The ROOT of an Autoimmune Disease and 8 Lifestyle Tips

The one thing connected to almost every known chronic disease — from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia, acne to hair loss and even depression is INFLAMMATION!

Other inflammatory diseases such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, and autoimmune disease are increasing at dramatic rates. Conventional doctors are trained to shut off inflammation with aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil or Motrin, steroids, and increasingly more powerful immune suppressing medication with serious side effects.

But alternative doctors are trained to find and treat the underlying causes of inflammation in chronic disease. Hidden allergens, infections, environmental toxins, an inflammatory diet, and stress are the real causes of these inflammatory conditions.

Autoimmune diseases, specifically, now affect 24 million people and include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.

So how are they addressed? By powerful immune suppressing medication and not by addressing the cause. That’s like taking a lot of aspirin while hitting your thumb with a hammer. The treatment is not more aspirin or a strong immune suppressant, but removing the hammer. It you want to stop inflammation in the body, you must find the source. Treat the fire, not the smoke. In the allopathic world they are mostly taught to diagnose disease by symptoms, NOT by their underlying cause.

In Functional medicine, the emerging 21st century paradigm of systems medicine, teaches us to treat the cause, not just the symptoms, to take a thorough history and exam to find out the diagnosis of your patient! Functional medicine is a different way of thinking about disease that helps us understand and treat the real causes of inflammation instead of finding clever ways to shut it down. Medicine as it is practiced today is like putting a band-aid on a gapping wound instead of stitching it while the body bleeds to death!

Autoimmune diseases are the result of an uncontrolled immune response also known as systemic inflammation that results in your body attacking its own tissues.

Why is it when the patient described how he cured his autoimmune disease by finding and eliminating the causes of inflammation in his diet and environment, the medical doctors dismiss it as a “spontaneous remission.” Instead of being more inquisitive and trying to find out more information, these doctors are hardly curious and quickly dismissive. What kind of health care is that?

Autoimmunity: What it is and How it Occurs

We are facing an epidemic of allergic (60 million people), asthmatic (30 million people), and autoimmune disorders (24 million people). Autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, celiac, thyroid disease, and the many other hard-to-classify syndromes in the 21st century. These are all autoimmune conditions, and at their root they are connected by one central process: An uncontrolled immune response also known as systemic inflammation that results in your body attacking its own tissues.

Your immune system is your defense against foreign invaders. It is your internal army and has to clearly distinguish these invaders — to know you from others. Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system gets confused and your own tissues get caught in the cross-fire.

Your body is fighting something — an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or the stress response — and somehow it redirects its hostile attack on your joints, your brain, your thyroid, your gut, your skin, or sometimes your whole body. This immune confusion results from what is referred to as molecular mimicking. Conventional approaches don’t have a method for finding the insult causing the problem. Functional medicine provides a map to find out which molecule the cells are mimicking.

Another interesting fact: Autoimmune diseases are seldomly found in countries that lack running water and sterilization. They occur almost exclusively in developed countries. Playing in the dirt, being dirty, and being exposed to bugs and infections trains your immune system to recognize what is foreign and what is “you.”

Autoimmune diseases, are a huge health burden in the US.  They are the eighth leading cause of death among women, shortening the average patient’s lifespan by eight years. The annual health care cost for autoimmune diseases is $120 billion a year representing nearly twice the economic health care burden of cancer (about $ 70 billion a year).

Unfortunately, many of the conventional treatments available can make you feel worse. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, steroids, immune suppressants like methotrexate, and the new TNF-alpha blockers like Enbrel or Remicade can lead to intestinal bleeding, kidney failure, depression, psychosis, osteoporosis, muscle loss, and diabetes, not to mention overwhelming infection and cancer.(ii)

These drugs are not a long-term solution. They shouldn’t be the end of treatment. There is another way to deal with autoimmune conditions.

Recovering from Autoimmunity: Addressing the Root Causes of Inflammation

Using a functional medicine approach, a new way of thinking about the underlying causes and imbalances in chronic disease, begin asking some simple questions. Then hunt for toxins, allergens, and infections — all common causes of inflammation — and find the real causes of the symptoms. Order labs and other necessary tests.

Start cleaning house, get rid of food allergies,fix the gut, and detox. Then heal the immune system by supporting it with nutrients. Start a clean, whole-foods, allergen-free, anti-inflammatory diet. The results will reflect addressing the root of the health problems and treating the underlying causes of what ails you instead of suppressing symptoms with medications.

If you have an autoimmune disease, here is what you need to think about and do.

Eight Steps to Treating Autoimmune Disease

1.    Check for hidden infections — yeast, viruses, bacteria, Lyme, etc. — with the help of a chiropractic physician, who can order labs, stool analysis and saliva tests and treat them. 2.    Check for hidden food allergens with IgG food testing or elimination diet. 3.    Get tested for celiac disease, which is a blood test that your chiropractic physician can do. 4.    Get checked for heavy metal toxicity. Mercury and other metals can cause autoimmunity. 5.    Fix your gut. 6.    Use nutrients that your chiropractic physician prescribes to help calm your immune response naturally. 7.    Exercise regularly — it’s a natural anti-inflammatory. 8.    Practice deep relaxation like yoga, deep breathing, biofeedback, or massage, because stress worsens the immune response.

Give these steps a try — and see if you don’t start feeling less inflamed. The answers are right in front of you. Treat the underlying causes of your illness and you will begin to experience vibrant "beautiful health: once more.

