Cabbages and Cream: January 2007

Your thyroid is a tiny butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck which regulates your metabolism, playing a major role in energy and health levels from day to day.

The thyroid produces hormones which convert food into energy, helping your body burn calories efficiently. If your thyroid is functioning badly, effects are quickly felt. Women with healthy thyroids numerous symptoms are experienced, including weight loss or gain, mood swings, and changes in bowel habits.

How Well Is Your Thyroid Working?
It's always a good idea to have your doctor regularly check that your thyroid is functioning correctly, and your hormone levels are within healthy limits. But while you wait for answers, the following short quiz can help you determine the efficiency of your thyroid:

Is your heartbeat slower or more rapid than usual?
Are you intolerant of heat or cold?
Are you irritable/ fatigued/depressed?
Do you have mood swings?
Have you gained or lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time?
Have you noticed a change in the flow of your menstrual periods?
Have your bowel habits changed?
Are you experiencing constipation or loose bowel movements?
Is your hair dry or coarse, or do you have significant hair loss?
Do you have swelling or a lump on the front side of the base of your neck?

If you answered “Yes” of five or more of these questions, talk to your doctor. He or she may conduct some tests, and can tell you what you can do to support the health and proper functioning of your thyroid gland.

Some women will need thyroid hormone replacement therapy. For this, I particularly like Armour Thyroid, a prescription form of natural thyroid replacement therapy, available in the UK and France.

But all women, regardless of their age, can benefit from the nutritional support of their thyroid. Fortunately, there are safe, natural supplements available.

Boost Your Thyroid Naturally
Iodine and tyrosine play a crucial role in thyroid support. They work synergistically to produce hormones and balance thyroid production, so ensure you are taking in enough of these nutrients. Some wonderful food sources of iodine include garlic, shellfish and kelp. An average woman needs 150mcg of iodine a day to support her thyroid, but since most of us take in closer to 600mcg through our diet, it’s unlikely we’ll need to supplement this nutrient.

Tyrosine, an amino acid produced in your body from another amino acid called phenylalanine, helps support your metabolism and stamina. Tyrosine is abundant in fish, soybeans, poultry, almonds, seeds, and peas. An easy way to increase your levels is to supplement 500–2,000mg of tyrosine per day with a protein meal. (If your blood pressure is not in the normal range, begin with the lower dosage, and monitor your blood pressure levels regularly.) Also, to ensure your thyroid function is at its peak, be sure you are also getting the following in your nutrient programme daily: