The thyroid produces thyroid hormones that regulate blood pressure, body temperature, energy levels, heart rate, mood, and metabolism. When the thyroid is not functioning correctly, one can experience a variety of symptoms, including problems with weight, hair loss, mood swings, fatigue, and other serious health issues. Luckily, there are several things you can do to improve the health of your thyroid gland. Maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising adequately, getting a proper night’s sleep, decreasing stress, and quitting smoking can increase thyroid production. Limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption also helps to decrease inflammation in the thyroid gland and improve thyroid hormone production. In addition to these lifestyle modifications, several foods help with thyroid health and reduce the symptoms of thyroid issues.
Foods for Thyroid Healing
Beans
Beans are a great way to add complex carbohydrates, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your diet. They are also high in fiber, which can decrease the risk of constipation. Try adding beans to side dishes, soups, salads, and stews.
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of iodine and selenium, another crucial nutrient for thyroid health.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Weight gain is another symptom of a thyroid problem. Eating a low-calorie diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight. For best results, include fresh vegetables and fruits with each meal. Certain fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes, cherries, green peppers, and blueberries have a plethora of antioxidants, which can help to reduce inflammation and damage to the thyroid gland. Those dealing with symptoms of hypothyroidism should limit the amount of raw cruciferous veggies. Raw cruciferous vegetables can block iodine absorption, which is necessary for healthy thyroid function; however, cooked cruciferous vegetables are still a healthy option.
Iodine Rich Foods
Iodine is a precursor of thyroid hormones. Seaweed, including dulse, wakame, and nori, can be added to soups, salads, or sushi to increase the amount of iodine in your diet. In addition, seaweed provides several nutrients for thyroid health, including vitamins A, B, C, E, and E. Additionally, seaweed contains calcium and fiber. If you are taking an iodine supplement, talk with your doctor before consuming iodine-rich foods like seaweed, as consuming too much iodine can worsen thyroid conditions.
Nuts
Nuts, especially hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia nuts, are rich in selenium. Studies have shown that selenium helps to improve thyroid function naturally. Selenium provides antioxidant protection and helps remove free radicals. Furthermore, selenium helps to metabolize thyroid hormones. Maintaining a healthy selenium level can help prevent thyroid disease and increase overall health.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Fatty fish like tuna, wild-caught salmon, trout, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids. Hypothyroidism, when not properly managed, can increase your risk of developing heart disease due to increased LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Omega 3 fatty acids have decreased inflammation, increased immunity, and reduced the risk of heart disease. In addition, these fatty fish offer a great source of selenium, which helps reduce inflammation and improve the thyroid gland’s functionality.
Salmon is one of the best fish to consume to improve thyroid health. It contains healthy fats, such as omega-3 and iodine, that greatly help reduce thyroid inflammation. In addition, salmon is high in protein, which reduces appetite and aids in weight loss.
Whole Grains
One of the main symptoms of hypothyroidism is constipation. Whole grains, such as rice, bread, pasta, and cereal, help regulate the bowels. However, too much fiber can interfere with synthetic thyroid hormones. You should avoid foods high in dietary fiber for two or three hours before and after eating to ensure your thyroid medication works properly.
Eating a diet filled with thyroid-nourishing foods can improve your thyroid gland. In addition to that, regular exercise, stress relief techniques, and healthy lifestyle changes can also help improve your thyroid gland. Regular exercise helps to prevent constipation, helps balance hormones, and aids in weight management. Include cardiovascular and strengthening training exercises to improve your thyroid health and promote a healthy weight. Ideally, aim for 30 minutes of exercise or movement daily. Stress reduction is equally significant, and implementing stress reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, and journaling improves thyroid function. Increased stress levels can prevent the thyroid from producing enough thyroid hormone. Furthermore, stress can increase systemic inflammation.
Holistic Treatment for Thyroid Disorders
If you have a thyroid condition and want to improve your health naturally, our team of thyroid specialists can help. After taking your health history, they will offer suggestions for improving your health. These suggestions may include dietary changes, lifestyle alterations, hormone replacement therapy, and stress reduction techniques.
