ASK BONNIE for April 2002

Question #1:

Is corn gluten-free?

Answer #1:

Corn does not contain the same type of gluten that wheat, rye, barley, spelt, triticale, teff, kamut, and millet do. According to the Celiac Sprue foundation, corn is acceptable (as is rice and wild rice). However, corn does contain a separate form of gluten that many individuals, especially blood type B's, cannot break down. 

Great Smokies Diagnostic Labs (gsdl.com) has a food sensitivity test (ELISA) that can assess both a grain gluten and a corn gluten intolerance.

Question #2:

My doctor says I am close may have hypothyroidism? What can I do to avoid this disorder?

Answer #2:

What a coincidence! Find below notes from a recent conference I attended called "Nutritional Approaches to Stress-Induced Disorders: New Strategies for Thyroid Function." These notes may give you some ideas to discuss with your licensed health professional.

THYROID

• “Numerous environmental agents have been reported to alter thyroid hormone levels in humans, wildlife animals, and laboratory and animal models. Typically, hypothyroidism is the consequence of exposure to environmental chemicals.” EPA/630/R-96/012; February 1997: Special Report On Environmental Endocrine Disruption: An Effects Assessment and Analysis. Page 50
  
• Thyroid hormones have two major effects on the body:

-an increase in the overall metabolic rate

-in children, stimulation of growth

 

• Proper thyroid secretes calcitonin for calcium metabolism. Poor calcium absorption? Could be thyroid related.
  
• Chlorinated water contributes to hypothyroidism
  
• Comprehensive Thyroid Support
• Optimize Conversion of T4 to T3
• Filter water – chlorine, fluoride compete with iodine for binding to thyroglobulin
• Gluten-free diet
• Check vitamin D levels
• Detoxification – endocrine disruptors, pH, Pituitary, liver, and kidney support for proper conversion of T4 to T3
• EPA/DHA for pituitary function and receptor binding
• Adequate iodine – essential for T4 synthesis
• Optimize kidney function – pH regulation, T4-T3 conversion
• Adequate Selenium – mercury detox, break down bad Ts
• Antioxidants – spares glutathione and therefore selenium reserve

GENERAL TIDBITS

• Glucocorticoids (cortisone, prednisone, etc.) effects:

Glucose mobilization

Anabolic processes halted

Digestion inhibited

Growth inhibited

Reproduction curtailed

Immunity inhibited

Pain perception blunted

Enhanced cognitive and sensory skills

 

• There are 3 nutrition problems that are pandemic in our society: 1) Magnesium deficiency 2) Omega 3 deficiency 3) Colonic deforestation. Dr. Sidney Baker 1999 Linus Pauling functional medicine award winner; fourth symposium on functional medicine

• Osteoporosis is a recognized consequence of sustained cortisol excess. Baynes J, PhD, and Dominczak M, MD Medical Biochemistry MOSBY, 1999, page 458
  
• Hormone activity becomes increasingly impaired as the body accumulates acid.

• When estrogen is not properly detoxified, it is stored in the breast tissue and has the potential to be carcinogenic. “The tissues of women with breast cancer may have 10 to 50x the level of plasma concentration of estrogen. This suggests that estrogens are not properly detoxified, and therefore accumulate in the breast tissue. These levels will increase the risk of breast cancer. J Natl Can Inst Monographs #27:95-112 (2000)

• We believe it would represent a serious error in judgment with regard to public health to ignore the clear message from these combined studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and JAMA that estrogen/progestin therapy increases the risk of breast cancer. Kuller, LH. Effect of hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk: estrogen versus estrogen plus progestin. J of Natl Cancer Inst 92(4):328-332.

• Premarin’s warning label says taking for more than one year could increase cancer risk by 4.5 to 13.9 times (450-1390%).

• Birth control pills are on the list of carcinogens.

• “The risk factor for women developing breast and endometrial cancers are all associated with a lifetime of estrogen exposure.” Zhang, Chen, Pisha, Shen, Xiong, van Breeman, Bolton, Chem Res Toxicol, 1999, 12, 204-213

• “Because of the complex role that the central nervous system plays in regulating endocrine function, cells within the brain are a potential target for environmental chemicals that have no impact on steroid hormones directly but yet will lead to a disruption of endocrine function.” EPA/630/R-96/012; February 1997: Special Report On Environmental Endocrine Disruption: An Effects Assessment and Analysis. Page 5

• “A hypothesis has been proposed that certain chemicals may disrupt the endocrine system. Possible human health endpoints affected by these agents include breast cancer and endometriosis in women, testicular and prostate cancers in men, abnormal sexual development, reduced male fertility, alteration in pituitary and thyroid gland functions, immune suppression, and neurobehavioral effects.” EPA/630/R-96/012; February 1997: Special Report On Environmental Endocrine Disruption: An Effects Assessment and Analysis. Page vii

• 8 Modifiable Risk Factors of Unhealthy Aging, Bland, J.S., The Use of Complementary Medicine for Healthy Aging. Alt Ther. July 1998 Vol 4. No.4, 42-48

• Dysglycemia

• Impaired Detoxification

• Chronic Inflammation

• Faulty Methylation
  Methylation is when methionine is broken down by SAMe. When SAMe gives up its methyl to repair DNA instead of detoxifying it, it creates Homocysteine

• Chronic Stress

• Impaired mitochondria
  Mitochondria functions as a battery charger and generates 95% of human energy

• Poor Immune Function

• Hormones
  Premarin is horse urine estrogen – a carcinogen with 50% human compatible, 50% non-human compatible
  Excess estrogen contributes to hypothyroidism

These statements are for reference purposes only, and should not be interpreted as a means for self-diagnosis. Before taking any action, all of these statements should be discussed and evaluated by a licensed health professional.

Have a happy, healthy day.

Past Ask Bonnie entries: 1999 June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec,                                              2000 Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec                                  2001 Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec                                  2002 Feb, Mar

 

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