UPDATE: Green tea NOT good for Thyroid...black tea OK?

I thought drinking green tea would be helpful.  I have Hashimoto's auto immune thyroid disease. I have been drinking jasmine green tea and now my thyroid is aching and my tinnitus is increased.

WHY?
did some research...this is UPDATE
Green Tea and the Thyroid

Green tea contains compounds that may increase thyroid problems.

Approximately 20 million Americans have a thyroid disorder, reports the Cleveland Clinic. While genetics, iodine deficiency and certain medications can disrupt thyroid function, some research indicates that green tea contains compounds that may either contribute to or exacerbate thyroid problems in some individuals. If you are concerned about your thyroid, talk to your doctor before including green tea in your diet regularly.

Green tea health risks:
Could green tea actually be bad for you?

By Bryan Walsh

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Green tea has received a lot of positive media attention in recent years. But is it really good for everyone?
Not necessarily.
There is a group of people for whom green tea may be hazardous. And given green tea’s popularity these days, it’s critical to share this information with anyone interested in health.
Green tea has a wealth of research behind it demonstrating a number of health-promoting benefits including anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties.
Many of green tea’s benefits are due to its effects on the immune system, which is also where it can cause problems.
But before telling you how green tea impacts the immune system, let’s take a quick look at a simplified version of how it works.

A primer on the immune system

The immune system is composed of white blood cells, which are then differentiated into five different type of immune cells. One of those is a group of cells called lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes are then broken down even further into B cells, as well as T cells, which have their own subset of cells called T helper cells, T regulatory cells, cytotoxic T cells and T suppressor cells.

The immune system can be confusing, so rather than describe these cells in detail, I’ll use a real life example of how it works.
Let’s say you cut yourself with a dirty knife.  Bacteria penetrate your skin, engaging a first line of defense from our immune system called a macrophage (picture Pac Man).
Macrophages are like big, fat security guards wielding tiny billy clubs –- ineffective, but they’ll slow an invader down while they call on more sophisticated security guards.
When confronted with an invader, macrophages call on their friends, the T helper cells. The T helper cells tell the entire immune system through a series of chemical signals that there has been an invader that has crossed the barrier.
Specifically, the T helper cells call directly on two types of cells, cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells, both soldiers with muscle that live up to their name and help attack and kill the bacterial invaders.
Once the bacteria have been killed, it is time for the immune system to call off the attack, which is the job of the T suppressor cells, who “suppress” the fight.
In the event that the bacteria is too powerful for the T cells, or if the T cells have a difficult time finding the invader, as in the case of a virus, the B cells are called to join in the fight. B cells make antibodies for a given invader based on instructions from the T helper cells.
In other words, if the T helper cells tell the immune system that the invader is a guy wearing an orange sweater, the B cells will create antibodies for a guy in an orange sweater, so that when they meet him, they can latch onto him and wave a flag, making it easier for the cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells to find the invader.
But here’s what you really need to know:

1. The initial T cell response is called a “Th1 response”.
2. The secondary B cell antibody response is called a “Th2 response”.

In a healthy body, there is balance between the Th1 (T cell) and Th2 (B cell) parts of our immune system. And that’s the desirable state.

However, sometimes an imbalance of the Th1/Th2 system can be beneficial. For example, during pregnancy women have a tendency to shift towards a Th2 dominance, which is advantageous since a Th1 shift would induce rejection of the fetus.

Autoimmune disease: An immune system out of balance

Virtually all autoimmune diseases -– conditions where the immune system begins to attack self-tissue –- have either a Th1 or a Th2 dominance.

Put another way, autoimmune conditions generally have either a T cell upregulation and B cell suppression (Th1 dominant) or the opposite (Th2 dominant).

It’s imperative that people with autoimmune disorders maintain Th1/Th2 balance.

When the immune system is dysregulated and starts attacking body tissues, the more out of balance the immune system is, the more voraciously it will attack those tissues.

For example, in someone with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks cartilage, the more out of balance the Th1/Th2 system is, the more cartilage destruction will take place.

When healthy foods are unhealthy

According to research, a number of natural compounds have a tendency to push either side of the Th1/Th2 balance.

Green tea is one such substance.  The active components of green tea have a tendency to push the Th2 system to be more dominant by inhibiting the Th1 side of the immune system.

Therefore someone with a Th2-dominant autoimmune condition (see table below) would be wise to stay away from green tea or products containing concentrated green tea (such as a green tea supplement), because it can upregulate an already dominant system and lead to more tissue destruction.

Conversely in someone with a Th1-dominant autoimmune condition, green tea would be beneficial because it inhibits the Th1 side of the immune system.

Another common example most people know of is the herb echinacea.

When people get sick with a cold or flu, echinacea helps boost the T cells (Th1 response) involved with the initial attack of a foreign invader.

However, in a Th1-dominant autoimmune condition, echinacea will likely make the condition worse and is therefore be something to be avoided.

Real world example

We had a patient come into our office and report that she took a single antioxidant capsule one night before bed and experienced an array of symptoms including heart palpitations, anxiety, “inward trembling” and insomnia.

The patient had been previously diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a low thyroid condition characterized by weight gain, fatigue, and depression-like symptoms.

The number one cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s syndrome (or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis).

The patient’s symptoms after taking the antioxidant indicated an upregulated, or increased attack on her thyroid gland, which then released extra thyroid hormone into her system causing what are classically hyperthyroid symptoms.

When we looked at the ingredients in the antioxidant, it made sense

Two of the main ingredients –- green tea extract and curcumin -– have been shown to push the immune system towards a Th2 dominance.  Given the symptoms she experienced after taking the antioxidant, we concluded that she suffered from a Th2-dominant Hashimoto’s autoimmune condition.

We surmised that the green tea and curcumin stimulated her already lopsided immune system into more aggressively attacking her thyroid gland.

 

This is why when I drank 3 cups or more of green tea, my thyroid started aching and my tinnitus is increased highly.

Conclusion

There is no one food that is good for everyone.

We are all unique individuals, with different genetics, different biochemical needs and different reactions to ingested food.  Indeed, one person’s food is another person’s poison.

Many foods and supplements have a wealth of proven health benefits, but not for everyone.

If you have an autoimmune condition, some of these compounds can make you much better or much worse depending on your Th1/Th2 dominance.  You can talk with your doctor about running a lymphocyte panel to determine which dominance you have and then take the appropriate compounds to help push your immune system in the opposite direction.

But do not do this without the advice of a qualified medical professional! Pushing your system in the wrong direction can lead to further destruction of whatever tissue(s) your immune system might be attacking.

Green tea has a proven track record of benefits for the average person and, if you do not have an autoimmune condition, it seems wise to include green tea into your diet.

However if you have a diagnosed autoimmune condition, especially a Th2 dominance disorder, green tea might not be for you.

You may be wondering at this point whether you should clear your cupboard.

While there’s a basic list of common autoimmune conditions as a general guideline below, please be aware that this doesn’t always pan out in practice. I’ve found this along with some other practitioners.

When we run lymphocyte panels on people, we find some that differ from the clinical literature that categorizes people by Th dominance status. (In other words, the research says they should be one thing; but we find in fact that they’re the other.)

