Recent Research Identifies Dietary Risks and Benefits for Optimal Thyroid Health

It has long been known that diet and nutrition play a major role in determining thyroid health. Without iodine, a vital mineral, the thyroid cannot function properly. In the days before table salt was supplemented with iodine, deficiencies resulted in widespread cases of goiters. This is still a health risk in many developing nations.

But several studies that have been completed in recent months have identified other nutritional substances that can impact thyroid health, both negatively and positively. This week, we’ll review dietary guidelines to help you make positive food choices to promote healthy thyroid function.

Studies Offer Contradictory Results on Green Tea’s Impact

Over the last several years, green tea has made significant inroads in Western countries such as the United States. Long a dietary staple throughout much of Asia, this mild tea has been linked with a wide variety of health benefits ranging from cancer prevention to immunity enhancement.

Dieters and those looking to maintain a healthy weight have been particularly drawn to green tea. The tea is said to have metabolic benefits, helping to prompt the fat-burning processes that can help speed weight loss. However, for thyroid patients, this benefit could prove to be problematic.

For hyperthyroid patients who suffer from overactive thyroids, green tea consumption in large quantities is often not recommended. This is due to concerns that the metabolism-boosting properties of green tea could prove to increase the rate of the metabolism too much, exacerbating some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Somewhat surprisingly, studies that have assessed the ability of green tea to boost the metabolisms of hypothyroid patients have been inconclusive. At the current juncture, no conclusive recommendation for green tea consumption by hypothyroid patients has been issued. However, until more definitive findings are achieved, it may be best to limit green tea consumption if you have a history of any kind of thyroid disorder.

Iodine Fortification Policies Questioned

Since the mid-twentieth century, table salt has been fortified with iodine in order to prevent goiters and other thyroid disorders. In the United States, public health experts assert that this policy has prevented millions of illnesses over the course of the last several decades.

Health advocacy organizations have emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate iodine intake in developing nations. However, a 2006 study undertaken in China called this widespread assumption into question. It was found that excessive iodine intake is linked to a host of other thyroid problems.

Most significantly, rates of hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis were elevated among the population of Chinese subjects, and in both cases, excessive consumption of iodine was believed to be the culprit. However, the researchers pointed out that iodine deficiency, rather than overdose, remains the more pressing problem in most part of the world.

Fluoride: Good for Teeth, Bad for the Thyroid Gland?

Like iodine, fluoride is a chemical compound that has been deliberately added to our food supply in the service of a number of public health goals, such as improving the overall quality of dental health and reducing the risk of dental cavities. In many states and municipalities, fluoride is added to the drinking water supply. In addition, most toothpaste also contains added fluoride.

However, in recent years, a number of studies have found a link between fluoride intake and thyroid dysfunction. This is not surprising, considering the fact that fluoride was long used as a leading treatment of under-functioning thyroids in hospitals and clinics throughout Europe. In communities whose water supplies are heavily fluoridated, the daily intake of the compound is roughly equivalent to the doses that were once used by European physicians to inhibit thyroid function in patients with hyperthyroidism.

At the current juncture, no definitive statement recommending that thyroid patients avoid fluoride consumption has been released. However, several leading medical groups have issued statements recommending further investigation of the possible impact of fluoride consumption on not only the thyroid gland, but also the entire endocrine system.

In the interim, it may be best for patients with hyperthyroidism to switch to an all-natural, non-fluoridated toothpaste, and to filter drinking water to eliminate some fluoride. This is a decision that is best made through consultations with your dentist and physician.

Whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive, or whether you are simply trying to maintain optimal thyroid function, it is important to remember that what you consume can affect your health in many different ways. Check back for more research news that will help you make choices that will promote thyroid health.

New Research Findings Extend the Understanding of Pregnancy-Related Thyroid Risks, Outcomes

It has long been known that women are particularly vulnerable to thyroid disorders during pregnancy, but recent research findings have begun to shed new light on the possible causes and consequences of pregnancy-related thyroid disorders. This week, we’ll review some of the most significant conclusions and groundbreaking discoveries that scientists have made in a series of recent studies analyzing the pregnancy-thyroid connection.

