Monday, March 24, 2008

Suffering from a Low Thyroid? Naturally Restore Thyroid Function and Improve your Energy & Wellbeing


For years, I've been plagued by a low thyroid disorder. I've also had chronic fatigue and adrenal fatigue syndrome and the two are linked to they thyroid. The glands in our bodies all work in a symbiotic unison and when one is off balance, most likely the others will be as well. I found balancing a good diet and supplementation I was able to get greater control of my low functioning thyroid. My daily body temperature has increased and I have not been plagued by a stream of colds and flus that were typical.

Dietary Treatment for Thyroid Disorder

Avoid refined foods, saturated fats, sugars, and white flour products. If the thyroid problem is severe it is then good to avoid brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, peaches and pears as they have anti-thyroid substances and may suppress the thyroid function.

Follow a diet with at least 50 % of the foods being fresh, and organically grown to rebalance and establish a better metabolism. The enzymes from live foods help the body to maintain proper metabolism. Foods that heal include sprouts, salads, raw vegetables, and thermos cooked grains to retain enzymes which heal and feed the glands.

Eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as yellow vegetables, eggs, carrots, and dark green vegetables. Beta-Carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.

Iodine rich foods that nourish the thyroid are: fish and sea vegetables such as: arame, kelp, dulse, hijike, nori, wakame, and kombu. Seaweeds are very nourishing to the glands.

Zinc and copper are important in helping the body make thyroid hormone. Foods rich in zinc include: beef (range free), oatmeal, chicken (range free), seafood, dried beans, bran, tuna, spinach, seeds, and nuts. Foods rich in copper include: organ meats (range free), eggs, yeast, legumes, nuts, and raisins.

The amino acid tyrosine is helpful. Tyrosine is found in edamame, beef, chicken, and fish. Soy should be only used in small amounts or on an occasional basis.

Black and red radishes have been used by some doctors in the old Soviet Union as accepted medical treatment for hypothyroidism. Raphanin, the main sulphur component in radishes, is chiefly responsible for keeping the production of thyroxine and calcitonin (a peptide hormone) in normal balance. Seeds and nuts, seed and nut milks, vegetable juices (celery, parsley, small amount of carrot, Swiss chard, wheat grass) and plenty of green drinks containing chlorophyll for healthy blood are helpful. Having a mixed vegetable juice that includes the juice of a few radishes, carrot, tomato, celery or zucchini, with a pinch of kelp may benefit the thyroid gland greatly. This juice can be blended in a blender for those who do not have a juicer.

Other beneficial ingredients for vegetable juice combinations include: alfalfa, all leafy greens, beet tops, carrots, celery, green peppers, parsley, seaweeds, sprouts, and watercress.

Vitamin Supplementation and Mineral Therapy for the Thyroid

  • B-Complex vitamins to help improve cellular oxygenation and energy, build the adrenals and the thyroid and calm the nerves. B Total is a properly balanced, vitamin B complex. In its liquid form; the body is better able to absorb these necessary vitamins

  • Vitamin A assists in maintaining normal glandular function.

  • Vitamin C promotes normal adrenal function and glandular activity.

  • Essential fatty acids are a must for glandular health and they improve over all health. These can be omega 3's and 6's from marine lipids, flax oil or flax seed, black current seed oil, evening primrose oil, or borage oil. Nordic Naturals Omegas provides essential fatty acids from pure, toxic free cod liver oil.

  • Multi-minerals either liquid or chelated form. All minerals are involved in glandular heath.

  • Calcium / magnesium, manganese, selenium, silicon and zinc protect the glands.

  • Iodine supplementation from kelp or dulse, 225 -1,000 micrograms a day.


  • Desiccated natural thyroid, complete with all thyroid hormones. If the symptoms are mild this form may be enough support. If they are severe a synthetic hormone such as thyroxin may be in order.
The best way to assess improvement in thyroid function is to take your temperature daily when you first wake up in the morning. For four days keep a thermometer by your bedside. As soon as you wake up in the morning put the thermometer in your armpit for ten minutes. You must do this before you get up. If you get up first you will not get an accurate reading. If your temperature runs below 97.8 then you most likely have low thyroid. It is important to shake the thermometer after each use. Some of the common causes of low thyroid, besides inheritance, include: iodine depletion, x-rays or low dose radiation, pituitary and thyroid malfunction, air and environmental pollutants, overuse of diet pills and other drugs, and vitamin A, E, and zinc deficiency.

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