Dear Readers,

Welcome to the November 2019 issue of TotalHealth Magazine

Our cover story this month is, Let’s Rethink Mental Health To Brain Health, by Daniel G. Amen, MD. Erasing the stigma on what we now call mental health issues is a critical component of insuring people are willing to seek treatment. As depression and suicide continues to rise in teenagers it is important how we approach this issue. Dr. Amen discusses how to reimagine the term mental health, as optimizing our brain health to overcome or manage symptoms.

In, The First Iron-Free Solution For Iron Deficiency, Dr. Sherrill Sellman introduces us to a safer product for those with iron deficiency. IronCatch is an all-natural supplement that does not cause the often-severe side-effects experienced by many who must supplement with iron. If you suffer from leaky gut, IBS, Celiac or ulcers you will want to read about this product.

Professor Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, Rh(Ahg), informs us of the immune enhancing benefits in two key dietary supplements, in his article on, Echinacea And Shiitake For Immune Health. With cold and flu season approaching, it’s time to remind ourselves how Echinacea can help us shorten the duration of viruses. And, if you aren’t familiar with the benefits of the Shiitake mushroom, Professor Bruno’s informative article will enlighten you on its numerous immune boosting functions.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, continues her series on smart fats with her, Master Formula For Fat Burning. She’ll help you banish all those fake fats that inhibit your metabolism and promote inflammation. Using her lists of Smart Fats you can create a healthy eating plan.

Natural Solutions to Common Child Health Concerns is Sherry Torkos, BSc Phm, RPh’s, article to help you know when to call your doctor if your child is ill. She offers indicators for children with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problems and rashes. You’ll want to keep this article available for reference when illnesses strike.

Part Two in a Series on the Health Benefits of Coconut Flour is presented by our expert, Gloria Gilbère, CDP, DAHom, PhD. In part two she discusses the healthy nutrients found in coconut flour. You’ll want to consider adding this flour to your kitchen when you learn it reduces high blood pressure, is high in digestible fiber, and high in protein.

If you want help for thinning hair, read Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum’s article. Until now all we could do is optimize nutritional and thyroid function, and watch our iron levels. Dr. Teitelbaum introduces us to a product that tackles the main cause of hair loss, a condition called Telogen Effluvium. Read on for his recommendations.

Did you remember to take your Gingko? How many times have we all heard that? But, did you know Ginkgo can also be helpful for your pets? Read natural vet, Shawn Messonnier’s article on the conditions that Ginkgo can benefit in your pet.

Thank you to our authors, readers, and advertisers. You make TotalHealth Magazine online possible.

Best in health,

TWIP—The Wellness Imperative People

Click here to read the full November 2019 issue.

• Let’s Rethink Mental Health To Brain Health
  Daniel G. Amen, MD
• IronCatch: The First Iron-Free Solution For Iron Deficiency
  Sherrill Sellman, ND
• Natural Solutions to Common Child Health Concerns
  Sherry Torkos, BSc.Phm., RPh
• Echinacea & Shiitake For Immune Health
  Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, RH(AHG)
• New Help for Thinning Hair
  Jacob Teitelbaum, MD
• Master Formula for Fat Burning
  Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS
• Health Benefits Of Coconut Flour
  Gloria Gilbère, CDP, DAHom, PhD
• Ginko For Pets
  Shawn Messonnier, DVM

Click here to read the full November 2019 issue.

Having a bad hair day? Maybe a bad hair week? Perhaps a bad hair life? If so, don’t despair. First of all, you’re not alone. Many people are dissatisfied with the appearance of their hair. In some cases, this might be because they are experiencing hair loss, slow growing hair, dry, brittle, or otherwise poor-quality hair. In this article, we’re going to discuss a combination of nutraceuticals that have been clinically demonstrated to improve hair growth and quality. But first, here are a few facts about hair, and its structure.

