How To Boost Thyroid Function Naturally

Your endocrine system’s most important part is your thyroid gland. The gland and the hormones it produces are responsible for all bodily functions. When something goes wrong with your thyroid, you can experience a whole bunch of problems. When your thyroid is overactive, excess of T3 and T4 hormones are produced and causes hyperthyroidism. When your thyroid fails to produce optimum thyroid hormones – T3 and T4 – you are having hypothyroidism.

The good news is you can now boost your thyroid function naturally. Lets have a glance at some of the natural remedies to boost thyroid function.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism

1. Weight loss
2. Frequent bowel movements
3. Increased anxiety
4. Irritation or jittery feeling
5. Trouble in sleeping
6. Irregular heartbeat
7. Hair thinning
8. Increased sense for smell
9. Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
10. Food allergies

Natural treatment for hyperthyroidism

Improving your diet can help in improvements in hyperthyroidism patients.

1. Ginger
2. Bone broth
3. Green juices – prepared from spinach, kale and spirulina
4. Whole foods – lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables
5. Anti-inflammatory herbs – rosemary, oregano and basil
6. Essential oils – myrrh and frankincense
Conventional dairy products, gluten packages foods and artificial flavorings should be avoided when you are suffering from hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

1. Weakness
2. Weight gain
3. Sleeplessness
4. Heart palpitations
5. Decreased energy levels
6. Constipation
7. Poor nail quality
8. Hair loss
9. Pain in joints
10. Feelings of sadness
11. Depression
12. Nervousness
13. Puffy eyes and face

Natural treatment for hypothyroidism
Specific nutrients may help in dealing with hypothyroidism. Particular foods for a nutrient deficiency can help in overcoming and are discussed below.

1. Iodine

The recommended minimum iodine uptake is 150 µg/day for adults. Good sources include milk, poultry, eggs, seaweeds, kelp and cheese.

2. Selenium

It is the supporter of thyroid synthesis and is required in sufficient quantities to not let severe hypothyroidism embrace you. Good sources include shitake mushrooms, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, tuna, sardines, shrimp, scallops and salmon.

3. Zinc

Zinc is important as it is required for the conversion of T4 to T3. Good sources of zinc include mollusks, nuts, legumes, shellfish and meat.

4. Vitamin D

Obviously, the sunshine is the best medium to increase your low vitamin D levels, but certain food sources can help too. These include milk, orange juice and yogurt.

5. Vitamin B

Taking entire vitamin B complex can help in overcoming vitamin B deficiency. Good sources include dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, seeds, milk, yogurt, meat, fish and eggs.

6. Probiotic-rich fruits

Probiotics help in maintaining a healthy gut flora and reduces leaky gut syndrome and other gut problems leading to nutrient deficiencies and inflammation problems. Such foods include kefir, natto, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt milk.

Avoid foods like gluten, conventional dairy, sugar, goitrogen fruits like Brussels sprouts, refined flour products and tap water when suffering from hypothyroidism.

Autoimmune diet

If you are suffering from an autoimmune thyroid disorder like Grave’s disease or Hashimoto’s disease, then follow the below simple steps for alleviating your thyroid symptoms incredibly:

1. Quit on all processed foods.
2. Avoid soy, gluten and grains.

3. Focus on green leafy vegetables, quality fish and meats and some fruits                 like berries.

4. Avoid foods that can be inflammatory like tomatoes, eggs, natural 
    sweeteners, grains, etc.
5. Reduce your sugary food intake to as low as possible.

6. Eat thyroid-boosting oils like coconut oil, cod liver oil, egg yolks, red palm 

    oil, raw butter and ghee.

Herbs

Herbs help in both strengthening and toning your body’s system. They can be used in three different forms mentioned below

1. Dried extracts – powders, capsules and teas
2. Glycerites – glycerin extracts
3. Tinctures – alcohol extracts

Before choosing herbs as your home thyroid treatment, especially those who are pregnant should not use herbal products on their own, consult with the doctor first and take them as directed. The common herbs that can be used include green tea and lemon balm. Adaptogenic herbs are helpful in hypothyroidism, such as Rhodiola, as they support your adrenal glands relieving your body’s stress.

There are certain herbs which should not be taken when suffering from any thyroid problem, as their use has been controversial and studies are not clear on their use. Examples include ashwagandha, bladderwrack, Korean or Chinese ginseng, caffeinated green tea, etc.

