Rectifying nutritional and hormonal imbalances, naturopathic protocol

Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food

‑ Hippocrates

If you believe in a Creator, than you believe that the bountiful foods provided were designed for us… a gift from the Creator. If you believe in evolution, then our bodies co-evolved with those foods over millennia to optimize our survival. Either way, natural foods play a vital role in health. If your body is deficient in nutrients or hormones, it is out of balance and maintaining homeostasis is harder work. Your body will not have the energy or raw materials it needs to heal. Many imbalances have a high correlation with cancer.

The concept of ‘food as medicine’ seems to elude most doctors. Most med schools fail to meet the recommended goal of providing 25 hours of nutrition education to students. Even that would be woefully inadequate. Most physicians are not trained to counsel patients about nutrition. They seem to feel the only answers to our health problems lie in man’s invention of pharmaceuticals. Mind you, most of those pharmaceuticals are derived from natural substances.

There is no dispute that many of our man-made chemicals have a strong, causal link to cancer. Why, then, is it such a stretch to imagine that natural foods could play an important role in restoring the balance that our man-made chemicals have disrupted? Much of our best information comes from age-old lore handed down through generations and has not been tested using the scientific method. And, frankly, a lot of things that have been tested have produced conflicting results. Good for you? Bad for you? It’s very frustrating. No one has given me tablets from the mount with absolute truths. I’m just going to keep bringing you along with me on my path of exploration and hope it’s helpful.

Testing & signs of deficiencies

Blood, tissue, urine, and hair are the substances in our body most tested to determine our physical states. The first three are commonly tested in laboratories and insurance covers them if ordered by a physician. The last two are used by naturopaths, and insurance generally doesn’t pay for their tests. If you have cancer, your oncologist will order a variety of tests but don’t assume their list is exhaustive. It is okay to bring up things that haven’t been tested for discussion. Remember, we are trying to convert our bioterrains from being hospitable to cancer to being hostile to it. We need to identify factors that may contribute to our perfect storms that led to cancer (or other disease conditions) thriving. The following are tests that I have found to be very useful in my journey to heal.

Iron

The link between iron overload and many types of cancer has been demonstrated although the exact mechanisms aren’t yet understood.¹ Iron ‘feeds’ cancer but so do many other things and so the absence of iron will not necessarily result in an absence of cancer. But I figure why make the little bastard happy and allow it to thrive? In my case, I have a diagnosed case of iron overload that is hereditary and was responsible for cancer thriving in me and the 50% of the people in my family who got cancer. My hematologists and oncologists agree on this point.

I regularly monitor my iron with the ‘total iron panel including Ferritin.’ I recommend everyone have these blood tests. It is inexpensive and could save your life. Even if you do not have hemochromatosis, the most common genetic disease in America… if you eat a standard American diet or take vitamins with iron in them, you may be iron-overloaded. In fact, experts say that over 90% of Americans are iron-overloaded.

Iron overload is the most missed diagnosis and the most misdiagnosed condition. Because the body is so good at achieving homeostasis, it is possible to actually be iron-overloaded and still be diagnosed with anemia. That is because the body squirrels away iron, in the form of Ferritin, in tissues, bones, and organs. Our bodies may compensate for deadly iron overload by absorbing less iron through the intestines. If you test your blood while this is happening, your circulating blood iron will indicate that you are anemic whereas your tissues and organs may actually be overloaded and causing all sorts of chronic disease conditions, not just cancer.

Unless they also do the Ferritin test, they won’t know if excess iron is being stored where it does the most damage. If you’d like to know more, the Iron Disorders Institute, ‪irondisorders.org, is an excellent, respected resource. This is such an important and complex issue, I am devoting a whole book to it, The Secret Life of Iron, coming soon.

While I have been concerned primarily with iron overload as a hidden factor in post-menopausal women, it’s possible that iron deficiency contributes to the high recurrence of breast cancer in premenopausal women.² Either way, it’s important to have the role that iron is playing in your body correctly identified. For that you need the tests I’ve mentioned which may then lead to more.

‘Normal’ is the new dead. The ‘normal’ range you see on your tests is a statistical derivation of the people who have been tested in that particular lab. It is NOT reflective of a larger population nor is it indicative of an optimal level. Proof is that the ‘normal’ range is different for men than women. That isn’t because it should be, it’s because women rid themselves of excess iron every month for 40 years and men don’t. That’s also theorized to play a role in why women live 10 or so years longer than men.

