Natural Treatments for Radiation Exposure

Even relatively modest doses of radiation can increase the risk that a person will develop thyroid cancer at some point in life. There's a delay between exposure and cancer that can run 10 to 20 years. - Dr. Rigual

Nuclear power plant disasters like the Chernobyl reactor explosion in 1986 or the most recent disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant make us aware about the dangers of radioactive exposure.

Radiation is colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemically inert and can only be detected with a Geiger counter. Any amount of radiation is potentially dangerous because of its effect on the living cells. Radiation can disrupt normal chemical processes within the cells and cause abnormal growth or cell death. Cells that are affected by the radiation divide and produce more abnormal cells. This pathological division may eventually lead to cancer.

Our bodies have the amazing capability to heal themselves. When we are exposed to low doses of radiation, healthy cells are able to repair the damage rapidly. Cells that died due to exposure are replaced by the body. If we, however, are exposed to very high doses of radiation, the body may not be able to replace the damaged cells fast enough and tissues or organs may fail to function properly. This is when the radiation sickness sets in.

More than sixty radioactive elements are found in nature, but most people are unaware that they are exposed to radiation on a daily basis. Radiation is present everywhere and there is no way to escape it. 

There are three different types of radiation:

• terrestrial radiation - emitted by the rocks, soil, oceans, and plants. Radioactive elements enter our bodies when we drink water, breath air, or eat foods which contain them. The naturally occurring radioisotopes such as carbon-14, potassium-40, thorium-223, polonium-218, uranium-238 and its decay product radon-222, are the elements that cause exposure to radiation from within our bodies. 
• cosmic radiation - is the results from the interaction of cosmic rays with the upper atmosphere of our planet. Cosmic rays permeate the entire Space and are composed of highly energized, positively charged particles and high energy photons. They approach the earth at the speed that almost equals the speed of light. Most of these particles are blocked by the earth's atmosphere and the magnetic field, but many are able to penetrate and form radioactive isotopes that affect us daily. The exposure grows with the altitude. High mountain peaks and high altitude intercontinental flights receive the highest dose of cosmic radiation. 
• man-made radiation - is the radiation caused by human activities and is found in many areas of our daily lives, often where we do not even expect it: our building materials such as bricks and cement may contain uranium ores and are sources of the deadly radon gas; tobacco products contain radioactive polonium-210 which naturally occurs in tobacco plants; commercial food irradiation; radiation from computers and television screens, cell phones, medical diagnostic technology such as X-rays and CAT scans, and the full body scanners at the airports, contributes to the daily cumulative exposure; nuclear waste and nuclear power plants disasters bring another dimension to our daily lives as fallout is highly radioactive and has immediate cell damaging potential. 

The dangers of radiation are well understood by the medical and the scientific communities. In order to determine the damage caused by radiation, a total dose resulting from repeated exposures to ionizing radiation over a period of time has to be established. Radiation has a cumulative effect which means that even if we were never exposed to a radioactive fallout from a nuclear power plant, the damage results from our exposure to different forms of radiation over longer periods of time. This is the reason why people who, for instance, work at nuclear facilities or who operate x-ray machines have to be constantly monitored.

Since we are naturally exposed to radiation, additional exposure should be limited to an absolutely necessary minimum. Nuclear fallout, however, comes unannounced and carries far more deadlier radiation than any other source, with the exception of an atomic bomb, of course. Cesium-137 and iodine-131 are the radioactive particles that contaminate the environment after a nuclear fallout. As these particles are carried by the winds, they can contaminate vast areas thus affecting people who do not live in the immediate vicinity of a nuclear disaster.

Fortunately, the atomic incidents are rather rare, but since they occurred in the past, we have gathered enough experience in the field of treatment and prevention. Traditionally few very effective supplements and herbs were used to prevent the body from the possible effects of radiation or to "detox" the body after exposure. They offer simple and natural solution and are quite effective and rather inexpensive.

