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1 June 2009: Get A Real Medical Diagnosis Of Your Thyroid Problem
The TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test has become the 'gold standard' for measuring thyroid gland function. This is grossly inaccurate. Worse still, you may even be told you do NOT have a thyroid problem if your TSH falls within the ‘normal’ range even when you may be exhibiting the classic signs of hypothyroidism.
To get a proper medical diagnosis you should ask your health practitioner for a comprehensive check of how well your thyroid is working. A test of TSH along with free T3, free T4, thyroid antibodies and reverse T3 (rT3) will provide a better assessment of thyroid activity. The results should be considered along with the signs & symptoms that indicate an under active thyroid.
1 May 2009: Artificial Sweetener Alert: How Safe Are Diet Foods Loaded With Splenda?
A new study reveals that Splenda, the low calorie sweetener reduces the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, increases the pH in the digestive system and contributes to weight gain.
The study was conducted using male rats over a period of twelve weeks. The manufacturers of Splenda also used a rat study when they applied for and received approval to market the product.
Consumer groups are calling on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review its approval of Splenda and to require a warning label on Splenda packaging.
Splenda is the brand name for sucralose, a chemical substance that is not a natural sugar. It is found in many diet foods.
Safer alternatives are small amounts of natural honey, stevia and xylitol.
So, is sucralose safe for you and your family? Watch this video to see the shocking truth about this common artificial sweetener;
Estrogen plays a chief role in regulating fat deposition and fat burning. Estrogen causes fat to accumulate, especially around the hips, thighs and abdomen. This 'apple shaped' weight gain greatly increases the risk of obesity related diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
1 March 2009: Organic Food For Health and A Healthier Planet!
Going organic is not just good for the planet, some experts believe it could also be the answer to the obesity epidemic. When you eat organic foods you reduce your exposure to environmental chemicals that slow your metabolism and you gain the full energy potential of your food.
1 February 2009: Fatty Liver Disease Improves with Weight Loss
Excess fat stored in your liver is a consequence of excess weight. The medical term is ‘non-alcoholic fatty liver disease’. This condition is the most common form of liver disease in the Western world.
Although a fatty liver does not necessarily cause illness, it is associated with raised triglyceride levels and insulin resistance, both strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. But there is good news: scientists say this condition can be completely reversed by simply changing to healthy eating habits and losing weight.
Today is the best day to get your health back on track. Your decision to choose healthy, vital food that is as close to nature as possible is a vital step in your natural weight loss journey.
1 January 2009: Are Your Ready to Embrace Change? Healthy Eating On A Budget
Did you know that most shoppers fill their grocery trolleys with foods that are damaging to their health? Thousands of brand name grocery products are contaminated with toxic chemicals and dangerous ingredients. These mass produced foods directly promote obesity and degenerative diseases. Health experts agree that a local farmers market is the best place to get quality, fresh produce at lower prices. Check your local area for locations and times. Organic markets are best.
If you want a brighter future for yourself and your family, continue to make wise decisions about your health.
1 December 2008: Eat Well Without Gaining Weight During The Holidays
The holiday season is upon us! This is the time when we are surrounded by high calorie, high fat foods. Here are some party survival tips:
Have a healthy snack before you leave for a gathering to avoid overeating.
Look for healthy options on the menu or buffet. Ask for dressings on the side and include vegetables & salads with your meal.
Stick to small servings. The more food you put on your plate, the more likely you are to eat it all regardless of satiety cues.
Give yourself permission to eat some foods you really love, and savour each mouthful.
Have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. Not only is alcohol high in calories, it stimulates your appetite.
Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up. Being overly restrictive can backfire, making you feel deprived. It may even lead to overeating. Remember, life is about balance. Healthy eating, regular exercise & a positive attitude help keep you in great shape.
1 November 2008: The Major Source Of Synthetic Hormones
If a woman makes 1 unit of estrogen per day, the estimated daily dose of active estrogen from the contraceptive pill is 16,675 units and 3,350 from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This is a dangerous level of exposure to synthetic estrogen, possibly over many years. Excess estrogen not only causes weight gain, it also increases the risk of reproductive disorders and breast cancer.
Strive to maintain healthy hormone balance by avoiding synthetic hormones, eating nutritious food, drinking clean water and maintaining your ideal weight.
References Safe S.H., "Environmental and Dietary Estrogens and Human Health: Is There a Problem?" Environ. Health Perspec., 1995, 103(4):346-351.
1 October 2008: Why is PCOS The Most Common Cause of Serious Weight Gain in Young Women?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common female hormone disorder. The underlying cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance Syndrome, a condition associated with poor blood sugar control.
1 September 2008: Hoodia Gordonii Is Not a Miracle Weight Loss Pill
Hoodia gordonii, the herb marketed as a natural appetite suppressant will not guarantee weight loss. In fact, starving yourself by cutting back on calories is never a solution. Educate yourself about nutrition and eat well. To lose weight for good you also need to address the health issues that sabotage your weight loss efforts such as hormone imbalances, low thyroid function and poor blood sugar control.