So, if over 90% of America is iron-overloaded, and if iron overload is linked to virtually every chronic disease condition (dementia, heart disease, cancer, liver disease, allergies, arthritis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, bipolar depression, anxiety, etc.) … ‘normal’ could be the new dead. Because monitoring my iron has become an important part of my healing, my hematologist recommends I keep both my circulating iron and my Ferritin well below the ‘normal’ range. The good news is that one can do that by simply giving blood every 8 weeks. That is the single best thing I believe a healthy person can do to stay healthy. I keep both my Ferretin and iron saturation % below the normal range at <40.

Iodine and thyroid hormones

Iodine is an essential mineral element the body uses to produce thyroid hormones, T₃ and T₄. Those hormones regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature and play a role in bone and brain health and fetal development. The body does not make iodine and it must be obtained through diet and supplementation. We have iodine receptors all over our body and every cell contains and utilizes iodine. It is a life-sustaining nutrient.

White blood cells cannot guard against infection without adequate amounts of iodine and the absence of iodine is a promoter of cancer… particularly breast cancer. Breast tissue requires iodine and without it you may get fibrocystic breast tissue. Iodine deficiency affects more than two billion people, more than ¼ of the world’s population. Iodine deficiency will lead to thyroid hormone deficiency. If you’d like to know more, read The Iodine Crisis: What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life, by Lynne Farrow.

27 million Americans suffer from hypothyroidism, 80% of them women. Thyroid hormone deficiency results in fatigue, weakness, weight gain, joint and muscle pain, depression, cold intolerance, skin, nail, and hair problems, muscle cramps and aches, and reproductive issues. Thyroid hormones also interact with reproductive hormones. Other nutrients required for thyroid health are protein, Omega 3s, selenium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, glutathione, sulphur, tyrosine, and Vitamins A, B₂, B₃, B₆, B₁₂, C, D and E. Foods that support your thyroid include brazil nuts, Omega-3s, adaptogens, fermented foods, fiber, and sea vegetables.

Some foods that are normally good for you can actually be bad for your thyroid. They are ‘goitrogens’ and include unfermented soy and raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Since cruciferous vegetables have significant anti-cancer properties, I suggest steaming them instead of avoidance. Gluten can trigger an auto-immune response that attacks the thyroid. Stress increases cortisol, which has a negative effect on thyroid function.

I mentioned endocrine disruptors in Principle 1 but I wish to specifically highlight bromides, which compete for the same receptors as iodine. The more bromides in your system, the less available iodine can be utilized. In addition to all the household items that contain bromides, the most insidious exposure comes from the food industry. Bromides are used extensively in processed drinks and foods. Flours used to be supplemented with iodine and instead they now use bromides as ‘dough conditioners.’ Chlorine and fluoride also inhibit iodine absorption. Another reason to avoid processed foods and drink filtered water.

You should definitely have your doctor test your thyroid if you have cancer (or any disease condition, actually) to see what role it may be playing. Normally, they test for TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) first. If it is high, that means you aren’t making enough thyroid hormone and the brain is constantly sending the signal to make more.

There is a wide range of opinions among endocrinologists on what optimal levels are, for basically the same reason mentioned for iron. If a large portion of the population is hypothyroid, then you could actually be hypothyroid even if you fall within the ‘normal’ range. Most endocrinologists I’ve consulted with believe that you should aim for TSH levels to be at the low end of the normal range. If your TSH is high, they will probably then test your T₃ and T₄levels. Push to have them test both to get the complete picture.

In my opinion, based on research and a lifetime of experience dealing with thyroid issues, I feel that taking synthetic thyroid hormone should not be the first thing you try if you are hypothyroid. I think you should first make sure you are getting enough of the nutrients listed above… especially iodine, selenium, zinc, and tyrosine. Give your thyroid a chance to make thyroid hormone by making sure it has the raw materials it needs. Research shows sometimes iodine alone can address thyroid problems.³ And iodine deficiency has been repeatedly linked to breast cancer.⁴ Remove obstacles by avoiding endocrine disruptors. Because once you get dependent on synthetic thyroid hormone, the thyroid gets lazy and stops working as hard, possibly permanently.

Researchers have known for years that pharmaceutical thyroid supplementation is linked to increased rates of breast cancer.⁵ A German study found women taking thyroid medication twice as likely to develop breast cancer as women who were not taking synthetic thyroid hormone replacement. 20% of women who had taken this medication for 15+ years developed breast cancer. Those who had taken it for 5 years had only a 10% incidence of breast cancer.

