Tag: Hashimoto

AbsoImmune

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

Check out “Dr. E’s Choice” website:

To boost your immune system, my functional medicine provider just recommended the AbsoImmune. It has 20% off this week so I purchased 3 bottles (6 months’ supply).

http://www.doctorestore.com

I conquered cold-like symptoms this past week. I bet I will do much better taking this supplement moving forward.

The AbsoImmune has 600 mg. Vitamin C, 62.5 mg. (2,500 IU) Vitamin D, 25 mg. Zinc (as Albion Minerals Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate), 600 mg. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine USP, and 250 mg. Quercetin Dihydrate.

“I had a successful medical consultation earlier today.” Adriana

The medical consultation actually lasted for approximately 30 minutes. It pays off to do research and read independently! Don’t google medical information. I would visit the local library and check out books that may be related to your medical concerns. In the past three months, I have read about the gut, adrenal gland, immunity, autoimmune condition (Hashimoto) and I am currently reading about body’s inflammation (the leading cause for cancer, Alzheimer’s and other chronic illnesses).

“I had so many educated questions. I was quite overwhelmed at the end of today’s visit.”

(Note, this is health information, not health advice)

Twelve Markers on a Thyroid Panel

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

I was hearing a podcast a couple of weeks ago and learned more about the twelve markers on a thyroid panel. There are more than twenty-two types of dysfunctions of the thyroid when a thyroid panel is done.

These markers are the following:

a) TSH,

b) Total T4,

c) Total T3,

d) Free 4,

e) Free 3,

f) T3 uptake,

g) Free Thyroxine Index (FTI),

h) Thyroid-Binding Globulin,

i)TPO antibodies,

j) Thyroid Globulin antibodies,

k) Reverse T3, and

l) Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin.

When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto condition, the functional medicine provider had requested the TSH, T3, T4, TPO antibodies and the Thyroid Globulin antibodies. If I’m not mistaken, the Hashimoto’s markers are both the TPO antibodies and the thyroid globulin antibodies.

It is my understanding that a great deal of people may be diagnosed with hypothyroism but traditional doctors may or may not test for Hashimoto condition.

Since our thyroid is being attacked and possibly getting destroyed by our own immune system, we definitely need to explore the triggers, the root, driving the Hashimoto condition. Exploring the triggers take time, intention and focus. For instance, I had a couple of flare-ups this past week… digestive issues (e.g., bloating, irritable bowel distress) to allergies (e.g., food sensitivities perhaps).

I plan on requesting a ‘Food Sensitivity Test’ in my next medical consultation.

Keep a journal! Write everything down.

(Note, this is health information, not health advice)

Impact of Lifestyle Changes

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

The holiday season is fast approaching! I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week. Typically, we are eager to make New Year’s resolutions. I am the first one to admit that these New Year’s resolutions do not last for more than one or two months.

When we are making environmental and lifestyle changes, let us be realistic. Daily changes can overwhelm us indeed. We may quit altogether if we are stressed. High level of stress will release the stress hormone, cortisol; this hormone will have an impact on our adrenal glands. Personally, I have been recovering from adrenal gland fatigue in the past three months. Recent lifestyle changes have made an impact! I no longer crash on my living room couch by 2 pm. I have the energy to walk 2 miles after lunch.

Let us be patient and kind to ourselves when we are establishing new habits.

This is my timeline in stacking new habits to my daily rhythms of wellness. I am a visual learner so here you go! I hope you find it helpful.

TimelineDownload

(Note, this is health information, not health advice)

Not Ready 2 Quit

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

Since I’m not ready to quit drinking coffee, I searched for alternative products and reduced the amount of coffee each day. I used to drink a total of 24 oz. a day (12 oz. in the mornings and 12 oz. in the afternoons). I am now drinking 16 oz or less. My next goal is to drink coffee in the mornings (8 oz. or less) and skip the afternoon break.

New habits take intention, commitment, focus, and time.

I no longer drink the original blend from Dunkin’ yet I am still keeping the Lite Coffee mate. Honestly, I did not enjoy the taste of the organic creamer. I would encourage y’all to try new products and assess what works best for you.

The Fabula Coffee, light roast, freshly ground is organic. It has low acid, is non-GMO, does not contain any chemicals, and it is mold free (less toxins for our bodies). It is perfect for coffee lovers who have an autoimmune condition.

I recently learned the negative impact of coffee among patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis. It may interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication (e.g., Levothyroxine). Coffee also has an impact on our heart rate, metabolism, wakefulness, and adrenal gland.

Did you know coffee disrupts the regular rhythms of cortisol? Personally, I need to decrease the amount of coffee so I can address the adrenal gland fatigue in Hashimoto Thyroiditis. I know I have been under chronic stress for way too long due to career pursuits, most recent relocation and other psychosocial stressors. Drinking coffee will trigger the ‘fight or flight’ response in our bodies leading to higher levels of cortisol release. The cortisol release will then contribute to adrenal gland fatigue. It is definitely a vicious cycle in my opinion!

It is time to reduce the level of stress and the amount of coffee I drink

so, the adrenal gland can get quality ‘rest’ and maintain regular rhythms of cortisol.

New Rhythms in Baking

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Baked Goods, Gluten Free, Low Carb diet, Uncategorized

I don’t like to cook, but I love to bake muffins!

