High Thyroid
An overactive thyroid gland quickly uses up certain vitamins, causing them to become dangerously deficient. The B vitamins are responsible for our mental health, and it is possible some of the mental symptoms of hyperthyroidism are due to B vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B1 (thiamine).
Therefore,
a high intake of this vitamin is necessary. Likewise, demand for vitamin B6 is high in hyperthyroidism and also when protein intake is generous.
Depletion of this vitamin in hyperthyroidism of sometimes so great that only a daily infection can prevent muscle weakness – a common symptom. Other vitamins, too, are drawn upon heavily in hyperthyroidism, particularly vitamin C and E, which are literally drained from the tissues.
If you have any family or personal history of thyroid problems, make sure you take supplemental vitamins C and E. Too little of these antioxidant vitamins can not only mimic the symptoms of an overactive thyroid, but a shortage of these can worsen a thyroid problem. In some cases, hyperthyroidism can be alleviated by adequate amounts of these vitamins.
Bone loss is one of the ling term effects of hyperthyroidism. This is because an overactive thyroid causes an extreme depletion of calcium. Some experimenters have found that natural vitamin D (not the hormone found in milk) counteracts the usual rapid excretion of calcium, so blood levels of calcium can return to normal.
Vitamin d is a fat-soluble vitamin, and it can be acquired either by ingestion or exposure to sunlight. It is known as the “sunshine” vitamin because the action of the sun ultraviolet rays activates a form of cholesterol present in the skin, converting it to vitamins D. However air pollution, clouds and window lass inhibits the sun action on the skin. Foods containing high amounts of natural vitamin d are: cod liver oil, salmon, sardines, herring, egg yolk, organ meats and bone meal.
Too much thyroid hormone uses up essential fatty acids (EFA), which the thyroid gland needs to function normally. In one study, rats deprived of EFA became hyperactive with excessive thyroid hormone production. The two families of essential fatty acids are omega-6 (linolic acid), found in seeds and seed oils and omega-3 found mainly in fish, fish oils (cod liver oil) and green leafy vegetables.
Independent clinical tests show that borage oil contains up to 26 percent GLA. Compare this to evening primrose oil and black currant oil, which contain no more that 18 percent. Not only that, borage oil costs less because the borage seed is three times larger than black currant or evening primrose seeds. Finally, borage is more bio available. In other words, the body more readily accepts it.
