🌟 Hiya Gut Foodies! 🌟

Important organ ... the thyroid 🦋. It's like the thermostat on the wall 🌡️... turn it up ... you're warmed 🔥. But when it's down ... you're sluggish, shivering AND MISERABLE 😩!

We have thyroid hormone receptors on every cell in our body 🧬... that's how important the thyroid is! But when those hormones can't get in to turn up the thermostat ... there's trouble in Dodge City ... uh ... your cells 🚨.

Since Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune thyroid disease🌍... affecting one in five women and one in ten men ... I'm devoting a whole issue to it!
And to highlight the fact that 50% of people with thyroid disease go undiagnosed because doctors won't test for it ❌🔬!

Here are a Gut-Tip about the ultimate Grain-Free food 🍲... research about the Thyroid-Gut axis and how it profoundly influences the thyroid (are you surprised?) 🤔... and a supplement from my brand-new Hashimoto's Gut-Buster protocol 💊.

Not to mention a "Hashimoto's" Fab "N Fast recipe (Sugar Free 🚫🍭... Processed Free 🚫🥫... Grain Free 🚫🍞... Dairy Free 🚫🥛... Good Carbs) 🥔  📝 and a "basic" Micro-Mindful about sound👃. Topping it all off ... a thyroid funny for smiles and giggles  😂!

Oh... and by the way, I would love to hear your feedback about yays and/or nays (and sections you absolutely turn thumbs-up to ... or thumbs down) about GUT FOOD 💌. So drop me a line if you would... jill@healyourhealthnow.com.

GUT-TIP OF THE WEEK: 

Additionally, the protein in chia seeds could help reduce appetite and food intake. And research has shown that chia seeds directly help with weight loss ... but results are mixed.

Lowers Heart Disease Risk: It's not just the fiber ... it's the SOLUBLE fiber (remember oat bran?) that can help lower total and LDL (low-down-lousy) cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. Also ... eating ALA (alpha lipoic acid) ... one of the omega-3 fatty acid in chia seeds ... has been linked to decreased heart disease risk.

in 

Lowers Blood Sugar: Chia seeds in may help with blood sugar regulation, possibly due to their high fiber content and other beneficial compounds. This may help people with diabetes who have chronically high blood sugar levels. Which are associated with an increased risk of several complications, including heart disease, neuropathy, renal failure, and blindness.

RESEARCH DEETS 

🌟🦋 Dive into the gut-thyroid saga where our belly bugs 🐛 and micronutrients 🍽️ play starring roles in the drama of autoimmune thyroid disorders like Hashimoto's and Graves'!

 It's a twisty tale where a leaky gut 🚰 lets antigens crash the party, stirring up immune system mayhem 🎭 and thyroid tantrums. Plus, a cast of villainous bacteria 🦹‍♂️ might just be lurking in the shadows, plotting against our thyroid's peace!

🔍🥦 On the flip side, our gut's microbial maestros 🎼 could be the unsung heroes, fine-tuning our thyroid function with a symphony of essential nutrients 🎵. Iodine, selenium, and zinc – oh my! – are the thyroid's best buds, but when dysbiosis takes the stage, it's a nutrient no-show 🚫🎟️. 

Enter probiotics, the gut's peacekeepers, wielding the power to harmonize thyroid hormones and maybe even cut down on those pesky thyroid inhibitors. 💊➡️🌈.

🚀💡 Imagine a future where probiotics join forces with personalized gut therapy to tune up our thyroid health 🎤👩‍🔬. But hold the applause – we need more human studies to truly understand this gut-thyroid alliance 🧐. 

Until then, let's dream of a world where our gut flora and thyroid live in perfect harmony 🌍❤️, and keep our fingers crossed for breakthroughs that could revolutionize thyroid care 🤞🔬.

My Gut-Take: 

This article, "Thyroid-Gut-Axis: How Does the Microbiota Influence Thyroid Function?"AGAIN just about shouts in a big way that a happy gut has a profound effect upon your thyroid. And that the gut "has beneficial effects on the activity of the immune system, but also on thyroid function. Thyroid and intestinal diseases prevalently coexist" ... big F-in' deal!

