Marie-Annick Courtier - Cooking Well: Thyroid Health: Over 100 Easy & Delicious Recipes for Nutritional Well-Being

Cooking Well: Thyroid Health

Text copyright 2010 Marie-Annick Courtier

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher.

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DISCLAIMER
This book offers general cooking and eating suggestions for educational purposes only. In no case should it be a substitute nor replace a healthcare professional. Consult your healthcare professional to determine which foods are safe for you and to establish the right diet for your personal nutritional needs.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Courtier, Marie-Annick.
Cooking well. Thyroid health / Marie-Annick Courtier ; foreword by Lauren Feder.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-1-57826-393-6 1. Thyroid glandDiseasesPopular works. 2. Thyroid glandDiseasesDiet therapyRecipes. 3. Cookbooks. I. Title. II. Title: Thyroid health.
RC655.C66 2010
641.5631dc22

2010032872

Cover Design by Nick Macagnone
Cover Photography by Catarina Astrom

v3.1

Hatherleigh Press would like to extend a special thank you to Jo Brielynwithout your hard work and dedication this book would not have been possible.

After reading Cooking Well: Thyroid Health, I feel that the concept of utilizing nutrition to improve thyroid health has now received its well-deserved place in health and wellness books. Thyroid conditions are being diagnosed in epidemic proportions, and millions of Americans must now rely on daily medication to treat these disorders. Because of this, there is a tremendous need to consider additional options to support healthy thyroid function.

Thyroid health is a personal matter for me as I underwent two surgeries for hyperthyroidism as a teenager. During my medical residency 10 years later, I consulted with a holistic practitioner at a friends recommendation. He treated my remaining thyroid gland with natural medications and diet. Within a short period of time I was able to discontinue my medications and I have never needed any treatment since.

The important role of the thyroid cannot be overstated, as it affects a myriad of functions throughout the body. Medical advancements in the 20th century have been impressive in their achievements and more sophisticated techniques, including complex drugs and antibiotics, have saved many lives and improved quality of health. However, many people are concerned about side-effects from thyroid medication. Dissatisfied with a lifetime prescription of medication, many are interested in learning about additional ways to improve thyroid health.

Most patients and their physicians consider a diagnosis of a thyroid conditionwhether it be hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidismas a lifelong regimen of daily medication. Yet the concept of health is multi-faceted and Cooking Well: Thyroid Health brings to light additional options available to a person diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Although some people may always require medication, food can be a wonderful medicine. Hippocrates wrote, Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. More and more doctors are recognizing the significant role that nutrition plays in general health, including thyroid health.

The recipes in this book are appealing to the contemporary palate while also being therapeutic by design. These delicious recipes of healthy food choices were chosen specifically to regulate thyroid function whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Beginning with the descriptive facts of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, the book provides a well-rounded balance of easy-to-understand science and excellent recipes. Whether you are a novice in the kitchen or a gourmet chef, these recipes are both delicious and simple to prepare. Readers will be delighted with the practical applications and how-to recipes to be used for thyroid health. People who are conscientious about health will also find the suggested Foods to Avoid and Foods to Choose section sensible and easy to follow. This book has greatly expanded my opportunity as a physician to counsel my patients regarding diet and thyroid health.

Lauren Feder, M.D.

The thyroid gland is a small, yet vital member of the endocrine system. The butterfly-shaped organ, which sits at the front of the neck and directly below the larynx, provides hormones to the entire body. Its hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), function to regulate metabolism, body temperature, and growth and development. T3 and T4 also control the rate at which the bodys cells perform their duties, so disease that prevents the thyroid gland from working properly inevitably throws the entire body out of balance.

According to the third U.S. National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 12.2 million Americans, almost 6% of the population, are reported to have thyroid disease. Eighty percent of those individuals, roughly 9.6 million, live with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). The other 2.6 million have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Since thyroid disease affects the body so diversely and may create symptoms often associated with other illnesses, it often goes undetected or undiagnosed for quite some time before a proper diagnosis is reached.

Image courtesy of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

Because this disease affects so many individuals, it is important to understand thyroid disease, recognize the symptoms of both conditions, and learn how the right diet can help improve the quality of life for those living with thyroid conditions. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can generally be managed with medication and the proper diet, but a lifetime commitment to this balanced regimen is required in order for individuals who have thyroid disease to live a healthy, active life.