Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck. This gland is responsible for several essential bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, mood, energy, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. The thyroid regulates all of this by producing thyroid hormones.
However, when the thyroid is under active (or produces too little hormones) regular function can suffer (i.e., weight fluctuation, fatigue, and depression). This known as hypothyroidism. What many people don’t realize is that there are several foods out there that can both positively and negatively impact those with hypothyroidism, as well as those with normally working thyroids. Here are 15 nutrient-rich foods that impact thyroid health…
1. Seafood
You may love to gobble down shrimp and fish of all kinds, but did you know that seafood is high in iodine, a mineral that is vital to an efficiently functioning thyroid? The thyroid is the gland that manages metabolism and growth, so it has the potential to throw our whole body out of whack!
If you’re deficient in iodine, your thyroid may swell and you can become lethargic, fatigued, depressed, and void of energy. However, if you suffer from hyperthroidism (when the gland makes too much thyroid hormone), a diet high in iodine can exacerbate the symptoms—including accelerated heart rate, heart palpitations, mood swings, tremors, and anxiety.
