Natural Remedies for Hypothyroidism

Here is a list of natural remedies for hypothyroidism. It includes information on foods, herbs and supplements for hypothyroidism. Let's also find out what is hypothyroid or hypothyroidism, what are the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and what are the causes of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there is underproduction of thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland which is shaped like a butterfly is located along the windpipe in front of the neck. It absorbs iodine from foods, converts it and produces thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine or T3 hormones. These hormones assist in regulating metabolism in every cell of the body. When the thyroid gland doesn't produce sufficient amount of the hormones certain bodily functions are affected.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism develop gradually and are at times mistaken for other disorder or disease. One of the early signs of hypothyroidism is feeling tired, fatigue or weak. Other hypothyroidism symptoms include increased sensitivity to cold, dry skin, anxiety, poor attention span, unexplained weight gain, irregular menstruation, heavy menstrual flow and brittle fingernails and thinning hair. As it progresses, the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism may include puffy face, hoarse voice, depression, increased in blood pressure, prune skin, swelling in joints, muscle weakness and muscle aches.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disease is one of hypothyroidism causes. This chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis causes the immune system to create antibodies which then attack and damage the thyroid gland causing the tissue to die and stop producing hormones.

Hypothyroidism can also occur as a result of the removal of the thyroid gland. This could have happened to treat hyperthyroidism because of the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Other causes of hypothyroidism include exposure to excessive amounts of iodine from certain medicines, a drug called lithium which is used for manic depression, birth defect, radiation treatment at the neck or upper chest and pituitary disorder. Heredity is also one of the causes of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism can affect both men and women at any age and also infants. But this thyroid disorder is more common among women and those over the age of 50. You have to treat it because if left untreated, it can increase the risk of heart problems, severe depression, nerve damage, infertility and birth defect.

One of the ways to check if you have hypothyroidism is to take your axillary or under the arm temperature the minute you wake up from sleep in the morning. Place the axillary thermometer by your bedside before your sleep. When you wake up, put in under your arm for five minutes and record the temperature. Do this for several days. If the readings keep showing below 97.6 degrees, see your doctor and show your readings.

If you have mild hypothyroidism, these natural remedies for hypothyroidism may help as alternative treatment for hypothyroidism. The list of natural remedies for hypothyroidism also includes natural ways to keep your thyroid healthy. But please check with your doctor first before trying the supplements and herbs for hypothyroidism especially if you are on prescription medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a medical problem.

Natural remedies for hypothyroidism No. 1 - Thyroid supplements

1. Tyrosine is one of the supplements that support healthy thyroid and pituitary glands to efficiently produce hormones. Taking tyrosine is also beneficial in treating hypothyroidism symptoms such as depression and low body temperature.
   
   
   
2. Taking vitamin E supplement may help the thyroid gland to take in more iodine to enable it to produce more T3 and T4 hormones.
   
   
   
3. Animal studies showed that a deficiency in zinc result in hypothyroidism. Zinc supplement may help bring back normal thyroid functions.
   
   
   
4. Another nutrient that is involved in the thyroid hormone metabolism is selenium. It helps convert T4 thyroid hormone to T3. It also has the ability to suppress anti thyroid antibodies from causing more harm to thyroid inflammation. But this mineral may only be effective if there isn't any deficiency in iodine and there is a deficiency in selenium.
   
   
   
5. A deficiency in vitamin A because of poor diet may also lead to hypothyroidism. Normally, when you eat foods that contain certain carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, they are converted to vitamin A in the body. But if your body isn't able to convert the carotenoids and you aren't getting sufficient vitamin A, you may have to take the supplement.

Natural remedies for hypothyroidism No. 2 - Herbs for hypothyroidism

If you are an adult and are not pregnant, the recommended daily intake for iodine is 150 mcg. If your body isn't getting enough iodine daily, the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient thyroid hormones.

One of the best natural sources of iodine is kelp. Kelp is a type of seaweed and besides iodine it contains many vitamins and minerals. And kelp flakes is the best substitute for table salt and even iodized salt.

Bladderwrack or also known as fucus vesiculosus is another type of seaweed that is a rich source of natural iodine. It is available in the form of powder, in capsules and liquid extract.

If you want to take herbal and natural remedies for hypothyroidism, you can buy them over the counter or through the internet. The herbal supplements usually contain a combination of herbs such as ashwagandha, bladderwrack, kelp, green oats and guggul.

Natural remedies for hypothyroidism No. 3 - Foods for hypothyroidism

The best food for hypothyroidism is to eat a well balanced diet. This is because it contains the nutrients that your body needs as well as vitamins and minerals to work together for the proper functioning of the pituitary and thyroid glands. A well balanced diet would ensure that you get the iodine, vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium zinc, the B vitamins, vitamin C and other trace elements such as copper.

1. Foods that are rich source of iodine include kelp, low fat yogurt, cranberries, cow's milk, boiled egg, strawberries, prawns, seaweed and mozzarella cheese.
   
   
   
2. You can get selenium from foods such as Brazil nuts, kidney, mollusks, clam, lamb, turkey, oyster, mushroom, tuna and whitefish.
   
   
   
3. Foods that are rich source of vitamin A include liver, cod liver oil, butter and margarine fortified with vitamin A, cheese and eggs.
   
   
   
4. Black walnut is a good source of chromium and is beneficial for enhancing the action of iodine.
   
   
   
5. You can get zinc from foods such as oysters, veal liver, pumpkin seeds, lamb, peanuts and chocolate.

Natural remedies for hypothyroidism No. 4 - Foods to avoid with hypothyroidism

There are some beverages or drinks and foods to avoid with hypothyroidism. One of them is alcohol. Too much alcohol will deplete zinc or cause malabsorption and cause a decrease in thyroxine or T4 which will lead to hypothyroidism.

If you like to eat Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, soy, tapioca and turnips but your body is deficient in iodine, eat in moderation and make sure to cook them at least for about half an hour. This is because they contain chemicals called goitrogens that interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis.

Check the labels of foods, beverages and sports drink and see if they contain bromide. The Central Clinical Laboratory, Kanazawa University Hospital, Japan did a test and discovered that severe hypothyroidism was related to the accumulation of bromide in the thyroid follicular cells.

Additional Resource

The Hypothyroidism Solution

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