Guest Post and Thank You :  Dr Elena Morreale

The Top Supplements for Menopause - Take the Edge Off

Kasia Organic Salon partners with the best Functional Medicine Hormonal Doctors in the MN Area.  I swear as a  stylist I talk more about hormone health than hair some days!  We see MANY women starting the "menopause process" - and it's effects on the hair, skin, and body.  Kasia has the basic supplements and suggestions to assist your "Beautiful Health" as the changes and process starts.  

Most women do not need a prescription hormone replacement. By improving "whole body" health, and supplementing with anti-aging nutrients, hormones can re-balance and symptoms of menopause are relieved quickly.

Specialized Laboratory Testing can reveal the hormone imbalance. With the correct suggestions/help, women's symptoms improve after a few days to a few weeks.

Favorite Supplements for Menopause & Peri-menopause to take the edge off - naturally!

1. Fem Balance by PRL

2. DHEA- libido, bones, energy

3. Adrenoven by PRL - adrenal support

4. L. Tyrosine- Thyroid support and dopamine

5. Phosphatidylserine- memory

6. GABA + L. Theonine - anxiety

7. 5-HTP- depression (raises serotonin) and cravings

8. Vitamin D- methylation, bone support, and mood

9. Milk Thistle or Liver ND by PRL - liver support

10. Progesterone extra libido boost

Contact Kasia Organic Salon for suggestions today! 

The Thyroid + Premature Gray Connection

There are all kinds of "rationales" to why you may be turning gray prematurely.  Our biochemistry has lasting effects on our hair and skin, and the link to your thyroid may be one piece of the puzzle. Contact us for a hair analysis today! Kasia Organic Salon is your #1 resource for Health and Beauty.

What’s 'Premature'

Hair goes gray when color-producing cells stop producing pigment.  Naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide can also build up in the hair, bleaching the color.

Is your gray hair a medical problem?

Going gray, by itself, does not mean you have a medical problem, except in rare cases. Contrary to popular belief, stress has not been shown to cause gray hair. Scientists don’t know exactly why some people go gray early, but genes play a large role.

A vitamin B-12 deficiency or problems with your pituitary or thyroid gland can cause premature graying that’s reversible if the problem is corrected.

 The Thyroid + Premature Gray Connection

Empirical evidence has already led to the belief that hair loss is the result of decreased metabolism in the scale follicles of people with low levels of thyroid hormone, resulting in early release of the hair shaft and root. Hair that is brittle, has split ends and breaks has been observed to correlate with low thyroid levels. Many physicians and dermatologists diagnose low thyroid based solely on early graying of the hair and the loss of hairs from the outer ends of the eyebrows.

Thyroid problems can develop at any age and usually appear so slowly that they go unnoticed. At least 27 million Americans are estimated to have an undiagnosed thyroid problem, and most of them are females.

The thyroid is the master gland of metabolism. When it is not functioning properly it can affect every aspect of your health, particularly weight, mental outlook, body temperature and energy levels. The thickness and quality of your skin is also dependent on thyroid function. Under active thyroid, called hypothyroidism, is the most common thyroid condition, affecting as many as one in five women at some point in their lives.

Untreated hypothyroidism dramatically increases your risk of serious health concerns and degenerative diseases. Another symptom of hypothyroidism is weak heart beat. When your heart beat is not as strong as it should be, the amount of oxygen getting to your cells is reduced. This is the kind of environment in which cancer grows.

Along with the loss of hair and its color, symptoms of hypothyroidism include difficulty losing weight, weight changes, and muscle and joint pain. Severe or long-term constipation is frequently associated with hypothyroidism, while diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome is associated with hyperthyroidism. Depression and anxiety, including sudden panic attacks, can be symptoms of thyroid problems. Feeling overly warm or cold when everybody else in the room is comfortable also suggests thyroid malfunction, as does excessive fatigue. If you are tired when you get up after a good night's sleep, or need a nap or two to get through the day, you probably have a thyroid problem.

Think about how the wisdom of the body operates. When your thyroid is not functioning up to par, the body will attempt to conserve energy by redirecting it from nonessential areas, and directing efforts at repair and regeneration to those functions considered more essential.

This is why the beauty of your hair and skin are among the first to go then your thyroid starts to give out. And when the thyroid function is low, intestinal absorption and utilization of nutrients is compromised. There are then not enough raw building materials available to keep the nonessential parts of you at their best.

Read more about how to boost your thyroid and metabolism from Dr. Mark Hyman HERE!

Contact the Kasia team today for your hair analysis, non-toxic and natural hair color and home regime products, as well as the #1 Functional Medicine referral's in Minnesota. 

Reference: http://www.naturalnews.com/024388_thyroid_hair_body.html##ixzz2gelu8Ytb

Cleansing Elimination Diet: Your Easy Beautiful Health Guide

  Unlike most diets, the "elimination diet" serves a unique purpose other then strictly being a catalyst to losing extra weight. The goal of the elimination diet is to help any suffering from certain digestion issues, skin or hormone havoc, and other environmental + internal issues - and to determine if something you're eating could be contributing to the problem. It is also an option for  a seasonal cleanse.

By following an “Elimination Diet”, you may be able to identify foods that trigger certain symptoms including joint pain, acne breakouts, skin rashes, fatigue, headaches and more.  Let's get started.

Elimination Phase – First Two Weeks:

Before you begin, make a list or chart of all your symptoms, note their frequency, and rate their severity on a scale of 1 to 10. Note any other characteristics or associations with particular food intake, meal, etc.

