What has your thyroid done for you lately?
By Stacy Winton, MS, RD, LD/N
Nutrition By Design, Inc.
sjwin2000@aol.com
Tel: 305-217-3711
Fax: 305-937-0735
You
wouldn’t think of driving your car with
an empty gas tank. Your body is no different.
Whether pumping iron or running a triathlon
the proper fuel can make the difference between
hitting your target and hitting the wall.
What
has your thyroid done for you lately? This
butterfly shaped gland
found at the base of the neck below the larynx
(voice box) produces hormones that affect
body temperature, temperament, metabolism,
and growth.
Thyroid
disorders are more likely to affect women than
men and frequently go undiagnosed until the
signs and symptoms become extreme enough to
generate concern.
If you have difficulty sleeping, feel unusually
warm, experience unintentional weight loss,
and often feel nervous or jittery a hyperactive
thyroid may be to blame. On the other hand if
your thyroid is hypoactive (under-producing
hormones) you may experience weight gain, frequently
feel cold, and fatigue easily. Both conditions
can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and
physical exam and are usually treated with medication.
Many
nutritional supplements that promise weight
loss along with improved thyroid health contain
iodine which the thyroid uses to produce metabolism-regulating
hormones. The Recommended Daily Allowance for
iodine is 150 micrograms (mcg). While generally
consumed in the form of iodized salt*, iodine
requirements are easily met by eating seafood
(a six ounce portion of ocean fish contains
a whopping 500 mcg), seaweed (think sushi!),
and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil.
Consistent
over consumption of iodine-containing supplements
may lead to serious health complications especially
if underlying thyroid problems already exist.
Before taking any nutritional supplements consult
with your physician to prevent adverse interactions
with current medications or health conditions.
* ¼
teaspoon of iodized salt contains 67 micrograms of
iodine, about 45% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA).
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