Add natural options to your treatment
BY ROCHELLE FERNANDES, MSc., ND (cand)
Your thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, produces hormones, which control virtually every organ in your body as well as your metabolism and heart rate. When too much hormone is produced, your body uses energy faster than it should, which often leads to heat intolerance, irritability, heart palpitations and weight loss. If not enough hormone is produced, you are likely to experience fatigue, dry skin and hair, cold intolerance and weight gain.
THYROID DISEASES
❯ Hyperthyroidism, that is, an overactive thyroid, happens when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
❯ Hypothyroidism, that is, an underactive thyroid, occurs when insufficient amount of certain important hormones is produced by your thyroid gland.(Source: Mayo Clinic)
❯ Goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland.(Source: Mayo Clinic)
❯ Graves’ disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism).(Source: Mayo Clinic)
❯ Hashimoto’s disease happens when your immune system attacks your thyroid. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
THE TRUTH ABOUT THYROID DISEASE
Thyroid disorders affect about 200 million people in the world (0.8 to five per cent of the population), and are four to seven times more common in women. They include hyper- and hypothyroidism, goiter, thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Pharmaceutical medications that are common for hypothyroid status include Synthroid and Cytomel, which are replacement drugs for a hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism is treated by radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications, such as Methimazole. There are several natural options available to treat thyroid conditions that can be used in conjunction with these medications or on their own, such as selenium, kelp and zinc. However, more recent attention has been drawn to other options, such as magnesium and vitamin D.
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium is a vital part of cellular reactions; it is involved in metabolism, DNA replication, repair, transport mechanisms and cell proliferation. Food sources that are high in magnesium are whole and unrefined grains, seeds, cocoa, nuts, almonds, green leafy vegetables, avocados and fish. Magnesium has been used in treating arrhythmia, hypertension, high cholesterol, premenstrual syndrome, asthma, diabetes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in doses of 100 to 400 milligrams on average taken with meals. More recently, the relationship between magnesium abnormalities and the development of thyroid disorders has been considered.
A study on metabolic disorders indicated that mineral deficiencies, including magnesium, were found in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. It suggests that an improved diet via maintenance of required daily intakes of vitamins and minerals could help decrease symptoms and prevent recurrence of malnutrition-induced thyroid disease.
Another study demonstrated that using conventional medication in the treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease led towards normalizing magnesium levels. These results are useful with further investigation on whether magnesium could be used therapeutically and if a correction of magnesium deficiency could be beneficial towards correcting thyroid abnormalities.
❯ Whole and unrefined grains, cocoa, almonds, green leafy vegetables, and fish are high in magnesium.
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in certain foods and can be produced internally when ultraviolet rays hit the skin. This vitamin’s function in the body is for bone and cell growth, neurological function, normal inflammatory response and thyroid optimization. Food sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, swordfish, salmon, milk and liver.
The role that vitamin D plays in the development and treatment of thyroid conditions, such as Graves’ disease and thyroid cancer, remains to be uncovered.
One study showed that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in Graves’ disease patients. It also suggests that vitamin D deficiency might be an independent risk factor for predicting failure of radioactive iodine therapy in patients suffering from Graves’ disease.
Overall, given that thyroid conditions can be detrimental if they are not treated and overlap with other diagnoses, it is important to consider several effective treatment options, including conventional and natural ones. Evidence has suggested a relationship between lower magnesium levels and their potential correlation that could help in treating thyroid autoimmune and other thyroid-related diseases.
Vitamin D has shown efficacy in preventing the migration of certain thyroid cancer cells, helping predict the success of some conventional thyroid treatments. These two powerful supplements have shown promise as potential effective therapeutic targets in thyroid disease, enabling a greater spectrum of choice of natural treatments for practitioners and patients.
❯ Cod liver oil, swordfish, salmon, milk and liver contain Vitamin D. VM
