Dr. David Brownstein – whose blogs I follow – posted this information today. I’ve just added in some nutritional information for your health!

Recently, the U.S. EPA reported that common chemicals (polybrominated diphenyl ethers– PBDE’s) found in nearly all our homes are contributing to a rash of thyroid problems. This class of chemicals is mainly used as a fire-retardant. PBDE’s are also found in a variety of household items including computers, televisions, carpeting, furniture and mattresses. PBDE’s are made from bromine. Bromine is also used to keep swimming pools and hot tubs clean. It is used as a pesticide, as well as in brominated vegetable oil which is used as an emulsifier in many citrus flavoured soft-drinks. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromine)

Bromine is from the family of halides. This chemical family contains iodine, fluoride and chlorine as well. The reason we are seeing such a high prevalence of iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders in humans is due, in large part, to the excess exposure of bromine from our modern conveniences. Bromine exposure causes our bodies to excrete iodine. If we don’t supplement with extra iodine, bromine will bind to receptors in the body that are supposed to be binding with iodine. In effect, bromine will replace iodine throughout the body.

What are the consequences of excess bromine levels?
The consequences are severe; increased rate of cancer of the breast, thyroid, ovaries, uterus and prostate are due, in part, to bromine toxicity. Also, we are seeing dramatically increased rates of autoimmune illnesses including autoimmune thyroid disorders. People with a serious illness have markedly elevated bromine levels.

So, what can you do?
The main treatment for excess bromine is to avoid bromine exposure.  Eat foods that do not contain bromine such as organic fruits and vegetables. Avoid bread, pasta and cereal that contain brominated flour and citrus-flavoured soft drinks like Mountain Dew. Next, supplement with enough iodine to allow your body to detox from bromine – excellent food sources of iodine include sea vegetables (sea vegetables like dulse, kombu, kelp can be added to your cooking water, and soups and stews, and you can sprinkle it on top of food to replace salt – for more recipes, visit http://www.whfoods.com).

Finally, supplement with antioxidants like Beta Carotene, vitamins C and E, selenium and zinc that help your detoxification system function optimally.  It’s easy to recognize foods rich in antioxidants because they have the brightest colours. Enjoying a spectrum of different coloured foods will allow you to enjoy the benefits of a spectrum of antioxidants.

Incoming search terms:

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Last weekend I met a woman while taking a Muscle Testing class in Richmond Hill. Over lunch we talked, and she told me about the wonders of the drink Kombucha. By the end of lunch, she offered me a ‘Scoby’.What on earth is a Scoby? I had no idea. But I knew it had something to do with fermentation. And I’m really interested in fermentation and the health benefits of eating and drinking naturally fermented foods like yogurt and kefir. The Weston A. Price Foundation offers lots of information about the health benefits of eating naturally fermented foods.Scoby stands for ‘ symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. It’s a large, mushroom-like culture that is placed in sweetened black or green tea and turns a bowl full of sweet tea into a bowl full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and health-giving organic acids.As the Kombucha culture digests the sugar it produces a range of organic acids like glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, malic acid and usnic acid; vitamins, particularly B vitamins and vitamin C; as well as amino acids, enzymes. And of course there are all the benefits of the probiotic microorganisms themselves. The Kombucha culture is a biochemical powerhouse in your kitchen.Many health claims are made for kombucha but there is less research on the benefits of kombucha than there is on fermented milk products. It has certainly been shown to have similar antibiotic, antiviral and anti fungal properties in lab tests. In rats it’s been shown to protect against stress and improve liver function. There is a lot of experiential evidence from people who have been using kombucha over many years. Many of the benefits reported include improvements in energy levels, metabolic disorders, allergies, cancer, digestive problems, candidiasis, hypertension, HIV, chronic fatigue and arthritis. It’s also used externally for skin problems and as a hair wash among other things.My first batch will be ready on February 16th, so I’ll let you know how it tastes!For more information about Kombucha, here’s a good link.

Just found this information (page 258 – 260 of  The Hormone Diet by Natasha Turner, N.D.) – think it’s useful:

1. Check ingredients – look for:
   1. hormone-hindering ingredients (processed meats, white flour, white rice, enriched flour, refined flour, white sugar, hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils, shortening, margarines, trans fats, saturated fats, foods containing aspartame and artificial sweeteners, artificial food colouring, preservatives, sulphites, nitrites)
   2. hidden sugars (is sugar the first ingredient? if so, put it back on the shelf – these are some other names for sugar-like compounds dextran, dextrose, diatase, caramel, diastatic malt, ethyl maltol, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, sorbitol, maltodextrin, maltose, mannitol, lactose)
2. Check serving size – is it realistic?
3. Check amount of carbohydrates: on average female 30-40g/meal; male 40-50g/meal
4. Check amount of protein: on average female 25-30g/meal; male 35-40g/meal
5. Check fat content: on average female 10-12g/meal; male 12-15g/meal – beware of trans fats and saturated fats.
6. Check fibre content – if less than 2 g per serving then NOT a great choice
7. Check sodium content – choose products less than 140 mg of sodium
8. Check calorie content – female should eat between 400 – 500 calories per meal and males between 500 – 600 calories per meal (this is a rough estimate)