Link Between Pregnancy, Infant Neurolocial Development Probed

Pregnancy is a period of significant hormonal fluctuations for most women. Because the thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, which regulates the creation and distribution of hormones in the body, the thyroid can often been impacted by the sudden influx of hormones that accompany conception and gestation.

Although the link between proper thyroid function and human growth has been studied for decades, scientists have only recently begun to make significant breakthroughs in unraveling this complex relationship. In recent years, attention has begun to focus on the role thyroid function has upon the development of fetuses during pregnancy.

It has also been found that many more women are impacted by pregnancy-related thyroid disorders than was once thought to be the case. As the diagnostic tests that are used to identify thyroid dysfunction have grown more sophisticated and sensitive, the number of pregnant women diagnosed with thyroid disorders has increased.

One recent study posited that babies born to women who have suffered from pregnancy-related thyroid disorders may experience a series of developmental delays, including diminished cognitive performance. This troubling suggestion has led researchers to delve further into this issue. In fact, researchers are currently recruiting participants to join a study assessing the degree to which treating pregnancy-related thyroid disorders impacts the neurological, cognitive, and intellectual development of infants and children. If this sounds interesting to you, click here to see whether you’re eligible to sign up.

Researchers in England Investigate Impace of Pesticides

Another recent study that sought to assess the implications of pregnancy-related thyroid disorders and their impact on fetal development was conducted by researchers in the UK. In the course of analyzing data for a large-scale longitudinal study, it was found that babies who were conceived during the summer months typically scored lower on academic tests than did their counterparts conceived during non-summer months.

Although the reason behind this disparity has not yet been definitively accounted for, it was hypothesized that low-level thyroid dysfunction could either cause or contribute to the problem. It is suspected that several commonly-used pesticides and nitrate-based fertilizers promote slower thyroid function. Pesticide and fertilizer use often reach their peak in the summer months, when crops are nearing full growth.

At the same time, the most critical phase of fetal brain development occurs soon after conception in the first trimester. Exposure to hazardous elements during this period can cause serious developmental problems.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, the researchers who conducted the study speculated that women who become pregnant during the summer months heightened exposure to pesticides may be at greater risk for developing thyroid problems. Because these children were just conceived, their mothers’ thyroid imbalances during the critical first trimester could account for their lag in academic and intellectual development when compared to peers who were conceived at other times of the year.

The researchers pointed to this possibility to underscore the importance of carefully assessing both the short- and long-term impacts of the substances that are dispersed widely into the environment for farming, manufacturing, and other industrial purposes. They contend that subtle effects such as this may not be readily apparent for decades, and by the time they are discovered, it may be too late to prevent widespread harm.

If you have had past problems with thyroid disorders, or if you have a family history of thyroid diseases, it is very important to consult with your physician during the family planning process. A team of medical professionals that is well-trained in the reproductive implications of endocrine system imbalances will be able to help you plan the healthiest pregnancy possible.

For further reading:

• http://www.endocrineweb.com/pregnancy.html
• http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/pregnant.html
• http://www.tsh.org/disorders/pregnancy/problems.html

Environmental Threats to Thyroid Health: Recent Findings and an Action Plan for Prevention

Thyroid function is an enormously complex bodily process that researchers are only just beginning to fully understand. Even minor variations in the thyroid’s ability to do its job properly can cause major health problems. As a result, recent studies have sought to pin down the factors and variables that are behind the most common thyroid problems and disorders.

In many cases, it appears that thyroid-related illnesses stem from within the body itself. Normal hormonal fluctuations that occur over the course of a lifetime, such as childbirth and menopause, can upset the delicate balance of the endocrine system and increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction. Other types of imbalances in the body can also foster thyroid problems, as well.

But some researchers are beginning to consider factors outside of the body as possible causes of thyroid problems. Due in large part to the rapid influx of man-made pollutants and impurities that have been released into the atmosphere in the last century, our environment is rapidly changing.

