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Healthy Diet for Your Thyroid

Your thyroid gland governs your metabolism. It does this by producing the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 and releasing them into your bloodstream. If your thyroid is underactive, you are said to have hypothyroidism, whilst having an overactive thyroid is referred to as hyperthyroidism. Before we get into food you should be seeking out to keep your thyroid healthy, let us discuss what can happen if your thyroid is not functioning properly.

Hypothyroidism

When your thyroid is not producing enough T3 and T4, your metabolism will slow down. At first, you will probably only experience a few mild symptoms, but as time progresses, they will most likely get worse and worse. You may notice one or more of these symptoms:

  • Weight gain
  • Anxiety / Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Dry skin
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Cold sensitivity

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid can be just as dangerous to your health as an underactive one, perhaps even more so. Hyperthyroidism is marked by such symptoms as:

  • Weight loss
  • Heightened anxiety and/or irritability
  • Sensitivity to heat
  • Sweating
  • Infrequent, light menstrual periods

The first item on this list might seem like a benefit, rather than a symptom, but don’t let it fool you. Untreated hyperthyroidism can have serious consequences.

Whether you are concerned that your thyroid gland might be overactive or underactive, you can help yourself out by getting the right nutrients and avoiding certain foods. Let us take a closer look at what you should (and should not) be eating to maintain a healthy thyroid and balanced metabolism.

Foods required to ensure adequate thyroid hormone production

Make sure that you are getting enough iodine in your diet. Iodine is essential for producing thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. An iodine deficient diet can lead to hypothyroidism, or at the very least exacerbate it.

If you want to give your thyroid a kick, eat foods like shellfish, seaweed, and coconut oil, and avoid simple sugars. Overall a healthy diet should include complex carbohydrates and get plenty of fibre. Also, make sure that you are drinking plenty of water every day. Good hydration is key to proper metabolic function.

Foods which can inhibit thyroid hormone production

You may be surprised to find that you can slow down thyroid hormone production by eating certain vegetables. It may sound odd to hear that they could actually slow your metabolism, because vegetables are so healthy. By eating cruciferous vegetables, that’s exactly the case. Raw cabbage, turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables have high goitrogen content. Goitrogen interferes with the body’s ability to uptake iodine, and it tends to slow the production of thyroid hormones. Foods containing fermented soy, and millet also slow thyroid hormone production. If your thyroid is underactive, you want to avoid these foods.

Whether your thyroid is producing too much or too little in the way of T3 and T4 hormones, this information should help you understand a bit more on how to adjust your diet to improve your thyroid function and metabolism. You will still need to go to see your local doctor or endocrinologist for specific treatment for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. For patients who have a thyroid condition, eating the right diet can be hugely beneficial, as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

If you have questions about a good diet for thyroid health, make an appointment to see one of our dietitians and nutritionists. We’ll provide you with personalised and effective advice targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

Reference

The post How to Eat a Healthy Diet for Your Thyroid appeared first on Thyroid Clinic Sydney.

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First of all, what is hypothyroidism? Your thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which regulate your metabolism. If your thyroid gland produces too much of these hormones, you will lose weight at a rapid pace, suffer from goiters, and your eyes may appear to bulge out of your face. That’s hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism, as you may have guessed, is the opposite.

When your thyroid gland does not produce enough T3 and T4, even with a healthy diet and exercise regimen, you will find yourself gaining weight and feeling sluggish. However, a lack of sleep or the wrong diet can also mess with your weight and your energy levels. You should never try to diagnose or treat yourself. Always consult with a physician if you are concerned about your health, but before you do, here are some hypothyroidism symptoms to look for.

Hypothyroidism comes with a host of symptoms. The most obvious, as T3 and T4 production govern metabolism, is weight gain. However, a lot of other factors could play into weight gain. If you have started gaining inexplicable weight, you should see your doctor. Don’t hesitate to ask about thyroid disease, but don’t insist that that is actually the cause of your ailment. Your doctor has the experience and tools to diagnose and treat you, and there may be something you’re missing that she will see.