There is a lot we still don’t know about autoimmune conditions. If you see yourself on this list, don’t jump to any conclusions or self-diagnose, take the wrong supplement and make yourself worse (i.e. a Th2 dominant MS patient who demyelinates themselves by taking green tea).

Always check with a qualified practitioner.

Common Th1 dominance disorders

Organ-specific autoimmune diseases (Possible benefit from green tea)

• Multiple sclerosis
• IBD/Crohn’s disease
• Type 1 diabetes
• Hashimoto’s disease, Graves disease (thyroiditis)
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Heliobacter pylori induced peptic ulcer

Th1 stimulating compounds

• Echinacea
• astragalus
• licorice root
• beta-sitosterol
• ashwaganda
• panax ginseng
• mushrooms (Maitake, Reishi, Shiitake)
• chlorella
• grape seed extract

Common Th2 dominance disorders

Systemic autoimmune diseases (Possible harm from green tea)

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic sinusitis
• Many cancers
• Hepatitis B and C (mixed Th1 and Th2)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Viral infections
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Helminth infections

Th2 stimulating compounds

• Green tea
• resveratrol
• pycnogenol
• curcumin
• genistein
• quercetin

Green Tea and the Thyroid

Green tea affects the thyroid gland. One study reported in the August 2010 issue of "Human and Experimental Toxicology" noted that when compared to black tea, green tea extracts caused a significant decrease in the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. The thyroid-stimulating hormone, however, was increased with green tea, indicating that green tea was affecting the thyroid negatively and the body was trying to correct for the decreased T3 and T4 levels. Green tea also caused enlargement of the thyroid gland.

May Increase Thyroid Cancer Risk

A study published in 2011 in "Cancer Causes & Control" studied the link between thyroid cancer and coffee or green tea consumption in over 100,000 Japanese men and women between 40 and 69 years old. After following the subjects for over 10 years, the researchers determined that premenopausal women who consumed 5 or more cups of green tea each day were more likely to develop thyroid cancer. Postmenopausal women drinking the same amount of green tea, however, had a lower risk of thyroid cancer. The tea appeared to have no effect on the thyroid cancer risk of men.

Possibly Lowers Thyroid Function

All teas contain flavonoids, naturally occurring phytochemical compounds that act as antioxidants and that may help prevent chronic diseases. Green tea is especially rich in flavonoids known as catechins, including epigallocatechin and epicatechin. Catechins may suppress thyroid activity and increase the risk of goiter, the development of an abnormally large thyroid gland, concluded a "Human & Experimental Toxicology" study published in 2011. This study was conducted using laboratory rats -- more research on humans is needed.

 Because autoimmune disease is not only extremely complex, but also highly individualized. Hashimoto’s in one person is not the same as Hashimoto’s in the next person. In one person, Hashimoto’s could present as a Th1-dominant condition. In another, it may present as Th2 dominant. In still another, both the Th1 and Th2 systems might be overactive, or underactive. And each of these cases requires a different approach. For example, botanicals like echinacea and astragalus stimulate the Th1 system. If someone with Th1 dominant Hashimoto’s takes these herbs, they’ll quite possibly get worse. On the other hand, antioxidants like green tea and Gotu Kola stimulate the Th2 system, and would be inappropriate for those with Th2 dominant Hashimoto’s
So am I Th1 dominant? or Th2? I think I may be Th2 since Green tea is affecting me.

Might Make Thyroid Problems Worse

Because of the effect green tea's catechins may have on the thyroid, experts at Precision Nutrition, a nutrition- and exercise-coaching company, recommend that people with thyroid-based autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's syndrome, a type of hereditary hypothyroidism, avoid drinking green tea and taking any dietary supplements containing green tea extract. The catechins in green tea may cause an imbalance in their immune system's T cell and B cell antibody responses, possibly resulting in more severe thyroid disorder symptoms.

Black Tea Associated With Less Risk

Unlike green tea, black tea is not associated with thyroid problems. Although both are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, black tea contains a different concentration of flavonoids compared to green tea since it is allowed to oxidize during production, while green tea is not. Black tea is high in thearubigin and theaflavin flavonoids but relatively low in catechins. The study that focused on green tea's suppression of thyroid activity concluded that black tea did not have the same effect because it lacks catechins.

Jasmine essential oil " Queen of the night"

To maximize Jasmines fragrance it must be picked during the evening. after sunrise the fragrance greatly diminishes! This is why in part it was given the name "Queen of the Night".
Because of its popularity and its cost, Jasmine oil is often adulterated!
• One pound of jasmine oil = 1,000 pounds of jasmine = 3.6 million unpacked blossoms!
• One pound of PURE jasmine oil = therapeutic quality = up to $4,500 per pound!
• One pound of SYNTHETIC jasmine oil = perfume quality = $3.50 per pound!
Seeing things in terms of dollars and cents always brings the point home.
Jasmine oil is included in many professionally made blends because of its diversity. From alleviating stress to balancing the female system, jasmine supports us unconditionallyThe health benefits of Jasmine Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, cicatrisant, expectorant, galactogogue, emmenagogue, parturient, sedative and uterine substance.

Jasmine is a very famous flower. It has a strong yet sweet, pleasing and romantic fragrance, which is very common in flowers which bloom only at night. Girls are often named “Jasmine”, primarily in the Middle Eastern region and the Indian Subcontinent but also in other parts of the world. The jasmine flower is often associated with romance and love. Heroes in romantic novels and movies can often be found addressing their heroines by the name “Jasmine”. For ages, jasmine has been inspiring poets as well.  This flower blooms only at night and fills the surroundings with its unmistakable and alluring fragranceEmmenagogue: This property is meant to give relief to those women who suffer from irregular, obstructed, or painful menses or an untimely menopause. The emmenagogue property of Jasmine Oil regulates period cycles, and makes the periods clear and less painful, while also helping to push back menopause. It also provides relief from other problems associated with menses such as fatigue, annoyance, nausea, and mood swings. Regulating your period is also a great way to balance the hormonal levels of your body, which can help keep a vast number of other bodily functions from occurring naturally and in a healthy way.

However, this flower has much more to offer than its sweet smell and romantic associations. For the moment, let us put our poetic feelings aside and explore some of the impressive health benefits that jasmine can also provide us.

Health Benefits of Jasmine Essential Oil

Antidepressant: The aroma of jasmine essential oil has a pleasing and uplifting effect on the mind and actively fights depression. This makes a person feel happy and potentially awakens romantic and poetic feelings, just as it has done in literary and music history! The aromatic effect of jasmine oil stimulates the release of certain hormones in the body, including serotonin, which results in the boost of energy and the uplifted mood.