The other site I found that has a fabulous dietary protocol for ADD/ADHD assistance: http://ow.ly/2KxiH

Found this terrific video about the importance of eating a variety of vegetables for their phytonutrients – interesting that variety has been found to be even more important than quantity! Go check it out – http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=22060686

So, here’s my second blog post for WoW Power Walking.Some of you may have decided to take up walking because your physician discovered your blood has elevated cholesterol levels and you were told that exercise is important to improve those levels.Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made by the liver and transported through the bloodstream via lipoproteins to wherever it is needed. Cholesterol forms part of every cell in the body and serves many vital functions including proper brain and nerve function.Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it can clog blood vessels. It builds up wherever cholesterol has been sent to repair damage to blood vessels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered the “good” cholesterol as it helps smooth out and clear away the build up of LDL and reduces your risk for heart disease.If you have elevated total blood cholesterol and LDL levels in your blood, it means that there is either too much cholesterol for the HDL to clean up properly or there is not enough HDL to do the job properly. Either way the extra cholesterol can form plaque that sticks to artery walls and may eventually cause heart disease.Health care professionals consider it important to keep cholesterol levels within the safe range (total blood cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dl; LDL cholesterol levels below 130 mg/dl; HDL cholesterol levels above 35 mg/dl) to prevent heart attack or stroke.In addition to exercise, it is considered important to consider what your diet can do to help.  Include fruits and vegetables, replace high fat animal protein with lower fat protein in fish and chicken, and replacing saturated fats with mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Some specific foods include almonds, apples, bananas, carrots, cold water fish such as halibut, salmon, haddock, pollock, dried beans, garlic, grapefruit, oats, olive oil, salmon, strawberries, and walnuts.While regular exercise is critical for balancing cholesterol levels – reducing total blood cholesterol while lowering the LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol – lack of sunlight has been shown to adversely affect cholesterol levels. Combining your exercise with some outdoor time is what we’ve always encouraged at WoW and, as it turns out, for good reason.Get outside! Today. 

Last week I was asked to write a monthly nutrition article for one of my good friends and client for many years, Lee of WoW Power Walking. At first I was quite nervous about the idea, but then realized that this is a great opportunity for me to start walking my talk. Or at least starting on that journey. Below is the first article that I’ve submitted to her for next month’s newsletter. If anyone has suggestions for the next article or articles, please let me know. And please feel free to pass along this article to anyone you feel could use the information.What is Vitamin D? What does it do?Vitamin D is the “sunshine” vitamin, manufactured from cholesterol in the human skin when in comes in contact with UVB radiation from the sun. It regulates the body’s absorption of calcium and phosphorus making it crucially important for the maintenance of bone density, healthy bones and teeth, and the normal function of the nervous system. Without sufficient vitamin D, taking calcium supplements is useless.How do we get it?From March to early Fall, there is sufficient UVB radiation from the sun to provide adequate amounts of Vitamin D to our bodies. However, from October until March there is not enough UVB radiation reaching the Toronto area to enable our bodies to synthesize Vitamin D, so we need to consider supplementation – whether through diet or a dietary supplement.Vitamin D production is further blocked when we apply sunscreen to our bodies. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, “the application of sunscreen with an SPF factor of 8 reduces production of vitamin D by 95%.” How do we get around this? Moderate, limited sun exposure of 10-15 minutes daily – without sunscreen – during the spring, summer and fall, from 11am to 2pm, on the face and arms, will provide enough UVB radiation for the individual to synthesize sufficient vitamin D. Are there food sources available?There are few natural food sources of vitamin D, but some excellent options include shrimp, sardines, cod and eggs (from World’s Healthiest Foods). It’s also available in mushrooms and dark leafy green vegetables such as kale, collard greens, and spinach. A vast amount is also manufactured synthetically and added to bread, milk and other fortified foods.Bottom line then is even when you’re enjoying the benefits of fresh air and sunshine during your winter walks, you’re actually not able to use the sun’s energy to make vitamin D because it isn’t strong enough. From October until March (or from Halloween until March break for all you Mom’s!), supplement with a daily dose of vitamin D or make sure that you’re eating fish and greens each week. My teens enjoy their morning spritz of D-day by Biocare (a Canadian manufacturer).