Tips for Treating Thyroid Problems Naturally
 

I had a chance to meet with the “thyroid whisperer” Andrea Beaman and learn some techniques that she uses to help her clients get their thyroid into balance. As a holistic health coach, she finds that diet is a great place to start but for complete healing you have to go much deeper.

Andrea’s journey started with her own thyroid problems, which she was able to heal naturally with diet, lifestyle and mega-doses of self-care. But the catch is — it didn’t happen overnight. It took 2 full years to get back into balance. In that time she swung from hyperthyroid to Hashimoto’s and hypothyroid and then finally came into balance.

First things first, you must consider food to be your medicine and get off all processed junk food, sugar (which sends you on a hormonal rollercoaster ride) and gluten. Here are some tips to heal the thyroid:

1. Eat Sea Vegetables Twice a Week

Sea vegetables are a good natural source of iodine to support the thyroid. Incorporating some sea veggies into your diet can be as simple as:

• Adding a piece of kombu to a pot of beans or soup during cooking
• Sprinkle kelp granules over your salads or hot dishes just like you would use salt
• Making a nori wrap (this is what’s used to wrap sushi)

2. Don’t Be Afraid of Butter

“The endocrine system loves butter,” Andrea said.  Even if you’re cutting out other forms of dairy like milk and cheese, consider keeping grass-fed butter in your diet.

3. Cook Your Kale

If you have thyroid issues, then raw cruciferous vegetables may not be the best choice. You might want to skip the kale smoothies and salads, and eat your greens cooked instead. The reason is that the cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens that may disrupt the thyroid if consumed in large quantities. Other cruciferous veggies include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.

4. Slow Down Your Eating

The thyroid gland is located in your throat area, so it literally connects the mind and body. When you rush while eating, the food moves so quickly from mouth to stomach that the connection from mind to body is not strong. The mouth doesn’t know what the stomach is doing and vice versa. This is good health advice no matter what: sit down, slow down, savor, breathe and chew your food. Since the thyroid is the master of your metabolism, you want to eat slowly enough so it can record the message that food is entering the body.

5. Drop the Cell Phone

We already know about the connection between cell phones and brain tumors. But this little radiation machine that you hold up to your ear is awfully close to your thyroid gland as well. A good alternative is to get a headset to use while speaking on the phone.