Antiseptic: It is also a very good antiseptic and disinfectant. Its constituents like Benzaldehyde, Benzoic Acid and Benzyl Benzoate have very effective germicidal, bactericidal, fungicidal and antiviral properties. When externally applied to wounds, it prevents them from becoming septic and effectively eliminates potential infections from tetanus. It can also have internal applications, and when inhaled, it is known to reduce infections in the respiratory system and can relieve colds and coughs.
Aphrodisiac:It is actually the aphrodisiac property of Jasmine Essential Oil that makes you feel romantic or in love. This oil puts people in the mood for love and also enhances your libido and feelings of sexual desire. Due to this property of jasmine oil’s aroma and the fragrance of Jasmine flowers, it has been in use during First Nights, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent where it is in practice to decorate the bride and the First Night Room with these flowers and use its oil to spray in the room. It also helps cure problems such as premature ejaculation, frigidity, impotency, and various other sexual disorders. This property is also derived through the oils impact on the hormones and chemical reactions within the body, so millions of lover around the world have jasmine essential oil to thank for their newly sparked sex life!
Cicatrisant: Are you worried about the scar marks and after spots left by boils, acne, or other wounds? You should definitely try Jasmine Essential Oil. Since it is a cicatrisant, it can help fade those scar marks and after spots. It can also help you eliminate the fat cracks that often happen in pregnant mothers.
Expectorant: The expectorant property of Jasmine Essential Oil can help you have an undisturbed night of sleep, even when you are suffering from a cough or cold. It provides relief from coughs by helping clear out the accumulation of phlegm in the respiratory tracts.  It also eliminates snoring by clearing the congestion from nasal and respiratory tracts. With jasmine essential oil working in your system, you be kept away by coughing endlessly through the night, nor will you constantly snore in your sleep.
Sleep Aid: A combination of jasmine essential oil’s properties make it an ideal tool for inducing long, restful, and undisturbed sleep. Its behavior as an expectorant, sedative, and antispasmodic combine to create the best situation for falling asleep and staying asleep for the entire night. By reducing signs of insomnia and sleeplessness, you can go back to your old self again, well-rested, kind, patient, and productive at work and in your personal life. 
Jasmine oil has long been associated with skin care, particularly in terms of treating dry, brittle, or dehydrated skin. However, since it does have certain non-sensitizing effects, it is not always pleasant to use on cracked or open wounds on the skin, as it can cause an allergic reaction, or irritation.
Galactogogue:
 Jasmine essential oil increases milk secretion from the breasts and is therefore very good for lactating mothers and their new babies. This property also helps protect from breast tumors and breast cancer.
Parturient:
The essential oil of Jasmine facilitates and eases the birthing process and reduces labor pains. This feature can be very beneficial in today’s situations when a normal delivery is a rare sight and most of the cases are handled with Caesarian sections. For many women who choose to use jasmine essential oil, they find that the recovery process is less painful and the post-natal period is also shorter. Furthermore, it can strengthen contractions and shorten the time it takes to deliver a baby. At that point, many women suffer from post partum depression, but jasmine essential oil also combats that tragic condition due to its antidepressant and uplifting qualities

Antispasmodic: Jasmine Essential oil is very good for treating and relaxing spasms. It provides quick relief from spasmodic coughs, cramps, congestion, asthma, breathlessness and even spasmodic cholera. It also alleviates intestinal cramps and pains resulting from spasms in other parts of the body. Spasms can be dangerous, disruptive, and even deadly, so any substance that can alleviate this serious condition quickly should be respected!
Sedative: Jasmine essential oil calms down the body, mind and soul while bringing forth positive and constructive emotions. It gives relief from anxiety, stress, annoyance, anger and depression as well as from inflammations of all sorts, which can affect mood and pain throughout the body. Although further research must still be conducted, this sedative and anti-inflammatory property might give jasmine another impressive health benefits, the reduction of associated pain and discomfort of arthritis and gout!
Uterine: This oil is good for uterine health because it tones the uterus and promotes the secretion of certain hormones which ensure good health and proper functioning of the organ. It also helps protect the uterus from tumors, particularly after menopause, by restricting the flow of estrogen.
Other Benefits:  It can also be used to free people from narcotic and other addictions.
A Few Words of Caution: Pregnant women, before they are at the actual birthing process, should avoid using this oil since it is an Emmenagogue. It is highly relaxing and sedating and thus heavy doses should be avoided. Again, those who are allergic to Jasmine should avoid using it, as with any essential oil made from a known allergen.
Blending: Essential Oil of Jasmine blends well with the essential oils of Bergamot, Sandalwood, Rose and citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits.

Jasmine Green tea...fabulous!!!

The Advantages of Drinking Jasmine Tea

Jasmine tea benefits tea drinkers as it has been proven to replenish the system with health-enhancing antioxidants called catechins and antigens which reduce inflammatory conditions. Therefore, jasmine tea drinkers can realize such advantages as:

• An enhanced immune system
• An improved level of energy
• A pronounced ability to lose weight and burn fat
• Better concentration
• A much lower level of stress
• A reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer
• Fewer allergies
• Lower cholesterol
• Less chance for colds and flu
• Less joint and back pain
• Fewer muscle aches

Angelwing Star Jasmine

Make it Your Beverage of Choice


The properties in the tea make it possible for tea drinkers to lead a healthier life. Plus, the tea has been shown to be more beneficial than drinking water. If you drink water or coffee throughout the day then, you might consider drinking jasmine tea instead. Studies have shown that people who drink the beverage live longer, have fewer heart attacks and strokes and significantly lessen their chances of contracting cancer.

Maid of Orleans Jasmine

A Restorative Infusion
Make a commitment to leading a healthier lifestyle. Brew some jasmine tea and enjoy the flavor and aroma of this healthful indulgence.

Jasmine Tea – A Sweet Alternative for Anyone Trying to Lose Weight

A Weight Loss Tea with Health Benefits
If you are trying to lose weight, then you might want to put your coffee cup down and opt instead for jasmine tea. The flavored tea from China, which is typically made of a blend of green tea and jasmine petals, is a subtly robust beverage that has health-giving and disease-preventing properties that also assist anyone wanting to shed a few extra pounds. Therefore, the properties in the blend make it possible for you to burn fat more effectively and give you extra endurance so you can make your exercise routine last longer.
Research Findings
Also, the tea has been shown to arrest or ameliorate such diseases and conditions as heart ailments, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, ulcers, back pain, and joint and muscle discomfort. The catechins in the green tea base are powerful antioxidants that act to keep you disease-free as well as energized. Such compounds rid your body of the free radicals that damage cells and make you feel and look much older than your actual years.
Improved Functioning and Thinking
The beverage not only improves immunity but also reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels too. Antigens in the tea work to eradicate any type of inflammation as well. Substances in the tea have also been shown to help you with respect to mental clarity. As a result, you function better physically and handle mental tasks with more acuity.
Choose Jasmine over Java
As you can see, jasmine tea benefits are immense when it comes to consuming the beverage for purposes of weight loss. Jasmine tea is a beverage of choice then for anyone who wants to maintain a sound weight and make strides in improving their overall health and energy level. So, switch out the java for jasmine if you want to lose weight and feel better overall.

15 Reasons You Will Feel Young By Drinking Jasmine Tea

Posted on October 4, 2010, 12:04 pm, by admin, under Feel Younger, Jasmine Tea Benefits.

