What is thyroid health?
Thyroid disorders affect about 20 million people in the U.S. Many men and women aren’t even aware that they have a thyroid problem because the diagnosis is often overlooked. Thyroid disorders are thought to be on the increase, likely associated with widespread nutrient deficiencies, exposure to environmental toxins, lousy bowel health, and the increasing incidence of autoimmunity. Women are also more prone to develop thyroid disorders than men.
Not only are thyroid disorders often poorly diagnosed, but they are also usually poorly handled. Conventional therapies often don’t deal with the root cause of the disease. Even after being put on thyroid medication for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), most commonly levothyroxine, many patients will continue to suffer symptoms.
Their physicians may insist that if their blood glucose levels are “normal,” their symptoms can not possibly be due to their thyroid. Integrative medicine practitioners treat thyroid disorders holistically by finding the origin of the disease and using natural remedies to recover equilibrium in the thyroid.
How does the thyroid gland work?
The Thyroid gland plays a significant role in optimum health, and many negative symptoms could arise when it is not functioning correctly. Regrettably, thyroid problems are often misdiagnosed and may cause a lifetime of drugs and mismanagement. Improper thyroid function may result in many of these symptoms.
- Fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Morning headaches that fade
- Depression
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Hypersensitivity to cold
- Poor circulation
- Edema
- Muscle cramps
- Slow healing
- Excessive sleep
- Digestive & Gut Issues
- Itchy, dry skin
- Follicular decay
- Low body temperature
- Eyebrow loss
Experts think appropriate bio-specific identification and management can restore thyroid health and alleviate many symptoms. Our thorough approach discovers the underlying variables and provides bold solutions to return you to your ideal health and weight.
THYROID RESTORATION VS. TREATMENT
Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals are confused about assessing and treating the thyroid properly. This often results in people who suffer from symptoms and are left with no hope of restoring good health. Many thyroid health conditions can be dramatically improved if the appropriate evaluation and testing are done. A thorough approach often allows experts to restore your thyroid function vs. merely treating your symptoms.
THYROID HEALTH BASICS
Your thyroid is a small gland that stretches over the field of Adam’s apple and is shaped like a shield. The thyroid aims to be a shield by placing the body’s speed limit.
If you are cold, the thyroid releases the gas to make more heat. If you have a virus, the thyroid revs your immune system’s engine. If you are overly stressed from many 18-hour days fueled by coffee and bagels, the thyroid hits the brakes so you do not blow a gasket in the fast lane.
Your thyroid is quite sensitive to small changes in your body and works like a thermostat. For the thyroid to produce hormones (T4 & T3), it has to be given a signal from the pituitary gland located in the brain. The pituitary gland receives signals from the hypothalamus, also in mind. Collectively the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid compose the HPT axis.
When your body needs more thyroid hormone, the hypothalamus releases a thyroid hormone called Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) and sends it into the adrenal gland. The Pituitary gland then releases the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and sends it to the thyroid gland. When the thyroid is stimulated, it will utilize Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and iodine to make your T4 & T3 hormones.
As your cells use the new thyroid hormones and your body no longer needs them, it will activate the hypothalamus and pituitary to stop releasing TRH and TSH and so block the production of the thyroid gland.
The pituitary gland releases TSH that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 and T3, but the amount of each hormone it produces is fascinating. The thyroid gland primarily produces T4. It generates approximately 97 percent T4 and just 3 percent T3. This is an interesting point to consider since the most “active” type of hormone, which your body prefers, is T3. This signifies that somewhere in your body, you have to convert the massive amount of “less active” T4 your thyroid gets into the”more energetic” T3 form your body requires.
Unfortunately, when you have too many or too few binding hormones, it can significantly affect your body using thyroid hormones. Too many, and there’s not sufficient Free T3 (busy ), and if too small, there will be enough shuttles to move the hormones around. Your thyroid might work entirely normally, but you still suffer from thyroid symptoms.
WHAT CAUSES YOUR SYMPTOMS?
It is useful to determine now why thyroid symptoms develop. If you experience any symptoms, your thyroid is not working properly. And if you’re presently taking medicine with these symptoms, your medication isn’t addressing the root cause of your thyroid condition. The allopathic medicine approach to addressing your thyroid is to quantify your TSH level. This is a pituitary hormone rather than a thyroid hormone. Simply measuring this amount will offer an incomplete picture of your body’s thyroid hormone use.
NEED TO DIG DEEPER
A smarter approach evaluates the moving parts of your thyroid gland to determine the problem’s root cause. A more comprehensive line of questioning would comprise:
- Just how much T4 has been produced?
- Just how much T4 has been converted into T3?
- How much of the T4 and T3 are jumped, and how much is free?
- Just how much reverse T3 has been made and inhibiting T3?
There are a few fundamental questions to address when assessing your thyroid health. Working with a healthcare professional that will take some time to answer these questions is vital if you desire to recover your health again.
Simple laboratory tests may be done to answer all these questions. This will give you the answers that will make it possible to take the necessary steps to heal your body. Regrettably, however, if these questions are not answered, you are stuck only guessing about your thyroid health which frequently contributes to unnecessary medication and continuing symptoms.
