So it’s May now and you have been diligent about working out 4 days a week, and you have never been more strict with your diet. The scale said you have lost a whopping 2 lbs since the beginning of the year. What gives? You either throw the scale out the window and feast like Mardi Gras was everyday, or allow me to help you break this plateau. Read on.
As you know, your thyroid is a very important gland that plays a major role in your metabolism. If it’s off, it will really mess with you. Having an under functioning thyroid can keep you from losing weight, make you feel depressed, disrupt with your gut system, make you anxious, keep you from sleeping, etc. Oh but please read on. You finally got a doctor’s appointment after waiting 3 weeks to get on the schedule, and are betting money in Vegas that your thyroid is off. Your doctor then says the classic words…”Your thyroid is normal.” What in the h#$@ do you do now?
As a weight loss doctor, the traditional “TSH” lab test your primary care doctor doesn’t always give the full picture of what your thyroid is doing. What does that mean to you? Although your TSH may be “normal”, it doesn’t always mean that your thyroid is completely in check. Now getting a more comprehensive thyroid panel requires a specialist, so unfortunately you are not qualified to explore further without professional help. However, there are some natural things you can do to boost your thyroid.
#1 Start Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that has multiple benefits including providing health for your eyes, reducing inflammation, and boosts your immunity. This powerful anti-oxidant also has been known to activate your thyroid hormone. You can find vitamin A in foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and carrots. If taken in supplement form, the recommended dose is 700mcg per day.
#2 Add Brazil nuts to your diet
Why? Brazil nuts provide a plentiful source of a mineral called selenium that is essential to the function of your thyroid.
#3 An apple a day keeps the doctor away…
Mercury is a heavy metal that looks like iodine which is a mineral that the thyroid absorbs to function. If mercury competes with iodine and eventually takes over, your thyroid production goes down, and hence your metabolism slows down. Apples have pectin, which is a gelatin-like fiber that is able to flush out mercury.
#4 Lean chicken.
Animal protein is loaded with amino acids, specifically tyrosine, which is also essential for thyroid function. In fact, a deficiency in tyrosine can have a major effect in contributing to a slow metabolism. Tyrosine can be found in dairy and leafy greens as well, but eating protein gives the added benefit of boosting your metabolism for overall weight loss.
#5 Eat iodine-rich foods
Iodine is the basic building block for your thyroid and can sometimes make or break you if you are not eating enough. Sea vegetables such as seaweed are one of the best sources of iodine followed by organic yogurt and also strawberries. The recommended dose is 150mcg per day of iodine.
If you feel like you are having some problems with your thyroid, feel free to schedule a FREE consultation with me here.
Dr. Angela Tran
