We usually view signs of inflammation in a negative light because, quite often, pain is involved.  But inflammation is a natural and essential function of the body (and the immune system) to respond to threats. It's the most important safety measure of the body.  And it’s only a problem when it becomes chronic.  Chronic inflammation will lead to health disorders, like Hashimoto's, if not addressed.  The most common threat that our bodies deal with is toxins – both exogenous toxins (from outside the body) to endogenous toxins (produced in the body).

Exogenous Toxins refer to the type of toxins in our food, in our air and our breath, in our homes and In our water. Drugs and medications are also considered toxins.  Despite their possible health benefits, the body doesn't recognize them as food so may be treated as threats. These toxins include pesticides, benzene (which is a leading cause of leukemia), PCBs (in the soil and in our food), xenoestrogens.  Xenoestrogens are “foreign” estrogens, substances that are close enough in molecular structure to estrogen that they can bind to estrogen receptor sites with potentially hazardous outcomes.

Endogenous Toxins refer to the waste products of normal physiology and body functions.  Large amounts of toxins are produced in our gut from:

• Maldigestion of our food 
• Metabolic waste products from parasitic, bacterial or fungal infections in the GI tract

Toxicity Affects the Body in 2 Ways

1. Functional changes that manifest as poor health with symptoms such as: fatigue, headaches, lethargy, weight problems, and depression.
2. Pathological changes that manifest as actual diseases such as: cancer, auto-immune disease, neurological disease, arthritis, gastrointestinal disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms of Toxicity

• Nervous System – slow or fuzzy thinking, depression, poor memory, poor coordination, numbness in extremities.
• Liver – poor skin tone, jaundice, bitter taste in mouth, headaches, irritability, dark circles under eyes, sensitive to chemicals, difficulty digesting fat, yellow coating on the tongue.
• Kidney – urine has strong odour and can be frothy, skin eruptions, pain in the mid-back region, infrequent urination.
• Immune System – frequent colds and infection (bladder, skin, ear, and sinuses), night sweats
• Digestive System – bloating, diarrhea or constipation, belching, bad breath, undigested food in the stool.

What can you do about it?

• Identify and address any current exposure to toxins
• Improve your diet so that your body has the nutrients it needs to function properly
• Address any gut issues that affect digestion and absorption and anything that compromises the integrity of the gut lining  (bacterial overgrowth, leaky gut)