For people with issues with their thyroid, for instance, prescribed medication can cause side effects like heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, mood swings, and even depression. Worse still, for some thyroid patients, the medication simply does not work. Fortunately, there are natural alternatives.
Managing your thyroid levels naturally
If you are suffering from either hyperthyroidism (overactive production of thyroid hormones) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid hormones), consider the following recommendations:
Make changes to your diet
The foods you eat hugely affect your overall health, including your thyroid function. To improve thyroid health, you need to consume foods that are rich in vitamin A, such as carrots, eggs, and green and yellow vegetables.
Iodine is also known to play a role in thyroid health. Iodine attaches to the amino acid tyrosine to form thyroxine, the main hormone secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. Sea vegetables are rich in iodine. Some delicious sea veggies are nori (found in sushi wraps), hijiki, wakame (found in miso soup), and dulse.
Zinc also supports thyroid health and it can be found in beef and chicken. Brazil nuts are the richest dietary source of selenium, another mineral which is essential in converting thyroxine to its active form, triiodothyronine (T3). Selenium helps with glutathione production, which decreases thyroid antibodies.
Coconut oil, as well as maca, is believed to help with thyroid function. Maca promotes balance in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which release TRH (thyroid-releasing hormone) and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) respectively. These hormones regulate thyroxine levels. Maca also contains zinc, B-vitamins, and iron, which are all required for proper thyroid function.
You may see articles discouraging the consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, as they might inhibit thyroid function, but there has been limited research regarding this connection. The vast majority of research supports the consumption of cruciferous vegetables as a way to prevent thyroid cancer. It still stands that cruciferous vegetables are among the most nutrient-dense foods around.
What you need to avoid are the usual suspects, such as processed foods. Soy protein isolate is another culprit and should be avoided. This means no soy foods like soy cheese, soy yogurt, energy bars with soy protein isolate, soy burgers, and soy-based "meats."
Nutritional supplements
For some people, managing hypothyroidism includes taking supplements, however, it’s important to check with a healthcare specialist before supplementation. A blood test can help determine the individual levels of nutrients you need.
Specific nutrients that may help with hypothyroidism include vitamins A, B-complex, and D. Zinc, magnesium, iodine, tyrosine, and selenium also help improve the health of your thyroid.
Herbal supplements
Numerous herbal supplements may be helpful in treating thyroid problems. Pick a supplement that matches your thyroid issue. Before taking any herbal supplements, however, talk with your healthcare provider about possible side effects, proper dosage, and potential drug interactions.
For hypothyroidism, black walnut, Irish moss, and kelp supplements may improve your thyroid function. For those with hyperactive thyroids, valerian root can help suppress thyroid function. (Related: Natural compounds to improve thyroid function.)
Healthy habits like eating clean, taking the right supplements, and managing your stress are just some of the natural sure-fire ways of managing any health condition. Learn more at NaturalCures.news.
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