Is my Thyroid Optimal?

Are you having difficulty losing weight despite exercising and eating well?

Do you have dry skin, or dry hair, feel exhausted and have digestive problems such as constipation?

Well, the thyroid gland is something you need to hear about if you haven’t already.

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland nestled in your throat and is responsible for producing and regulating some of the most important hormones in your body. The thyroid, though relatively small in size, plays a large role in our endocrine (hormone) system.

Who is most affected by Thyroid conditions?

Thyroid conditions are extremely prevalent in North America with an estimated 20 million Americans and 1 in every 10 Canadians having some form of thyroid disease. Over 12% of Americans will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. Because thyroid conditions are tied to so many varying symptoms, up to 60% of people with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition, with women being 5-8x more likely affected than men. It is estimated that one in eight women will suffer from a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.

Why is the Thyroid gland important?

The thyroid gland produces hormones that interact with many other hormones (like insulin, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). We’re still learning so much about how the endocrine system works, but looking at how intimately all hormones communicate with each other, it’s no wonder so many symptoms and diseases are tied to a poorly performing thyroid.

How does the thyroid gland work?

Almost all of the hormones the thyroid produces are in an inactive form called thyroxine, or T4. Most of the active thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (or T3), comes from the conversion of T4 to T3 in different areas of the body, including the liver, the digestive system, the brain and the muscles.

The “activated” T3 is then able to regulate many functions in the body including energy production and regulation of metabolism. When all systems in the body are working well, the right amounts of T4 and T3 are produced. But if something is negatively affecting the thyroid or other organ systems in the body, this hormone balance gets disrupted and we start to experience various symptoms.

Some of the factors that can negatively impact a healthy functioning thyroid are;

• nutritional imbalances,
• environmental toxins,
• allergens,
• infections, and
• elevated cortisol from chronic stress.

All of these can be problematic to the proper function of the thyroid, leading to dysfunction of the gland, and potentially to wider spread systemic concerns.

What happens when the thyroid can’t function normally?

When the thyroid is compromised, the body is unable to produce or convert the right amounts of thyroid hormones. And as a result, we experience conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer.

Thyroid disease or poor thyroid function is tied to many less obvious disorders including;

• acne,
• autoimmune diseases,
• eczema,
• fibromyalgia,
• gum disease,
• irritable bowel syndrome,
• infertility

Because the thyroid is linked to almost every bodily function, symptoms of an underlying thyroid problem are wide and varied, making it more difficult to identify the thyroid as the root cause of the disorders. As a result, many people are misdiagnosed and treated for other conditions before looking at the thyroid.

What is an Underactive thyroid or Hypothyroidism?

A number of symptoms often point to an underactive thyroid, which is the basis of hypothyroidism.

• weight gain (exercising and eating well consistently),
• constipation and bloating,
• low energy,
• foggy thinking,
• low mood/depression,
• rough/scaly skin and/or dry/tangled hair that are unresponsive to treatments,
• hair loss (especially in women),
• cold intolerance (even in a sauna or not sweating during exercise or having low basal body temperature)

What is an Overactive thyroid or Hyperthyroidism?

Patients where their thyroid blood tests show increased function have hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid. Some symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• anxiety,
• agitated/feeling restless, nervous,
• poor sleep quality,
• low energy/fatigue,
• muscle weakness,
• difficulty concentrating,
• increased bowel movements,
• irregular menstruation,
• weight loss,
• rapid, forceful, or irregular heartbeat,
• eye problems (often affiliated with Graves’ disease)

Given that the thyroid is so deeply important to overall health, whether you have an obvious thyroid dysfunction or not, it’s imperative to understand how the thyroid works so that you can keep your endocrine system and your body functioning optimally.

Thankfully, you can help maintain your thyroid health naturally!

When it comes to managing the optimal function of your hormones, the building blocks are almost always found in nutrition first.

To maintain a healthy thyroid, first make sure you’re maximizing your nutrition by:

1. Limit gluten and dairy consumption: Most people go gluten and dairy free only when there is an obvious sensitivity to either type of food. Sensitivity to gluten and dairy is much more subtle when it comes to the thyroid and often goes unnoticed. The inflammation caused by these foods can lead to leaky gut syndrome which can cause the body to accidentally attack the thyroid instead of the food particles it’s trying to destroy. Removing these foods can be critical to maintaining good thyroid health, especially if there is an autoimmune issue.
2. Avoid unfermented soy: The proteins in soy can be anti-thyroid agents that can negatively affect thyroid function. Food such as soy milk, soy nuts, and soy burgers should be avoided. Some fermented soy foods are fine and good to consume, such as; natto, miso, and tempeh.
3. Focus on your iodine level: Iodine is present in almost every organ and tissue and has a direct effect on the thyroid. Iodine might just be the most important part of your thyroid health as our diet and environment make maintaining dietary iodine levels difficult. Chemical agents in commercial food ingredients have the side effect of lessening iodine. Daily exposure to chemicals found in water such as bromine, fluorine, and chlorine all negatively impact iodine levels by attaching themselves to iodine receptors in the body. You can see why focusing on consuming enough of this nutrient is so important.

You can increase your iodine levels by:

1. Incorporate seaweeds into your diet such as wakame, sea vegetables, & kelp (preferably organic sources),
2. Use natural sea salt such as Celtic Sea Salt,
3. Eat organic to minimize exposure to chemical pesticides,
4. If you eat grains, look for “no bromine” or “bromine-free” labels on organic whole-grain breads and flours,
5. Increase your dietary intake of wild-caught seafood and ocean fish,
6. Use natural personal care products to minimize absorbing toxic chemicals through the skin

1. Make sure you get adequate Zinc & Selenium: Zinc and selenium are two micronutrients that play critical roles in thyroid health. Zinc-rich foods include: oysters, beef, pork, and chicken while selenium-rich foods include: brazil nuts, fish, and liver.
2. Manage stress: Stress and hormone health are hugely linked. Make time daily to meditate, relieve stress, and get your mindset on track so you can enjoy the benefits of overall health.

You can gain control over your health by learning how to manage and maintain your hormones through nutrition, lifestyle, and medical support. If you’re dealing with, or suspect you have, thyroid issues, please take time to book an appointment to visit me at pureBalance Wellness.

Book a free 15 minute consultations with me.

I want to help you take control of your health! Testing and comprehensive hormonal assessments are available.

References:

Chaker, L., Korevaar, T., Rizopoulos, D., Collet, T., Völzke, H., Hofman, A., Rodondi, N., Cappola, A., Peeters, R., & Franco, O. (2017). Defining Optimal Health Range for Thyroid Function Based on the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 102, 2853–2861. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2017-00410.

Hoermann, R., Midgley, J., Larisch,, R., & Dietrich, J. (2017). Recent Advances in Thyroid Hormone Regulation: Toward a New Paradigm for Optimal Diagnosis and Treatment. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2017.00364.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Aug 25:jc20152222. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26305620

Wolff, T., Dietrich, J., & Müller, M. (2022). Optimal Hormone Replacement Therapy in Hypothyroidism - A Model Predictive Control Approach. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.884018.