The thyroid gland is an important gland of our body. When it does not function properly it might lead to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. All of a sudden you can see that your weight level is rapidly increasing or decreasing accompanied by stress and depression.  To get an idea, statistics show that 12% of people are affected by either hyper or hypothyroidism. An article shows that 60% of the people are not even aware of their thyroid conditions. Women are 5 to 8 times more prone to thyroid when compared to men because of their iodine, haemoglobin levels. Either they consume a lot of iodine supplements or none at all. The below blog is all about the magic foods that can help us in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Before reading that let’s have a basic understanding of what is the thyroid gland, how it functions, and how hyper and hypothyroidism occurs.

Causes of Thyroid Problems

The foods this generation eats does not contain certain nutrients. We can see that people are consuming more red meat. Also due to environmental conditions and an imbalanced lifestyle, many people are under medication and treatment. Many of us avoid the intake of fresh vegetables and grab the processed foods on the go. This robotic lifestyle has interfered a lot with our health. Endocrinology doctors have given us various diet and lifestyle tips which can keep our iodine levels in check on. They prescribe foods that are naturally good for hyper and hypothyroidism.  

The Endocrine System

The human body is a wonder. It is the most sophisticated complex machine on the whole planet. We all know the master blaster of our body is the brain. Beneath it lies a small module called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland belongs to the endocrine system which is responsible for producing, releasing, and controlling hormones. These hormones are substances that travel in our blood to regulate the working of our internal system. This pituitary gland particularly is responsible for controlling the thyroid gland. It does that function by releasing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone[TSH]. If this is achieved we know the pituitary gland is working right.

T3, T4 Hormones and their Functions

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland present in our neck region. TSH from the pituitary gland and secretes hormones called T3 and T4. These thyroid hormones(T3, T4) are responsible for controlling the metabolic activities of our body. It plays a main role in the digestive system, muscular system, bone maintenance, and in development of the full brain. Just by looking at these functions, we would know that the thyroid gland is very important for the proper functioning of the human body. If the thyroid gland secretes more hormones (T3, T4) it leads to a condition called hyperthyroidism and when T3, T4 are secreted less then it leads to hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of Thyroid Imbalance

If the thyroid works overtime and hormones are secreted more(hyperthyroidism), its natural result would be more work by the organs related to it. So naturally, the metabolism of a person will be very fast and they will become tired and weak. Again a natural side effect could be weight loss, mood swings, and many more. If the thyroid gland is not stimulated properly by TSH and hormones are secreted less this clinical condition is called hypothyroidism. So the organs related to it will not work in full on mode and digestion becomes slow. Naturally, the weight would increase which might lead to irregular bleeding cycles in women. This may lead to lots of mood swings, hair loss, and dry skin.

Managing Hyperthyroidism

Any disease could be treated well by the lifestyle changes we make and by the attitude we develop towards our health. Nowadays medications are available and people are advised to take regular tests to check the level of thyroid at regular intervals. Besides the available medicines, a healthy lifestyle can make you feel good and it does help in treating the irregularity caused by the thyroid gland. Exercise and Yoga are recommended for this situation. In addition to this certain foods can help you to treat and manage hyperthyroidism. Visit an Endocrinology hospital and consult with an Endocrinologist Thyroid specialist to figure out what’s right for you.

Healthy Fats

1. Cow Ghee

Apart from being a source of good fat, it regulates the metabolism activity and provides more energy for the body. It is a natural healing agent. It is the best ingredient that provides a good heart and good skin combination. By consuming cow ghee 2 times a day it is told that your health improves a lot. As a byproduct, you get healthy skin too. Hypothyroidism people should consult the doctor on how many times they are supposed to take ghee in a day.

2. Homemade Dairy Products

Besides bringing good protein and healthy fat, this category of food results in yummy dishes too. Whether it is paneer, ghee, curd, butter, or your favourite cheese you can make it at home and enjoy. This will not add much to your weight and this way you will not have any guilt of following an unhealthy diet. This cuts the extra weight you gain by processed foods and gives a healthy body. This category of dairy foods, when added to your diet, gives you much energy, and prevents fatigue. People with hypothyroidism issues need to have a check on dairy products and they should avoid it based on doctor’s advice. It is highly recommended to avoid bread and bakery products hyper or hypothyroidism. 

Grain and Pulses 

1. Green Gram

It can be termed as a magic crop that contains all the nutrients in it. Being an antioxidant it may also help in anti-ageing and is very good for the circulatory system. It avoids that excess belly fat one gets and gives a healthy gut. This will increase the haemoglobin levels in the body. Any pulse or grain should be avoided every day. You should add varieties of pulses to your everyday diet. Dry grains and pulses should be taken in limited quantity or completely avoided based on doctor’s advice by people having hypothyroidism.

