Coconut oil supports a healthy thyroid

(NaturalHealth365) Many Americans suffer from hypothyroidism and the uncomfortable symptoms that accommodate it such as cold hands and feet, low body temperature, sensitivity to cold, feeling chilled, headaches, insomnia, dry skin, puffy eyes, hair loss, breaking nails, joint aches, constipation, brain fog, fatigue, frequent infections, ringing in the ears, dizziness, loss of libido, depression and weight gain.

The endocrine system is constantly under attack

Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes; the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has noted that thyroid disease exceeds the number of diabetic cases by more than 40 percent. In fact, it is estimated that 27 million people experience some form of thyroid dysfunction. By the way, nearly 80 percent of all thyroid conditions are hypothyroid related.

The “diet connection” can not be ignored

It is generally accepted in the (integrative) medical community that diet plays a major role in thyroid health. For decades, it has been known that low iodine levels can lead to poor thyroid function and even increase your risk for cancer. Unfortunately, the conventional “solution” of consuming (iodized) salt is NOT the solution. For a more comprehensive plan of action – look up the work of Dr. David Brownstein.

The American diet contains foods that are known as goitrogens. These are naturally occurring substances in certain foods that interfere with the production of thyroid hormones and include healthy foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, radishes, soybeans, peanuts, pine nuts, peaches and millet. Cooking is known to inactivate goitrogens.

Modern farming practices are (slowly) killing the population

The real culprit is the rise of industrialized corporate farming, and a drastically changed food supply. Two goitrogens that are quite prevalent in the American diet are peanuts in the form of peanut butter and soybeans used in prepared foods as textured vegetable protein and soybean oil.

Many of the oils used today can negatively affect thyroid health. These oils are plentiful in commercially prepared food. Expelled-pressed are solvent-extracted oils and are now a major part of the American diet. But, they are the worst things for the thyroid gland. In other words, limit or avoid vegetable oils – which many people are brainwashed into believing are “good for you”.

NOTE: Unsaturated oils block thyroid hormone secretion, its circulation, and the response of tissues to the hormone. When there is a deficiency of the thyroid hormone – the body can be exposed to increased levels of estrogen.

A new level of respect for the Thyroid gland

The thyroid hormone is essential for making the protective hormones progesterone and pregnenolone and these hormones are lowered when anything interferes with thyroid function. The thyroid hormone is required for using and elimination cholesterol and high cholesterol is sometimes an indicator of hyperthyroidism.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of corn and soy beans are fed to pigs to fatten them up and it is the chemically equivalent to vegetable oil. Soy and corn have an anti-thyroid effect causing the animals to gain weight.

Coconut Oil – Supports thyroid health

Coconut oil is a saturated fat made up of mostly medium chain fatty acids, which are know to increase metabolism and raise basal body temperatures. Dr. Bruce Fife, a past guest on the NaturalNews Talk Hour has written extensively about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Coconut oil is both saturated and stable (unrefined coconut oil has a shelf life of three plus years at room temperature); this means it does not cause oxidative stress like vegetable oils. It also doesn’t cause enzyme stress that vegetable oils do – which prevents the much needed hormone conversion of Thyroxine (T4) to Triiodothyronine (T3). The liver is where much of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place, and this is the organ where damage occurs from free radical induced oxidation. By the way, rancid vegetable oils create free radicals.

Since the unsaturated oils block protein digestion in the stomach, we can be malnourished even while “eating well.” With at least a dozen vitamins and minerals that work to prevent low thyroid function, it is essential that we absorb them. Since zinc, vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12 and the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E improve thyroid function the best way back to health means using cold-pressed oils. Coconut oil is a wise choice. Do you use coconut oil? (post your comments – below)

Tweet

About the author: Blanche Levine has been a student of natural healing modalities for the last 25 years. She had the privilege of working with some of the greatest minds in Natural Healing including Naturopaths, Scientist, and Energy Healers. Having seen people miraculously heal from all kinds of dis-ease through non-invasive methods, her passion now is to help people become aware of what it takes to be healthy.

Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=47
http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/Smart-foods-for-hypothyroidism.aspx?page=2
http://coconutdiet.com/thyroid_health.htm