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Feeling Blue? Before You Pop That Antidepressant, Check Your Thyroid

January is Thyroid Awareness Month. At least 30 million Americans have a thyroid disorder.

But get this: half of them, a whopping 15 million people, don't even know it, according to The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist.

Women are ten times more likely to have thyroid problems than men. The No. 1 symptom is depression. Often people are diagnosed with depression when the real culprit is a thyroid problem.

Could you have a thyroid problem? It's a huge problem, but it is treatable so you should not suffer in silence. If you have been having difficulty getting pregnant, it could be your thyroid.

The thyroid gland is enormously important. It's responsible for our metabolism. It affects every organ in our bodies.

Thyroid problems are a result of the thyroid hormone released being too high (hyperthyroidism) or too low (hypothyroidism).

If you think you might have a problem, get your doctor to check your TSH levels, which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. T3 and T4 thyroid hormones should be checked as well.

SYMPTOMS OF A TOO-LOW THYROID:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Depression
  3. Memory Problems
  4. Weight Gain
  5. Hair Loss
  6. Always Cold

SYMPTOMS OF A TOO-HIGH THYROID:

  1. Jittery
  2. Anxious
  3. Difficulty Concentrating
  4. Heart Palpitations
  5. Flushed
  6. Bulging Eyes
  7. Sweating

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid problem, and your doctor gives you medication for it, be prepared to go back and tweak the dosage. Don't be surprised if the medication makes your thyroid output go too far in the other direction.

Long-term use of thyroid medication can cause osteoporosis. Sometimes non-prescription cures help, alone or in combination with medications.

NATURAL REMEDIES TO TREAT THYROID PROBLEMS

  1. Reduce your intake of sugar and grains, particularly refined carbohydrates (white breads).
  2. Reduce the amount of caffeine you drink (or eat, as chocolate contains caffeine).
  3. Increase the amount of good fat you eat. This includes olive oil, avocados, walnuts, coconut oil, grass-fed beef, fish and pastured-raised chicken and eggs.
  4. Increase your intake of vitamins and minerals. This can be accomplished by eating more vegetables but also by taking nutritional supplements. Make sure you are getting enough iodine, which is found in most ordinary table salt. Consider vitamin D and omega-3 supplements as well as a complete multivitamin (I like Damage Control Master Control by Primal Blueprint).
  5. Increase your healthy bacteria. Make sure to take a probiotic or get enough probiotics in foods (fermented foods like kim-chi are best) because thyroid problems often originate in the gut.
  6. Exercise: Stress is often a trigger for thyroid problems. Exercise is one of the best stress relievers.
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