Another reason to avoid synthetic thyroid hormone (Levothyroxine or Synthroid) is that they only contain T₄ and require your body to convert it to the T₃ that you need. If the reason you are hypothyroid is because you are having difficulty making that conversion, then loading yourself with T₄ could just end up being toxic and you will still be deprived of T₃. In fact, research shows patients doing better while taking the combination.⁶ For that reason, I take Armour Thyroid, which is realthyroid hormone (from animals) and contains T₄ and T₃. I also take supplements of the thyroid nutrients and I eat as much seaweed salad, an excellent source of iodine, as I can. Selenium is necessary for the T₄ to T₃ conversion. Brazil nuts are high in selenium. One a day is enough.

You can simply test for iodine deficiency at home. Put red topical iodine on the inside of your wrists. Don’t wash it for 24 hours and watch to see when it disappears. If you have plenty of iodine in your body, it may last 24 hours. If you are iodine deficient, your body will hungrily absorb it in just a few hours. The next level of testing is called an ‘iodine-loading test.’ You may be able to get your doctor on board with this. Otherwise, you can find it on the Internet. Basically, you ingest iodine, collect your urine for 24 hours, and send in a sample. The theory is the same. If your body is hungry for iodine, your body won’t excrete as much as if you are not deficient and the body gets rid of the excess.

Other essential minerals

The Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) is fairly routine for doctors. It includes tests for sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The soils that raise our food have been seriously depleted of essential minerals in the last 100 years through irresponsible farming methods and it may be necessary to supplement. Zinc and selenium, not included in that panel, are particularly important to immune function and fighting cancer, as well as thyroid function. I supplement with both.

Vitamins

There are 13 vitamins you need and each do different things. Doctors generally don’t test levels for all but there are tests available through private labs. Those your doctor can and should order if you have cancer are Vitamin D and Vitamin B₁₂. Vitamin D is obtained through foods, supplementation, and sunlight exposure. The sweet spot is 50-100 ng/ml. Deficiency is linked to immunity and most cancers (especially breast).⁷ Researchers have found evidence that vitamin D suppresses the expression of a gene known to accelerate the growth of breast cancer.⁸

Overuse of sunscreen and not enough exposure to sunlight can be a major reason for deficiency. Signs include being sick often, fatigue, depression, hair loss, muscle and bone pain, osteoporosis, PMS, insomnia, and slow wound healing. Most doctors prescribe D₂. However, most experts conclude that Vitamin D₃, which is more bioavailable, is the way to go. Because Vitamin D can deplete your Vitamin K levels, it is optimum to take a D₃supplement that contains it. I was severely deficient in Vitamin D when diagnosed. I get lots of sun and supplement with 50,000 IUs of D₃and 5000 IUs of D₃with Vitamin K once/week. We test levels 4x/year.

Vitamin B₁₂. Research shows one in four Americans are deficient in B₁₂, which has been linked to greater cancer risk, especially breast. B₁₂ is available in animal foods such as dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, and fish so getting enough is a challenge for vegans. Additionally, as we get older, it becomes harder to absorb. Signs of deficiency include dizziness, pins and needles, brain fog, fatigue, mood swings, muscle weakness, and heart, digestive, vision, skin, nail, and hair issues. If a deficiency is identified, doctors generally prescribe an injectable form, to maximize utilization. This is generally cyanocobalamin and, in addition to containing cyanide, is less useful to the liver, brain, and nervous system. Methylcobalamin is closer to what you find in nature and is better absorbed and retained. However, I have had difficulty getting a prescription for it filled.

Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant and has mixed reviews as an anti-cancer treatment. Anti-oxidants can interfere with chemo and so many oncologists will tell you to avoid supplemental anti-oxidants while undergoing treatment. However, it has been found that high doses administered intravenously selectively kill cancer cells.⁹Signs of deficiency include anemia, bruising and bleeding, chronic fatigue, suppressed immunity, anxiety, depression.

Symptoms of other nutritional deficiencies

Biotin– stress, anxiety, depression, memory problems, hand and/or feet tingling/numbness, skin disorders, nail problems, seizures, irregular heartbeat, faulty sugar and fat metabolism

Calcium –PMS, nail problems, osteoporosis, leg cramps

Chromium – fatigue, muscle weakness, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems

Copper – anemia, hand feet tingling/numbness, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, joint pain, high cholesterol, loss of hair/skin pigment, heart irregularities

Magnesium – headaches, nail problems, muscle cramps, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, PMS, osteoporosis, insomnia, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, heart irregularities, asthma, seizures, type 2 diabetes.

