Natural Food For Your Thyroid

Symptoms of thyroid disease tend to be attributed to stress or aging, because they're vague and varied. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, tens of millions of Americans suffer from an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. Of these, more than half remain undiagnosed. To help prevent thyroid disorders and control them from home, diet plays an essential role.

Iodine

The Environmental Illness Resource says that maintaining proper thyroid function requires the consumption of 150mcg of iodine per day. Without enough iodine, the body fails to produce the proper amounts of T3 and T4, which are vital to the function of the body. Lack of iron also leads to the development of a goiter and hypothyroidism. Foods high in iron include fish, seafood, milk, eggs, mozzarella cheese and strawberries.

Selenium

Dr. David Williams, a chiropractor in Texas who's known for his natural healing, says the thyroid needs selenium to produce the balance of hormones the body needs. Many people with low thyroid function have a selenium deficiency. Foods high in selenium include wheat germ, seafood and shellfish, beef kidney and liver, brazil nuts, mushrooms, sunflower and sesame seeds, onions, garlic and kelp.

Vitamin A

According to the Environmental Illness Resource, vitamin A controls the uptake of iodine into the thyroid. According to the book "Williams' Basic Nutrition & Diet Therapy," foods high in vitamin A include liver, egg yolk, cream, milk, dark leafy greens and dark orange vegetables and fruits.

B Vitamins

B complex vitamins, especially thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6), help in the production of thyroid hormones and in the uptake of thyroid hormones into the cells. The Williams book says that foods high in B complex vitamins include green leafy vegetables, lean meats and legumes. Some milks, flower, noodles, and bread are fortified with B vitamins.

Vitamins C and E

Vitamins C and E help prevent the development of goiters. The Williams book says that foods high in vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts, fortified cereals, sweet potatoes, mangos and avocado. To consume more vitamin C, you should eat tomatoes, citrus fruits, berries, leafy vegetables, melons and peppers.

Zinc

According to the Environmental Illness Resource, zinc affects how the thyroid produces T3 and T4 and how the cells use T3. "Williams' Basic Nutrition & Diet Therapy" says that beef liver, eggs, yogurt, crab, kidney beans, chicken, almonds, cashews and lentils are high in zinc.

Goitrogens

Goitrogens occur naturally in certain foods. They interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland and can cause a goiter. Foods high in goitrogens include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, turnips, peaches, peanuts, radishes, soy products, spinach and strawberries. According to whfoods.org, cooking foods with goitrogens helps eliminate their negative effect on the thyroid. However, Dr. David Williams says nothing reduces the negative effect of soy on the thyroid.