Iodine And Your Hypothyroid Symptoms

One of the first things most people will tell you is that if you have the signs and symptoms of a hypothyroid you should consider having your iodine levels checked. Iodine plays a very important role in the function of your thyroid. Your thyroid contains the cells in your body that absorb the iodine and transform it. The transformation from the iodine is what your thyroid uses to help produce hormones referred to as T3 and T4. Without the proper amount of iodine to help support your thyroid, it becomes sluggish and under-active creating hypothyroid symptoms in your body. This in turn can help to contribute to you having a sluggish metabolism.

There is a home test that you can perform to check and see if you have low iodine levels. 

All you need is a cotton ball and a bottle of USP tincture of iodine.

Dip the cotton ball into the iodine and create a 1 to 2 inch circle on the soft part of your skin such as on the inside of your upper arm or inner thigh. 

Then you wait. If the yellowish stain disappears within an hour it may mean your body is in need of crucial iodine and that is why it is soaked it up. 

If the iodine stain remains for more than four hours, your levels should be fine.

Caution: if you suffer from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis please be careful with the use of iodine. Increasing your iodine levels may actually cause more damage and inflammation to your thyroid instead of helping to heal it.

It is always better to get iodine from natural sources whenever you can. Iodized salt is a great source here in the U.S., however it is heavily processed. Kelp powder can be a great natural source and is easily found at your local health food store.

As with any condition, please be sure to consult with your physician before trying any home natural treatments.

Your Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism And Iodine

When dealing with the symptoms of hypothyroidism, talk of iodine deficiency typically comes into play. We must be aware however, that high levels of iodine supplementation can cause side effects. Typically in most industrialized countries iodine deficiency is not a problem.

Most thyroid goiters today can actually be the result of having excessive estrogen, which can cause a similar effect as iodine by not allowing your thyroid gland to properly release its thyroid hormones.

Because of this fact, when you are dealing with your symptoms of hypothyroidism be cautious if you are considering taking high levels of iodine. When looking for a desired result, taking too much iodine may actually cause an opposite effect on your thyroid. It can actually suppress your thyroid function further in contribute to thyroiditis. Higher iodine levels may also have a possible role in contributing to the development of degenerative diseases in your body as well.

Be sure to talk to your physician when deciding what your best choice would be for treating your symptoms of hypothyroidism. Before you consider adding in higher amounts of iodine to your diet, have yourself checked for iodine deficiency first and keep your physician informed of your progress.

If you are interested in learning more about natural solutions for your thyroid, watch the video here.

Are You Looking For A Hypothyroidism Symptoms Checklist?

Are you still unsure if your symptoms that you are suffering caused from hypothyroidism?  Are you questioning if you still may be hypothyroid even though your physician says that your TSH levels are fine? If the answer is yes to one or both of these questions then perhaps this hypothyroidism symptoms checklist can help you.

By using this hypothyroidism symptoms checklist you can get a good idea of whether or not hypothyroidism is the most likely cause for your symptoms. These symptoms may have occurred back in your childhood or you are currently experiencing them now. 

Do you have the symptoms currently or have you had them in your childhood? 

I have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem

I have a family history of thyroid disease

I and losing or gaining weight inappropriately

I am unable to lose weight with exercise or diet 

I often look and feel puffy 

I tend to gain weight around my mid-section

I do not have much of an appetite

I have gastrointestinal problems

I am sensitive to strong orders (cigarette smoke, perfumes, etc.)

I am less tolerant of hot weather

I have persistent fatigue

Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic

I have low energy

I feel worse after exercise or other exertion

It takes me much longer than normal to complete tasks

My hair is dry and coarse, brittle, breaking

My skin is course, scaly, dry, and thick

I bruise easily

My face looks swollen/puffy, especially my upper eyelids

I have bridges on my nails

My nails a thin and brittle and break easily

My eyes feel greedy and dry

My eyes feel sensitive to light

My vision has gotten worse/suddenly need reading glasses

I have a feeling of fullness in my neck or throat

My neck appear swollen

I am having trouble swallowing or spasms in my esophagus

I have a horse or gravelly voice

I am having trouble clearly enunciating words, as if talking with my mouth full

Tooth decay is particularly a problem

I have insomnia

I am snoring more lately

I have frequent nightmares

I have a hard time getting up in the morning

I have arthritis

I have sore feet or plantar fasciitis

I have muscle weakness

I muscle spasms/cramps

I have muscular pain/painful trigger points

I have slow Achilles tendon reflex

I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome, or it’s getting worse

I have difficulty concentrating

I am having trouble remembering things

I am having trouble learning new things

My thought processes slowed down

My moods change easily

I have allergies

I have high cholesterol

I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest

I have fluid in my ear, or unexplained ear pain

This hypothyroidism symptoms checklist has just some of the many symptoms that can be associated with the condition of hypothyroidism. This condition can be responsible for numerous diseases and health issues. There are many hypothyroidism treatment options available for you to consider.

If you are interested in more information about hypothyroidism and natural treatments watch this video.

What Are Possible Hypothyroidism Causes?

