Tag Archives: Hashimotos

Simply Mahvelous Magnesium

I’m showing my age.  Can anyone guess who said, “Simply Mahvelous”?   Anyway, on to my post.

Most of my blog articles are born out of  a need or necessity to acquire knowledge to heal my body through food and wellness.  I’m hoping that the knowledge I gain will help you with your quest for health and wellness from the inside out.

Every year I have lab work, for my general health and specifically for my thyroid.  During this time the doctor talks to me about my health and examines the lab results.  During this year’s visit, I told the doctor that I had been feeling extremely hot and not sleeping well.  My doctor was “on it”.  She immediately ordered more tests to check Magnesium, Iron, TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity) etc.

She told me that it appeared that the Thyroid meds (T4) were not converting to T3 which then the body uses. She told me that since the T4 was not being converted, my body was like a furnace and that is the reason I wasn’t sleeping and was “hot” all the time.  Most doctors would not have caught this at all.  I am so grateful for mine that wants to get to the bottom of it and not just medicate me.

After getting my 2nd set of lab results back it showed that my Iron and Magnesium levels were low and I was told to take Iron and ReMag (more on the specifics of the type of Magnesium to take tackled in another blog post).  I began to research Magnesium and its function.  I couldn’t believe what I was reading.  That some are medicated for high blood pressure when all along it may be Magnesium deficiency and they go on a cycle of high blood pressure meds that deplete them of more Magnesium then the doctor medicates them even more.  Argh!!!   Here is some of what I found on Magnesium:

 Facts of Magnesium

( http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/)

  • Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation
  • It contributes to the structural development of bone and is required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and the antioxidant glutathione.
  • It plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, a process that is important to nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm.

In “Invisible Minerals – Part I: Magnesium.” by Dr. Carolyn Dean, Dr. Dean states that the only way to describe Magnesium is with the word, “miracle”.  It’s a miracle she says because:

   It Prevents and treats:

  • Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Cholesterol
  • Migraines
  • Heart Disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Asthma
  • Blood Clots
  • Bowel Disease
  • Cystitis
  • Depression
  • Detoxification
  • Nerve Problems
  • Back Spasm
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Peri-menopause
  • Sciatica
  • …and much more
Dr. Daniel Heller says,” Magnesium (Mg) may be the most overlooked mineral.”
Maoshing Ni, PhD, LAc,Gerontology, says that“About 56% of Americans lack magnesium. “
Dr. Carolyn Dean says that “100 yrs. ago you could get enough Magnesium from food up to 500 mg/day but since farmers don’t re-mineralize their soil, that number has dropped to 150mg.  The RDA for Magnesium is 350-450mg. just to ward off deficiency. “

 

Most people are deficient and do not even know it.  They go on a vicious cycle of medicating to treat their symptoms, when all along it may have been a need for Magnesium.  The following are some of the symptoms of Magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium Deficiency

(List from http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/#close

 Magnesium deficient symptoms:
  • Muscle cramps or twitches
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Sensitivity to loud noises
  • Anxiety
  • Autism
  • ADD
  • Palpitations
  • Angina
  • Constipation
  • Anal spasms
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Asthma
  • Kidney stones
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • High blood pressure
  • PMS
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Irritable bladder
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Reflux
  • Trouble swallowing

  What about Supplements?

I will go into this in the next few blog posts but if you can’t wait , please read this very important e-book by Carolyn Dean.  Your health depends on it.!  https://s3.amazonaws.com/rnareset/content_files/Invisible-Minerals-Part-I-May-4-2014.pdf

 

Contraindications to Magnesium supplementation:

  • Kidney failure
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Excessively slow heart rate

NOTES

The entire contents of this blog are based upon the opinions and personal experience of, Deborah Lea, unless otherwise noted. Deborah is not a doctor and the information on this website is not intended to replace a relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. Please make your own health care decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Gluten-free to Paleo to Whole 30 Journey

I promised that I would share my Paleo journey.  In previous posts I mentioned that due to my autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, I  am going gluten-free.  The research is here if you want to read my post.

Gluten-free is definitely a challenge for this Italian girl. When I started out a few months ago, I decided to go “gluten-free”: first.  I immediately noticed a difference in that I saw less bloating.  I had no idea that I had gluten-sensitivity .  Remember I was doing this because of the research I found regarding auto-immune disease and gluten.  Going gluten -free was not as difficult as I thought.  There are many gluten-free products out there and as a matter of fact I fell into the “gluten -free snack trap”.   I began to eat foods that I don’t normally eat just because now it said , “gluten-free”.

My next phase was to follow the  Paleo plan.  The Paleo plan is here if you want to read about it.  On this plan, I began to eliminate all grains. This is NOT the Atkins plan. This is a lifestyle that also includes fruits and veggies.  Once again, I continued to feel better.  My goal was not to lose weight, but to improve my health.  As my body began to heal, some of the bloat and weight came off without trying.

My third and final phase was to join the “Whole 30″ craze. ” Whole 30″ is considered ‘ Paleo on steroids’.  You can read about it here. During this phase I took out all sweeteners which includes, agave and stevia.  I have heard many positive testimonials regarding the Whole 30 and decided, I will try this next.  Again, I am doing this because of my autoimmune disease.

Below you will find my results from going gluten-free.  The blood test, C-Reactive Protein measures “the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein in your blood.  C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body. High levels of CRP are caused by infections and many long-term diseases. But a CRP test cannot show where the inflammation is located or what is causing it. Other tests are needed to find the cause and location of the inflammation.” (WebMd)

Results from going completely Gluten-free:

Less Bloating

Weight Loss

Inflammation decreased

C-Reactive Protein lowest it’s been in 6 years

 

Notes

I will continue to update you as I go through the Whole 30. I am not a doctor.  Always consult your doctor when changing diet or exercise program.