Jasmine tea benefits,  can be enumerated, as follows:

1. The catechins in the green tea are antioxidants that step in to prevent such diseases and conditions as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
2. The properties in the tea not only aid in burning fat but also give you the energy to exercise for longer durations—very good for weight loss.
3. Studies suggest that if you drink several cups a day, you will prolong your life.
4. Research also shows that the tea is helpful in eliminating cancers of all types, such as leukemia and cancers of the colon, breast, prostrate, ovaries, lungs, and esophagus.
5. The scented aroma is helpful in reducing the affects of stress.
6. Theanine, which is contained in the green tea of the mix, has been shown to enhance the thinking process.
7. Studies have found that jasmine tea also acts as an anti-depressant and reduces depressive symptoms related to menopause, paranoia and post-natal conditions.
8. The tea also cleanses the arteries of cholesterol.
9. Also, jasmine tea has been found to help those suffering from diabetes. Certain compounds (theaflavins and EGCG) help in keeping blood sugar levels in check.
10. The tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in reducing the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
11. Jasmine tea also prevents bad breath and tooth decay.
12. Antigens are found in the tea that build up the body’s defense against disease.
13. Joint and muscle pain subside when drinking green tea with jasmine.
14. The tea helps alleviate back pain as well.
15. Scientific research suggests that the ingredients contained in jasmine-flavored green tea make it healthier than drinking water. Therefore, drinking iced jasmine tea after a workout is exceptionally beneficial.

From the foregoing list, you can only conclude that jasmine tea is a “must-have” beverage.

Jasmine Tea Benefits – Stay Younger

Have your reached that point in your life when you don’t feel as young and spry as you once did? Well, you might find a youth-giving elixir in jasmine-flavored tea. Originating from China, the infusion is made in the states, typically, as a blend of green tea and jasmine flowers. Jasmine tea benefits are numerous and include the following properties.

• The aroma of jasmine tea has a relaxing effect; therefore, it is excellent for relieving stress or anxiety.
• The tea inhibits the growth of bacteria, which results in a healthier immune system and the elimination of such conditions as allergies.
• The catechins in the green tea base of jasmine tea are known to prevent such diseases as cancer and heart disease.
• The tea aids in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• The tea prevents free radicals from forming, which accelerate the aging process, making us look older and feel older than our actual age suggests.
• The tea has been proven to prevent ulcers.
• Jasmine tea has been shown to reduce back pain.
• The tea is also helpful in eliminating joint and muscle distress.
• Gargle with the tea to reduce your chances of getting the flu.
• The tea is a good diet tea too. You don’t need to add sweetener as it is naturally sweetened.

The only downside to drinking jasmine tea may be the caffeine contained in the green tea base. However, if you balance out your consumption, you should be okay as the benefits far outweigh any kind of negative side effect from ingesting the caffeine. One of the best health-giving and youth-enhancing beverages you can consume, green tea contains ingredients that keep you young, prevent life-threatening disease and supply you with the energy needed for an active, busy life. When jasmine is added to the mix, you can’t help but feel the results in a short span of time.

 

Have a Bad Back? Drink Jasmine Tea

 

A Flavored Tea that is Good for You
Jasmine tea is a flavored tea, which combines the petals of the blooms of the jasmine plant typically with green tea leaves. Both plants are proven to provide numerous health benefits, one of which includes alleviating chronic back pain. The tea, which originated in the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279) in China, is a delicate tea that has a relaxing, sweetly-scented aroma.

Health-enhancing Beverage
Adding the flower to white or green tea accelerates its healing and disease-prevention properties. That’s because both white and green tea contain catechins which supply the tea drinker with protection against certain types of bacteria and cancer. As a result, jasmine tea benefits the back as well as the immune system. In addition, it has been found that green tea, when used as a blend in jasmine tea, aids in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Antioxidant qualities also destroy the free radicals in one’s system that can escalate the aging process. Also, the tea has been shown to reduce depression.
The base for jasmine tea is made with buds or leaves of the tea bush, otherwise known as Camellia sinensis. This plant can be used in the production of several types of teas, including:

• White tea
• Green tea
• Oolong tea
• Black tea

Oxidation
The amount of oxidation that is applied to a tea largely will decide its flavor. Black tea, which is widely consumed in countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, is fully oxidized. In China, the tea is referred to as red tea. However, with respect to the jasmine blend, white or green teas, as mentioned, are the teas of choice.

1. Fights Bacteria

Not only does the tea put on its boxing gloves to fight bad bacteria, it also aids our bodies to form good bacteria that helps with digestion.

2. Weight Loss

The tea contains catechins which have fat burning properties and thus aid in weight loss. It does this by increasing your metabolic rate, which subsequently helps you to burn fat faster. A recent study has shown that people who drink jasmine green tea tend to lose weight faster than those who don’t drink it regularly.

3. Aromatherapy

Jasmine itself has medicinal properties and is therefore a highly effective form of aromatherapy. Research published in the European Journal of Applied Psychology found that simply inhaling jasmine can reduce a person’s heart rate as well as have a sedative effect on both nerve activity and mood.

4. Cancer Prevention

Green tea is high in antioxidants, which means it can lower your risk of developing cancer. This is because antioxidants attack the free radicals that form in your body and can be linked to cancer causation.

5. Anti-Aging

Free radicals can also mess with your skin in terms of healing and revitalization. So another added bonus of antioxidants is that they prevent this and thus slow down the aging process.
Jasmine tea is high in antioxidants, and combats the free radicals formed in the body. Free radicals are harmful in many ways, and can hasten the aging process. Free radicals have also been shown to have a relation with the development of cancer in the body. By reducing the free radicals in the body, it effectively lowers the chances of developing cancer. Antioxidants also play a valuable role in slowing down the aging process

6. Regulates Circulation

Jasmine tea has been proven to be highly beneficial for improving blood circulation. As such, it can help to prevent medical conditions such as blocked arteries, thrombosis, brain damage and blood clots.

7. Heart Health

Jasmine tea has been known to reduce cholesterol and bad fats within the body. In addition, it can prevent additional bad cholesterol forming. These things naturally helps to reduce your chances of heart disease and strokes.

8. Stress Relief

Throughout history jasmine has been used for stress relief and as an anti-depressant, which is due to its aforementioned therapeutic properties. That explains why those Buddha’s Tears leave me feeling so amazing.

9. Cold Prevention

The antiviral and antibacterial properties found within jasmine green tea can help to prevent both colds and the flu. Consuming the tea whilst sick can also help to speed up your recovery. Some even believe that simply gargling jasmine tea can prevent illness, but I don’t really see the point of that when the stuff is so delicious. Just drink it!
Jasmine tea has some antiviral and antibacterial properties that help in the prevention of colds and influenza. It is widely believed that gargling with jasmine tea can prevent illness. Consumption of jasmine tea can also result in an earlier recovery from such ailments.

10. Prevention of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD is a medical condition that involves bloating and pain in the colon. Studies have shown that green tea can actually help to reduce these symptoms in two types of IBD, as well as Crohn’s Disease.
A Healthful Tonic
Jasmine is a tea that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. It’s an exceptional “tonic” as jasmine tea benefits you both mentally and physically.

How Much To Drink?