It always amazes me that this belief is not widely embraced by the medical community. I know it's 20 years behind ... but life ... and accumulating environmental toxins ... are such a problem these days that we've gotta do something ... sooner ... rather than later!

Even the study agrees ... it concludes ... "There is accumulating data that a strong thyroid–gut axis exists. It appears to display a not well known but important correlation regarding the effect of the gut bacteria on the immune system and thyroid function. 

Furthermore, there is higher prevalence of the coexistence of thyroid and gut related diseases, just as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Graves’ Disease and Celiac Disease/Non-celiac wheat sensitivity. Dysbiosis is a common finding in thyroid disorders."

Well-said! Medical community ... listen up! I love these review studies because they look at the entire scope of research on one topic. And I've gotta tell you that they sometimes don't prove their hypotheses.

But this one does ... in spades! And ... it always amazes me that ... after 132 CITES OF RESEARCH ... they keep saying that "more needs to be done" ... ALWAYS! 

They didn't need it when they decided to promote Ozempic ... a diabetes drug ... for weight loss. Or rush through Phen-Pro after Phen-Fen was deemed hazardous to your health! What will it take?

SUPPLEMENT TAKES: 

My Gut-Take: 

I've been using this "probiotic yeast" since my days working in the cancer community. It stopped diarrhea cold then ... and I still recommend it to this day. As a matter of fact, I just did for one of my developmentally disabled kids with occasional loose stools.

I always say ... "If it worked for my cancer patients, it'll work for you!" Ain't it the truth! Because at no other time is the body under such extreme stress as in cancer treatment. S. Boulardii has also been researched to ...

• Crowd out bad bacteria: By competing for space and resources, S. boulardii can help limit the growth of harmful gut bacteria that contribute to diarrhea and other digestive issues.

• Strengthen the gut barrier: It may promote the production of mucus, a crucial component of the gut lining that defends against toxins and pathogens.

• Have anti-inflammatory properties: S. boulardii may dampen inflammation in the gut, which plays a role in various digestive disorders.

• Support the immune system: Studies suggest it might bolster the immune system's response to pathogens.

We use it here to rebalance the microbiome and rebuild our gut. I created a whole new Hashimoto's Gut-Buster protocol just for these GUT FOOD issues about thyroid health. See the whole thing … and the explanation of why I chose these particular supplements … at my Fullscript apothecary. 

Oh… by the way … I had to include the disclaimer above as supplements are not a medical product. But … just between you and me and the Root Cause Medicine community … they often work like gangbusters!

GUT RECIPE OF THE WEEK: 

I don't LIKE riced cauliflower 🥦...don't like the texture 🚫... even when disguised with soy sauce 🥢, bits of egg 🍳, and bites of veggies 🌽. But this Fab 'N Fast Hashimoto's Mashed Cauliflower 🍲... the texture IS right here 🎯... and slathered with butter (or ghee) 🧈, fresh herbs 🌿, and even Dairy Free sour cream 🥄... MWAH 💋!

And I call this Fab 'N Fast because you can actually make it in FIFTEEN MINUTES ⏰! And there's four major ingredients and lots of optional ones 📝... but the ones that really MAKE this super-simple dish 🌟.

And why am I calling this "Hashimoto's"? 90% OF THOSE WITH THYROID DISEASE ALSO HAVE HASHIMOTO'S! And it's not tested ... what's WRONG with our doctors 🤔?

OK ... off my soapbox 📦... on to the recipe. This mainly (I DID tweak it a little) comes from Isabella Wentz ... the thyroid pharmacist 💊... who healed herself (and many others) from Hashimoto's thyroiditis. And is ... in my opinion ... the gold standard for thyroid treatment 🏅.

And what does she use ... diet and supplements 💡. Sound familiar? And what kind of diet does she use? Mostly Paleo 🥩...

And suggests that you should be eating ... Sugar Free 🚫🍭... Processed Free 🚫🥫... Grain/Gluten Free 🚫🍞... Dairy Free 🚫🥛... Good Carbs 🥔. 

