The Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, and an important part of the endocrine system (which produces and controls hormones). Thyroid hormones control the rate of many activities in your body; almost every cell in your body as a receptor for thyroid hormone! It affects and controls:

Heart rate and body temperature

Metabolism

Physical energy

Brain and mental focus/clarity

Digestion

Mood regulation

Sex/Reproductive Hormone production (like estradiol and progesterone)

Skin, hair and nail health

Sleep

The thyroid acts somewhat like your body’s thermostat; it regulates body temperature as well as other important functions such as heart rate, brain development, the reproductive system, and bone maintenance. 

According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12% of the US population will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime and an estimated 20 million Americans (that’s about 15% of the country) have some form of thyroid disease. Yet, it’s estimated that 50 to 60 percent of people with thyroid disease go undiagnosed!

To read more about the thyroid and symptoms of a thyroid imbalance, CLICK HERE. (Always consult your physician if you are experiencing any changes in your health, symptoms or think you might be struggling with a hormone imbalance.)

Triggers of Thyroid Dysfunction:

Systemic inflammation

Chronic Stress

Nutritional Deficiencies

Poor inflammatory diet

Unhealthy body weight

Medications

Sedentary lifestyles

Poor Gut Health

Poor Liver Health & Detoxification Pathways

Environmental Toxin Exposure

Foods to Avoid:

Gluten

Conventional Dairy

Conventionally raised animal products

Refined sugars and flours

Artificial ingredients and additives

Processed, packaged, inflammatory food products

Why these foods?

Because they raise inflammation and stress within the body. Why Gluten? Gluten is a protein that body is not able to digest. When consumed, it causes an inflammatory response within the digestive tract, and over time can lead to a condition called Leaky Gut. Throughout this, the body response to the inflammation by creating antibodies. Funny enough….gluten particles look almost identical to thyroid cells. So the body’s natural immune response is to create antibodies against the gluten, but “mollecular mimicry” can occur where the body ends up attacking the thyroid cells, instead of the gluten particles. This occurs in the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto’s. So over time, consuming gluten can have a significantly negative impact on the thyroid.

So a healthy thyroid is one that is getting all of its nutrients! The thyroid needs all these nutrients to thrive. They’re all involved with the different steps needed in order to convert and absorb the hormones!

Nutrients needed for Thyroid Health:

Iodine

Selenium

Vitamin A

Vitamin B

Vitamin D

Zinc

Magnesium

Protein/Amino Acids

Best Food Sources:

Iodine: Sea vegetables, like seaweed or kelp

Selenium: Brazil nuts, shrimp, sardines, salmon, grass fed beef

Vitamin A: Grass fed liver (only need this occasionally), carrots, sweet potato, kale, spinach, mustard/collard/turnip greens, and winter squash

Vitamin B2 and B12: Grass fed beef, whole eggs and wild caught seafood

Vitamin D: Natural sunlight, mushrooms, seafood, egg yolks, supplementation

Zinc: Pumpkin seeds, seafood, oysters, almonds

Magnesium: Pumpkin seeds, almonds, spinach, swiss chard, sesame seeds, quinoa, cashews, dark chocolate and avocado

Protein: high quality chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, seafood (wild caught, antibiotic and hormone free, organic grass fed)

Focus on lots of color and whole, nutrient dense foods to help support your thyroid, your hormones and your health from the inside out!