Steve Yap
lifestyle@thesundaily.com
12 September 2011
DO YOU always feel hungry, dislike both cold or hot weather, suffer from anxiety or rapid heartbeat and have a visibly enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)? Are you thin and have difficulty putting on weight?
If your answer is yes, it is possible that you could be suffering from the effects of an overactive thyroid gland. This condition is called hyperthyroidism.
Other symptoms and signs arising from this hormonal imbalance include feeling exhausted before the end of your working day, premature greying of hair, difficulty conceiving, and early osteoporosis (bone density thinning).
Graves’ disease
This is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (Furszyfer, 1970). This condition represents a basic defect in the immune system, causing production of antibodies which stimulate and attack your thyroid gland, causing its ‘growth’ and hormone overproduction.
Besides protruding eyes, most Graves’ disease patients will have blood TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels of less than 0.2, but this disease is rarely life-threatening (Mayo Clinic, 2011). While testing the levels of TSH receptor antibody is a better tool for diagnosing Graves’ disease, this test is currently unavailable here.
Complementary medical practitioners use serum testing to cover patient’s TSH, FT3 (Free T3), cortisol, thyroid microsomal antibodies, and thyroglubulin antibodies.
Nutritional therapy
Food rich in L-tyrosine, such as seafood and poultry, should be avoided. Also avoid or drastically reduce consumption of seaweed, which is rich in iodine. Iodine promotes increased production of thyroid hormones.
Different types of seaweed possess varying levels of iodide. Nori seaweed has 16mcg/g; Wakame 32mcg/g; and Dulse 72mcg/g – these levels are considered low. However, Hijiki, which has 629mcg/g, is high and should be avoided.
Although cooking destroys some of this mineral, regular consumption contributes to excessive iodine absorption leading to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. According to the US Institute of Medicine, our body needs just 150mcg per day.
Avoid or reduce usage of virgin coconut oil in food preparation since this oil, which is a natural thermogenic stimulant, could raise metabolism and may worsen heart palpitation.
These medium-chain fatty acids are three times more effective at raising metabolism than long-chain fatty acids such as polyunsaturates and saturated fats (Baba, 1982).
Reduce consumption of stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol, cola and nicotine since they can raise metabolic rate and worsen palpitation.
Cut down on animal products, especially those rich in L-tyrosine, since food rich in protein is thermogenic too (Sachiko, 2001).
Consume more goitrogenic foods such as cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard and turnips), soy products (tempeh, soy milk, soy flour, soybean sprouts and tofu), strawberries, peaches, and millet.
Goitrogens, like anti-thyroid drugs, interfere with the body’s uptake of iodine.
In the case of isothiocyanates in vegetables such as broccoli, as much as one-third of this goitrogenic substance may be deactivated when cooked. Juicing these fresh would create a stronger goitrogenic effect.
For those with hyperthyroidism, good sources of protein are soy products, beans, lentils, seeds, and nuts. These food items are also rich in numerous minerals essential for rebuilding bone density which is lost as a consequence of hyperthyroidism.
Note that the popular yong tau fu, the soy content is not sufficient to neutralise the iodine contained in its fish and meat fillings.
Those with hyperthyroidism should perform light exercises, such as walking on the treadmill, two or three times a week to promote increased bone density and muscle tone.
Nutraceuticals and herbs
Melissa Officinalis helps lower thyroid activity since it prevents the binding of auto-antibodies to the TSH receptors and inhibits 5-deiodinase enzyme, which converts T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3 (Aufmkolk, 1985).
Four iodine molecules are attached to one L-tyrosine to make the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).
Lycopus virginicus binds with TSH-like immunoglobulins, preventing them binding to receptors (Aufmkolk, 1984).
The German Commission E approves the use of the fresh or dried parts of bugleweed for treating mild hyperthyroidism.
Soy isoflavones (especially genistein) reduces thyroid hormone output by blocking the activity of an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase, which is responsible for adding iodine onto the thyroid hormones (Liggins, 2000). However, the inhibition by soy protein may be significant only in individuals on a low iodine diet (Chorazy et al, 1995).
Vitamin D reduces effects of the autoimmune disorder (Mark, 2006) while calcium carbonate promotes increased excretion of thyroid hormones.
Other complementary therapies to combat hyperthyroidism include reflexology and acupuncture.
Hyperthyroidism, which inflicts more women than men, is much more common in Asia than in the West.
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