It is important not to cheat on this Elimination Diet because any exposure can cause a reaction and your body will not be able to cleanse itself and prepare for the next stage of the diet where you identify any offender foods.

Items to stock in your pantry and fridge:

Use "organic" when possible.

• dark leafy greens (dandelion greens, kale, collards, chard, bok choy, mustard greens...)
• cabbage (all varieties)
• lettuce
• cucumbers
• ginger
• garlic
• onions
• yams
• winter squash
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• carrots
• celery
• avocados
• cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• blueberries
• cherries
• raspberries
• pears
• apples
• teff
• wild rice
• adzuki beans
• mung beans
• lentils
• sunflower seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• flax seeds
• hemp seeds
• pumpkin seed butter
• sunflower seed butter
• wakame and nori seaweeds
• wild salmon
• organic chicken
• organic ground turkey
• organic lamb

Eliminate the following food groups along with all food items which contain any of these foods.

1. Dairy (including milk, cheese, whey protein, kefir, yogurt, ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc.)
2. Gluten containing grains: wheat, rye, oats, barley, (couscous, pilaf, tabbouleh  etc.) and any foods containing these items (sauces, beer, ketchup and other condiments containing vinegar, some puddings, etc.)
3. Egg and foods containing egg
4. Soy products including miso, tofu, tempeh, soy sauce, tamari
5. Nuts and seeds
6. Shellfish
7. Corn and corn products including chips, tortillas, anything with high fructose corn syrup added
8. Sweeteners (with the exception of stevia), food additives, dyes, colors, etc.
9. Coffee, chocolate, caffeine containing herbal teas
10.  Alcohol

 READ ALL PACKAGED AND BOTTLED FOOD LABELS!!

After two weeks of elimination, rate your symptom chart once again and compare with your initial list.   Did you notice any changes in symptoms, their frequency or severity?  Any new symptoms?

As your body clears during this elimination process, you could have a temporary worsening of symptoms or even a new symptom. These may include headaches, brain fog, skin rash, changes in digestion and/or elimination, bloating, gas, fatigue. Mild symptoms are a common part of the clearing process so continue on, pay attention to adequate fluid intake and make sure you are getting enough protein to keep your blood sugar normalized.

Reintroduction-Challenge Phase:

1. Pick one of the eliminated foods. Consume one serving at breakfast, lunch and at dinner for only one day. Then remove that food from your diet once again. You will not be able to eat that food until you are completely finished adding back foods to your diet.
2. Wait for 3 days before introducing another food and carefully observe your symptoms. If you experience a return or worsening of symptoms that persists after three days, wait until it subsides before introducing another food.
3. Go through each food group as above, adding it in at each meal and then removing it again completely from your diet after the challenge day.
4. Continue to wait for 3 days (72 hours), monitoring and recording  your symptoms before adding in another food

Use your symptom chart to rate your symptom frequency and severity after each food introduction.  Have any symptoms returned or gotten worse after reintroducing a food? 

What can you eat on an Elimination Diet?

• Turkey, chicken, fish (wild salmon, tilapia, etc.) *organic/grass fed
• Unsweetened rice milk or fresh made almond milk
• Fresh fruits except citrus
• Vegetables: most vegetables with the exclusion of nightshade family
• Sweeteners: stevia
• Herbs, Spices: sea salt, pepper, fresh herbs
• Olive oil, raw virgin coconut oil

For A More Extensive Program:

• If you would like to do a more extensive Elimination Diet, you can extend the avoidance list to include nightshade family vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers), citrus, beef, chicken, pork, beans, and coffee. You can also eliminate any foods that you “crave” or foods you choose to eat on a very frequent basis. We often choose to eat foods we are actually sensitive to. These foods can stimulate our adrenal system and give us a temporary energy boost.

• You can undertake a seasonal cleanse along with the Elimination Diet, especially timely in the Spring or Fall. This  can aid with the elimination of inflammatory byproducts  and help support your body’s detoxification process.

Important Information: This diet is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific illness and is intended for healthy individuals. If you have a significant health issue, you are advised to consult your health care provider and undertake this program under supervision. The elimination diet involves the temporary removal of significant sources of protein and other nutrients, which in compromised individuals, may not be advised without ensuring that vital nutrients are preserved in the diet in other forms

Awareness of Xenoestrogens & the Key to Hormone Metabolism for Beautiful Health

 The following is a topic very important  to me - and I am passionate to share with you- Informed Beauty.... it's a long one, but worth it!   

As a "hair and skin expert," I look at my clients as a whole person from their hair style or hair color that is desired, to what may be some of the underlying reasons there are external challenges such as acne  or hair loss.    We work with our guest's "comprehensive beauty," including overall nutritional, emotional, physical, and hormonal health  and  how it effects the hair and skin.

When I first started on the "organic beauty" path I spent multiple weekends with well respected functional medicine expert Dr. Bob Rakowski.  He would state that just living on earth we are at risk for toxic estrogen exposure and are swimming in a sea of estrogens.  I couldnt help but connect the dots back to the beauty industry - filled with chemicals.

Fact:  30 percent of the cancers that affect the sex organs (breast, prostate, ovarian), but the cause of the remaining 70 percent is likely due to chemical estrogen exposure and problems with metabolism due to diet and a sedentary lifestyle. The solution is to live a lifestyle that both detoxifies and minimizes exposure to chemical estrogens.

