For nearly 21 years, Elissa Goodman suffered from hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s – an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. Her conditions went undiagnosed for years, despite the many symptoms she experienced – weight gain, hair loss, hormone imbalances, anxiety, depression, infertility and more.
Unfortunately, Elissa’s story is more common than we may think. It is now estimated that one in eight women (1) will develop a thyroid disorder at some point in their lifetime, with 60 percent of people being completely unaware that they even have it. Hashimoto’s is the fastest growing autoimmune condition today, with over 90% of hypothyroid cases being diagnosed as Hashimoto’s (2).
The Difference Between Hypo- and Hyper-thyroidism
While the thyroid is affected by both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, they have opposite effects on the body.
Hyperthyroidism is exactly as it sounds. The thyroid is overactive and makes excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. When the thyroid gland is overactive, the body’s processes speed up.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include (3):
– Fatigue or muscle weakness
– Hand tremors
– Mood swings
– Nervousness or anxiety
– Rapid heartbeat
– Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
– Skin dryness
– Trouble sleeping
– Weight loss
– Increased frequency of bowel movements
– Light periods or skipping periods
On the other hand, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is under-active, and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. People who have this condition experience symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include (4):
– Fatigue
– Weakness
– Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
– Coarse, dry hair
– Dry, rough pale skin
– Hair loss
– Cold intolerance (can’t tolerate the cold)
– Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
– Constipation
– Depression
– Irritability
– Memory loss
– Abnormal menstrual cycles
– Decreased libido
When the thyroid becomes part of an autoimmune condition, we call it Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism) and Hashimoto’s disease (hypothyroidism). Autoimmunity in the thyroid gland is usually caused by leaky gut, heavy metal toxicity, infectious disease, adrenal insufficiency, iodine deficiency and/or nutrient deficiency.
Elissa’s Healing Green Tonic for Hashimoto’s
Once discovering the root cause of her health issues, Elissa became serious about healing from hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. She designed this nutrient-dense recipe that is packed with thyroid-supportive superfoods like spirulina, barley juice extract powder and L-glutamine.
Ingredients (serves 1):
– 1 organic lemon, juiced
– 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or 1/2 tsp. fresh)
– 1 teaspoon ground turmeric (or 1/2 tsp. fresh)
– 2 cups filtered water
– 1 teaspoon Hawaiian spirulina powder
– 1 dropper-full ionized liquid zinc
– 1 teaspoon barley juice extract powder
– 3 grams L-Glutamine powder
– 1 tablespoon cold-milled flaxseed or chia seeds
– optional: probiotic (1 liquid dropper-full OR powder from one 50-billion capsule)
Method:
1. Hand-squeeze the lemon juice into a large glass.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and shake to combine. Drink immediately.
#Green #Tonic #Helps #Balance #Hormones #Heal #Thyroid