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that adults drink two to three cups of green, or jasmine, tea a day, which provides between 240 and 320 milligrams of polyphenols. This amount allows you to take advantage of the tea’s health benefits without getting too much caffeine. The medical center recommends drinking decaffeinated tea if you are concerned about your caffeine intake, or if you drink more than three cups of green tea per day. According to TeasEtc.com, teas decaffeinated using carbon dioxide rather than ethyl acetate are considered healthier as the tea retains more of the flavor and health compounds afterwards. Regardless of the processing, decaffeinated teas retain between one-third and two-thirds of teas' beneficial compounds

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/health-benefits-of-jasmine-tea.html
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefit-jasmine-tea-10533.html

Clean 15 foods

the following "Clean 15" foods had the lowest pesticide load, and consequently are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume from the standpoint of pesticide contamination:

• Avocados
• Sweet corn
• Pineapples
• Cabbage
• Sweet peas (frozen)
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Kiwi
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe (domestic)
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes

Dirty Dozen high pesticide foods

The following "Dirty Dozen Plus" had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic versions - or to grow them organically yourself:

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Celery
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Sweet bell peppers
• Nectarines (imported)
• Cucumbers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Snap peas (imported)
• Potatoes

Plus these which may contain organophosphate insecticides, which EWG characterizes as "highly toxic" and of special concern:

• Hot peppers
• Blueberries (domestic)

ON GOING NONSTOPPING STRESS=THYROID DISASTER

Stress and the Thyroid

As if you needed another reason to avoid chronic stress, the health of your thyroid also depends on it! Stress is one of the environmental factors associated with the onset of autoimmune disesase Hashimoto’s because chronic stress contributes to leaky gut and causes chronic inflammation. Stress can also tie into to several of the other risk factors for thyroid disorders, including metabolic problems and blood sugar disregulation. It seriously damages your gut flora, and interferes with proper function of the adrenal glands, causing problems for two organs responsible for regulating the thyroid: the hypothalamus and the pituitary. As if all of that weren’t enough, the chronic inflammation and hormone imbalances that accompany high stress levels interfere with the uptake of thyroid hormone and the conversion of killer T4 cells to T3.
Of course, “don’t be stressed” is much easier said than done, but the potential thyroid problems should only add to the list of reasons to turn off the TV and get to bed early, or take a day off once in a while to just relax and appreciate a long walk in the park and a good book. Even with shelves full of pills, powders, and supplements at your disposal and a thousand blogs full of new diet plans and nutrient-packed recipes, sometimes the best thing you can do for your health is to unplug and take a break.

What are Triggers of Autoimmune Disease?

There are many potential triggers mediating the autoimmune response in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and autoimmune disorders in general. Many of these factors work in concert to mediate an autoimmune response. These include chemical triggers from the environment, nutritional deficiencies, imbalances in the gastrointestinal (GI) flora, food sensitivities, especially gluten, and chronic or severe stress. Although our environment is contaminated with so many chemicals, it is important to remember that for most people, when the body is well nourished and in balance it can process and eliminate these exposures so they do not cause harm. A few examples of common chemical autoimmune triggers are: 1)teflon, 2)mercury, found in dental amalgams, soil, vaccines and large predator fish, 3)chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)--flame-retardant chemicals found on chairs, mattresses, pillows, and furniture parts, 4)pesticides, insecticides, and atrazine used on crops, lawns, and fruits, 5)dioxin, a chemical found in prepackaged foods and in seafood, meats, and dairy, and 6) plastic additives like BPA and PCB’s (chemicals found in many building materials) that mimic estrogen in the body and can cause hormonal imbalances in addition to suppressing the immune system.

How Does Stress Affect Autoimmune Disease

It is important to understand the impact emotional and physiological stress can have on the body, and how it can trigger or mediate an autoimmune disease. Our lives are full of stressful situations, obligations, relationships, events, and traumas. When the body is under emotional or physical stress, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland, located in the brain, which then sends a message to the adrenal glands to release cortisol, our “fight or flight” hormone. In acute stress this is essential for survival. However, when there is continual stress on the body the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands are unable to turn off, causing continual cortisol to be released into the body. Cortisol is an important chemical in directing the activity and responsiveness of the immune system. The immune cells respond quickly to cortisol which is essential in an acute illness or event. Unfortunately, when cortisol is released into the body repeatedly the immune cells get worn out and confused as to where they are needed. The immune cells respond more slowly to new stressors, making people susceptible to repeated illness. Immune dysfunction from prolonged cortisol release is a significant factor in triggering an autoimmune response. Autoantibodies are present in people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The daily stress our bodies endure can adversely affect our cortisol levels, which over time can lead to immune dysfunction and trigger our immune systems to attack susceptible tissues like the thyroid gland. No amount of Levothyroxine will reverse this process.

No one has yet pinpointed the exact causes of Hashimoto’s, but research has shed some light on contributing and possibly causative factors. The available research points to a combination of genetics and environmental triggers as co-factors. Both Hashimoto’s and Grave’s Disease — autoimmune hyperthyroidism — cluster in families with a history of autoimmune disorders, and several different genes have been identified that confer susceptibility to both (Chistiakov et al, 2005). But genetically susceptible people also require one or more environmental triggers to initiate the disease process. And as Edward Bauman, Ph.D. (in Shomon, N.D.) explains, it is most likely a variety of factors, not just one, that contributes to the onset of hypothyroidism. Some of the possible triggers are:

• Viral, bacterial or Candida infections as a trigger or as a direct cause;
• Ongoing stress, sufficient to cause adrenal insufficiency that hampers conversion of T4 to T3 and weakens the body’s immune defenses;
• Pregnancy, which up-regulates the immune system;
• Trauma, such as surgery or an accident;
• Nutrient deficiencies, in particular of iodine and/or selenium; and 
• Food borne bacteria

Bad Beans , Sneaky Soy& Alarming Legumes= DANGER for auto immune disease!

 

 

 

A legume is a simple, dry fruit contained within a shed or a pod. The most well-known legumes are peas, beans, peanuts, and alfalfa

 

legumes contain Phytates
Phytates bind up minerals in food, thereby preventing your body from utilizing them. This means these foods are not digested. They can also cause inflammation, bloating, indigestion, and gas. . Ever look pregnant after eating beans?
legumes have Lectins
Lectins are carb-binding proteins that are relatively “sticky.” They’re difficult for our bodies to break down and therefore cause indigestion. Their desire to bind also leads them to bind with your intestinal lining.
Lectins can also cause leaky gut syndrome, which is when the intestinal lining is broken down, allowing toxins and anti-nutrients to leak into the bloodstream.
Lectins are commonly associated with IBS, Chrohn’s disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other auto immune disease like Hashimoto's.

