There is no doubt that thyroid issues are on the rise. According to the National Women’s Health Information Center, there are roughly 20 million Americans suffering from some type of thyroid disorder. The American Thyroid Association reports that a whopping one in eight women in the United States is impacted by a thyroid disorder at some point during her lifetime. So, what can we do about this and to help prevent and even help heal thyroid disorders naturally?
The thyroid gland sits in your throat and controls things like body temperature, hunger levels and energy levels. There are 2 main thyroid issues, Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism.
The most common is hypothyroidism, this is when your body’s thyroid is underactive.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
*Fatigue
*Moodiness and sometimes anxiety
*Intolerance to cold and frequently feeling chilly
*Dry hair and skin
*Skin might feel cool to the touch and the toes/fingers might look a blue/purple color
*Trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
*A horse voice
*Unexplainable weight gain
*Digestive issues like bloating and constipation
*Muscle weakness
The less common is hyperthyroidism, this is when your thyroid gland is over active.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism commonly include:
*Anxiety
*Insomnia and sleep troubles
*Racing heart
*Eyes that appear large and sometimes bulge
*Unexplained weight loss
*High amounts of perspiration
*Muscle weakness
*Multiple bowel movements
*Thin, brittle hair
The importance of testing thoroughly.
They typical test may not be enough, commonly there are not full panels done when looking for thyroid issues. To insure you have a full picture of how the thyroid is functioning the following should be tested; TSH, total T4, total T3, T3 uptake, free T4 index, free T3, free T4, and reverse T3.
Some natural treatments for thyroid problems.
1. Reduce stress and get enough sleep.
*Ideally 7-9 hours of sleep per night is what is needed.
*Try meditation daily to reduce stress, even if it is only a few minutes.
2. Get enough Selenium, Iodine, Zinc & Vitamin B.
*Selenium rich foods include; tuna, brazil nuts, grass fed beef, and spinach.
*Iodine rich foods include; kelp and seaweed, raw dairy, and fermented grains.
*Zinc and Vitamin B rich foods; asparagus, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and cocoa.
3. Reduce inflammation and toxicity.
*Take your omega 3 supplements, eat a clean organic diet, and limit exposure to environmental toxins.
Most importantly if you think you may have thyroid issues get checked and have a functional medicine doctor help you find the root cause of your thyroid issue.
