HormonesFive Nutrients Your Thyroid Needs That Most Doctors Never Test
Thyroid dysfunction is far more common than standard TSH testing reveals, partly because doctors rarely check the upstream nutritional drivers of thyroid hormone production and conversion. In this video, Thomas DeLauer outlines five key factors: selenium, iodine, iron, vitamin D, and cortisol management. Selenium is essential for the enzymes that convert inactive T4 into active T3, and DeLauer argues Brazil nuts are an unreliable source. Iodine remains the foundational raw material for thyroid hormone synthesis. Iron deficiency impairs the thyroid peroxidase enzyme needed for hormone production. Vitamin D has emerging roles in thyroid receptor sensitivity. Finally, chronic cortisol elevation — driven by stress and visceral fat — can suppress thyroid output and worsen body composition, creating a vicious cycle. The video is grounded in five PubMed-cited references and offers actionable supplementation and lifestyle guidance.