Omega 3s – ADHD and mental disorders of concentration, anxiety, depression, skin, hair, and nail disorders, joint pain, type 2 diabetes, obesity

Vitamin A – eye and skin problems. Excessive intake can be toxic

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamin) – fatigue, depression, irritability, hand feet tingling/numbness, dementia, lack of muscle strength and coordination,

Vitamin B₆ – skin disorders, anemia, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, PMS, mouth problems, weakened immunity

Vitamin B₉ (Folic Acid) – anemia, inflammation, heart and skin problems

Vitamin E – hand and/or feet tingling/numbness, lack of muscle strength and coordination, weakened immunity

Vitamin K – bruising and bleeding, osteoporosis

Zinc – hair, skin, and nail problems, irritability, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, diarrhea, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue

The best foods for vitamins and minerals, Harvard Health….

Reproductive Hormones. Endocrine disruptors affect reproductive hormones and play a role in many hormone-related diseases. Estrogen and progesterone play a big role in breast cancer. In fact, 83% of breast cancers are ‘hormone-positive,’ meaning that cancer cells grow in the presence of estrogen and/or progesterone. Exposure to xeno-estrogens (estrogen-mimicking chemicals) and phytoestrogens (estrogen compounds naturally occurring in vegetables), synthetic hormones, and bio-identical hormones all play a role in breast and other ‘female’ cancers. Please have your hormones thoroughly tested.

In addition to playing a causal role in cancer, xeno-estrogens can interfere with the efficacy of some cancer treatments. Xenoestrogens found in bread, for example, interfere with Ibrance. Pharmaceutical hormone blockers or aromatase inhibitors are frequently prescribed for hormone-positive cancers but can have negative side effects. There are natural estrogen blockers: Calcium-D-glucarate (CDG), DIM, Myomin, Indole Carbinol-3, legumes, flaxseed, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, licorice root,alfalfa, clover, mushrooms, celery, and soy. Flaxseed and zinc facilitate the removal of excess estrogen. High levels of Vitamin D are linked to lower levels of circulating estrogen. Phytoestrogens such as soy can play an adaptogenic role in balancing your hormones naturally. Many experts say that soy should be avoided unless it is organic (non-GMO), and fermented. I recommend talking to a naturopath in addition to your doctor regarding the role hormones may be playing in your health.

There are three types of estrogen produced in the body: Estrone (E1), Estoradiol (E2), Estriol(E3). E1 and E2 have strong estrogenic activity and increase breast cancer risk. E3 does not and helps protect from E1 and E2. The proper ratios among them are important. E1 is produced in the ovaries and in fat, so minimizing body fat, is key. There are also estrogen metabolites that increase or decrease the risk of breast cancer. The ratio of metabolites can be improved by diet and lifestyle. You can have a test that checks the ratio of estrogen and metabolites in your urine.

It has been found that “Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, according to data from more than 100,000 women with breast cancer taken from 58 epidemiological studies worldwide. Additionally, this increased risk may persist for more than 10 years after cessation of MHT” www.cancernetwork.com/breast-cancer/can-menopausal-hormone-therapy-increase-risk-breast-cancer

Enzymes. Your doctor can (and should) easily test for the liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP as well as the pancreatic enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease. Cancer and its treatments can wreak havoc on the liver and pancreas and the optimal health of both is important in overall healing.

This post, Rectifying Nutritional & Hormonal Imbalance, is from Book 2 of my Thrive Tribe Series, What I Did and Do and Why, a naturopathic protocol that helps me to survive and thrive, available from the bookstore, starting at $7. I am posting the entire book sequentially, in its entirety, on this blog once a week. Subscriptions are free.

Nothing contained on this website nor in my blogs or books should be construed as medical advice. I am not a doctor. I am a Stage IV metastatic breast cancer thriver who is currently NEAD and simply sharing my journey in the hopes it helps you to find your power and path. Please research anything I share to determine if it is a good choice for you. I believe in you! Bless you all on the path you choose.

All original content contained on this blog, What I did and do and why, is copyrighted 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Kaiulani Facciani, Snarling Wolf, Inc.

Principle 3: Rectifying nutritional & hormonal imbalances (Part A)