Supplements

If you are taking supplements for your thyroid condition, then consider the intake values strictly. For example, selenium intake in a day range from 100 to 200 µg. Choose supplements when your body is unable to produce enough the required nutrient from your diet. Be particular with the dosage. Always consult with the doctor before making any changes either to your diet or to your medications.

Lifestyle changes

Once you are aware of your thyroid condition, bring the following changes immediately in your routine for better disease management:

1. Relaxation is the key to deal with the stress. Do things that lower your 

    stress levels and relax you.

2. Sleeping properly for at least 8 hours is necessary.

3. Make exercise your priority, not hard workouts but low-impact exercises 

    like running and walking.

4. Do rebounding every day to restore your blood flow and increased 

    drainage of lymph.

5. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

6. Eliminate trans-fatty acids from your diet like French fries, donuts, 

    cookies, crackers, margarine, cakes, etc.

These changes at home along with medications and proper diet can bring an incredible change to your lives dealing smartly with your thyroid problems – be it hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease, etc.

Have you ever tried any of the above mentioned changes? Facing difficulty in managing and want guidance based on your thyroid condition, then you can easily book a thyroid test online or talk to our doctors at NextDoorLab free by just giving a missed call on 0124-6999-899.

10 Essential Nutrients For Thyroid Function

Nutrient deficiency could also be a part of your thyroid problem – have you ever wondered? In fact, doctors also miss out this important point and do not consider nutrient deficiency as a part. Thyroid function problem is majorly a lifestyle disease influenced by both environmental and nutritional factors. Thus, it is important to include all three aspects of your life before concluding the problem and prescribing medications. To know more about your nutritional problems, if any, consult with our doctors at NextDoorLab (NDL) free by just giving a missed call on 0124-6999-899. You can even book a test for thyroid function.

Thyroid is your body’s engine fueling your whole body. It is important to run smoothly and in unison, and involves various important chemicals and nutrients – which altogether help in proper thyroid functioning. Let us now just understand those important nutrients playing a role in our body – deficiency of any one nutrient can cause a problem to your thyroid.

The normal functioning of thyroid is explained below with the help of an equation:

TSH→Thyroid Gland→T4 (inactive)→T3(active)→Bindsto the Cell^' sDNA→Increases Metabolism

Understand that TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone does not appear magically. It is produced in the brain. How your brain does produce TSH? Both macronutrients and micronutrients coming from your diet help your brain to make this essential hormone, which are protein (the macronutrient) and magnesium, vitamin B12 and zinc (the micronutrient). Therefore, it is very clear from the above explanation that deficiency of any of the four nutrients can cause thyroid function problem.

Now, when TSH reaches your thyroid gland, it has to produce T4 (inactive form) or thyroxine – made up of four iodine molecules and thus named T4. This iodine comes from symporter, a doorway, and also requires two vitamins: B and C. However, with deficiencies of these two vitamins, symporter fails to import iodine to your thyroid gland. Therefore, a total of seven nutrients by far are so important to produce T4 that their deficiency can cause a thyroid disorder.

Now, to produce the active form that is T3 or tri-iodothyronine, selenium is required. This conversion of T3 from T4 is important for further processing, which requires an enzyme derived from the mineral selenium. Without selenium, T4 will produce Reverse T3 or RT3, which is also inactive and thus will not bind to your DNA’s nuclear receptor, failing to increase your metabolism and also leads to hypothyroidism. This happens because RT3 is an antithyroid hormone, which blocks the effects of T3. Selenium helps in overcoming the iodine deficiency. But together, iron and selenium deficiencies can cause severe hypothyroidism.

Now, to activate the nuclear receptor present on the surface of the cell’s nucleus, two vitamins are required: A and D. Therefore, deficiencies of these vitamins could stop T3 from activating your cell to increase metabolism.

Increased TSH production leads to hypothyroidism, while its decreased production leads to hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include excessive anxiety, weight loss, visual disturbances, weakness, difficulty in sleeping and frequent bowel movements. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include sensitivity to cold, weight gain, skin drying, puffy skin and constipation. If you have either of the thyroid disorder, ask your doctor if you have any nutrient deficiency. Ask your doctor to get you tested for the important nutrients for proper thyroid function. If you yourself are willing to get tested for those essential nutrients mentioned below, please visit www.nextdoorlab.com and book a test for thyroid function. NDL offers competitive rates for various lab tests. In addition, you will get an extra discount on booking a bunch of tests or a particular package.

Thus, following are those 10 essential nutrients which help your brain to produce TSH and stimulating your thyroid gland to further produceT4 and T3 leading to activation of your cellular metabolic rate.

