Health Articles

Three Foods for Thyroid Support 

Your body gets much of the support it needs for its hormone production and gland regulation from your diet. The foods that you eat can greatly help or hinder the efficiency of your glands, which is why there are many different supplements on the market that are available to support their function. While these products can be helpful, your diet should also include the materials that your body will need to stay healthy.

Below, we'll look at three different foods which offer something that your thyroid may be able to appreciate. The general rule of thumb with the thyroid is that iodine is good; thyroid glands need it to both produce hormones and distribute them efficiently.

• Seaweed. If you haven't already experienced the joys of dried and roasted seaweed with light amounts of salt, then you may be missing out on a very enjoyable treat. Seaweed contains high amounts of iodine, which is already great for your thyroid, but when you add in iodized salt for flavoring, and combine other beneficial aspects of seaweed, like Omega-3s, you get a very healthy addition to your diet. Seaweed can be used in soups, salads, in dishes like sushi, and really anywhere you feel you can fit it.
• Coconut oil. There's been a lot of interest in coconut oil and what it can do for our health, and research into what it can do to support thyroid health in particular. Polyunsaturated oils may have the ability to support thyroid production and its ability to travel throughout the body. Coconut oil can be used in a wide number of dishes, from those that are baked, to those that are sauteed, to sauces and more. It's also inexpensive when you purchase it in bulk orders. Best of all, coconut oil is solid at room temperature, making it easy to measure out and add to dishes, not unlike margarine or butter.
• Shellfish. Shrimp, crabs, clams, lobsters, and more can all be both delicious, and packed with iodine. Shellfish have the added benefit of typically being quite a healthy source of protein when compared to others, like chicken, pork, or beef. When buying your shellfish, you will want to pay attention to where it's been farmed, but you should find that most shellfish that are wild caught are both tasty, and healthy. They can be used in pasta, eaten alone and cold, or added into shishkabobs. Shellfish is extremely versatile.

As you'll notice with the above mentioned foods, they are actually easy to incorporate into your regular menu. No food item is easier than iodized salt, however, so make sure that the table salt you purchase has been enriched with iodine. Even kosher salt and rock salt can come in iodized varieties, and when added to dishes, can give you the small amounts of support that your thyroid could use throughout every meal of the day.

Finally, if you have any health concerns related to your thyroid function, be sure to talk to a doctor about your recommended diet, as well as what foods you should add or avoid.