A growing number of scientists believe that these changes may also impact the thyroid’s ability to function properly. According to some preliminary hypotheses, these environmental influences could account for the sudden increase in some thyroid-related illnesses that has been observed in recent years. Most notably, the reported rate of thyroid cancer has more than doubled over the course of the last several decades.

Recent Findings Illuminate the Thyroid-Environment Relationship

Over the course of the last several decades, hundreds of studies have been conducted seeking to identify the nature and extent of the relationship between different environmental factors and thyroid conditions. Although numerous connections have been found, the three chief environmental culprits believed to cause or worsen thyroid disorders are pesticides, chemical compounds, and radiation.

In the twentieth century, the quest to perfect the mass production of food led to the development and introduction of a number of increasingly potent pesticides. After years or even decades of use, some of the most widely-applied pesticides have subsequently been linked to health problems and taken off the market.

Health problems that are related to pesticides often take many years to become fully apparent. Scientists suggest that we are still discovering some of the long-term health impacts of the pesticides that were widely used in the past.

Several studies have suggested a link between pesticides in current and past usage and thyroid problems. Of particular concern are ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, commonly referred to as EBDCs. These potent fungicides are sprayed on fruits, leafy vegetables, and some grains to prevent the growth of crop-destroying fungi.

Since the 1960s, EBDCs have been linked with thyroid disorders, such as decreasing the body’s natural ability to take in iodine and increasing the risk of goiters. Although the results are somewhat inconclusive, pesticides in this class have also been linked to thyroid cancer in rats and mice.

The mass production of consumer goods has led to a rapid increase in the number of manmade chemical compounds that have been released into the environment as the byproduct of manufacturing processes. Several manmade chemical compounds have been linked to thyroid disorders, with PCBs and perchlorate identified as two of the most potentially harmful substances.

Although polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) has been banned in the United States since 1979, these potent chemicals, once used to manufacture electrical components, have been shown to have accumulated in many areas of the natural environment. Exposure to excessive PCB levels can disrupt the balance of the hormones released by the thyroid, causing improper function of the endocrine system. PCBs have also been linked to a heightened overall risk of cancer.

Perchlorate is an oxygen-based compound that is used in the process of synthesizing rocket fuel. This chemical is often found in the water supplies of areas of the United States that have supported the development of space travel technology, with the highest concentrations seen in the American Southwest. Like PCBs, perchlorate inhibits the thyroid’s ability to take in sufficient levels of iodine, causing slow thyroid function and, in some cases, goiter development.

Radiation has long been known to be a source of thyroid disorders, but over the course of the twentieth century, the amount of environmental radiation most people are exposed to on a daily basis has increased considerably. Large-scale radiation releases such as the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in Russia and the atomic bomb deployment in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, have both been linked to the most severe risks of thyroid cancer and other thyroid related diseases.

Today, however, scientists are beginning to expand the scope of their search for the impact of environmental radiation on thyroid diseases. In addition to nuclear testing and bomb deployment, researchers are now considering the impact of significant x-ray exposure or living in close proximity to manufacturing or test facilities where radiation is emitted. It is believed that future studies will further expand our understanding of the impact of environmental radiation on thyroid problems.

Action Plan: Reduce Your Risk of Environmental Exposure

Because we are still discovering environmental factors and variables that can negatively impact thyroid health, it’s virtually impossible to completely eliminate the possibility that your thyroid function will suffer from unseen elements in your surroundings. However, by following a few simple guidelines, you’ll be able to significantly decrease your risk of experiencing environmentally-related thyroid problems.

• Opt for organic produce. If organic produce supplies in your area are scarce or too costly, you can still reduce your risk by thoroughly scrubbing all fruit and vegetables to remove pesticide residue.

• Filter your water. Invest in the highest-grade filter system you can afford in order to remove chemical compounds from your tap water. Whether it’s a faucet unit or a stand-alone system, you’ll be reducing your intake of compounds that can be hazardous to your health.

