The thyroid is a large ductless gland in the neck which secretes hormones that regulate growth and development through the rate of metabolism.
It’s one of the largest endocrine glands that influences almost every single cell in your body.
It plays a crucial role in regulating your metabolism, controlling your weight by regulating the fat burning process, and is also important in the growth and development in children as well as controlling every physiological process in the body.
Your overall thyroid health is important for controlling these functions.
At times, the hormones secreted by your thyroid glands may fall out of balance which may cause it to function poorly;
and this may spell trouble for your overall health and well-being. Common health complications associated with poor thyroid function include Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Gum Disease, Eczema, Acne, Auto Immune Diseases such as Lupus, and Infertility.
Factors that contribute
Gluten
Gluten is one of the notorious culprits responsible for causing thyroid dysfunction as it causes inflammation. It has been shown to cause autoimmune diseases in many people and is also the main cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Soy
While it’s chock-full of health benefits, soy is also a potential threat to the health of your thyroid.
It contains phytoestrogens that cause hypothyroidism and has also been shown to cause thyroid cancer.
Stress and Adrenal Function
Your adrenal glands regulate your stress levels. Because these glands are connected to the thyroid, high-stress levels may cause poor thyroid function. When stressed, the thyroid hormones levels drop- and this is the actual time when you need the hormones to help you handle the stress.
Bromines
Exposure to bromine affects your thyroid glands and causes hormonal imbalances. This is because the chemical competes with iodine (essential nutrients that support the health of the thyroid) and as a result, it limits the availability of iodine to the thyroid. This may lead to hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, and goiter.
What To Do To Improve Your Thyroid Health
Seek Medical Advice
If you are having thyroid problems, identify the real culprits are triggering them.
These might include iodine deficiency, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and environmental toxicity.
Consume Iodine-Rich Food
Be sure to eat adequate amounts of foods packed with iodine as well as other thyroid-f
riendly nutrients. They include seaweeds, eggs, and milk, yogurt, cheese, baked potatoes with skin, coconut oil, and cranberries/cranberry juice. Also, eat foods with high amounts of Vitamin A and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Manage Your Stress
Considering that high levels of stress contribute to poor thyroid function, be sure to keep them to a minimum.
Knowing the basic facts about your thyroid health will help keep you free from the complications mentioned above for improved overall health and wellbeing.