 Peanuts
Peanuts are probably the sneakiest type of legumes, if only because of their name. Like other legumes, peanuts are problematic because they contain lectins and phytic acid, but peanuts also bring a new guest to the party: aflatoxins. Aflatoxins aren’t actually part of the peanut itself; they’re produced by a mold that tends to grow on peanuts (as well as other non-Paleo crops like corn). This mold thrives on crops stored in warm, humid places, and it’s so difficult to eliminate that the FDA has declared it an “unavoidable contaminant.” Organic or all-natural brands of peanuts and peanut butter aren’t any better, since the peanuts still have to be stored and transported. Unless you’re picking your peanuts directly from the farm, you’re probably getting some aflatoxins with them, and they’re not something you want: some research has linked long-term consumption to aflatoxins with risk for diseases like cancer and hepatitis B, especially in countries where peanuts are a staple food. Especially in people with mold sensitivities, peanuts are a particularly concerning type of legume.
Unlike many other types of lectins, peanut lectins are also very difficult to destroy by cooking. As discussed further below, proper cooking methods can destroy many of these sneaky gut irritants, but peanut lectins are very heat resistant, so roasting or otherwise cooking the nuts doesn’t help.
Soy
Another type of legume that deserves special mention is soy.
As well as the same lectins and phytic acid as other legumes, soy has one particular nasty downside: phytoestrogens. Like environmental estrogens, these chemicals mimic the action of estrogen in the body. The problem with this is that their imitation of estrogen only goes far enough to trick your body into thinking that’s what they are. They don’t actually perform any of the vital functions that real estrogen does. The exact mechanisms by which they do this are very complex, but the upshot is that they tend to produce hormonal problems because they tell your body it has enough estrogen, even though it actually doesn’t.
In men, this hormonal imbalance can cause the development of typically “feminine” traits like breasts and fat deposits on the hips; in women, it can impair fertility and lead to all kinds of menstrual and other reproductive problems. Most alarmingly, phytoestrogens have been linked to breast cancer and disruption of normal thyroid function. It’s not necessary to be alarmist (eating soy products alone is unlikely to cause extreme problems), but in the context of a world full of other environmental estrogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals, soy adds one more straw to the camel’s back – and unlike many environmental pollutants, it’s a straw that’s completely avoidable

Sneaky Legumes: Soy and Peanut Oils

One way that many people ingest beans and legumes (sometimes without even being aware of what they’re eating) is through oils. Peanut oil (a staple in many Asian restaurants), soybean oil, and other similar vegetable oils are very common cooking ingredients, on the mistaken belief that since they don’t contain animal fat, they must somehow be “heart-healthy.” But these seed oils might be even worse for you than the plants they come from. Even naturally produced seed oils contain high levels of PUFAs and Omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are inflammatory. Since PUFAs are very unstable fats, these oils can easily oxidize, a process that produces harmful molecules called free radicals. When you cook with the oil, this process accelerates, producing even more. These free radicals are a major driver in inflammation and oxidative stress, the main culprit behind aging and many chronic degenerative diseases.

it looks like a bean and it sounds like a bean…
…it might not be one! In the same way that peanuts aren’t actually nuts, coffee beans, cocoa beans, and vanilla beans aren’t actually beans. Coffee is actually a seed, not a bean. Vanilla and vanilla bean extract are also fine, as are cocoa products., there’s also no reason to deprive yourself from coffee,vegan chocolate or vanilla because you’re worried about the dangers of legumes.
Green beans are also somewhat of a special case. When we eat green beans and similar vegetables like snow peas, we eat the pod with the seeds – the seed contains the vast majority of the problematic elements, so a serving of green beans already has much less phytic acid than a serving of soybeans. Also, like nuts, most people don’t eat green beans as a staple food – most of us might have a serving once a week or so, but we don’t rely on them as a major source of energy. Since they contain comparatively fewer problematic elements, and since they aren’t a major component of anyone’s diet, green beans are often regarded as an acceptable Paleo side dish, just like nuts. If you’re very sensitive, you might need to eliminate them, but most people can eat them once in a while without worrying about it.

 

List of Legumes

• Alfalfa
• Asparagus bean
• Asparagus pea
• Baby lima bean
• Black bean
• Black-eyed pea
• Black turtle bean
• Boston bean
• Boston navy bean
• Broad bean
• Cannellini bean
• Chickpeas
• Chili bean
• Cranberry bean
• Dwarf bean
• Egyptian bean
• Egyptian white broad bean
• English bean
• Fava bean
• Fava coceira
• Field pea
• French green bean
• Frijol bola roja
• Frijole negro
• Great northern bean
• Green bean
• Green and yellow peas
• Kidney bean
• Lentils
• Lespedeza
• Licorice
• Lima bean
• Madagascar bean
• Mexican black bean
• Mexican red bean
• Molasses face bean
• Mung bean
• Mung pea
• Mungo bean
• Navy bean
• Pea bean
• Peanut
• Peruvian bean
• Pinto bean
• Red bean
• Red clover
• Red eye bean
• Red kidney bean
• Rice bean
• Runner bean
• Scarlet runner bean
• Small red bean
• Snow pea
• Southern pea
• Sugar snap pea
• Soybean
• Wax bean
• White vlover
• White kidney bean
• White pea bean

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Immune Confusion..how to calm down the immune system

So I'm having an auto immune flare up and my body is attacking my thyroid.  So how do I calm it down?
Look at hidden gluten and remove all gluten

Eliminate all anti inflammatory foods(dairy, eggs, gluten, sugar, goitrogen(cabbage), nightshade family(tomato, potato, red peppers)

Drinking pure aloe vera juice( 1-2 oz shot glass) Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory properties,Aloe vera juice can help strengthen your immune system due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties, as well as helping it on a molecular level.
If your immune system is not overly taxed by having an excessive amount of bacteria, viruses, and other outside invaders, it becomes stronger and more able to perform its duties. Aloe vera can help take some of the burden off of your immune system, allowing it to strengthen up and be more effective at what it does. Aloe Vera is an adaptogen.(herbal ingredients used to improve the health of your adrenal system, the system that's in charge of managing your body's hormonal response to stress).  Aloe Vera juice reduces stress. Drinking aloe vera juice can help your body cope with the changes that occur in the world around you, actually helping you to adapt to these changes rather than fight against them. This is why it’s considered an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body adapt to what’s going on in its environment. Other examples of adaptogens include ginseng and goji berries.
The sort of stress that aloe vera juice can help with is both emotional and physical, allowing you to focus better in hectic times, as well as handle physical stresses to the body without escalating the problem.
It can also help the body with environmental stresses, which is important because we have little control over this, so it’s important to shore up your defenses and equip the body with what it needs to effectively thrive in constantly changing environment...I guess I should have done a blog just on Aloe Vera!

use nutrients like rhodiola, vit C, Vit D, krill oil( 2000 mg) to help calm your immune system naturally.

take a probiotic 5 billion to help with gut flora if you have been on any anti biotics

avoid the 5 "A's" Antibiotics, Advil, Asprin,Alcohol, Animal products,

exercise regularly is a natural anti inflammatory

practice deep relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, yoga, massage, chiropractic care for the spine..because stress worsens the immune response.

Go to bed before 10am. and sleep 8 hours.  Sleeping between hours between 10pm-12pm recharge the adrenal glands.

don't watch violent, scary or movies or tv shows that bring negativity into your body.  look at nature, watch travel or animal documentaries.  Put fiction on the shelf and get back to reality and nature.

reduce stress...do a puzzle, pet your animal, ect.
avoid toxic negativity and that goes for people too.  you can turn your phone off and you don't have to answer it!