2. Barley

Barley has high selenium in it and it is anti-inflammatory. It also reduces the chance of getting cancer. It can also have a check on diabetes and cholesterol. It reduces hunger and reduces bad cholesterol. One should know whether they are allergic to barley before adding it to their diet. Dosage of barley should be specified by a nutritionist before taking it for both hyper and hypothyroidism affected people.

3. Sugar Cane

Often in the Indian medicine system of Ayurveda, Consumption of sugar cane juice is encouraged for any kind of irregularity in the body. It can also treat urinary infections and it is a regular medicine in treating jaundice and it has high levels of fibre. It avoids energy loss and helps in fatigue. Diabetic patients must have a check on the sugarcane intake.

Vegetables & Fruits

1. Cauliflower, Broccoli, radish, turnip & Pakchoy

This group of veggies directly interferes with the production of thyroid hormone and helps in reducing the effects of the hyperthyroid condition. It also helps against cancer and prevents stroke. Tips are given by doctors that red meat should be avoided when a person has hyperthyroid.  People having hypothyroidism should limit their intake or completely avoid this group of vegetables based on doctor’s advice as it can directly affect your thyroid levels.

2. Peaches and Pears

It prevents fatigue and has various vitamins and provides lots of water content to the body. When eating greens and fruits one needs not to worry about weight loss or gain. It will add the required amount of energy to the body to cope up with the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

3. Honey

Honey is an anti-inflammatory agent that helps in soothing various glands including the thyroid gland. Honey should be added in less quantity in any food that we intake. It can drink along with milk which could heal the gut and also might lead to adding onto healthy weight which can counteract the loss of weight due to hyperthyroidism. It is a very good agent that nourishes your skin too.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric boosts longevity and anti-ageing. When consumed as a decoction with hot water, it will help in immunity. It can repair the cells and many times are added to food to prevent even mood swings. The curcumin compound in turmeric has various medicinal properties. It can be called a wonder substance that can cure various ailments.

5. Herbs & Spices

Various spices and herbs like black pepper, thyme, fennel, lemon balm have effects on our body that can help manage hyperthyroid. They are good for inflammation and also have various properties that attribute to protection against viral infections. They can cater to a variety of diseases. It is best to consult a doctor before taking herbs and spices that you are unsure of.

A Balanced Diet is Key

Though we have seen a variety of foods that can be taken which could help in hyperthyroidism, it is always better to follow the principle of balancing. A good balance of a variety of foods will always attract the necessary nutrients to the body and help us in being healthy. Apart from food, regular exercise, and physical activities like dancing can enhance our mood and help us in being a happy person. This is not only for hyper or hypothyroidism affected people but for anyone who wishes to stay healthy.

Foods To Avoid

A healthy diet containing all types of foods is the right way to contain the hyperthyroidism issue. Also, certainly, the kind of foods we eat should not bring down the iodine levels in the body and lead to hypothyroidism. Vegetables like cauliflower, beetroot, turnip should not be consumed at very high levels. It is best to avoid consuming raw peanuts and red meat. Thyroid tests should be taken regularly to check the level of the hormones produced and one should check for symptoms on a regular cycle. This will help in treating hyperthyroidism naturally and taking care that the person does not develop serious illnesses due to hypothyroidism. It should be taken care that a high level of supplements of iodine should not be consumed. We should often read and update ourselves about hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Any unknown medication and supplements of iodine should not be taken without the advice of the doctor. Certain foods in this category might be good for hypothyroidism affected people. It is best to consult a doctor before the intake of these foods.

Treating Hyperthyroidism

Any disease is treatable when we follow what the doctor says and when we have the proper attitude towards life. Iodine is the key and by taking regular thyroid tests we can always have a check on it. 

Maintain Healthy Weight

Ask questions to your doctor and read more on diet and follow the diet after consulting with your doctor and nutrition specialist. By following a proper diet, avoiding certain types of food, and doing various physical exercises doctors have told us we can keep a check on the functioning of the thyroid. We should always practice towards having the right weight according to our body mass index ratio. By consuming more greens and vegetables one can be hale and healthy. 

Avoid Eating Out

Reduce the number of days you eat outside and avoid the intake of processed foods. Initially, it might be a mountain task but when you know your health is your responsibility anything can be achieved. Consume more home-cooked food.

Avoid Stress

Have one hobby that might include a physical activity like dancing, aerobics might help in reducing weight. Yoga helps a lot in maintaining weight and your inner balance which is most important.Keep yourself pleasant and happy by strolling for a walk every day and spending time with young kids. Be an early riser and with the sun good morning.! Avoid unhealthy habits.

Conclusion

Today by reading various researches and news, we know that the number of thyroid affected people is increasing every day. When we open many social media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, Quora we see a lot of questions being asked about thyroid. But it is also important to remember that nothing is impossible and everybody should strive towards being a better person and making this earth a better place to live in. The natural by the product will be disease-free human beings. A happy and smiling face can make any disease stay far away.