Have you been struggling with either hyper- or hypothyroid disease and don’t know what to do? Are you having trouble gaining or losing weight? Have you even developed a goiter on your neck? This is a serious problem, but Suzy Cohen has advice for how you can address this issue.

Thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t work properly. That’s a problem because your thyroid regulates your metabolism, as well as your heart rhythm and your body’s temperature.

There are two kinds of thyroid disease:  hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  Hypothyroidism is when your body won’t make enough thyroid hormones. You can be sensitive to cold temperatures, tiredness/fatigue, and causes of your weight gain.  Hyperthyroidism is the opposite, where your body makes too much hormone. It involves intolerance to the heat, a fast heartbeat, and weight loss. If you have hyperthyroidism you may also notice a goiter growing on the side of your neck.

Another problem that occurs is thyroid cancer. Cohen suspects that this disease is on the rise because of persistent organic pollutants in our environment, heavy metals, pathogens, and possibly even gluten.

So how can we treat thyroid problems? There are several solutions. For instance, take a selenium supplement, which is a trace mineral. You can also use Ashwagandha. This is another supplement that is important, not just for your thyroid, but also for the adrenal glands as well.

It’s important also to be aware of what Cohen calls “drug muggers” these are medicines that are meant to help with a medical problem but have the side effect of extracting nutrients from your body. Examples include:

  • Alcohol
  • Sugar
  • Blood pressure medication.
  • Antacid pills.
  • Antibiotics

If you are worried that you may have a thyroid condition, consider getting a genetic test done. There are now companies that offer a mail-away service, which can help you identify if you have the gene.

Want to learn more about thyroid disease and how to treat it?  Read the full article here: Thyroid 101 Understanding Basics of Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Thyroid Illness.