Estrogen Dominance – Symptoms, Causes, and What to do About It

Estrogen dominance is becoming one of the more common hormone imbalances today among both men and women. Estrogen dominance occurs when the ratio of estrogen to progesterone sways too much one way or another.

Estrogen dominance can often times be easily identified. 

-Women have a disproportionate amount of fat storage on the lower body and around the waist line. -Men with high estrogen store fat around the breasts, back of their arms and legs. -Children also have high levels of exposure to chemical estrogens.

Chemical, and/or xeno-estrogens are un-avoidalbe.  There are some 70,000 registered chemicals having hormonal effects, in addition to being carcinogenic. The synergistic effects of exposure are well documented, but largely unknown. These substances can increase the estrogen load in the body over time and are difficult to detoxify through the liver.

This article is a guest post by  Charles Poliquin -  telling you why and how you can change your lifestyle in the following ten ways for estrogen health:

1)    Improve Gastrointestinal Health 2)    Improve Diet 3)    Decrease Body Fat 4)    Use Phytoestrogens To ImproveEstrogen Detoxification 5)    Stop Testosterone From Turning into Estrogen 6)    Improve Estrogen Metabolism 7)    Ensure Complete Elimination 8)    Supplement With Essential Nutrients 9)    Watch What You Drink

10)    Limit Chemical Estrogen Exposure

Estrogen: The Basics

Estrogen is a hormone that is produced primarily in the ovaries in women and in the testes in men. For men, it plays an important role in sperm production and bone maintenance. Estrogen is also produced by other tissues in both men and women, including fat and the brain.The amount of estrogen needed by men to support these functions is very small, and men tend to have excess estrogen in their systems for two reasons.

First, an enzyme called aromatase that is found in tissues throughout the body will turn testosterone into estrogen. Aromatase is found in body fat meaning that men with more fat will produce more aromatase and therefore have higher estrogen levels and lower testosterone. The good news is you can block aromatase by eating or supplementing with nutrients that do this naturally. There are also drugs that inhibit aromatase that are used to prevent breast and prostate cancer, but it’s best to take the natural route without consuming synthetic drugs.

Secondly, men have excess estrogen because of the chemical estrogens in the environment, such as BPA and phthalates. BPA is a petroleum based chemical that mimics estrogen i

n the body and studies have shown that it affects endocrine response in the body in humans and animals.

How Estrogen Is Detoxified By The Liver

Estrogen is metabolized by the liver. The liver converts excess estrogens into compounds that can be excreted by the body. The catch is there are three pathways through which estrogen can be metabolized. One is a “toxic” pathway that is linked to cancer development, the second is unfavorable for health, and the third is more benign and preferable.If your body can convert estrogens along what is called the 2-hydroxy pathway it will be healthier

and you’ll decrease your cancer risk, whereas if your body converts along the 16-alpha-hydroxy pathway it will be at greater risk of cancer. Just remember that  the C-2 pathway is healthier and the C-16 pathway is toxic. The other unfavorable pathway is the C-4 pathway, which should also be avoided. The solution is to nutritionally support conversion of estrogen along the C-2 pathway, which can be initiated by ensuring you have a healthy gut.

1)    Improve Gastrointestinal Health

Poor gastrointestinal health can inhibit excretion of unwanted estrogen from the

body and promote its reabsorption. A healthy gut with dietary fiber in the form lignan, such as flaxseeds, can bind to estrogen in the digestive tract so that it will be excreted from the body.   When the estrogen breaks free in the large intestine, it re-enters circulation and is not removed from the body. This is a bad situation.

The solution is to eat adequate fiber (broccoli is great for this) and include lignans in the diet, including flax, cruciferous veggies, and leafy greens.  A probiotic is essential because it will increase the “good bacteria” in the gut and support neurotransmitter function.

2)    Improve Diet With Low Carb, High-Protein, Omega-3 Fats

 A diet that is low in simple carbs and high in vegetable carb sources will help you detoxify estrogens and provide adequate fiber. To avoid excess estrogen, you need to manage insulin because it doing so is better for body composition, and persistently high insulin produces a poor endocrine profile that can inhibit estrogen detoxification.

Getting your carbs from vegetable and fruit sources will provide the lignans and fiber needed for gut health and increase antioxidant levels, which can abolish free radicals that produced by estrogen that goes down the C-16 pathway. Omega-3 fats, which are found in fish, have been shown to promote the C-2 pathway over the 16 pathway, particularly EPA omega-3 fatty acids. On the flip side, diets low in omega-3s have resulted in estrogen being metabolized primarily through the C-16 pathway. I’ve written a lot about omega-3s so I won’t go into detail here, but supplementation with a high concentration of EPA and DHA fish oil daily is recommended for estrogen metabolism.

A high protein diet will produce a better body composition for most people. Plus, low protein diets have been shown to decrease activity of something called cytochrome P450 that detoxifies estrogen. The amino acids lysine and threonine have been shown to support liver function and since estrogen is metabolized by the liver, it is thought that these proteins can help get rid of estrogen from the body. Lysine and threonine are found in meat, fish, beans, eggs, and some seeds (sesame, fenugreek). Sesame seeds also provide fiber and fenugreek helps lower the insulin response to carbs, making both good additions to your diet.

3)    Decrease Body Fat

The more fat you have, the more estrogen you’ll have because fat tissue increases levels of the aromatase enzyme that turns testosterone to estrogen. Decreasing body fat and building lean mass are key to cancer prevention and estrogen detox.

