Food fears linger even as tomato scare ends (AP)

AP - The tomato scare may be over, but it has taken a toll - it's cost lutein 5% nutritional supplement industry an estimated $100 million and left millions of people with a new wariness about the safety of everyday foods.

A thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism means you have an underactive thyroid gland. If you have trouble losing weight no matter what you do, it could be because you are hypothyroid. There are almost 30 million Americans with thyroid disease and women are 7 times more likely than men to have it. Hypothyroid is the most common thyroid disorder and often misdiagnosed by doctors.

You may get this because it is inherited, or because of previous problems, such as nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer, previous thyroid surgery, another autoimmune disease.

This is a condition where the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, does not produce enough hormone to function properly.

What happens is that it takes in iodine, combines it with tyrosine (an amino acid) and converts it into the hormones T4 and T3. If your thyroid is normal, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3. These hormones travel through the bloodstream, converting oxygen and calories into energy. If this process doesnt work properly, then the calories and oxygen cannot convert the energy properly and you may gain weight or incapability to lose weight.

The symptoms can include : weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, hoarseness, high cholesterol, constipation, feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, low sex drive, tingling hands or feet, irregular periods, infertility. You may even experience recurrent pregnancy loss, resistant high cholesterol, difficult menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or mitral valve prolapse.

Do you feel sluggish and fatigued on a regular basis, or do you get bouts of depression and sadness? Are you always feeling cold, especially your hands and feet, or do you have brittle nails? These are just some of the possible signs of the disease. There may be other causes, but at least this may give you a clue as to why you do not feel well. Check with your doctor in all cases to be sure.

When your metabolism doesn't work right because you have this disorder, you may find that there's no amount of dieting or exercise that takes the weight off. You may in fact put on extra pounds, even though you are doing just what you are supposed to.

What can you do ? Meet with your doctor and ask if you need a thyroid examination and blood test. These likely will be a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test, along with T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 tests.

A drug called levothyroxine (often called Levo-T, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) may be prescribed for you. It is usually inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and has uniform potency. However, all thyroid hormone replacement therapies, whether natural or synthetic, have the ability to restore thyroid hormone levels.

Supplements that contain the following might also help :

-L-Tyrosine - is one of the amino acids that your body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is included in some weight control products because it works to stimulate your metabolism. It's also an element in helping your brain operate more efficiently which makes you feel better.

-Guglipid - an extract from the Indian guggal tree, may improve thyroid function and assist in controlling your weight. Scientists are finding that guglipid lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, and thus can help somewhat to prevent heart disease.

There is always hope and lots of help out there for you. If you suspect that you have this condition and you are not sure what to do, talk to your physician for guidance and advice.

Ken Black is a freelance writer on Health related subjects. Visit http://www.thyroid-supplements.com for more information about hypothyroidism.

Pregnancy Alone Not A Risk for Mental Health Problems (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnancy alone isn'tassociated with an increased risk of mental health disorders, a new studysays.

If you buy pure l-arginine akg l-ornithine akg powder choosing a natrual supplements or seeking a whole foods diet, it is no surprise that you will also want whole food vitamins. There are companies that make these vitamins but one of the best is Standard Process. Becuase this company commits totally to the highest quality ingredients on their organic certified farmland they are one of the World's best. Some people prefer whole food vitamins because they are not synthetically made, and they are as close to the natural form of vitamin or mineral that a product can come.

When choosing whole food vitamins, you will want to look for products that are preservative and additive free, and you may also choose liquid supplements. If you have a healthcare professional recommend you take any kind of supplements then make sure that you are getting 100% natrual supplements and not synthetic chemicals. Many whole food products will not come isolated as a certain vitamin or mineral, but instead come in a combined form with other essential nutrients.

With the amount of pollutants that are in your daily environment, there are vast amounts of free radicals that are damaging your cells. Eating a whole foods diet and taking natural whole food vitamins can help to produce and maintain healthy cells in your body, protecting them from such cellular damage. Many people will eat a raw foods diet, as cooking can sometimes eliminate or degrade important vitamins and nutrients from food sources. You will feel healthier, happier, and more alive when you are taking care of your mind and body with the proper nutrition.

Gregg Makarowski - Is a successful Internet Marketer and Author. His health related experiences are those of his own recovery of a near death experience. He is committed to helping others seeking the help.