Famous person with Hashimoto's : Kim Alexis

http://www.empoweryourhealth.org/vol1-issue1/Shes-got-the-Look-how-Kim-Alexis-overcame-her-Thyroid-problem

Hashimoto's: Life as a zombie

http://www.vega-licious.com/reversing-hypothyroidism-diet-6-year-update/

life as a hashizombie

http://rrlmusic.blogspot.com/2011/05/hashimotos-life-as-zombie.html

http://thyroidnation.com/autoimmune/

Unmanaged Hashimoto's

The majority of cases of hypothyroidism in this country are autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. When an autoimmune attack flares, damage to the gland spills thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, which can amp up metabolism and cause symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. In this case proper management of the autoimmune thyroid condition can help subdue anxiety
This article below is written by Dr.Kharrazian
http://drknews.com/autoimmune-gut-repair-diet/
people asking what they can do immediately to manage their autoimmune condition. The science can be confusing and complex, especially to the person with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism who also suffers from brain fog, fatigue, and some loss of cognitive function.
What people frequently fail to realize is that underlying all of the more complicated scientific approaches in the book is the most important foundation of all—your diet.

Autoimmune disease and leaky gut create a vicious cycle

A person suffering from autoimmune disease invariably has gut issues. The more severe the autoimmune disease the more severe the gut issues, and vice versa. In a self-perpetuating vicious cycle leaky gut flares up autoimmune conditions, which in turn further damages the gut lining.

Stricter diet often necessary

Isn’t the elimination/provocation diet in the book severe enough? Now an even stricter diet? It became clear, based on the research and the experience of many people, that a more stringent approach is often necessary. The diet must be very basic and simple so as not to trigger inflammation in the intestines and further worsen leaky gut and autoimmune flare-ups.
This diet can be followed from 10 to 60 days or longer. Some like to follow it for a short time after accidentally eating gluten, or splurging on too many sweets at a wedding or holiday party. Some follow it longer for extensive repair. Others are happy to make it a way of life because it allows them to feel and function their best.
The literature identifies nutritional and herbal compounds that can facilitate your gut-repair progress, which I will introduce in the second edition of the thyroid book, or which your practitioner can help you with. However this diet is powerful therapy on its own.

The autoimmune gut repair diet

The goal of this program is remove immune triggers from your diet that promote inflammation and yeast overgrowth in the gut, and intestinal permeability. By calming inflammation in the gut, you will be able to better calm inflammation throughout the body and brain, including autoimmune flare-ups.
Focus on ample vegetables, essential fatty acids (such as from olives, olive oil, and fish), and fermented foods to support healthy gut flora.
Eat frequently enough to avoid the energy crashes of low blood sugar—do not let yourself get hungry, and stay hydrated with plenty of fresh, filtered water.
It’s vital to strictly avoid the foods on the “Foods to avoid” list. Even just a small snack or a bite of these foods can trigger an immune reaction, inflammation, and an autoimmune flare-up. The cravings will pass quickly, especially as you start to feel and function better.
This diet is powerful on its own, however to boost the repair and recovery effects, please work with a qualified practitioner who understands the connections between gut health and the brain, immune system, and endocrine system. He or she can provide you with proven nutritional compounds that have been shown to significantly aid the process of repair and recovery and unwind self-perpetuating inflammatory cycles in the gut.

Foods to eat

When confronted with this diet the fist thing people ask is what can they eat. In fact you’ll be eating the way people ate for most of human history—there’s plenty of food that doesn’t come from a factory or an industrialized farm. Of course, if you have an intolerance to any of these foods, don’t eat it just because it’s on this list.

• Most Organic Vegetables: including anise, artichoke, asparagus, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cucumbers, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, radishes, rhubarb, shallots, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, water chestnuts, watercress, yams, zucchini.
• Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled ginger, fermented cucumbers, coconut yogurt, kombucha, water kefir, etc. You will probably need to make your own or buy one of the few brands that are genuinely fermented and free of sugars or additives. Also, search for information about anaerobic fermented foods in air-tight containers. These ferments do not produce histamines that some people react to (including rashes, digestive upset, inflammation) in aerobic, or open, ferments typically using mason jars.
• Meats: including beef, chicken, fish, lamb, turkey. Fish should be ocean caught with a low mercury content. Swordfish, most tuna, and king mackerel are very high in mercury. Select hormone-free and antibiotic-free chicken, turkey, and lamb. Select beef that is grass fed, hormone free, and antibiotic free. Best choice are grass-fed and pastured meats from a local farm. Second best is organic. Avoid factory-farmed meats that contain antibiotics and hormones. For a source of good meat near you, contact your local Weston A. Price chapter leader, or order using the link on the Resources page.
• Low Glycemic Organic Fruits: including apples, apricots, avocados, berries, cherries, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, peaches, pears, plums.
• Coconut: including coconut butter, coconut cream, coconut milk, coconut oil, unsweetened coconut flakes, unsweetened coconut yogurt.
• Noodles: shirataki yam noodles (sold in Asian grocery stores). Avoid the noodles that also contain tofu.
• Herbs and Spices: including basil, black pepper, cilantro, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sea salt, thyme.
• Other: apple cider vinegar, herbal teas, olive oil, olives.

Foods to avoid

• Sugars: including agave, candy, chocolate, corn syrup, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, molasses, sucrose, coconut sugar, etc.
• High Glycemic Fruits: including bananas, canned fruits, dried fruits, mango, pineapple, raisins, watermelon.
• Grains: including amaranth, barley, buckwheat, bulgur, corn, couscous, kamut, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye, spelt, wheat, wheat germ.
• Nuts and Seeds: including almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.
• Gluten-Containing Compounds: including barbecue sauce, binders, bouillon, brewer’s yeast, cold cuts, condiments, emulsifiers, fillers, chewing gum, hot dogs, hydrolyzed plant and vegetable protein, ketchup, soy sauce, lunch meats, malt and malt flavoring, malt vinegar, matzo, modified food starch, monosodium glutamate, nondairy creamer, processed salad dressings, seitan, some spice mixtures, stabilizers, teriyaki sauce, textured vegetable protein.
• Dairy Products and Eggs: including butter, cheeses, cow milk, creams, frozen desserts, goat milk, margarine, mayonnaise, sheep milk, whey, yogurt (except coconut).
• Soy: including edamame, miso, soy milk, soy protein, soy sauce, tempeh, tofu.
• Fungi: edible fungi and mushrooms.
• Alcohol: all alcohol.
• Beans and Legumes: including black beans, lentils, peanuts, peas, pinto beans, soybeans.
• Nightshade Foods: including eggplant, paprika, peppers, potatoes, Tabasco® sauce, tomatillos, tomatoes.
• Other: canned foods, coffee, processed foods.

Why no grains or legumes?

Some people with Hashimoto’s give up gluten and feel only marginally better. Many practitioners have found in these cases a diet free of grains, starchy vegetables, legumes, and most sweeteners may be necessary. This type of diet, called a monosaccharide (single sugar) diet, is more commonly known today as the Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet, or the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It is based on consuming a diet free of foods that contain disaccharides or polysaccharides, more complex sugars and carbohydrates, such as those in all grains, most beans, and most sweeteners. These complex sugars feed harmful bacteria in the small intestine that prevent its repair or proper function.

Some foods can cross-react with gluten

Grains and legumes present problems for other reasons. Research has shown that many gluten-intolerant people cross-react with other foods. In other words, their body erroneously recognizes other foods as gluten and reacts accordingly. Not surprisingly, most grains fall into the category of top 24 foods most often to cause cross-reactivity, including less common ones as amaranth and quinoa.
Other common cross-reactive foods include dairy, chocolate, sesame, and instant coffee. Fortunately it is now possible to test which foods might be provoking a cross-reaction to gluten, which you can read about here.

