Thyroid Supplements

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid takes the iodine in foods and supplements and converts it into the hormones that your body needs for maintaining metabolism.  No other gland or organ in the body can absorb and convert iodine into the necessary hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).  Once these hormones are created, they are transported by the blood stream into all of the organs of the body.  T4 and T3, the latter being the stronger hormone, are responsible for the metabolism of all parts of the body and the body as a whole.  

There are many diseases and dysfunctions that can affect the thyroid gland and when it is not working well, this little gland can really take a toll on your health.  Thyroid supplements are indicated when the thyroid is not functioning the way it should be and doesn’t make enough hormones.  This condition is called hypothyroidism and essentially means that the metabolism has slowed because the thyroid gland isn’t keeping up production of T3 and T4.  

The symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary from person to person and can start out so vague that it can actually take years of suffering before a person can be accurately diagnosed and treated.  The most common symptoms include weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, dry skin and achy joints.  As each symptom becomes more intense, people start to take notice, but often don’t make the connection to thyroid disease until the condition is severe.  With just a symptom or two, you can begin the regimen of thyroid supplements and don’t have to wait to be diagnosed by your doctor to get some relief.  

Thanks to thyroid supplements, patients can take their thyroid health into their own hands and don’t have to wait years for their doctors to finally diagnose them with a treatable case of hypothyroidism.  Supplements can boost the body’s natural hormone production and make real change for patients who suffer with thyroid problems.  

In a perfect world, we would all get all the nutrients we need from foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats. And then, our bodies would perfectly absorb those nutrients and be able to convert them into the hormones we need to function at our best.  In that perfect world, n one would suffer with the symptoms of hypothyroidism or have to take supplements to boost their ability to create the hormones they need for optimum metabolism and weight.  

Of course, our world is far from perfect, but we are lucky enough to have supplements at our disposal that can help with thyroid problems and alleviate the symptoms that plague people whose thyroid glands aren’t able to absorb iodine and convert it to the hormones that will regulate their metabolism.  

Synthetic Thyroid Supplements

Doctors can prescribe medication for patients who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and these medicines are essentially synthetic thyroid supplements.  As with any medication, they can have nearly as many side effects as they have benefits and should be used with caution and only under a doctor’s care.  

There are many supplements available today that make the claim that they can raise your metabolism, but some of them depend on stimulants rather than natural herbs and compounds to do the job.  Be very wary of products that contain such stimulants as they can raise your heart rate and blood pressure to unsafe levels.  

Natural Thyroid Supplements

Relying on the herbs that boost metabolism and thyroid hormone production, good quality thyroid supplements help people regain their energy and restore their natural metabolism.  Look for these ingredients in a supplement for best results:

• Licorice

• Shilajeet

• Makandi (Coleus Forskohlii)

• Kanchanara

• Green Oats (Avena sativa)

• Bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

All of these herbs work in tandem with your body and your thyroid gland to help restore normal function and create an environment where your own glandular system can regulate your metabolism.  

 A thyroid targeted supplement will provide a wide range of minerals and vitamins as well as those that are specifically indicated for the health of the thyroid gland and its production of hormones.  Each ingredient works with the other to help your body heal itself of thyroid problems like hypothyroidism and alleviate the symptoms it causes.  Thyroid Supplements can make a huge difference for people who are suffering with thyroid dysfunction.