Your metabolic health is determined by how efficiently your thyroid gland is working. The thyroid is located in the front of your throat and helps to regulate your energy levels and healing. When your thyroid isn’t secreting enough hormones into your system, you can suffer from Hypothyroidism, which can come with a variety of symptoms.
Over 11 million Americans suffer from abnormal thyroids. Women over 40 are particularly at risk of developing thyroid issues. As women go through a change in hormones during perimenopause, some confuse the symptoms of thyroid issues as a regular part of this change of life.
Hypothyroidism can cause you to feel fatigued, gain weight, experience hair loss and dry skin, feel cold and even depressed. With a proactive dietary plan, you can help to keep your thyroid healthy. A visit to your doctor for some blood tests can help you to establish what your vitamin levels are currently and where you need to change your diet.
It’s a good idea to get thyroid testing to see where you may be having an issue. Synthetic hormone replacement therapy has been very successful but, filling your diet with these nutrients can help to ensure better thyroid health in a natural and drug-free way.
Iodine
The T4 and T3 hormones that are produced and synthesized by the thyroid are high in iodine concentration. This makes the proper intake of iodine in your diet essential to maintain good thyroid health.
The ideal consumption rate is 150 micrograms per day for a female adult. It’s important to not take in too much so that you don’t end up causing a different imbalance. Add seafood and dairy products to your daily diet to get the most iodine.
Zinc
Your thyroid acts to convert T4 to T3 hormone. The process is part of the way that your body breaks down the fuel and calories that you take in and turns them into energy. Zinc is an important ingredient in that conversion.
Keeping your zinc levels up can help your thyroid to function more efficiently. You should be getting 8-11mg of zinc per day. Add shellfish and nuts to your diet to increase your zinc consumption.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can help your body produce proper levels of hormones. When your body is not getting enough Vitamin D you may feel out of balance and put stress on your thyroid. Orange juice, citrus fruits, milk, and yogurt are all great sources of Vitamin D.
Selenium
This is a complex nutrient that aids in the production and synthesis of the hormones of the thyroid. Without enough selenium in your diet, your thyroid can start to run slowly and less efficiently. Tuna, shrimp, lamb, beef, turkey, chicken, and shitake mushrooms are all foods that carry excellent levels of selenium.
Conclusion
With a well-balanced diet that is rich in the proper nutrients and vitamins, you can make a proactive plan to take care of your thyroid naturally. Maintaining consistent levels of hormones in your thyroid can help you to avoid developing a problem with hypothyroidism.
