Category Archives: heavy metals

how to make your own thyroid-friendly soda {recipe}

Posted on August 31, 2011 | 5 Comments

Just a few years ago, my dietary habits were completely different. Even though I had gone gluten-free and was quickly learning about holistic diets, I was still regularly indulging in my favorite drink of choice: Diet Coke. Yes, believe it or not, I was once a Diet Coke addict and by no means was that good for my thyroid or immune system. It’s been a few years now since I’ve had a real soda, but I have been having fun lately experimenting with a healthy naturally-carbonated beverage: water kefir.

Don’t let the fancy name scare you. Essentially, water kefir is made from little grains (they look like crystals) that are a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (the good bugs). This is a perfect recipe/method for those with thyroid and autoimmune disease. Because the bacteria eat the sugars, it produces a bubbly, refreshing, yet very low-carb drink, full of hormone- and immune-supporting probiotics! Add some fruit juice or spices and suddenly you’ve got a bubbly slightly sweet drink perfectly reminiscent of soda. Delish. And the grains really do all of the work for you — simply assemble, and sit back and watch the food science magic happen right before your eyes.

recipe

Equipment

  • Nonmetal Strainer (don’t use any metal; metal can kill the grains)
  • Wooden or Plastic Spoon
  • Glass Jar

Ingredients

  • 4 Tablespoons Organic Water Kefir Grains
  • 3 Tablespoons Organic Raisins or Other Unsulphured Dried Fruit
  • 4 Tablespoons Organic Sugar
  • 4 Cups Filtered, Fluoride- and Chlorine-free Water
  1. Using spoon, dissolve sugar into water. (Note: don’t use honey here because of it’s antimicrobial properties, it can kill the grains)
  2. Add water kefir grains and raisins to the sugar water in a glass jar and cover with a paper towel or cloth, securing with a rubber band.
  3. Allow water kefir to brew in jar at room temperature for 24 – 72 hours depending on the strength you prefer and the temperature of your home. (The warmer the environment, the faster the water kefir will brew.)
  4. Strain the water kefir grains and raisins from the liquid and put water kefir back into jar.
  5. Add 1 cup of fruit juice of your choice, or add flavorings like ginger, lemon, mint, fruit pieces, etc.
  6. Allow to sit at room temp for another 24 – 48 hours to continue fermentation and produce natural carbonation.
  7. Place in fridge, serve cold, and enjoy!

pictured (top to bottom): water kefir brewing with raisins, close up of the water kefir grains sitting in the bottom of the jar, and the final product — bubbly grape soda!

Where to purchase water kefir grains:
I suggest purchasing from a small seller on Etsy (simply type in the search words “water kefir grains”) for just about $10 total — including shipping, or via Cultures for Health. Also note that water kefir grains, when fed properly, will grow and multiply. So, one initial purchase should be all you need, as they’ll reproduce on their own and you’ll end-up with more than you need in a few batches.

Enjoy!

→ 5 Comments

Posted in AUTOIMMUNE, autoimmune disease, candida, chemicals, chronic illness, dairy-free, diets, energy, food, food allergies, glands, gluten-free, grains, heavy metals, holistic, hormones, nutrition, probiotic, water

Tagged , ,

announcing: liz schau, holistic health BEAUTY!

Posted on May 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

liz schau, holistic health BEAUTY

It all began as client after client came to me confused and frustrated about her skin care and beauty products — these women wanted to nix the chemicals for good, in order to live a clean lifestyle and not interfere with their endocrine health. But they were increasingly overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start (not to mention, they also didn’t know where to buy these products and thought they wouldn’t be able to afford organic items to begin with).  Exposure to chemicals in our everyday beauty and hygiene routines, coupled with household cleaning supplies, and environmental waste really do damage to our thyroid and can even spur autoimmunity.  Additionally, most of these women were gluten-, soy-, and/or dairy-free, which severely limited the skincare they would be able to use, natural or not! This got me thinking: all these lovely ladies needed in order to be successful was, simply put, access to organic and allergen-free skincare that didn’t cost them an arm and a leg.

