Oprah Winfrey Suffering Thyroid Disease

Oprah Winfrey, highest-rated talk show in the history of television was struggling with thyroid disease. Oprah has been struggling with added weight gain since her 2007 diagnosis with hypothyroidism. Winfrey started a the 21-day program, in which she will not eat any meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, animal products, caffeine, sugar, gluten and alcohol.


Thyroid disease affects as many as 59 million Americans, the majority of them women, and the majority of sufferers are undiagnosed. So it's no surprise that many women, aware of Oprah's recent challenges, and experiencing similar symptoms, are now wondering if they too might have a thyroid condition. People with autoimmune diseases, especially those with hypothyroidism should be tested for a B-12 deficiency and anemia. B12 Deficiencies and Thyroid disease go hand in hand.

Vitamin B-12 is necessary for the proper growth and development of your body's red blood cells. Pernicious anemia, a disease that was fatal before 1920, can result when the body does not absorb enough vitamin B-12. It was discovered that pernicious anemia could be cured by eating large amounts of liver, and later it was found that liver contains quantities of both vitamin B-12 and a substance which your body requires to effectively absorb vitamin B-12.
It is thought that B-12 may also play a role in controlling blood levels of homocysteine, the amino acid which is believed to cause damage to blood vessels. Taking supplements of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid has been shown to return the level of homocysteine to normal, and thus it is believed that these B vitamins may provide valuable protection against heart disease.

Additionally, vitamin B-12 is necessary for the function of all nerve fibres, and for the production of genetic material within cells.