The thyroid gland affects the function of all organs in the body. In fact, thyroid hormones control how your body metabolizes food for energy, i.e. your metabolism rate, meaning your brain, heart, muscles, liver, and other parts of your body function.
In other words, every cell of your body depends on the thyroid gland. If this gland is not functioning at an optimal level, neither will the rest of the body. More than 250 million people worldwide suffer from hypothyroidism or an under-active thyroid gland. Women are especially affected with one in eight women suffering from thyroid problems at some point in life.
Among the most common thyroid disorders are:
Hypothyroidism – this happens when the thyroid gland isn’t secreting enough of the thyroid hormone and the body can’t function properly leading to a slowed metabolism and overall slower bodily functions.
Hyperthyroidism – this is opposite of hypothyroidism, meaning that the thyroid produces too much of the thyroid hormone which speeds up the metabolism and heart rate.
Thyroiditis – this happens when the thyroid gets inflamed due to the immune system’s antibodies which start attacking the gland.
Goiter – abnormal enlargement of the thyroid which can cause swelling and throat problems.
Thyroid nodules – abnormal growth of thyroid cells forming a lump within the thyroid gland.
Thyroid cancer – this happens when cancer cells form from the thyroid gland tissues and 45.000 people are affected by this condition every year.
Thyroids disorders can manifest differently, depending on the condition and they usually develop slowly, affecting women more often than men. Women with thyroid disorders experience problems with their menstrual cycle, difficulties to get pregnant and if they do get pregnant it can be problematic.
These are the most common symptoms of a thyroid disorder which can be found in both men and women:
- Changes in appetite
- Decreased libido
- Dry skin
- Limb and muscle pain
- Body temperature fluctuations
- Hoarse voice or a strange feeling in the neck
- Thinning hair
- High cholesterol levels
- Irregular sleep patterns
One of the most common causes of thyroid disorders is iodine deficiency. If the body lacks iodine it can’t produce enough thyroid hormones. Selenium has been linked to thyroid disorders as well, that is the lack of it and according to experts it can lead to hypothyroidism, thyroid swelling or goiter. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant which regulates our hormones and if you want to increase the selenium levels in your organism you should consider eating more black walnuts.
If you suspect that you have some kind of thyroid disorder you need to consult your doctor and find out what’s happening.
However, there are a number of natural remedies which can help you balance your selenium levels and protect your thyroid which you can try as a precautionary measure. Here’s an excellent natural remedy you can try:
- 40 black walnuts
- 1 kg of raw honey
- Mason jar or several smaller jars
First you need to wash the walnuts and pat them dry. Prick them on the surface or make small nicks on their surface and put them in the jar. Add the honey and leave the jar under direct sunlight leaving the jar open. Keep in like that for about 40 days and then strain the liquid and transfer it in a glass bottle. Consume 1 teaspoon every morning on an empty stomach.