Articles
Collagen in Coffee? Yes Please!
After all these years, we still get asked whether it’s ok to put collagen into coffee – due to some rather hilariously blatant articles telling you that it will breakdown, or won’t work. They say it “falls apart” under heat – but um, hang on, hydrolysed collagen is HEAT TREATED! They are also saying a number of other really stupid things. The claim is “when added to hot coffee, for example – collagen’s molecular structure melts, diminishing or even negating the desired health benefits”. This is unscientific and shows the writer has no knowledge of what he or she is saying. Firstly – hydrolysed collagen means that the collagen is heat-stable, will not change it’s structure in either hot or cold liquid or food – it will still be fully absorbed and effective. They are confusing collagen with gelatine. Gelatine goes gummy, collagen CAN’T because it’s hydrolysed. Collagen would not be as popular as it is with the zillions of testimonies if it wasn’t absorbed and used effectively by our bodies. Just looking at these articles, what leaps out at me is their complete lack of physiology, chemistry and understanding of the difference between peptides and amino acids. I’ll get to this just now. There is something else, they don’t realise either that creams with collagen cannot be absorbed through the skin because the peptides are too large – it’s impossible. They are absorbed through the stomach, that’s why we take them. The other thing is that they are subtly promoting vegetarian collagen (as if such a thing existed!). There’s no such thing…. sorry to break this to you, but it is what it is. Collagen is an animal-derived product from either beef or chicken (like my two Pure Hydrolysed Collagen and Type 2 Chicken Collagen), or pork and fish (pork I won’t touch due to feedlot farming and fish needs to be sustainably sourced – wild caught, low calcium, low sodium and MSC certified). You cannot get collagen from green leafy vegetables! You get LOADS of other benefits, but sorry, not collagen. This comes from your meat and your bone broth. You decide for yourself – as for me, I’ll never stop my fabulous, now-famous Pure Hydrolysed Collagen Powder! Find it at https://sallyanncreed.co.za/shop – have it in your coffee and see whether you agree.
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All about Sally-Ann Creed Collagen
Bovine and chicken collagen are the 2 superior forms of collagen to use. Type 1 collagen is the most abundant ‘type’ found in the body which is also found in bovine collagen – we are seldom short of this kind. The chicken ‘type’ (type 2) is usually depleted in the body, and this is safer than porcine collagen as porcine collagen is cheap and could be full of hormones. A good chicken collagen will be free of hormones and is not cheap. Porcine collagen is also considered to be not nearly as effective as other forms such as bovine and chicken collagen. One also needs to consider the country the collagen comes from, whether grass-fed or not and the quality of the animals. This is not possible with fish in polluted oceans, which is why I chose to avoid fish/marine collagen for a long time until I found one from wild-caught, MSC-certified source that I could trust. You can find it here. Regarding the pork collagen, pigs are often fed sweets, plastic, pellets, fecal matter etc, and I’m concerned about this. It’s also not as effective as the bovine kind, so I would rather stick with the bovine and chicken varieties as I can verify their sources, purity and overall quality. Bovine Collagen (Type 1 & Type 3) Naturally occurring in the skin, bones and muscles of cattle, this one is the closest to what our bodies make – providing types 1 and 3 collagen. These types are the major components of skin, nails, hair, ligaments, tendons, bone, teeth, gums, eyes, arteries and blood vessels and make up over 90% of the collagen in our bodies, so it makes sense to start with this kind of collagen. There is an enormous amount of precious glycine in bovine collagen, which promotes cellular health, and it’s one of the 3 amino acids needed to form creatine which supports healthy muscles and energy levels post-workout. The other impressive amino acid present which is thin on the ground in nature, is proline – this plays a truly critical role in the body’s own ability to produce collagen, and it’s a very heart-healthy amino acid too. Collagen can supply all the above benefits and a few more as follows: Prevent or repair broken capillaries Improve damaged skin (from sun, chemicals, heat exposure) Treat lack of collagen causing skin to loose it’s elasticity Improve ageing skin losing its firmness and suppleness Acne responds very well when combined with dietary changes Psoriasis, eczema and flaky skin Skin pigmentation Strong teeth and healthy gums General skin imbalances Nails that are brittle and flaky Lack lustre hair, thinning hair, hair loss Dry brittle hair Promotes