A Few Hair Facts
Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body: the average rate of growth is about one-half inch a month. Optimal hair growth occurs from age 15 to 30, slows down from age 40 to 50, and thereafter is even slower. Most men lose hair to some degree by age 35 and are more likely to lose their hair than are women—although women may also suffer from hair loss. On a healthy scalp, 90 to 95 percent of hair follicles are growing, less than one percent is declining, and five to ten percent are resting. The prognosis for encouraging hair growth is especially favorable if treatment begins before the growth stops altogether.¹

Hair Structure
Hair consists mainly of proteins, particularly keratin. The structure of human hair is well known: the medulla is a loosely packed, disordered region near the center of the hair surrounded by the cortex, which contains the major part of the fiber mass, mainly consisting of keratin proteins and structural lipids. The cortex is surrounded by the cuticle, a layer of dead, overlapping cells forming a protective layer around the hair.²

Solubilized Keratin
There are many vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutraceuticals with claims for promoting hair growth or otherwise improving its appearance. In the overwhelming majority of cases, however, there is a decided lack of human clinical research to support these claims. Often, the basis for claims is theoretical, or limited to in-vitro (i.e. test tube) or animal research. One outstanding exception is solubilized keratin.

As previously noted, the predominant protein in hair is keratin. Consequently, it would seem to make sense that supplementation with keratin would help support the structure of keratin in human hair—and indeed that is the case as demonstrated in two clinical studies.

The first 90-day study³ evaluated the effectiveness of solubilized keratin (Cynatine® HNS) in strengthening and supporting hair growth in 20 healthy women (>18 years) with damaged, fragile and stressed hair as a consequence of internal (stress, genetic) and external (styling, aggressive treatments, UV exposure, etc.) causes. Results showed a significant reduction in hair loss during washing at 60 and 90 days (p<0.001, see bar graph). Hair was significantly stronger, as measured by a dynamometer, at 90 days (p<0.001). Clinical evaluation and self-assessment of hair brightness were also improved. In conclusion, solubilized keratin promoted a higher resistance to stress and mechanical actions (combing, brushing, washing, etc.), counteracted excessive hair loss, strengthened the hair and improving its ultrastructure and hair brightness.

The second study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled⁴ clinical trial conducted to evaluate the effects of solubilized keratin (Cynatine HNS) for improving various aspects of hair and nails. A total of 50 women were included, with half receiving 500 mg of solubilized keratin—along with 15 mg zinc, 18 mg niacinamide, 1.65 mg copper, 13.68 mg pantothenic acid, 2 mg vitamin B6, and 300 mcg biotin—and the other half receiving a placebo. The results were that the women taking solubilized keratin showed statistically significant improvements in their hair and nails when compared to placebo.

• Solubilized keratin showed a 12.5 percent reduction in hair loss over placebo at day 30, and a 34.5 percent and 34.4 percent reduction at days 60 and 90, respectively.
• Solubilized keratin showed a statistically significant improvement in hair growth over placebo at day 90 (p<0.001).
• Solubilized keratin showed a statistically significant improvement in hair strength over placebo at day 90 (p<0.001).
• Solubilized keratin showed a statistically significant improvement in hair appearance (brightness) over placebo at all time points (day 30 p<0.05, day 60 p<0.001, and day 90 p<0.001).
• Solubilized keratin showed a statistically significant improvement over placebo in the tendency of nails to break at all time points (p<0.001).
• Solubilized keratin showed a statistically significant improvement over placebo in nail appearance by day 60 and day 90 (p<0.02).

Conclusion
There are many nutraceuticals with claims for promoting hair growth or otherwise improving its appearance. However, there are few with human clinical research to support those claims. One such nutraceutical is solubilized keratin (Cynatine HNS), shown to reduce hair loss, improve hair growth, strength, and appearance, and improve nail strength and appearance.

References:

1. Janowiak JJ, Ham C. A practitioner’s guide to hair loss. Part 1—History, biology, genetics, prevention, conventional treatments and herbals. Altern Complement Ther. 2004;10(3):135–43.
2. Yang F-C, Zhang Y, Rheinstädter MC. The structure of people’s hair. Peer J. 2014; 2: e619.
3. Marzatico F, Quaglini M, Michelotti A. Evaluation of the efficacy of a food supplement to strengthen and support hair growth. Unpublished Study. Unpublished. Farcoderm srl. Head office: Via Angelini angolo Via dalla Chiesa - 27028 San Martino Siccomario – Pavia; 2010:17 pgs.
4. Beer C, Wood S, Veghte RH. A Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effect of Cynatine HNS on Hair and Nail Parameters. The Scientific World Journal. 2014; 2014, Article ID 641723:6 pgs.