1 August 2008: Clean Water Is Essential To Health
Water pollution from pharmaceutical drugs is an emerging issue. Pharmaceuticals are now a whole new class of water pollutants that can be found at ‘toxicologically significant levels’. These drugs find their way into the public water supply from pharmaceutical industries, medical facilities and from household disposal of unused medicines. Human excreta also contain significant drug residues.
Emerging evidence shows the thyroid gland is extremely vulnerable to the effects of environmental pollution. It is not surprising that as we eat more toxic foods and become increasingly exposed to pollution that thyroid problems are becoming epidemic.
The most dangerous chemicals to the thyroid are organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, dioxins and furans. These thyroid disrupting chemicals (TDCs) interfere directly with thyroid function.
One example of a common TDC is fluoride, a heavy metal with a strong affinity to the thyroid gland. The harmful effects are best illustrated by the fact that fluoride is used as a thyroid suppressing medication for hyperthyroid conditions. Fluoride is often added to urban water supplies and dental products are a common source.
1 June 2008: Researchers Link Sugar To Higher Risk of Gout
Gout is a painful form of arthritis which mainly affects the big toe. This results when crystals of uric acid are deposited in the joints. Uric acid is a by-product of protein metabolism and people who are overweight often have much higher levels of uric acid in their blood. New research shows that even two cans of sugar sweetened soft drinks daily can double the risk of gout.
Reference: British Medical Journal. 9 February 2008;336:309-312.
Aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, tagatose and acesulfame K are the most common artificial sweeteners. Beware, these artificial sweeteners used to substitute sugar are found in processed foods, medications, nutritional supplements and most ‘diet’ foods. Research shows that the more synthetic sugar substitutes you consume, the more you seek out sugary foods. Artificial sweeteners are not a magic bullet and can often lead to greater weight gain.
Not everyone wants a six pack ab but if you want to trim down around the waist and get a flatter stomach you have to lose weight all over. As you start to lose the weight sit-ups or crunches will make a difference to how your waist and stomach look.
Ab exercises will blast body fat around the belly. Let Bob Harper, Personal Trainer from The Biggest Loser show you how.
Toxic chemicals in your food can wreak havoc on how your body functions, particularly your metabolism. A healthy, nutritious organic diet can help you lose weight.
1 February 2008: Weight Loss Operation Affects Brain
A report in the journal Neurology has revealed that weight loss surgery such as a gastric bypass can lead to memory loss and confusion. The syndrome, called Wernicke encephalopathy, is caused by a lack of vitamin B1 and can also cause problems with vision. The report found that the syndrome usually struck between one and three months after obesity surgery.
1 January 2008: New Year, New Year
The start of a new year is the ideal time to think about your health, in particular your diet habits. Decide now to avoid all the high calorie, mass produced foods that have become so widely available in our supermarkets, but provide very little health benefits.
Of particular concern are the high GI foods that cause spikes in your insulin levels. These types of foods increase your cancer risk. Cancer cells use insulin as a growth factor, which helps explain why overweight people have a much higher incidence of cancer.
Now is the time to retrain yourself to select delicious, highly nutritious foods that provide life!
1 December 2007: Natural Weight Loss Book Shop Now Open
Check Out Two New E-books! The Natural Thyroid Diet & Gout: A Natural Approach
Discover natural weight loss e-books at the Natural Weight Loss Programs book shop. These are e-books (electronic books) so you will receive them as soon as your payment is processed by ClickBank, the premier retailer for digitally delivered products.
Your metabolic setpoint is what your body considers to be your normal body weight. Your individual fat to muscle ratio is closely regulated by your body even when your body composition becomes unhealthy.
Your metabolism defends your metabolic setpoint by slowing down or speeding up when your weight approaches the outer limits of your accepted range. It will fight to maintain what it has set at your ideal weight.
A slow, steady approach to weight loss helps to minimise resistance to changes to your metabolic setpoint.
Scientists are increasingly concerned that long term low-level exposures to chemicals can cause serious health issues.
Pesticides, heavy metals, industrial pollution and the cumulative effect of toxic exposure over many years can wreak havoc on how your body functions, particularly your metabolism.
You cannot achieve healthy natural weight loss if your body is choked with toxins.
Here are 10 pollution solutions to help minimise your exposure to toxic chemicals
While borderline low thyroid function is becoming more widely accepted by traditional endocrinologists, reverse T3 dominance is often overlooked.
This thyroid problem is often difficult to diagnose as low thyroid symptoms exist, but standard thyroid tests appear to be within normal limits. Only a test for reverse T3 will rule out reverse T3 dominance.
1 August 2007: "Thyroid Assist" For Thyroid Health
Thyroid Assist is a 100% natural thyroid gland remedy to help boost a sluggish thyroid.
While pharmaceutical medications often work by treating the symptoms, natural medicine strives to restore overall body health. This supports your long term well-being and helps prevent future disease.
1 July 2007: Quit Smoking - What You Should Know & Help To Quit
One of the best ways to live a longer, healthier life is to quit smoking. Make THIS the year you quit smoking and kick the habit for good because you are worth it!