restful sleep Liver detoxifier Excellent for gut health Improved metabolism Bone density Cognitive ability improves Banishes cellulite and removes the dimpling effect on the skin Prevents and reduces existing stretch marks Chicken Collagen (Type 2) We now stock chicken collagen, which is really exciting as it’s very hard to get hold of a quality chicken collagen. It works by causing your body to produce substances that fight inflammation and pain (inflammation causes ageing). It also contains chondroitin and glucosamine, two powerful compounds which help rebuild cartilage. Chicken collagen can also provide some amazing benefits for your gut, immune system, skin and more. It has been said to be valuable in stopping autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in its tracks or at the least greatly improve RA. The naturally-occurring glucosamine and chondroitin make this the obvious choice for addressing joint problems – whether to heal them or keep them from breaking down in sports. It also naturally contains hyaluronic acid which many of you know is close to an elixir of youth for the skin. Chicken collagen has the richest source of hyaluronic acid – known for bringing youthfulness, plumpness and moisture to the skin, while doing the same in the joints to keep them moving freely. Pure chicken collagen has been shown to retrain the immune system to correctly recognize exposed cartilage proteins as the body’s own tissues, rather than incorrectly seeing them as foreign invaders. This prevents the inflammatory and destructive attack that causes osteoarthritic joint stiffness and pain and other diseases of ageing. Research continues to provide proof that collagen can help seal openings in the gut lining and support gut integrity (avoiding leaky gut) and this directly boosts immunity too. Please make sure the collagen is pure, without any chemical additives or sweeteners. Both bovine and chicken collagen help form elastin and other compounds within skin that are responsible for maintaining skin’s youthful tone, texture and appearance. Nutrition is key when it comes to skin health and appearance. The more collagen you have in your body, the less likely you will be to have one of the most visible signs of aging — wrinkles. While many face creams claim to revitalize skin by including collagen in their ingredients, the molecules in these topical products are way too large for your skin to absorb – it is an impossible task topically – this needs to be taken as food. Chicken collagen reduces pain and inflammation, improves joint function and slows progression of osteoarthritis (OA). What we know from studies on chicken collagen: Believed to enhance the shock-absorbing properties of collagen and block enzymes that break down cartilage Helps cartilage retain water and may reverse cartilage loss Research shows that oral collagen supplementation effectively improves the common signs of skin ageing One study found that skin hydration improved after eight weeks of collagen supplementation while collagen density in the dermis significantly increased after just four weeks of supplementation. Chicken collagen helps support a healthy mucosal layer in the gut. Studies have found that in individuals with digestive imbalances, serum concentrations of collagen are decreased. Because the amino acids in collagen build the tissue that lines the colon and entire GI tract, supplementing with collagen can support healthy digestive function. By keeping the mucosal layer of your gut healthy, you can avoid leaky gut syndrome, which is often the root cause of food allergies, low energy, joint pain, thyroid disease, autoimmune diseases, ageing and slow metabolism. Bovine collagen will also have these effects on the gut. Chicken vs Bovine While almost all kinds will do much the same thing, chicken collagen is best known for its ability to target joint issues and cellulite, while bovine is better for skin and weight issues. However they will both be beneficial, if taken at different times of the day. My suggestion is instead of taking 2 scoops of bovine in the morning, take 1-2 scoops of bovine in coffee in the morning and one scoop of chicken in the evening on an empty stomach for the best results in all body systems. Collagen (Bovine and Chicken) assist with the prevention of protein glycation (ageing) and the further breakdown of collagen structures inside the body. The older we get, the more we lose the ability to produce collagen, which means we need to supplement it. Supplementing it significantly helps the body to continue to produce more of its own collagen naturally for longer. Hyaluronic Acid is something of a buzzword today in the beauty arena, and known as ‘nature’s moisturiser’. Dry eyes have been known to benefit from it, wrinkles are delayed or smoothed out and joints benefit from the extra water it brings for increased mobility. It is one of the most hydrophilic (water-loving) molecules in nature. It