How Your Thyroid Gland Can Make You Sick, Tired and Overweight.
Are you eating a good diet and still struggling to lose weight? Are you feeling tired, heavy in the legs and a bit depressed? Do you find it hard to stay awake at night? Do you suffer digestive problems? Is your hair thinning or falling out? Do you feel cold all the time? If you can relate to these symptoms, perhaps you have an under-active thyroid gland?
What is your thyroid gland?
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the centre of your neck. It’s wrapped around your windpipe, just above your collarbone and below your Adam’s apple. Your thyroid has one job of immense importance; to make hormones that regulate your energy levels, growth and reproduction of every cell in your body. That means that your brain, heart, liver, skin, lungs, tissues and all other body parts depend on your thyroid to stay powered up and active. How well your thyroid is functioning is inter-related with every system in your body. If your thyroid is not running optimally, then neither are you.
How does your thyroid work?
If you glaze over when people start talking about biochemistry, then you may wish to skip this paragraph and start on the questionnaire below.
Your energy level is set by your hypothalamus and enforced by your thyroid gland. This is called your metabolism. Thyroid hormone production is regulated by a feedback loop between your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and your thyroid gland. Hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) synthesis and secretion.
In turn, TSH stimulates production and release of T4 and T3 from the thyroid gland. When enough T4 is produced, it signals to TRH and TSH that there is enough thyroid hormone in circulation and not to produce more.
About 85% of the hormone produced by our thyroid gland is T4, which is an inactive form of the hormone. After T4 is made, a small amount of it is converted into T3, which is the active form of thyroid hormone.
To complicate matters, T3 also gets converted into Free T3 (fT3) which is the hormone that really matters, since it’s the only hormone that can attach to a receptor and cause your metabolism to rise, keep you warm, keep your bowels moving, mind working, and other hormones in check.
Your thyroid makes its hormones by combining two ingredients that your consume every day. The first is an amino acid called tyrosine. This is found in protein foods such as chicken, fish, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, eggs, beans, whole grains and chickpeas. The second is iodine. You only require small amounts of this daily, usually between 150-300 mcg. New Zealand soils are notoriously low in the mineral iodine, meaning that many people have deficiencies in this nutrient. Good sources of iodine include seafood, mushrooms, seaweed, sea salt and sea vegetables.
Has your thyroid gone off track?
I love this questionnaire from Dr. Hotze. It gets to the heart of whether you should be tested for thyroid dysregulation, even if your conventional doctor has dismissed your concerns.
If the question addresses a concern that applies to you, record the number. When done, total the numbers.
Do you experience fatigue (4)
Is your cholesterol elevated (4)
Do you have difficulty losing weight (2)
Do you have cold hands and feet (2)
Are you sensitive to cold (2)
Do you have difficulty thinking (2)
Do you find it hard to concentrate (2)
Do you have poor short-term memory (2)
Are your moods depressed (2)
Are you experiencing hair loss (2)
Do you have fewer that one bowel motion per day (2)
Do you have dry skin (2)
Do you have itchy skin in winter (1)
Do you have fluid retention (2)
Do you have recurrent headaches (1)
Do you sleep restlessly (1)
Do you experience afternoon fatigue (2)
Are you tired when you awaken (2)
Do you experience tingling in hands or feet (2)
Have you had infertility or miscarriages (2)
Do you have decreased sweating (2)
Do you have muscle aches (2)
Have you had recurrent infections (2)
Do you have joint pain (2)
Do you have thinning of your eyebrows or eyelashes (2)
Score < 11 You are unlikely to have a thyroid problem.
Score 11-30 Low thyroid function is a possibility.
Score >30 Low thyroid function is probable.
Get tested if your score is > 11, including fT4, fT4, TSH and thyroid antibodies.
Why thyroids go wrong?
There are many reasons, and I want to highlight the six most common reasons for thyroid problems that I see among the women in my wellness practice.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
I know it’s a mouthful. Basically, your immune system has gotten confused and is attacking your thyroid as if it were a foreign invader. Hashimoto’s is typically caused by a genetic disposition for an autoimmune problem coupled with a trigger that pushes the immune system over the edge. The burn out phase leads to the common hypothyroid symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss and low body temperature. Exposure to environmental toxins is believed to be the primary trigger for the onset of Hashimoto’s.
Iodine Deficiency
Remember that those cute numbers after thyroid hormones – T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone, or T3, active thyroid hormone – refer to the quantity of iodine atoms attached to thyroid hormone. If you don’t have enough iodine in your diet, you can develop low thyroid function. Alternatively excess iodine can be perceived as a toxic invader by your body, resulting in an autoimmune attack or the development of thyroid growths. It is important to stay within the recommended daily range of 150-300mcg of iodine to avoid this.
Selenium Deficiency
I believe selenium is the most important mineral for your thyroid health, and unless you’re eating from composted soil, I doubt you’re getting enough from your food. New Zealand soils are also low in selenium. If you don’t get enough selenium, you are less able to convert the storage thyroid hormone, T4, which is inactive, into T3, which is active. It is important to supplement with selenium to maintain adequate levels for optimal thyroid function.
Stress
Adrenal gland insufficiency and low cortisol levels can cause hypothyroidism. These two endocrine glands are intimately linked. Cortisol, which is produced from your adrenal glands, helps to convert T4 into T3. This is a vital function, as T3 does the work of powering up your cells and providing you with energy for the day. If you are stressed, burnt out, exhausted and running on empty, then your underperforming adrenal glands will slow your thyroid function, making your even more tired and exhausted.
Endocrine Disruptors
Chances are you are getting exposed to flame retardants on a daily basis that will slow down thyroid function. These are in your bed, on your sofa and in your clothing, Or perhaps you’re still eating food from a can like beans, soup, tuna? Cans are lined with bis-phenol A, an endocrine disruptor that blocks thyroid receptors and keeps your thyroid hormone from performing effectively.
Estrogen Dominance
We know that too much estrogen compared to progesterone causes thyroid hormone to be less available. Estrogen blocks T3 from entering your cells membranes. This means that when you have more estrogen in your system, fewer cells in your body can make use of available thyroid hormones. One of the most common times for estrogen dominance is age 35-50 when perimenopause begins.
I think I may have a thyroid problem?
If you think that your thyroid is not running as it should, it is best to work with a trained practitioner who can perform the necessary tests to determine the health of your gland. They can then design a personalised treatment plan specific to you and your thyroid gland and get your metabolism, energy and vitality back on track.