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.

Many herbs, vegetables, and fruits have antioxidant capacity and are likely to support healthy thyroid function.  In fact, any food or dietary supplement that reduces inflammation or free radical activity will at least indirectly be helpful to overall thyroid function, including nutrients that protect the liver or assist in the natural detoxification process.

Many herbs, vegetables, and fruits have antioxidant capacity and are likely to support healthy thyroid function.  In fact, any food or dietary supplement that reduces inflammation or free radical activity will at least indirectly be helpful to overall thyroid function, including nutrients that protect the liver or assist in the natural detoxification process (Silymarin is one example, Curcumin is another).  Two of my favorite herbs for thyroid support are Commiphora mukul, known as guggul, and another Ayurvedic herb, Ashwaganda. 

The thyroid stimulating properties of guggul have been reported for the past twenty years.  Animal studies show it works partly by stimulating thyroid hormone production and partly by increasing liver antioxidant status. 

The active component in this herb is gugglesterone.  Intense research is now being conducted with gugglesterones as they have been found to naturally regulate a gene receptor called farnesoid X receptor (FSX).  As it turns out, FSX specifically turns on and off fat burning in the liver. 

The rate of bile flow is also regulated by the FSX.  Gugglesterones have been shown to help the FSX receptor pump bile more efficiently, helping to clear LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and toxins. 

Gugglesterones have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India for several thousand years to help weight loss.  Any nutrient that enhances the burning of fat will at least have an indirect benefit to thyroid function, since obesity itself is a major stress to the thyroid gland.

Ashwagandha has also been used for thousands of years to boost stress tolerance and generally rejuvenate the body.  Animal studies have shown it to enhance thyroid hormone levels by directly working as an antioxidant that reduces the amount of lipid peroxides forming in the liver, a key problem for any person that is over weight.  Other animal studies show that Ashwagandha can maintain normal antioxidant function even during intentionally induced stress trauma, not only boosting antioxidant protection but also reducing the amount of cortisol that is released in response to stress.  When excess cortisol is combined with poor thyroid function, it is a recipe for weight gain – especially around the abdominal area.

Ashwagandha supports normal antioxidant enzymes, such as GSH, so they don’t have to work so hard.  This has a sparing effect on selenium, which indirectly supports healthy thyroid function.