These organic, allergen-free BEAUTY items are clean and simple: made with organic coconut oil, organically-produced local Texas beeswax, fragrant essential oils, and purified water. That’s it. And in equally good news, they’re so reasonably priced that you won’t feel guilty indulging in your health. Available in delicate aromatherapy scents Herbal Lemon (a lemon-rosemary essential oil combination), Mint Tea Tree (mint, rosemary, and tea tree), Sweet Honey, Spiced Orange (sweet orange and cinnamon leaf), and Citrusade (sweet orange and lemon). Smooth, never clumpy or gritty, and deeply moisturizing for dry lips, hands, feet, face, and skin (perfect for those thyroid ladies with chronically dry skin).

All items are sold through Etsy

(click link to be taken to the shop)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in AUTOIMMUNE, autoimmune disease, beauty, cancer, candida, chemicals, chronic illness, dairy-free, endocrine disruptors, fertility, food allergies, glands, gluten-free, heavy metals, holistic, hormones, thyroid, water

Tagged , , , ,

two ways to stay hydrated (and chemical-free) when flying

Posted on July 19, 2010 | 1 Comment

If you’ll be traveling within the U.S. this summer and flying to get to your destination of choice, you’ll need to come up with clever ways to stay hydrated.  Of course we’re well aware that passengers are not allowed to bring outside liquids through airport security, and for those trying to avoid chemicals (in the form of chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, pathogens, and other water pollutants), it can be challenging to still get enough fluids. I’m actually traveling this week myself and want to share two practical tips that I use to stay hydrated and chemical-free when flying.


1. bring foods with a high water content

That is, fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, berries, citrus and stone fruit all contain high amounts of water, naturally.  Because we can bring foods with us through the security checkpoint at the airport, stashing some hydrating and organic veggies ensures you’ll be less likely to dehydrate, all while avoiding airport tap water, and resorting to purchasing bottled drinks only as necessary (as they usually are not pure or filtered).

Also avoid salty foods and those that have high sugar contents, as they can end-up making you thirsty.

2.  invest in a filter-as-you-drink bottle for beverages

I found a corn-resin-based water bottle at my local health food store.  This bottle is an empty base, connected to a spout that acts as a chlorine filter as you drink (you refill the bottle as often as you like with the beverage of your choice).  As water is sucked through the top, the charcoal removes substantial amounts of chlorine and organic contaminants before it reaches your lips.  And because this water bottle is corn-based, it is BPA-free (great news for endocrine systems), and only takes about 80 days to decompose.

I paid around $7 for this bottle, and it is guaranteed for up to 90 refills — more than enough for the few hours I’ll be in and out of airports.

What are your tips for staying healthy and hydrated while traveling?

→ 1 Comment

Posted in candida, chemicals, chronic illness, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, hormones, nutrition, summer, thyroid, water, whole food

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

how to keep your thyroid healthy this summer, tip #3: don’t brush your teeth with this!

Posted on July 10, 2010 | 5 Comments

Do you have thyroid disease or Candida problems?  Do you make a point to drink pure and filtered water, and avoid tap or conventional bottled water/drinks?  If so, good for you!  You’re avoiding chlorine, fluoride, and bromate — all endocrine disruptors and the easiest way to kill your body’s healthy flora and suppress thyroid function.

But have you ever thought about the extent to which you use unfiltered tap water?  Sure, you may not drink it, but do you use it for other things?  How about brushing your teeth?

If the answer is yes, consider this: the mouth is lined with blood vessels — directly absorbing and transporting everything we put in our mouth, but especially those things we vigorously brush into our gums, right into our body and bloodstream.  Additionally, digestion begins in the mouth.

how to keep your thyroid healthy this summer, tip #3: don’t brush your teeth with tap water

A simple way to avoid slathering chlorine and fluoride (as well as other hazardous substances typically found in tap water, like pharmaceutical medications, arsenic barium, asbestos, pathogenic microbes, cadmium, copper, cyanide, mercury, pesticides, uranium, and oh so many others) is to replace tap water use with a small glass of filtered water, which can be used for rinsing, gargling, and pouring over your toothbrush.  It’s a simple change to make, but will save your body exposure to so many thyroid-damaging toxins.


Have you already thought of this?  Do you already avoid brushing your teeth with tap-water?

___________________________________________________

Also read:

→ 5 Comments

Posted in autoimmune disease, candida, chemicals, chronic illness, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, summer, thyroid

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,