Thyroid, also known as metabolic master, is the most important gland in your body because it controls the function of every cell in the body. If the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, every system in the body gets affected and may result in weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, constipation, and dry skin. Right from heart beat to how you burn calories, this butterfly shaped gland plays a major role in regulating all the aspects of metabolism by releasing hormones. So, how to prevent your thyroid gland from getting affected is a big question for many. What things to be done and what sort of care to be taken is the major area of concern. To help you out, we have listed out few ways narrated by our Endocrinologists to help you keep your thyroid healthy.
Eating right
Proper diet will help improve hormone balance and can address the side effects that are associated with low thyroid function, like weight gain. In fact, balanced diet can also reduce inflammation in your body. You can replace refined carbohydrates like flour and sugar with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains. It’s better to skip foods containing unhealthy saturated and trans fats. Instead you can go for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, flaxseeds, salmon, sardines and mackerel. For those who are diagnosed, it is better to avoid goitrogens, a substance that is present in foods such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peanuts and soybeans. Avoiding starvation diets by consuming foods that boosts metabolism can help you.
Exercise moderately
Doing physical activity regularly can boost your mood, improve your heart function and rev up your metabolism. But, make sure that you exercise moderately, like going for a walk for 20 minutes. You can even try some yoga poses like shoulder stand, which can improve thyroid function. Make a note that long distance runs and spinning classes can make hinder your thyroid function. Excessive exercise increases your cortisol levels, which makes it difficult to convert the less active thyroid hormone T4 to the metabolically-potent hormone T3. This can also increase the level of RT3, which can block your thyroid hormone from getting into your cell. So, it is better to opt for short and high intensity circuit training workouts.
Ditch smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for health, but do you know that it increases your risk of getting thyroid. A lot of smoking components including thiocyanate to nicotine can increase the secretion of Iodine, which in turn affects your thyroid performance. Scientists also revealed that smoking a lot may affect the secretion of thyroid hormones. It also increases the risk of hypothyroidism, a common autoimmune disease.
Add supplements
Supplements are one of the available options to help support your thyroid. Few supplements include:
Selenium & zinc- keeps your thyroid gland healthy. It is better to take 50 to 100 mcg of selenium and 10 to 15 mg of zinc each day.
Vitamin A-a beta-carotene helps the body to convert thyroid hormones
Vitamin C & vitamin E-Protect against heart disease caused due to hypothyroidism. Experts recommend that it is better to take vitamin E supplements that consist of tocopherols and tocotrienols.
B vitamins- Helps prevent cognitive and mood disorders that result in low thyroid function.
Fish-oil supplements-supplements with at least 600 mg of EPA and 400 mg of DHA will protect the brain and heart.
Get rid of toxics
There are lots of thyroid disruptors in most substances we use. Plastic water bottles, pop cans and shampoo bottles are a few. Study by the University of Michigan revealed that there is a connection between common chemicals named as phthalates and thyroid hormone levels. A research from the University of California unveiled that there is also a link between canned soups to hormonal changes in thyroid.
Chronic stress
Excessive stress can obstruct thyroid gland function. Emotional traumas can also lead to low thyroid function. In order to deal with stress, practice relaxation techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises. For those who experience severe stress, it is better to consider talk therapy. Experts suggest that exploring creative ways to speak like singing can improve your thyroid health.
Other than these, protecting yourself against X-rays can also help prevent thyroid disease. So, please make a note of all these and make sure that you adopt the above mentioned habits to keep your thyroid gland healthy. For more information on how to prevent thyroid disease, you can consult Endocrinologists online now. Consulting doctors online will help you know better treatment options and you can also get better medical advices online.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to consult Endocrinologists online now.
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