Below are the 14 Best Supplements for hypothyroid health. All 14 can help to act as natural remedies or treatments for an under active thyroid.

You may have underactive thyroid symptoms, but a blood test is normal, or you may already know that you have an underactive thyroid.

If you are one of the millions already suffering from a low thyroid function, or a thyroid disorder, you can improve your health with some important nutrients! This is true even if you are taking synthetic hormones such as levothyroxine or Cytomel.

While medication can be helpful in treating the thyroid, you can get an extra bang for your buck if you simply help your body out by supplementing with the correct vitamins and minerals in the proper amounts.

For ways to learn how to choose a supplement, be sure to check out: “How to choose the right supplement”

For each nutrient below, you will find the general role, how it relates to thyroid health, food sources, and recommended daily allowances (RDA):

• • Fiber

• • Protein

• • Magnesium

• • B12

• • Copper

• • Vitamin E

• • Iron

• • Zinc

• • Iodine

• • B2

• • Vitamin C

• • Selenium

• • Vitamin D

• Vitamin A

FIBER

Role: Fiber is the portion of plant foods that cannot be digested. Studies have shown that diets rich in fiber can help fight disease.

Role in thyroid health: It is a great nutrient for your heart and your digestion. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar and fend off cravings. Keeping level blood sugar levels also helps you maintain energy!

Food Sources: Fiber is found in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and legumes.

Daily Fiber Recommendations (RDA): You want to try to get 25 to 30 grams a day. It can be helpful to look for at least 3–4 grams per serving.

PROTEIN

Role: Protein is what makes up the structural and functional materials on every cell in your body. It is one of main macronutrients and is especially important for thyroid health. When you eat protein, it is broken down into these structural and functional materials which help to do things like improve your immune system, build healthy muscles, grow hair and fingernails, and much more.

Role in thyroid health: Protein is especially important for those with low thyroid function. Eating protein at breakfast can help curb cravings throughout the day. Eating protein at breakfast can help you to prevent that dreaded thyroid fatigue. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar and fend off cravings. Keeping level blood sugar levels also helps you maintain energy!

Food Sources: Make it LEAN! Lean sources of protein include beans, chicken breast, low-fat dairy, egg whites, fish, lamb, lentils, tempeh, tofu, turkey breast, split peas, and more.

Daily Fiber Recommendations (RDA): General recommendations are for 1.2-1.4 grams of protein per KG of body weight (for weight loss). Otherwise, recommendations are for .8g/kg of body weight.

MAGNESIUM

Role: Magnesium is needed for metabolism, and to maintain healthy muscles, nerves, bones, and heart.

Role in thyroid health: Magnesium helps to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It can help to lower blood pressure and helps your nerves function properly. The body works hard to keep the magnesium levels stable.

Food Sources: dark leafy greens, almonds, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, nuts, dark chocolate, yogurt, avocado, banana and fermented dairy products.

Daily Magnesium Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19-30 – Male 400mg, Female 310mg, Adults 31+ – Males 420mg, Females 320mg/day

Food first is always ideal, but if you need a magnesium supplement, try getting one of these forms of magnesium when shopping for supplements:

• • Magnesium aspartate

• • Magnesium Citrate

• • Magnesium lactate

• • Magnesium chloride

B12

Role: Also known as cyanocobalamin, B12 is essential for nerve and blood function and in the creation of DNA in cells.

Role in thyroid health: Adequate levels can help provide energy and prevent anemia which causes fatigue making people feel tired and weak.

Food Sources: B12 is found mostly in animal foods. You should consume high quality meats like grass fed organic beef, liver, and pasture raised eggs. Wild caught fish and free-range organic poultry also contain B12.

A lot of foods are also fortified with synthetic B12. This form of the vitamin has been shown to be poorly absorbed when compared to vitamins naturally occurring in foods. There are not a lot of plant-based foods that contain B12, so if you are a vegetarian or vegan be sure to are supplementing an active form of B12.Daily B12 Recommendations (RDA): Adults 14 years and older; 2.4 mcg per day 

COPPER

Role: Copper is widely distributed in food; a varied diet should provide enough copper to meet the daily recommendation.

Role in thyroid health: Copper is a mineral that your body uses to stay healthy. Your body uses copper to carry out many important functions, including making energy, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Copper also helps maintain the nervous and immune systems and activates genes. Your body also needs copper for brain development.

Food Sources: beans, nuts leafy greens, nutritional yeast, and organ meats like kidney and liver

Daily Copper Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 900mcg

VITAMIN E

Role: You may have been suggested to rub this on your scar if you had to have thyroid surgery. There are many ways to use Vitamin E!

