Several studies show a strong link between AITD (both Hashimoto’s and Graves’) and gluten intolerance.  The link is so well-established that researchers suggest all people with AITD be screened for gluten intolerance, and vice versa.

What explains the connection? It’s a case of mistaken identity. The molecular structure of gliadin, the protein portion of gluten, closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. When gliadin breaches the protective barrier of the gut, and enters the bloodstream, the immune system tags it for destruction. These antibodies to gliadin also cause the body to attack thyroid tissue. This means if you have AITD and you eat foods containing gluten, your immune system will attack your thyroid.

Even worse, the immune response to gluten can last up to 6 months each time you eat it. This explains why it is critical to eliminate gluten completely from your diet if you have AITD. There’s no “80/20″ rule when it comes to gluten. Being “mostly” gluten-free isn’t going to cut it. If you’re gluten intolerant, you have to be 100% gluten-free to prevent immune destruction of your thyroid.

So how do you find out if you’re gluten intolerant? Unfortunately, standard lab tests aren’t very accurate. They test for antibodies to gluten in the bloodstream. But antibodies in the blood will only be found in cases where the gut has become so permeable that gluten can pass through. This is a relatively advanced stage of disease. Blood tests will miss the many milder cases of gluten intolerance that haven’t yet progressed to that stage.

Stool analysis is far more sensitive, because it detects antibodies produced in the digestive tract that aren’t yet escaping into the bloodstream. Using this method at Entero Lab, Dr. Kenneth Fine, a pioneer in the field, has found that up to 35% of Americans are gluten intolerant.

In addition to the stool analysis, Dr. Fine’s lab uses a cheek swab to test for the genes connected with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. People with HLA DQ genes are more likely than the general population to have autoimmune disease, celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Dr. Fine’s research shows that more than 80% of Americans have one of these gene types.

When I first read Dr. Fine’s research, I was astounded by the implications. It suggests that 1 in 3 Americans are gluten intolerant, and that 8 in 10 are genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance. This is nothing short of a public health catastrophe in a nation where the #1 source of calories is refined flour. But while most are at least aware of the dangers of sugar, trans-fat and other unhealthy foods, fewer than 1 in 8 people with celiac disease are aware of their condition. I would guess that an even lower proportion of people are aware they are gluten intolerant.

One reason gluten intolerance goes undetected in so many cases is that both doctors and patients mistakenly believe it only causes digestive problems. But gluten intolerance can also present with inflammation in the joints, skin, respiratory tract and brain – without any obvious gut symptoms.

As much improved as Dr. Fine’s methods are, they aren’t perfect. In some patients with autoimmune disease, their immune system is so worn out they can no longer produce many antibodies.

Hashmioto’s, the most common autoimmune thyroid condition, is primarily a Th1 dominant condition. I’ll explain what this means in further detail in a future article. For now, what you need to understand is that in Th1-dominant conditions, the Th2 system is suppressed. The Th2 system is the part of the immune system responsible for producing antibodies. When the Th2 system is severely depressed, the body’s ability to produce antibodies is impaired. The levels may be so low that they won’t show up on a test. So, even if you have gluten intolerance, your test for gluten antibodies may be falsely negative if you have Th1-dominant Hashimoto’s.

This is why I recommend that you avoid gluten if you have AITD, regardless of whether tests show an active antibody response. This is especially true if you have one of the genes (HLA DQ1,2, or 3) that predisposes you to developing gluten intolerance. In my opinion continuing to eat gluten when you have a confirmed autoimmune condition simply isn’t worth risking the immune destruction it could cause.

In fact, the more I learn about gluten and its effects on the body, the more I think we’d all probably be better off not eating it. Mark Sisson has written extensively about the dangers of gluten and gluten-containing grains, so head over there and have a look if this is new to you. The short version: foods that contain gluten (both whole grains and flours) contain substances that inhibit nutrient absorption, damage our intestinal lining, and – as I’ve described in this article – activate a potentially destructive autoimmune response. What’s more, there are no nutrients in gluten-containing foods that you can’t get more easily and efficiently from foods that don’t contain gluten.