Natural treatments for radiation:

• iodine - is one of the most important natural antidotes to radiation. Our bodies need iodine for the optimally functioning thyroid gland which utilizes it to produce metabolism regulating hormones. Unfortunately, the thyroid cannot tell the difference between the radioactive iodine-131 and the beneficial form of iodine that is normally found in natural sea salt and in sea vegetables. This is most unfortunate as the radioactive iodine attaches itself to iodine receptors in the thyroid causing mutation and cell death and, eventually, cancer. Supplemental iodine, which usually comes in a strongly bound form of potassium iodide, is usually administered to prevent the damage from exposure to the radioactive iodine. The bound forms of iodine, however, are biologically inefficient as the body is able to absorb only about 20 percent of this nutrient. For a better protection nascent iodine is the preferred choice. Nascent iodine supplements deliver iodine in its atomic form which is easily absorbed and utilized by the thyroid gland. It is important to understand that supplemental iodine can only protect against radioactive iodine, but does not protect against other radioactive particles such as cesium and strontium.
• sodium bicarbonate - a substance also known as baking soda, is the best means to minimize the kidney damage caused by the uranium exposure. Oral doses or infusions of sodium bicarbonate help alkalize the urine and render uranium ions less toxic to the kidneys. Sodium bicarbonate binds with uranium and promotes its excretion from the body thus reducing the severity of the damage caused by radiation. Sodium bicarbonate can also be added to bath water for a full body detoxifying effect. The suggested amount is one pound for a low grade exposure and up to five  pounds for an acute radiation exposure. Sodium bicarbonate is also very effective in removing uranium from contaminated surfaces and from the soil.
• sweet water algae - micro-algae such as spirulina and chlorella have been used with great success by the Russian doctors to treat patients after the nuclear reactor explosion in Chernobyl. Micro-algae are very rich in nutrients and have the capability to bind to toxins and sweep them out of the body. They alkalize and purify the blood and restore its chemistry. The algae also enhance the immune system that is normally compromised by radiation.
• seaweeds - especially kelp, are rich in sodium alginate, a polysaccharide which binds to radioactive strontium and removes it from the body. Sea vegetable are also rich in iodine and help prevent uptake of the radioactive iodine. Other nutrients such as vitamin B 12, iron, sulfur, and zinc, inhibit the absorption of radioactive cobalt, plutonium, sulfur and zinc particles. 
• medicinal mushrooms - mushrooms such as reishi and maitake enhance the immune system after the exposure to radiation and prevent tumors from forming in the body. They also protect the DNA from the damage caused by ionizing radiation. Mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans that are known to protect and restore the skin from the damage caused exposure to radiation. 
• Korean ginseng - is an herb that increases mental and physical endurance. It has the capability to inhibit tumor growth and prevent hemorrhage after exposure to radiation. It prevents the degeneration of bone marrow and stimulates formation of new white blood cells.
• organic sulfur - inhibits the uptake of radioactive sulfur. It also enables transport of oxygen across the cell membranes thus contributing to a fast regeneration of the damaged cells. The mineral has the ability to detoxify heavy metals and neutralize free radicals. It is a building block of many amino-acids that are necessary to restore the damaged body tissues.  
• liquid zeolites - especially the clinoptilolite which can absorb all kinds of toxins and help remove radiation not only from the human or animal bodies, but also from the affected environment. Clinoptilolite was successfully used to clean up the radioactive damage after the Three Mile Island incident and in Chernobyl. Because of their molecular structure and the negative charge, zeolites are able to absorb positively charged mercury, aluminum, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and radioactive ions of uranium and plutonium. Zeolites trap these and other substances like a sponge and carry them out of the body without causing any additional damage to the body.

As I mentioned above, our bodies can heal themselves. A healthy body with a strong immune system is capable of correcting any damage. We can support our bodies with balanced nutrition, regular detoxification, and proper relaxation and stress management. Daily diet should be supplemented with vitamins and antioxidants to protect the body from free radicals that are generated by the radiation.

We cannot escape radiation, but we can protect our genetic substance from the damage caused by it. People working in nuclear power plants, miners, flying personnel, and those who are in daily contact with medical diagnostic technology should take extra care and undergo regular detoxification.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Natural Treatments for Radiations Exposure by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Nutritional Support For Underactive Thyroid Gland

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of the thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormones that help control the body’s metabolism. Diminished levels of these hormones can considerably slow down metabolism - a process in which the body digests the food and nutrients and converts them to energy.

Women are more susceptible to hyperthyroidism than men and women who are in their fifties and older are the most affected by this disorder. The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary greatly from person to person and depend on just how much the metabolism has slowed. Symptoms tend to appear gradually over longer periods of time.