helps plump lips and skin but it is also highly concentrated in the eyeball. In fact vitreous humour – the fluid in the eyeball – is composed almost completely of hyaluronic acid, acting as a shock absorber and transporting nutrients to the eye. After the age of 50 the body stops producing hyaluronic acid it’s said, and this is why so many eye problems surface after this time. And wonderfully, hyaluronic acid acts as a ‘space filler’ by binding to water and keeping skin wrinkle-free. Types of Collagen Did you know there are 28 types of collagen which have been identified? But only 3 are necessary as these are the most common ones in the human body. Bovine collagen has type 1 and 3, and is the most amazing collagen. It does absolutely everything – and if you are looking for a way to improve your health and physical appearance, bovine collagen will do that admirably. My Pure Hydrolysed Collagen is bovine, so look out for that one. The chicken collagen is under Collagen Type 2, and is a wonderful adjunct to the bovine one. Taken together, yet at different times of the day – yields a far more powerful effect on all body systems, than taking just one. Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Most abundant in the body Less abundant, but vital Second most abundant From skin, ligaments, bone, scar tissue, tendons Found in the eyes and cartilage Found in muscles, blood vessels, intestinal walls Helps stimulate type 2 in the body Richest in hyaluronic acid Stimulates type 2 production Occurs with type 3 (or should do) Contains hyaluronic acid Found in bovine collagen Found in chicken collagen Type 3 occurs with Type 1 (Pure Hydrolysed Collagen is bovine) (Collagen Type 2 is chicken) Found in bovine collagen Supports: Supports: Supports: Skin elasticity; wrinkles Skin elasticity; cellulite; wrinkles Muscle health Joint health Joint and eye health Bone health Bone health Reduces signs of ageing Skin health, youthfulness Both bovine and chicken will help to support and heal leaky gut, improve fat-burning and delay wrinkles. When buying collagen be careful it’s not only type 1 – you want type 1 & 3 TOGETHER. You also want Type 2 to be SEPARATE – the three must not be in one mixture or you will not absorb them properly. Types 1 & 3 are supposed to be together, taken in the morning, and then take Type 2 separately in the evening in water on an empty stomach just before bed. This way your body gets the most AMAZING collagen boost! Why I won’t use other collagen supplements available: Here are just some of the ingredients I’ve seen in the collagen supplements out there (I’ve only named a few here remember!) and why I decided I wanted pure products for my own body, and so brought in my own pure bovine and chicken collagens: Glycerin (extremely drying to the skin – why add it to an anti-ageing product where dryness is the last thing you want in skin, hair, bones and joints?) Citric Acid (can be harmful – side effects of citric acid could include nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain. More serious side effects may include severe muscle twitches, cramps or pain, seizure, numbness of the hands or feet, weakness, difficulty breathing, dizziness, restlessness, irritability and black or bloody stools) Sodium Benzoate (very nasty unnecessary chemical preservative, ESPECIALLY dangerous when taken WITH citric acid as it forms benzene, a carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood cancers, plus can induce asthma and hypertension) Potassium Sorbate (chemical preservative – not necessary in collagen at all! It also can induce migraines, causes allergies, affect the immune system, itching in mouth, throat, eyes, may cause sinus and nasal congestion.) Maltodextrin (this is plain old SUGAR which ages you, inflames you and dries you up) Soy extract (Soy is toxic to the thyroid and has a host of serious problems attached, should not be eaten by man nor beast in my opinion) Natural Orange Flavour and other E numbers (this is not natural at all! If it has ‘flavour’ in the title, it is a chemical) Talc (linked to ovarian & lung cancer. In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos) Glycerol (used as a sugar for sweetening the taste of the powder/liquid) Vegetable oil (damaged, artery-clogging, inflammatory seed oil – ugh) Shellac (basically plastic coating on the tablet) Colours (could be anything at all! But some include Ammonia Caramel and Titanium Dioxide – these are usually all chemicals, not natural colourings) And the worst is that some of these products exceed well over R1000 for the teeny tiniest amounts in tablet form with very little collagen present, plus a bunch of chemicals; it’s called clever advertising. Collagen is best in powder form, mixes easily and costs less for a better product. Now do you see why I’m so passionate about my pure powder collagen products? For bovine collagen click here Disclaimer: Originally published on Facebook on 26 January 2018.
