The thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland found in your neck, pumps out hormones that control metabolism. When your thyroid is out of whack, it may influence your weight and mood. Adjust your nutrient intake to include vitamins and minerals that nourish your thyroid gland and keep it in top shape.
Iodine
Without enough iodine in your meal plan, your thyroid gland may not have the ability to produce enough thyroid hormone. This deficiency leads to an enlarged thyroid and reduced metabolism; if it occurs during pregnancy it can also trigger mental retardation in the fetus. Get more iodine in your diet by eating foods such as bread, cheese, table salt, eggs, seaweed and shellfish.
Selenium
Getting the right amount of selenium in your meal plan affects your thyroid gland. Richard N. Podell, M.D., medical director of the Department of Family Medicine at UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, notes that selenium aids in converting the hormone produced by the thyroid into a usable form and may help treat metabolism problems triggered by an enlarged thyroid. Eat wheat germ, liver and oysters to boost intake of selenium.
Vitamin D
Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet may cause hypothyroidism, or a thyroid gland that does not produce enough hormones. You can get more of this important vitamin in your diet by eating many diary foods, including eggs and milk, but make sure the milk you choose is fortified with vitamin D. You can also find vitamin D in fish and cod liver oil, or take a supplement.
Vitamin E
Despite the fact that your thyroid gland needs iodine to function, too much can cause damage to this gland. A study published in the June 2011 issue of "The Journal of Endocrinology" and carried out in animal models notes that vitamin E supplementation at least partly reduces the risk of glandular damage triggered by an excess of iodine. More resources are needed to confirm these findings in humans. Eat sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, broccoli and kiwi to boost your intake of vitamin E.
References
- Endocrineweb: How Your Thyroid Works
- American Thyroid Association: Iodine Deficiency
- Dr. Podell: When Are Hypothyroid Diets, Cytomel or Armour Thyroid Alternative Thyroid Treatments Indicated?; Richard N. Podell, M.D., M.P.H.
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Selenium; May 2009
- Ask a Naturopath.com; Low Thyroid Function; April 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Vitamin D; August 2011