Talk to Your Doctor About Hypothyroidism

In addition to weight gain, hypothyroidism symptoms include fatigue, depression, excessive sleepiness, and decreased concentration. Because the thyroid gland affects your metabolism, it essentially governs your overall energy levels. How your body uses the energy – calories – that you put into it will affect your moods and how rested or fatigued you feel. However, these symptoms are also related to clinical depression. Again, consult with your doctor. You may need to see a thyroid specialist, but you may also need to consult with a psychiatrist to ensure that you are not suffering from clinical depression and do not need medication to balance your brain chemistry.

If you find – in addition to weight gain and fatigue – that you are intolerant of cold, that your skin is dry, your legs swell, your muscles cramp, or you begin to suffer from constipation, you are very likely suffering from hypothyroidism. In severe cases, you’ll notice some puffiness around your eyes and a reduced heart rate. Untreated cases have been known to lead to comas. If you are suffering from a combination of any of these symptoms, you absolutely must see your doctor.

Untreated hypothyroidism can have serious consequences. Patients who go untreated long enough may require treament in hospital. Left untreated hypothyroidism can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure. Hypothyroidism can be fatal if untreated.

Fortunately, though, if you consult with your doctor early enough, you will be able to live a normal, healthy life. Your doctor will most likely prescribe you with hormone replacement therapy, which will just mean that you take some extra pills in your daily routine. Pay attention to your body and your symptoms; keep a good relationship with your doctor, and you’ll never have to worry about extreme cases of any disorder.

If you are concerned about hypothyroidism because you exhibit any of these symptoms, or because you have a familiy history of thyroid disease, make an appointment with your doctor today. If you need further treatment, she’ll recommend a thyroid specialist who will be able to answer all of your questions and put you on the hormone replacement therapy regimen that you need.

The post How to Tell if You Have Hypothyroidism appeared first on Thyroid Clinic Sydney.

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When the Thyroid Gland Goes Wrong

The thyroid gland regulates some of the most important functions of the human body, and if it doesn’t work right, we can suffer a long list of problems. But what is it? And why does it matter so much to our health?

The first thing to know about this gland is how it fits into the human body. Generally speaking, there are eight main endocrine glands, of which the thyroid is one.

These glands, which produce hormones essential to the body, include the adrenal gland, which produces adrenaline and other stress hormones, the pituitary, which releases hormones regulating homeostasis, and the islets of Langerhans, cell clusters on the pancreas responsible for creating insulin. The thyroid gland, for its part, generates three main hormones: calcitonin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Calcitonin is one of the hormones resposible for reducing calcium levels in the bloodstream. Thyroid hormones including thyroxine and triiodothyronine, regulate growth and functioning rates of bodily systems. Together, these hormones control the speed with which the body uses energy and produces proteins, as wells as the body’s sensitivity to other hormones.

Malfunction of the thyroid gland can lead to a number of disorders. The two most common problems are hyperthyroidism, or over-production of these hormones, and hypothyroidism, underproduction. Each of these can lead to numerous physical symptoms and problems with energy, weight fluctuations and cognitive function.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition in which rogue antibodies force the thyroid to create too much of its hormones. Neck goitres, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, weight loss, bulging eyes, irritability, muscle weakness, diarrhoea, sleep problems, heat sensitivity and increased appetite are all symptoms.

A number of causes can lead to hypothyroidism, from autoimmune disorders and iodine deficiencies to congenital problems and removal of the thyroid during surgery. Stress is a common factor. Weight gain, baldness, memory problems, cold sensitivity, slowed heart rate and fatigue are common symptoms.

Both these conditions are commonly misdiagnosed as clinical depression. The weight fluctuations, fatigue, irritability, memory deficits and sleep disturbances common to thyroid disorders all mirror symptoms of major depressive disorder.

Cancer can also cause dysfunction of the thyroid. Though it usually presents without many symptoms, a nodule in the neck may appear, and vocal changes and neck pain may develop later in the cancer’s progression.

A simple check of the thyroid gland can help detect these problems if you think you’re showing symptoms. Tilt your head back, swallow some water and watch your throat in the mirror, particularly the area between your Adam’s apple and collarbone. If you notice any protrusions, bulges or other unusual signs, alert your doctor.

If you have questions or concerns about thyroid problems see your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a thyroid surgeon.

The post When the Thyroid Gland Goes Wrong appeared first on Thyroid Clinic Sydney.

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