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The various "pauses" in menopause
In menopause, the ovaries ‘pause’ their output of estrogen but there are other pauses during this time to consider. There is simultaneously a pause in the androgenic hormones. These androgenic hormones come from the ovaries but they also come from the adrenals and this pause leads to a decrease in both testosterone and DHEA – hormones which are instrumental in the control of blood sugar, they affect how the body the body burns fuel and whether it is placed in muscle tissue and the liver as glycogen or visceral fat (which is also known as abdominal fat.) Adrenal strain Additional strain is also evident in the adrenals themselves at this time. As the ovaries are doing less work, the adrenals are forced to take over this task. As estrogen falls the adrenals work much harder to make estrone to try to compensate for the loss, and this means they are less able to make DHEA, testosterone and cortisol. Thyropause Ever heard of the “thyropause”? It’s a real thing – generally the thyroid will slow down as a person ages, and thyroid disease risk increases during menopause. Whenever there are large hormonal shifts in the body, you may see latent thyroid disease revealed, such as: Puberty Pregnancy Menopause Hepatopause There’s also “hepatopause”, where the liver is less able to regulate fuel properly. When perfectly healthy it can store extra fuel and make it available when needed – an unhealthy liver has less room to store glycogen, and instead gets jammed with triglycerides leading to fatty liver disease. This also leaves little room for regulating metabolism. Fatty liver can happen to those who don’t drink alcohol at all – called Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and this is often due to soft drinks, sugar and excess carbs. A fatty liver is hard-pressed to burn fuel correctly, it stores more fat than is needed while releasing less than is needed, and begins to enlarge. A healthy liver A healthy liver has 1-3% fat, but a fatty liver has more than 5% and disease sets in when it hits somewhere near the 10% mark, which leads to: Liver malfunction Scarring of liver tissue Liver cancer If you have fatty liver, decreasing your food intake will leave you utterly fatigued. There are less androgens available causing a decrease in basal (or resting) metabolic rate, proportionate to a loss of muscle mass – or sarcopenia. This is why intermittent fasting may not work for some women after a certain age. Menopausal weight gain This can be addressed if you follow the right steps early enough. By focusing on adrenal function you want to reset your body to wake up early and be full of energy and see the cortisol drop in the evenings when you go to bed to give you restful sleep. All too often it’s the other way round in menopause, you have too much cortisol at night when you don’t need it, and little during the day when you do, which can result in: Depression Fatigue Insomnia Anxiety Easy weight gain Difficulty losing weight Inflammation Digestive disturbances Blood sugar dysregulation Difficulty dealing with stress and lifestyle changes Your nutrition, sleep, and exercise Refocusing your diet at this time of life – earlier if possible – is key to how you will cope with all these periods of ‘pause’ in your menopause. Your macronutrients become key to managing cortisol now. You must not stop carbs, but concentrate on good quality, lower carbohydrate foods, eat moderate amounts of healthy fat instead of going low fat, and have enough protein. Timing is everything! You need to get your ‘timing’ of eating carbs right. Carbs naturally lower cortisol, so eating carbs in the morning will make you tired during the day. Your carbs should be highest at night as your carb-digesting enzymes are highest at this time, and will facilitate lowering of cortisol levels to enable you to sleep better. Tailoring your intake of carbs will make a difference to cortisol, weight and sleep. The ‘pause’ we see in menopause with regard to sleep is distressing with many women turning to sleeping pills at this time, which is really not ideal at all. Making sure you have restful sleep will help to control your weight and make you feel a whole lot better in your waking hours. Getting enough quality protein is also more important at this time of life than you may realise. It will prevent the muscle loss associated with menopause when so many women are eating less protein than they should, and this dramatically affects adrenal function which relies on high-quality protein. This will enable you to retain your valuable muscle mass, especially when combined with some healthy, regular exercise. So some of the ways to reset your hormones and lose that menopausal weight creeping up will include: Eating carbs at the right time of day (ie. sweet potato at night and eggs in the morning) Eating enough good quality protein at each meal Not going low fat, but eating healthy fats in moderate proportions Getting sufficient sleep and resetting that cortisol curve Dealing with stress effectively Taking the right targeted supplements for you personally Don’t try any rash or strange diets at this time of life! You will further destroy a fragile metabolic rate that is in need of fixing, and which can be done if you do it sanely. Men and women are very different and a completely different approach needs to be taken when it comes to weight loss in women, particularly those in menopause. Your body and brain are in need of vital nutrition from good food at this time of life, don’t skimp on quality. Visit our Health Resources page for helpful free resources to help you along your journey https://sallyanncreed.co.za/health-resources/ This post is subject to our general disclaimer https://sallyanncreed.co.za/disclaimer/.