The good news is that if you have AITD and are gluten intolerant removing gluten completely from your diet will dramatically improve your health. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

This article came from Chris Kressler  To view the full article please click here   Thank you

Taking food grade H202 as an alternative therapy is proving itself to help many people in many different ways. Not only do I have my own success stories, but I’ve been reading more testimonies of how it’s helped people with many different ailments and diseases. People all over the world are using H202 as a preventative and to achieve a higher level of health.

In addition to drinking it, bathing with it, or using it intravenously, I’ve learned that you can also safely inhale diluted hydrogen peroxide. Due to our current lifestyles, many people are often dehydrated and deprived of oxygen due to short, shallow breathing along with a heavy level of toxins in our food and air. At the very least, H202 therapy will provide your body with more water and more oxygen, which every cell in your body needs to function. This will increase your body's ability to start healing itself on a holistic level with whatever ails you. Cancers, some viruses and harmful bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in an oxygen deprived environment. If you increase the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, you are making it hard for those diseases to progress.

Children and adults with respiratory illnesses are encouraged to experiment with inhaling a diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide. Those people suffering from poor circulation, chronic fatigue and muscle spasms should benefit greatly from this alternative therapy as well. I encourage you to document your journey through this therapy so that you may adjust things, such as potency and timing, to better suit your body’s needs.

Directions for inhalation:

-Nebulizer:
It is recommended to purchase a generic nasal spray from your pharmacy to obtain the bottle sprayer. Pour the nasal spray down the drain and rinse out the bottle thoroughly. If you are using a 35% H202, create a mixture of one part food grade hydrogen peroxide to 11 parts distilled water. Do not spray this up your nose! You will be inhaling this through your mouth as you pump the mist. So, exhale deeply and spray the mist towards the back of your throat as you quickly inhale. You may only get two or three mists in on one inhale, so you may need to repeat that a second time. It is said that your body will retain the added H202 for about an hour. Repeat this process multiple times a day depending on your symptoms and how your body reacts to the hydrogen peroxide therapy. People also use this as a preventative during cold and flu season.

-Cool mist room humidifier or vaporizer:

First, disinfect your humidifier with a stronger concentrate of hydrogen peroxide. You do not want to use a humidifier that is built up with scale or other bacteria. Make a quantity of 3% hydrogen peroxide by combining 1/4 cup of food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide with 1 gallon of distilled water. Use it at night or run it all day for relief. Bonus- your house plants will enjoy it too.

Cautions and Recommendations:

-Just like any other method, you must dilute the food grade hydrogen peroxide with water so that it does not chemically burn any delicate tissue, like your throat.

-Be sure to keep away from hair and clothing due to possible discolorations.

-Never use the generic 3% hydrogen peroxide that you find at your corner store or grocery store chain, because of unsuitable additives and stabilizers. That kind is not meant for internal use.

-Be sure to use fresh mixtures due to the fact that hydrogen peroxide mixtures can degrade over the course of a few days.

-Keep a journal of your body's reactions (both good and not so good) to the hydrogen peroxide therapy. This will become an invaluable tool the more you use it. Perhaps one day you can share it with others in need of help.

This project involves more than 4,000 patients who took iodine daily. Here are some of the amazing discoveries they found, as was reported in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons :

Fibrocystic Breast Disease - In the 1920's this condition affected 3% of the female population. Now 90 % of females are affected. The administration of iodine has produced a 70% success rate in curing this disease.

Insulin and Thyroid Medication - Participants with diabetes required less insulin and those with hypothyroid required less thyroid medication.
Migraine Headaches – Migraine headache sufferers stopped having these painful headaches.

