By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness
April 6, 2015
- Don’t let this silent condition catch you off-guard
- What’s zapping the iodine out of your body?
- Simple tips to bring your thyroid function up to par
There’s a butterfly shaped gland in the front of your neck that you probably never think about. But it can have a profound effect on your health, and the way you feel every day.
Maybe you feel tired all the time. Perhaps you experience weakness, irritability or depression. You might also notice that your skin is dry and your hair is getting thinner. But you think – doesn’t everyone undergo these types of changes as they age?
These common, but very general complaints are happening in epidemic proportions. And most of them point toward the thyroid gland. In fact, hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid – is much more common than you would think. Millions of Americans have this problem. But the majority of them don’t even know it, even if their doctor has checked for it. It’s a silent epidemic.
Why is it missed so frequently?
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Well, in addition to the symptoms being so general, the test most often used to check your thyroid is insufficient. It’s called TSH, which tests for thyroid stimulating hormone.
The problem is, TSH isn’t actually a thyroid hormone. It comes from the hypothalamus, and its job is to alert the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones. So this isn’t an adequate measure when it comes to thyroid testing.
I do much more extensive testing in my practice so I can get to the root of the problem and correct it. Here are the tests I run to check thyroid function:
- Full thyroid panel: Make sure any thyroid testing includes T3 and T4 and a TPO (not just a TSH) – also known as a full thyroid panel. Many doctors are calling for thyroid screens starting at age 35. It’s a great idea, but until it becomes the norm, you might have to ask.
- Reverse T3 (rT3): This test is most-often used for the person who is on thyroid medication and is not feeling better. It tests a thyroid hormone that isn’t included in a full thyroid panel – and solves an important mystery for many people with thyroid conditions, whether known or unknown.
It’s easy enough to ask your doctor for these tests. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what’s robbing our bodies of thyroid hormones…and what you can do to bring your thyroid function up to par.
Our body requires iodine to make thyroid hormones. Now when you think of iodine, I’ll bet the first food source you think of is salt. And since we get so much salt in our diets, it will probably surprise you to learn that iodine deficiency is the driving force behind hypothyroidism.
There’s a reason for this. You see, most of the salt in our diets doesn’t come from iodized table salt. Instead, it comes from processed, canned and packaged foods where the salt is added by the food manufacturers. And these foods almost never contain iodized salt.
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Foods and beverages that contain bromine are another problem. That’s because bromine competes with iodine receptors. This prevents your body from holding on to the iodine it needs.
You’ll find bromine in many citrus-flavored soft drinks and juices. It comes in the form of brominated vegetable oils that act as an emulsifier. Baked goods and flour often contain potassium bromate. And non-organic produce, particularly strawberries, are treated with brominated pesticides.
Fluoride and chlorine work in much the same way as bromine to displace the iodine in our bodies. And while you likely aren’t eating either of these chemicals, it’s a sure bet you’re swimming, showering and bathing in them – allowing them to enter your body via skin pores.
Soy and soy products also wreak havoc on the thyroid. I’ve already recommended you avoid soy whenever possible, because most soy produced in the U.S. (but not that from Asia) is now genetically-modified. So just add this additional reason to the list.
Other foods – in high amounts (6-8 servings/day) – that may interfere with thyroid activity are cruciferous vegetables. These include includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, kale, mustard greens, kohlrabi. In short, some of the healthiest veggies out there! Just don’t overdo them….
Also on the list are: peaches, peanuts, pears, radishes, spinach, strawberries and sweet potatoes.
Now this may sound like you have a lot working against you when it comes to stabilizing your thyroid function. But don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to boost your iodine levels. And you don’t have to give up the healthy veggies.
Often, when people find out a food or nutrient is good, they eat a lot of it. And when they hear something is bad, they shun it completely. But in the case of the fruits and veggies on the list above, balance and moderation are the keys to maintaining thyroid health without compromising your health in other ways.
So don’t willy-nilly cut cancer-crushing cruciferous veggies and healthy fruits from your diet. The easier and more nutritious solution is to just add more variety.
Eat fruits and vegetables from every color of the rainbow. Red tomatoes, peppers and beets. Orange carrots, pumpkin, butternut squash, papaya and cantaloupe. Green beans, peas, avocadoes, kiwi and lettuce. You get the idea, right?
Another way to avoid crossing fruits and veggies off your list is to decrease your exposure to iodine-killing chemicals like chlorine, fluoride, and bromine whenever possible.
If you have a pool, consider finding natural ways to clean it instead of chlorine. Put filters on your tap water and drink distilled water to reduce both fluoride and chlorine. Eat less processed flour and other foods high in bromine. Avoid the chlorinated sucrose sweetener known as Splenda, or sucralose. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to minimize exposure to brominated pesticides. (Or better yet, buy organic.)
I also have a very specific thyroid regimen for my patients.
- Iodine 6.25 mg daily
- Tyrosine 500 mg daily
- Zinc 25 mg daily
- Copper 1-2 mg daily (there is a generally accepted 15-to-1 zinc-to-copper ratio needed)
- Selenium 100 mcg daily
- Vitamin B6 50 mg daily
Thyroid problems are not difficult to address when you catch them early and take the necessary steps. And for most people, the road to a healthy thyroid is a simple one once they have this information at hand. And remember, the first step should be getting a test at your doctor’s office. Only test results can indicate a deficiency.
