Hypothyroidism

About Hypothyroidism
A deficiency of thyroid hormones can affect virtually all body functions. The degree of severity of symptoms in adults range from mild and barely detectable to severe and very serious. Symptoms of underactive thyroid include fatigue, especially on waking, feeling cold easily, dry skin, depression, muscle and joint weakness and stiffness, constipation, general slowness and possible weight gain.
Blood tests are not sensitive enough to diagnose milder forms of hypothyroidism and therefore many people go undiagnosed. It is estimated that between 10-25 per cent of people suffer from some degree of hypothyroidism, many of whom are undiagnosed.

Thermostatic Control for the Body
The thyroid gland acts as the body’s thermostat and controls the metabolic rate of the body. As metabolism affects every cell of the body, if the thermostat is malfunctioning (either set too high or too low) it naturally affects all parts of the body.
If cellular metabolism drops too low, widespread dysfunction of the body can occur and conditions such as depression, anxiety, memory impairments, hair loss, weight gain, loss of libido, fatigue and cold hands and feet can ensue.
Michael Schmidt and Jeffery Bland, in a paper published in Alternative Therapies in 1997, explain how there is a very strong relationship between the health of the thyroid gland, the environment and nutrition, and even very subtle changes in the thyroid gland’s homeostasis can cause a plethora of physiological symptoms.
Thyroid decline most often affects women over 40 but men and younger people can also suffer. Statistics suggest that up to 20% of the female adult population may have reduced thyroid function, although many practitioners of alternative and complementary medicine believe the figure is far higher.

Food Suggestions for Hypothyroidism
Eat a healthy diet, consisting of fruits and vegetables, fish, skinless chicken and turkey, whole grains and beans.
Particularly useful foods for the thyroid include seaweed, kelp, dulse, garlic, radishes, seafood, watercress, egg yolks, mushrooms and Brewers Yeast.
Avoid sugar, coffee, soda beverages.

Nutrients and Herbs to Support Thyroid Function Amino Acids
Amino acids play a major role in supporting thyroid health. It is important when choosing supplements of amino acids that they are in the L configuration, or in the case of phenylalanine the DL configuration. This is the form found in nature and utilised by the human body.
L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that the body synthesises from phenylalanine. Amongst its plethora of functions including the formation of the neurotransmitters, tyrosine is a major component of the thyroid hormones.
People with low thyroid function may well benefit from supplementation of tyrosine. People with depression often have low levels of tyrosine. Depression is linked with a low thyroid function and studies suggest tyrosine supplementation may well be beneficial. See Thyroid Support.
L-carnitine is made in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. Carnitine plays an important role in the metabolism of energy from fat. In order for carnitine to be utilised fully it requires vitamin C, iron, niacin, B6 and methionine.
DL-phenylalanine is a mixture of the amino acid L-phenylalanine which is converted in the body to L-tyrosine. D-phenylalanine is converted primarily to phenylethylamine which is a mood elevating chemical in the body as well as helping to influence certain chemicals in the brain which relate to the sensation of pain. By taking DL-phenylalanine, levels of tyrosine are increased and hence this can influence levels of thyroid hormones. Several nutrients are required for the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine; these are vitamin B6, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin E.
Minerals and Thyroid Health
There are many minerals essential to the health of the thyroid gland; the most well researched is iodine. Iodine is required to manufacture the thyroid hormones. Seafoods, iodised salt and sea vegetables such as kelp, as well as foods grown in iodine rich soil, are rich sources of iodine. With today’s intensive farming techniques it is thought that trace minerals including iodine have been depleted and so many foods no longer contain substantial amounts of these trace minerals. Iodine has now been added to salt and therefore people eating a large amount of processed foods may be consuming too much iodine. However, people whose diets are low in sources of iodine may well benefit from taking supplements of this mineral to help support optimal thyroid health.
Zinc is another essential mineral for optimizing thyroid health. In a study of fourteen healthy people with primarily high or low serum zinc levels, thyroxin levels tended to be lower in those people with lower serum zinc. By supplementing with zinc in those individuals whose serum was low, thyroxin levels increased.
There are many different zinc supplements available today and some are absorbed by the body better than others, one of the best sources being zinc picolinate.
Selenium plays a role in thyroid hormone metabolism. It is now thought that severe selenium deficiency may be a possible cause of goitre.
In relation to thyroid health copper is another mineral which plays an important role in the metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine. Although copper deficiency is uncommon, people taking zinc supplements for more than a few weeks should take copper (unless they have Wilson’s disease) as zinc interferes with copper absorption. The safest way of ensuring balance is to take a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Manganese is required to transport thyroxin hormone in the cell.

Stress and Thyroid Function
Stress is known to affect thyroid function. The amino acid tyrosine is necessary for the production of steroid hormones adrenaline and noradrenalin. When the body is under stress more of these hormones are required and tyrosine reserves are depleted, leaving the thyroid hormone pathway under functioning. Stress depletes many of the essential nutrients required for thyroid function : the B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc and selenium especially.
Individuals who are stressed may therefore require additional adrenal support in order to improve their thyroid function. There are many nutrients and herbs, which can help support the adrenal glands.
Licorice root is one such herb. It contains active flavonoids and glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin has been shown to inhibit the breakdown of cortisol in the body. People with an increased demand on their adrenal glands may well benefit from taking supplements of licorice.

Health Supplements that may help Hypothyroidism
Vitawave (Liquid Vitamin Supplement) or Master Gland
Thyroid Activator
TS II
7-Keto
Proactazyme

Hoodia for Weight Loss

Used for centuries by the San tribesmen of the Kalahari Desert to reduce hunger, Hoodia gordonii was first studied by the South African national laboratory in a study of indigenous foods. When researchers fed this succulent plant to animals, the animals began to lose weight. After years of study, scientists now theorize that Hoodia appears to affect the brains of laboratory animals by making the stomach feel full and reducing the desire to eat.

Hoodia contains a molecule that has similar effects on nerve cells as glucose, and tricks the brain into the sensation of fullness. Results of human clinical trials in Britain suggest that hoodia may reduce the appetite by hundreds of calories a day. Dr. Richard Dixey who conducted research on the plant explained in a BBC interview that it "contains a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to."
Read more about Hoodia Supplement