Removes Bromide From The Body – Bromide produces a brassy taste in the mouth, runny nose and acne-like skin lesions. These conditions disappear with the introduction of iodine.

Lose Weight – The thyroid gland, which stores about 80% of the body's iodine, produces thyroxin which regulates the body's metabolism. Low iodine levels lower this thyroxin, thus preventing the body from breaking down the fats and protein leading to weight gain.

Immune System – Sufficient iodine in your body will strengthen your immune system and protect your stomach from increased bacteria growth.

Increases Mental Awareness – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that iodine deficiency is the major cause of retardation in children. Increasing iodine has proven to increase mental awareness and less fatigue.

Feel Warmer – many patients with iodine deficiencies complained of always feeling cold but after taking iodine supplements they felt much warmer and were able to stand colder temperatures.
Add these discoveries to the fact that iodine was used back in the 1700's to treat goiters and was used in the 19th and 20th centuries as a treatment for bronchial asthma and COPD and you can see how important it is in our diets.

However, with our consumption of so many processed foods today, few of us get enough iodine in our everyday diet so should take an Iodine Supplement after checking their iodine levels with their doctor. Discuss with your physician how much iodine you should take as Dr. Brownstein feels that medical advisers should prescribe 100 times the amount they usually recommend.

The detoxification is not a long time diet designed to make you lose weight, but is a diet that usually lasts about two or three weeks. The loss of weight is a beneficial side effect and is the result of the cleansing action of the diet. The main benefits of detoxification is the elimination of the toxins from the body.

Not only does total cleansing and detoxification clean the colon it detoxifies the rest of the organs in the body. Toxins do not only reside in the colon but are present in the brain, kidneys and fat cells. All of your organs contain toxins and heavy metals like mercury and lead and other chemical build up of poisons due mainly to of all the processed foods we consume. It is no secret that despite all the so called advances in food production, North Americans are the unhealthiest people on earth.

To discover more about the importance of detoxification you must read Detox Or Die by Sherry A. Rogers MD. This is a real eye opener on the importance of detoxification and total body cleanse.

Most health problems are caused by chemicals and toxins. The detoxification diet will cleanse your whole system so your body will function more efficiently. After your cleansing and detoxification you can embark on a healthier lifestyle by eating more natural foods and stay away from all those processed, unhealthy products.

One of the best products on the market for total body cleanse and detoxification is Organic Total Body Cleanse. This is a two week, 3-part, all-natural advanced internal body cleanse program, blending only organic herbs and fibre to offer a natural effective colon and body cleanse with no extra ingredients to add stress to your body. It will purify your whole body and relieve many of your ailments like constipation, irregular bowel movements, stomach upsets over tiredness and as a side benefit will also help you lose weight.

So decide today that you are going to start down the road to better health. It's time to stop complaining about your health problems and do something about them. Detoxification is a great place to start.

Just the other day I was in my favorite alternative health doctor’s office, sitting in one of the four big comfy black leather chairs in the lobby having my 3% H202 solution inserted into my arm (which may end up being a whole new blog post in itself). A surprisingly healthy looking lady(unlike a normal doctors office where everyone is sick and miserable, people at this kind of office actually look happy and healthy) sitting across from me, eventually let curiosity get the best of her and asked me "What was in your IV bag and how long have you been coming here?".

“Hydrogen Peroxide!" I happily replied, "This is only my second treatment, but I’ve been coming here for about 3 months". Before I could continue on about the H202 therapy, she began to tell me her story. Although everyone who has changed their lives with Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy loves to share their story and spread the word, I believe she was specifically trying to give me words of encouragement.

"I’ve had Lyme's disease for over 15 years. I have been very sick; a few years back a Lyme's disease specialist put me on IV antibiotics for over a year. This made me very overweight, sick, and eventually I was even too sick to continue the treatment... and I still had Lyme's disease! For a short time after I saw an alternative practitioner but it was not a perfect match and stopped seeing him. About two months ago I was at my all time low. I was tired, sick and didn’t even want to continue living. I had an incurable virus so what was the point?” By this time, I was incredibly shocked by her story considering how healthy and normal she looked now, you would have never guessed it was only just two months ago it happened.

