The Flu Shot: Hashimoto's and the flu vaccination

Hashi Warriors and the Flu Vaccine

Stay healthy this flu season

by amping up your immune system

with energy movement

   Much debate happens every year on whether people should or need to get the year's influenza vaccination. Quite frankly, the whole issue of vaccinations is a touchy subject in the states  among folks...a topic for another time - I have strong feelings on the side of NOT vaccinating, but that is not today's topic.
Is the flu shot necessary....does it help...will this miracle shot  save your life? Are you in the Center for Disease Control's categories of those who "probably" should not get the influenza vaccination? A really good resource on this topic is Dr. Kirk Gair who has written a few books on the subject and who started his quest to learn all he can because the information saved his wife from the devastating affects of  a Thyroid Storm. Click on his link to see what he has to say about Hashimoto's and the flu shot.
   If you are like me, whenever I received the influenza vaccination, I battled illnesses the rest of the season. I documented and have proof that demonstrated I would have one cold or virus run into another, I would catch lots of viruses and minor flus I came into contact with....it seemed to bog my immune system down. Now there is scientific evidence that supports my personal claims. Or rather, if my Hashimoto's is in hyper drive and very active, it has been found to be detrimental and is more like poking the bear living inside me...and I'm not the only one!
   According to the Holter Medical Group, "Although it is unclear exactly why some patients with these health conditions have complications(to the influenza vaccine), there are a few possible explanations. It could be related to mitochondrial dysfunction, which many of these patients have. It could also be directly related to the immune response elicited by the vaccine. One physician who has treated over 2,000 Hashimoto’s patients reports that 80% of his patients have infection with the Epstein Barr virus in their history. This is thought to play a role in the onset or exacerbation of the condition for many Hashimoto’s patients.Interestingly, there is some evidence that Influenza B may also be involved as an initiating factor. Even if it is not directly related, it affects the same part of the immune system as Epstein Barr. This also happens to be the part of the immune system that attacks the thyroid in autoimmune thyroid conditions."
   While I'm no physician or doctor, or nurse or practitioner, I am one heck of a researcher and I am an award winning journalist! In America, it's a little bit tougher to find out certain kinds of information (hot topics like vaccines or abortion that have a lot of money into the outcomes) but it is out there in small doses and under pages of professionals finally being able to piece the puzzle together.  I encourage you to look into these website addresses to look into this topic for yourself :)

Knowledge is personal power on your quest for good health! And the more we share, the more we can do what is best for each one of us and not be one of the "herd".

http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/145399/fibromyalgia/
 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12428064

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12428064

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18240111

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/04/zinc-garlic-vitamin-d.aspx

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/04/zinc-garlic-vitamin-d.aspx

So if you follow my blog, you'll know how natural I attempt to be. I limit chemicals entering my body via by the food and drink or by environmental exposure and skin products. I strive to limit my chemical exposure and I firmly believe this alone helped to calm my Hashimoto's down when it was in a whirlwind.

   So how do I avoid the flu? The flu is air borne and knowing this information is half the battle! In our home, we spray essential oils in the air, we use the old pan of water and essential oils and boil that down into the air. We have hand sanitizer right by the front door when we get home from a social event, and we use it! We eat organic, healthy foods from all the food groups (even the gluten free family members). Eating processed food or food with preservatives is limited. We boost ourselves with vitamin C and echinacea, we consume elderberry and overall try to get quality sleep and quality exercise....and we laugh a lot.

Our Family.....

has fun and laughs :)

Just being happy is another trick to fostering a good immune system. We incorporate energy work, like Reiki, or Yoga, into our every day lives. Our body's energy systems need movement within them to function properly.

I hope I've helped you find some resources to help you learn and get another step into recovery for you or your loved ones Hashimoto's or other autoimmune condition!
Blessings!

Our rainbow girl being ME :)

Tumeric paste for YOU

Delicious golden milk...

the drink that feels like a comfy blanket for your belly

   Tumeric…..that lovely spice from India that creates heat and stains everything a buttery golden hue. Tumeric has become a staple of my life! It is the Goddess of ayuda that assists in everything from inflammation to treating little nicks and cuts on my body. I LOVE IT! If you have enjoyed the savory food of the curry variety - then you already have enjoyed the benefits of this lovely tuber.

CELEBRATE! Tumeric got me

down to my pre-pregnancy dress size

this month!

  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Hashi's- to those of us who have the autoimmune condition can be prone to developing inflammation throughout the joints in our bodies. Inflammation can be painful ….downright annoying and studies from around the world have shown that over 90% of various types of cancer BEGINS with inflammation.