LET'S FACE IT— your hormones rule. When they're out of whack, you are, too and when they're in harmony, everything else feels harmonious, as well. It's not uncommon to blame all kinds of extraneous factors on our hormones but such offhanded comments carry more truth than you realize.

In fact, the numbers tell a very serious tale indeed. Did you know that over 75 percent of women are currently suffering from haywire hormones in their body directly related to a deficiency of one hormone? That hormone is progesterone.

When your numbers dwindle, your body can react in a whole host of unpleasant ways. These include emotionally (mood swings, nervousness, anxiety, depression) and physically (stalled weight loss, osteopenia, osteoporosis, pain, inflammation), as well as a shot libido, thinning hair, skipped periods, and insomnia-ridden restless nights.

WHY IS MY PRODUCTION DOWN?
If you suspect that this may apply to you and are wondering how you became progesterone deficient in the first place, here are a few likely culprits.

• Your body is converting progesterone into cortisol as a result of stress.
• You are deficient in zinc and vitamin B6, nutrient precursors of progesterone.
• You are not ovulating regularly, leaving you without a corpus luteum to create progesterone in the first place.

So, what exactly is progesterone? It is a hormone involved in female sexual behavior, pregnancy, and menstruation that is produced in the ovaries, the placenta, and the adrenal glands. Known as the “feel good hormone,” progesterone is up to 20 times more concentrated in the brain than in the blood stream. This hormone functions as a stabilizing force, counter-balancing estrogen. It has numerous positive benefits including promoting fat burn, helping to normalize blood sugar and cell oxygen levels, and acting as an antidepressant.

As menstruation slows during perimenopause, so does the production of progesterone. The decline in progesterone means the body now lacks some of its estrogen-equalizing force. This imbalance contributes to some of the nastier symptoms of perimenopause such as decreased libido, depressed mood, and hypothyroidism-like symptoms like fatigue and weight gain.

However, don't think you're in the clear if you haven't quite reached the perimenopause stage of life yet. In fact, no woman isn't at risk because these days having a progesterone deficiency seems to be common among women ages 18 to 80. This is because many of all ages lack the necessary nutrient precursors for their body to produce progesterone, especially zinc and vitamin B6, as I mentioned earlier.

HEALTH HERO

Besides its ability to counteract the undesirable effects of estrogen, progesterone functions as both a buffer to and a treatment for various ailments. It has been credited with fighting heart disease and cancer. In women in their thirties and forties, progesterone plays an active role in bone density, and a high progesterone level is a major protective factor against later osteoporosis.

By increasing body energy, probably by helping thyroid hormones work better, progesterone causes a very slight but often noticeable rise in your body temperature when you ovulate, contributing to enhanced metabolism. This varies from woman to woman.

Because progesterone plays a promotional role in so many functions critical to a good quality of life like mood and libido, normal fluctuations in this hormone can have potentially deleterious effects. After a fertilized egg settles on the uterus wall, ovarian progesterone cares for it. After the placenta develops, it, too, secretes progesterone. Progesterone levels continue high throughout pregnancy, which is why many women in the third trimester, and in spite of some physical discomfort, feel as good as they have ever felt in their lives. Unfortunately, when her progesterone level falls sharply after the birth, the mother is vulnerable to experiencing postpartum depression.

At menopause, the drop in progesterone level is twelve times greater than that in estrogen level (estrogen declines by 40 to 60 percent). Men have higher progesterone levels than some post-menopausal women. Just like women after they give birth, this drop in progesterone can create a feeling of depression for both perimenopausal and menopausal women.