“Then, I had visited a health food store in Lapeer” she continued, “and met this amazing gentleman named L.B. We had begun talking about my condition and I pretty much just broke down. I told him exactly what I’m telling you, that I did not want to live any more. L.B. insisted that I go see his alternative practitioner Dr Megan Strauchman. He had said that Dr. Strauchman had saved his life and he HIGHLY recommended her to me. Just look at me now!” Sue says enthusiastically. “I’ve only been coming here for 6 weeks and I feel like I have a new lease on life. I’m starting to feel like my old self”. Sue then reassured me that I was in good hands with Dr Strauchman

Ironically, she also proceeded to tell me about this remarkable health food store in Lapeer and the educated staff that they had. “If it weren’t for them... I wouldn’t be here and be getting well; I really don’t know what I would have done.” I politely listen to Sue until she stopped talking, commending her on he determination not to give up. I told her my honest opinion, that I didn’t see a sick, overweight, or unhealthy person at all! I saw a beautiful, healthy woman. She was truly an inspiration.

After she had finished her story, I couldn’t help but introducing myself. "I’m Rebekah from Rebekah’s Health and Nutrition Source of Lapeer." What I happened next, however, would be something I’ll probably never forget for the rest of my life. Tears came out and bonding took place. I am truly thankful for this experience. Sue encouraged me all right, more then she realized. Once again I am assured I have found my path in life. I will continue to do what I feel is right. I have taken the oath to provide the proper information and the highest quality products so that all people can be happy, healthy and free!

Good health to you and your family!!

You should use only food grade hydrogen peroxide for your bath water either in the 17.5% or 35% strength. Regular hydrogen peroxide purchased from your pharmacy is only 3% and contains many different types of potentially harmful stabilizers. To improve the results of the hydrogen peroxide bath you can also add an enhancing bath salt which will accelerate the effects of the hydrogen peroxide. We recommend our Healing Bath Salt, which is formulated to help oxygenate the bathwater and draw poisons and toxins from the body.

The procedure for your refreshing Hydrogen Peroxide Bath is quite simple:

1) Fill your bathtub with warm, not hot water.

2) Add your 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup to 1 cup. (Start with the weaker solution and gradually add a little more as your body gets used to the added oxygen).

3) Give yourself a good dry body rub as you wait for your tub to fill. This body rub will remove the dead skin that accumulated on your body. It will also increase your blood circulation and open the pores of your skin to permit the hydrogen peroxide in your bath water better access. This dry body rub should be done with a natural bristle brush, as firm as your body can tolerate.

4) After your dry body rub, soak in the tub for twenty minutes to half an hour and let the hydrogen peroxide and bath salts work their magic in detoxifying your body.

5) After your refreshing bath you can take a shower to further cleanse the body of any remaining dead skin particles. Many people, who take a regular hydrogen peroxide bath, will go a step further and spray their body with a light mist of diluted hydrogen peroxide.

That is just about all you have to do to enjoy the many benefits of taking a regular hydrogen peroxide bath, but there are a few things you should know in regards to these baths:

- It is better to experiment with the best time to take these baths. Many people have found they have a problem sleeping if they take the bath before going to bed. This is because of the extra oxygen absorbed by the body. Try taking your bath in the morning and you will start your day feeling refreshed and energized.

- Start with a smaller quantity of food grade hydrogen peroxide and gradually build up to a stronger concentration as your body gets used to the added oxygen. If you use too strong a solution at first, you may experience slight headaches and possible muscle pain. This is just the reaction to your body detoxification and is no cause for alarm. As your body adjusts you can increase the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

- Have a cold glass of ice water handy and keep your body hydrated while relaxing in your bath.

- Keep the bath water away from your face and hair.