4)    Use Phytoestrogens To Promote the C-2 Pathway

Include foods with phytoestrogens in your diet because they will take natural and chemical estrogens out of play in the body. Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that can bind to

estrogen receptors, but they have about 1/1000th of the effect on the body as real or chemical estrogen. When phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors they basically take up the parking sport of the true estrogen, and keep it from exerting its effect.

Lignans and isoflavones are the main phytoestrogens, and in addition to binding with estrogen receptors, they can increase SHBG levels (protects the body by binding to estrogen), decrease aromatase (prevents testosterone turning into estrogen), and shift metabolism of estrogen away from the C-16 pathway to the C-2 pathway (the safer pathway).

The best phytoestrogens to include in the diet are flax, sesame, leafy greens, kudzu, alfalfa, clover, licorice root, and legumes. Greens, flax, and sesame can be easily added to the diet, and the others can be supplemented to support estrogen detoxification.

5)    Block Aromatase and Stop Testosterone From Turning into Estrogen

Blocking aromatase is key for getting rid of estrogen because it plays the main role in producing estrogen in men. If aromatase is present, there are two chances for estrogen to be produced in the body. First, the hormone androstenedione will be turned into testosterone unless aromatase is present in which case it will be turned into estrogen. Then, aromatase will turn testosterone into estrogen as well.

Nutrients that have a proven effect on aromatase include selenium, melatonin, zinc, green tea, and citrus flavonones—substances found in orange and grapefruit rinds along with tomato skins. You can include these in your diet and take a supplement for best results.

We know aromatase inhibitors work because there are numerous studies demonstrating their influence, and one of the most illuminating is a review that found that men who took a combination of zinc, folic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, and had adequate omega-3s improved fertility and sexual health. Flax and lignans were also part of the diet. This study tells us that estrogen detox is not a simple endeavor. Rather, it’s a lifestyle that includes the ideal diet with additional nutrient supplementation to inhibit aromatase, boost SHBG, and reduce the ratio of estrogen that goes down the C-16 pathway in favor of the C-2 pathway.

6)    Improve Estrogen Metabolism By Promoting the C-2 Pathway

Promoting the C-2 pathway of estrogen metabolism is probably the most important thing you can do to prevent cancer. The first step of estrogen elimination is for enzymes to initiate metabolism by joining the estrogen molecule. This will happen at either the 2-carbon position or the 16-carbon position of the molecule, which determines the pathway the estrogen will head down.

The C-2 pathway produces very weak estrogenic activity and is termed “good” estrogen. In contrast, the C-16 pathway produces robust estrogenic activity and promotes tissue damage that leads to cancer. There’s also a C-4 pathway, that is not good, but its role is small and for simplicity sake you only need to know that you want to avoid it as well.

In one large scale study of premenopausal women, those who metabolized estrogen predominantly via the C-2 pathway were 40 percent less likely to develop breast cancer during the five-year study.

Key nutrients for supporting the C-2 pathway are EPA fish oils, phytoestrogens, and of special importance, B vitamins and a substance called DIM. The B vitamins, particularly B6, B12, and folic acid promote the C-2 pathway. B6 is also known to decrease gene activity once estrogen is bound to a receptor, meaning this vitamin can inhibit cell damage and cancer development.

DIM is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. It is often taken in supplement form because you would need to eat large quantities of these vegetables daily in order to provide sufficient DIM to have an effect on estrogen elimination.

7)    Ensure Complete Elimination of Estrogen 

Once you shift your estrogen elimination to the C-2 pathway you have to make sure it gets excreted from the body. Two things can happen along the way out that cause big problems. First, estrogen that is heading down the C-2 pathway can be easily turned into something called quinones, which are “highly reactive” and can damage DNA and cause cancer.

As estrogen is heading out of the intestine, it needs to be bound to glucuronic acid, but there is a “bad” intestinal bacteria that contains an enzyme that breaks estrogen apart from the glucuronic acid.  This is the second place estrogen detoxification can go wrong. When the “bad” bacteria, called glucouronidase, uncouples the bond between estrogen and glucuronic acid, estrogen re-enters circulation, effectively raising estrogen levels in the body and damaging tissue. To avoid this, you need a healthy gut as mentioned in #1, which you can get by taking a probiotic, and eating lots of fiber and lignans.

8)    Supplement With Essential Nutrients 

To review, the essential nutrients to help detoxify estrogen are the B vitamins, zinc, omega-3 fish oils, DIM (nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables), green tea, magnesium, selenium, and melatonin. The only nutrient I haven’t already mentioned is vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant.

Magnesium plays a role in methylation, or that final phase of estrogen excretion mentioned in #7.  I call your attention to it here because almost everyone needs to supplement with magnesium because people are chronically deficient. Athletes and strength trainees are especially susceptible to low magnesium because this nutrient plays a role in muscle contractions. Low vitamin E is associated with elevated estrogen and it has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells.

9)    Watch What You Drink  

Eliminate all alcohol besides certain red wine. Sardinian and Spanish wines are rich in antioxidants that help remove estrogens. Other good choices are Pinot and Merlot. Alcohol increases estrogen levels in men and women, and it has been shown to decrease testosterone as well. Even moderate alcohol consumption (other than Sardinian, Spanish and certain French wines) has been shown to increase the risk of prostate and breast cancer.

10)    Limit Chemical Estrogen Exposure 

Avoiding chemical estrogens is one of the most important strategies for preventing cancer and protecting yourself. If you were able to have no contact with chemical estrogens, and you had good nutrition, a lean body composition, and a large proportion of muscle mass, it is very unlikely you’d have excess estrogen or be at risk of cancer. But, chemical estrogens are everywhere. It is only recently that the mainstream medical community has started to seriously consider the connection between cancer and the toxic environment the industry has created with the lax regulation of toxic estrogenic chemicals.

