All About Thyroid

There are two different kinds of thyroid which is commonly known as Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid.An estimated 50 million Americans have thyroid problems; the majority are undiagnosed.



Now lets briefly see the function of thyroid to get an idea about it.Thyroid gland is a small gland, normally weighing less than one ounce, located in the front of the neck. It is made up of two halves, called lobes, that lie along the windpipe (trachea) and are joined together by a narrow band of thyroid tissue, known as the isthmus.The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism.The thyroid gland is under the control of the pituitary gland, a small gland the size of a peanut at the base of the brain ,the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones.The pituitary gland itself is regulated by another gland, known as the hypothalamus.The hypothalamus is part of the brain and produces TSH Releasing Hormone (TRH) which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland (i.e to release TSH).So this is how the thyroid gland works.For more information go to Thyroid_hormone.

Now lets see about Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism,and also food appropriate for those conditions.

Hypothyrodism:

Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disease brought on by underactive thyroid function, where production of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) is insufficient. It is estimated that roughly 3% of the general population has this condition. Risk is greater where there is an iodine deficiency or exposure to iodine-131. In patients with healthy levels of iodine, hypothyroidism may be caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, by a deficiency of hormones from the hypothalamus or hypophysis (pituitary gland), or by the lack of a thyroid gland. For more information go to hypothyroidism_info.


Hyperthroidism:

Hyperthyroidism is a condition of overactive thyroid function, leading to excessive production of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and/or thyroxine (T4). As thyroid hormones control several body functions, including metabolism, this excess causes extra stimulation which speeds up some body systems. Thyrotoxicosis is used to describe hyperthyroidism which is presenting symptoms (is symptomatic). For more information go to hyperthroidism_info.



Graves' Disease:

Graves' disease is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. It is hyperthyroidism's most common cause, and is also frequently characterized by goiter and bulging of the eye (exophthalmos).

Drug Therapies:

Your health care provider will most likely prescribe a single dose of liquid radioactive iodine, which calms down your thyroid gland. Often the thyroid then becomes underactive. Up to half of patients who receive radioactive iodine treatments for an overactive thyroid develop permanent hypothyroidism within a year of therapy. Such patients may have to take replacement thyroid hormone. Alternatively, your health care provider may give you thyroid depressive medication. You may also be prescribed beta-blockers to help slow a rapid heartbeat. If drug treatment fails, you may need surgery to remove part of your thyroid. If so, you will need to take replacement thyroid hormone.

Nutrition:

Foods that depress thyroid activity are broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, soy, beans, and mustard greens. These foods should be included in the diet for hyperthyroid conditions and avoided for hypothyroid conditions.

The herb lemon balm or balm (Melissa officianales), a member of the mint family, originated in the Near East and was later transplanted to Europe by Benedictine missionaries who recognized its beneficial effects on health. In the 18th century, European settlers brought lemon balm to America for its uses as both a medicinal agent and a flavoring ingredient. Lemon balm is used to relieve common symptoms such as headache, rash and anxiety and to improve immune system health in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Read more at http://www.suite101.com/content/lemon-balm-in-autoimmune-disease-a4039


Since thyroid hormones require the presence of iodine, some healthcare practitioners encourage consumption of goitrogenic foods that can interfere with our body's use of iodine as a means of lessening the impact of hyperthyroidism. Goitrogenic foods include cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts; dark green leafy vegetables like kale; and root vegetables like turnips and rutabagas. All of these foods contain thioglucosides that can interfere with iodine metabolism. Other foods like casava, sorghum, and millet contain cyanogenic glucosides which can also block iodine availability. Soybean is another food that is typically considered goitrogenic. Although goitrogenic foods may be able to partly offset the effects of an overactive thyroid, our view of the research is that they definitely cannot be relied on to bring complete improvement here.

Diet for Hypothyroidism:

There is usually 20 to 30 mg of iodine stored in the body, mostly in the thyroid gland, though some iodine is also stored in the lining of the stomach, salivary glands and in the blood. If iodine stores become depleted, the body will not be able to make enough thyroid hormone. In such cases, foods that have shown to help the thyroid gland to produce T4 are important to help the body make adequate amounts of thyroid hormones.

Some of these foods include seaweeds like lato, kelp, nori, gamet and balbalulang, yogurt, cow's milk, seafood, foods grown in iodine rich soil.

Food to avoid:

There are also foods that inhibit the production of thyroid hormones. These foods, known as goitrogens, contain compounds that interfere with iodine absorption. Goitrogen-containing foods include cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.