Fluoride, Your Thyroid, Your Hair

Introduction

Since the beginning of 2010 I've been on a slow, but steady, quest to achieve overall healthier living. Throughout the history of my lifetime I've learned that slow and steady wins the race for me.

Although it's always nice to have a healthy weight, my goal is not specifically weight loss. I have yet to officially adopt a specific dietary genre such as raw food, vegan or vegetarian.

Right now I am just trying to eat "real" food, eliminate sugar as much as possible and listen to my body.

Recently I was researching the benefits of green tea versus black tea. I left all types of coffee in the rearview mirror in the Fall of 2009. I switched to black, herbal and green teas.

Questions About Flouride Levels In Teas?

I recently read that there is a question whether the fluoride content of green tea can impact healthy functioning of the thyroid. Of course when your thyroid is sluggish your hair ultimately suffers by becoming dry, brittle and even sluggish in its normal growth cycles.

Having a healthy thyroid is key not only for healthy, long and strong hair, but also for overall bodily functions. The thyroid provides a wide range of key services for the body but for me hair is always a key focus.

As far back as 2001 my favorite magazine, Health, was addressing the evidence to associate fluoride intake with thyroid disease. Of course thyroid disease often poses a range of hair growth, health and loss issues.

Fluoride Poisoning With Hair Loss Issues

“Though apparently vague and non-specific, most of the symptoms of fluoride toxicity point towards some kind of profound metabolic dysfunction, and are strikingly similar to the symptoms of Hypothyroidism.” (University of Western Ontario, 2002).

Hypothyroidism often manifests as hair health disruption issues.

Besides the concerns over fluoride are issues with aluminum which is also present in varying degrees in some teas.

I reviewed the comparison between fluoride poisoning and thyroid disease and was surprised by how similar the symptoms are.

Many people might be surprised to find out the impact fluoride poisoning might have on their thyroids, their hair and their overall health.

To review the symptoms of both visit the following informative website: http://poisonfluoride.com/pfpc/html/symptoms.html

Ironically, alopecia, a major hair loss concern is listed as a symptom of both fluoride poisoning as well as thyroid disease.

Anti-Fluoride Activists

Anti-fluoride activists have opposed adding fluoride to municipal water supplies for years, claiming it can cause a wide range of health issues ranging from cancer to loss of libido to thyroid issues in healthy people.

Of course tea is known to contain fluoride, as much as four times that which occurs in fluoridated city water systems.

Studies have shown Chinese green tea contains the most fluoride of any type of teas and more than most water supplies.

Other studies have indicated tea leaves accumulate more fluoride (from pollution of soil and air) than any other edible plant. Fluoride content in tea has risen dramatically over the last 20 years, as has tea consumption.

Fluoride in tea is much higher than the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set for fluoride in drinking water

Gallons Of Tea Required For Actual Impact?

Not everyone agrees with the concerns over tea consumption, fluoride issues and impact on the thyroid.

Stephen Levy, D.D.S, who was quoted in the 2001 Health Magazine article, has studied the health impact of fluoride for decades believes the common exposure to fluoride does not pose a health risk sufficient enough to ban tea drinking. According to Levy, an adult would need to consume several gallons of tea every day to experience any negative effects with the impact being felt in the bones.

However, if you have known thyroid issues, osteoporosis, kidney disease or thyroid cancer you should work with your primary physician to determine your options when it comes to drinking teas.

Green Tea Helpful With Preventing Cavities?

Ironically the majority of vendors selling green tea promote it's high fluoride content as "beneficial" in preventing cavities, promulgating the misleading and false data supplied for the last 50 years by the ADA/CDA and other dental health trade organizations, as well as various public health agencies.

There are no known double-blind studies anywhere proving the efficacy of fluoride as a caries preventative.

However, there are double-blind studies proving adverse health effects, at the level of 1ppm (1mg/l) in water. There are no studies documenting safety at any intake level.

Options For Drinking Tea Without Danger?

What does this all mean? You may want to consider switching to herbal teas which contain dried herbs, spices and fruits but no actual tea leaves, which means minimal if any fluoride or aluminum.

You can also research the levels of fluoride listed in your favorite black or green teas. Of course if you suspect you have thyroid issues you may want to abstain from tea for two weeks and keep a journal to determine any obvious differences in your health and body.

You may also wish to check with your water company and find out exactly how much fluoride is in the water you drink. If it's high, naturally or not, you may wish to consider options for special fluroide water filters or drinking fluoride free spring or bottled waters.

Since fluoride is known to impact the proper functioning of the thyroid gland look at all the ways you may be consuming it on a daily basis including your tea consumption and then weigh your options.

Some toothpaste and mouthwashes also contain fluoride as well as a wide range of foods.

Summary

Always do your own homework before making any final decisions about what teas you may wish to drink or eliminate from your daily diet. Be sure to talk to your doctor or health care provider about fluoride intake and how it might impact your thyroid and overall heath.

Remember that a diseased or sluggish thyroid can lead to a range of hair challenges ranging from dry and brittle strands to accelerated fall out and slowed growth.

Social Media Network Information

Please follow me on Twitter at: http://Twitter.com/HairBoutique. I look forward to meeting new people from all walks of Twitter and learning from their Tweets. Visit us at Hairboutique.com located at: http://www.HairBoutique.com, on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Thank you for visiting us at The HairBoutique Blog and for leaving your comments. They are very much appreciated. We apologize in advance but must remove any direct advertisements or solicitations.

- Revised Publication Date: 10/24/10

If you want to talk more about this or other hair care articles on HairBoutique.com or anywhere else, please post a message on HairBoutique.com's Hair Talk Forums.