The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck that wraps around your windpipe (trachea).
It produces hormones that control your body’s metabolism. These include thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
If you have a thyroid disorder, you may need treatment to control the production of these hormones. Thyroid disease can be mild, like goiter, or it can be serious, like hyperthyroidism.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do to help prevent thyroid disease. It is important to eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. You should also avoid processed and fried food.
Fruits and vegetables are full of essential nutrients that your body needs, especially antioxidants like vitamin C and manganese, which help protect against free radical damage. They also provide fibre, which is a vital nutrient for your digestive system.
Nuts and seeds are another good source of nutrients. They contain essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fatty acids that can help lower inflammation in your thyroid. They are also high in fibre and low in calories.
Fish is another excellent source of iodine, which your thyroid needs to produce enough thyroid hormone. Iodine deficiency is linked to enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter) and to hypothyroidism. In addition, women who were iodine-deficient during pregnancy may have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Zinc is also necessary for the function of your thyroid. Your body absorbs zinc from dietary sources, which is why it is so important to get enough of this mineral. A deficiency in zinc can lead to hypothyroidism and other health issues, such as alopecia, a condition that causes hair to fall out in clumps.
Other nutrients that can affect the function of your thyroid include iron, calcium, and phosphorus. These are found in nuts, seeds, beans, and dark-green leafy vegetables. They can interfere with your thyroid medication, so it is best to talk with your doctor about the right timing for consuming these foods or taking supplements.
Soy, kelp and dietary supplements that contain iodine and selenium can also be problematic for people with thyroid problems. Those with hypothyroidism should be careful about eating too much soy and kelp, and those taking thyroid hormone replacement medications should take these supplements with an empty stomach.
There are many different factors that can affect your thyroid and how your body functions, so it is important to consult your doctor if you have any concerns. Your doctor will be able to recommend a healthier diet that will help you feel your best.
Get Regular Checkups
One of the best ways to prevent thyroid disease is by getting regular checkups with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to spot any problems with your thyroid early on and can help you treat them before they get worse.
During your regular checkup, your doctor will also test your thyroid hormone levels to make sure that your thyroid is functioning normally. The thyroid gland controls many of your body’s functions, including how you use energy (heat), how well your heart and muscles work, and your mood. When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can cause your body to use energy too quickly, which can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, and a slowed heart rate.
Thyroid disease can occur at any age and is more common in women than men. It can be caused by a number of different conditions, and it is often passed down from family members.
Your doctor will likely order several blood tests to monitor your thyroid. These include the measurement of thyroid hormone (T4) and thyrotropin (TSH). TSH helps your body know how much of the thyroid hormone it needs to function.
These blood tests will give your doctor information about the health of your thyroid gland and can help them detect problems such as nodules or cancer. They may also recommend other tests such as an ultrasound or a thyroid nuclear scan.
If a nodule is found during your exam, your doctor will do an aspiration or a biopsy to see whether it is cancerous. A thyroid cancer is the most serious type of nodule that you can have, so a doctor will always try to find it before it grows to become a problem.
The doctor will also ask about any symptoms you might be having, such as a slowed heart rate or feeling nervous. These can all be signs of an enlarged thyroid.
Your thyroid is a small gland located in your neck. It is responsible for producing a variety of hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism and keep you from feeling tired.
Get Enough Selenium
Getting enough selenium is essential for a healthy thyroid and the immune system. Selenium is a trace mineral that can be found naturally in foods, and it’s also available as a supplement.
It’s best to get your selenium from a wide range of sources, especially foods like nuts, beans, fish and dark green leafy vegetables. Brazil nuts, for example, contain high levels of selenium. They’re also a great source of vitamin E and fiber.
Lentils are another great source of selenium. Just one cup of cooked lentils offers about 6 mcg of selenium, and they’re packed with protein and fiber as well. Try adding them to a soup with mushrooms for a vegan-friendly meal that’s full of this important nutrient.
Dry roasted cashews offer 3 mcg of selenium per ounce. Snack on these as a snack or add them to your smoothie with yogurt or oatmeal for an extra boost of this crucial mineral.
Other foods with good selenium content include red meat, poultry and fish. A serving of chicken provides almost half your recommended daily selenium intake.
Some vegetables, such as kale, broccoli and cauliflower, have high selenium content. For even more selenium, eat fresh fruits, legumes and whole grains.
A diet rich in foods with high levels of selenium can help reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It may also improve blood sugar control in those who have these conditions.
However, selenium can be toxic if taken in too much or too often, so check with your doctor before taking it as a dietary supplement.
As a general rule, it’s best to get your selenium in the organic forms selenomethionine and selenocysteine from natural sources, and to take dietary supplements that are made with these nutrients. These are the most bioavailable and are the most easily absorbed by the body.
People who have autoimmune conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, are at high risk for selenium deficiency. This is because the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and other parts of the body when it’s low in this nutrient. This can result in symptoms that range from fatigue to weight gain.
Avoid Smoking
If you are a smoker, you should stop immediately. The nicotine in cigarette smoke can cause a number of health problems, including thyroid disease. Smoking can also increase your risk for other conditions, such as cancer and heart disease.
You should never smoke if you have thyroid disease or are taking antithyroid medication. You should talk to your doctor about whether you should start a quit-smoking program or if you need help quitting.
Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, some of which can trigger an immune response that targets the thyroid gland. This can make it harder to control the activity of your thyroid gland and may increase your risk for developing Graves’ disease.
Cigarette smoking can also increase your chances of developing thyroid eye disease (TED). TED is a very common complication of an overactive thyroid. It causes blurry vision and can worsen over time.
A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that patients with TED who smoked were more likely to need surgery than those who did not smoke. They also were more likely to have complications, like cataracts, after treatment.
These findings suggest that smoking is a risk factor for TED and should be avoided by everyone.
There are a number of ways that you can prevent thyroid disease. You can eat a healthy diet and get regular checkups to see if your thyroid is working properly.
It is also important to avoid tobacco or alcohol, which are known to have a negative impact on the thyroid gland. These substances block the iodide supply and synthesis of hormones.
For example, it can decrease iodine uptake and reduce the production of the active thyroid hormone T3. Additionally, it can lead to overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
You should also be careful about your weight, since obesity is another major risk factor for autoimmune thyroid disease. If you are overweight or obese, it is especially important to get enough exercise and eat a balanced diet.
Finally, you should try to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause the release of more stress hormones, which can worsen your condition and lead to even more symptoms. Getting a good night’s sleep can also prevent you from becoming overly anxious or depressed, which are also risk factors for thyroid disease.
