The 5 Best Supplements For Thyroid Health

The 5 Best Supplements For Thyroid Health

Your thyroid - a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck - is hugely important to your health. The gland helps regulate some of the most important processes in your body. Your heartbeat, metabolism and temperature are regulated via hormones that the thyroid gland produces. Despite the hugely significant role that the thyroid plays in the everyday workings of the human body, it can easily be taken for granted and - if not considered in your general health- can cause severe problems if not taken care of. Let's take a look at five supplements that are particularly helpful for maintaining a good level of thyroid health.

Iodine

This is one of the most important chemical elements to consume regularly when it comes to your thyroid as a lack of iodine can lead to an iodine deficiency. This, in turn, can lead to various diseases of the thyroid. It is an absolute essential in any diet to ensure that the thyroid keeps a healthy level of function, so it definitely is one to keep an eye on! There are various health food stores that stock iodine supplements, usually in capsule or tablet form. There are also tons of various foods that contain iodine. Seafood tends to be rich in iodine, with tuna, shrimp and cod having a significant amount of iodine. One of the best foods for iodine intake is seaweed, but other food types include dairy products such as milk and cheese, plant-based foods, grains and cereals.

Iron

Iron deficiency is another major cause of thyroid dysfunction, so supplements that are rich in iron will help to maintain a healthy and happy thyroid gland. Iron is used within the thyroid to convert thyroxine (a hormone that is produced by the thyroid, also known as T4) into triiodothyronine (the active thyroid hormone known as T3). Both of these hormones are needed to ensure the smooth regulation of the heart rate, metabolism and body temperature, but T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Iron supplements also tend to be available as tablets or capsules, but you can also find them in liquid form to be taken orally, or as part of a multi-benefit supplement, such as Multitasker. As with iodine, you can also try a diet rich in iron to naturally increase your iron intake. Leafy greens such as spinach and kale are a great source of iron, but you can also get a fair amount of the vitamin from beans, seafood, red meat, poultry, dried fruit, breads and pastas.

Selenium

Selenium is also crucial to good thyroid health because it is a mineral that aids in the production of the thyroid hormone while offering protection against damage to the gland. Selenium plays a major part in maintaining healthy development of the thyroid, so much so that a deficiency can lead to issues with the gland. Selenium is available in capsule form if you are looking to increase your intake via supplements. It is also found in a lot of high-protein foods like lean meats, peas, nuts and beans. Shellfish is another winner here as it also contains selenium as well as iodine and iron. Just try not to overdo it!

Vitamin D

This vitamin is known as one of the most essential for all-around good health, and the thyroid is no exception. Studies conducted by the International Journal of Health Science showed that those suffering from hypothyroidism - an underactive thyroid - had less Vitamin D in their system. There is evidence of a strong connection between hypothyroidism and low Vitamin D, so it is important to maintain your Vitamin D intake when it comes to your thyroid. Vitamin D is a highly popular vitamin, so it comes in many forms, such as tablets, capsules, chewable gummies, oral sprays and more, such as these Plan D softgels. You can also spend a bit of time in the sun to increase your Vitamin D or stock up on oily fish, orange juice, red meats and fortified foods.

Zinc

Needed for the synthesis of the thyroid hormone, you need to have a reasonable balance of the mineral zinc in order to avoid hypothyroidism. A zinc deficiency can lead to this problem if you are not careful. Zinc supplements rank high when it comes to maintaining a healthy thyroid function, and they also have benefits to your overall health. The mineral is mostly available in tablet or capsule form. You may also want to consider adding more protein, lean meats, and nuts to your diet for an extra dose of zinc.