Choose Foods High in Iodine and Selenium for a Healthy Thyroid Gland

Without even thinking what's going on inside, we live like we are on autopilot. It feels good to be healthy and have an active life that is enjoyable. Unfortunately, for some there are some aspects of the body, even the smallest ones that seem to malfunction, causing things to be a bit off balance.

One tiny area of the body, the thyroid gland, when not functioning properly, can cause some serious issues. A variety of things may cause an impaired thyroid gland. For example, a diet that lacks iodine, mental stress, genetic defects, infections, autoimmune disorders, or the side effects of various medications are some of the more common ways that the thyroid gland can become impaired.

Thyroids that are not working properly either produce too much or too little hormone. When it overproduces, it is called hyperthyroidism and when it produces too little, it is called hypothyroidism. Thyroid disease can come about gradually and in a very subtle way. If you can diagnose it early, the outcome will be much better and a more normal lifestyle can be achieved.

Two of the more common thyroid diseases are Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease. Both are autoimmune disorders meaning the immune system attacks healthy body cells, viewing them as foreign tissue. Despite these being severe illnesses it doesn't mean you can't have an active lifestyle. Gail Devers, an Olympic sprinter, won 3 Gold Medals despite having Graves' disease.
What can help prevent thyroid problems? One of the most important things is having a healthy diet. A diet that consists of iodine is essential because it aids the body in producing thyroid hormones. Saltwater fish and other seafood are excellent sources of iodine. If you don't eat seafood often a good way to compensate for the lack of iodine is to include iodized table salt in your diet. Another element that is important to the thyroid is selenium which aids in the thyroid hormone metabolism. Seafood and Brazil nuts, for example, are rich sources of selenium.

Additionally, there are two natural products available to assist those with thyroid problems. Learn more about a natural whey protein with double-bonded cysteine that strengthens the immune system. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are both autoimmune disorders, so this product will play a significant role in reversing the effects of these two diseases. Also, there is a vitamin and mineral supplement that contains selenium. Not every multi-vitamin contains selenium, so this would be an excellent replacement if you don't eat seafood often.

So having issues with your thyroid can be troublesome but don't let it deprive you of a happy life. By maintaining a healthy diet on a daily basis and by staying active will grant you a very enriching and fulfilling life.

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