3 Power Nutrients & Supplements for Hashimoto’s & Hypothyroidism

There are many nutrients that provide extra support to a thyroid that may be struggling due to Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s.

In this post I’ll discuss 3 important ones to boost thyroid function, and how to get them from diet and supplements.

Thyroid function is powerful and far-reaching. It is in control of our most vital functions and organs such as the heart, brain, liver, kidney, and skin.

It is also responsible for healthy and balanced human growth and development and balanced hormones. As widespread as the areas where the thyroid reigns are, the causes and triggers of thyroid dysfunction lie much closer together.

Common reasons you may fall out of balance in thyroid hormone production:

Nutrient deficiencies

Build-up of toxins

Infections

A malfunctioning inner ecosystem

These reasons are all tied together in one way or the other:

Nutrient deficiency leads to compromised immune systems.

This makes the body more susceptible to infections.

In turn this leads to a lower resilience against stress, which combines with all the other factors to instate a poor inner ecosystem. 

When problems and their root causes are so closely bunched together, so are their solutions.

If you set out to solve one of these problems, there is a high chance there will be a chain of collateral benefit set into motion.

Which is why you must maintain a thyroid-friendly diet by avoiding foods that make thyroid function go askew (grains, gluten, soy, most dairy, legumes, and chemically processed foods) and increase the foods that help the thyroid in doing what it’s supposed to do.

Both the Paleo diet and the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) are nutrient-dense, thyroid- and immune-supportive diets that utilize a whole-foods approach in supporting Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s naturally.

In addition to diet, there are specific nutrients that should be kept in mind while making any changes to help the thyroid:

Methylcobalamin

The body takes in food in forms that are useless to the functions it wants to perform – in other words, it must convert food itself into useful bits and pieces.

Methylcobalamin, the active form of B-12,  is one of the tools used to accomplish that. It is a form of vitamin B12 which helps transform food into energy – energy that is used for regeneration and creation of red blood cells, proteins, hormones, and new DNA.

However, as with any function being carried out, the work environment matters.

Stomach cells must secrete a protein called the intrinsic factor in order to absorb vitamin B12, which cannot happen in a body with a poor internal ecosystem and compromised gut health.

Methylcobalamin is relatively low-maintenance and can get the job done without needing the intrinsic factor for absorption – proving useful in the fight against thyroid-induced fatigue, which is most frequently reported by patients of thyroid dysfunction and Hashimoto’s, a form of autoimmune thyroiditis. 

The dose recommended by many holistic practitioners is 5000 mcg, sublingually, daily for 10 days; then 5000 mcg, once per week, for 4 weeks; then 5000 mcg monthly for maintenance.*(1)

Selenium

Thyroid function produces two key hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

However, thyroxine needs to be converted into its biologically active counterpart, triiodothyronine, which is responsible for the regulation of your metabolism and other thyroid-related essentials.

This conversion is brought to you by selenium.

Selenium plays a dual role by also protecting your body’s normal cell function by supporting the body’s very own defense system and hunting down harmful free radicals. You can find it in foods such as brazil nuts (Paleo) and wild-caught fish (AIP).

The recommended form of selenium for thyroid conditions is selenium methionine, and it is best absorbed in the body when taken alongside soy-free Vitamin E. 

The dose recommended by many holistic practitioners is 200 to 400 mcg per day, and to take the supplement for 3 to 24 months.*(1)

Thiamine

It may surprise you the intermingled effects that nutrients create. Thiamine, also known as B1, is one such nutrient.

It carries the responsibility of releasing the stomach acid HCL (hydrochloric acid).

HCL is a prerequisite for the conversion of carbohydrates into usable energy as well as the breakdown of proteins and fats during digestion.

Research has found that chronic fatigue that comes in tow with inflammation and autoimmune diseases may result from depleted thiamine levels.

Paleo dietary sources of thiamine include rich protein such as eggs, nuts, and seeds; while AIP sources include liver and pork .

If you experience digestive issues that prevent you from living on a thiamine-rich diet, you may also take supplements that contain the fat-soluble thiamine vitamin called benfotiamine, as well as corn-free vitamin C in the form of acerola cherry powder (which is also excellent for supporting adrenal health.) 

The benfothiamine dose recommended by many holistic practitioners is 600 mg per day, and to take the supplement for 3 to 24 months.* (1)

*Always check with your trusted practitioner before taking ANY supplement, no matter how natural or necessary. Underlying conditions, current medications, and other health issues may require that you take different formulations, dosages, etc. Please always consider your safety and personal situation before changing anything about your diet, lifestyle, or supplementation.

(1) Reference: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/most-common-nutrient-deficiencies-hashimotos/

Photo attributions: Taylor Kiser, Rachael Gorjestani, Gesina Kunkel, Christine Siracusa