Buying guide for best thyroid health supplements
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It’s responsible for controlling your body’s metabolism, including regulating the heart and muscles and supporting cognitive function. Individuals with hypothyroidism don’t have enough thyroid hormones. These folks can benefit from a thyroid health supplement.
Before you look into purchasing thyroid health supplements, be sure to consult with a healthcare professional. Once they give the go-ahead, you want to consider a few key factors. You may want a hypoallergenic formula if you’re allergy prone. Also consider potential side effects, pill size, and additional nutritional benefits.
At BestReviews, we’re pleased to help you choose the best supplement for you. Keep reading our buying guide to learn more about the benefits of thyroid supplements and factors to keep top of mind while you shop. Fortunately, hypothyroidism is an easily treatable condition. Soon, you’ll be able to put an end to your fatigue, muscle weakness, and other symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Key considerations
The thyroid’s key function is regulating the body’s metabolism. The gland is fueled by iodine, which is derived from food to produce two hormones: triiodothyronine and thyroxine.
The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland (located in the brain), which releases a thyroid-stimulating hormone. This gives the thyroid gland the go-ahead to release thyroid hormones throughout the body. Some main functions of the thyroid hormones include accelerating or decelerating the heartbeat, raising or lowering body temperature, and the speed at which food goes through the digestive tract.
Somewhere between 20 and 30 million Americans have a thyroid imbalance. A number of these individuals experience hypothyroidism, meaning the thyroid gland doesn’t create enough thyroid hormones. Most hypothyroidism is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland, often an effect of autoimmune disorders or surgical removal of the thyroid. Some symptoms of hypothyroidism are hair loss, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and heavy or irregular periods. Thyroid health supplements can help regulate the thyroid’s function, alleviating hypothyroid symptoms
As you decide on the thyroid supplements that will work best for you, keep the following in mind.
Side effects
Because the thyroid is such a finely tuned gland, it’s imperative to not flood the body with the hormones. Signs of excessive thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) include increased heartbeat, hot flashes, fever, nervousness, sweating, and sleep problems. If any of these issues occur, stop the supplements immediately and consult a medical professional.
Ingredients
Thyroid supplements include a mix of vitamins that positively impact and support the thyroid hormones’ functions. Because the human body is an intricate machine, thyroid deficiencies can often be traced back to vitamin deficiencies.
B vitamins: A number of the B vitamins are important for thyroid function, so quite a few thyroid health supplements include them. In particular, a deficiency in B2 (riboflavin) directly correlates with low thyroid hormone levels. A B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency can result in lower levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone that comes from the pituitary gland. Fish and red meat are rich in B12 (cobalamin), so a B12 deficiency is rather common in vegans and vegetarians.
Iodine: This is another main component of thyroid health supplements. That’s because iodine is absolutely essential to thyroid hormone production. Since the body doesn’t produce iodine, it has to be sourced from foods, such as table salt in the United States. A lack of iodine consumption directly impacts the thyroid gland, causing thyroid enlargement
Zinc: This mineral supports over 200 functions in the body, including the thyroid hormones. A zinc deficiency affects several processes in the body, including an underactive thyroid. Low zinc levels are also linked to lower levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland.
Selenium: The thyroid contains more selenium than any other organ in the body. Selenium is a protective mineral, shielding the thyroid from oxidation damage. Low selenium levels have been linked to thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (a kind of hypothyroidism).
Did you know?
Hypothyroidism impacts women more than men. It’s estimated that one in eight women will experience hypothyroidism in their lifetime.
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Features
Hypoallergenic
You may be among the millions of Americans with a dairy, soy, or gluten allergy. Some of these ingredients, like soy, are common in vitamins and health supplements. You can avoid allergy flare-ups by reading the ingredient labels carefully. Even if the thyroid health supplements don’t include allergens that affect you, they could be manufactured in a facility that processes those items. Double-check the ingredients to be on the safe side.
Organic vs. synthetic
Organic vitamins are derived from plant-based materials, meaning all the nutrients in the vitamin are sourced naturally. The farms that supply the ingredients for the supplement may use organic soil, harvesting the plants at peak timing.
Synthetic vitamins, as the name implies, are created in a lab setting. The majority of popular health supplements are created this way. Synthetic vitamins do a pretty decent job of mimicking the vitamins found naturally in food. However, it’s still unclear whether or not the body has more trouble absorbing synthetic nutrients.
Taste
You don’t take thyroid health supplements for their taste, but a particularly unpleasant flavor can dissuade you from taking the supplements consistently. The majority of thyroid health supplements are packaged in pill form. These pills range in taste from flavorless to chalky. Still, you can find tips and tricks that will make any pill easier to swallow, such as taking it with a soft food like applesauce.
Expert Tip
Thyroid supplement doses are based on your weight. A general guideline is 0.8 micrograms of thyroid hormone per pound, but this rate can vary based on other individual factors. All the more reason to consult your doctor before taking thyroid health supplements.
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Thyroid health supplement prices
As with any product you put in your body, it’s best to spend more for higher quality rather than save on cheaper brands. For a thyroid health supplement of decent quality, you can expect to spend between $15 and $35, or about $0.17 to $0.35 per capsule. Variances in cost depend on the quantity, manufacturer, and ingredients.
Inexpensive: You’d be hard-pressed to find any thyroid health supplements for under $15 to $20 per bottle. Even at this price point, the options are limited. The majority of pills in this range include no more than 60 capsules, which works out to a month’s supply of two capsules a day.
Mid-range: You have more options in the $20 to $30 range, including a greater quantity of pills, such as 80 or 120, and an allergen-free guarantee. Pills in this range are also more likely to be sourced from organic ingredients.
Expensive: For $30 and above, a number of thyroid health supplements are medical grade or sold in bulk (such as two bottles or more). They may also be manufactured in smaller quantities (hence the price hike) or include additional organic herbs.
Did you know?
Thyroid cells are the only ones in the body that absorb iodine. When iodine moves through the bloodstream, the cells in the thyroid oxidize it to create thyroid hormones.
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Tips
Avoid certain ingredients and foods if you have hypothyroidism. If you have hypothyroidism, it’s particularly important to avoid supplements with gluten and soy because both may be linked to low thyroid hormone levels. You should also avoid excessively processed foods like cake and hot dogs.
Support your thyroid health. To foster healthy thyroid function, limit your intake of sugary foods and caffeine.
Eat organic. Hormones and antibiotics may trigger autoimmune responses that exacerbate thyroid problems. When possible, consume an organic, hormone-free diet.
FAQ
Q. Are there thyroid health supplements targeted toward men or women?
A. Since women experience more thyroid problems than men, some supplements are marketed with women specifically in mind. But for the most part, over-the-counter thyroid supplements are gender neutral.
Q. What drugs or vitamins should I avoid taking with thyroid health supplements?
A. Avoid taking thyroid health supplements with calcium or iron, which affect the body’s ability to absorb the vitamins.
Q. Can I take thyroid health supplements with alcohol?
A. We don’t recommend it. Over time, consistent alcohol use can lower the thyroid gland’s ability to function properly.
