Thyroid Disease
Reverse Your Thyroid Problem With These 4 Simple Hacks
Follow these simple methods to achieve good thyroid health
Thyroid disease is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not function properly, leading to an imbalance of hormones in the body.
Thyroid disease is thought to be mostly due to an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s disease [see the link provided below], but when we were in medical college, more stress was put on thyroid as some deficiency disease. You will learn exactly what deficiency causes thyroid disease in this article.
But before that, let us study some cases to know how these diseases present-
Case Study 1-
Sonali, a female aged 23 years visited my clinic with the complaint of putting on 4 kg weight in last 3 months.
Sonali has been my regular patient for minor problems like cough and cold. Apart from weight gain, she also had menstrual problems like scanty menses. Moreover, she was feeling drained of energy on walking or doing minor household activities.
After a thorough clinical examination, I got some blood investigations done to rule out diabetes and thyroid disease. Her blood investigations came positive for hypothyroidism. Her TSH was way above the upper limit of 4.55 mIU/l.
On further probing, I came to know that her mother was also on treatment for the same condition.
Sonali and her family belong to the northeast state in India, at the foothills of Himalayas. This is part of India is considered an iodine-deficient belt where people use mostly rock salt which is poor in Iodine.
During our medical college days this was explained to us as the cause of goiter and hypothyroidism.
Case Study 2
A 35-year-old female patient, Rekha Patel, visited my clinic complaining of palpitations, protruding and dry eyes [ appears as if always staring], and weight loss.
She had lost 10 kg over a period of ten months. She was happy about losing weight, but the palpitations and popping out of eyes disturbed her.
She was also subjected to similar blood investigations as above. The tests came positive for hyperthyroidism. Her TSH was remarkably low- 0.03mIU/L.
Is there a way to overcome thyroid disease without medications?
As you have observed in the above case studies, both are different with varied sign-symptoms. When I told them the diagnosis, they were albeit relieved, but both of them did not like to get into medications, as they are virtually lifelong.
The next thing both of them asked me was- is it possible to get rid of the diseases without medicines? This question put me in a quandary - I did not have much to tell them as both had advanced disease.
But I assured both, that it is possible to reduce the dosage of medication gradually with some dietary changes and supplementations.
While there is no cure for thyroid disease, except taking thyroid tablets, there are certain amino acids [they are present in proteins]and minerals that can help to support thyroid health and potentially slow the progression of the condition.
In some stages of thyroid disease, which we term sub-clinical stage, we can try correcting the findings of blood investigation by dietary recommendations and/or adding a mineral and an amino acid supplement.
Today, in this article I am going to tell you about 4 simple hacks using trace elements and an amino acid to overcome or control thyroid problems using food items that contain some trace minerals and vitamins. Read on-
If you are not yet aware of the various thyroid diseases, you can look it up here -
Here are some essential nutrients that can help to boost thyroid health:
1. Iodine:
Iodine is an essential nutrient that is important for the production of thyroid hormones. A deficiency in iodine can lead to an underactive thyroid gland, or hypothyroidism.
What should you eat to get Iodine?
Good food sources of iodine include seaweed, fish, dairy products, and eggs.
In India, or globally, the use or iodinated salt is used to correct this deficiency. Rock salt is a very good salt for health but is deficient in iodine. So, if you are using it, add it to your table salt to get the full benefits of both.
2. Zinc:
Zinc is important for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. It helps to regulate the production of thyroid hormones and plays a role in the conversion of T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) to T3 (active thyroid hormone).
What should you eat to get Zinc?
Good food sources of zinc include oysters, beef, chicken, nuts, and seeds.
3. Selenium:
Selenium is a mineral that is important for thyroid health. It helps to regulate the production of thyroid hormones and plays a role in the conversion of T4 to T3.
Selenium is used as a combination with a protein in our blood that helps reduce antibodies to an especially important enzyme, thyroid peroxidase, which is an enzyme that helps conversion of T4 to T3, the active thyroid hormone-
Useful resource-
What should you eat to get enough Selenium?
Good food sources of selenium include
- Brazil nuts,
- tuna,
- chicken, and
- beef.
In my clinical practice, I treat a case of subclinical thyroid disease by using supplements such as
- TPO,
- Thyropace,
- Thyrowel etc.,
before putting them on thyroxine tablets or anti-thyroid medication. All these medicines are freely available in India and may be available globally too.
4. An additional yet important point- use of amino acid Tyrosine
Just like the 3 trace elements that are important to produce thyroxine, there is an essential amino acid- L-tyrosine- which actually is a precursor to the production of thyroxine. So, if your food is deficient in this amino acid, this can lead to hypothyroidism. Let’s learn a bit about this amino acid.
Where can you get L-tyrosine naturally?
L-tyrosine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body. But sometimes due to various metabolic disturbances, there may be deficiency of this amino acid. So, it is important to consider adding foods containing this amino acid to your diet if you are having thyroxine deficiency.
Foods that contain high amounts of L-tyrosine include:
- Cheese (especially Swiss and Parmesan)
- Soy products (such as tofu and soy milk)
- Poultry (chicken, turkey)
- Fish (salmon, cod, tuna)
- Beef
- Lamb
- Pork
Other foods that contain L-tyrosine in smaller amounts include:
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Almonds, peanuts, and other nuts
- Seeds (such as pumpkin and sesame seeds)
- Beans and legumes (such as lentils and chickpeas)
- Avocado and fruits like banana.
L-tyrosine can also be found in some dietary supplements, which may be particularly helpful for individuals with certain medical conditions or who are not getting enough L-tyrosine through their diet.
Some of the drugs mentioned above contain tyrosine, especially Thyropace and Thyrowel.
It’s worth noting that while L-tyrosine can provide several health benefits (such as improving cognitive function and reducing stress), it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before taking L-tyrosine supplements, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking some medications- tyrosine can interfere with the metabolism or interact with certain medicines.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that while these trace minerals and tyrosine can be helpful for supporting thyroid health, they should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment.
It’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or making significant changes to your diet.
To determine if you are deficient in these minerals, you can ask your healthcare provider to perform a blood test [this includes a test for trace elements in the blood]. This can help to identify any deficiencies and provide guidance on the best way to address the problem head-on.
Final thoughts
Before I wind up, I would like to say a few things about Medium and its writers. I have been a member since 2019 and during this period I have had oppurtunities to read articles from authors in various fields.
I would like to confess here that Medium inspired me to write better, whether on Medium or off it.
I have become a follower to most of these writers. I get inspiration to write after reading their articles.
Notable writers that I follow are Anne Bonfert, Kaki Okumura, Dr. Preeti Singh, Michael Hunter, MD, Michael Burg, MD (Satire Sommelier), Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Tim Denning, Alyssa Atkinson, Darshak Rana, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Dennett, B.R. Shenoy, and many more-the list is endless.
I guess one day I will write an entire article dedicated to these great authors I follow and what I have learnt from them.
Adios.