If you have hair loss and skipped periods, low progesterone levels may be the culprit. Lack of ovulation in a skipped period can cause the adrenal cortex to secrete the hormone androstenedione as an alternative chemical precursor for the manufacture of other hormones to compensate for the diminished levels of progesterone. This steroid hormone is associated with some male characteristics, one of which is male pattern baldness. When you raise your progesterone level with natural progesterone cream, your androstenedione level will gradually decline and your hair will grow back normally. Be patient—hair growth is slow and it may take several months before you notice a difference.

There are also a number of other beauty and health issues that can originate from low progesterone. On a superficial level, the consequences of low progesterone include growing whiskers on the chin, thinning hair, breaking capillaries, gaining weight, and emerging skin problems such as acne, aging, liver or age spots, and dryness. More internally, it can cause yeast infections, irritability, irregular periods, and mood fluctuations.

Back in Balance

If you're ready to get your body back in hormone harmony, it's a great idea to test your hormone levels prior to beginning any hormone treatment. Some health care professionals will recommend a saliva test. If you'd prefer to test your hormone levels outside of a doctor's office, there are quite reliable at-home tests available. Personally, I test quarterly each year. Wherever you receive the test, it should check for your body's levels of bioavailable progesterone, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol.

If the results show that you are indeed experiencing low levels of progesterone, there is a powerful natural option to turn to. These days, more and more women are opting for natural methods of hormone therapy.

Do note that the word natural when applied to progesterone doesn't mean exactly what it sounds like. Here, the term natural means that the plant progesterone molecule used to make the cream is identical to the human progesterone molecule, distinguishing it from the pharmaceutical progestin, whose molecule is slightly different from human progesterone. Some creams use extracts from soybeans (which are also used for phytoestrogens), and others are based on the wild yam (Dioscorea).

Natural plant-based progesterone has the same identical structure as the progesterone a woman makes naturally in her body. The physiological dose of 20 mg per day can help improve libido, enhance the immune system, increase hair on the scalp, elevate the metabolic rate with resulting weight loss, act as a natural diuretic, boost the thyroid, and stimulate the production of bone while relaxing smooth muscles and promoting the strength of the myelin sheath.

I prefer a formula that is derived from wild yam. Ensure that it is preservative-free, and be selective and diligent in your research, as some creams only contain a miniscule amount of progesterone, or even none at all. Depending upon your age and stage of life, there are different protocols, but in general a topical crème should be applied to the face, hands, chest, inner arms, and thyroid area. Rotate these as much as possible so that one area doesn't get too saturated.

No matter your age, this unsung hero is your body's BFF for creating a place of harmony and calm from within.

As a doctor who practices integrative medicine, I focus on health care and not just disease care. I always attempt to understand the deeper underlying causes of any illness or condition and not simply treat superficial symptoms. So when it comes to looking at causes of disease I am working from the inside out rather than outside in.

This is such an important topic that I devoted an entire chapter to the "Causes of Disease" in my latest book Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine. In brief, I believe that cellular dysfunction is one of the main causes of body imbalance, inflammation, and dis-ease. The health of our cells is affected adversely by two primary factors— deficiency, by which I mean not enough intake and assimilation of the necessary (required) nutrients; and toxicity—contact with too many harmful man-made chemicals and chemical-containing products.

Nutrients
As for nutrients—we need an adequate supply of amino acids (from protein foods), fatty acids, some carbohydrates, plus vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients (these are chemicals that plants produce and use to stay healthy—providing protection, for example, from insect attacks or radiation from UV rays). Any deficiency of these essential nutrients can diminish cellular function.

Toxins
As for toxins—the external environment has a significant impact on our cell health—from the level of contaminants, chemicals and artificial additives in the foods we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, and with a special concern for the products we use in our homes and gardens, or put on our bodies.

In fact personal care products are one of the most common yet overlooked sources of environmental toxicity.

