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When dealing with Hashimoto or even an autoimmune disorder, it is also important to check out if you are having any nutritional defficiency of vitamins and minerals.
The primary source of of nutrients of course it is food, but as mentioned in the Hashimoto diet, there might be some foods that have to be totally removed because they are part of the root cause of triggering an autoimmun response or inflammations.
So with some limitations with what we eat, there might be the case that even by eating certain foods, it won’t be enough to reach optimal levels of those nutrients.
Therefore as an alternative, supplements can help to improve thyroid function and restore the body to optimal levels of such nutrients.
In my case, I was given with supplements that cover the following nutrients, vitamin D, vitamin B, zinc, selenium, iodine, aschwaganda and L-tyrosine.
As recommended, consult with your doctor, specially if its a functional medicine doctor, before taking any supplement when taking thyroid medication , this article objective is to wide up the alternatives that people like me are doing to work on their health.
There are already various examples of people with autoimmune thyroid diseases who are putting into remission the thyroid symptoms, and recovering health.
I was given with different type of supplements also with Omega-3 and L-Glutamine, but mainly for the thyroid I had Throne Thyrocsin, which includes out the following nutrients.
“Overall, the current study demonstrated that vitamin D supplementation among hypothyroid patients for 12 weeks improved serum TSH and calcium concentrations compared with the placebo, but it did not alter serum T3, T4, ALP, PTH, and albumin levels.” (NLM)
Vitamin D was one of the vitamins that I was really low.
Yes, there are some foods that have added vitamin D, but one primary source of vitamin D is sun exposure.
Of course several days at the beach will be ideal to get some vitamin D, but ideally spending at least 10 to 15 minutes getting some sun will help.
There are available some Vitamin D supplements in pill or in liquid form.
The one that I have been taking is in liquid form, and I was taking it before sleep.
Vitamin D is recommended for people with autoimmune disease as it helps as a regulator of the immune system.
“There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms, although a placebo effect cannot be excluded, as a number of patients without B12 deficiency also appeared to respond to B12, administration.” (NLM)
Another lab test that I was showing in high levels was homocysteine.
Having this lab test high means that there might be a vitamin B defficiency, but also presents a risk of developing heart and blood vessels disease.
There are vitamin B complex that can support this part, but also they can help out to thyroid health.
“Zinc and other trace elements such as copper and selenium are required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, and deficiency of these can result in hypothyroidism. Conversely, thyroid hormones are essential for the absorption of zinc, and hence hypothyroidism can result in acquired zinc deficiency. ” (NLM)
For me taking supplements is also like a part of a lifestyle, but always taking into consideration that the first source of vitamins and minerals is food.
Zinc was another mineral included on my supplementation.
Besides supporting thyroid hormone synthesis, also zinc improves the immune system.
“The maintenance of a physiological concentration of selenium (selenostasis) through a balanced diet or, alternatively, via supplementation is a prerequisite not only to prevent thyroid disease but also to maintain overall health.
Selenium supplementation in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and reduced intake of this micronutrient may be useful, even for those who are already being treated with levothyroxine, although further studies are needed to confirm this benefit.” (NLM)
Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis of Hashimoto should be taking selenium, and it is because it helps to reduce thyroid antibodies.
Selenium deficiency is also an issue on thyroid disorders, and it is recommended to have it in optimal levels.
Including selenium supplements may be essential for Hashimoto’s patient, so be open to discuss this with your doctor if he is only focusing on checking out your dose of levothyroxine.
“Iodine is an element that’s required for the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Since the body does not produce iodine on its own, it needs to come from dietary sources—and striking the right balance is key.” (Very Health Well)
Iodine is neccessary for thyroid hormone production, so if you are presenting low thyroid hormone levels with a high TSH, then consider on checking it.
Some foods with iodine are seaweed, iodized salt, greek yogurt, non fat milk, oysters.
So check out from your food sensitivities list to check out which one you can include in your diet.
Otherwise, adding iodine dietary supplements can be the alternative.
“Treatment with ashwagandha may be beneficial for normalizing thyroid indices in subclinical hypothyroid patients.” (NLM)
Aschwaganda is not only for thyroid, but it also supports the body to reduce cortisol.
Cortisol is the stress hormone, that if the person is in high levels of stress for long periods, it is when symptoms can appear and overall the flare ups will be present in many people with Hashimoto’s.
“L-Tyrosine is an amino acid and is important for thyroid function. Thyroxine (T4) is produced through the iodination of tyrosine. Tyrosine is absorbed through diet and also created by the conversion of phenylalanine. Tyrosine supplementation may be helpful in patients for hypothyroid symptoms in patients who are deficient.” (VA.GOV)
L-tyrosine is another supplement that I was given, as it supports the thyroid function.
So remember that when taking supplements for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, talk with your doctor what are the expected results of them.
Ideally, they will be an important aspect on a healing journey of any thyroid condition.
To take vitamins, minerals and amino acid supplements is not a thing of I take it one day and that is it.
It is a long life journey and just make sure that you are taking your nutrients such as selenium, L-Tyrosine, vitamin D, vitamin B and so on so that you give the support to your body.
