Hypothyroidism is a common condition where the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormones for the body’s purposes – this resulting in a slowed down general metabolism. The goal of therapies incorporating natural ways to treat hypothyroidism is to address and naturally rectify root causes of the condition.
So, what are the symptoms of hypothyroidism? These may include the following:
• Tiredness and lethargy
• Weight gain
• Intolerance of cold temperatures
What are common causes of hypothyroidism?
Underlying causes of being hypothyroid may include the following:
• Poor diet
• Stress – the silent killer at the root of so many serious and life-threatening conditions
• A deficiency of a number of key nutrients
These potential root causes of this condition will determine the specific natural ways to treat the hypothyroidism (see below).
The conventional medical solution – thyroid hormone replacement
Yet again, the conventional medical approach to this particular condition is medication (with no regard for what is causing the condition in the first place) – in this instance synthetic thyroid hormone replacement – good news for the pharmaceutical industry, often not such good news for you.
This particular medication can be associated with a raft of potential side effects including:
• Raised heart rate
• Chest pains
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Weight loss
Natural ways to treat hypothyroidism – looking at the true causes
Selenium
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) clearly shows that the nutritional trace element selenium plays an essential role in the normal metabolism of thyroid hormones – it follows that a nutritional deficit of selenium would contribute to a hypothyroid condition.
Many nutritionally healthy foods are also rich sources of selenium, including:
• Brazil nuts
• Lentils
• Cashews
• Bananas
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Brown rice
• Sunflower seeds
Avoiding refined sugars and processed foods
Refined sugars and processed foods are general health hazards for multitude of reasons, generalised bodily inflammation being a major risk.
This kind of generalised inflammation has an inhibitive effect on hormone production within the thyroid – thereby contributing to hypothyroidism.
It makes complete sense to, ideally, remove both refined sugars and processed foods from your diet – for your health in general and your thyroid health in particular.
Vitamin B
If you are in a hypothyroid state, the condition will affect your body’s levels of vitamin B12 and vitamin B1 (thiamin).
It is important when you are hypothyroid to increase your body’s levels of B vitamins to reverse and repair any adverse effects of this deficiency.
Vitamin B containing supplements are of value in this situation – alternatively your intake can be boosted with the following foods:
• Peas and beans
• Sesame seeds
• Asparagus
• Rice
• Nuts
• Sunflower seeds
Adopting a gluten-free diet
According to recent quality research, it has been determined that a statistically significant number of sufferers of coeliac disease also suffer the condition of hypothyroidism.
Given the fact that an immune response to dietary gluten within the small intestine may trigger coeliac disease, it would logically follow that a gluten-free diet would also be of benefit to sufferers of hypothyroidism.
Indeed, many sufferers of thyroid disease have reported a significant improvement in the condition upon adopting a wheat and gluten free diet.
Probiotics
Further to the (above) link between coeliac disease and thyroid disease, research has shown that the compromised gastrointestinal motility associated with thyroid disease can result in the small intestinal overgrowth of harmful bacteria with subsequent unpleasant symptoms, such as diarrhoea.
Probiotics containing live health beneficial bacteria, whether introduced to the digestive system within foods or as supplements, will nullify the damaging bacterial overgrowths thereby keeping the gastrointestinal tract functioning properly and healthy.
For a detailed article on the health benefits of probiotics and where you can obtain them, be sure to check out our post on this topic.
So, to cut to the chase, natural ways to treat the hypothyroid condition may be summarised as a selenium-rich, gluten-free and low sugar diet with the addition of vitamin B and probiotic supplementation.
Please feel free to leave a comment on this article and please share this with anyone you know who may be interested.
“BE TRULY FREE – BE PHARMA FREE”