The average adult uses nine personal care products a day, exposing themselves to as many as 126 different chemical ingredients. What makes things worse is that items like toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, makeup, or deodorant, are not held to the same standard as food or drugs, which we put in our bodies. Hair coloring is potentially one of the most toxic of all, linked to increased rates of breast cancer in a recent 2017 Rutgers University study.¹ This is especially troubling given that an estimated 75 percent of U.S. women over age 18 color their hair. Obviously we need more research on the short and long-term health consequences of using these kinds of products. As consumers we need to be aware of the toxic potential of what we buy.

• The FDA physically inspected just 0.3 percent of such imports last year.
• Laboratory tests were conducted on an even smaller sample—just 364.
• 20 percent of those tests led to adverse findings; including bacterial contamination, illegal color additives, ingredients that were not on the label as required, and unsafe chemical substances like mercury that can cause kidney and nervous system damage.

Given that it is doing so few inspections, the FDA really has no way of knowing the scope of the problem with imported cosmetics, and neither do we. Clearly this is area where we all need to pay close attention to what we buy and what we use.

Pollutants in the Home and Office
Another area of similar concern is the widespread use of potentially toxic chemical products in our homes and gardens. Just to give you some idea of the scope of this problem, here's a list of the major indoor pollutant sources to watch out for. It is from my book Staying Healthy with Nutrition:

• Hydrocarbon fuel combustion—the burning of coal, gasoline, natural gas, wax candles
• Pesticide sprays—used on insects and rodents
• Cleaning fluids—cleansers, soap, bleach, detergents, ammonia, window cleaners
• Paints, adhesives glues, and solvents—used in housework and hobbies
• Plastics—used in many areas, but especially important to review drinking water, beverage and food storage containers
• Heating/Cooling systems—which can spread toxins, especially forced-air systems. This also includes your car.
• Smoke—(secondary or side-stream, smoke is now clearly a big problem), fireplace smoke or barbecue chemicals can also be hazardous
• Aerosol sprays—disinfectants, and cleaners—mostly propellants, which may be fluorocarbons or hydrocarbons, both of which are problematic
• Dust—which can carry sensitizing or toxic materials, including mites, molds, bacteria, pollens, carbon monoxide, asbestos, pesticides, solvents, sulfur dioxide, lead, smoke, and vinyl chloride

Obviously we need to know more about the short and long-term health implications of using these kinds of products both in our homes and on our bodies, and we need to be watchful consumers, especially when children are involved where any negative effects can be even more serious and long lasting. A great resource that I recommend is the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) www.ewg.org online database of potentially toxic household and cosmetic products, which also includes recommended non-toxic alternatives.

This is all part of living more naturally, using fewer chemicals on and in our bodies and in our surroundings overall; this is a conscientious reduction in the use of synthetically made and petro-chemically-based products, which have a negative and toxic downstream effect in both our local and global environments.

This shift to a more natural lifestyle is growing across our nation and the globe, and is based largely on the same principles as those of NEW Medicine: taking personal responsibility for our health and for the planet, and recognizing the incredibly complex interactions between the decisions we make, the products we use, and their affect upon our entire environment and ecosystem, including our own and our family's health.

Essential Nutrients For Avoiding Cellular Deficiency

Macronutrients:

Proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, fats and essential oils

Micronutrients:

Vitamins: A, C, D, E, K, B1, B6, B3, B12, CoQ10, Lipoic acid (Most must come from our diet, and a few the body makes, like coQ10 and lipoic acid.)

Minerals: all must come from our diet and include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, iodine, traces of boron and others.

In addition the soil must contain these minerals for them to be in our food, and much soil is now seriously depleted.

Phytonutrients: hundreds of plant substances, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which give our fruits, vegetables, herbs and basically all foods their color, aroma, and add to their flavor. These have many physiological and protective functions for our body.

Antioxidants:these nutrients protect us from "free radicals," the unstable molecules that can cause inflammation and damage; these nutrients include Vitamins A (and betacarotene), C, D, and E plus some B vitamins; minerals zinc and selenium, with protective activity also from iron and magnesium; coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid; and amino acid L-cysteine, which helps support glutathione.