Corn

I tell all my gluten-free patients to avoid corn, even though this contradicts the advice on many gluten-free websites. The gluten protein in corn is similar enough to that in wheat and wheat-like grains that it can provoke an immune response. Also, corn has been bred over the years to resist pests. Unfortunately this bred into corn a compound called fucosamine, which is carcinogenic.

Lectins in grains and legumes

Grains and legumes are also high in lectins. Lectins have been shown to degrade the intestinal barrier. Once in the bloodstream they may bind to insulin receptors and leptin receptors (leptin acts in concert with insulin to control appetite). Some believe lectins may also have the ability to desensitize these receptors, thus contributing to insulin resistance and leptin resistance.

Gluten and Thyroid= same molecular structure

Because the molecular structure of gluten is almost identical to the molecular structure of thyroid tissue (why?), ingesting gluten can make the body say, "time to attack! who is this? and increase the autoimmune assault on the thyroid.

advice....

Get protein at each meal. Protein helps boost T3, your active thyroid hormone, and helps convert T4 to T3.

Get plenty of wholesome, dietary fat. Fat and cholesterol help build proper hormonal pathways.

Selenium, found primarily in Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds, helps boost T3 production. Zinc, copper, and iron are also important, as is a range of B vitamins, “the anti-stress vitamins.”

Vitamin D is particularly important, and most people are deficient. Not only does Vitamin D help transport thyroid hormone into our cells and help contribute to proper hormonal pathways (it’s actually a hormone, not a vitamin), it’s also an immune modulator, meaning that it can help modulate and regulate wayward immune function.

Kale Thyroid connection

I found this article interesting about eating kale.

http://www.vintageamanda.com/2013/02/the-kale-thyroid-connection/

The Big sleep...misdiagnosed

Hi, I have Hashimoto's Thyroid Auto Immune disease.  It took a lot of heartache, sleepless nights  and wasted money to get to this diagnosis.  Let me tell my story.

I have had a lot of stress, severe chronic stress in my life.  I was an avid 2 hour exerciser.  I ate a lot of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs.  I have severe chronic marital and family stress.  I have 8 kids including twins. So I've been pregnant 7 times from age 21-39.  After my 8th child special needs was born, my health started to decline.  I was diagnosed by a young doctor with depression and GAD(General Anxiety disorder) and put on Lexapro and sleeping pills and other drug for my panic attacks.  My youngest child had health conditions which caused me to be very stressed and I was basically a single parent trying to raise 8 children. 
I gained 20+ pounds on Lexapro and it started to effect me as a mother.  Iwas more angry and NOT myself. I lost all desire to exercise.  I ate tons of sugar.  I was also diagnosed with Meniere's disease in my left ear.  I was dizzy after eating high salt (fast food burgers) or high sugar(cotton candy) and couldn't walk for 2 days. The ENT(ear nose throat) doctor told me no more than 1000 mg of salt per day.  This led me to start researching about Menieres and how it is auto immune disease.  I also decided to get off all drugs.  My medical doctor had me go to have my kidney's looked at .  She had me have a vaginal ultrasound by a man which was totally embarrassing and also that showed one of my kidneys to be larger than the other . So she wanted me to have an Xray when they pump you full of iodine.  She did this KNOWING I had been diagnosed with Hashimoto's.  She had me get a thyroid test which turned out to be normal.  Then she had another thyroid test a year later since my symptoms got worse and my thyroid turned out to be not normal so she sent me to a endocrinologist and he did an ultrasound and found out I had the beginning's of Hashimoto's.  So she KNEW I had Hashimoto's before the kidney xray.  My insurance didn't cover the vaginal ultrasound which cost over $1,000 and the kidney xray which caused me to have a panic attack in my car was over $5,000. The endocrinologist put me on 120 mg of Levythorixine.(I can't spell) and 1/2 my hair fell out and had horrible body odor.  I called him and he told me to stop all medication for a week and start again with 1/2 the dose.  I was fed up!!!
So after remembering those painful horrible days, I finally switched doctor's to a naturopath doctor.  She switched me to Armour thyroid and I finally started feeling better and losing weight. 

As I sit here and type this with my Thyroid throbbing and aching after I had a smoothie with raw kale, I wonder, why is my thyroid hurting? Why are my ears ringing with tinnitus?
Stress? The gluten I ate 3 days ago? I want to talk about what I have learned and what has helped me.
I still haven't lost all the weight from my last pregnancy.  The intense 2 hour exercise has dwindled to barely 30 minute of cardio and this has to be low impact. and even lifting weights can cause a auto immune flare up.
I need to get more serious about Food being my medicine. I don't really take it as serious.  I think, oh, I can have a bite of cake or a bite of pie and end up eating the gluten.  I even wrote on my palms, NO GLUTEN, NO SUGAR.  Afterall, its my hand that feeds me.  It's my will to put my hand to my mouth and feed myself.  That is also why I'm starting this blog.  To show myself how serious I am!!!

I have recorded some of my favorite parts of the auto immune summit...bad quality from my phone but the best part of it. 
I've gained a wealth of knowledge from other people off the internet to help me with my suffering and how I've slowly gotten over my anemia which I have suffered with for many years.
There are some things I can't change with my lifestyle like having 8 children but there are some things  I have the power to change like my eating.  Food is my medicine.  I live in a home full of gluten and sugar. A spouse that eats this way.  I have to have my own list of things I can eat.  Sometimes the depression that comes with Hashimoto's gets to me and I feel like giving up.  But I pick myself off the floor and dust myself off and start again. 
This blog will be helpful to me in that I can journal things I have learned and get them out in the open.  I can put out links that have helped me and also help me in the future.  And maybe someone will be helped.
I have just switched to a holistic dentist and I found out I have a lot of mercury fillings and some of them are bleeding into my gums. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to be tested for mercury sensitivity.  I will be taking out all my mercury in my mouth.  I've learned from a dentist on the auto immune summit that he has had patients take out there mercury fillings and the auto immune symptoms went away.  So I am willing to try anything to get better.

So far...
I have cut out gluten, eggs, dairy, caffeine(although I do drink jasmine green tea but my doctor said that this amount of caffeine is not a problem)
I have replaced dairy with So Delicious Coconut creamer  for tea and Coconut milk for my smoothie.
I want to start having coconut butter on my gluten free toast.
I try to go to be before 10pm
I will also share the books that have helped me.

I have brain fog very bad.  Very tired.  Throbbing aching thyroid.  Cry easily.  Anxiety and impatient(not myself. I'm usually happy funny loving person.  But just clothing getting stuck on hanger and not coming off will make be get so angry.  Or dropping something on the floor will  cause me to groan outloud.  Also I get headaches with an occasional migraine which starts in my eye as an ocular bright electric bolt in my eye transferring to the other eye and I can't see for 10 minute.  Then the migraine comes in my neck and back of my head.  I have to take 3 advil and go to bed. although just recently, I found out Advil is toxic for the ear and auto immune disease. 

I have read that people can recover from this and I hope to be one of those people.