Many people who have low levels of T4 and especially T3 and high TSH resort to thyroid supplements, for one simple reason: because the doctor does not believe that there are the conditions for hormonal supplementation. This is despite all the symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism or lazy thyroid. Swelling, low energy, tendency to overweight, low body temperature, intestinal problems, nutritional deficiencies despite a varied and healthy diet, susceptibility to stress, poor muscle response even with adequate physical activity, mood and concentration problems.

The thyroid acts as a master regulator of metabolism and immune defenses. But if we have a sluggish thyroid and no full-blown pathology, can we resort to thyroid supplements to return to optimal hormone values?
The answer is no, because these thyroid supplements, especially if they are a blend, that is a mixture of different substances, can do more harm than good to this very important gland for our health. That is, they can work in the short term, but they can also cause damage in the long term. And when this damage occurs, the thyroid may be more compromised than it was initially.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR Lazy Thyroid: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Lazy thyroid supplements currently on the market almost all contain two substances that can damage the thyroid. These substances are iodine and L-Tyrosine. Let’s see why.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR Lazy Thyroid: The Case of Iodine

Iodine is important because the thyroid needs it to synthesize thyroid hormones. But it should only be taken in case of proven deficiency.

It is also contraindicated for those familiar with autoimmune diseases and thyroiditis. According to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, there are 50 people affected by goiter in Italy for every hundred thousand inhabitants, therefore with severe iodine deficiency. A figure, this of ten percent of the population, which attests to a shortage, but not so serious compared to other countries. Consuming more fish, and supplementing with a little iodized salt would solve the deficiency naturally, if suspected. But in thyroid supplements we find 100 to 150% of the recommended daily dose.
A little too much.

Especially if we have not detected a deficiency , that is, if we have not done any tests.
In short, iodine is not as friendly to the thyroid as it would seem: in Japan, where iodine deficiency is among the lowest in the world, thyroid cancer is high. In people with mild iodine deficiency, TSH is lower than in those with excess iodine. Excess iodine, for example by supplementation, can lead to hypothyroidism and thyroiditis.

So if the dosage is wrong, you literally go from the pan to the grill. With the marketing of supplements, which are not so safe, there are many cases of people who, by integrating with products that contained iodine, first saw an improvement, and then a marked worsening of symptoms.

It is important to make sure you get iodine through your diet , with an adequate intake of fish, in 3-4 weekly portions, or, for those who do not consume fish, with dried seaweed (to be taken as food, not as a supplement, for for example adding them to soups or salads without exaggerating) or iodized salt.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR Lazy Thyroid: The Case of Thyroid

And now we come to another ingredient, which we will call the villain. Tyrosine.
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid, which together with iodine promotes the formation of thyroid hormones.
In supplements we find it in synthetic form, such as L-tyrosine. Now, there are two things to take into account.

The first is that in a varied diet , especially in terms of protein foods (meat, fish, eggs, cheeses) and not vegan, it is difficult to have a tyrosine deficiency . A good content of tyrosine is also found in lupins and soy, but essentially the foods that contain the most tyrosine are those of animal origin. Cases of tyrosine deficiency concern people with specific metabolic disorders or a reduced-protein diet. 

Furthermore, if a deficiency in tyrosine metabolism is implicated in thyroid disorders, tyrosine supplementation has not yielded reliable scientific results in hypothyroid patients, while the only relevant studies have been done only in mice.

In hyperthyroid people, an excess of plasma tyrosine is common . But again: note that there may be a metabolic problem that explains this, for example in the liver or kidney .
And not a food problem.

The second.
Dr David Clark explains that supplementing with tyrosine to improve thyroid function is wrong: tyrosine could lead to increased production of catecholamines. 
And catecholamines, being inflammatory, could have a negative effect on the thyroid.

To these two particular ingredients in supplements are often added plant extracts, usually adaptogens, which however are not free from contraindications.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR Lazy THYROID: HERE’S HOW TO REMEDY

Supplement your diet with high biological value protein foods, selenium, zinc and B vitamins, make sure you eat fish in your diet, take magnesium before going to bed, solve vitamin D and iron deficiencies, expose yourself more to the light of sun, eat carbohydrates at a sufficient altitude, avoiding low-calorie and low-carb diets, correct an excess of estrogen and / or cortisol, reduce stress. But also infrared light therapy as I explain here.

These things are all safer and more beneficial for the thyroid than taking a lazy thyroid supplement without being fully aware of the side effects.