The nutritional requirements to support the healthy function of thyroid hormone are poorly understood.  A main reason why you may have the symptoms of poor thyroid function is a lack of nutrients that are vital for the normal function of thyroid hormone.  Nutrient deficiencies place a major stress on the thyroid gland itself, helping to lock in sluggish and inefficient metabolism of calories.

Various nutrients are needed to form thyroid hormone, activate thyroid hormone, and protect the thyroid and liver during this process.

I have tried to make this easy for people by designing nutritional products that provide the most needed nutrients.  Thyroid Helper is a mix of tyrosine, selenium, manganese, guggul, and Ashwaganda, our top product for thyroid support.  Iosol Iodine is the best iodine supplement you can find.  Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin features high levels of co-enzyme B12, folic acid, and B6, along with important krebs cycle bionutrients and magnesium.  This type of quality is seldom found in a multiple vitamin.  These products form core nutritional support for thyroid function.

Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid that converts to dopamine and norepinephrine with the help of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.  Norepinephrine is a sympathetic nerve neurotransmitter that is the stimulus for your subconscious brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) to activate the production of thyroid hormone in the first place (TRH and TSH). 

Brain levels of leptin act as a traffic cop, regulating the amount of norepinephrine allowed to stimulate the production of thyroid (leptin bases this on the adequacy of stored fat – a perception that is often faulty).  Norepinephrine-transmitting nerves are also wired directly to the thyroid gland, which act as a catalyst to get the thyroid moving. 

Supplemental tyrosine is well known to promote brain activation, mental clarity, and better mood.  Tyrosine is also the central molecule of thyroid hormone (four iodine molecules are attached to one tyrosine to make thyroxine, T4).

Iodine

Iodine is absolutely vital for the formation of thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland.  Adequate iodine is also needed to block various compounds from binding to the thyroid (fluoride, perchlorate, goitrogens in food).  Iodine is also needed to assist the metabolism of estrogen in a healthy way (high estrogen blocks thyroid function) and iodine is needed to assist various hormone receptors throughout the body to work properly.  Iodine is essential for brain function and intelligence.

I rely on a product called Iosol Iodine for needed iodine supplementation.  I like it because ammonium iodine rapidly dissociates and forms free iodide, the exact form your body needs (1.8 mg a drop).  By comparison, Lugols and Iodoral contain the potassium salt of iodine which I don’t feel is as efficiently metabolized.  Many people use up to 5 drops of Iosol per day (if it can be observed that it helps the person warm up and sustain energy), I would never recommend 25 – 50 mg of a potassium iodide containing supplement. 

In fact, I won’t put potassium iodide in any supplement I design.  One cause of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is excessive potassium iodine from sea vegetables like kelp, which is how the problem was first discovered.  This means that potassium iodine has been shown to clog the thyroid gland and shut it down on too much intake.  I have never seen such a problem from Iosol in two decades of use.

Thyroid hormone (T4) is composed of four molecules of iodine attached to one molecule of tyrosine.  A lack of either nutrient makes it difficult to form thyroid hormone.

I saw your article on NewsTarget today and connected to your blog...I had thyroid cancer 3 years ago and had to have my entire thyroid removed...luckily I found an endrocrinologist that will prescribe armour thyroid.  But is the information in your article not useful to me since I no longer have a thyroid.  My blood levels are on par, I am not overweight but I am very tired and energy depleted.  What are your suggestions.

I feel like ever since I started taking my thyroid medication I have gained weight.  I want to lose and having trouble doing so.  What can I do?

Is there a possibility of reducing thyroid meds if I added the recommended thyroid supplements?  Or are these supplements designed to assist the thyroid meds to work more efficiently?  I hate depending on medication of any kind.  I’m always searching for alternatives to prescriptions.

i take armour thyroid180 mg.  was at 250 it seems i just can not lose weight. i eat good and healthy foods, no snackin or soads.I know i should excerize but i have no energy. what to do ?

please send me additional information on how the thyroid can effect hair loss. I need additional information on your supplements and how they can help me

GreenGirl:  The info is highly relevant to you, except that you don’t need nutrients to form thyroid hormone.  Basic thyroid support is generally helpful to activate thyroid hormone and help it work correctly in cells.  Even iodine can help metabolism in your situation, as many hormone receptors need iodine to function properly.

Kim:  Following the Leptin Diet and using basic thyroid support nutrition and/or nutritional support for leptin are great places to get started.  When thyroid hormone isn’t activating correctly then T4 levels rise which causes your head to get tired; in turn actually slowing down metabolism.  Elevated T4 is actually one of the first signs of low thyroid.  Your brain is very sensitive to this issue.

Imclark:  There is always the possibility of improving your metabolism, at which point you may not need any medication.  Work with your doctor whenever adjusting any medication.

Connie:  Nutrition can really help get your metabolism into gear – good luck!

Please tell me if Iosol Iodine is harmful for someone who has Graves Disease?
Also I have been gaining weight ever since I have started treatment for hyperthyroidism. What can help?

My 12 year old daughter has mosaic Down’s syndrome and is very healthy except for her underproducing thyroid. I give her the iosol iodine as instructed on the label which is highly diluted. You mention in the above article that people take up to 5 drops a day. Is that straight out of the bottle? Can’t that be dangerous? What amount would you recommend?

Also, I tried to give her the thyroid helper but she can’t take a pill and she’s disgusted by the taste - even when they’re baked in chocolate cookies. Is there a flavorless option? or a liquid?

I’ve put her back on eltroxin when her last blood test showed a lower than normal TSH level. She’s putting on some weight and has an increased appetite.

I would appreciate your input. Thanks
Miriam

I switched from synthroid to armour thyroid a few months ago and although I exercise five days a week, eat healthy, I still gain weight especially around my abdomen. I was taking your thyroid supplement(thyroid helper) while on synthroid and that helped me with weight loss and energy, but with the armour thyroid I don’t see the same results. Should I be taking something else with armour thyroid?

I am a 41 year old woman who had thyroidectomy March of 2003, since that time I have gained over 60 lbs and am struggling to lose this weight.  I take armour thyroid and 25 mg of levoxyl but I never felt good.  I actually have not felt good since I had my surgery. 
Now I take Byron’s Leptin Pack and his Energy Vitamins and it is really helping me.  I have also started working on The Leptin Diet which does seem to help.
I will keep everyone posted regarding my weight.  So far I have lost about 4 lbs but I seem to lose and gain the same 10 lbs over and over.

I would love to get off Armour and Hydrocortisone (for adrenal function). Byron, what are your thoughts on adrenal insufficiency with regard to low thyroid and the ability to eventually stop all meds? Is your program relevant to those of us with Hashimoto’s?
Thanks,
Cindy

Dear Mr. R.,
RE: your Leptin books. There’s a healthfood store of supplements in my kitchen, and I take Iosol. I have been diagnosed with low adrenal, poor thyroid and have horrible hypoglycemia. Lately, insomnia. If I do get to sleep, after 2 or 4 hours I get awoken by some horrible “surge” of some hormone and rush to eat or drink to stabilize my blood sugar.I have gained 80 pounds in 2 years, coming from underweight malabsorption before that. SO, the recommendation has been to eat all day, (especially before I go to bed) and keep those blood sugars even. I now hate food, who wants to be eating at 4am so you don’t drop dead? Two questions: You refer to easing into the 5 rules. What is “ease-in”, you’re either eating or you’re not? How would the hypoglycemia stop if I didn’t raise those levels? And I know my fat is toxic, so how do you eliminate TOXIC fat? Chlorella? You even said sometimes the body won’t even break it down. How will it go away? Thanks,
Laura