Role in thyroid health: Vitamin E has beneficial antioxidant effects and improves immunity by fighting off bacteria and viruses. Antioxidants like Vitamin E protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. When Free radicals damage cells, they might contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Food Sources: green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli; also, in nuts like almonds or sunflower seeds and vegetable oils. Daily Vitamin E Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 15mg

IRON

Role: Iron is used to make hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells. Iron is needed to take oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to cells all over the body. Iron is also needed to make the protein myoglobin which brings oxygen to the muscles

Role in thyroid health: Iron is integral to thyroid health because it helps makes hormones. If you do not get enough of this nutrient, deficiency may set in and you can develop anemia. This will lead to fatigue, digestive issues, poor memory, and concentration as well as low immunity.

Food Sources: lean meats, seafood, poultry, fortified cereals, and breads. You can also use cast iron to cook (I recommend this product)

Daily Iron Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; Men – 8mg, Women – 18mg

ZINC

Role: Zinc is a mineral found in many body cells. It is important for thyroid function due to its healing and immunity properties. Zinc is needed to make body proteins, and DNA for cells. Zinc is important for growth and development especially during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood. Beans and grains also have proteins that keep zinc from being fully absorbed so vegetarians need to make sure they have 50 percent more zinc than recommended. Alcohol consumption also decreases the intestinal absorption of zinc and can be lost through the urine

Role in thyroid health: Zinc helps to convert T4 to T3 (the active form) and lack of zinc can reduce levels of active T3 by preventing its’ conversion to T4.

Food Sources: Zinc is found in a variety of foods. Good sources include red meat, poultry, seafood such as oysters, crab, and lobster, herring, and turkey. Some zinc is found in nuts.

Daily Zinc Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; Men – 11mg, Women – 8mg

IODINE

Role: 75% of the total body iodine is stored in the thyroid gland, and the body needs iodine to make thyroid hormone. It is best to get your iodine needs from food as supplements can often contain more or less than what is listed. It is best to discuss iodine supplements with your physician. Most of the salt used in processed foods does NOT contain iodized salt, so you might be getting less than you think!

Role in thyroid health: Iodine is responsible for helping to create hormones necessary for growth, reproduction, brain development, healing, energy, metabolism. It also helps to regulate the central nervous system and help regulate healthy thyroid function.

Food Sources: iodized salt, seaweed, or dried kelp, white cod, yogurt, eggs, tuna, green peas and bananas.

Daily Iodine Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 150mcg

B2 (riboflavin)

Role: Mainly helps with energy metabolism; converting fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy for your cells.

Role in thyroid health: Its’ role in energy metabolism makes it crucial to hypothyroid conditions.

Food Sources: milk and yogurt are the most common, but it is also found in enriched cereals and grains. It is mostly found in animal products (meat, fish, dairy) so vegetarians/vegans need to make sure to get enough.

Daily B2 Recommendations (RDA): Recommendations for a supplemental dose: 1-25 mcg per day: The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of vitamin B12 are: 1.8 mcg; older children and adults, 2.4 mcg; pregnant women, 2.6 mcg; and breast-feeding women, 2.8 mcg.

VITAMIN C

Role: Vitamin C is an antioxidant and immune system booster. It also helps to protect cells from toxins and environmental damage. It is needed to make collagen (the most abundant protein in your body).

Role in thyroid health: Eating vitamin C can also help absorb iron, which is critical for energy levels (and thus thyroid function).

Food Sources: Eating fruits and vegetables alone will allow you to get at least 90% of your daily needs.

Daily Vitamin C Recommendations: (RDA): Adults 19+ years; Men – 90mg, Women – 75mg

SELENIUM

Role: It contains enzymes that help to regulate thyroid hormones in the body. It is also an important antioxidant that protect your cells from free radical damage. It also helps with DNA synthesis

Role in thyroid health: Selenium plays a key role in creating thyroid hormone!

Food Sources: brazil nuts, cod, cereals, eggs, meats, tuna, and fruits and vegetablesDaily Selenium Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 55 mcg

VITAMIN D

Role: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and helps to regulate calcium and phosphorous levels in the body.It is needed for muscle and nerve function as well as healthy immunity. It is important for maintaining strong bones and thyroid health!

Role in thyroid health: regulating calcium and phosphorous levels in the body help the parathyroid and thyroid function in harmony.

Food Sources: You can get Vitamin D from the sun and from dairy products. Try for a balance of each of these!

Daily Vitamin D Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 2000-4000 IU

VITAMIN A

Role: Vitamin A plays an important role in cell division. It prompts your genes to make proteins needed for cell division. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly.

Role in thyroid health: This is important for the thyroid because a deficiency can cause thyroid problems. Vitamin A is involved in T4 to T3 conversion and thyroid metabolism throughout the body.

Food Sources: organ meats like beef and liver, salmon, green leafy vegetables, and in orange/green/yellow vegetable such as broccoli, carrots, and squash. Fruits like mango and cantaloupe are good sources, too.

Daily Vitamin A Recommendations (RDA): Adults 19+ years; 3000-5000 IU