Understanding how to Rev Up Your Thyroid.
Each molecule of T4 and T3 is made up of a protein and iodine (in the form of iodide). T4 contains 4 molecules of iodide and T3 contains 3 molecules of iodide – hence the names T4 and T3.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Four tests – TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies (TPO)– are required to accurately assess the function of the thyroid gland, our master gland of metabolism. An optimal TSH should be less than 4.0, not the currently accepted 4.7 reported by most labs. T3 and T4 should be in the middle of your lab’s reference range and your thyroid antibodies should be negative. It’s very challenging to lower your body fat if you have an undiagnosed case of hypothyroidism.
Frequently feeling cold or having an intolerance of cold temperatures
Dry skin, brittle hair and splitting nails
Hair loss
Irregular menses or heavy menstrual bleeding
Poor memory
Depression
Decreased libido
Constipation
Unexplained fatigue or lethargy
Unexplained weight gain or an inability to lose weight
Many individuals with hypothyroidism have associated iron-deficient anemia and/or high cholesterol.
Step 1: Eliminate Thyroid Disruptors for 14 Days
You need to remove foods that keep your thyroid from running like a well-oiled machine – and optimal hormonal balance. Some foods may be forcing your thyroid to work harder. Avoiding them for two weeks may help with some of your symptoms:
Soy/flaxseed oil: These oils can act like estrogen and may force the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than usual.
Raw cruciferous veggies: These vegetables can contain compounds known as goitrogens that may interfere with the thyroid’s ability to use iodine. Only eat these veggies if they are steamed.
Peanuts and peanut butter: This common legume is very acidic and contains goitrogens. Only good for Blood Type A and AB
High-mercury fish: Mercury is a known thyroid disruptor. The worst offenders are swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, shark and most tuna.
The following food groups should be removed from your diet during your body detox because they are inflammatory or allergenic:
Dairy products: Yogurt, cheese, milk, cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, casein and whey protein concentrate. However, 100% pure whey protein isolate (for all Blood Types except Blood Type B only) and goat milk cheeses are allowed.
All grains that contain gluten: Wheat, spelt, rye, kamut, amaranth and barley. Note that most breads, bagels, muffins, pastries, cakes, pasta, durum semolina, couscous, cookies, flour and cereals are off limits, unless they are gluten-free.
Corn: Popcorn, corn chips, corn breads or muffins, fresh corn, canned or frozen niblets. White and sweet potatoes must be avoided during week one.
Oils: Hydrogenated oils, palm kernel oil, trans fatty acids, soy bean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, vegetable oil, shortening and margarine. Limit your intake of safflower and sunflower oil.
Alcohol and caffeine: During your detox I recommend you cut these out completely. Too much of either one will elevate stress hormones and contribute to hormonal imbalance.
Sugar or artificial sweeteners: Table sugar (sucrose) and all products with sugar added must be cut out completely. Foods to avoid include rice syrup, maple syrup, honey, foods/drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup, packaged foods, candies, soda, juice, etc.
Citrus fruit: Pineapple, grapefruit, and tangerines. grapefruit (Watch the grapefruit if you are taking blood pressure medicine)
Red meats: Pork, beef, all types of cold cuts, bacon and all types of sausages.
Step 2: Consume Anti-Inflammatory Foods for 14 Days
Eat one serving of thyroid pick-me-up foods per day and consume anti-inflammatory foods for 14 days.
Vitamin A: Activates thyroid hormone.
Get it with: Sweet potatoes for Blood Types B and O or kale.
Iodine: Essential for healthy thyroid function because it helps the thyroid gland produce the hormone thyroxin- or T4- one of the metabolic hormones produced by the thyroid
Get it with: Sea vegetables like kelp, seaweed or fish. Find your seaweed here
Tyrosine: The thyroid gland combines tyrosine and iodine to make thyroid hormone, so this is an essential amino acid for thyroid hormone production.
Get it with: Turkey, egg whites (Tyrosine) and himalayan pink or sea salt (Iodine).
Selenium: Necessary for the normal function the thyroid.
Top 10 Foods High in Selenium
1) Brazil nuts
1 oz (6-8 nuts): 544 mcg (over 100% DV) For Blood Type B only Eat one only.
