Thyroid And Calcium Supplement - Are They Necessary?

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. This gland is responsible for regulating metabolism by releasing thyroid hormones. The underproduction or overproduction of these hormones could affect every aspect of an individual’s health. One of the minerals affected by the functioning of the thyroid gland is calcium.

Calcium is a very important mineral for the human body. It not only builds a strong skeletal structure but also helps with muscle contractions, blood clotting and regulates enzyme levels. The thyroid gland and the parathyroid gland are directly responsible for calcium regulation in the body. This is done through the calcitonin hormone. This hormone is released by the thyroid gland. Calcitonin helps regulate the calcium levels in the blood and keeps it from accumulating in the bloodstream.

Because of the important role played by calcium in our bodies, calcium supplements are the easiest way to maintain the calcium levels in the body. However, for patients suffering from hypothyroidism, this may not be a good idea. Calcium supplements can interfere with thyroid medication such as levothyroxine. Instead, calcium can be sourced from the food being eaten.

Milk is not the only food group that provides calcium to the body. Some of the other foods that you could get calcium from include:

1. Beans: All legumes are a great source of calcium. Of these, winged beans have the highest concentra5tion of calcium. One cup of winged beans can give the body up to 24% of its required amount of calcium.
2. Fish: Fish such as sardines and salmon are great sources of calcium. Between these two types of fish, sardines have more calcium. These can be eaten fresh or tinned.
3. Cheese: Parmesan cheese has the highest concentration of calcium. However, all other types of cheese contain calcium as well. As a rule of thumb, soft cheese has a lower amount of calcium as compared to hard cheese.
4. Seeds: Seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition. One of the minerals, these tiny seeds are rich in is calcium. one tablespoon of sesame seeds has 9% calcium while one tablespoon of poppy seeds has 13% calcium.
5. Yogurt: Yogurt is a rich source of probiotics and calcium. One cup of yogurt a day can give the body up to 30% of its calcium requirements. This includes full-fat yogurt as well as low-fat yogurt. Greek yogurt also contains calcium but in a lower concentration as compared to regular yogurt.