HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

It is back to school time - so it's time for a test. Get your pencils ready… How many of these symptoms sound like you?

Weight gain. Elevated cholesterol. Elevated triglycerides. Fluid retention, particularly in the face. Loss of libido. Dry rough skin. Hair loss or thin, coarse hair. Depression. Fatigue. Weakness…

Shall I go on? No, is not a graded test. This is a thyroid test, with typical symptoms of low thyroid.

If you suspect you have a thyroid problem, please consult with your physician and get a good diagnosis, with a good treatment protocol. Life can be wonderful again if your master gland is functioning properly.

Feed your thyroid gland properly. Low-calorie or low-fat diets can suppress thyroid function so diet appropriately.

Several nutrients are important for the construction of thyroid hormone. One of the most important is iodine, a trace mineral found in foods that come from the sea. About onethird of the world's population

lives in iodine-deficient areas. Florida is not one of those, thankfully. But how many of us eat sea vegetables? As passionate as I am about vegetables, I like mine grown in soil, not water. So I too have to monitor my iodine intake carefully, Iodine deficiency is linked to numerous health challenges including mental retardation and other IQ deficits in children, goiter, increased risk for thyroid cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, and breast cancer. Iodine normalizes elevated adrenal hormone secretion related to the stress response and may play a role in immune function.

Forty-seven percent of lactating mothers in Boston revealed levels insufficient to provide adequate iodine to meet infant requirements. That should give all pregnant and lactating mothers something to consider, since we all want smart babies.

— For more information, contact Carol at the Island Nutrition Center (472-4499) www. islandnutritioncenter.metaehealth. com.