Restless Leg Syndrome: definition
A distressing neurologic condition causing uncomfortable crawly and painful sensations in the legs that makes the sufferer need to move them for a brief relief of symptoms, especially at night.
Turner’s Syndrome
What Is Follicular Hyperkeratosis?
F ollicular hyperkeratosis is an abnormal skin condition characterized by disordered overgrowth of the horny layer of the epidermis with horny plugs filling the openings of hair follicles. The plugs look like bumps in hair follicles.
Follicular hyperkeratosis with corkscrew hairs (coiled hairs in the follicles) appears in scurvy, which is advanced vitamin C deficiency.1
Typical hyperkeratotic papules first appear on the extensor surfaces of the extremities (e.g. the back of upper arms), shoulders, and buttocks.
Phrynoderma is a distinctive form of follicular hyperkeratosis with papule formation in dilated hair follicles believed to be a manifestation of severe malnutrition.
Q: Why does hyperkeratosis develop?
A: Follicular hyperkeratosis develops from lack of necessary nutrients to support healthy skin. Although originally thought to represent only vitamin A deficiency or vitamin C in the case of scurvy, several studies have demonstrated deficiencies of B vitamins and vitamin E. General malnutrition seems to be the strongest association. The clinical picture typically improves with enhanced nutritional status.2
What Is Follicular Hyperkeratosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Sources:Selenium Deficiency
What Is Selenium?
Selenium is a mineral that is required by the body in trace amounts for a healthy immune system, normal thyroid function, and antioxidant protection.
Selenium is absolutely required in the production of at least 30 selenoproteins in the body. First, selenium is joined to the amino acids cysteine as selenocysteine and to methionine as selenomethionine before being used as components for selenoproteins. Many selenoproteins are important antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase.
Q: How does glutathione peroxidase work?
A: Glutathione peroxidase activity helps the recycling of vitamins C and E in optimizing the performance of the antioxidant system. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
In the immune system, selenium stimulates immune properties of lymphocytes (white blood cells) by contributing to higher natural killer lymphocyte activity. Natural killer lymphocytes have the ability to destroy cancer cells and bacterial and viral agents.
Other selenoproteins help protect the thyroid gland from anti-oxidants and regulate thyroid function. Specifically, selenium plays an integral role in thyroid gland metabolism.1 Functions are more fully described below.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, approximately 30 percent of tissue selenium is contained in the liver, 15 percent in kidney, 30 percent in muscle, and 10 percent in blood plasma.
What Is Selenium Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Sources:- Stazi AV, Trinti B. Selenium status and over-expression of interleukin-15 in celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2010;46(4):389-99.DOI: 10.4415/ANN_10_04_06. [↩]
The Truth About Soy for a Gluten-Free Diet
Is 
soy safe and healthy if you’re gluten-free? Do you consider soy milk to be healthier than regular milk? Do you worry about GMO soy? Or perhaps you’re concerned about rumors of soy being dangerous and disruptive to your hormones?
These are all great questions I find myself answering often. Though I don’t believe the story on soy is quite as cut and dry as some out there (like those in the Paleo world), I firmly feel that those of us who are gluten-free for whatever the reason —be it celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, thyroid issues or autoimmune problems— have tremendous reason to be wary and skeptical of the notion that soy is a safe alternative to
Hypothyroidism – Autoimmune Thyroiditis – Hashimoto’s Disease: definition
A thyroid disease characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone circulating in the body due to autoimmune destruction of thyroid tissue.