Brain Health → Body Health?

The beginning of fall begins a new series! 🍁

Pause the scroll to spend a second with me here.

Most people don’t think twice about brain health unless they notice problems with their memory or concentration.

But your brain is the control center for everything else in your body! 🧠

How well your brain functions has a direct and significant effect on your stress response, hormone production, gut health, and hunger cues.

(Not to mention productivity and mood.)

We just cannot separate the body from the brain.

Some of the best ways to protect brain health?

✅ Deep Breathing

✅ Good Nutrition

✅ Movement

✅ Sleep

When we say we take a holistic approach to health, this is exactly what we mean.

Follow along for more information about BRAIN HEALTH!

REFERENCES:

Herman JP, Nawreen N, Smail MA, Cotella EM. Brain mechanisms of HPA axis regulation: neurocircuitry and feedback in context Richard Kvetnansky lecture. Stress. 2020;23(6):617-632. [link]

Mayer EA, Nance K, Chen S. The Gut-Brain Axis. Annu Rev Med. 2022;73:439-453. [link]

Morales I. Brain regulation of hunger and motivation: The case for integrating homeostatic and hedonic concepts and its implications for obesity and addiction. Appetite. 2022;177:106146. [link]

Thyroid Habits (Not Related to Diet!)

Surprising Habits that Support the Thyroid 🔥

(research backed 📚)

🧘‍♀️ Yoga

🚶‍♀️ Walking

💫 Vagal Toning

When it comes to thyroid health, it’s tempting to focus on nutrition. But the thyroid is part of the larger endocrine system—and can therefore also benefit from activities that regulate the nervous system.

Like ❤️ if you found this motivating and follow for more!

References

Baishya A, Metri K. Effects of yoga on hypothyroidism: A systematic review. J Ayurveda Integr Med. Published online March 19, 2024. [link]

Macena ML, da Silva Júnior AE, Praxedes DRS, et al. Association between sitting/lying down, standing, walking time and number of steps per day with the hormonal profile and resting energy expenditure of women with obesity living in a low-income region. Br J Nutr. 2022;128(4):646-652. [link]

Karthik S, Pal GK, Nanda N, et al. Sympathovagal imbalance in thyroid dysfunctions in females: correlation with thyroid profile, heart rate and blood pressure. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;53(3):243-252. [link]

3 Thyroid Pitfalls

To optimize your thyroid health, ❌ STOP doing these 3 things:

❌ Stop over-exercising

❌ Stop under-eating

❌ Stop over-caffeinating

Do you know why?

Because all of these things are perceived by your body as 💥stress💥

That means they trigger your adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which causes T4 to convert more into reverse T3 (inactive) and less into active T3 👎

I get it—anybody struggling with thyroid concerns knows that you can be tempted to do all of these things just to try to combat the energy drain or weight gain.

But what if instead…

You could calm inflammation and address underlying issues related to thyroid health (like toxins, infections, or nutrient deficiencies) so you could feel good without these temptations?

That’s what I help my patients do.

Interested in working together?

🥾 Take the first step through the link in our bio.

Goitrogenic Foods: Good to Know

How to safely eat goitrogenic foods 👉

You may have heard of “goitrogens,” or foods that interfere with thyroid function. Specifically, these foods interfere with the uptake of iodine into the thyroid gland and the ability of the thyroid to make thyroid hormones.

But when you see a list of goitrogenic foods, you’ll notice that many of these foods are healthy and nutrient-dense foods, like:

🥦 Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, & collards

🥜 Flax seeds, pine nuts, & peanuts

🍠 Millet, corn, & sweet potatoes

🥢 Tofu, tempeh, edamame, & soy milk

While it’s possible for these foods to cause thyroid problems, most people are able to eat moderate amounts without them affecting the thyroid. Here’s what’s good to know:

🔥 Steaming, boiling, or fermenting these foods reduces the goitrogenic effect

🧂 People with an underlying iodine deficiency are at a higher risk of developing thyroid problems when consuming goitrogens

🥦 The biggest risk comes in when these foods are consumed raw and in concentrated amounts (like juices)

Dietary choices always need to be individualized, which is why it is best to work with a knowledgeable practitioner.

🌱 Get started at our practice through the link in our bio!

#goitrogen #thyroidhealingfoods #thyroidhealthyfoods #thyroidnutrition #elementsnatmed

Reference

Petroski W, Minich DM. Is There Such a Thing as "Anti-Nutrients"? A Narrative Review of Perceived Problematic Plant Compounds. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):2929. Published 2020 Sep 24. [link]

Trace Minerals for Thyroid Health

Essential trace minerals for the thyroid 🌟

Your thyroid gland regulates your metabolism, mental function, mood, and more, but it can’t do its job without some essential nutrients.

🔸Iodine

Iodine is a building block for thyroid hormones. Both too much and too little of this mineral can harm the thyroid, so do NOT supplement without professional guidance. Top food sources include seaweed, seafood, and iodized salt.

🔸Magnesium

Magnesium is needed for the thyroid gland’s utilization of iodine and for the conversion of T4 to T3. Top food sources include nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables.

🔸Selenium

Selenium acts as a cofactor for enzymes that convert T4 to the more active T3. Top food sources include Brazil nuts, organ meats, and seafood.

🔸 Zinc

Low zinc levels have been associated with both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions. Top food sources include pumpkin seeds, oysters, and meat.

Whether or not you have thyroid concerns, eating nutrient-dense foods can help to optimize your thyroid function.

References

Hu Y, Feng W, Chen H, et al. Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A prospective randomized-controlled trial. Clin Transl Sci. 2021;14(4):1390-1402. [link]

Zhou Q, Xue S, Zhang L, Chen G. Trace elements and the thyroid. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:904889. Published 2022 Oct 24. [link]