1. The Insulin Connection
2. Eat Iodine Containing Foods
3. The Zinc Connection
4. Avoid Fluoride and Chlorine
5. Remove Skin Creams From Your Body Care Regimen
1. The Insulin Connection. When your pancreas is pumping out too much insulin due to constant spikes in blood sugar, your blood sugar levels swing from high to low. If you space out easily, or get grouchy if you go too long without eating, have a hard time getting to sleep at a reasonable hour, or crave “sweet” anything, and immediately feel better after eating something sweet, this could be you. When your body is unable to keep blood sugar stable, it weakens your digestive tract, pushes your adrenals into exhaustion, sets the stage for hormonal imbalance (PMS, bad transition into menopause), and weakens thyroid metabolism. Insulin surges drive autoimmune tissue destruction of the thyroid gland, and can lead to Hashimoto’s disease.
TIP: Never eat high-sugar foods without high quality fat or protein. This will slow down the rate at which the glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and prevent insulin shock. Talk to a qualified nutritionist or holistic health professional who can put you on a therapeutic regimen of natural supplements such as chromium, ALA, magnesium, zinc, L-Carnitine and Gymnema sylvestre.
2. Increase Iodine Containing Foods In Your Diet. In hypothyroidism people often suffer from low levels of iodine, therefore, it is recommended that you increase the consumption of iodine. Seaweeds are an extremely beneficial form of bioavailable iodine. Other than these foods, other plant based sources of iodine include onions, radishes and watercress.
3. Make Sure You Are Getting Adequate Zinc. Studies have shown that zinc helps in improving thyroid gland functioning. Many people suffering with hypothyroid normally have low levels of zinc, and after zinc supplementation, there is significant improvement in the functioning of the thyroid gland.
4. Avoid Fluoride and Chlorine. Fluoride and chlorine block the absorption of iodine in the body. Reduced iodine results in a reduced hormone production, which is one of the main causes of hypothyroidism.
5. Remove all Body Lotions and Creams From Your Skin Care Regimen. Most popular brands of skin cream are loaded with estrogen, and companies are not required to list it on the labels. Dr. Datis Kharrazian, arguably the world’s foremost expert on thyroid functioning has this to say about estrogen containing products: “If Suzanne Somers is on your radar, then you are probably familiar with hormone creams and supplements, those miracle cures that reverse aging, banish menopause symptoms, and put a twinkle in your eye. Exogenous hormones, whether they are oral contraceptives, menopause creams, or inappropriately prescribed thyroid medications, are examples of the domino at the front of the line. With a gentle push, it falls forward, sending all the others crashing down, including thyroid function.”
True thyroid health can take a while to establish, especially for many women who have a history of yo-yo dieting, insufficient iodine intake, and exposure to excess estrogen. But in working with many women who have suffered with serious thyroid impairment, the good news is that with time, patience and a proper plan, it can be resolved in many cases.
