Many people take thyroid hormone medications to increase their thyroid hormone levels after a blood test performed by their doctor reveals that they are low. Deficiency is more common in women, although science does not know exactly why. It is suspected that there is a relationship between thyroid hormones and female reproductive hormones that makes them more susceptible.

The thyroid and its hormones
The thyroid gland is in the neck. The hormones it produces are crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism and help the body to generate energy. Low levels of thyroid hormones will cause fatigue, a feeling of coldness, inactivity, and weight gain. It will also affect the brain’s chemistry and can cause depression.

There are two main types of thyroid hormone produced in the body T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine). The main difference between the two is that T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone, while T3 is the active form. T4 on its own is useless to the body and has to be converted to T3 as well as another less common active form called reverse T3 (rT3).

Mainstream medicine
Unfortunately, the mainstream or hospital management for low thyroid hormones – known as hypothyroidism – is to prescribe T4 hormones, which is the inactive form of thyroid hormone. This is usually in the form of levothyroxine which goes by different brand name such as Synthroid, Levothroid, and Unithroid.

Since T4 is inactive, the body must convert it to T3 before it serves a useful benefit. The problem here is that the body requires several minerals to convert T4 into T3 and most people lack these nutrients. The essential nutrients needed to produce healthy levels of thyroid hormones as well as convert T4 to T3 are iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, molybdenum, boron, copper, and chromium. As you can see, a wide profile of minerals is required for the conversion process and if a person does not have sufficient stores of just one of these their body will be unable to perform it.

Nutrition and diet
Before taking thyroid medications, it is important that the body has adequate levels of nutrients. Today’s foods are lacking in many of the essential nutrients needed to maintain the thyroid gland. This makes it necessary to take supplements. Those diagnosed with low thyroid hormones should take a good quality multivitamin containing all the essential nutrients for the thyroid for at least three months and then carry out another blood test to check their thyroid hormone levels. In most cases, it will return to normal.

Those already taking thyroid medications and not seeing any real benefit or who experienced benefit in the early days after the drug was prescribed but these faded with time, should also take nutrients to improve the conversion of T4 to T3. The most important nutrients for the conversion is selenium and chromium. Supplements are easily available from health food stores and some supermarkets.