References:

1. https://www.cinj.org/use-dark-hair-dye-and-relaxers-associated-increased-breast-cancer-risk

Hair loss or thinning is a common and important issue, especially in those who have chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. If you’re experiencing hair loss in a generally thinning way (diffuse), then treating: nutritional deficiencies and an underactive thyroid are especially important.

Low iron is a key nutrient for hair growth, and standard testing misses most cases of iron deficiency. In fact, despite the fact that most physicians consider a ferritin blood test (the best measure of iron deficiency or excess) over 12 to show adequate iron, a recent study in patients with chronic illness and even mild anemia (a description fitting most people with CFS) showed that a ferritin under 100 was diagnostic of iron deficiency!

In addition, for those with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and a ferritin under 60, iron can be more effective than the medication Requip, and can eliminate RLS as well as your iron levels optimize.

In CFS and fibromyalgia patients, as in any chronic illness, a very common cause of unusual hair loss is a condition called “Telogen Effluvium.” This is when the normal cycles of natural growing and falling out of the hair follicles become jolted out of their usual random phase due to illness. In this condition, a severe physical stress — such as pneumonia or a CFS flare up — can produce unusual hair loss which doesn’t begin until 3–9 months later. This type of hair loss is reversible, although it can take 3– 9 months. It often grows in more quickly than this, but it’s better to be pleasantly surprised than to feel disappointment and abandon the needed RX too quickly.

To treat hair thinning:

1. Optimize overall nutritional support. The Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder is excellent for this, plus take a 29 mg iron tablet for 6–12 months (until the ferritin is over 100). Do not take iron if the ferritin is over 200 (and have your doctor check for iron excess called hemochromatosis, which is easy to treat but life threatening if missed). 2. Optimize thyroid function—even if your thyroid labs are “normal.”

Treating with the S.H.I.N.E. Protocol overall will also help hair growth as well as dramatically improve the quality of life in CFS and fibromyalgia. Please note that the above applies only to stress-induced hair loss, which is evidenced by widespread thinning. Other patterns have a different cause. For example:

1. Autoimmune issues. In this condition, hair loss appears as multiple coin-shaped bald spots called alopecia areata.

2. Male pattern baldness. If present in a woman, this suggests elevated testosterone and DHEA. If these are present, and a fasting morning insulin blood test is over 10 (showing insulin resistance), this would suggest the presence of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). This improves by treating the insulin resistance with the medication metformin (very safe and helpful in PCOS) and eliminating excess sugar.

You can’t open a newspaper or magazine without seeing advertisements for hair loss solutions for men, but very few options are offered to women who are losing their hair. Over two-thirds of women suffer hair loss, and hair loss can be quite extreme—from thinning to bald patches. Thankfully, few women go totally bald like men do, but there is nothing more distressing than watching your lovely locks fall out in abundance. Topical solutions for women rarely reverse hair loss. And the drugs that are available have been predominantly researched in men and do not address the underlying reasons for hair loss in women.

The three main reasons for hair loss in woman are: low iron, low thyroid and not enough minerals in the diet.

Low Iron and Hair Loss in Women
One of the least known causes of hair loss is low iron. You do not have to be anemic to lose your hair. Your doctor may advise you that your iron levels are normal, but we know that low normal levels of iron will cause huge hair loss. We see this in women after childbirth and in women during the perimenopausal years when heavy periods may occur. Simply being a woman of childbearing age automatically puts you at risk of low iron. Up to 60 percent of women have low iron and it is often undiagnosed. Due to higher iron requirements as a result of menstruation, women need 20 milligrams of elemental iron daily yet most of us are only getting 8 mg per day from our diet. Now that we are not eating as much red meat, even postmenopausal women and seniors are suffering from low iron.

Other common symptoms of low iron:

• No energy/fatigue
• Pale skin
• Breathlessness upon even minor exertion
• Dark under-eye circles
• Dizziness
• Thin, brittle or peeling nails
• Restless legs
• Cold hands and feet

Don’t Believe a Normal Iron Test
If your doctor tells you your iron is normal, ask for the test results. There are two iron blood tests: hemoglobin and ferritin. For hemoglobin, the test range suggested as normal by your doctor is 117–160 g/L for women. Yet we know that a hemoglobin below 140 g/L will cause significant hair loss. Ferritin, which is your iron storage, has a suggested test range of 15–160 ug/L; but to prevent hair loss and ensure thick hair, your reading should be above 40 ug/L.

