Thyroid Toxins, Goitrogens, and Nutrients

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There are three ways to improve thyroid function – avoid thyroid toxins, regulate goitrogens, and get specific thyroid nutrients.

While Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is rampant, it’s not the only cause of poor thyroid function. Many chemicals and toxins prevent the production or conversion of T4 to the active hormone T3. 

Causes of Hypothyroidism and Poor Thyroid Function

Some causes of hypothyroidism may include:

• Chemical, hormonal, or mineral toxins inhibiting thyroid function
• Fatigue, illness, injury, or low cortisol
• Excess or poorly prepared Goitrogenic foods
• Deficient nutrients

Chemical, Hormonal and Mineral Thyroid Toxins

The thyroid takes in blood to filter out iodine.

However, what the thyroid often finds instead of iodine are related Halogen minerals fluorine, bromine, and chlorine.

Many of us bathe in, eat, breathe, and drink these compounds daily. They are toxic to the whole body and block our ability to absorb iodine.

Without Iodine, we can’t make thyroid hormone.

I offer two types of Iodine and mineral support for thyroid health: TMI – Thyroid Metabolism + Iodine and Alaria.

Toxic Halogen Minerals Affect the Thyroid

We find these minerals in many places:

• chlorinated water for bathing and cooking (including steamy showers that liberate chlorine gas)
• swimming pools, saunas, and spas
• fluoride in toothpaste, dental treatments, and some city water
• bromide in commercial flour-based products, soft drinks, fire retardants, and pesticides

How To Avoid Halogens and Protect the Thyroid

• Find alternative pool and spa systems that don’t use chlorine or bromine
• Use reverse-osmosis filtered water for drinking and cooking
• Add chlorine filters to your shower head and bath faucet
• Avoid pools after chemical treatments
• Buy organic unprocessed foods
• Avoid commercial baked goods if brominated
• Use safer toothpaste and body care products
• Consider a latex mattress that has no flame retardants

Other Thyroid Toxins

1. Pesticides and BPA (plastics, canned foods, paper receipts) are toxic to the thyroid and the whole body. Avoid them and use high-quality antioxidants (Systemic Formulas L-Liver Support or Systemic Formulas ROX Antioxidant) daily to help your liver dispose of them.
2. Heavy metals, such as Mercury from industrial pollution and dental fillings, block the conversion of T4 hormone to the active thyroid hormone T3. I ask my clients to take 200 mcg of Selenium a few days every week to block this mineral. Three Brazil nuts also provide that same amount of Selenium. 
3. Estrogen inhibits the body’s ability to absorb and use iodine. This is one reason why pregnant women often develop low thyroid function. Hypothyroidism affects 5 to 8 times more women than men. 
4. Phthalates are found in plastics. Stick with glass or stainless water bottles and food storage. Avoid foods sold in plastic.
5. Triclosan is an antibacterial in soaps and hand sanitizer. Buy safer brands at the health food store.
6. Gluten antibodies can attack the thyroid. I recommend avoiding gluten, as well as all grains and dairy (except ghee). If you have Hashimoto’s, this will help reduce antibody levels.

Goitrogens and Thyroid Function

Goitrogens are naturally occurring food chemicals that interfere with iodine uptake.

If there is inadequate iodine, the pituitary gland increases TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), asking for more thyroid hormone. This can cause enlargement of the thyroid gland as it attempts to make more thyroid.

The main Goitrogen to avoid is soy. Fermented soy, such as gluten-free Tamari or Tempeh are okay, but soy is one “food” that should be avoided by everyone – animals too! Here’s my Primal Diet – Modern Health podcast with Dr. Kaayla Daniels, author of “The Whole Soy Story”, on the dark side of soy.

Goitrogens are found in cruciferous foods such as kale, collards, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. Cooking will reduce the amount of goitrogen substance by about a third. Avoid excess raw kale or collards in smoothies.

A goiter is a chronic thickening of the thyroid gland. It can occasionally be caused by iodine deficiency, but more commonly it’s due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and an excess of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).

Thyroid Nutrients

1. Iodine: The thyroid (and the rest of the body) requires iodine to function. We get iodine almost exclusively from seafood (cod, scallops, and shrimp) and sea vegetables (kelp, dulse, wakame, and nori and our Alaria). There is some iodine in inland foods such as poultry and veggies but not nearly as much as coastal foods.
2. Systemic Formula’s “Thyroid Metabolism Plus Iodine” (TMI): This is a great balance of iodine and iodide, as well as 100 mcg of selenium and other thyroid nutrients. 
3. Selenium: Iodine in excess can trigger autoimmune thyroiditis if selenium is deficient. Keep eating those Brazil nuts daily or take a selenium supplement several days a week.
4. Selenium (again): Selenium helps clear heavy metals and pollutants from the body, working with other antioxidants for the liver. 
5. Systemic Formulas Gf-Thyroid: This product contains seaweed as well as thyroid nutrients. It is a top seller in my clinic but not if you’re already taking thyroid hormone.

Does Iodized Salt Provide Iodine?

Iodized salt is not a good source of Iodine. The form of iodine used is incorrect and non-absorbable. Sea salt and Himalayan salt do not contain adequate iodine either.

The best supplement for iodine (and what I use in my clinic) is Alaria by Mid-American. It’s pure, high-quality seaweed in capsule form.

Does Iodine Cause Autoimmune Thyroid?

Iodine can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune thyroid disease when selenium is insufficient. Most everyone can tolerate some sea vegetables every week but I never recommend high-dose iodine supplements. (Ioderal is one example of what to avoid).

Pregnant women need to be careful with goitrogens as iodine is a crucial nutrient during pregnancy. Add Alaria, sea vegetables and plenty of seafood to your diet, while cutting back on the foods highest in goitrogens.

Poor Adrenal Function and Hypothyroidism

As I wrote about in this article, low cortisol levels will suppress thyroid activity. This is the body’s safety mechanism so a tired body can slow down and recuperate. Many doctors will just keep increasing your thyroid dose, but this is totally wrong.

I test your cortisol load with a saliva test and treat the adrenals first. If you have Hashimoto’s or a frank thyroid deficiency, treat both at the same time. Never stop thyroid medication unless a qualified Naturopath feels comfortable slowing weaning you off.

Helpful Thyroid Information

• Do-it-Yourself Thyroid Tests
• 9 Causes of Hypothyroidism You May Not Know
• Primal Diet – Modern Health PODCAST – Are Your Adrenals Affecting Your Thyroid?
• And this article from Food Renegade tells you more about chlorine in your bath and shower water.