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I see a lot of women starting supplements based off of a google search, a friend’s recommendation, or the advice of an influencer.
Now, I LOVE hearing that these women are trying to take control of their health - and there are a lot of good supplements out there, especially some supplements that can really help the thyroid!
The problem is that you as an individual might not need all of them. And in fact, there are a number of really popular supplements right now that may be doing more harm than good, ultimately leading to messed up hormones, a slow thyroid and weight gain.
Now, if you have been prescribed or recommended a supplement from a medical professional, this blog post is not for you! Keep on truckin’ with the guidance that is personalized for your needs.
But if you’re self-led at the vitamin shop, here are a few common supplements that might be messing with your hormones.
Zinc is of course popular right now because it boosts your immune system.
However, if you take too much of it, zinc can considerably lower your sodium levels and sodium is needed for your adrenal glands. These are the hormones that help with your fight or flight response.
If you’re taking a zinc supplement without direction from a medical professional and you’re feeling extra sluggish lately, you might consider pausing or lowering your zinc intake.
While it’s great for your bones, teeth, muscles and immune system, a key function of Vitamin D is that it regulates potassium and calcium in the body.
Because of this, too much vitamin D can lower your potassium - which is essential for converting your inactive T4 hormones to active. Vitamin D can also raise calcium to levels that inhibit thyroid hormone function.
Now, you are probably not taking a copper supplement on its own, but this heavy metal is added to a lot of multivitamins and supplements.
Copper can also rescue potassium levels and slow down T4 conversion. It can mess with your sodium levels and draw calcium into the muscles, which can result in unexplained aches and pains. Lastly, it can enhance the effects of estrogen. That’s a lot of hormones that can be upset by one little additive! This is definitely something most of us should be watching out for on the ingredient list.
I’m seeing this supplement becoming really popular in the health community, but it also has a ton of copper in it, which can lead to a number of hormone issues.
I’m a big fan of supplementing omega 3s, as it’s something many of us are lacking. But be mindful of which type you are choosing! For example, cod oil has a lot of vitamin D, so that’s one that might need to be avoided.
What this all comes down to is that you should never take a supplement without knowing why you’re taking it, what it does and what the side effects are.
In fact, I don’t recommend starting supplements without first doing functional lab testing to really understand what vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients you need to supplement.
Have questions about supplements or want to get started on your functional lab testing? Give me a shout!
Phone: (314) 226-3137