Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that secretes all-important hormones that control major bodily functions, including how you digest food and use energy. When your thyroid slows down, everything slows down; hence the fatigue and weight gain when it does. Many things can put you at risk for a sluggish thyroid, some of which you cannot control, like family history. Fortunately, you can control how and what you eat. And new research shows certain foods have proven potential in helping to improve thyroid health and boost the effectiveness of your metabolism. below are mentioned a few foods that are beneficial for thyroid-
Brazil nuts- These are the richest dietary source of selenium, which is essential in converting thyroxine to its active form, T3. Sometimes people with Hashimoto’s are advised to avoid selenium. You need selenium for glutathione production to help decrease thyroid antibodies. Snack on three Brazil nuts per day.- Sea vegetables are rich in iodine. Iodine attaches to tyrosine (an amino acid) to form thyroxine. If you have insufficient levels of iodine, it becomes a rate-limiting step in the production of thyroid hormones and you’ll inhibit your thyroid function. Snack on nori dusted with sea salt, make nori wraps filled with avocado, wild salmon, sweet potato, sprouts and mache, add hijiki to a kale and pumpkin seed salad, eat wakame in a miso soup or add dulse to a butternut squash soup.
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet. They contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, but they’re also a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your body from damage and they also promote the proper function of your entire body, including your thyroid.
- Drink low-fat milk. Many people with thyroid problems are at an increased risk for osteoporosis, which is softening of the bones, according to Kelly Frick, author of “The Everything Thyroid Diet Book.” Having a glass of milk with each meal is an easy way to boost your intake of calcium, mineral that helps prevent this disease. Low-fat cheese and yogurt are additional dairy sources of calcium.
- Some supplements that help with the proper functioning of thyroid are
- Zinc (25-50 mg)
- Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic supplement
- Selenium (300 to 1000 mcg per day on medical advice only)
- Vitamin B6
- Rosemary
- Coconut and coconut butter, or more commonly known as coconut oil, has been used as a food and medicine since the dawn of history. Unlike saturated animal fats found in meats and dairy products, coconut butter is a raw saturated fat containing fatty acids which the body can metabolize efficiently and convert to energy quickly. Research also shows it helps to regulate thyroid function.
Apart from controlling your diet and being careful about what you eat, it is necessary that one should always talk to a doctor about your thyroid medications and potential interactions with foods and other medications before changing your diet. For example, thyroid medication might interact with beta-blockers, while high-iron foods might interact with the medicine you take to regulate thyroid function.
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