Factors such as diet, lifestyle, stress, and environmental factors can affect thyroid functioning. What can we do to maintain optimal functioning? We can start by eating nutrient dense foods that contain the essential minerals needed by the thyroid.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and is a part of the body that unless you are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, you may not even know much about it or what exactly it does for the body. But with more and more people receiving medical diagnoses of thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, maybe it is something that we should become more familiar with so we can learn how to support it and keep it functioning optimally.
The thyroid’s primary function is to produce and release certain hormones that are responsible for controlling the body’s metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. These are all very important vitals of our overall health, and it all starts with that little butterfly-shaped gland we know as the thyroid.
Two key elements: Iodine and Selenium
Iodine is an essential mineral that is required for the process of hormone production in the thyroid. When it comes to iodine, there is a fine line: too much can lead to toxicity, and too little can lead to deficiency. With the help of the trace mineral, selenium, this balance can be regulated. Selenium reduces the body’s absorption of heavy metals and can help detox the body from heavy metals as well.
Sources of iodine
Iodine is an element that is not produced by the body naturally, so it is required that we consume it through our diet. Iodized table salt is a commonly recognized form of salt, but this is an added and refined source of iodine. Try adding these natural sources of iodine into your diet:
