Hypothyroid Treatments for Your Low Thyroid
If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, the choice of hypothyroid treatments are fairly simple and straight-forward. The thyroid produces two hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) which are essential in the metabolic processes of the body. The choice of treatment for hypothyroidism then, is to replace those hormones. However, it is not as easy as all that.
Hypothyroid treatments usually take a month or more before the beneficial effects or reduction of hypothyroidism symptoms are seen. This is because it takes the body a certain amount of time to adjust to the different levels of hormone in the blood. Regular blood tests are necessary in order to monitor the patient’s progress, and often adjustments need to be made in order to attain optimal benefits.
There are two different medications used in the treatment of an underactive thyroid. The most popular choice of conventional physicians is a synthetic form of the hormone called Synthroid. It was developed in the 1950s and has become the treatment of choice for most doctors. For the 100 years prior to Synthroid’s development, porcine (or pig) thyroids were used to treat an underactive thyroid because it was found to be the closest match to human thyroids. This practice was discontinued because it was difficult to regulate the level of thyroid hormones contained within the desiccated pig thyroids used in its production.
Recently, the same problem has been found in Synthroid and its generic equivalent. Some patients reporting issues with Synthroid have found Armour, the name for the medication produced by pig thyroids, worked better for them.
Dietary Hypothyroid Treatments
Other hypothyroid treatments include making some dietary changes and adding certain nutritional supplements in order to support thyroid function. It is advised that foods such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale and spinach be avoided as they have been shown to suppress thyroid function. Beneficial foods for thyroid function include chicken, turkey, fish, peanuts, almonds, avocados, bananas, milk, cheese, yogurt, lima beans and sesame or pumpkin seed because they contain tyrosine, an amino acid vital to the production of hormones.
One misconception about hypothyroidism is that it is commonly caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. In truth, it is very rare for this to occur in developed countries. Most people receive enough iodine in their daily intake, and in fact, too much iodine can have a detrimental effect on the thyroid function. Other nutritional supplements include calcium and magnesium, however, both must be taken and in a 3-1 ratio in order for the best effect. Fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil have also been shown to help support good thyroid function. It is best to check with your treating physician before implementing any dietary or nutritional changes when dealing with a diagnosis of an underactive thyroid.
The solution for hypothyroid treatments seem deceptively simple, but not all people will respond exactly alike to the chosen regimen. Whether you opt for Synthroid or Armour and make changes to your diet and nutritional needs, it’s likely things will have to be tweaked out in order to find the best way to treat your underactive thyroid. With patience and perseverance, most people find a hypothyroid treatment plan that works for them, allowing them to regain the health and energy levels they once enjoyed.
