The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the lower-center of the throat. It produces thyroxine and other hormones, and assists in metabolism. A sluggish or underactive thyroid results in a condition known as hypothyroidism, and should be diagnosed by your medical doctor. The Mayo Clinic explains that if untreated, hypothyroidism can cause hormone imbalance, obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. You may want to try a certain vitamins and nutrients to help nourish the thyroid and prevent hypothyroidism.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are a group of eight nutrients responsible for cell metabolism. B complex vitamins can be taken as a daily supplement, or you can obtain them by consuming whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, fish, poultry and other meat products. While B vitamins can be found in a variety of foods, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends avoiding certain foods that may actually interfere with thyroid function. These include foods such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, peanuts, linseed, pine nuts, millet and mustard greens. You should also avoid soy products as they are known to interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormones.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are used by the body to support the immune system and decrease inflammation and swelling. They are found naturally in seafood, especially fish oil. The University of Maryland recommends taking one to two tablespoons of fish oil daily to support a healthy thyroid. It does note, however, that fish oils are also natural blood thinners, and should not be taken along with prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin, or if you are prone to bleeding.
L-tyrosine
L-tyrosine is an amino acid that can be manufactured in the body, but is also obtained from the diet. The thyroid gland uses tyrosine to make thyroid hormones. Tyrosine supplementation may be helpful if you have an underactive thyroid due to low thyroid hormone production. The University of Maryland recommends taking 500 mg, two to three times per day, but warns that you should never take tyrosine along with synthetic thyroid hormone medication unless indicated by your medical doctor. L-tyrosine can be found in high-protein foods such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts and seeds.
Iodine
Dr. Carol Roberts, board-certified medical doctor and holistic physician, recommends natural sources of iodine to treat hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency is one possible cause of an underactive thyroid. However, it is not the only cause. Always check with your medical doctor before taking iodine supplements to determine if iodine deficiency is related to your particular condition. If your doctor does recommend iodine supplementation, there are a few natural sources of iodine you can include in your diet. Both kelp and bladderwrack are sea plants rich in iodine. The University of Maryland suggests 600 mg one to three times per day for thyroid support.
