If you struggle with thyroid disease as 20 million other Americans, you may have finally become aware of the importance of this gland to your health. The thyroid gland is responsible for many vital functions in the body via the release of important hormones into the blood.
These signs indicate that you may be dealing with improper thyroid function
- Persistent fatigue
If you sleep between 8 and 10 hours every night and you still feel tired during the day, you may be dealing with poor thyroid hormone levels. Chronic fatigue is linked to many health conditions, and it is probably the most common early warning sign of thyroid malfunction.
- Brain fog
If you have hard times focusing on your tasks, keep forgetting things and feel as if you “walk in a fog” all day, consider checking your thyroid. High thyroid hormone level affects concentration, and low levels affect memory.
- Indigestion
Hypothyroidism is often accompanied with constipation. An overactive thyroid gland has the opposite effect – it causes frequent bowel movement and in some cases even diarrhea.
- Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
Individuals who struggle with hyperthyroidism have their bodies flooded with hormones that trigger anxiety and nervousness. Thyroid disorders are often manifested through mood swings, irritability, and depression.
- Excessive weight gain
Putting several pounds on is not such a terrifying problem, but if you keep gaining weight despite your physical activity and healthy dietary habits, you may want to consult your doctor. It may be your thyroid that affects the calorie burning process.
Thyroid disorders are also manifested through sensitivity to cold and heat, ringing in the ears, hair loss, and brittle nails.
Having your thyroid tests normal does not mean that you should not take proper care of your thyroid gland
Blood tests can only detect great thyroid imbalances, like the cases of full-blown thyroid disease. Unfortunately, minor imbalances cannot be always detected.
Diet plays an essential role in thyroid function, especially if you are into fad diets. According to a 1990 study, low-calorie diets affect thyroid function and mood. Diets low in selenium also affect your thyroid gland.
Coconut oil and thyroid gland
Diets consisting of unhealthy fats have a bad impact on both thyroid gland and blood glucose. Follow a balanced diet regimen and focus on eating more healthy fats.
Until recently, coconut oil has had a reputation as a “bad” oil, but experts have now brought clarity on why coconut oil is so healthy. Taking this into consideration, the medical community has also changed the attitude towards this underestimated food.
Coconut oil has a longer shelf life and more saturated fats than any other non-hydrogenated oil. It is widely used throughout the world, starting from the South Asian cuisine to movie theater popcorn.
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid. It is known for its ability to increase good cholesterol and improve overall cholesterol. This makes it excellent for your thyroid gland.
Incorporate coconut oil into your diet
Coconut oil is easily available and affordable. Speaking of its cooking purposes, it is just amazing. Melt it and add it into your stir frys and curries, or you can simply drizzle it over your healthy salads. Coconut oil is an amazing substitute for vegetable oil when it comes to baking.
More interesting is the fact that people prefer using it as a cosmetic product, regardless of whether it is used instead of regular moisturizers for hair or skin.
Adding coconut oil to your diet is just one way to help your thyroid work better. Cut down on your gluten intake and try following an anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet for example. This diet regimen has shown to be amazing when it comes to promoting heart health.
Add more vitamins and minerals like iron, iodine, B vitamins, selenium and omega-3 fats to your diet. Avoid chemicals like dioxins that can affect your thyroid gland.
And last but not least, do something about all the stress in your life. Stress and anxiety only contribute to an existing thyroid problem.
Source/Reference: www.healthandhomeremedies.com
Other included sources linked in Health and Home Remedies’s article: dailyhealthpost.com -- Original Article Source
1. http://www.thyroid.org/media-main/about-hypothyroidism/
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072572/
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2341229
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2840792
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3900181
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7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2172489
8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16387693
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1310917/
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079864
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