1. Protein – fatty acids and amino acids

2. Iodine – the first building block of your thyroid hormones

3. Selenium

4. Zinc

5. Iron

6. Vitamin D

7. Vitamin A

8. Vitamin B, especially B12

9. Vitamin C

10. Magnesium

Also, if you have other illness along with thyroid function problem, then the nutrients like essential fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C are more important. You can easily get these nutrients from having a proper balanced diet that is rich in these nutrients. Remember that not all thyroid patients have similar nutritional deficiencies. Thus it is necessary to prepare a proper diet plan for hypothyroidism.

Note that in an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism, you require nutrients to suppress your overactive thyroid. B complex vitamins are very important here. If not treated properly, hyperthyroidism can lead to increased nutritional deficiencies.

Hence, understanding the thyroid problem – low or high – from the base is necessary for you to walk the right path of medication and diet, as you gain essential vitamins and minerals which have a very important role in the process of your thyroid function from TSH production to increase in your metabolic rate and your energy. Providing proper diets for people with hypothyroidism can definitely help or eradicate thyroid problems.

Essential Lab Tests for Thyroid Function and Thyroid Disorders

Various thyroid function tests or TFTs are divided into two broad categories:

       1. Thyroid blood tests
       2. Non-blood thyroid tests

These categories are further subdivided into the following
       1. Thyroid blood tests
             a. TSH test
             b. T3 test
             c.  T4 test
             d. Thyroid antibody test
             e. Thyroglobulin test

       2. Non-blood thyroid tests
             a. Imaging tests
                     i.  Ultrasound
                     ii. Thyroid scan
             b. Radioactive iodine uptake test

The above mentioned tests are done in order to detect thyroid disorders. The essential lab tests for thyroid function are explained below.

TSH tests

It is the primary thyroid blood test done for understanding your thyroid function. It is used to measure the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). For this test, blood sample is required. The normal TSH value ranges from 0.2 to 4.7 µIU/ml, and any value within this range indicates that the person’s thyroid gland is functioning properly. A high TSH value means that the thyroid gland is not working effectively and leads to hypothyroidism. A low value of TSH on the other hand means that the thyroid gland is producing too much of hormones leading to hyperthyroidism.

T4 tests

T4 or thyroxine is one of the two hormones produced by the thyroid gland. It is present in the blood in two different forms: free T4 (FT4) and T4 bound to proteins. While FT4 can enter the target tissue/s and show its effects, T4 bound to proteins fails to enter the tissue/s that require the thyroid hormone. FT4 is measured to rule out that your thyroid function is proper and the thyroid blood test used for this is termed as Free T4 Index (FTI). The normal range of thyroxine is 0.8—1.8 ng/dl. Individuals with a higher FTI have hyperthyroidism, while those with suppressed or low levels of FTI have hypothyroidism.

T3 tests

T3 or tri-iodothyronine or free T3 (FT3) is performed to rule out hyperthyroidism and its severity. The normal range of total T3 is 60--200 ng/dl. Individuals with elevated FT3 values have an overactive thyroid. It is not used for hypothyroidism, but if does performed, the values are lower.

Thyroid antibody test

The immune system is a natural body’s defense mechanism. It protects you from foreign invaders: your immune system produces specific antibodies from lymphocytes that destroy the foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria. In some individuals, lymphocytes attack the person’s thyroid gland resulting in either over-stimulated gland or damaged gland. This is because of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, respectively. The antibodies attacking the thyroid gland are thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. Thus, thyroid antibody test is very important to measure the levels of these antibodies. This test helps in identifying the thyroid disorder’s cause. Positive test results for antithyroid peroxidase antibodies can cause an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in patients with hypothyroidism.

Thyroglobulin test

In people who have undergone a surgery for thyroid cancer, thyroglobulin test is useful for them. Thyroglobulin is a protein or an antibody which is produced by cancerous thyroid cells and normal thyroid cells. Thus, this test is used to monitor the patient’s condition after the cancer treatment or surgery.

Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test

The thyroid gland has to uptake lots of iodine from the blood for appropriate thyroid functioning. For this activity measurement, RAIU is useful. In this test, the radioactive iodine is given to the patient. The doctor tracks the iodine’s radioactivity in the patient’s body. This test then helps in evaluating the thyroid functioning. A high radioactive iodine uptake means that the patient has a hyperactive thyroid, while a low radioactive iodine uptake means hyperthyroidism or the patient’s thyroid gland is underactive.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound is an imaging test of the thyroid gland performed to view the size and structure of the gland along with the autoimmune inflammation pattern. This imaging test will also reveal if any nodule is present or tumor growth, which may be malignant.