2) Yellowfin tuna
3 oz: 92 mcg (over 100% DV)Neutral for all Blood types
3) Halibut, cooked
3 oz: 47mcg (67% DV) Blood Type Specific for Blood type B and Blood Type O
4) Sardines, canned
3 oz: 45mcg (64% DV)Good For all
5) Grass-fed beef
3 oz: 33 mcg (47% DV)For Blood Type O Primarily
6) Turkey, boneless
3 oz: 31 mcg (44% DV)Super food for all
7) Beef liver
3 oz: 28 mcg (40% DV)Highly beneficial for Blood Type O and Blood Type B
8) Chicken
3 oz: 22 mcg (31% DV) Only good for Blood Type O Hunters What is a Hunter? It is one of the 6 geno types. Hunter, Warrior, Teacher, Gatherer, Explorer, Nomad. find your genotype Here
9) Egg
1 large, 15 mcg (21% DV)
10) Spinach
1 cup: 11 mcg (16% DV)
selenium foods list
Consume 2-3 of these selenium food sources daily to improve detoxification, immunity and thyroid function.
Top Health Benefits of Selenium
Thyroid Health
Selenium plays a role in maintaining thyroid health since it works together with iodine. Selenium is needed to produce a critical thyroid hormone called T3, which regulates metabolism.
Cancer prevention
There is a strong correlation between levels of selenium in the blood and a reduced risk of several types of cancer. Selenium may help with DNA repair or may prevent cancer cells from replicating.
Since selenium is a powerful antioxidant, foods high in selenium may also prevent cancer by reducing free radicals in the body. The benefit of cancer prevention is seen from eating selenium rich foods, not taking a selenium supplement.
Heart Health
Selenium rich foods prevent oxidative damage to the body’s cells reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with low levels of serum selenium have been shown to be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This effect has been seen for people with diets high in selenium, not for those who take selenium supplements.
Bonus tip: Low-fat dairy is shown to lower cortisol. Cortisol blocks the conversion of one of your thyroid hormones into the kind that control metabolism so we never want too much cortisol when we’re trying to power up our thyroid. Try incorporating a low-fat yogurt (my favorite is sheep’s milk Greek yogurt).
Other foods you can freely consume include:
One serving of grains and potatoes, the size of your fist (during the second week only): Millet, rice and rice products, buckwheat (only for Blood Type A and AB, rice pasta, pea pasta, rice crackers, sweet potatoes (for Blood Type B and O Only). Have just one serving, the size of your fist, per day, at lunch or dinner, .
Vegetables: Limit your white foods. Zone relative amounts of all vegetables. Sweet potatoes (once a week) are allowed during the second week only. For Blood types O and B. All other starchy vegetables including squash, turnip, pumpkin (only for Blood Type O and Blood Type A), beets, carrots and peas are freely allowed in both weeks. NO CORN.
Fruits: grapefruit,figs, blueberries, dried organic unsulphured apricots and strawberries
Beans: All beans are allowed.Beans give gas. To avoid gas, eat Blood Type compliant Beans. Find Your best beans Here
Two handfuls of nuts and seeds: Almonds and walnuts . Or have a tablespoon of Almond nut butter (No peanuts or peanut butter).
Fish and meat: All poultry, (turkey, duck, pheasant, (duck is blood type specific) etc.), fish and seafood are fine. Find your personal list of your most highly beneficial and belly fat keeping off foods Serotyping With advanced modifying inventories
One serving of dairy (made from sheep or goat’s milk): Feta (made from sheep’s or goat’s milk), goat cheese or small amounts of butter (for blood Type O). Ghee which is clarified butter is beneficial for all
Oils: flax oil, hemp oil, walnut oil, avocado oil, and extra virgin olive oil are the only oils you should consume.
Eggs: Both yolks and whites are allowed.
Milks: Oat, almond and rice milk fine, but avoid those with added sugar.
Sweeteners: Sugar alcohols and stevia are allowed. However I prefer xylitol and Monk fruit
While one part of this process involves becoming calorie conscious, studies have shown that eating a “cheat meal” about once a week is okay, for people suffering from an underactive thyroid. It prevents the body from going into starvation mode when dieting, keeping your thyroid hormone T3 (the active type) high and boosting metabolism. I recommend having your cheat meal at the end of 10 to 14 days of my clean eating plan and then ongoing once a week.
This plan was originally created for Dr. Oz’s Truth Tube.
This book covers hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and Is especially helpful for Blood Type O Not so good For Blood Type A, B or Blood Type AB
Fine-tuning your eating for your target nutrients will help you feel better, and specific B vitamins can keep you from over dosing on Vitamin B 6 which may cause non-fatal heart attacks when taken in excess.[/vc_message]
