A Butterfly

...shaped gland at the base of the neck is the thyroid gland, which excretes a hormone that controls how energy is used by our cells. Abnormal function of the thyroid gland can exhibit excessive or insufficient amounts of hormones in the bloodstream. Insufficient amounts of the thyroid hormone is called hypothyroidism and is the most common thyroid problem. It also affects more women and people over the age of 60 than any other groups.

According to the American Thyroid Association, the major causes of hypothyroidism are:

• Autoimmune disease,
• Removal of all or part of the thyroid, resulting in a decrease of thyroid hormone production,
• Radiation treatment,
• Congenital hypothyroidism,
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by an autoimmune attack or infection,
• Reaction to medication,
• Too much iodine,
• Damage to the pituitary gland,
• Disease that impairs thyroid function.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not consistent from individual to individual, and can develop very slowly over a period of time. Symptoms can be difficulty in losing weight, dry skin, lethargy or fatigue, hair loss, recurrent infections and sensitivity to cold. They should be unusual to typical daily feelings to consider them a thyroid issue. Also, check with family members for a history of thyroid disease or problems, because it is genetic.

If you think hypothyroidism is the problem, get tested. A simple TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood test can determine if you suffer from low levels of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The T4 hormone is the most critical because of its affect on every cell in the body. If the results show a hypothyroid issue, take the initiative to start controlling the disorder.

To control hypothyroidism, thyroxine (T4) needs to be replaced. Sounds simple, however, it will be a lifelong commitment. Controlling hypothyroidism can be done by supplementation with a natural Thyroid Formula to balance hormone levels, or there are other alternatives. For individuals with a minor hypothyroid disorder, symptoms should subside within a few weeks after taking a TSH, but a more severe thyroid imbalance may take longer with other factors influencing relief.

Good health should be taken seriously, so if you haven't focused on symptoms in your body, start paying closer attention. Consistent feelings of lethargy, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold may not be because you're going through the normal aging process, but because that butterfly-shaped gland in the base of your neck is, well, gradually becoming more than just a pain in the neck.

From Eeyore to SpongeBob

Oh-h-h-h, bother! And it is for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Their daily life is overcome with fatigue, depression, hopelessness, lack of interest and social involvement, weight gain possibly due to carbohydrate cravings and irritability, or any combination of the symptoms. SAD, or the "Winter Blues," affect people most often in the winter months, due to the lack of sunlight and shorter days, particularly people who live north of the equator, but can also affect people in spring through fall. The disorder during the warmer, sunnier days of the year, has the opposite effects, creating insomnia, loss of weight, agitation and normal to high mood swings.

The shorter days during the winter have an affect on the majority of the population in northern climates, and are not considered a disorder unless symptoms persist for days at a time. If eating and sleeping habits change, and social activities are avoided for days and weeks, SAD may be the issue. The difference between feeling down on overcast days and having a problem with SAD is the ability to change your mood.

The main reason for SAD is unknown, but can be linked to age, genetics and a person's chemical makeup. According to mayoclinic.com, the disorder may be from a disruption in a person's biological clock, an increase in melatonin and a decrease in serotonin levels, which change with shorter days and the lack of  sunlight.

So, what are some solutions to SAD?

1) Create a bright environment, at work and home. Let the sun in to brighten overall mood.

2) Eat right. Stay away from foods high in sugars that will give temporary highs and send the mood into a downward spiral shortly after.

3) Exercise. Exercising increases serotonin levels which are known to relieve stress and anxiety, and improve mood.

4) Supplement with vitamin D, a good multivitamin/multimineral and fish oil.  Research has shown low vitamin D levels to be linked to SAD and other forms of depression, and a number of other well-known diseases. Improper diet results in improper nutrient intake to keep a body functioning properly. When one area of the body is weakened, others are affected. EPA and DHA in fish oil, taken daily, has shown many benefits in boosting brain health.

So, with all this in mind, look at winter in a more positive light. It doesn't have to be the same dreary season year after year. All it takes are some minor changes to make any season look optimistic and go from thinking like Eeyore to feeling like SpongeBob.

Resveratrol Benefits Discovered...At Last!

In November of 2006, the announcement was made that resveratrol kept mice from gaining weight, increased their energy and muscle strength and kept them from aging prematurely. Wow. That sounds perfect for every thirty-something and over who have been searching for the fountain of youth. This newsworthy topic certainly creates advantages and disadvantages for any supplement company who carries a resveratrol supplement.