Prior to the medical diagnoses, I used to eat peanut butter crackers every morning. Yes, it was easy, convenient and did not have to open the refrigerator to pull out any ingredients. I did not spend much time in the kitchen either. When we have fast-paced lifestyles, we tend to grab the first thing we like and move on to the next task in our ‘to do’ list.

Cooking and baking ‘gluten-free’ recipes take time. We have to be intentional in choosing tasty recipes, shopping for selected ingredients and investing time in preparing and baking.

Healthy meals or bakery goods take time.

It is an investment.

Good health is priceless.

I knew I needed to maintain a low carbohydrates diet. I also knew the changes in lifestyle needed to be practical, tasty and sustainable.

I love muffins so I quickly searched Amazon for ‘gluten-free’ products. I quickly was able to replace the peanut butter crackers with Apple Cinnamon, the Pumpkin or the Banana Muffins by Simple Mills. These products are gluten-free, plant-based, grain free, corn free, dairy free, gums/emulsifiers free, and paleo friendly.

The banana muffin has 3 grams of total fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein. Each muffin only has 80 or 90 calories.

Just arrived today! I cannot wait to use it this weekend.

Hopefully, I won’t encounter any food sensitivities with these products in the future!

Low Carb Diet

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

Did you know Avocado has multiple vitamins? It is a monounsaturated fatty acid or oleic acid full of nutrients including Vitamin K, C, B5, B6, E and Folate. It has more potassium than bananas. Avocado also has a high content of fiber. It helps with gut dysfunction and detoxification. It is also a soluble fiber that acts as prebiotic and improve gut microbiome.

By lowering the amount of carbohydrates each day, cellular inflammation decreases over time. Cholesterol and triglycerides will also improve significantly.

I have never been intentional about my nutrition until now.

We are never too old to change our habits either. Most importantly, we are never too old to improve the ways we care for ourselves. I know I neglected myself for over four decades.

Since I have been on this new health journey, I no longer have cravings for sugar or carbohydrates. I never knew this would be possible. The more carbs I would eat, the more carbs my body craved for. It was a vicious cycle.

I want to establish a healthier lifestyle one day at a time. Embracing one challenge at a time.

How could I live to 80 or 90 if I keep eating unhealthy meals, high content in carbohydrates and sugars? The perfect ingredients for cellular inflammation!

I soon realized I needed to limit the carbohydrates to 160 grams or less a day. Journaling helped me track the grams every day (e.g., a few almonds is approximately 3 grams, and an apple is approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates.)

Before I knew it, it was no longer a tedious task. It was a daily habit. Habits are established gradually over time.

Be patient. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself.

(Note, this is health information, not health advice)

Tracking Symptoms is Priceless

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

Hashimoto is an autoimmune, symptom-based, disease in which the thyroid is gradually attacked then destroyed by our own immune system. The immune system goes ‘rogue’. The disease affects multiple areas, and different symptoms are manifested throughout the day including the following: Gut related issues (e.g., heartburn, indigestion, nausea), weight gain, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, low libido, adrenal gland fatigue, brain fog, puffy face, cold intolerance, heart palpitations, vitamin deficiencies (e.g., Vitamin D), constipation, depression and/or anxiety, general pains and/or muscle weakness.

I was told if I have one autoimmune condition, my immune system is vulnerable to other autoimmune condition(s).

Yikes! my blood work was elevated for rheumatoid arthritis early in 2024. I do not want to even explore further about this potential issue at this time. I’m already overwhelmed learning Japanese with Hashimoto (lol).

The journaling process is priceless. Because of journaling, I realized I was taking too much Selenium each day.

I had asked the medical provider if I could take a 200 mcg. per capsule of Selenium with the three Brazil nuts (68-91 mcg per nut), she had suggested. She did not oppose to it. A couple of weeks later, I realized I was taking the capsule plus the three nuts and did the math. It was close to 500-600 mg. per day. I was taking more than the recommended dosage. I had reached toxic levels!

Thank goodness I quickly noticed what I was doing. I quit taking the capsule of Selenium and dropped the amount of Brazil nuts to two per day.

When journaling, I am able to notice patterns, symptoms flare-ups, supplements intake, the highs & lows of Hashimoto living and so much more.

I highly recommend for you to begin journaling today. Tracking is part of being intentional about our wellness.

“By the way”

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Hashimoto, Health, Wellness

“… You have Hashimoto Thyroiditis, and you are straining your pancreas” the physician assistant (P.A) commented on Friday, September 06, 2024, while reviewing my first blood work at the local, functional medicine provider. She then proceeded to outline her recommendations while I sat in the examining room perplexed and silent.

Initial recommendations included low carbohydrate diet, Omega 3 ‘extra strength’ and 3 Brazil nuts a day (a source of selenium).

I did not have any idea what to ask much less how to react!

I do remember asking myself, ‘what do I need to do so I no longer strain my pancreas? Yikes, I don’t want to mess around with the pancreas!’

A new health journey just began … I immediately began the research!

I want to encourage women to do research about new medical diagnosis.

Be empowered by information and focus on your wellness. A 15-20 minute consultation every 3 or 6 months is not enough time for us to gather enough recommendations.

We are born to heal.

In the last two months, I have made so many environmental changes in my lifestyle to promote wellness… I’ve seen significant progress along the way.

The brain fog, joint and muscle stiffness or pain, sleeping disturbance have significantly improved by just making environmental modifications (e.g., diet, movement, sleep hygiene practices).

The search for healthy rhythms of ‘Hashimoto living’ slowly evolved.