There is even a movement in public health advocacy that government regulatory bodies and chemical companies need to take action to reduce environmental toxins. Although there is an awareness that the responsibility of reducing cancer risk shouldn’t be on the individual because we cannot completely avoid contact with chemical estrogens, the reality is that you have to take responsibility for eliminating estrogen from your body and the bodies of your loved ones.

List of Xenoestrogens

• Organ chlorines, are one of the largest sources. They are used in pesticides, dry cleaning, bleaching of feminine-hygiene products and the manufacture of plastics.
• Bisphenol-A, a breakdown of polycarbonate, is used in many plastic bottles. It’s found in the lining of many food cans and juice containers.
• Avoid heated plastics, plastic lined items and Styrofoam (microwave, oven, sun), as the polycarbonate escapes
• Use glass, ceramics or steel to store/consume foods and liquids.
• Choose organic produce. Always go organic with thin skinned fruits and vegetables.
• Buy hormone-free animal products (eggs, poultry, meats, dairy). To avoid xenoestrogen injections, supplements, bovine growth hormone.
• A common food preservative in processed foods (BHS: butylated hydroxyanisole).
• Avoid non-organic coffee and tea.
• Use reverse-osmosis filter water or purchase your own filter (drinking and bathing).
• Many creams and cosmetics contain parabens and stearal konium chloride. Choose natural brands (preservatives made with minerals or grapefruit seed extract).
• Most skin lotions, creams, soaps, shampoo, cosmetics use parabens and phenoxyethanol as a preservative. Substances are 100% absorbed into the body. Go natural or organic.
• Phthalates are commonly found in baby lotions and powders.
• Sunscreen can contain benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, octal-methoxycinnamate, octal-dimethyl-PABA. Go organic.
• Many perfumes, deodorizers, air fresheners have artificial scents and contain phthalates.
• Most perfumes are petrochemically based.
• Nail polish and removers contain harsh chemicals.
• The birth control pill contains high concentration of synthetic estrogen. Choose a condom or diaphragm gels without surfactants. Use a condom without spermicidal.
• Hormone replacement therapy (contains synthetic estrogens) - opt for paraben-free progesterone cream.
• Research ingredients in your pharmaceuticals.
• Dryer sheets, fabric softeners and detergents put petrochemicals right on your skin. Use laundry detergent with less chemicals or use white vinegar and baking soda.
• Be aware of noxious gas that comes from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, new carpets.

Guidelines to minimize your personal exposure to xenoestrogens:

• Choose chlorine-free products and unbleached paper products.
• Avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
• Use filtered water to drink and bathe in to avoid chlorine.
• Whenever possible, choose organic foods.
• Buy hormone free meats and dairy products to avoid hormones and pesticides.
• Use chlorine free tampons, menstrual pads, toilet paper, paper towel, coffee filters, etc.
• Reduce the use of plastics whenever possible.
• Do not microwave food in plastic containers.
• Avoid the use of plastic wrap to cover food for storing or microwaving.
• Use glass or ceramics whenever possible to store food.
• Do not leave plastic containers, especially your drinking water, in the sun.
• If a plastic water container has heated up significantly, throw it away - do not drink the water.
• Don't refill plastic water bottles.
• Avoid freezing water in plastic bottles to drink later.
• Buy food grown locally and in season, organic if possible.
• Peel non-organic fruits and vegetables.
• Use chemical free, biodegradable laundry and household cleaning products whenever possible.
• Use chemical free soaps and toothpastes.
• Avoid creams and cosmetics that have toxic chemicals and estrogenic ingredients such as parabens and stearal konium chloride.
• Minimize your exposure to nail polish and nail polish removers.
• Use naturally based fragrances, such as essential oils.
• Read the labels on condoms and diaphragm gels.
• Minimize X-rays whenever possible.
• Be aware of noxious gas such as from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, and at the gas pump.

References:

Linda Beadle Estrogen Article Knower, K., To, S., et al. Melatonin Suppresses Aromatase Expression and activity in Brest Cancer Associated Fibroblasts.Breast Cancer Research Treatment. January 2012. Published Ahead of Print. Gao, R., Zhao, L., et al. Methylseleninic Acid is a Novel suppressor of Aromatase Expression. Journal of Endocrinology. 2012. 212(2), 199-205.

Heudel, P., Tredan, O., et al. Antihormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer and mTor Inhibitors.Bulletin du Cancer. 2011. 98(12), 1431-1437.

Simpson, E. Sources of Estrogen and Their Importance. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2003. 86(3-5), 225-230.

Zahayi, A., Perel, M. The Information Encoded by the Sex Steroid Hormones Testosterone and Estrogen: a Hypothesis. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 2011. 280(1), 146-149.

Cutolo, M., Sulli, A., et al. Estrogen Metabolism and Autoimmunity. Autoimmune Reviews. December 2011. Published Ahead of Print.

Ye, L., Chan, F., et al.The Citrus Flavonone Hesperetin Inhibits Growth of Aromatase-Expressing MCF-7 Tumor in Ovariectomized Athymic Mice.Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. December 2011. Published Ahead of Print.

Mousa, N., Eiada, R., et al. The Effect of Acute Aromatase Inhibition on Breast Parenchymal Enhancement in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Prospective Pilot Clinical Trial. Menopause. January 2012. Published Ahead of Print.

