What is The Thyroid?
Nestled in the front of your neck, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that plays a crucial role in regulating your body's metabolism. It controls how your body processes sugar, fat, and protein. It also influences key functions, like heart rate, body temperature, digestion, fertility, and skin and bone health. Maintaining the right balance of thyroid hormone is vital, ensuring your body stays energized while also having time to repair and thrive.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Low thyroid function is common in today’s society. This is due in part to stressful lifestyles, lack of nutritious foods and an increase in environmental pollutants.
Signs your thyroid may be low functioning include:
- Weight gain
- Frequent infections
- Dry and cold skin
- Poor nail growth and hair loss
- High cholesterol
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Menstrual irregularities
- Goiter
- Fatigue and an increased need for sleep
- Decreased initiative, lack of concentration, and poor memory
- Bowel changes
- Muscle and joint aches
- Allergies and asthma
Supplements to Improve Thyroid Hormones
If you notice a change in your thyroid hormone levels and are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, Thyroxin is available by prescription in Canada. But, if you'd like a natural product, a supplement called Thyroid or Armour thyroid contains both T4 and the more active T3. This is important for a small percentage of people who can’t convert T4 into T3.
Most thyroid glandular supplements are certified thyroxin- free to eliminate the risk of sending users into a hyperthyroid state. The best source for glandular extracts is New Zealand, where they are free from pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and disease.
Here are several alternatives to enhance your body’s production of thyroxin without taking thyroxin itself:
- Protein intake is important because it contains the amino acid tyrosine, a precursor to thyroxin.
- Vitamins and minerals are needed to produce and convert thyroxin into the more potent T3. These nutrients include iodine, copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin E.
- Thyroid glandular is an extract of the thyroid gland of an animal, usually a sheep or cow. It supports the activity of the thyroid and regulates metabolism. It may provide its users with a mild increase in energy and stamina.
Dietary considerations for optimizing thyroid functioning include:
- Avoiding chlorinated and fluoridated water because they block iodine receptors in the thyroid.
- Avoiding broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, peaches, pears, rutabagas, soybeans, onions, spinach and turnips because they suppress thyroid hormone function.
