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Last Updated: Oct 23, 2019
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Hypothyroidism And Dietary Management
TREATMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM IN HOMOEOPATHY
HYPOTHYROIDISM OR MYXOEDEMA [HYPOTHYROID] |
HYPOTHYROIDISM / MYXOEDEMA Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition, which results from deficiency of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism with deposition of mucinous substance in subcutaneous tissues is known as ‘myxoedema'. |
CAUSES: |
• Primary thyroid gland involvement. • Lack of pituitary TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). • Hypothalamic deficiency of TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone). • Autoimmune thyroiditis. • Severe iodine deficiency. |
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: |
• Slowing down of mental and physical functions of the body. • Easy fatigability and tiredness. • Sleepiness. • Body ache. • Puffiness of face. • Edema feet. • Weight gain. • Increased sensitivity to cold. • Dryness of skin. • Brittle nails. • Constipation. • Hair fall. • Hoarseness of voice. • Hearing loss. • Tendency for repeated infections. • Muscle cramps. • Shortness of breath. • Anemia. • Mood swings. • Forgetfulness. • Slow speech. • Infertility. • Menorrhagia (profuse menses). • Occasionally rise in blood pressure. |
DIETARY MANAGEMENT: |
Avoid: • Avoid goitrogens (food that blocks the utilization of iodine): turnips, cabbage, mustard, cassava root, soybeans, peanuts, pine nuts and millets. Cooking usually inactivates goitrogens.
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CONSUME: |
• Increase consumption of iodine, it is an important building block of thyroid hormone: – Sea food, meat, milk and milk, sea plants- kelp, dulse (vegetable sea food) and Japanese sea vegetables. Plants grown in iodine rich soils are also good source of iodine. – Iodized salt is a primary source of iodine. • Increase consumption of copper, selenium and zinc as these minerals are essential for normal thyroid hormone production and metabolism. • Foods rich in copper: – Meat gelatin, eggs, yeast, lamb; pork; pheasant quail; duck; goose; squid; salmon; organ meats. – Soy and soy products, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes; almonds, broccoli, garlic; bran breads and cereals; sea plants and mushrooms. – Dried beans - soy beans, lima beans, baked beans, dried peas; lentils; barley. – Dried fruits including raisins, dates, prunes, avocado, Chocolate. – Some amount of cooper is obtained from cooking in copper vessels. • Foods rich in selenium: – Grains, Brazil nuts, garlic, wheat germ and brewer's yeast, fish, shellfish, eggs, red meat, chicken and liver. • Food rich in zinc: Good dietary sources of zinc include seafood (especially oysters), beef, oatmeal, chicken, liver, spinach, nuts and seeds. – Meat, poultry and milk, shell fish, crab, shrimp and sea plants etc. – Plant foods are low in zinc, Whole wheat grains provide good amount of zinc. • Increase consumption of proteins - tyrosine, an amino acid is a precursor for making thyroid hormone : – Milk and milk products, eggs (is the richest source), Flesh food: meat, fish, and poultry. – Nuts and oilseeds, pulses, cereals. |
Note[Note] |
• Mild to moderate exercise is advisable, exercise stimulates thyroid gland function. • Practise yoga. |