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7 foods to help improve your skin
An unhealthy diet can not only damage your metabolism and cause weight gain but may also lead to chronic health conditions including diabetes and heart disease. What’s more, your diet has a direct impact on your skin, contributing to conditions such as ageing or even acne. Skin conditions often have a domino effect on your self-esteem and quality of life. It’s important to take care of your skin health and one of the most effective ways to do so is by looking at your daily diet to ensure you are getting the essential nutrients you need for skin protection. These seven foods may help keep skin healthy, strong, and attractive. 1. Walnuts Walnuts are particularly high in Omega 3, vitamin E and Zinc, all being essential in maintaining a healthy skin barrier to protect not only against inflammation but bacteria too. You will find fabulous ones available here: https://sallyanncreed.co.za/product/walnuts/ 2. Omega-3 from Fatty fish. The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish are vital for reducing skin redness, acne and keeping your skin moisturised. Omega-3 fats are a good source of vitamin E (an antioxidant), zinc and protein which can make the skin less sensitive to the sun’s harsh UV radiation. Omega-3 deficiency can cause skin dryness and supplements may also fight autoimmune conditions which are known to affect the skin such as lupus and psoriasis and lupus. You will find ours here: https://sallyanncreed.co.za/product/the-omega-3-solution-fish-oil-softgels/ 3. Avocado The good fats from avocados help to keep your skin moisturised and flexible. Avo’s are rich in both Vitamin E and Vitamin C, both are fabulous for skin health. They even protect your skin from possible UV damage exposure. 4. Bell Peppers Bell Peppers contain vitamin C which is important for your body’s own collagen production and will aid in skin elasticity. They are also an excellent source of the carotenoid beta-carotene that acts as a natural sunblock for one’s skin, protecting against cell damage, sunburn, skin cancer, dryness and wrinkles (not replacing sunblock of course!) 5. Dark chocolate Cocoa is known to be rich in antioxidants that increase blood flow and hydrate the skin. Hooray! Enjoy our very own 70% dark chocolate! 6. Green tea Every cup is filled with antioxidants and catechins which may protect skin from the onset of visible signs of ageing. 7. Pure Hydrolysed Collagen Collagen is known to have many benefits for the skin including slowing down the rate at which fine lines may appear, helping your form new collagen, strengthening skin, improving elasticity and hydration! Make sure you are using pure hydrolysed collagen for the best skin health benefits. You will find ours available here: https://sallyanncreed.co.za/product/collagen-pure-hydrolysed/
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This nutrient increases thyroid hormone
Biotin is a life-sustaining nutrient which you need very little of – but probably don’t get nearly enough of. It’s generally found in very small amounts in B-Complex supplements, but generally in amounts too small to have the desired effect. Also called Vitamin H, Co-enzyme R, d-biotin and Vitamin B7, Biotin is helpful in heart conditions, blood sugar control and wound healing, and while some is made by your gut flora, often the microbiome is not what it should be, so you don’t make nearly enough of what you need especially as you get older. Biotin is involved in fatty acid synthesis and helps to make healthy myelin while giving you lots of energy. The myelin sheath is the covering around nerves and the spinal cord which is essential for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and is very helpful in this condition according to studies, and shows enormous promise for this disease. Did you know that 25% of your thyroid hormone is made in your intestines? This means if you have dysbiosis or gut dysfunction, your ability to product this hormone is compromised, that’s why gut health is absolutely pivotal. It’s back to the old adage – it all begins in the gut, both health and disease – and keeping your gut healthy will keep the entire body healthy too. While biotin increases the inactive T4, it does not increase the conversion to the active form, T3 – this is where other co-factors come in. Could YOU be short of biotin? Have a look at these common deficiency symptoms: Do you eat a lot of raw egg whites? Is there a scaly red rash around your eyes, nose, mouth and genital area? Do you look older than your age? Do you have very slow wound healing? Is your heart rhythm irregular? Are you losing your hair? Do you have acne and eczema? Do you have unusual facial fat distribution? Are you depressed, lethargic and even may have hallucinations? Is there numbness and tingling of your extremities? Extreme cases – seizures Are you constantly exhausted? Do you have thin hair and nails? Have you been on antibiotics recently? Do you not take a probiotic daily? Do you have loss of appetite and/or nausea? Do you experience a prickling sensation in hands/feet (paraesthesia)? Are you experiencing skin inflammation such as seborrheic dermatitis? Do you have itching and flaking of the scalp? Have you got conjunctivitis? Are you anorexic? Are you anaemic? Deficiency can cause slight anaemia These symptoms taken together, are very typical of a biotin deficiency, but many can apply to other conditions as well. Interestingly, much attention is paid to folate in pregnancy, but biotin is equally important in the developing foetus. Biotin has also showed promise in the treatment of MS, diabetes, and less important conditions like hair loss and brittle fingernails. Best food sources include animal meats, fish and egg yolks. Smoking increases biotin depletion (including vaping) and a compromised digestive system will make it difficult to make your own biotin. Suggestions: Eat biotin-containing foods Avoid raw egg whites (cook the whites, eat the yolk raw if you wish to) Take a biotin supplement daily Take a B Complex supplement daily Include a good probiotic daily Take 200mcg selenium daily for thyroid support and conversion to T3 Get these excellent supplements from our online store here: https://sallyanncreed.co.za/shop Before taking Biotin: Taking more than the recommended dose of biotin may mask thyroid blood tests. Stop taking it 3-5 days before a blood test if you are taking very high doses (anything from 2g upwards). Less than this and you don’t have to worry. The Biotin in my online store is only 30mcg – so taking one or more of these a day is nothing to worry about. More is not better – take only what is needed – it does the job well. Take it away from seizure medication – take it but not at the same time. It’s advisable to take a B-Complex with it, as taking one on its own long term depletes the others – the B’s like to stay together. This post is subject to our general disclaimer https://sallyanncreed.co.za/disclaimer/.