According to Christoph Westphal, a venture capitalist turned biotech, and David Sinclair, a Harvard medical school researcher, resveratrol "may retard the onset or progression of a whole slew of age-related diseases, from diabetes to Alzheimer's to cancer. The drugs may also have an extremely provocative side effect: They might extend life span." The difference between the two men and one CEO of a tiny supplement company? It's not just the $82 million that backs Westphal's company Sirtris, but the idea that resveratrol as an anti-aging drug will most likely be accepted by the FDA, probably before the clinical human trials are completed, and promoted heavily by a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company. On the flipside, supplement companies scratch and claw, and cautiously advertise their products, to avoid being stricken by lightning from the black cloud that constantly lingers over their heads - the FDA and government legislation.

Here's something else to think about. Will the resveratrol being produced be strictly resveratrol, or will it contain impurities, such as chemicals or additives, that will create side effects like many of the well-known prescription drugs on the market? Research, so far, hasn't made it apparent whether the 'wonder resveratrol drug' will be purely natural, synthetically made, or a combination of the two. Time will tell.

To the supplement world, it is frustrating to know that a nutrient such as resveratrol can be around for decades, and suddenly become the 'in' product because a business giant's money and influence says it may stop age-related disease. On the other hand, we can ride on their shirttails of multi-media advertising and actually get a quality product to be seen. In the end, as hard as it may be, supplement companies may be thanking the two doctors who 'discovered' resveratrol and it's overwhelming benefits, and the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the product. Wouldn't that be ironic?

Will the Real Olive Leaf Please Stand Up?

I've received several calls over the last few days regarding "harsh chemicals and solvents" in our Olive Leaf Extract. Unfortunately, there is some confusion surrounding this issue and I feel the need to set the record straight.

First, our number one priority is to kill fungus - so we try to make each product as powerful as possible. In order to do this, we concentrate the active ingredients. I have no problem with a company that sells whole herb products - but don't market them as extracts and don't make false claims about other extracts.

The best way to concentrate the active nutrients, is by using alcohol. The reason is that alcohol will break down fibers and other parts of the plant that don't do anything, concentrating the active nutrients and leaving parts of the whole plant in the product. Then it evaporates. There is little or no alcohol in most herbal extracts. The only "harsh chemical or solvent" that is used is ethanol. Once it has done it's job, it evaporates. Every batch of every extract we use is tested for heavy metals and alcohol - the result is always virtually zero - less than you would get from eating ripe fruit.

Science has also proven that we don't always want to completely isolate active ingredients. As an example, it is commonly believed that oleuropein is the most antifungal component of Olive Leaf Extract. However, by itself, oleuropein is ineffective. It needs it's derivatives and other parts of the plant to be effective. On the other hand, if you concentrate the oleuropein and it's derivatives, you can make the product stronger.

Think of it this way. If you take the gas out of your car, it will not go anywhere. But if you use a higher octane gas, you will get better gas mileage and better performance. That's what we want - the best possible antifungal nutrients available.

Again, I have no problem with whole plant or herb products. In fact, I'm a big fan. But when it comes to killing fungus, I want to have the strongest, most concentrated product I can.

Here are a couple things to think about...

*You can eat 5 lbs of yogurt - or you can take a couple of probiotic capsules.

*You can eat 2 bushels of broccoli - or you can take one tiny capsule of chromium picolinate.

*It is nearly impossible to get all the nutrients you need from food alone - that's why we take a multivitamin. The ingredients in multivitamins are extracts! How else would they be able to get individual nutrients out of the plant?

A whole herb (not "extract") olive leaf contains about 1% oleuropein - ours contains 18%. Not to mention that we have 800mg in a capsule - the strongest you can buy.

We Have a Leak!

Instantly images come to a persons mind of water spraying somewhere under the kitchen or bathroom sink, but this leak is referring to a different kind of leak - one that affects your health. The leak is in your intestines and not only allows some good nutrients to seep into your system, but also undigested food particles, toxins and waste that will have a negative effect on your health. And if this sounds gross, well, the name for leaking intestines isn't any better - Leaky Gut Syndrome!

And what causes a weakened intestinal lining which leads to Leaky Gut Syndrome? The answer varies and depends on stress level, type of diet, antibiotics or other medications taken, and exposure to fungus.

The unfortunate thing about Leaky Gut Syndrome is that it often goes undiagnosed and will persist for years, causing any number of symptoms and diseases. It may cause heartburn, abdominal pain, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, allergies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's, and psychological problems.

