Mondays, we build your grocery list with one food, focusing on this month’s main topic. For your thyroid, you may want to consider adding this food to your grocery list:
PASTURED PORK.
Pork Chops - deep nutrition for your thyroid
For those who wish to know the ‘why’ behind this idea, I’ll give you three things to think about.
FOR THE PROTEIN
When the thyroid is struggling, it is typically due to a metabolic issue, meaning your metabolism is off. This looks like blood sugar regulation issues, hormonal balance is off kilter, and/or inflammation or stress is happening. Not awesome.
Protein helps nourish those organs deeply impacted by a metabolic imbalance issue. When consumed with carbohydrates, protein can actually help improve blood sugar regulation! By addressing some of the imbalances, you end up taking the pressure off of the thyroid.
FOR THE VITAMIN D3
When you reach for meat from pastured animals, they will have any extra vitamin D3 stored in their fatty tissues. Pastured pork is a wonderful source of vitamin D3! Studies are showing that low levels of vitamin D3 are correlated with elevated autoimmune issues (1). When we’re talking thyroid, this is Hashimoto’s and Graves. Supplying good quality food-grade vitamin D3 via pastured pork products can be a delicious way to shuttle some of this important vitamin in to your system.
Remember - the animals can’t make D3 themselves (and store in their tissues) unless they have access to the outdoors! It’s important to make the distinction here - we are talking about meats from pigs that are allowed to roam freely outdoors.
FOR THE MINERALS
All meats contain bio-available zinc, a crucial mineral needed for the metabolism of thyroid hormones (2). You need zinc to make thyroid hormones, and to convert T4 to the useable T3 form. It is important to consume foods that are rich in zinc, in order to nourish the thyroid! Pork provides a solid source of zinc.
Selenium is another important trace mineral that you’ll find in pastured pork products. This mineral is a crucial ingredient in the recipe when your body is making thyroid hormone. You also need this mineral to help make T4 into the useable T3 form. Minerals are one of the most important nutritional pieces to nourishing the thyroid + your metabolism!
Pastured pigs
Good protein is an essential component when it comes to nourishing your thyroid + supporting your body’s metabolism.
Sourcing pasture raised animals is one of those recommendations that could serve you well, especially if you’re currently struggling with an under-performing thyroid.
Not sure how to cook it? I have a recipe for Apple Sage Pork Chops in my Thyroid mini recipe book, currently on sale for $5. Check that one out here.
Aiming for a return to thyroid vitality? Looking to support your metabolism + energy levels? Need some help in feeling real good?
Get in touch by clicking here. Let’s meet up to start drawing up your road map to support you in both quantity and quality of life.