Successful Weight Loss, Part 4

Healing Your Thyroid

In the last article, I gave instructions for testing your thyroid function by taking your temperatures. (Take your temperature 4 times a day for 3 days. Take the first reading the moment you wake up, before you even get out of bed. Take additional readings 3 hours, 6 hours and 9 hours after waking.) 

Did you try this test? If your temperatures average below 98.3 degrees (98.6 is normal), then your thyroid is not functioning at its best and this can interfere with your ability to maintain an ideal weight. You can also take stock of the common symptoms of a low thyroid and see if you have several of these symptoms. They are: fatigue and weakness, cold intolerance, dry and coarse skin, hair loss, cold hands and feet, weight gain, insomnia, constipation, depression, poor memory, forgetfulness, nervousness and tremors, immune system problems, and heavy menstrual periods. What can you do if your temperature is too low or you have several symptoms of a low thyroid?

Please understand that in writing an article to a very general audience, it's impossible to give recommendations that will be effective for everyone. There are some products that I use with clients because it is appropriate for their unique situation, but the same products might not be good for someone else. So, today I'm just going to write about the steps any adult can take safely. If these don't fully handle your low temperature and symptoms of a low thyroid, realize that a more individualized program can be made for you.

Toxins which interfere with your thyroid should be avoided. The biggest culprits are chlorine, fluoride, bromine and radiation. Buy a chlorine filter for your shower and drink filtered water. Seek out saline pools to swim in this summer to reduce chlorine exposure. (Even saline pools are not totally free of chlorine and bromine, but your exposure will be less.) Avoid hot tubs that use chemicals and instead use a jetted tub, filling the tub with water through your chlorine filter. If you need X-rays, request a lead shield to place over the base of your neck, where your thyroid is. Another source of toxicity that has been proven to interfere with your thyroid is cigarette smoke. Even second hand smoke should be avoided.

Foods which act against your thyroid hormone production include soy and veggies from the cabbage family, like turnips, kale, rutabaga, watercress, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi. Cooking these veggies renders them less of a problem. This doesn't mean you can never eat these foods, but you should be aware that it's not a good idea to eat them in unlimited quantities.

Two supplements which are helpful to promote healthy thyroid function and which are safe for any adult to use are selenium and l-tyrosine. Use 100 mcg of selenium 1-2 times daily and use 1000 mg of l-tyrosine first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. There are MANY other supplements which could be helpful, but as I stated above, these need to be recommended on an individual basis.

Now you have an action plan! And, if you mention this article, you can get 10% off a shower filter when you call our office at 770-817-8028 to order. In a future article, I'll address the roadblock of insulin resistance. See you then!

Feel free to forward these articles to anyone who might be interested. They are welcome to subscribe to our newsletters also, whether they are patients at Natural Health Solutions or not.

Wishing you the best, 
Debra MacIntyre, ND
Founder of Natural Health Solutions

Contact Natural Health Solutions today at 770-817-8028  or via email at merle@nature-heals.com to schedule a consultation and begin your path of healing! 

Home |  Blog | Staff | Services | Supplements | What's New | Contact Us