Teas, J., Cunningham, J., et al. Urinary Estrogen

Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed medical doctor. Kasia does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have or suspect a mental or physical health condition, please see your healthcare provider.

A Natural Facelift and Radiant Complexion with 3 Hormones and Living Nutrients

The word "hormone" is derived from the Greek word hormo which means "to set in motion." Hormones stimulate and regulate an endless list of critical functions within your body.

Let's take a look at the most dominant hormones that promote a "rejuv" that has the   greatest effect on your over all hormonal health and appearance.

Get a natural face lift with Premier Quality 3-Hormone Cream

The Mechanics

This product is the only natural hormone cream on earth. It is made with electromagnetically charged natural, organic particles.  Natural wild yam has been processed into three natural bio-identical hormones: 5% Pregnenolone, 5% DHEA and 2% Progesterone. Pregnenolone yields all natural steroid synthesis and supports the thickness and firmness of skin. DHEA aids adrenal and endocrine glands while Progesterone supports healthy hormones and skin.Cream.

3 Fabulous Natural Hormones

5% Natural Pregnenolone (Wild Yam Synthesis)

• Precursor of all natural steroid synthesis
• Supports skin plumpness and firmness
• Guaranteed benzene-free

5% Natural DHEA (Wild Yam Synthesis)

• Supports adrenals, endocrineglands and healthy skin
• Guaranteed solvent-free

2% Natural Progesterone (Wild Yam Synthesis)

• 100%naturally active in the human body
• Supports healthy hormones and lustrous skin
• Absolutelynopreservatives

100% Nontoxic Cream

• No propylene glycol, parabens, carbomer 940, polysorbate 60, cetyl alcohol, peg 8 stearate, solvents (such as benzene) or other toxic chemical
• No petroleum-based mineral oil,which clogs pores

Unparalleled cell uptake

• Up to 98% absorption by the cell as compared to 3 to 6% with ordinary creams
• Quickly absorbed by the cell
• Not sticky; leaves no residue on your skin
• Absorbed intracellularly, not between cells into connective tissue (as seen with inferior creams)

Quickly absorbed by the cell

• Notsticky
• Absorbed intracellularly, not between cells into connective tissue (as seen with inferior creams)

The Quantum Effect 

Each cell in the body is replaced every 160 days.  The health of those cells depend upon the nutrition they are fed. Only nutrients from "once living" sources can effectively give the cells the nutrition they depend upon.  We call this the "Life Source".  Over 97% of the vitamin and mineral supplements found in the typical retail "health" store are synthetics or made from fractionated and isolated nutrients.  These products cannot hope to perform the important task of healthy cell regeneration.  In long-term use, these poorer sources can often lead to additional health problems.

PRL Rejuvination Cream 1. 100% Natural Progesterone Laboratory processed to bio-identical human progesterone (wild yam source) a) 100% naturally active in the human body b) The Yam Scam: Beware of products that contain only wild yam. Wild yam alone will not work un-less it’s been activated (via laboratory processing) to bio-identical natural progesterone 2. Luxurious, Natural Cream Base 100% botanical base cream made with highly charged plant mineral technology 3. Absolutely No Preservatives Our highly charged plant mineral process naturally preserves the cream in its natural energy state so there is no need for toxic preservatives. 4. 100% Pure, Nontoxic Ingredients Our cream is so pure it’s edible, but best application is on your skin. 5. Natural Progesterone In micronized form, stabilized with vitamin E for excellent absorption. 6. Unparalleled Absorption Charged Plant Mineral Technology with its highly polarized herbal particles allows up to a full 98% absorption by the cell as compared to typical 3 to 6% by most ordinary creams. 7. Quick Absorption By The Cell Within seconds, our silky, toxic-free cream is fully absorbed, leaving NO sticky residues

The Other Guys 1. Other creams may not contain natural progesterone (yam source). a) Some creams contain wild yam but it has NOT been converted in a lab. Your body cannot convert it to real progesterone. It does NOT raise the body’s progesterone levels. b) Some creams do have U.S.P. grade progesterone but it is syn-thetic (NOT from natural sources). Not biocompatible with living bodies. c) Some creams contain only diosgenin, a chemical from wild yam. This molecule is too large to be absorbed by your skin. It does NOT raise the body’s progesterone levels. d) Some doctors give Provera, a prescription drug, to women who have low progesterone. But Provera is a progestin, NOT progesterone. It can drive a woman’s low progesterone levels DOWN even further! 2. Other cream bases often contain propylene glycol, a cheap syn-thetic petrochemical. Sometimes the cream base is non-organic, poorly grown Aloe vera which tests toxic. 3. Toxic preservatives are common such as parabens (propyl, methyl, butyl, or ethyl) or benzene compounds. 4. May contain many questionable and known toxic ingredients such as: propylene glycol, parabens, cetyl alcohol, peg 8 stearate, carbomer 940, polysorbate 60 stearal konium chloride or other toxic chemicals. Remember, what you put on your skin, you are eating! 5. Most creams are not micronized formulations, so uptake is poor. Without being stabilized in vitamin E, plant hormones can degrade rapidly. 6. Other creams usually have poor absorption into the cell (3 to 6%) as compared with Charged Plant Mineral Technology (up to 98% absorption). Typical creams have “flat”, weakly charged molecules that mostly glide into the connective tissue spaces BETWEEN the cells, rather than entering the cells themselves. 7. Other creams often have a greasy feel and leave a sticky residue on your skin.

