Choose Foods High in Iodine and Selenium for Thyroid Gland Health

I sometime sit back and reflect on just how amazing the human body is. Without even thinking what’s going on inside we live like we are on autopilot. It feels good to be healthy and have an active life that is enjoyable. Unfortunately for some there are some aspects of the body, even the smallest ones that seem to malfunction, causing things to be a bit off kilter.

One tiny area of the body, the thyroid gland, when not functioning properly, can cause some serious issues. An impaired thyroid gland may be caused by a variety of things. For example, a diet that lacks iodine, mental stress, genetic defects, infections, autoimmune disorders, or the side effects of various medications are some of the more common ways that the thyroid gland can become impaired.

Thyroids that are not working properly either produce too much or too little hormone. When it overproduces it is called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and when it produces too little it is called hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Thyroid disease can come about gradually and in a very subtle way. If you can diagnose it early the outcome will be much better and a more normal lifestyle can be achieved. If it comes about and it goes unnoticed for an extended period a doctor may recommend thyroid removal.

Two of the more common thyroid gland diseases are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. Both are autoimmune disorders meaning the immune system attacks normal body cells, viewing them as foreign tissue. Despite these being serious disorders it doesn’t mean you can’t have an active lifestyle. Gail Devers, an Olympic sprinter, won 3 Gold Medals despite having Graves’ disease.

What can help prevent thyroid gland problems? One of the most important things is having a healthy diet. A diet that consists of iodine is essential because it aids the body in producing thyroid hormones. Saltwater fish and other seafood are excellent sources of iodine. If you don’t eat seafood often a good way to compensate for the lack of iodine is to include iodized table salt in your diet. Also important to the thyroid gland is selenium. Seafood and Brazil nuts, for example, are rich sources of selenium.

Additionally, there are two natural products available to assist those with thyroid disorders. Immunocal is a natural whey protein with double-bonded cysteine that strengthens the immune system. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are both autoimmune disorders, so Immunocal will play an important role in reversing the effects of these two disorders. Also, there is the Vitamin and Mineral Supplement with Chlorella that contains selenium. Not every multivitamin contains selenium so this would be an excellent replacement if you don’t eat seafood often.

So having issues with your thyroid gland can be troublesome but don’t let it deprive you of a happy life. Remember to choose foods high in iodine and selenium for thyroid gland health. By maintaining a healthy diet on a daily basis and by staying active will grant you a very enriching and fulfilling life.