Your Thyroid: Foods, Nutrients to Help, & Testing!
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that releases hormones. Thyroid hormones help your body regulate the metabolism of ALL cells. This is critical for maintaining a healthy body weight and having the energy to live your life.
(Yes, your thyroid IS a big deal!)
The thyroid gland is not isolated from the body – it is one of the master glands and works synergistically with other organs and elements in the blood. For true symptom improvement, it’s important to address the foundational elements that are required to survive: good quality food, good digestion and assimilation of nutrients, good sleep, movement/exercise, address, and manage stress.
It’s estimated that at least 3.7% of US adults have an underactive thyroid; I’m one of those!!
When you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, it’s called hypothyroidism. This can result in the slowing down of your metabolism and cause difficulty losing weight, and even weight gain. Some of the other symptoms can include fatigue, forgetfulness, dry hair and skin, constipation, muscle cramping, and feeling cold.
An underactive thyroid can be diagnosed from a blood test.
How does the thyroid become underactive?
There are many reasons why your thyroid may become underactive. The most common is autoimmunity, where the immune cells attack other cells in the body….in this case, it’s the cells of the thyroid gland.
It can also be the result of low levels of iodine, which is an essential mineral. Combining that with high levels of goitrogens (food substances that inhibit iodine from getting into the thyroid) and you can be at risk for an iodine deficiency.
It is important to know your thyroid function tests. Tests that I recommended to clients are: TSH, free T3, free T4 & TPO antibodies. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of laboratory tests used to diagnose or treat a condition, but it can help give you and your practitioner an idea of the health of your thyroid.
Foods and nutrients for your thyroid
Enough iodine from food – Iodine is naturally found in fish and seafood. Other foods that contain iodine are navy beans, potatoes, and eggs. Sometimes levels of natural iodine depend on the amount of iodine in the soil. Iodine is also added (i.e., fortified) to some foods.
Enough selenium from food – Some people recommend selenium (another essential mineral) to support the thyroid. A recent review of several clinical studies showed that there is not enough evidence to recommend selenium supplements to people with certain thyroid conditions. Selenium-rich foods are Brazil nuts, mushrooms, meat, and fish. Discuss supplementing with your practitioner.
Reduce goitrogens – Goitrogens are plant-estrogens that prevent the iodine in your blood from getting into your thyroid where it’s needed to make thyroid hormones. Goitrogens themselves are not that powerful, unless they’re eaten excessively, or are combined with a diet already low in iodine. They are found in “cruciferous” foods such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. Goitrogens can be deactivated by cooking the foods they’re found in. Because these cruciferous vegetables are very nutritious, you may choose to cook them instead of eliminating them altogether.
Enough protein – One of the common symptoms of thyroid issues is the inability to lose weight. If this is the case, one thing you can eat more of is protein. Protein has a “thermogenic effect” because your body has to spend energy metabolizing protein; this means that calorie-for-calorie, carbs will promote weight gain more than protein will.
Gluten-free – Try going gluten-free. There is evidence of a link between underactive thyroid and gluten sensitivity. There may be a “cross-reactivity” where the immune cells that are sensitized to gluten can attack the thyroid cells by mistake; this is essentially how autoimmunity works and can affect more than just your thyroid. You might request getting tested for celiac disease if you are experiencing thyroid issues.
Lifestyle upgrade – Weight gain and difficulty losing weight are very common when it comes to thyroid issues. In this case, it’s important to get enough regular exercise, enough quality sleep, and reduce stress.
Conclusion
If you have concerns about your thyroid, then ask to be tested. That, along with testing for celiac disease, can help to confirm your best plan to move forward in good health.
Foods to support your thyroid include iodine- and selenium-containing foods, cooked cruciferous foods, and gluten-free foods. Don’t forget to eat enough protein to help boost your metabolism. Also, consider reducing the amount of raw cruciferous foods you eat.
Supplementing with iodine or selenium should be done with a health professional’s advice.
And regular exercise, quality sleep, and stress-reduction are all part of the holistic approach to supporting your thyroid.
Testing is an important piece of the puzzle and helps you to get a clearer understating of how your body is functioning. It’s also a great way to become your own health detective.
I have recently partnered with a company called Your Lab Work.
Your Lab Work is a company owned by Dr. Alan Hopkins and his wife, Amy Beth. The beauty of this company is that it allows you direct access to the lab test you want at an affordable price. Why purchase labs here? Well, the truth is that routine testing frequently misses a significant percentage of low thyroid cases, and as a result, patients are often told their labs are normal. Insurance often won’t cover these advanced lab tests. Once they are done, you will know where to narrow in on your issue(s).
In addition to full thyroid tests, they offer baseline testing in the areas of: nutrition & toxic metal testing, inflammation, hormones & adrenal function, & weight loss & metabolism. You can get the labs on your terms and at affordable prices.
Be your own health detective and learn what lifestyle changes can help you to thrive.
If you’d like to be tested, you can order labs here.
Thanks for reading and keep well,
Tara
P.S. Full disclosure: If you order directly from the link I provided, as an affiliate with Your Lab Work, I will receive compensation from any purchase.