Natural Remedies For Thyroid Problems - What Foods You Should Eat and Which Ones to Avoid

You might consider natural remedies for thyroid problems. It's quite understandable, actually, since you must have heard the side effects of chemically-formulated drugs. Moreover, if you have been researching the web about thyroid problems, surely, you must have read somewhere that synthetic supplements may not even work as effectively as the non-synthetic ones. Synthetic supplements contain only one thyroid hormone, you see, while the latter covers several types, including T3 and T4 which are said to play key functions in controlling metabolism.

So, indeed, why not give natural remedies a shot then?

The thyroid is actually just a small gland that is situated on the neck area. You would think it's rather insignificant because of its small size, but you would be surprised that this small gland has big responsibilities. The thyroid is the only part of the body that absorbs iodine, an essential element needed by the body to produce hormones necessary to carry out metabolic processes. When there is absence of this element, the thyroid becomes hyperactive or underactive. Clinically, a hyperactive thyroid is termed hyperthyroidism, while an underactive thyroid is referred to as hypothyroidism; either way means that the thyroid is not functioning well at all.

In the case of hyperthyroidism, there are more thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, requiring the body more energy. The body reacts by increasing metabolic rate to levels beyond the norm. While the result is that you lose weight, you also lose energy in the process, and this explains why you feel exhausted. Herbal treatments are available to treat hyperthyroidism, and these include drinking Motherwort herbal tea, lemon balm tea, and green tea. Motherwort controls palpitations that can occur with hyperthyroidism, while lemon balm tea can help control the thyroid. Green tea is recommended, too, because of its potent antioxidant effect. What's also recommended is to avoid food sources that are known to have stimulating effects, such as caffeine, wheat grass, bladder wrack, and ginseng.

Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition wherein the hormones in the bloodstream are not sufficient enough. This causes the metabolism to slow down, leading to weight gain, and making you feel less energized. There are several natural remedies for thyroid problems like this, and these include dietary changes and herbal or natural supplements.

The appropriate diet designed for sufferers of hypothyroidism focuses on foods that are abundant in iodine and thyroxine. Making the list are seafoods including fish, seaweeds, chicken breast, avocados, lentils, bananas, almonds, and coconut oil. Herbal supplements that consist of licorice, bladder wrack, kanchanara, shilajeet, and ginger, are also highly recommended.

You should consider scrapping chemically-produced foods, especially highly processed foods. You are also advised to avoid certain green vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and Brussel sprouts as these contain enzymes that could somehow interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid system.

When you exhibit signs and symptoms of thyroid problems, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor about some natural remedies for thyroid problems to help you deal with all the discomforts associated with thyroid imbalances.