Welcome back to Adoración Linares' blog. One of the main questions I answer concerns improving the diet of people with hypothyroidism. In this article, we'll see which foods are beneficial and how some products that are actually healthy can harm the health of people with thyroid disorders.
What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland is a organ located at the base of the neck. It is involved in an astonishing number of bodily processes. The gland produces two hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). These hormones affect every cell in the body. They regulate the chemical processes necessary for life. They play a role in reproduction and in proper growth and development. They maintain body temperature and affect heart activity. They also affect brain function.
What is hypothyroidism?
Thyroid disorders range from an underactive gland that does not produce enough hormone to an overactive gland that produces too much hormone.
When the thyroid gland is underactive, the diagnosis is hypothyroidism, while hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when the thyroid is overactive.
Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disease, affecting an estimated 0.1 to 21% of people. It is more prevalent in women, who are 10 times more likely to develop it than men.
Age is another influencing factor, as older people also have higher rates of hypothyroidism.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Because the thyroid gland affects many different parts of the body, there can be many symptoms when it's not functioning properly. These symptoms are not exclusive to thyroid problems.
The same symptoms can be caused by reasons other than hypothyroidism.
What causes hypothyroidism?
The most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide is iodine deficiency. In developed countries, autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's disease) is the most common variant of the disease.
In Hashimoto's disease, a person's immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing a change in the cells and a decrease in the gland's activity.
How is hypothyroidism treated?
The first step in treatment is to eliminate or reduce known or suspected causes of the illness. The doctor will consider medications, diet, and other possible medical conditions.
Treatment can usually begin before the exact cause is known. The goal is typically to return laboratory tests and measurements, such as body temperature, to normal.
Adjusting your treatment can help you feel better. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to serious health problems and become life-threatening.
But in addition to following the treatment, it is very important to follow a specific diet for hypothyroid patients, as this will regulate the functioning of the thyroid more appropriately.
An integrative approach to treatment includes:
Nutrition for people with hypothyroidism: nutrition and supplements
Iodine
Iodine is a mineral that the thyroid gland needs to function properly and produce the hormones T3 and T4.
Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. This is common in poor, landlocked countries where people consume less than 50 mcg of iodine per day in their diets. Adding iodine to salt has corrected the problem in many places.
In developed countries, iodine consumption is generally sufficient. The main sources of this essential micromineral are iodized salt, saltwater fish, and sea vegetables such as seaweed.
The recommended dietary allowance of iodine is 150 mg per day for adults. This amount is obtained by eating half a teaspoon of iodized salt.
Low-salt diets can lead to insufficient iodine intake. A healthy way to increase your iodine intake is to eat sea vegetables. These days, seaweed is readily available in almost any grocery store.
The maximum amount of iodine an adult should consume is 1,100 mcg per day. You can get too much iodine by consuming large amounts of seafood, iodine supplements, or seaweed.
Ironically, consuming too much iodine can also cause hypothyroidism. This is temporary and disappears when the person stops receiving such high doses of iodine.
Selenium
Selenium is another mineral the body needs for the thyroid gland to function properly. Selenium helps transform T4 so the body can use it.
Increasing selenium levels if there is a deficiency of this micromineral can help improve the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Selenium deficiency is uncommon. People with serious bowel diseases (such as Crohn's disease) are at risk of having low selenium levels.
A low level of selenium in the body may not cause symptoms, but it can lead to other diseases, such as hypothyroidism or heart problems.
Selenium supplements may be helpful for people whose hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease). It has also been shown to improve the well-being and mood of people with this condition.
When taking selenium supplements, you should be careful if you also have low iodine levels. Selenium can worsen thyroid function if you don't get enough iodine in your diet.
It is possible to take selenium and iodine supplements at the same time if deficiencies of the elements are present.
It is very important to follow your doctor's recommendations for taking selenium safely, as it can be harmful. The recommended daily dose of selenium is 55 mcg. The maximum an adult should take is 400 mcg per day.
A relatively safe way to obtain this amount is by eating 3-4 Brazil nuts every day.
Other nutrients: Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc.
Many other vitamins and nutrients help determine the function of the thyroid gland. Vitamin A, iron, and zinc are three of the most important.
Consult your doctor to determine if you're getting enough nutrients through your current diet. If not, try taking supplements.
The recommended daily doses for thyroid function in adults are as follows:
- Zinc 10-40 mg/day.
- Iron 325 mg ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate.
- Vitamin A 800-3,000 mcg/day.
L-Tyrosine. Thyroxine (T4) is one of the hormones produced by the thyroid gland. T4 is made from tyrosine, a non-essential amino acid and a component of proteins. It is commonly used to support the thyroid gland. L-tyrosine has been shown to help improve alertness and concentration in people who don't get enough sleep.
In any case, L-tyrosine is generally safe. If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you can take this supplement. Consult your doctor to ensure your treatment is completely safe.
Botanical products for hypothyroidism patients
Seaweed
I have spoken about them before, although it is worth referring to them again due to their importance in improving hypothyroidism.
Guggulu (Commiphora wightii)
Guggulu (also known as guggal or guggul lipid) is a sticky substance found on a small tree and used in Ayurvedic medicine. (Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of medicine from India.).
Guggulu's high fiber content is being used as a potential cholesterol-lowering agent. A component of guggulu called gugulsterone has been found to have beneficial effects on the thyroid, but further research is needed.
Plant-based foods
There are many foods that can contribute to thyroid dysfunction. Unfortunately, many of them are very healthy foods. These include brassica vegetables (for example, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip), soy, and cassava, although cassava is not a very common food in our country.
These negative effects only seem to occur in people with low iodine levels. So, probably the best way to avoid the negative effects of these generally healthy foods is to eat enough iodine-containing foods.
I hope you found the article on nutrition for people with hypothyroidism interesting. I hope to see you here again soon.
