Role Of Thyroid Gland In Our Body And Its Effects On Weight Loss And Gain

The thyroid gland is located in the neck just under the Adam's apple. It produces the hormone thyroxin. This hormone is converted outside of the thyroid gland where it becomes activated and stimulates every one of the trillion cells in the body. Almost all of our systems and functions depend upon receiving adequate amounts of this hormone. The thyroid along with the adrenals is probably the gland most susceptible to the tremendous stress of our fast paced society. It is the thermostat of the body. It produces hormones that work to keep our metabolic rate stable and keep energy-producing processes in balance. The thyroid is essential in protein synthesis, growth, temperature regulation, and oxygen consumption of cells. If the thyroid is depleted or deficient, the rest of the body functions poorly. With low thyroid, cholesterol can shoot up to dangerous levels.

Thyroid disease, both hyperactive and under-active, is so extraordinarily prevalent today that even by conservative estimates it may strike up to 15 percent of the adult population. Women are particularly susceptible, and the disease tends to run in families. A possible reason for the increase in thyroid disease is the high prevalence of auto-immune disease today. Immunity in general is being assaulted by toxic chemicals in food, water, and air. Under-active or hypothyroid conditions can cause low energy.

"Yes" answers to the following questions may indicate a hypothyroid condition.

• Are you depressed, lethargic, and easily chilled?
• Do you gain weight easily?
• Do you suffer from chronic fatigue?
• Do you have dry skin, hair loss, eczema, or adult acne?
• Do you suffer from muscle aches, constipation, and hoarseness?
• Do you have PMS or menstrual abnormalities? Is your libido low?
• Are your feet and legs swollen and your nails brittle?
• Do you get a lot of colds and flu? Low thyroid results in increased vulnerability to infection.
• A test may be taken at home to find out if the thyroid is low.

For four days keep a thermometer by your bedside. As soon as you wake up in the morning put the thermometer in your armpit for ten minutes. You must do this before you get up. If you get up first you will not get an accurate reading. If your temperature runs below 97.8 then you most likely have low thyroid. It is important to shake the thermometer after each use.

Some of the common causes of low thyroid, besides inheritance, include: iodine depletion, x-rays or low dose radiation, pituitary and thyroid malfunction, air and environmental pollutants, overuse of diet pills and other drugs, and vitamin A, E, and zinc deficiency.

Treatment for Thyroid Disorder

Avoid refined foods, saturated fats, sugars, and white flour products. If the thyroid problem is severe it is then good to avoid brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, peaches and pears as they have anti-thyroid substances and may suppress the thyroid function.

Follow a diet with at least 50 % of the foods being fresh, and organically grown to rebalance and establish a better metabolism. The enzymes from live foods help the body to maintain proper metabolism. Foods that heal include sprouts, salads, raw vegetables, and thermos cooked grains to retain enzymes which heal and feed the glands.

Eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as yellow vegetables, eggs, carrots, and dark green vegetables. M.U. Tene is concentrated Beta-Carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.

Iodine rich foods that nourish the thyroid are: fish and sea vegetables such as: arame, kelp, dulse, hijike, nori, wakame, and kombu. Seaweeds are very nourishing to the glands.

Zinc and copper are important in helping the body make thyroid hormone. Foods rich in zinc include: beef (range free), oatmeal, chicken (range free), seafood, dried beans, bran, tuna, spinach, seeds, and nuts. Foods rich in copper include: organ meats (range free), eggs, yeast, legumes, nuts, and raisins.

The amino acid tyrosine is helpful. Tyrosine is found in edamame, beef, chicken, and fish. Soy should be only used in small amounts or on an occasional basis.

Black and red radishes have been used by some doctors in the old Soviet Union as accepted medical treatment for hypothyroidism. Raphanin, the main sulphur component in radishes, is chiefly responsible for keeping the production of thyroxine and calcitonin (a peptide hormone) in normal balance. Seeds and nuts, seed and nut milks, vegetable juices (celery, parsley, small amount of carrot, Swiss chard, wheat grass) and plenty of green drinks containing chlorophyll for healthy blood are helpful. Earth's Harvest is a blend of three micro-algaes that are a rich whole food source of chlorophyll. Having a mixed vegetable juice that includes the juice of a few radishes, carrot, tomato, celery or zucchini, with a pinch of kelp may benefit the thyroid gland greatly. This juice can be blended in a blender for those who do not have a juicer.

Other beneficial ingredients for vegetable juice combinations include: alfalfa, all leafy greens, beet tops, carrots, celery, green peppers, parsley, seaweeds, sprouts, and watercress.

Vitamin/Mineral Therapy

B-Complex vitamins to help improve cellular oxygenation and energy, build the adrenals and the thyroid and calm the nerves. Vita Balance 2000 is a properly balanced, vitamin and chelated mineral complex.

Vitamin A assists in maintaining normal glandular function. M.U. Tene is concentrated Beta-Carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.

Vitamin C promotes normal adrenal function and glandular activity. Magnum C is an improved form of C known as "Ester C".

Essential fatty acids are a must for glandular health and they improve over all health. These can be omega 3's and 6's from marine lipids, flax oil or flax seed, black current seed oil, evening primrose oil, or borage oil. New Life 1000 provides essential fatty acids from cold water salmon oil. Life Plus provides essential fatty acids from Blackcurrent Seed Oil.

Multi-minerals either liquid or chelated form. All minerals are involved in glandular heath. Vita Balance 2000 is a properly balanced, vitamin and chelated mineral complex. It includes all the trace minerals and a herbal base of related micronutrients.

Calcium / magnesium, manganese, selenium, silicon and zinc protect the glands. High Grade Calcium Complex provides a microcrystalline form of calcium, plus a balance of associated nutrients necessary for proper calcium assimilation.

Iodine supplementation from kelp or dulse, 225 -1,000 micrograms a day.

Desiccated natural thyroid, complete with all thyroid hormones. If the symptoms are mild this form may be enough support. If they are severe a synthetic hormone such as thyroxin may be in order.

Herbal Therapy

Irish moss and kelp are used in combination to balance hormonal deficiency. They increase the metabolic rate, thyroid activity and the detoxifying function of the body, and increase blood circulation and soothe inflamed tissues.

Black walnut has a high content of iodine and is a thyroid stimulant.

Ginseng strengthens the body.