Dear Pharmacist, I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease, and my husband has Grave's. We are a perfect match because he makes too much and I make too little. Advice? - B.L., Dallas
Located at the base of your throat, your thyroid produces hormones that control your metabolism (as in fat-burning ability) and regulates the rhythm of your heart and body temperature. That explains why you eat like a bird and gain weight, while your husband eats a horse and stays thin.
Whether you have hypo or hyperthyroidism, selenium, is one trace mineral that may help. Selenium has been shown in clinical trials to either slow the progression of or reduce symptoms of thyroid conditions, meaning any imbalance (hyper or hypo). Selenium is directly tied to the health of your thyroid gland so discuss this mineral with your doctor.
Your precious stash of selenium may be mugged by your medication. Surprised? Well, unfortunately it's true, your medicine might be crashing your thyroid over time, and this was covered in the selenium chapter in my book "Drug Muggers." Here are some common muggers of selenium: acid reducing medications, antidepressants, corticosteroids, hormone-replacement therapy, birth control pills, breast cancer drugsand sulfonamides.
If you take any of those, selenium supplementation may be critical for you. And it's not just medicine, certain medical conditions and beverages affect selenium status. Recently, scientists discovered a certain gene is associated with thyroid cancer. This gene usually stops tumor growth, and when lifestyle factors turn it off in your body, thyroid tumors are more apt to grow. If you'd like more details about thyroid disease, this cancer gene, how to switch it back on or anything else, sign up for my "health tips" newsletter at
tulsaworld.com/pharmacist
Selenium-rich foods include walnuts, tuna, shrimp, eggs, cheese, turkey, beef and oatmeal. I like Brazil nuts because eating four per day gives you about 200 micrograms of selenium. Do not make home-made Brazil nut milk like I did, you will overload.
info@dearpharmacist.com
Original Print Headline: Selenium helps patients with Hashimoto's and Grave's disease
Column - Dear Pharmacist
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