Thyroid Gland Functions
The thyroid gland is small and butterfly-shaped and is located at the base of the neck. Although this gland may seem small and insignificant, it plays an active role in keeping the human body healthy through its functions. The thyroid gland accomplishes this by producing hormones. In some cases, however, thyroid gland functions may be disrupted.
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Thyroid Stimulating Hormones
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Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) are produced by the pituitary gland, which is located in the brain. The role of the pituitary gland is to produce hormones that stimulate the thyroid gland's own production of hormones. When the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, TSH is produced in greater quantities in an effort to revive the thyroid gland. This is why an individual who is diagnosed with an under-active thyroid, or hypothyroidism, has high TSH levels.
Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine
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Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) are the two types of hormones that a thyroid gland produces. A healthy thyroid is composed of 80 percent T4 hormones and 20 percent T3 hormones. Once produced by the thyroid gland, T3 and T4 enter the blood stream and control the body's metabolism. If an insufficient amount of hormones are being produced, metabolism is disrupted, causing an array of problems.
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Iodine
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Iodine, a mineral which is found in certain foods, is essential for the production of T3 and T4. In fact, the three and four in T3 and T4 refer to the number of iodine molecules. Also, the thyroid is the only part of the body that absorbs iodine. If an individual has hypothyroidism, they may want to consume more foods that are rich in iodine, along with their prescribed hormone replacement medications. Examples of foods that aid the thyroid include kelp, bananas, spinach, carrots, egg yolks, potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, squash, seafood and asparagus.
Effects
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Aside from regulating the body's metabolism, the thyroid aids in body temperature regulation and is partially responsible for the functioning of other organs, such as the heart. Also, iodine that is circulated through hormones from a normal thyroid gland regulates stress, sleep patterns, and brain function.
Prevention/Solution
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Foods that have a lack of iodine include cabbage, kale, peanuts, mustard, soybeans, pears, cauliflower and brussels sprouts and should be avoided if an individual has hypothyroidism. For an over-active thyroid, a person should take the opposite action and eat these foods in order to help suppress the thyroid gland from producing too many hormones. The treatment of hypothyroidism will require the usage of hormone replacement drugs, which directly help the thyroid gland to function properly.
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