Hence this recipe ... plant-based and mostly Processed Free 🌱. Pair this with a nice steak and salad 🥗... it'll please even the most die-hard meat-and-potatoes man 🍖!

MICRO-MINDFULS: 

OK ... we're continuing to explore the senses today.Sound statistically is the second most-remembered sense ... so here's a Micro-Mindful about sound and listening. 

In our smart-phone world, listening profoundly appears to be old-hat. But ... since I work mainly with people who are not noticed or listened to ... I think it's more important now than ever! 

So here's my attempt to reclaim the art of listening ... something I've been very blessed with from my acting training. I know how valuable it is ... I didn't grow up in a listening home ... which alienated me from my family as a kid. 

So don't forget to use mindful breathing ... and perhaps this new listening audio ... to calm you throughout the day: when you brush your teeth, stop at a red light, wait for an appointment, when the phone rings, etc. Find your own times to use mindful breathing and sense memory.

Put “breathe” signs on your mirror, kitchen cabinet, or dashboard to remind you to breathe, mindfully and deeply (I actually tell myself out loud using my name ... i.e. "Breathe, Jill"). 

In stressful situations and/or emergencies ... when you find yourself starting to feel tense, anxious, or in pain, use your breathing to calm you ... take 3 to 5 mindful breaths ... but even one can make a difference. 

You'll find these in the "Back To Basics" section of "My Micro-Mindfuls" here! I'm designing these to use anywhere you feel stressed ... even if you're standing in a long checkout line or when you feel overwhelmed at work.

So download this one (BASICS Five) on your phone or other device so that you can use it whenever and wherever you’d like. I created a playlist on my phone music app and am downloading these weekly.

And … as more and more free mindfulness (and also guided imagery) snippets become available … you can pick and choose what resonates with you to create your very own playlist. So let’s begin …

Hearing the Unheard 🌬️👂... A Sensory Journey 

Calming yourself wherever you are 🌿… Inhaling and exhaling deeply and slowly through your nose a few times 🌬️… listen closely to any noises coming from your breath. Focus on your sense of hearing and listen to the sound of your breathing 🍃.

Now… breathing normally again… try to hear the sound of your breath… in… and out. Don’t change your breathing or make it noisy or heavy in any way 🤫.

Now… expand your hearing focus to your entire body. Are you quiet enough to hear the sounds of your body… perhaps the rumbling of your stomach telling you that it’s time to eat 🍽️… or the shifting of your seat in your chair… or the rustling of your clothing as you shift position 🪑?

Now… widen your focus to tune in to any other sounds you can hear around you. You are now calm… still and quiet… so you might be able to hear the clock ticking ⏰… your animals mewing or barking 🐱🐶… the coffee maker boiling ☕… your children talking 👶…

Open up your awareness even further to the other sounds present in your space… maybe the whoosh of cars passing 🚗… movement of others within your home 🚶‍♂️… or the tweeting of birds 🐦… or swoosh of the sprinklers 💦. Whatever is present, tune in to it.

If your mind wanders… if you daydream… that’s OK. Whenever this happens just notice it without judgement and gently bring your focus back to the sounds around and within you 🔄.

The mind recognizes what it hears. When a car goes by… you immediately know it is a car. So… instead of identifying what each sound is… focus instead on the actual experience of hearing 🎧.

Imagine your ears as microphones… just picking up sound. Recognize the rising and passing of the noise… how far away it appears... and from what direction it is coming 🎤.

As one sound grabs your awareness… tune in to it for a few moments… experience the sound fully… then drop it. Open your consciousness and now listen for other noises… hearing mindfully, continue listening… investigating… and expanding your sense of hearing 🔍.

Continue in this way as long as you like… and then… when you’re ready… return your focus to the breath in… and out… gently open your eyes… reacquaint yourself to your surroundings… and go about your day with the heightened ability to hear sounds you’ve never heard before ringing in your ears 🔔.

THYROID FUNNY: