There are numerous nutritional supplements someone with a thyroid condition can take to help maintain their health, and in many cases restore the function of their thyroid gland. I’m going to discuss five supplements that are essential for most people with a thyroid condition. But before I list these five important supplements, I want to make you aware of the following three points:
1. Not everyone with a thyroid condition has the same nutritional deficiencies. For example, while many people have a vitamin D deficiency, one should first be tested to confirm they are deficient in Vitamin D. This will allow them to determine whether or not they should take a daily Vitamin D supplement. The same applies with iodine, and one also needs to keep in mind that people with certain conditions can’t take iodine right away, such as those with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
2. The dosages may differ. For those people who need to take the supplements I’ll be discussing, chances are the dosages will differ. That’s why I never recommend specific dosages, as while there are times I might give examples of the dosage I personally took for a specific supplement, I can’t predict what any individual will need to take without the proper testing. This is why I recommend that people looking to restore their health back to normal consult with a natural endocrine doctor.
3. There are other supplements besides these that can be beneficial, and in some cases necessary. There are obviously other nutritional supplements that other people with thyroid conditions can benefit from. The five that I’m about to discuss are just some of the more common supplements, and just about every person with a thyroid condition can benefit from taking these supplements.
But I’m sure some people will read this and wonder “what about zinc”, or “how about digestive enzymes”, etc. Once again, the following are usually not the only supplements I recommend to patients, as I of course would evaluate each person on an individual basis to determine what supplements they need to take.
In any case, let’s take a look at these five supplements that are essential for optimal thyroid health:
1. Iodine. I’ve spoken in great detail about the benefits of iodine on some of my blog posts, as most people are iodine deficient. Iodine is necessary for the formation of the thyroid hormones. Because of this, many healthcare professionals assume that people with a hyperthyroid condition have an excess of iodine, which usually isn’t the case. I’m a good example of this, being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, yet being iodine deficient.
And as I briefly mentioned earlier, people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should not take iodine until the autoimmune response is addressed. So while many people with this condition are iodine deficient, their symptoms will usually worsen if they take iodine before addressing the immune system component. For more information on iodine, you can read some of my past blog posts, as well as the book “Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It”, by Dr. David Brownstein.
2. Vitamin D. Vitamin D is another supplement that I have discussed extensively in some of my blog posts. Vitamin D is extremely important in immunity, and thus is very important for helping people with autoimmune thyroid disorders, such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. But even in people with “regular” thyroid conditions, it is wise to find out if you are vitamin D deficient, which can easily be determined through a simple blood test.
Like supplementing with iodine, taking Vitamin D supplements is relatively inexpensive, and can do wonders for your health. Of course a big source of Vitamin D is the sun, so while taking supplements can help, you also want to try to get some daily sun exposure as well. For more information on the benefits of vitamin D, please visit the website http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
3. Selenium. In order for T4 to get converted to T3, an enzyme that contains selenium is necessary. As a result, a deficiency in selenium can affect this conversion process, and thus impair thyroid function. The good news is that most people can obtain all of the selenium they need by consuming one or two raw Brazil nuts every day. If you don’t like Brazil nuts then garlic is also a good source of selenium.
4. Magnesium. Magnesium is an important mineral to take, as many people are magnesium deficient. In addition to getting magnesium from your diet through leafy green vegetables, whole grains, and other sources, one should also consider taking a magnesium supplement. This is even more important if you are supplementing with iodine, as magnesium is necessary for the proper absorption of iodine.
5. B Vitamins. Taking B Vitamins is also important for optimal thyroid health. Like magnesium, taking B vitamins is important for anyone supplementing with iodine. The reason for this is because the B Vitamins (specifically B2 and B3) help with the utilization of iodine at the cellular level. But even for those people with a thyroid condition who are not iodine deficient, it still is a good idea to take B vitamins on a daily basis.
So for those people who have a thyroid condition, taking these five supplements can be essential to restoring their health back to normal. And even if you have a thyroid condition but are not looking to use natural thyroid treatment methods to cure your condition, it still is important to address these common nutritional deficiencies to maintain your current state of health, as well as to prevent the development of other conditions in the future.
Other Articles You Might Like To Read:
Be Wary Of Natural Thyroid Support Supplements
What Is The Best Thyroid Supplement To Take?