 "Chronic inflammation is known to drive many cancers, especially liver cancer. Researchers have long thought that's because inflammation directly affects cancer cells, stimulating their division and protecting them from death. But researchers have now found that chronic liver inflammation also promotes cancer by suppressing immunosurveillance -- a natural defense mechanism in which it's thought the immune system suppresses cancer development."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108131856.htm

Tumeric helps me

keep up with four

active daughters!

   I get inflammation...I can weigh around 5-6 pounds more in excess water if inflammation is being an issue. That's when I looked into the benefits of Tumeric and how to incorporate the spice into my life! Inflammation makes my joints feel stiff and sore and every movement can be uncomfortable. Try this simple recipe for a Tumeric Paste to mix in your food or with your morning cuppa. Actually our little family enjoys a cup of golden milk (warmed milk with 1/4to 1/2 tsp. turmeric paste) before we retire for the night. The ingredients are perfect for calming tummies and easing digestion, relieving inflammation and aches.
   Tumeric Tea also known as Golden Milk, gives your immune system a great boost, tastes amazing AND makes you feel great! The oils are necessary for your body to accept the turmeric as is the ground pepper. Another amazing benefit of this paste is it can be given to your four legged friends! Dogs will take this paste willingly in their food and can really help with arthritis, injuries both internal and external!

Golden Paste

1/2 cup turmeric powder 

enough water to make a good paste

2 tbsp. coconut oil or olive oil

1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger root

1/2 tsp. cardamom powder

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

Mix together over heat until well mixed. Store in an air tight container in your cooler for up to two weeks.

The paste can then be used in teas, assorted milks, and coffees to the ratio of anywhere from 1/4 tsp or 1/2 tsp per servings having 2 to 3 servings per day as needed.

I usually begin my day and end my day with this luscious golden paste in my bevies. You really will notice a huge difference in stiffness in your joints or aches in your body of any kind.

Blessings and enjoy the luner eclipse and happy full moon :)

Less Facebook brought the world a little closer

 

Es primavera mi familia y amigos!

    I did it folks, I became a ghost on the social media mogul Facebook. I am no longer a puppet with strings abiding to people's twists and turns, shouts and "likes", mean spirited remarks or banter or unabashed fluffery to provide the world with proof that I like/love someone. I no longer have a ticket on  the daily political roller coaster ride. I am no longer at the mercy of feeling pressure to participate, or just watch or have knowledge of any of the shenanigans of the masses that mask their true feelings with the various forms of cyber bullying. That all too  often translates into bullying in real life, creating a world of disconnectiveness.



                         I           AM         FREE
and actually not in the dark as "they" would have you believe. I still know the news, I still talk to family or friends or acquaintances who desire to actually know me and not peep at me through a keyhole unsuspecting. I feel connected and the sun shines brightly.

Now I get to say I'm "fit, healthy and over 45"

This was us on my 46th birthday!

We celebrate life!

   When I started Facebook years ago, it wasn't the bullies playground as it is often known of  today. It was a wonderful new environment where I could keep up with my long distance folk and banter with the ones I saw daily. It was a place of sunshine and laughter.  It was a wonderful forum to find like minds, to share grand ideas, to explore other views and to broaden my mind. Of enjoying my human relationships and sharing with them a tiny piece of my world and spread happiness. It was a place where people still held their tongues and valued their manners. It was sometimes a place of open worship, not one chastising others life choices.

    It was never a place for me to share my burdens unless they were funny, all of which  were first world problems, or talk about them at any length, complain vaguely about someone, nor a place I wanted to waste any of my time viewing people's faults and then complaining about the stupidity of mankind. After I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, I attempted to spread knowledge of my autoimmunity and to maybe help others with other autoimmune conditions,  invisible diseases.

     This new age of Facebook became a burden to me....seeing all of my friends and family in turmoil over different things, much of them having nothing to really complain about....someone larger sitting in front of them at a sporting event, the wrong coffee was given out at the drive through window, someone else's obesity offends them, or educating the world on how important their relationship to their deity is and should be the most important thing, etc. It was certainly no comfort to me when we lost our babies, there was not a feeling of closeness or camaraderie in the days that we grieved. Later, we often found people trying to "see" things through our teens' accounts.... and not necessarily connecting with them to cheer them on through life or help them when they stumbled. It was sometimes used as a tool.

    Our (my husband and mine) joint Facebook feed became a shouting ground with people screaming at the top of their keyboards for all to see. Soon competitions ensued over lifestyles, actual gifts for self and family, arrogance and verbal pestilence became a mainstay. The Facebook I grew up with had evolved into this evil empire that sucked on the very souls of humanity and made people feel very ALONE in their strife. As I have watched the demise of this social exchange, I felt a need to be super positive and to spread joy. Honestly, it began to feel overwhelming.