Hair follicles contain ferritin. When ferritin stores decline in the hair follicle, it affects the ability of the hair to grow causing non-pigmented fine hairs to develop. These hairs are often mistaken for androgenic alopecia. Low ferritin also causes the hair to change structure become dry, not hold the curl or color well and break easily. Hair loss can be gradual, a general thinning out over the years, or it can be sudden and startling.

Iron supplements represent another challenge because you will want an iron that does not constipate or cause digestive distress but is effective and fast acting. When choosing iron, you will want a liquid iron. And, better yet, choose one in a liposomal technology. A liposomal iron is one where the iron is trapped in a protective bubble that guides it through the acidic digestive tract to the intestine, where it is absorbed effectively and swiftly. Tests conducted on liposomal iron have found that, two hours after ingestion, its absorption is five times greater than ferrous fumarate, the standard doctor-prescribed iron in tablets. And after 12 hours, the total absorption of liposomal iron was double that of all other forms of iron tested. You will need 1–3 teaspoons of liquid liposomal iron (10–30 mg of elemental iron) for fast results. Most women notice hair regrowth in as little as six weeks with this type of iron.

Low Thyroid Affects Up to 23 Percent of Women
Like low iron, hypothyroid or low thyroid hormone is an undiagnosed epidemic in Canada. Twenty-three percent of women are currently taking thyroid medication and up to 30 percent of women may also have subclinical or mild hypothyroidism whereby their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is within the “normal” range of 0.5–5.5 IU/mL yet they still experience symptoms. Thinning hair, hair loss and loss of eyebrow hair are common symptoms of low thyroid. A deficiency in these hormones may also result in some of the following symptoms:

• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Sensitivity to cold
• Menstrual problems/heavy periods
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Headaches

It is important that you ask your doctor what your TSH test result number is because although it may be “normal,” research has shown that if it is greater than 2.0 IU/mL, chances are it is low thyroid that is contributing to your hair loss. There are many things you can do to support your thyroid. Read my free online book, An A-Z Woman’s Guide to Vibrant Health under the Low Thyroid section at www.hormonehelp.com. In addition, for those who are either on thyroid medication or who have low thyroid but are not on thyroid hormone, there are key nutrients that can help support thyroid function. These include potassium iodide, tyrosine, ashwagandha, gugguls and pantothenic acid. Look for a combination formula and take two capsules with breakfast. If you are on thyroid medication, take your medication first thing on an empty stomach and then take this supplement at breakfast. Once the underlying low thyroid is resolved and the TSH drops below 2, hair starts to grow back in six to eight weeks.

Mind Your Minerals
It is a rare person who eats the recommended seven to 10 half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Most of us eat only two to three servings a day and, on top of this, the modern lifestyle is rampant with “nutrient robbers”— e.g. stress, medications, the birth control pill, smoking, alcohol— that further deplete our nutritional stores. As a result, deficiencies in the key nutrients required for healthy hair are rampant. Zinc, silicon and selenium, for example, are critical to hair growth yet most people do not get enough.

Everybody should be on a multivitamin with minerals to prevent the nutritional deficiencies associated with not only hair loss but also chronic disease. A good quality multivitamin with minerals is a nutritional insurance policy and should contain 15 mg each of zinc and silicon and 100 mcg of plant-based selenomethionine. For women who are exhausted at the thought of yet another capsule, look for a multivitamin with minerals in powdered packets. Mix it into your morning protein smoothie, or shake well with water or juice at mealtime.

Start today with liquid iron, a thyroid-support formula and a great multivitamin with minerals and your hair will start to regain its youthful bounty. It is not normal to look down at the bottom of the tub and see nothing but hair swirling around the drain. Investigate these three common causes and your plumber will be as thrilled as you are with your thicker, fuller hair.