Ingredients: Nano-Pure™ [water/aqua, zea maus oil, vegetable glycerin, daucus carota sat. (carrot) root extract, guar gum, allium cepa (onion) extract, citrus nob. (orange) peel extract, prunus arm. (apricot) kernel oil, corylus ave. (hazelnut) oil, vitis vin. (grape) seed extract, equisetum arv. (horsetail) aerial extract, USP DHEA (dihydroepiandrosterone 5%; yam-derived), USP natural pregnenolone (5%; yam derived), Progesterone (2% yam-derived) rosa spp. (rose) petal oil.

No toxic preservatives such as parabens, TEA or urea.

 Contact Kasia Organic Salon today for additional questions on how hormones effect your over-all health, and/or how to purchase Premier Quantum Rejuvination Cream.

612.824.7611    *     kassie@kasiaorganicsalon.com

Stop Weight Gain from Thyroid Complications and Get Your Body Back

Guest Post from Womentowomen.com

Most of us still blame our weight gain on lack of willpower, eating too much and not exercising enough. Unfortunately, magazines, the internet and even many well-meaning practitioners continue to perpetuate the blame game. But when your thyroid is imbalanced, you’re likely fighting an uphill battle with your weight that simply isn’t your fault. And you can do something to stop it.

When thyroid hormones are low, it causes physical changes in your body and brain that increase weight gain. Even with minimally low thyroid hormone, the centers of the brain that control appetite are altered and the chemical “messengers” that regulate how and when we eat get mixed up. These messengers include serotonin, beta endorphin, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which perhaps not coincidentally, are also tightly connected to moods. If that wasn’t enough, the hormone leptin — which stimulates weight loss, decreases hunger, and increases fullness — can also become inefficient when thyroid hormone is low.

These changes often lead to sharp carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, distressing changes in body shape, as well as low energy, and depressed mood. But you have the opportunity to nip this weight gain in the bud. And the sooner you do, the less likely you’ll be continuing on the path toward worsening thyroid imbalance and even more weight gain.

4 “ingredients” to stop thyroid weight gain:

1. Herbs. Several helpful herbs are known to boost thyroid function and halt thyroid-related weight gain.

Bacopa monnieri is an ayurvedic herb that can increase T4 hormones. (T4 and T3 are the thyroid hormones made and used by your body.)

Hops (yes, the same plant they use in beer!) benefit your thyroid by allowing thyroid hormones to enter cells more accessibly.

Sage contains phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that promote better hormone reception in cells as well as boost mood, memory and healthy blood sugar balance. Irregular blood sugar is often a major player in weight gain.

Ashwagandha is another ayurvedic herb that supports thyroid hormone production while also working to balance the endocrine system.

Coleus forskohlii contains an important plant chemical known as forskolin, which mimics thyroid-stimulating hormone and supports healthy body weight and mood.

All of these herbs together in a combination support the healthy signaling between your thyroid and the rest of your body. This signaling is essential to staying at your best weight. If you’re already taking thyroid medication, we always suggest discussing new supplements with your practitioner.

2. Nutrients. Many vitamins and minerals play roles in thyroid health, but by far the two most important are iodine and selenium. Iodine is the most basic building block your body needs to make the key thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Iodine can be found in sea vegetables, seafood and iodized sea salt. Selenium helps to convert T4 into T3, which is the most useful hormone form. Selenium can also regulate thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism. Brazil nuts, mushrooms, beef and sunflower seeds are all healthy sources of selenium. To cover these and other bases, we recommend taking a daily high-quality multivitamin/mineral complex for Thyroid Support.

3. Food choices. Obviously, seafood, sea vegetables sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts are part of a thyroid-healthy diet. But there are other important food choices you can make to support your thyroid and healthy weight.

Eliminate gluten. The first and most important recommendation is to cut back on or completely eliminate gluten from your diet. We understand this is difficult, but it can make an enormous difference in how you look and feel. Research shows that gluten has been connected to a very common form of hypothyroidism known as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or autoimmune hypothyroidism. Many foods that contain gluten (pasta, bread, cakes, pastries, etc.) are also generally high in carbohydrates that can disrupt blood sugar balance and shift your body toward weight gain.

Limit soy. Soy is another food that may disrupt thyroid function. However, if you have enough iodine in your body, the effects of soy are generally minimal. If you are taking a good multivitamin or supplement that includes iodine, cooked soy is not harmful to your thyroid.

Add protein, fiber and fat. We also recommend eating protein, fiber, and/or healthy fats with every meal. These foods minimize blood sugar highs and lows and help keep insulin levels steadier. This will not only help with your thyroid function, but also limit extra weight gain.

Eat fresh, whole foods cooked in non-plastic cookware. When you eat and drink, try to limit your exposure to bisphenol-A, found in plastic water bottles, the lining of aluminum cans and some non-stick cookware. According to the National Academy of Hypothyroidism, BPA can significantly block thyroid activity.

4. Exercise. It may be hard to get up and exercise when your thyroid function is sluggish, but research is showing that increasing your heart rate through exercise can increase your thyroid hormones. You can start by simply taking a walk around the block, renting a gentle yoga DVD from the library, or taking a swim at your local pool.

Kasia Organic Salon provides hair and skin care products and services that do not include any form of chemicals that may cause havoc on the average women's hormonal cascade/health.  We exclusively sell Premier Research Labs supplemental products that help thyroid and weight loss support to every women.  Contact us today!