my decision as well.

Whatever your body is lacking you can always google, if you don’t have access to the internet at home, you can freely go to the nearest library and do a little research to see what you need to do the adjustments to whatever you are lacking and begin to build it back up again. There is no reason for you not to have access to the most powerful information tool created in the history of mankind. I am referring to the internet along with search engine tools such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, Internet Archive, Baidu, Ask.com, Yandex.ru and DuckDuckGo.   

I also found it beneficial for me to fast before my blood work. I wouldn’t have anything to eat or drink other than water for 8 to 10 hours before my test. Fasting helps ensure that the blood test records an accurate measurement of many things. If I was checking to see if I had a vitamin or mineral deficiency. I also would skip out on taking any mineral/vitamins supplements for several days so my body could be accurately measured to what it is holding on too or what it is truly lacking. 

You see my friend, you certainly don’t want your blood work test results could come back flawed, leading to the wrong diagnosis and treatment.

*** Always check with your Primary Care Physician for approval to fast prior to fasting for your blood work***

Would you like to read more on mineral or vitamin deficiency? ? Click on the link below and order my book.

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

Another good read is 7 reasons to stay away from soy.  Click on the link to read more.

What is soy lecithin and why you should avoid it? (NaturalNews – S. D. Wells) Soy lecithin is one of the most ubiquitous additives in the American food supply. It’s used mostly as an emulsifier, and it pops up in everything from chocolate and salad dressings to tea bags and supplements. If you ask any allopathic doctor in the country, they always say the same thing about food toxins — “there’s not enough in there to cause concern,” or “a little bit is not going to hurt you.” Oh, but it most certainly does. When you add it all up — all those GMOs and little, extra-processed, toxic “additives and preservatives” — you end up with cancer, unless of course you learn to watch out not only for the big killers but the seemingly “innocent” little ones too. A thousand tiny arrows will kill you, just like one or two big ones, my friends. To read more about this article please  Click on this link .

Audrey Childers is a published author, blogger, freelance journalist and an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in research and editorial writing. She is also the creator and founder of the website the hypothyroidismchick.com. Where you can find great tips on everyday living with hypothyroidism. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. She is the published author of : A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty, Reset your Thyroid, The Ultimate guide to healing hypothyroidism and  A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty: the slow cooker way. You can find all these books on Amazon.   This blog may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.

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.

Sometimes we have to do a little pruning of the branches, in order for the tree to be healthy again. A number of things can be the reason why you have hormonal imbalances, food intolerances, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, personality changes, leaky gut, depression, an autoimmune disorder, chronic pain, no metabolism and low sex drive, bloating, anxiety, menstrual problems and infertility. It starts with becoming aware and how your health can be influenced by many different circumstances.
How would you define good health? Logically one would define good health as absence of a disease or following some sort of ground rules that avoid developing a disease. This book can help you begin to understand what a Keto Autoimmune protocol is and start guiding you in the redevelopment and healing of your body. You will begin to understand how to fix your gut, strengthen your immunity and fight inflammation with an autoimmune approach. The Keto AIP removes all the common inflammatory food triggers that stimulate a possible autoimmune reaction in the body. Along with helping to reset those adrenals, boosting that energy and doing a little ass kicking to those hormones that have decided to act like a wild college student and pull an all-nighter the day before final exams.
Your health doesn’t have to be a difficult situation but a positive realization that things need to change. This new lifestyle change has many parts to it and I hope you will embrace not only the physical but the spiritual awakening. Common food intolerances that are known to trigger inflammation are eliminated in this Keto AIP protocol are Nightshades, Eggs, Grains (gluten), Dairy, Legumes, Corn, Soy, Dairy and lectins.

The Keto Autoimmune Protocol Healing Book for Women: Strengthen Your Immunity, Fight Inflammation and Love Your Incredible Body

Poisoned Profit

Thehypothyroidismchick.com is dedicated to covering health and science news that matters most to our generation. We cover a wide range of stories, but ultimately we are driven by two core values: first, to contribute to our readers’ understanding of what is a very complex and constantly changing field of information, and second, to keep in mind the ultimate “smell test” — we want our stories to be the kind of things you talk about at a bar with your friends. Thehypothyroidismchick.com determines coverage based on relevance, clinical significance, and editorial integrity. We give no priority to commercial considerations, and will always clearly distinguish between factual content, commentary, and opinions to avoid misleading readers with institutional propaganda and speculation.

Disclaimer

The information and recipes contained in blog is based upon the research and the personal experiences of the author. It’s for entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. By reading this blog, the reader agrees that under no circumstance the author is not responsible for any loss, direct or indirect, which are incurred by using this information contained within this blog. Including but not limited to errors, omissions or inaccuracies. This blog is not intended as replacements from what your health care provider has suggested.  The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, preparations or procedures discussed in this blog. All matters pertaining to your health should be supervised by a health care professional. I am not a doctor, or a medical professional. This blog is designed for as an educational and entertainment tool only. Please always check with your health practitioner before taking any vitamins, supplements, or herbs, as they may have side-effects, especially when combined with medications, alcohol, or other vitamins or supplements.  Knowledge is power, educate yourself and find the answer to your health care needs. Wisdom is a wonderful thing to seek.  I hope this blog will teach and encourage you to take leaps in your life to educate yourself for a happier & healthier life. You have to take ownership of your health.

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