Your not crazy and  it’s not all in your head. Which I love to hear that one- said no one ever!  There is nothing scarier than not knowing why you suffer from different health related issues. You know  your body, you listen to your body and you can tell when something just isn’t right. There are so many potential answers as to why you can be lacking energy, can’t sleep, can’t lose weight, low sex drive, aches and pains in your joints, poor hair and nail quality, premature graying or balding, constipation or hard stools, feelings of sadness, anxiety and even heart palpitations. For the sake of this blog , let’s just say you’ve been recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. You have no other health issues and your stumped on what to do next. All the things that I have listed you could be experiencing one or more. Everyone is different. I’ve experienced everyone of these symptoms except poor quality nails, except balding and expect sadness throughout my diagnoses . Now, my anxiety is a totally different story and  I’ve always had a high forehead which has nothing to do with any balding issues.  You have to be able to laugh at yourself and enjoy life.

You cannot compare yourself with anyone else. Remember you are not perfect. I have to always tell myself this. I am committed to something bigger than myself and I want to add value, inspire and connect with all of you that are struggling with hypothyroidism. Thank you for allowing me into your  life by sharing what I have learned over the years.

Here are a few things to jump start your hypothyroidism health!

 

1. Adopt a Healthful Diet, Avoid Gluten

Your  thyroid is depending on your to start feeding it and start maintaining your overall health. So stick with whole, natural, and organic foods. Steer clear of processed foods and eat gluten free. Gluten can have undesirable effects on the thyroid. If you must have bread then check out all my gluten free recipes in my book. A Survivors cookbook guide to kicking Hypothyroidisms booty.( Available this Spring)  At the bottom of the page I will include a few gluten free recipes. Meanwhile, you can check out my slow cooker E book.

For only $4.99 E Book

Kicking Hypothyroidisms booty, The Slow Cooker way: Kicking Hypothyroidisms booty, The Slow Cooker way A.L. Childers

2. Avoid Soy

Soy products have hormone disrupting effects. Soy is also high in isoflavones (or goitrogens), which can damage your thyroid gland.  Products containing soy protein appear in nearly every aisle of the supermarket. That’s because soy doesn’t just mean tofu. Traditional soyfoods also include soymilk, soynuts and edamame (green soybeans), just to name a few. Food companies also develop new food products containing soy protein from veggie burgers to fortified pastas and cereals. READ your labels. Dont worry you still can eat fried brown rice but replace it with  Coconut amino’s instead.

3. Iodine

Iodine is a very popular hypothyroidism natural treatment source and many  natural health experts do recommend a good source of iodine. While nascent iodine is most often recommended, Lugol’s brand is a fine alternative. Dr. Group’s iodine supplement, is also a viable option. Vitamins C and E, D3, selenium and zinc, and omega-3s should be supplemented with your choice of iodine as well.

Some food sources of iodine include:

• Seaweed and sea vegetables
• Some yogurts (organic yogurt, Greek)
• Cranberries
• Strawberries
• Dairy products
• Dulse flakes

Keep in mind that many hypothyroidism cases are actually caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It was found in some research that increasing iodine intake could actually cause your thyroid issues to worsen if you have Hashimoto’s. Instead, reducing iodine intake may be the solution.

4. Eat More Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Antioxidants are also important in keeping your thyroid healthy. But rather than getting them from traditional multivitamins, that simply exit the body just as easily as they entered, obtain them from natural food sources. Load up on vitamin C from dark green vegetables and citrus fruits, Omega 3 fats from walnuts and flax seeds, and zinc from pumpkin seeds.

5. Reduce Exposure to the Chemical PFOA (Found in Non-Stick Cookware)

Finally, reduce your exposure to PFOA, found in common household products including nonstick cookware and waterproof fabrics. Researchers have found that people with higher levels of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) have a higher incidence of thyroid disease. Start cooking with cast iron skillets or stainless steel cookware.

 

6. Coconut Oil

Raw , Virgin Coconut oil has been used as just one hypothyroidism natural treatment.  Coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids known as medium chain triglicerides (MCTs), which help with metabolism and weight loss, coconut oil can also raid basal body temperatures – all good news for people suffering from low thyroid function.

 

7. Natural Hormone Balancing

One approach to fixing thyroid issues and hypothyroidism is the use of hormone therapy. You really need to meet with an holistic expert. There are many great holistic and naturopath doctors.  Most often, synthetic hormones like Synthroid, Levoxyl, or Levothroid are used, which contain only the T4 hormone and no T3 – two hormones produced by the thyroid gland.  Thyroid conditions can be serious. You should always seek a professional who knows how to help you.

8. Foods that you should start incorporating in your everyday eating.

Figuring out how much you need to eat for you own unique body will require time and experimentation.  Eat slowly and mindfully until you are 80% full. You want to feel satisfied but not stuffed. If  you exercise more, you need more calorie intake. You can easily start with a  salad and add more veggies, healthy, fats and proteins to any meal.  You need to make sure your getting enough nutrients per day. Try your best to not eat 3 hours prior to bedtime and after your last meal allow a 10 hour window before you eat again.

