The Thyroid Health Protocol
Since the thyroid is involved in nearly every process in the body, it greatly influences overall health and quality of life. Balanced thyroid hormones are critical when it comes to balanced health.
The following recommendations can be helpful for generally strengthening the thyroid. Remember, if you have or suspect you have a thyroid disorder, these are serious medical conditions that require a doctor’s evaluation and treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or making any changes to your diet.
1. Improve gut health
The following dietary practices can help improve gut function:
• Consume fermented and probiotic-rich foods daily.
• Crowd out sugar – especially the refined and processed kinds.• Increase your dietary fiber intake.
• Crowd out gluten from your diet.
2. Consume foods that support the thyroid.Foods that support the thyroid include:
• Cooked cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, and brussels sprouts• Organic wild-caught fish – especially salmon
• Brazil nuts
• Sea vegetables – such as arame, dulse, kombu, nori, kelp, and wakame
3. Maintain adequate iodine levels in the body.
The thyroid is dependent on iodine to make thyroid hormone. Thyroid dysfunction worsens when iodine levels in the body are low. Iodine is added to table salt, but the best form of iodine is that which occurs naturally in foods. The best sources of dietary iodine are:
Sea vegetables
Ocean fish
Eggs
Raw dairy
Strawberries
Taking an iodine supplement is generally not necessary or recommended. The daily recommended dose (150 micrograms per day) can be obtained through diet. Too much iodine can also be problematic. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, stick to food sources of iodine, only.
4. Consume mineral-rich foods
The following trace minerals are necessary for adequate production of thyroid hormones and conversion of T4 to T3:
- Zinc is required for maintaining adequate levels of thyroid hormones in the body. It can be found in beef, shrimp, kidney beans, spinach, and flax seeds.
- Selenium is required for converting thyroid hormone T4 into T3 in the body. It also increases levels of glutathione – an antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and lower thyroid antibodies. People with digestive issues, such as Crohn’s disease or leaky gut, are more likely to be deficient in selenium.The best food source of selenium is organic brazil nuts. Eating just one or two of these daily is enough to maintain selenium levels.
- Iron deficiency signals your thyroid to conserve energy, leading to lower thyroid hormone production. Iron can be obtained from animal sources, like beef, lamb, and liver. Individuals who eat a plant-based diet should talk to their doctor to see if iron supplements are right for them.
- Magnesium deficiency is related to goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. Abundant sources of magnesium include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
- Vitamin D helps protect the body from autoimmune diseases. It’s found in some fatty fish including mackerel, salmon, and tuna. It’s also in cod liver oil.
5. Reduce EMF exposure
The thyroid is particularly sensitive to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF’s). While it’s impossible to avoid all sources of
EMF without moving to Antarctica, clients can limit exposure by:
• Turning off computers and cell phones when not needed.
• Switching off the wireless network and the bluetooth devices at night.
• Keeping electronics out of the bedroom.
• Avoiding use of microwave ovens, and staying away from it when others use it.• Using a wired headset to talk on the phone.
6. Watch out for environmental toxins
The poly-chlorinated and brominated chemicals, like PCBs and flame retardants, block iodine from doing its job. They are present in drinking water and many foods. Other environmental toxins include BPA and other plastic softeners like phthalates. To reduce exposure to environmental toxins, you can:
- Consider installing a high quality home water filtration system, or at least purchasing a drinking water filter.• Use only natural cleaning and personal care products.
- Eat organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, and sustainably caught wild fish.
- Avoid plastics, including water bottles and food packaging, BPA-coated receipts, and plastic flip flops.
7. Promote menstrual regularity and estrogen balance
Some of the best ways to promote a healthy balance of estrogen in the body include:
- Exploring alternatives to hormonal birth control pills with your doctor. Non-hormonal birth control options include the Paragard IUD, Femcap or diaphragm, or a fertility awareness method-based birth control.
- Crowding out soy and estrogen mimickers or xenoestrogens, such as BPA.
- Reducing or eliminate consumption of alcohol, which impairs the liver’s ability to process estrogen effectively.
- Talking to your doctor about taking a daily B-complex vitamin (one with activated B6, B9, and B12).
- Avoiding antibiotics when possible, to maintain healthy gut flora. Unhealthy intestinal bacteria cause estrogen to be recirculated in the body.
8. Consult a certified herbalist or healthcare professional to explore herbs that are known to be helpful for thyroid dysfunction.
Herbs that are directly supportive of the thyroid include ashwagandha and schisandra.
- Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb that can help improve thyroid function. Ashwagandha helps stimulate healthy production of thyroid hormone. It also acts as an excellent anti-inflammatory, so it helps to reduce antibodies to the thyroid. Also, it’s supportive of normal adrenal function, which helps keep the thyroid functioning optimally. Ashwagandha can improve exhaustion, anxiousness, brain fog, and memory problems. Another benefit of ashwagandha is its ability to increase sex drive, which is often very low in people with thyroid issues. Ashwagandha is widely available as tea, liquid extract, tablets, and capsules.
- Schisandra helps to support production of glutathione. Glutathione, a potent antioxidant, protects the liver from damage and boosts detoxification and immune system function. This helps to decrease antibodies to the thyroid. It also supports the adrenals which improves mental focus and energy, and relieves anxiety.Schisandra is available in capsules or liquid extract.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This protocol is a set of suggestions for natural remedies that may help support adrenal health. The information provided is not a cure or treatment for any medical conditions, and does not constitute medical advice. Please see your doctor for proper testing and diagnosis of any conditions or imbalances before beginning the Adrenal Health Protocol.
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