Foods Hurting Your Thyroid
Some foods can damage your thyroid, so avoiding them is better. These foods are pro-inflammatory and trigger an inflammatory response in your body when they are consumed. The root causes of thyroid disorders are inflammation, so unless we eliminate food-causing inflammation, your thyroid won’t heal. Those who consume these everyday pro-inflammatory foods will see a worsening of their thyroid problem.
– Sugar
Sugar is one of the common inflammatory foods we consume. It plays a significant role in destroying the thyroid gland, resulting in hypothyroidism. It’s been demonstrated that glucose increases the inflammatory markers in thyroid sufferers. The first step towards removing sugar from your diet is eliminating added sugar in your regular diet.
– Fried Foods
Fried fatty food is one of the worst foods you could eat for your thyroid. Fried fatty foods cause fat to degenerate and convert it into transfat. This trans fat was associated with various research studies on various chronic ailments like thyroid disease, heart disease, and diabetes. The best way to cook is by steaming your vegetables or sauteeing your meals and adding olive oil.
– Gluten
Gluten is one of those foods associated with plenty of chronic medical problems. Especially with thyroid disease, gluten can be harmful and may destroy the thyroid gland. Some studies associate gluten-free with Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune thyroid disease.
Many research studies have demonstrated an association between thyroid disorders and celiac disease (severe gluten allergy).
Several research studies have shown that once people give up gluten, there is a substantial improvement in the patient’s signs, and their thyroid gland tests improve appreciably.
– Dairy
Dairy is also among the most frequent foods people with Hashimoto’s suffer from. Traditionally dairy was thought of as healthy, but now milk is processed so that it starts damaging your body. Dairy-free alternatives, like coconut, almond, oat, rice, and flax, may be available and are becoming increasingly cheaper.
– Processed Meat
Processed meat was associated with increased inflammation in people’s bodies, and at one stage, WHO classified processed meat as a carcinogen.
A research study showed that individuals who consumed an average amount of processed meat had more thyroid antibodies. After people eliminated processed meat from their diet, thyroid hormones were elevated.
– Soy
Most individuals are allergic to soy nowadays. It’s been found that people who have regular soy have a greater prevalence of thyroid disorders. The significant reason is that soy nowadays is highly processed, which causes people to respond. There are several concerns about phytoestrogens in soy that could be harmful, especially for females with thyroid disease.
Self-Care For Thyroid Health
When the thyroid gland is not functioning normally, it can lead to several problems, including fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, and depression. Self-care is essential in managing thyroid health, and various self-care practices can support thyroid health.
– Diet:
Diet is one of the most important factors that affect thyroid health. Consuming a diet rich in essential nutrients can help to support the thyroid gland and promote optimal thyroid function. Some essential nutrients for thyroid health include iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron.
Iodine is a critical component of thyroid hormones, and inadequate iodine intake can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Iodine-rich foods include sea vegetables, fish, dairy products, and eggs. However, too much iodine can also be harmful, so it is important to get the right balance.
Selenium is another essential nutrient for thyroid health and plays a crucial role in the production and metabolism of thyroid hormones. Selenium-rich foods include Brazil nuts, seafood, and organic meats.
Zinc is essential for proper thyroid hormone synthesis and converting the inactive thyroid hormone T4 to the active form T3. Zinc-rich foods include oysters, beef, chicken, and pumpkin seeds.
Iron is also essential for thyroid function as it is required to synthesize thyroid hormones. Iron-rich foods include poultry, fish, red meat, beans, and spinach.
In addition to consuming foods rich in essential nutrients, it is also important to avoid certain foods that can interfere with thyroid function. Foods to avoid include processed foods, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
Exercise:
Regular exercise is an important part of self-care for thyroid health. Exercise helps to stimulate the thyroid gland, improve metabolism, and promote weight loss. However, it is important to find a balance, as too much exercise can harm thyroid function.
Low to moderate-intensity exercises such as walking, yoga, and swimming can help to support thyroid health. These exercises help to reduce stress, improve circulation, and promote relaxation, which can all help to improve thyroid function.
– Sleep:
Getting enough sleep is critical for overall health, including thyroid health. Sleep helps to reduce stress, which can affect thyroid function, and supports the body’s natural repair processes. Lack of sleep can also contribute to weight gain, a common thyroid dysfunction symptom.
Developing a consistent sleep routine and a relaxing sleep environment is important to promote better sleep.
– Stress Management:
Stress is a significant factor that can affect thyroid health, and stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can interfere with thyroid function. Chronic stress can also lead to adrenal fatigue, further exacerbating thyroid dysfunction.
It is essential to incorporate stress-reducing practices into daily life to manage stress. Some effective stress management techniques include deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and yoga.
– Supplements:
In addition to a healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management, supplements can support thyroid health. However, consulting with a healthcare provider before taking any supplements is essential.
Some supplements that may be beneficial for thyroid health include:
- Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb that can help to reduce stress and improve thyroid function.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: These healthy fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation and support thyroid health.
- Vitamin D: This essential nutrient plays a crucial role in thyroid function and can help to reduce inflammation.
- B vitamins: They are important for energy production and can help support thyroid function.
- Probiotics: These beneficial bacteria can help support thyroid function by increasing free T4 and thyroid mass.
The root cause of the disease is inflammation. It destroys your thyroid gland, so people finally develop low thyroid difficulties. After removing those foods, people will see enhanced energy and improved mental clarity, and most often, they will also begin losing weight.
