Are you getting these vital nutrients for thyroid health?

I received an email from a woman asking, “What are the most powerful supplements to heal my thyroid?” Terri

It’s a very smart question.

One of the major contributing factors to poor thyroid health is nutritional deficiencies, and supplementation can help fill in some of those missing nutrients.

However, supplementation should never take the place of real food.

Supplements should be exactly that… a supplement to a well-balanced, wholesome nourishing diet.

Below are some of the most important nutrients for thyroid health and how you can get them into your body in the most delicious and absorbable ways:

Iodine – Iodine is crucial for thyroid function and both a deficiency and excess causes thyroid disease. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are thyroid hormones that contain iodine. Without sufficient intake of iodine, your body will NOT create thyroid hormones. [1]

Foods rich in iodine include:

• kelp
• cod
• salmon
• wakame
• nori
• nettles

Here is one of my favorite ways to get iodine into your body: Savory Miso Soup

Selenium – This mineral is needed for thyroid hormone production and protects the thyroid from damage caused by oxidative stress. The thyroid contains high amounts of selenium, and a deficiency leads to thyroid dysfunction[2].

I’ve had clients tell me they are eating 6-7 Brazil nuts per day to get their daily dose of selenium. But, you can selenium from more than just Brazil nuts.

Selenium rich foods include:

• salmon
• tuna
• halibut
• turkey
• chicken
• beans
• mushrooms
• nuts

Here’s a delicious selenium rich dish for you: Poached Halibut with Mirin

Zinc –  Zinc plays a key role in the metabolism of thyroid hormones. An optimal concentration of zinc is essential for adequate levels of T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).[3]

Foods rich in zinc include:

• lamb
• pumpkin seeds
• beef
• chicken
• lentils
• chickpeas
• spinach

Here’s a triple whammy recipe that includes lentils, chicken and spinach: Lentils and Sausage

Iron – People struggling with thyroid disease have a high prevalence of iron-deficiency, but this is often overlooked in the medical community. According to studies, treating a person’s iron levels may be all that is needed to reverse a thyroid condition. Iodine, that is crucial for creating thyroid hormones, requires iron for it to be fully utilized.[4]

Foods rich in iron include

• liver
• grass-fed beef
• lentils
• spinach
• black beans.

Spread this creamy chicken liver mousse on your favorite cracker or piece of sourdough toast and you are on your way to building better iron levels: Chicken Liver Mousse

If you have been taking handfuls of supplements and your thyroid is still not functioning well, try eating food first.

Trust me… it can make all the difference in the world.

Do you want more Thyroid Health knowledge delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for my Free email series here:

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049553/

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19594417/

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30982439/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6552785/