Thyroid Health Tips

Thyroid problems are incredibly common and strike women far more often than men.  An under active thyroid is the most common disorder, but the thyroid gland can also become over active, enlarged (goiter), become cancerous or develop nodules.  Thyroid problems can develop for a number of reasons, but the most common causes of thyroid problems are nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune disease, genetics, stress and environmental toxins.  The most common type of thyroid problem is hypothyroidism (under active gland) and the most common cause of that is the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.  Hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease) is becoming far more common, as are thyroid nodules and goiter.

Autoimmune disease is where the immune system produces antibodies that attack and destroy the organs and tissues in your body.  Autoimmune disease can cause your thyroid gland to lose its ability to manufacture sufficient hormones (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), or it can stimulate your thyroid to produce excessive levels of hormones (Graves’ disease).  The underlying treatment is the same for both of these thyroid problems – calm down an over stimulated immune system and reduce inflammation.

The vast majority of thyroid patients suffer with one or more nutrient deficiencies; these can cause the thyroid condition to develop in the first place, or they will certainly aggravate the problem once it has developed.  The most important nutrients for the thyroid gland are selenium, iodine, vitamin D and zinc.  These are all combined together in Thyroid Health capsules.

Tips for a healthy thyroid gland

• Consume adequate high quality protein. The thyroid gland requires the amino acid tyrosine in order to manufacture thyroid hormones. Tyrosine is found in protein rich foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, but also almonds, avocados, bananas and pumpkin seeds.
• If you have an under active thyroid gland, avoid consuming large quantities of goitrogens. These are substances that can suppress the thyroid gland if consumed in very large quantities. Foods rich in goitrogens include raw vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts; as well as soy, millet, peanuts and corn. Cooking these foods is advisable and inactivates the majority of goitrogens.
• The majority of thyroid conditions are caused by an autoimmune disease; meaning the immune system is responsible for causing the thyroid to become either under active or over active. Research has shown that gluten  intolerance can be a triggering factor in autoimmune thyroid disease. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats, spelt, kamut and barley. Many thyroid patients benefit from following a gluten free diet. To see if gluten could be a factor in your health problems ask your doctor to do a blood test to check your genotype for gluten intolerance. If you have the genes that predispose to gluten intolerance and you have autoimmune thyroid disease, it is wise to avoid gluten.
• Ensure you have a healthy liver. The liver is the main site of conversion of thyroid hormone (T4) into its more active form (T3). A sluggish or fatty liver may impair the efficiency of this process.
• Ensure your diet contains adequate levels of beneficial fatty acids, as found in oily fish (salmon, sardines, tuna, anchovies, mackerel), raw nuts and seeds, cold pressed vegetable and seed oils, avocados and organic coconut oil. These fats can reduce inflammation in autoimmune thyroid disease, and improve the health of thyroid cells.
• Minimize your exposure to the heavy metals mercury, cadmium and lead, as they can interfere with the manufacture of thyroid hormones.
• Minimize your exposure to pesticides and insecticides, chemical antiperspirants and deodorants and other toxic chemicals, as some have been linked with the formation of thyroid nodules, cancer and autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Get your doctor to examine your thyroid gland for lumps, bumps or enlargement. If any lumps are found you need to ask your doctor for an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland.
• If you are fatigued, ask your doctor to do a blood test for thyroid function.

Why are Thyroid Health Capsules such a vibrant green color?

Well Dr Cabot made them this way because she wanted to protect the high dose of vitamin D 3 inside them. Vitamin D is quickly destroyed by light and thus it’s best that vitamin D is not inside a transparent capsule, which would allow the light to reach the vitamin D. Vitamin D is made by the sunlight penetrating our skin so it’s not that surprising that it is destroyed by light.

Where does the green color in the capsules come from?

Dr Cabot chose chlorophyll to color the capsules because it is all natural and comes from plants and also because chlorophyll absorbs any light itself, preventing it from reaching the ingredients inside the capsule.

Thyroid Health Capsules contain the essential nutrients to maximize healthy thyroid tissue. They also contain nutrients to support and balance thyroid function and they can safely be taken with Synthroid or other forms of thyroid hormone.

For further information to boost thyroid function, please read Your Thyroid Problems Solved.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.