The first course of action would be to strengthen the intestinal lining to stop any leakage. This may require a series of antifungals to kill off the yeast and other toxins in the body. Also, a probiotic is a must, to help force out any negative bacteria, fungus or parasites that have made the intestines their home and love to punch holes in the walls. Fiber products should be used to help absorb toxins and flush them out of the body. Lastly, but one of the most critical steps is take L-glutamine powder. L-glutamine is an essential amino acid which is abundant in the body, helps build the immune system, and works extremely well for healing wounds - like an intestinal lining that has deteriorated.

If you know you eat a lot of processed foods, sugars, drink alcohol, have taken antibiotics in the past or have a stressful lifestyle, consider making a change. All aspects of your mental and physical health depend on it, and the results will be so rewarding if an overall balance is achieved. It won't be easy, but then fixing a major leak under the sink for most people isn't easy either!

The More the Merrier!

This statement is questionable when it comes to medications and health. There are so many people, especially older people, who take more than one prescription medication on a daily basis. Many seem to be unclear of the reasons for taking half their medications. The scenario usually starts with a visit at the doctors office which continues to spiral downhill over the years.

Doctors are definately necessary and may have chosen their profession to help others. Just like any other issue in the world, the reasons for over-prescribing medications doesn't rest solely on their shoulders. Many patients expect to get more than an explanation while at a doctor visit - a fast, easy cure-all for whatever condition they may have, something to help them feel better immediately. Forget about what lifestyle changes or dietary changes they should make to feel better - that's too difficult. Society has through the years placed an urgency and decreased work ethic on individuals, and this is the backbone of more than just over-prescribing medications in America.

America is now riddled with health problems, increased medical costs and the pressure to find solutions to other unhealthy trends that have developed before the turn of the century.

The solutions? Well, this is just one opinion, but start taking ownership and responsibility for your own health issues and quit relying so heavily on doctors to fix everything. Granted, there are some people who are unable to do this, but for those who are mentally and physically able to positively change their health, they should start right now.

How? First, ask your doctor which medications are necessary. Tell him or her you want to help yourself get off medications. You may be surprised at your doctor's response. Then, tell them what physical activity you would like to start to get your body healthy - relying on it's natural functions rather than the help of medications. And, lastly, make an honest effort to eat right and get your body the proper nutrients to help daily functions.

The hardest part of the process may be making the decision to start and telling yourself you may not need a medication anymore as a security blanket. Whenever the decision is made, just remember, to talk to your doctor first. Tell them you want to take the 'more' out of your medicated daily routine, and become free to dictate your health. Try it! Your future could be a lot 'merrier' for it!

Do Not Disturb

The summer in our part of the country has been fairly nice. For humans, it's been a good balance of weather. It hasn't given us much time to stew over "this hot, humid weather" or "too much rain." Each week has produced a few good swimming, boating or fishing days, and a few rainy days to replenish the moisture lost during the hot days.

One unusual difference this summer over past summers, has been the overabundance of mushrooms. They have mysteriously poked their heads out of odd places in yards, on forest floors, on trees, and about anywhere else they decide to cling. Interesting as they may be, they are most likely not edible and certainly don't look like your basic maiitake or button variety. Some look downright frightening and some beckon a person closer with their color or odd shape.

For the curious type, researching lawn and garden mushrooms on the web is a must. On one website, over 40 different varieties were identified as growing in a backyard or wooded area. The majority of them were non-poisonous, and eating a couple varieties would result in mild to acute gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms are due to ingestion, but what other health symptoms can their presence create?

When you have a moist climate, you generally have mushrooms and other fungal inhabitants. The spores of the fungus can be disturbed easily, sending them airborne, and causing health problems ranging from cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, skin disease, thrush, inner ear infection, and sinus infection. If left untreated, some symptoms of fungal infection may progress to central nervous system malfunction, and potentially major organ and brain infiltration.

Fungal infections related to airborne fungal spores, from mushrooms and other fungi, have occurred for centuries. Within the past two decades, a complex fungus has emerged in the Western United States. It's name - Cryptococcus Gattii (C. gattii). This problematic fungus was discovered in isolated cases on Vancouver Island in the 1990's, and over the past few years is appearing in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Fortunately, there have been few deaths amongst the hundreds infected by the spores.

These fungal spores typically come from the soil and trees, where the conditions are perfect for the growth of fungus. Some of these fungal spores may stay in isolated areas, some may spread rapidly due to disturbance of the growing environment. Some fungal infections appear only in immunocompromised individuals, and some randomly target healthy individuals with no similar characteristics. With this in mind, the one thing of importance is to monitor your health - if you've had a sharp, irritating cough, persistent fever, and other fungal symptoms for a prolonged period of time - see your healthcare professional. It may take 2-4 months before symptoms occur, too. And, be wary of the environment you are in - step lightly and do not disturb the fungus!