Your thyroid is a small gland located at the front of your neck, near the Adam’s apple that helps the body to regulate its vital processes. When a problem arises with your thyroid and it becomes either overactive or underactive, it can have dire effects on your overall health. Things like your breathing, metabolism, cellular processes, and more are all dictated by your thyroid. These are our best tips to help keep your thyroid healthy and functioning at its optimal level.
Get Plenty of Iodine
Your thyroid loves iodine! Your thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, are named as such due to the number of iodine molecules they contain. Without consuming enough iodine, your body won’t be able to produce enough of these vital hormones. Eating iodine-rich foods is one way to keep your thyroid functioning properly. Examples of iodine-rich foods include seafood, seaweed, and fortified dairy products.
Snack on Some Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts in particular are very rich in selenium, which plays an important role in the metabolization of T4 to T3. Selenium is also a known antioxidant, which helps to protect your body from free radicals and oxidative stress. Other foods that are rich in selenium include broccoli, garlic, onion, seafood, and alfalfa.
Stay Away from Gluten
The evidence is piling up that many autoimmune thyroid issues are caused by a gluten intolerance. If you suffer from an ailment such as Grave’s Disease or Hashimotos, it’s extremely important that you give up gluten entirely.
The protein in gluten is similar (molecularly) to that of your thyroid. When you ingest gluten and it absorbs into the bloodstream, your immune system attacks it. Well, for people with Grave’s or Hashimotos, your body mistakenly identifies the thyroid as this ‘bad’ protein and attacks it as well.
Make Sure You Are Cooking Your Brassicas
Brassica vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, all need to be cooked for optimum health. When you leave these vegetables in their raw state, they can negatively impact the thyroid gland. These vegetables are known as goitrogens. They are able to hinder the function of the thyroid gland by blocking the absorption of iodine when left uncooked. Lightly cooking is sufficient, just be sure they are not raw!
Load Up On Antioxidants
Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and all sorts of colored veggies. Your thyroid is particularly sensitive to the negative effects of oxidation. Ingesting plenty of antioxidant-rich foods allows your body to protect itself against free radicals and other oxidative stress. Antioxidants and B Vitamins can be ingested easily – simply aim to eat fruits and veggies of every colour.
If you suspect you have a thyroid disorder, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. If you have an overactive thyroid, you may be prescribed medication containing thionamides. If you have an underactive thyroid, you may be prescribed medication containing levothyroxine. Both thionamide medication and levothyroxine in NZ is available at your local pharmacy. Take as directed by your healthcare provider.