• Buy biodegradable. By looking for products that are ecologically sound, you’ll not only be helping the environment, but you’ll also reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

• Limit x-rays. Today, most diagnostic x-rays are conducted in a very safe manner, but it’s still smart to question their necessity if the number of trips you’re asked to take to the radiologist starts to seem like it may be excessive.

Thyroid Disorders and Memory Loss: Recent Research Findings and Steps to Take to Protect Yourself

Living with a thyroid disorder can be a frustrating challenge. Whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive, whether you’re coping with symptoms like crushing fatigue or fluttery anxiety, facing the day’s tasks and responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming for thyroid patients.

Researchers have recently begun to document another symptom that may make daily life even more difficult for some patients with thyroid disorders: memory problems. In a series of recent studies, scientists have determined that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have been shown to disrupt a number of key steps in the memory formation and retrieval process.

It’s long been established that thyroid disorders can impact the brain, and by extension, the emotional and mental states of patients with thyroid disorders. However, the link between thyroid disorders and memory loss is a new connection that has caused quite a stir among the community of thyroid researchers and thyroid health advocates. We’ll discuss the mechanisms through which thyroid disorders can impact the memory, as well as some common-sense steps thyroid patients can take to preserve, protect, and optimize their memory function.

Understanding the Connection Between the Thyroid and Memory

Because memory formation, storage, and retrieval are such complex processes, research in these areas has progressed rather slowly. Even today, researchers are still devising new methods of assessing memory function, allowing for a more accurate model of memory development to be devised and applied to different situations.

As mentioned, the connection between memory impairment and thyroid disorders is a link that has only begun to be a focus of research in the last several decades. As a result, there remains some confusion over the nature and extent of the relationship between thyroid disorders and memory problems.

At the current juncture, scientists have hypothesized that thyroid disorders impact the memory in two main ways. First, because thyroid disorders impact the overall function of the metabolism, they can disrupt virtually every physical function, including those we typically associate with emotions, mental processing, and cognition. In other words, because thyroid problems impact virtually every aspect of overall health and physical functions, they may also impact and impede memory function.

Secondly, and more specifically, recent research has indicated that there may be a direct link between the thyroid hormone thyroxine (also known as T4) and the form of memory loss known as dementia. Preliminary studies have suggested that T4 deficiency can promote dementia, and that treating patients with dementia with supplemental T4 can ease the symptoms of memory loss. This has led some scientists to call for further study of a possible link between thyroid disorders and Alzheimer’s disease risk.

Another pertinent finding of the recent research on the thyroid-memory links is that older patients seem to be more prone to developing this type of memory loss than are their younger counterparts. However, cases of thyroid-related memory problems have been found in every age group, including young children.

A Memory-Loss Prevention Plan for Thyroid Patients

Whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, it’s important to take a proactive stance on memory loss prevention. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that you’ll have the comfort of a lifetime of cherished moments for years to come.

• Stick to your prescribed treatment regimen. Researchers say that close adherence to the prescription drug treatment plan devised by your doctor is the best thing you can do to prevent and reverse thyroid-related memory problems. Indeed, scientists have shown that mild thyroid-related symptoms of memory loss and dementia can often be eliminated by close adherence to a prescribed drug regimen.

• Alert your doctor at the first sign of memory trouble. The earlier a memory problem is detected, the better the chances are that it can be reversed by adjusting your prescription regimen. If you notice that you’ve been feeling absentminded, scatterbrained, forgetful, confused or even just “foggy,” talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

• Focus on memory-boosting activities and lifestyle choices. As the years advance, it’s not uncommon to lose a bit of memory acuity. Decades of general memory research have identified many things you can do to sharpen your memory, including getting adequate rest, making sure you have enough B vitamins in your diet, engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, talking about your childhood and other long-ago events, and taking proven memory-enhancing supplements, such as ginkgo bilboa.

For Further Reading

• http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/thyroiddisorders.html