Did you know that you can still suffer from Hashimoto’s even with “normal” blood work? There’s a large difference between the clinical range and the functional range when looking at lab values. Standard medical practitioners may very well overlook early signs of Hashimoto’s if solely relying on blood work for a diagnosis. Symptoms need to be taken into account as well. Here are some of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s:
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Enlarged thyroid
- Joint pain
- Muscle weakness
- Sensitivity to cold
- Weight gain
The thyroid impacts nearly every aspect of our health, so when there is an imbalance you can experience some unwanted symptoms such as thinning hair, a fast heart rate and anxiety. To help support thyroid health, here are three tips:
Tip #1: Try Selenium
Selenium benefits the thyroid because it’s been shown to regulate the hormones T3 and T4 in your body. Selenium can also lower the risk for thyroiditis during pregnancy (postpartum thyroiditis) and afterwards. A diet low in iodine and selenium increases the risk for thyroid disorders because the thyroid gland needs both selenium and iodine to produce adequate levels of thyroid hormones
Tip #2: Increase Probiotics
A large part of taking care of your thyroid involves taking care of your gut. Try increasing your probiotics for optimal gut health.
Tip #3: Try Going Gluten-Free
If you suspect you may be suffering from a thyroid issue, you may want to try eliminating gluten. Gluten and thyroid conditions have been closely linked so try giving it up for at least 2 weeks to see if your symptoms improve.
For this week’s challenge, I challenge you to practice some self-care measures and enjoy some thyroid supporting foods:
Try:
- Yoga 2-3 times per week
- A few minutes of meditation daily
- Coconut oil
- Bone broth
- Brazil nuts
- Organic fruits and vegetables