Signs of under active thyroid

There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism. The most commonly observed are:

• Unexplained fatigue that cannot be relieved by regular sleep and rest
• Sensitivity to cold that may also include cold hands a feet
• Constipation that is not related to changes in diet
• Thinning hair and brittle fingernails
• Depression and mood swings
• Changes in skin health
• Weight gain not caused by change in diet or exercise routine
• Muscle aches and weakness
• Pain, stiffness, or swelling of joints
• Difficulty to concentrate, forgetfulness, or unexplained confusion

There are many other symptoms caused by hypothyroidism that can be associated with multiple conditions such as heart disease or infertility, making hypothyroidism even more difficult to diagnose. A blood test is usually performed to determine the cause of any chronic symptoms.

Nutritional solution to hypothyroidism

There are foods and supplements to be taken and others to be avoided when one suffers from hypothyroidism. Patients on medications sometimes feel that they want some other kind of treatment. They are not always supported by their medical practitioners and feel left alone in their suffering.

Thyroid is a very "fragile" organ and its deficiencies are not easy to treat. But there are ways to take care of the problem nutritionally. One of the most important supplements is L-Tyrosine, an amino acid that supports the function of a healthy thyroid. It is a precursor to the body's own hormone thyroxine. The suggested dose is 500 mg L-Tyrosine on empty stomach. Instead of taking supplemental tyrosine, one may prefer to indulge in tyrosine-rich foods like avocados, bananas, almonds, pumpkin seeds, legumes, lean chicken meat, and fish among others.

In order to produce thyroid hormones the body needs iodine. The diet can easily be enriched with sea vegetable, salt water fish, and unprocessed sea salt that has its natural content of iodine and sea minerals. A caution is advised as excess iodine in the body may worsen the thyroid condition even further.

One should also supplement with high quality multivitamin especially high in Vitamin B complex, essential fatty acids, beta carotene, Vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc. These nutrients not only support thyroid health, but also prevent from damage caused by low thyroid. Probiotics should be taken daily to keep the intestines healthy and improve the absorption of nutrients. Nutrition rich in fiber will help to maintain regularity.

Healthy thyroid is associated with optimal levels of Vitamin D. Our bodies produce Vitamin D when we are exposed to sun. During the winter months when our exposure to sun is minimal, we need to supplement. The suggested does of Vitamin D3 is 800 IU. Fatty salt water fish and cod liver oil are the best sources of this vitamin.

Just as there are foods that support thyroid function, there are also foods that are considered detrimental to this organ. It is important to avoid foods that are goitrogenic, like non-fermented soy products, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, radishes, strawberries, and peaches. These foods contain substances that interfere with the thyroid function. Moreover, nutritionists suggest to reduce the intake of gluten containing foods. People with hypothyroidism should also avoid processed foods, foods containing preservatives, additives, and artificial sweeteners. The consumption of caffeine should be reduced to an absolute minimum.

 

Are your thyroid lab tests coming out "normal"? There is nothing more frustrating that a lab report that is not matching your condition. If you are supplementing with vitamin B7 or biotin, your thyroid test results might appear normal despite the fact that you are suffering from under active thyroid with all its symptoms clearly visible to you and your doctor. 

Many women suffering from hypothyroidism take biotin in high doses to improve the quality of their thinning hair or brittle nails. Unfortunately, even a single 10-mg dose of that vitamin might interfere with the accuracy of your blood test reading. While supplementation with vitamins and minerals in high doses often seems necessary, it may result in false positives or false negatives. Think of it next time you schedule a doctor appointment for a thyroid blood test. You may want to stop all supplementation for at least  two to three weeks. Try to eat as healthy as possible during this time and avoid all highly processed foods. They are detrimental to your health, whether you suffer from thyroid issues or not.

Conclusion

Under-active thyroid is not always easy to diagnose. Many people whose thyroid hormones seem to fall into a normal range, experience symptoms of low thyroid. These symptoms are often disregarded by conventional health care providers, but thanks to some serious clinical studies, sub-clinical hypothyroidism is receiving more attention now. Thyroid problems can be addressed nutritionally. Simple lifestyle changes, improved nutrition, supplementation with vital nutrients, moderate exercise, and proper relaxation may help considerably to improve one's condition.

By Dominique Allmon

This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.

Nutritional Support for Underactive Thyroid Gland by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.