Three Foods to Support Thyroid Function

Here are some foods to support healthy thyroid function:

Seaweed - Iodine is an essential element that assists the thyroid in producing thyroid hormone. By increasing iodine intake, patients have seen an increase in the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The best natural source of iodine is kelp, bladderwrack and other seaweeds.

Coconut Oil - Virgin coconut oil is praised by health experts for its ability to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. It is made up largely of medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are known to speed metabolism, promote weight loss, and raise basal body temperatures.

Brazil nuts and walnuts – These nuts contain high amounts of selenium. Many hypothyroid patients have been found to have deficiencies in this trace mineral.

More Thyroid Tips: Track Your Basal Body Temp

How to Monitor Your Basal Body Temperature

Blood tests may not be sensitive enough to detect milder forms of hypo- thyroidism. Monitoring your body's basal (resting) temperature is often used to identify a thyroid hormone deficiency.

Here is how to track your basal temperature accurately:

1. Get a Basal Body Thermometer and place it where you can reach it without getting out of bed.

2. In the morning, before you get out of bed, take your temperature.


3. Keep a record of your temperature for at least ten days. (Women should do this during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, as their basal temperature may rise during the latter half.)

Normal basal body temperatures fall between 96° F and 98° F. If your basal temperature is consistently low in that range, you could be mildly hypothyroid.

Thyroid Issues

Thyroid issues have become very prevalent in my practice. Many of my patients suffer from mildly low functioning or elevated thyroid levels. The next few posts will explore Thyroid issues and some lifestyle tips to help. First, we begin with what the Thyroid is...

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck. It is responsible for energy, metabolism, hormone regulation, body weight and blood calcium levels. When functioning properly, the thyroid gland secretes just the right amount of thyroid hormone to regulate almost all the metabolic processes in your body.

Too much or too little of these vital body chemicals and it can drastically influence energy levels, body weight and your mental health. With over 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease, much attention has been given to the many ways that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can treat thyroid problems.

Thyroid disorders stem from either an overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism) of thyroid hormones. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, your body can experience a variety of symptoms:

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:

• Weight loss despite increased appetite
• Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration
• More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea
• Muscle weakness, trembling hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Lighter or shorter menstrual periods

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

• Lethargy, slower mental processes or depression
• Reduced heart rate
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Tingling or numbness in the hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Constipation, heavy menstrual periods or dry skin and hair

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by your doctor, who tests the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Hormones secreted by the thyroid are measured, as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production in the thyroid. Some milder forms of hypothyroidism can also be detected by a consistently low basal body temperature.

Source: Qi Mail

Ginger Tea

Freshly made ginger tea is delicious and healing. It's wonderfully soothing on a cold day and it's very healing for digestive discomfort, nausea, morning sickness, menstrual cramps, and common cold. Ginger tea bags are just not the same as the freshly made tea!

Traditional Recipe for Ginger Tea

• 4-6 thin slices of organic fresh ginger (each slice should be about the size of a quarter coin)
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups of filtered water

Bring the water and ginger to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 10-20 minutes (20 minutes will yield a stronger ginger tea). Strain the tea and enjoy. You can add honey or lemon to taste. If this is too gingery, add more hot water to dilute.

No-Simmer Ginger Tea Recipe

• 1 teaspoon of grated organic fresh ginger
• 1 cup of boiling water

Simply add the boiling water to a mug with the teaspoon of grated ginger. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. You can strain or simply drink with the pieces of ginger. You can add honey or lemon to taste. If this is too gingery, add more hot water to dilute.