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The Thyroid Gland And Are You At Risk?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones, which play a key role in regulating your heartbeat, breathing, and many other functions. Spotting thyroid disease early is so important as caught early, treatment can prevent complications. When thyroid disease goes untreated for years, it can lead to a dangerously slow (or fast) heartbeat, an injury that refuses to heal, or unrelenting pain. You may have gained or lost weight for no apparent reason. To help you find early (and some not-so-early) signs of thyroid disease on your skin, hair, and nails, here’s a checklist. How many of these signs and symptoms do you have? Skin 1. Dry, pale, and cool skin 2. Moist, velvety, and warm skin like a baby’s 3. Dry skin with deep cracks and scale 4. Deep, noticeable lines on your palms and soles 5. Yellowish-orange colour on your palms and soles 6. Doughy and swollen face, especially on your eyelids, lips, and tongue 7. Widening nose 8. Slow-healing wounds 9. Sweating less (or more) than before 10. Goitre (swelling in the neck) 11. Protruding eyes 12. Flushing on your face and red palms 13. Darker skin in the creases of your palms, on your gums, or elsewhere in your mouth 14. Rashes, especially in the creases of your skin 15. Painless lumps and patches of scaly, discoloured skin, and the affected skin feels hard and waxy 16. Reddish spots on the skin that come and go 17. Protruding eyes. When eyes protrude, it’s often a sign of thyroid disease. 18. Painless lumps and patches of scaly skin feel hard and waxy 19. Lumps on discoloured skin that feel hard and waxy can be a sign of thyroid disease. Hair ☐ Thinning (or missing) eyebrows on the outer edge ☐ Coarse, dull, dry, and brittle hair that breaks easily ☐ Soft and fine hair with lots of shedding ☐ Thinning hair or balding patches ☐ Growing more slowly (or quickly) ☐ Dry, itchy scalp and dandruff ☐ Less hair on your legs, arms, and other areas Nails ☐ Thick, dry, and brittle with visible ridges ☐ Soft, shiny, and easily crumble ☐ Growing more slowly (or quickly) ☐ Peel, crumble, or break easily ☐ Lift up ☐ Curved with swollen fingertip and thickening skin above the nail Itch ☐ Itchy skin without a rash ☐ Untreatable and itchy hives Existing skin disease You have a higher risk of developing thyroid disease if you have one of the following: ☐ Vitiligo ☐ Hives ☐ Alopecia areata (autoimmune disease that causes hair loss) Hidden thyroid disease: Do you have weight problems? Do you have carpel tunnel syndrome? Are you constantly cold when everyone else is all right with the temperature? Do you have a gluten intolerance? Are you missing about a third of your eyebrows? These are possible (not definitive) symptoms which could indicate thyroid problems. What can you do? First – you must get a medical opinion. If you already have one, and are not doing that well but want to improve your thyroid problem, perhaps try our Pure Hydrolysed Collagen. We have hundreds of testimonies of people who have had amazing results with our Pure Hydrolysed Collagen regarding thyroid function alone. Glycine is the main protein building block in collagen, and research shows we are all dismally deficient. Glycine is essential for healthy thyroid function and metabolism as a whole, and collagen is extraordinarily rich in glycine. So here are 5 ways collagen helps your thyroid: 1. Collagen BALANCES other proteins in the body. In hypothyroid patients, tryptophan is converted to serotonin which suppresses thyroid function further (by increasing other thyroid-suppressing hormones like cortisol and estrogen). This is where collagen comes to the rescue – there is NO tryptophan in collagen – that is just one reason it is so beneficial to the thyroid. 