FOODS FOR AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID:Link - Medicine Health

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In the beginning of the year, I had a physical and got information that my thyroid is not functioning as it ought. My doctor said that it is underactive and gave me a subscription to take to find out what I need to correct how it is functioning. I have not taken it yet, but am trying natural ways to get my thyroid functioning properly. I discovered that I need to change my diet as I was eating foods that effect it in a negative way and was not eating enough foods good for my thyroid.

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The following little bits and pieces of information I copied from various articles on the internet will help you know how to maybe get your thyroid to function better:

. Below is an interest video explaining what causes thyroid desease: .

http://video.about.com/thyroid/Thyroglobulin-Protein.htm

. . Here a video on the effects of thyroid desease: .

http://video.about.com/thyroid/Thyroid-Disease.htm

The thyroid gland is in your neck and produces hormones that affect many metabolic processes. If your thyroid is lacking hormones, hypothyroidism is the result. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, depression, weight gain, hair loss, feeling cold often, constipation, brittle or splitting nails, memory problems, and dry skin.

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Iodine will help produce thyroid hormones and so can aid in alleviating many of these symptoms. When thyroid hormones are too low, the pituitary gland produces a hormone that stimulates your thyroid to take more iodine out of the blood. The iodine is used to produce the hormones and restore the original levels of thyroid hormones. . Usually there's about 20 to 30 mg of iodine stored in your body. When iodine becomes depleted, you aren't able to make enough thyroid hormone. This is where iodine supplementation can save you and get those hormones pumping again. . Many different types of seaweed contain iodine. Yogurt, cow's milk, sea food, and foods grown in iodine rich soil will give you iodine also. . Foods that Hurt the Thyroid Gland:

Sugar is a big problem – it's present in almost everything, and holistic practitioners and even some mainstream doctors agree that white sugar suppresses the immune system. Blood sugar changes can bring on diabetes and hypoglycemia, both of which often co-occur in patients with thyroid disease – which means thyroid patients are at risk for blood sugar disorders, and vice versa for diabetics. Some thyroid patients report better energy and that their thyroid levels stabilize when they stop eating refined sugar. . It's also a good idea to avoid chemicals like the pesticides sprayed on non-organic foods, and those in iodized salt. Pesticides usually contain estrogenic compounds which can affect the endocrine (hormone) system and the thyroid. Iodized salt is a problem for some thyroid patients and should be replaced with natural sea salt and a natural source of iodine.

The two worst offenders for suppressing thyroid function are soy foods and cruciferous vegetables. Soy contains estrogenic compounds that can interfere with thyroid hormones and sex hormones, contributing to PMS, cramps, bloating, and menopause symptoms. Some people with hyperactive thyroid find that small amounts of soy help modulate the thyroid gland, but others prefer to avoid soy altogether: no tofu, TVP, tempeh, seitan, miso, or edamame.

There are foods called goitrogens that have compounds that can interfere with iodine absorption. A family of vegetables known as "Brassica" – more commonly called cruciferous vegetables – contain goitrogenic chemicals that suppress the thyroid. These foods include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kale, mustard greens, peaches, apricots, strawberries, pears, radishes, horseradish, spinach, turnips, soy, canola, pine nuts, peanuts, cress, walnuts, and millet.

Sure, these foods are good for the average person, but for those with a hypothyroidism, they can cause some adverse affects. However, when cooked, the affects seem to be lessened. When eaten cooked the goitridens are neutralized and the benefits of these nutritious foods can overcome the adverse affects. Found out that you can get an iodine supplement (have seen it in a health food store) or you can take stuff the doctor prescribes, being there are quite of few foods that have negative affects on the thyroid. I went to health food store asking advise and it was suggested to take this herbal formula called "ThyroSense" which has iodine in it along with some other stuff that is good for you. Don't know if you can get this outside of Canada, but am sure there are others similar to this one.

Include in your diet "B" complex vitamins, raisins, prunes, alvocados, dates, eggs, molasses, parsley, legumes, unpeeled baked potatoes, raw seeds, **brazil nuts, sesame seeds, onions, garlic, oatmeal (large flakes are best), brown rice and other whole grains. Eat organ meats, oysters, shrimp, tuna, salmon, cod, sardines & herring or chicken, pork, and turkey, raw milk and cheese. As well, eat foods rich in carotenoids (which the body converts to vitamin A), such as oranges, pineapple, carrots, red peppers, pumpkin, squash and yams.

Selenium may be the most important nutrient in a diet for hypothyroid. This trace mineral is an antioxidant and is essential for converting the thyroid hormone your body produces, T4, into its active form, T3. Brazil nuts are an incredibly good source of selenium, but you can also get it from some lean meats.

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A note about how switching cooking oils can rev a sluggish thyroid: Polyunsaturated oils such as soybean, corn and safflower are long-chain triglycerides (LCTs, a kind of fat that blocks absorption of iodine by thyroid cells. In addition to cooking oils, LCDs are in processed foods like some low-fat dressings and crackers. To limit LCT intake, check labels for soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, hydrogenated oil or partially hydrogenated oil. Also, switch to cooking oils that don't block iodine absoption, such as coconut, avocado, olive and flaxseed. Bonus: "These oils are powerful weight-loss tools," says Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. " They enhance satiety and nourish the liver for optimal fat burn."

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The best natural source of iodine is kelp and other seaweeds. These sea vegetables are rich in natural iodine, an element that "feeds" the thyroid and is vital for the production of thyroid hormones. It's possible to add crunchy, salty seaweed to soups and salads, or you can find it wrapped around that favorite of Japanese foods, sushi (even the vegetarian, non-fish sushi are great sources of iodine-rich seaweed). . Coconuts & Coconut oil is another natural food that boosts thyroid function. Virgin coconut oil is praised by health experts for its ability to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. It's also been found to boost the thyroid, increasing metabolism, weight loss, and energy levels.

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Begin moderate exercise program such as walking. Exercise is very important to help enhance Thyroid function, increase rate of metabolism and raise body temperature. Brisk walking for 30 to 60 minutes daily will be found beneficial.

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Avoid fluoride (including that found in toothpaste and tap water) and chlorine (also found in tap water). Chlorine and fluoride block iodine receptors in the Thyroid gland resulting in reduced iodine-containing hormone production and finally in Hypothyroidism.

. Read more: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=135 . http://www.coconut-connections.com/ http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/ http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/ http://www.howtoopenacoconut.com/ . http://holistic-nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/foods_for_natural_thyroid_support#ixzz0R6YV1ORz http://www.naturalways.com/thyroid.htm .