Thyroid scan

Thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test. It is an integral part of the thyroid check-up. Small amounts of radioactive material are used in this test to create images of the thyroid gland. The patient is injected with radioactive material via vein. This helps in revealing the size, structure and position of the gland. This test can be used to find the cause of hyperthyroidism. this test also helps in finding out the presence of nodules. To detect the radioactive material in the patient’s body, a gamma camera is used which generates images on the screen. This test can clearly identify nodules that produce the thyroid hormones produced in excess. This test can detect Grave’s disease too.

Sometimes, no one test is sufficient to rule out problems with your thyroid functioning. Thus, your doctor may prescribe a few of these tests discussed above to detect and diagnose your condition. The medications and period of treatment varies from the patient to the thyroid functioning test results.

To know in detail about your thyroid condition, please contact us on 0214-6999-899. You can also visit our website: www.nextdoorlab.com, for other related information and ordering of tests.

WHAT IS A THYROID FUNCTION TEST?

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is a gland present in the front of the neck just below the voice box or larynx. It is butterfly-shaped and is 2-inch long. It has two lobes, each present on either side of the windpipe. This gland makes up the endocrine system. The glands of this system produce hormones and release them into the blood, which travels in the body in order to direct various activities of the body’s cells.

Thyroid Function Test

image credit :- Healthline

What is the role of thyroid in the body?

The thyroid produces two essential hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are produced by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is produced in the brain by the pituitary gland. When the level of thyroid hormones is low in the blood, the pituitary releases more TSH and vice versa.

Pituitary Gland (in the brain)→TSH→T4 & T3→To the bloodstream→Cell activities occur

Various important functions performed by the thyroid in the body are as follows.

1) To make hormones that act as messengers

2 ) Help in metabolism

3) Maintain optimum levels of minerals in your blood

4) Controls calcium levels in your body

5) Regulates important body functions

a) Heart rate
b) Breathing
c) Cholesterol levels
d) Menstrual cycles
e) Body weight, etc.

What are thyroid function tests?

Thyroid function test is blood test performed to check how well your thyroid gland is functioning. They are referred as TFTs. During a TFT, blood sample is drawn the patient’s body and is sent to a laboratory for analysis. This report is then sent back to the doctor who prescribed you the tests and will diagnose your condition according to the results.

NextDoorLab (NDL) offers you TFTs from your place by ordering the relevant test on www.nextdoorlab.com. You can also consult with the doctors at NDL on 0124-6999-899 free. NDL offers you competitive rates on all lab tests, free home sample collection from place at your choice of time, free doctor consultation 24*7*365 and free online report generation, within 24 hours of sample collection. NDL also will generate a hard copy of your reports on your request and mails to your mailing address. Now getting tested is no more time consuming and with NDL’s 24*7*365 service, you can go for any lab test, any time and from any place you are at.

The tests for thyroid function require no special preparation. Remember to tell the doctor about any medications and drugs you are taking and any health condition you are suffering from, if any. During pregnancy, there are changes in the thyroid levels. So if you are pregnant, do not miss out to tell your doctor about it.

Why to perform thyroid function tests?

To check the proper working of your thyroid gland, TFTs are performed. These tests are majorly performed to find out an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). These tests help in checking the levels of the hormones produced by your thyroid gland. There are certain people suffering from conditions that put them at an additional risk of developing thyroid problems. Thus, they are advised by the doctors or healthcare providers to have TFTs annually. Some conditions include

1) Type 1 diabetes
2) Turner syndrome
3) Addison’s syndrome
4) Coeliac disease
5) Down’s syndrome

Not only health conditions put you at an extra risk, but certain drugs and over-the-counter medicines also affect your thyroid functioning, such as amiodarone, lithium, etc. These tests will also help in monitoring the treatment for people with hypothyroidism and are on thyroid replacement medications. TFTs also are required to screen newborn babies who have parents with thyroid problems. To check the thyroid gland function in hyperthyroidism patients, these tests are very important.

Whenever performing TFTs to find out a possible thyroid disorder, irrespective of whether the patient is hypothyroid or hyperthyroid, the first TFT performed is the sensitive serum TSH assay. Sometimes, TSH alone fails in certain situations like non-thyroidal illness, thyroid hormone resistance, pituitary disease, TSH-secreting pituitary tumor, recent treatment for thyrotoxicosis, etc.