Ep7 Diet for Healthy Thyroid Functions

Hello! Welcome to the “You are your best healer podcast”

This is Dr. Haizhen Yang. I am an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist.  I am also a certified reiki healer and advanced Metatronic energy healer. 

The thyroid gland is part of our endocrine system. It is located at the front of the neck, below the larynx, or men’s Adam’s apple. It is comprised of two lobes on each side. The thyroid gland secretes hormones that regulate many metabolic processes in our body. It affects pretty much every organ in our body. It controls the heart, muscle, digestive function, brain development, and bone maintenance. It also has an impact on growth hormones, energy expenditure, the female reproductive system, CNS, autonomic nervous system, GI, and metabolism. Its proper functioning depends on a good supply of iodine from the diet. 

When the thyroid gland doesn’t work properly, it could have two opposite conditions: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. 

Common causes of thyroid dysfunction are iodine imbalance, stress, and autoimmune diseases when your immune system attacks your thyroid gland such as Graves’ disease, or Hashimoto’s disease. 

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. If a person with mild low thyroid hormones, he or she may feel fine without any symptoms. The common symptoms are a puffy face, sluggishness, fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, a slowed heart rate, constipation, low appetite, depression, and thinning hair or hair loss. According to Chinese medicine, hypothyroidism is caused by liver qi and blood deficiency, liver qi, or blood stagnation with mucus accumulation. 

In terms of diet for hypothyroidism is to eat more sea vegetables, seaweeds, seafood with shells, bitter melons, tomatoes, apples, oranges, water chestnuts,  and fish.

Try to avoid the following foods which could eliminate the absorption of iodines. They are mustard greens, Chinese cauliflower, radish, cabbage, and soybeans. 

Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces more hormones than the body needs, which increases your metabolic rate, and your body uses energy too quickly. It can cause your heart to beat faster, palpitate, and cause anxiety and irritability. Although you eat more, you still lose weight without trying. Your thyroid gland could be swelling, you may have bulging eyeballs. Females may also experience reduced menstrual blood flow. Men could experience impotence. According to Chinese Medicine, we believe hyperthyroidism is usually caused by liver fire rising from stress or yin deficiency causing fire rising. Yin deficiency usually means dehydration, insufficiency of body fluid, and insufficiency of blood or hormones. 

According to Chinese medicine, we recommend having food that is high in calories, high in vitamins, and high proteins. They could be Lyceum leaf, chrysanthemum nankingense, celeries, day lily, kalimeris Indica, winter melon, tomatoes, bitter melon, water chestnuts, watermelon, mulberry, apple, persimmon, banana, figs, mung beans, Chinese yam, soybeans, milk, lean pork, oyster. 

Try to avoid stimulants including deep-fried food, fatty food, dog meat, lamps, beef, pork fat, chicken, pepper, hot pepper, scallions, ginger, garlic, leek, mustard, and alcohol. 

How to maintain a healthy thyroid? 

It is highly recommended to have a diet that is low in sugar, avoid processed foods, and eliminate the consumption of cabbage, and broccoli because they could interfere with thyroid hormone production. Try to exercise at least three to five times a week, and find ways to reduce your stress level. 

The key is to find a balance in your diet and lifestyle.

In the end, I’d like to wish you all a healthy thyroid! 

Thank you for listening to the “You are your best healer” podcast.  Namestate!