What Is a Thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland that produces hormones that affect a range of biological functions in the body. When it is functioning properly, a person will have good energy levels, normal body weight, stable and mainly pleasant moods, and good circulatory health. Maintaining a proper diet is important for good endocrinological health, but genetic predisposition to medical issues and acute health problems can negatively impact thyroid function as well. Let’s take a look at the function of this gland and how food affects thyroid health. First, we’ll look at this topic generally, then at specific dietary interactions.
What Does the Endocrine System Do?
The endocrine system is a loosely connected group of glands that produce hormones, thereby regulating bodily functions. Organic and behavioral influences can affect these glands, affecting growth and development, mood, energy levels, and other major body systems. Parts of the endocrine system include the thyroid, pancreas, and pituitary gland, as well as other hormone-producing glands. Let’s look at the thyroid specifically.
What Functions Does the Thyroid Influence?
It can influence several factors of your health. By ensuring proper glandular function, one can safeguard against the negative impacts of either hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, when it is underactive. Impairment of this gland can be debilitating in severe cases, so it’s best to stay on top of any issues you may experience and be in regular communication with a medical professional about any symptoms you may experience. But how does this gland affect specific systems? Let’s take a look.
How Does It Affect Your Metabolism?
Thyroids produce and regulate the presence and functionality of certain hormones, as well as secondary hormones that downregulate primary hormones to maintain a balanced interaction between the hormones and internal systems. This affects how quickly your body breaks down food and utilizes nutrients. Without the consumption of proper nutrients, a person will not metabolize food normally. With balanced nutrients, a person will have a healthy metabolism and normal weight.
How Does It Affect the Circulatory System?
This gland’s effects on the heart and metabolism go hand in hand often, as the acceleration of metabolism can negatively impact nutrient absorption. In turn, this can lead to anemia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and even heart failure in extreme cases of hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism slows the heart rate down, causing blood pressure to drop. Maintaining the health of this gland is vitally important to good circulatory health.
How Does It Affect Mood and Energy Level?
If the thyroid is overactive, symptoms can include anxiety, nervousness, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and irritability. If it is underactive, depression, lack of concentration, difficulty sleeping, reduced motivation, and unusual tiredness may occur.
How Does It Affect Other Systems?
Thyroid hormones in imbalance can cause a range of growth issues and developmental complications. In an underactive thyroid, one may see a delay in puberty, hair loss, brittle nails and dry skin, loss of libido, and weight gain. Sexual dysfunction and irregular menstrual cycles can also present in some patients with hypothyroidism. When it is overactive, a person may have hyperactive symptoms, which can affect learning and cognition, insomnia and other sleep issues, eye development problems (hyperthyroidism can cause Graves’ ophthalmopathy, an eye disease that leads to a bulging of the eyes), and muscle aches, weakness, and cramps.
How Does Your Diet Affect Your Thyroid’s Ability to Function?
This gland can be affected by many different dietary factors. Primary among these is the availability of iodine, which allows for the production of necessary hormones for the regulation of the endocrine system. Soy products can cause issues if overconsumed, and caffeine can also cause worsening of hyperthyroid symptoms. Calcium and vitamin D absorption can be reduced in hyperthyroidism, leading to low bone density problems. Hypothyroid disorders can lead to increased blood pressure in patients with high sodium intake.
What Are the Best Foods for Thyroid Patients?
There are specific foods and general nutritional considerations that can help improve thyroid function. Omega-3 fatty acid sources, like fish and nuts, iodine-containing foods like fish and shellfish, and a balance of vegetables can be particularly helpful. Look for organic or unprocessed foods for the best possible results. Coconut oil and other natural remedies may also prove helpful.
Examples of Balanced Meals
Examples of balanced meals vary widely but generally contain foods recommended for a properly balanced diet. Including walnuts and other high omega-3 nuts is a good way to use a snack to supplement endocrinological health and provide thyroid support. Fish like salmon, tuna, tilapia, and others as a source of protein a few times a week is a great way to get omega-3 fatty acids and iodine at the same time. Moderate use of iodized table salt can also help maintain iodine levels in those with an iodine deficiency. Limiting soy is also important, so making sure to moderate soy-based meat alternatives is important in preventing thyroid disorders. Eating regularly and not skipping meals is also beneficial, as nutrient levels remain roughly constant.
Final Thoughts
Overall, diet can significantly impact thyroid health by limiting or making overly available certain nutrients, causing a range of health issues. These include both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, when the gland is overactive and underactive, respectively. By eating a balanced diet, eating regularly, and including specific sources of nourishing nutrients optimally, a person can help to ensure good endocrinological health. Take the above into consideration when designing meals for yourself or anyone you may think has an issue with this gland’s function.
If you have hypothyroidism and have been Thyroid Support Review trying to lose weight, you know just how difficult it is.
It is hard to stay on a diet and hard to exercise because you are so tired all of the time.
It seems like individuals that suffer from hyperthyroidism are in a catch 22.
A vicious circle so to speak.
They know they must exercise daily but they can hardly find the energy to accomplish this task every week, let alone every day.
Then the less they exercise the less energy stores they produce.
On the other hand, Thyroid Support Review hyperactive thyroid patients suffer from having faster metabolic process.
They experience sudden weight loss and are usually underweight.
With laboratory test and physical assessment, doctors will know what kind of balance to give to the patient.Finding the right specialist should be the first step to finding the right balance in your body.
An endocrinologist is needed since they specialize in this field.
They are experts in diagnosing patient's thyroid problem.
They can recommend treatments that are suitable for the patient depending on the patient's condition.Hyperactive Thyroid patients are given treatments to reduce the amount of hormones in their body.
Typically when not treated the symptoms Thyroid Support Review of hypothyroid continue to get worse.
There are cases when people do not seem to get worse, however over time some people can develop life-threatening conditions.Some people are not treated simply with thyroid hormone.
They may need to make adjustments to their life.
However, overall this can be a positive thing.Make the decision to take charge of your life today, and consider caring for your body in a positive way.
Using natural remedies with a balanced diet that is specific to control thyroid function, plus regular exercise can effectively reverse hypothyroidism and keep your thyroid function in balance.
This can leave you symptom free and full of energy.Hypothyroidism results in a sluggish metabolism for most.
