The thyroid is an butterfly shaped gland found in the neck. This important gland produces the hormones T3 and T4 which regulate the metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condtion in which your thyroid is under-secreting these hormones which can result in fatigue, constipation, coarse skin, cold extemities, weight gain and trouble losing weight. Traditionally hypothrroidism is treated with hormone replacement, but there are a number of things you can do to improve thryoid function naturally. Probably the most important thing you can do is supplement with iodine and iodine rich food. Iodine is a trace element that is used by the thyroid to produce T3 and T4. You can buy iodine in a health food store. You can also increase your intake of iodine by adding kelp, sea vegetables and sea salt to your diet. Other helpful supplements include coconut oil (see previous blog post), the herb licorice, B complex and the amino acid L-tyrosine. Exercise can also jumpstart a sluggish thryoid and improve your metabolism. Yoga can also be a helpful adjunct here. A herbal and / or dietary detoxification program can help rejuvianate your entire endocrine system. In addtion to the above, it is worth noting that ceratin foods in excess can impair proper thryoid function and act as goitrogens; such foods include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, soy products, sugar and caffeine.