2. Collagen LOWERS CORTISOL in hypothyroidism, which lowers stress levels. Stress hormones BLOCK conversion of T4 to T3 (the active hormone) in the liver – collagen boosts the liver’s ability to convert T4 to the active T3 form by lowering cortisol. 3. Collagen lowers ENDOTOXIN, a thyroid-suppressive substance over-produced by intestinal bacteria – usually found in hypothyroidism. It over-burdens the liver, prevents detoxification of estrogen and cortisol and prevents healthy liver detoxification. 4. Collagen boosts THYROID & METABOLIC rate by regulating BLOOD SUGAR. Collagen helps to regulate blood sugar and enables you to metabolise carbs without the need for extra insulin, preventing a rise in blood sugar. Most hypothyroid sufferers are insulin resistant – and they have been shown to have more than 26% less glycine than they need – another reason glycine-rich collagen is helpful to hypothyroid and diabetic patients. 5. Lastly, collagen improves the thyroid’s ability to USE T3. Having adequate levels of T3 converted from T4 is not enough – you need to be able to UTILISE this T3. Collagen also helps to restore insulin sensitivity and help you reverse insulin resistance. Our amazing Pure Hydrolysed Collagen Peptide powder comes from grass-fed cows, has no smell, is non-GMO and has an almost undetectable taste. You’ll find it at https://sallyanncreed.co.za/…/sally-ann-creed-collagen…/
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Why not to go Keto in menopause
Ketogenic diets do not work well for most menopausal women, especially as it unfortunately removes a lot of vegetables and greens from the diet by default. When you go into ketosis you go into mineral deficit as you excrete them faster than you can replace them, especially sodium, magnesium and potassium. Definitely go on a lower carb diet, for sure – that will work well, but not ketosis. You need to have a well-functioning liver if you want ketosis to work, and generally around menopause one’s liver is not in a fabulous state. Eating bitter foods are very good for the liver (rocket, beet greens, radicchio etc) and so are cruciferous veg and sprouts, which help to detoxify estrogen down the right pathways thereby cutting down cancer risk. You especially need to detoxify estrogen in menopause, and these veggies (steamed or cooked) help you do that. Insulin surges cause estrogen surges and this is one of the things which bring on hot flushes!! If you are insulin resistant you will probably have a lot of hot flushes, blood sugar balance is so crucial during this time. Even if you have low estrogen you can be estrogen dominant because your progesterone is so low – something people are not told. Probiotics to heal the gut makes a lot of difference at this time of life (good ones, not the cheap supermarket variety), and in time getting your microbiome in a better state through probiotics and good diet will help you enormously. Your microbiome changes within hours depending on what kind of diet you feed them! VERY important – please avoid SOY – it is a massive endocrine disruptor. Remove all the other endocrine disruptors too – chemical make-up, cleaning products (estrogen-mimickers) and other chemicals. We love Dr Hauscka (find them on our online store) for the purity, and it’s what we use. Opt for natural cleaning products or make your own. Some excellent supplements which will help you at this time include: • Quercetin • Organic Turmeric (use as a spice in your food) • Milk Thistle Premium to regenerate and cleanse the liver • The Omega-3 Solution Fish oil (take 3 a day) • Renewed Balance Natural Progesterone Cream (ONLY if not on hormones – read about it here https://sallyanncreed.co.za/why-you-cant-live-without-progesterone-ladies/
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Do you have undiagnosed PCOS?
