June is Thyroid Awareness Month ~ Are you aware?
About 200 million people worldwide suffer from some form of thyroid disease. The thyroid, a small butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the throat is extremely vital in the health and vitality of your metabolic system. It is also your body’s internal thermostat and if it becomes out of balance can lead to a mess of issues in the bodies endocrine (hormonal) system.
Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid is producing too much of the thyroid hormone with symptoms such as:
- increased body temperature
- irritable
- nervousness and anxiety
- insomnia
- fatigue
- increased bowel movements
- less frequent menstruation and decreased menstrual flow
- weakness
- hair and weight loss
- rapid heartbeat
- goiter and some time protruding eyeballs
Hypothyroidism is caused by underproduction of the thyroid hormone. Symptoms include:
- loss of appetite
- chronic fatigue
- cold body temperature and major intolerance to cold
- slower heart rate
- easy weight gain
- high cholesterol
- painful periods and mega PMS
- fertility issues
- muscle cramps
- dry, scaly skin
- hair loss
- sick often
- migraines and headaches
- constipation
- depression
- goiter
- droopy swollen eyes
If you suspect you have an issue with your thyroid make an appointment with your family doctor for blood work testing your TSH, free T3 and T4 as for a paper copy of your blood work and take it to your Naturopathic Doctor of Homeopathic Doctor. Optimal thyroid levels are .8-2.0. You want to catch your thyroid when it is ‘sub-optimal’ anything between 2.0-5.5, anything that is above 5.5 is in the danger zone of needing medication and once you go on thyroid medication it is very difficult if at all possible to come off. For Hyperthyroidism you need to watch that your levels are not below .5, some even say .8 but that can be addressed with your natural health care provider.
What can you do?
- Eat a whole foods, largely plant-based diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, gluten free whole grains, organic eggs, organic fish, milk alternatives such as almond, oat, coconut, rice or hemp milk, raw nuts and seeds, healthy fats such as olive oil, grape seed and coconut oil and avocados.
- REDUCE your consumption of GOITROGENIC FOODS; cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens and turnips, as well as soy. Cooking these foods are OKAY and they are inactivated by the cooking process.
- Eat organic as often as possible and reduce your consumption of BPA, plastics and body care products containing parabens.
- Eat PLENTY of sea vegetables like kelp, dusle, nori and wakame which are good sources of iodine to support your thyroid.
Make sure to exercise at least 5 times weekly choosing walking, biking, yoga, pilates, strength training, swimming or rebounding to name a few. Sleep is also an essential piece to a healthy thyroid so say goodnight by no later then 10/11pm.
For guidance with supplements please consult a Holistic Nutritionist, Naturopath or Homeopath.