(Article Medically Reviewed By Dr. Zach Hyde)
Natural Metabolism Boosters
Most male knowledge of the thyroid gland ends at “I know I have one.”
Since health class was a long time ago, I can’t blame anyone for not understanding the critical role this tiny neck gland plays in their general health.
However, as you’ll see, feeding your thyroid the proper “diet” can have a big impact on your testosterone levels as well.
How Your Thyroid Keeps Your Juices Flowing
Like your other glands, the thyroid’s primary job is to secrete hormones.
In this case, those hormones are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It accomplishes this job thanks to hormones from the pituitary and hypothalamus.
We call these TRH and TSH, respectively.
Now, when your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), you will have high TSH, but low T3 and T4.
Here, your glands are sending the right signals, but your thyroid just isn’t reacting.
The opposite (hyperthyroidism), occurs when you have high T3 and T4, but low TSH.
The latter is less common and mostly involves an increased risk of heart failure and stroke.
The more common, underactive thyroid?
The list of potential problems is both long and discomforting.
- Inability to properly regulate body heat
- Metabolism and weight issues
- Reduced breathing rate and oxygen transport
- Issues regulating heartbeat and blood flow
- Inability to properly break down carbs and fats
- Lower LH release, lower GnRH levels, and lower Free Testosterone
That last one is a doozy. You see, a lack of T3 can keep cholesterol from being converted into pregnenolone, which is required for testosterone production.
So not only do hypothyroidism sufferers often find themselves running hot and cold, unable to lose weight, and lacking proper blood flow, but their T levels will start to plummet as well.
All of these things have consequences for your sex life, your ability to stay fit, and your ability to “stand and deliver” when the time comes.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your thyroid pumping away as intended.
And it starts with some smart supplementation.
Six Supplements to Boost T3 and T4
As you’ve probably learned by now, Mother Nature has an abundance of herbs, roots, vitamins, and minerals that can positively affect our bodies and our systems.
However, the world is a very big place, and our dietary range tends to be very small.
This is where thyroid supplements for men comes in.
Once you know which part of your body you want to protect, nourish, or enhance, you need only find the supplements designed to do that job.
So, when it comes to getting your thyroid in gear, you have the following:
Micronutrients For Thyroid Support
Micronutrients refer to a broad swath of vitamins and minerals that we all need but might not be getting enough of through our diets.
Iodine, for instance, is needed in order to create T4.
However, to draw this iodine into the thyroid gland itself, our bodies also need an adequate amount of Vitamins B and C.
Then there’s a mineral called selenium, which is required to convert T4 hormones to T3 hormones, and vitamins A and D, which help the activated T3 enter the nucleus of our cells.
The list goes on and on, and also includes zinc, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and more.
This is why you need to start varying your diet more as you age and ensure you’re getting plenty of nutrient rich foods.
That said, you should also have a quality multivitamin that you take at least once a day.
Thyroid Supplements for Men – Forskolin
This is an extract from an Indian plant known as coleus Forskohlii.
It is what’s known as a “labdane tripedene,” and it has the ability to increase testosterone levels and androgen receptor activity while stimulating the production of both T3 and T4.
Luckily, supplements are available from a variety of sources.
Still, you need to be careful.
Since forskolin is also marketed as a “fat burner,” there are a lot of products out there with questionable origins.
Desiccated Thyroid Glandular
Before synthetic T4 was invented, hypothyroidism was typically treated the “old-fashioned” way.
By that, we mean that people took ground cattle and pig thyroid as a form of all-natural medication.
Gross? Maybe.
However, the fact that these ground glands contain tons of T3 and T4 means that the potion was – and still is – incredibly effective.
When we take DTG, our bodies use these hormones in much the same way they would those received via hormone replacement therapy.
Though a small decline in natural T3 and T4 may initially occur, things will begin to normalize a few weeks into taking the supplements.
Aspirin for the Thyroid
Though generally considered nothing more than a painkiller, Aspirin has several other effects worth considering.
In particular, the effect we’re concerned with is the way Aspirin shifts mitochondria from oxidizing fats to oxidizing glucose.
This simple shift provides a big boost to thyroid function and increases the production of both T3 and T4.
Thyroid Supplements For Men – Taurine
Taurine is something that we’re all very used to, as it is found in generous quantities in Mother’s Milk.
Scientifically, it is considered an antioxidative amino acid, and our bodies normally store it in our bile, large intestines, testicles, and heart.
Among its laundry list of benefits is the ability to balance electrolytes, improve our body’s absorption and utilization of minerals, and raise our testosterone.
Curiously enough, taurine also increases natural dopamine and serotonin, which can boost our metabolism and improve thyroid function.
Lastly, high taurine levels can prevent thyroid damage and protect the production of T3 and T4 due to its antioxidant effects.
The best thing about taurine, however, is that it’s very cheap. Getting 1 – 5 grams a day will barely even put a dent in your budget.
Ashwagandha for the Thyroid
Ashwagandha is an herb found in India, the Middle East, and Africa.
In the past few years, many experts have started recommending this supplement.
This is due to its impressive ability to naturally boost testosterone levels, lower cortisol levels, and reduce oxidative damage to cells (source).
However, research also shows that Ashwagandha may also hold the key to raising our T4 levels.
In fact, one study on rodents saw T4 raised by 60%!
The testosterone boost itself makes this supplement worth taking, but you’ll also be protecting your thyroid in the long-term.
Thyroid Supplements For Men Conclusion:
When your thyroid is underactive, you will be underactive as well.
From hair growth problems to issues in the bedroom, it’s only a matter of time before hypothyroidism starts to take a toll on you.
With these six essential supplements at your back, you can tackle these problems before they even start.
