Hypothyroidism Battle Plan

What is Hypothyroidism?

If you have cold hands, have gained stubborn weight around your middle, and often feel fatigued for no reason, you may be one of the millions who suffer from hypothyroidism. There are tests that can easily detect it, so if you suspect you may have this condition (see signs and symptoms) be sure to get screened by your doctor. Remember, there are things nutritionally you can do to help with this condition before you resort to any drugs. With the right diet, exercise and attitude, amazing things can often happen.

There are two types of thyroid problems, but I am only going to write about the underactive type because it mostly affects women.

• Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is where the production of energy and the synthesis of proteins are reduced. Very prevalent but almost exclusively affects women. Often, the hormones produced by the thyroid cannot be produced because of a deficiency in iodine.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

Many factors can cause an underactive thyroid.

• Many of those with an underactive thyroid suffer from a deficiency in iodine. Certain foods contain goitrogens that are iodine inhibitors
• The over-consumption of animal fat can mimic hormone production, therefore causing your body to think you do not need to produce the hormones you really need.
• Lack of exercise is a contributing factor
• Environmental stresses such as plastic residue, mercury, and chemical toxins can also play a role.
• Diabetes is a major risk factor – in fact 15-20% of Diabetics and their children will have an underactive thyroid. These problems may have the same root cause – poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Infertility can also sometimes be a sign that you have a thyroid disease.

Signs and Symptoms

• Cold hands and feet; low body temperature.
• Sensitivity /intolerance to cold
• Yellow bumps on eyelids, yellow-orange discoloration of skin
• Slow/ slurred speech
• Insomnia; Fatigue
• Brittle nails
• Weight Gain- especially in the mid-section
• Dizziness/ ringing in the ears
• Hair Loss- including from the eyebrows
• Inflamed throat/ thyroid
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Painful menstrual cycle
• Decreased memory
• Headaches
• Reoccurring illnesses and allergies

Note: If you have 3 or more of these symptoms, your doctor should screen you for hypothyroidism right away.

Thyroid Self-Test – this test is pretty accurate and can be done right at home

1. First, keep a basal thermometer by the bed and shake it well before going to bed at night. Make sure that the thermometer reads well below 95º Fahrenheit.
2. When you wake up in the morning, first thing you should do is take your temperature.
3. Follow steps 1 and 2 for 5 days. Record the temperature for each day. *
4. If at least 3 out of the 5 days that you recorded, “a temperature of 97º or lower may indicate an under-active thyroid.” If 5 out of 5, it is almost definite.

* A woman’s menstrual cycle may render this test ineffective. Also keep in mind that you may still have a thyroid problem regardless of outcome of test.

Treatment and Prevention

Diet plays a major role and is directly related to performance of thyroid.

• Peanuts, peanut butter, soy (often called ‘textured vegetarian protein’ among other), as well as cabbage, spinach, and mustard seeds should be avoided due to their goitrogen chemical content, which blocks the absorption of iodine.
• Environmental stresses, plastic residues, chemical pollution, and even fluoride in the water and in toothpaste can inhibit the function of the thyroid.
• Xenoestrogens are man-made and polluting nature and are part of the chemical makeup in fertilizers, pesticides and plastics. The most dangerous of the xenoestrogens, phthalates, mimic hormones which then confuses your body into thinking it doesn’t need to produce the actual hormones it needs. Unfortunately they are very prevalent – for example, they can be found in cling film and any other flexible plastic.
• High levels of mercury will displace the selenium in your body, which is a very important factor involved in the conversion of thyroid hormones.
• Tyrosine is a beneficial type of amino acid that is used by your cells during protein synthesis

Recommendations

DO

• Eat iodine rich foods such as sea vegetables, shellfish and seafood (from uncontaminated water)
• Consume good quality, easy-to-digest protein – oily fish, Spirulina and MAC
• Get plenty of healthy fats: omega eggs; oily, fatty fish, raw milk and cheese, coconut oil
• Include a wider variety of organic leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables in your diet. Best if they are high in antioxidants and have a high ORAC rating.
• Eat organic food whenever possible
• Eat foods high in vitamin A, C, E, niacin, thyracine, and zinc
• Consume beet leaves, parsley, carrot and watercress are high in calcium
• Iodized salt

AVOID

• Animal protein in excess
• Saturated fats
• The “White List”- refined white sugar, white flour, white potatoes, salt, sweet, and processed foods, etc.
• Peanuts, peanut butter, soy (hydrolysed or textured vegetarian protein), as well as turnip, cassava root, pine nuts, millet, cabbage, spinach, and mustard which contain goitrogens
• Environmental and food toxins
• Fluorine, or fluorinated or chlorinated drinking water
• Xenoestrogens

Nutritional Supplements

• Organic Coconut Oil – One of the most important supplements to incorporate into your diet if you suspect you have a thyroid disease is raw coconut oil. There is a lot of promising research that has shown that extra virgin, raw coconut oil is of great benefit, because it is a medium chain triglyceride (MCT), which means it is an instant source of energy, and because it contains mono laurin which helps to stimulate the thyroid.
  • Take 1 tbsp. raw (per 150 lb. person) daily – let it melt in your mouth before swallowing. Do not heat it up, as you will not get the full benefit.
  • In addition to the daily requirement though, you can substitute Organic Tropic Oil for all cooking oils.
  • Severely dry skin is another sign of hypothyroidism, the oil can be used as a moisturizer or shaving lotion and it will still have the thyroid stimulating effect when rubbed in. Can also add 2 tsp. to a warm bath.

Finally, EXERCISE is also a key factor; the lack of it contributes to a compromised thyroid and your general health. Certain types of exercise are better than others.

Try:

• Stair climbing
• Mountain climbing
• Deep knee bends
• Squats
• Bike riding
• Any other exercise that brings your knees up towards your chest (which seems best for getting your circulation going.)

 

 

As a Raw Food Coach/Chef/Trainer I am experienced at enabling others to easily start the transformation to become conscious of healthier eating. People discover that adjusting their lifestyle can be both fun and easy and the outcome is often more energy and a greater capacity to self-heal. I am passionately involved with a movement to bring Non-GMO, Organic, Raw Vegan, wholefood supplements to the whole of my network and on into all of theirs too, so that others can benefit from having easy access to the healthiest foods in the easiest format.

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