A deficiency of thyroid hormones can affect virtually all body functions. The degree of severity of symptoms in adults range from mild and barely detectable to severe and very serious. Symptoms of underactive thyroid include fatigue, especially on waking, feeling cold easily, dry skin, depression, muscle and joint weakness and stiffness, constipation, general slowness and possible weight gain.
Blood tests are not sensitive enough to diagnose milder forms of hypothyroidism and therefore many people go undiagnosed. It is estimated that between 10-25 per cent of people suffer from some degree of hypothyroidism, many of whom are undiagnosed.
Consider the following nutrition guidelines:
Eat a generally healthy diet, consisting of fruits and vegetables, fish, skinless chicken and turkey, whole grains and beans.
Particularly useful foods for the thyroid include seaweed, kelp, dulse, garlic, radishes, seafood, watercress, egg yolks, mushrooms and Brewers Yeast.
Avoid mushrooms and Brewers yeast if you also have Candidiasis
Avoid raw cabbage, peanuts, pine nuts, turnips, mustard, cassava root and millet. Cooked versions of these are usually alright.