As we all know by now hypothyroidism is a condition that is defined by a thyroid that is unable to produce the proper amount of thyroid hormone for daily functioning. When the thyroid is not working correctly the entire balance of your body can be upset. Many of us wonder however, what are some possible hypothyroidism causes?

How did I get this condition in the first place? Will my children have the same condition? These are prevalent questions that are very common for most of us that suffer from hypothyroidism. There seems to be a general consensus as to some of the main causes that can cause hypothyroidism. These include taking certain medications, having radiation therapy, suffering from an autoimmune disease, or having treatment for a hyperthyroid.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, it can develop into an inflammatory form of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Your immune system will produce extra antibodies that turn and attack the healthy tissues in your body when you suffer from an autoimmune disease.   This can include your thyroid gland. When your thyroid becomes overworked it develops into hypothyroidism.

Another one of the common hypothyroidism causes can be when you are going through treatment for hyperthyroidism. This is the opposite of hypothyroidism because your thyroid is overactive and producing too much thyroid hormone. Common treatment for this is often radioactive iodine or the use of anti-thyroid medications. These treatments are given to create normal thyroid function, however, in some cases they can actually slow down the thyroid to the point where it becomes hypothyroidism.

If you are taking medications you need to be sure you are you are own advocate. Educate yourself on how the medication works and all of its possible side effects. Some medications can create a negative interaction with how your thyroid works. Be sure to ask your doctor about the possible effects to your thyroid gland that may be caused by taking your medication.

When being treated for cancers that are affecting your head and neck area, radiation is one of the common treatment options. However, radiation treatments can affect your thyroid gland and may eventually lead to hypothyroidism.

 Everyone is different, and some of the hypothyroidism causes may not apply to you. If you are feeling many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism be sure to check with your doctor and be tested. It is very easy to get your number and know for sure whether or not you need to be treated for hypothyroidism.

Are You Seeking Treatment For Hypothyroidism?

When looking for the best treatment for hypothyroidism it is important to first understand all the options that are available to you. Most people choose to go straight to their doctor without first researching the subject to see if there could be an option available that is better and more along the lines of their own thoughts on health.

You must be sure to research and educate yourself so you will be able to make an educated decision as to what will be best for your lifestyle and you. Everyone needs to be treated as individuals because not every treatment for hypothyroidism is created equal. Some treatments can only take you so far and provide you with small noticeable improvements, while other treatments may not work at all. Some treatments fail because they do not address the underlying cause of your hypothyroidism to begin with. Other treatments can be extremely successful and change your life in ways that you would never think were possible.

Keep these thoughts of mind when reading and researching the different approaches whether it is conventional treatment, natural treatment, or holistic treatment to find the best treatment for hypothyroidism that makes sense to you.

If you are interested in learning more about natural solutions for hypothyroidism 

you can watch the free video here.

Foods To Avoid When Suffering From Symptoms Hypothyroidism

When suffering from symptoms hypothyroidism causes you want to be more aware of the foods to your eating. Certain foods can be toxic to the functioning of your thyroid. One of the biggest “health foods” in many circles is soy. This is an alternative plant-based protein that is very popular with vegan and vegetarian practitioners who choose not to eat animal proteins or products.

For those of us who suffer from the symptoms hypothyroidism causes, eating soy can actually suppress your thyroid function. So you need to be sure that you do not include this food in your hypothyroid diet in any form. Legumes and soy contribute to the buildup of estrogen that occurs in your body because they contain very estrogenic properties. Many doctors believe this is a good thing to help women going through menopause or that have hormonal imbalances.

When you have the symptoms hypothyroidism causes eating soy and other legumes can cause estrogens to block your thyroid gland from being able to release its thyroid hormone. This in turn can cause a buildup of your thyroid hormone, which will eventually cause hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

What you create an excess of estrogen in your body, not only does it contribute to hypothyroidism but it can also inhibit your thyroid functioning long-term. Avoiding soy and legumes is just the first of a few foods they should be eliminated from your hypothyroid diet. If you would like to learn more important information about what affects your thyroid and how you can naturally help to get it properly functioning again, watch this video.

Are There Natural Remedies For Hypothyroidism (2)

With the new alternative health movement and more people pushing for alternative options to heal themselves, many ask if there are natural remedies for hypothyroidism. The answer to this is not a simple yes or no. There are natural treatments, however not every natural treatment is right for everyone.

Most people automatically think about pills and supplements when it comes to natural thyroid treatment. They do not however think about the foods that they are eating and how much of an effect they can have on your thyroid. Our diets have changed greatly over the last century from eating wholesome cooked meals every day to stopping at the nearest fast food restaurant for a quick bite to eat.

A good example of this is the meat that we eat today. In decades past we would take the parts of the animals such as bones and use them to create stock soups. This provided many hormones and nutrients that come from the animal. In today’s world those parts are discarded as garbage and we only eat the meat off the bones thinking that all the nutrients are in the meat. This however is not true.

This is only one of many examples of how today’s standard diet is lacking in the proper nutrients and hormones to fight hypothyroidism. One of the best natural remedies for hypothyroidism that you can do is to begin eating a diet that supports your thyroid health instead of one that will suppress it.