Overview Could you have undiagnosed PCOS? Types of PCOS Common Causes of PCOS Recognising the symptoms of PCOS Lifestyle Tips for PCOS Nutrients to help PCOS COULD YOU HAVE UNDIAGNOSED PCOS? Many women are walking around with problems they don’t understand, and may have undiagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). There are a lot of symptoms like anxiety, depression, weight gain, acne, PMS, blemishes and breakouts, unwanted hair growth and infertility or lack of a menstrual cycle. PCOS is now the most common endocrine disorder in women with up to 1 in 5 women suffering from – 20% of women. Hormones work like little chemical messengers in your body, they determine everything from your mood, to your energy levels, to your weight – hormones affect and control so many aspects of your health, yet it can be so easy to overlook just how important they are to our well-being- until your balance is compromised. The underlying cause for PCOS symptoms is an abnormally high level of male sex hormones compared to female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. In a majority of PCOS cases, male sex hormones are high – this can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month as they would when in a state of balance. Female sex hormones need to be balanced with male sex hormones in the proper ratio. It’s the ratio which is out of kilter. THERE ARE 5 TYPES OF PCOS The Classic type: high androgen levels, irregular or absent ovulation, and polycystic ovaries The Hyperandrogenic Anovulatory type: excess androgens with irregular or absent ovulation (but not polycystic ovaries) Ovulatory type : excess androgens with polycystic ovaries (but without ovulatory dysfunction) Non-Hyperandrogenic PCOS: irregular or absent ovulation and polycystic ovaries Obesity or the ‘unofficial’ type: obesity with insulin resistance can lead to excess testosterone and estrogen production. This combination can result in acne, facial hair, and the irregular cycles as seen in PCOS. Most women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill, but this does not fix nor halt PCOS, it merely masks the symptoms at best. The Pill is a concoction of synthetic hormones does nothing to prevent, cure, or fix PCOS or any other hormone disorder for that matter. While it seems to manage symptoms in some women but a holistic approach is best here – lower inflammation and balance hormone levels through nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle changes. COMMON CAUSES INCLUDE: Genetic predisposition: PCOS is regarded as a condition that runs in families, especially if you have a diabetic parent. You don’t HAVE to go on to develop this by the way, you can ‘change your destiny’ in this instance. Poor diet: Eating too many high-glycaemic foods, such as those with a high-sugar content and refined carbohydrates. Chronic stress Too much exercise Thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism Exposure to synthetic estrogen, phytoestrogens in soy, plastics, pesticides and phthalates Obesity High insulin levels – which cause the ovaries to increase male sex hormones, preventing the ovaries’ ability to ovulate High levels of inflammation – even chronic low-grade inflammation will cause the ovaries to produce more androgens RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS There is no one reason as to why women develop PCOS. It’s also not just one single disorder but instead, at least four or five independent disorders that are all characterized by an overlapping but inconsistent set of symptoms: High androgen, or male sex hormone levels Acne Facial and body hair growth Hair loss or balding Irregular or absent menstrual cycles/infertility Excessive or heavy menstrual bleeding Ovarian cysts Darkening of the skin in the armpits, back of the neck, or groin Mood disorders Obesity and inability to lose weight with a healthy lifestyle Recurrent miscarriages LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR PCOS: Eat WHOLE foods – create a meal plan with fresh, organic, pasture-reared food. No processed food. It MUST be a no-sugar, low carb diet to work, and you must avoid seed oils, gluten, dairy, sugar, feedlot animal protein and farmed fish. Choose wild caught fish and free-range, pasture-reared beef, lamb, chicken, etc. Avoid all grains as these become sugar in the bloodstream and will only add to your misery. DO NOT TOUCH SOY! Anything soy is taboo for you – it is the most controversial phytoestrogen and it is found in almost every packaged food, and virtually all soy is genetically modified and highly processed, which can further trigger an overload of estrogen and contribute to a new imbalance which also comes with its own set of symptoms. Use natural, organic spices and herbs – powerhouses of the correct type of phytonutrients which decrease inflammation, support liver health and nourish – best spices are cinnamon, turmeric, black cumin, coriander and ginger. Use apple cider vinegar daily as it helps to increase insulin sensitivity Don’t over-exercise, but do move Avoid toxins in food, make-up, your environment etc Learn to relax and destress Get enough GOOD quality sleep – go to bed earlier – use L-Theanine if you need it. NUTRIENTS TO HELP PCOS Berberine is absolutely excellent at helping to control blood sugar and insulin, probably the biggest culprit of all Vitamin D3 – vitamin D deficiency is linked to insulin resistance, ovulatory and menstrual irregularities, obesity and decreased fertility (PCOS in a nutshell!) Magnesium Citrate powder will help you to relax and destress Use Pure Hydrolysed Collagen which helps to balance hormones, blood sugar levels and insulin You will find all of these in our ONLINE STORE at www.sallyanncreed.co.za/shop Disclaimer: This post is subject to our general disclaimer https://sallyanncreed.co.za/disclaimer/.
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