Two Foods That Can Help Support Your Thyroid Health

I have been looking for holistic ways to help and support my thyroid. For me personally before I am ever taking medication I want to make sure I have exhausted all the natural ways I possibly can to help my body get into a healthier state. Medication can be an amazing great tool and I am not against it at all but for me I want to know what is causing things to happen and how can I naturally improve them. If I give it time and try all the things without any improvements then that's when I personally would consider medication. When I learned my Thyroid needed some help and support with my current lifestyle I wanted to see what I could do to help get my numbers where they needed to be. This is not medical advice, this is me sharing what I am personally using to help support my Thyroid and the things I have learned. I will always encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider and check with them before adding new things in.

The two things I choose to add into my nutrition on a consistent basis is Organic Seaweed by gimme and raw organic brazil nuts. I will link both of these for you below. There is a reason why I choose these brands. Gimme offers an organic seaweed made in avocado oil and sea salt, that's it. Many of the brands found at Costco and even some that gimme makes have seed oils in them. Seed oils are known to be inflammatory which is not something I want to be consuming especially when I am trying to improve my health and my next lab test results.

Here is the seaweed I consume: https://amzn.to/42ajaKp and here are the brazil nuts I consume:

The brazil nuts I consume are these: https://wildlyorganic.com/products/nuts-raw-soaked-dried-certified-organic-brazil-nuts

and these as well: https://amzn.to/4jhJb0j

Selenium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in thyroid health, and Brazil nuts are one of the richest natural sources of selenium.

Here’s how selenium supports your thyroid:

1. Supports Thyroid Hormone Production

The thyroid gland produces hormones like T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), which regulate metabolism. Selenium is required for the enzymes (iodothyronine deiodinases) that convert the inactive T4 hormone into the active T3 form.

2. Reduces Inflammation in the Thyroid

Selenium acts as an antioxidant through its role in selenoproteins like glutathione peroxidase, which protect the thyroid gland from oxidative stress. This is crucial because the thyroid is highly susceptible to damage from free radicals during hormone production.

3. Supports Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions

In autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, selenium can help modulate the immune response, reduce antibody levels, and improve symptoms by lowering inflammation.

4. Prevents Selenium Deficiency

Low selenium levels can impair thyroid function, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and difficulty regulating body temperature. Eating Brazil nuts provides a natural and bioavailable source of selenium to prevent deficiency.

More information on the research provided here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26545554/

Seaweed is a powerful food for supporting thyroid health because it is one of the richest natural sources of iodine, a trace mineral essential for proper thyroid function. Here’s how it works:

1. Provides Iodine for Hormone Production

The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), which regulate metabolism, energy production, and overall bodily functions. Without enough iodine, the thyroid can’t produce adequate hormones, leading to hypothyroidism or goiter.

2. Supports Thyroid Balance

For those with low iodine levels, consuming seaweed helps replenish this critical nutrient, promoting optimal thyroid activity. This is especially helpful for populations or diets lacking iodized salt or seafood.

3. Rich in Other Thyroid-Supportive Nutrients

In addition to iodine, seaweed contains trace minerals like selenium, zinc, magnesium, and iron, which support overall thyroid health, including protecting the gland from oxidative stress and assisting in hormone conversion (T4 to T3).

4. Natural Source of Iodine Without Fortification

Seaweed offers iodine in its natural, bioavailable form, unlike iodized salt or supplements, making it a clean and nutrient-dense option.

More information on the research can be found here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8077470/

Caution:

There are some important things to know before implementing these. One is to check with your provider especially if you are on medications or have had blood work done. Not enough iodine in your diet is not good but excess of iodine is not good either. Make sure the brazil nuts are organic and raw, why? If they are not organic they are probably loaded with pesticides, which will lead to more health problems. You also want to make sure you do not create or have an excess selenium because it can become toxic to your body so having a large handful of brazil nuts is not recommended, but most health care professionals will recommend 1-3 per day depending on your body and how much is needed. I recommend raw nuts because raw nuts are more beneficial because they retain more nutrients, have fewer calories, and are lower in sodium than roasted nuts.

If you are unsure what your thyroid levels are or would like to have them checked to see how your body is responding to your lifestyle choices I want to recommend lab testing through JOI. They have labs all over the country and included in their pricing is a 30 minute 1:1 consultation with a doctor or nurse practitioner to go over your results along with recommendations. You can use the discount code: FRESHFITKATIE and the link to get your Thyroid tested as well as your hormones and 66 biomarkers are included. It's affordable especially with the discount code they kindly gave me to share with you and they accept HSA cards as well: https://choosejoi.co/?rs=Referral&rn=Katie%20Bryant&rc=FRESHFITKATIE

The best piece of advice I have learned on my own journey and with working with other women is always look at your lifestyle for answers first. Our body internally and externally is a reflection of our habits and lifestyle. So it's always important to start there. See where improvements can be made and be patient it takes a good amount of time to see improvements. If you would love help and support in this area I would love to help you. Feel free to email me with any questions at freshfitkate@gmail.com

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