9. Beneficial bacteria supports your immune system

For most people, taking a quality probiotic supplement doesn’t have any side effects other than higher energy and better digestive health. As a society we have drastically cut back on our consumption of vegetables and of beneficial essential fatty acids ( flax, pumpkin, black current seed oil, dark green leafy vegetables, hemp, chia seeds, fish)  such as those found in certain fish (including salmon, mackerel, and herring) and flaxseed. We are consumed with little fiber and an excess of sugar, salt, and processed foods. Stress, changes in the diet, contaminated food, chlorinated water, and numerous other factors can also alter the bacterial flora in the intestinal tract.When you treat the whole person instead of just treating a disease or symptom, an imbalance in the intestinal tract stands out like an elephant in the room.  So to play it safe, I recommend taking a probiotic supplement every.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. Probiotics foods include yogurt,  kefir, Kimchi, Sour Pickles ( brined in water and sea salt instead of vinegar) Pickle juice is rich in electrolytes, and has been shown to help relieve exercise-induced muscle cramps., Kombucha, kombucha tea ,Fermented meat, fish, and eggs.

Brewing Kombucha at Home: Step by Step Instructions for Producing a Perfect Batch

Prebiotics foods are brown rice, oatmeal, flax, chia, asparagus, Raw Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, artichokes, garlic, carrots, peas, beans, onions, chicory, jicama, tomatoes, frozen bananas, cherries, apples, pears, oranges, strawberries, cranberries, kiwi, and berries are good sources. Nuts are also a prebiotic source.

The ideal pH for the colon is very slightly acidic, in the 6.7–6.9 range. When there is an imbalance or lack of beneficial bacteria in the colon, the pH is typically more alkaline, around 7.5 or higher. The optimal pH range for gas-producing organisms is slightly alkaline at 7.2–7.3.

When someone starts taking a probiotic or a prebiotic supplement (or eats a prebiotic food), the beneficial microorganisms begin to increase in number. These good bacteria start to ferment more soluble fiber into beneficial products like butyric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, and propionic acid. These acids provide energy, improve mineral, vitamin, and fat absorption, and help prevent inflammation and cancer. The extra acid also starts to lower the pH in the colon.

10.  Goitrogenic foods which if eaten in excess can affect your thyroid in a negatively

They are commonly known as Goitrogenic foods, which means they contain substances which can prevent your thyroid from getting its necessary amount of iodine.  If eaten in excess, they interfere with the healthy function of your thyroid gland, tilting you in the direction of being even more hypothyroid, or making you susceptible to having a goiter, or enlargement of your thyroid. If you look closely at the word itself, you can see the root word is goiter (goitro-gen).

Bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
cauliflower
garden kress
kale
kohlrabi
mustard
mustard greens
radishes
rutabagas
soy
soy milk
soybean oil
soy lecithin
soy anything
tempeh
tofu
turnips

Also included in the goitrogen category, even if mildly, are:

bamboo shoots
millet
peaches
peanuts
pears
pine nuts
radishes
spinach
strawberries
sweet potatoes

Here are a list of foods that  you can eat as much as you want.

Fruits

apricots, cranberries, papaya, cherries , blueberries, kiwi, banana’s , pineapple, apples ,grapefruit , prunes, dates, raspberries, blackberries

Vegetables

artichokes, avocado, beets, celery, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, leeks, squash, zucchini, sea vegetables, tomatoes, mushrooms , peppers, acorn squash, pumpkin, butternut squash

Meat & Fish

lamb, chicken, sardines, turkey, organic-pasture raised eggs, grass fed, beef,  red salmon

Herbs

bayberry, chilies, garlic, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, peppermint, parsley , turmeric, cilantro, rosemary

Nuts

Coconut, hazel nuts, brazil nuts, macadamia

Fats

coconut oil, raw butters, avocado oil, olive oil, nut butters, avacado

Complex carbs

Quinoa, pea’s, lentils , brown rice.

 

I want to thank you  for reading my latest blog.  Please let me know if you need any support with it. 

Otherwise, are we friends on Facebook yet?  If not let’s do that now, Got Hypothyroidism?   I like to connect on a more personal level there and often; offer social media only products that can only be accessed on my page and share daily updates along with recipes. Remember sharing is caring. Please share and post a comment to this blog! I would love to hear from you. Sign up for my blogs @ thehypothyroidismchick.com .  You can also  Follow me on instagram @ Thyroidismchick or Follow me on twitter @Thyroidismchick.

Health and Happiness,

 

Additional Sources:

eMedicineHealth

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001393

MayoClinic

Webmd

MedicineNet

NaturalNews.com/037147

Thyroid.About.com