    In real life, I  have changed the world in which I live by being the person in charge of overseeing the youths that had been  court mandated and saddled with  community service. I chose their tasks, made them work, listened and talked to them about theiir journeys, tore them down and built them up. I showed I cared deeply for those who ultimately felt the world did not. Which means,  I have touched souls, helped youth grow, made a difference in people's lives. I GET to say that.  I felt good trying to make a difference. I try to  inspire. I have been contacted by people I have been associated with  years before and they have told me, that me....little tiny me, has made a difference in their lives. Not a lot of people can say that.

  But, it occurred to me as I have watched Facebook evolve, that many of the people on that particular social experience want to be in the dramatics. They create it, foster that feeling and let it ride. They thrive in the shadowy human experience. It cannot be changed or altered right now. They need to feed their emotional necessities. It is far easier to allow yourself to feel a widely false connection on social media, that to actually put yourself out there, in life, and forge a real concrete one. It is far scarier to let others in, to look past their defects, and love them anyways. I have faith in the human spirit that we will someday be able to do just that. Until we get close to that day, I will continue to welcome my mornings with the chirping of birds, the smiles of my family, a chat about how the night's sleep was, and to skip into the sun rays of the life giving air I breath. I will greet folks with a smile, and savor every gift presented to me.
                             Life is grand beyond the screen.
  Now when I run into people, they truly ask me questions about my life. They wonder how I am and make a connection you can't find on the screen. They hug, they grab my hand, they rub my shoulder, they show me that my existence in their world matters. They want me to feel close to them and they are forced to demonstrate that in real time. Moments are not wasted. No longer am I at an event and people let my presence go unnoticed. Indeed, I have made my world closer for myself. Be not afraid to try it - you'll be surprised at how your human experience changes! 

Enjoying a birthday hike!

Blessings!

Tuna Casserole for Hashi Warriors

   Hey everybody! Spring has sprung and we have assorted birds calling out to meet the bird of their dreams now! We are all coming out of the wintry conditions to feel the sunshine and smell the fresh breezes.

   Today, I'm going to chat a bit about how I manage my Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with something you need everyday...FOOD! Since my diagnosis, I have become quite a foodie and actually enjoy my food more than I ever have in my whole life! It's wonderful to eat and not feel lousy after I fuel my body. I have more flavor in every morsel than ever and I really do not have to pass on much except if we are at a community pot luck. There are diets to follow and it can really seem staggering to include all of those and convert to a Hashimoto's friendly atmosphere. While I won't go in depth here on the complete diet (click here to see what you can have!)  required for impact, I will share a tip or two on one of my family's favorite dish....Tuna Noodle Casserole. The topic of noodles cane up with our now afult daughter since she’s in her own and began cooking, so I thought I needed to share our noodle knowledge wealth! :)
   If you are like me, we discovered that gluten was a major trigger for my Hashimoto's. Removing gluten from your diet was tough at that time when labels weren't required to put GLUTEN FREE in bold, but these days, with the labels saying the allergens, it's so easy! That's the easy part....the tough part is saying good-bye to a few favorited food friends. I've always enjoyed my fruits and vegetables and rice as well. The important thing about halting the affects of Hashimoto's is finding the root or the trigger of your autoimmunity. Once that is pin pointed, you can stop your immune system from going whacky and attacking other important parts of YOU! OK, enough about FINDING YOUR ROOT CAUSE (click that link to start that journey!), and back to the chatter of yummy food!
   Not everyone in our family needs or has to be gluten free. But, I do the cooking so the majority of the creative genius meals are so we all can enjoy meals TOGETHER and not feel like outcasts in our own health journey! One of our favorite dishes is Tuna Noodle Casserole and we had to pull this from the menu temporarily while I was learning how to cook and bake gluten free. A good tip about gluten free noodles....always try to find corn and rice noodles to substitute for your old recipes. These taste and feel about the same as the wheat noodles. We have discovered that noodles made from other grains will feel like sand or the taste will be overwhelming and ruin an old favorite dish! I have substituted the corn and rice noodles and nobody was the wiser!

   Please enjoy my Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe and hopefully it will become your new comfort food! This dish with the dairy may not be everyone's cup of tea, and I do not have the nutritional content for it, but it was a welcomed favorite we had to put on hold for a while until I perfected the recipe. The old recipe had wheat noodles and Miracle Whip, both containing gluten.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

2-3 foil packets of tuna 
2 12 oz boxes of gluten free rotini noodles made with corn and rice
1 cup sour cream
2 cups mayonnaise
1-1 1/2 cups milk or nut milk
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, stay clear of Iodized salt! (get iodine through kelp instead)
Freshly ground pepper to taste

  Cook the noodles according to the package. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together above ingredients in oven proof pan or dish. Bake covered for 30 minutes, uncover and bake for 10 minutes longer to achieve a golden top. Serve after briefly cooling a few minutes.

Blessings from our clan and enjoy your journey for health!