World Thyroid Day

World Thyroid Day Today... here's some information on thyroid health:

Thyroid Support

The thyroid is the master gland of metabolism. Like an accelerator or break – when it slows down all body systems will slow down.

Anything from hair growth to turn over of food will be regulated by thyroid function. A normal functioning thyroid will allow normal fat loss when on a fat loss programme or dietary adjustment. Low thyroid causes fatigue and depression, thinning hair and heavier periods in some people. Low thyroid can also speed up cognitive impairment. Omega 3 protects against cognitive impairment.

Hypothyroidism signs and symptoms may include:

? Fatigue

? Increased sensitivity to cold

? Constipation

? Dry skin

? Weight gain

? Puffy face

? Hoarseness

? Muscle weakness

? Elevated blood cholesterol level

? Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness

? Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints

? Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods

? Thinning hair

? Slowed heart rate

? Depression

? Impaired memory

? Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284

Thyroid hormone slows gradually with age. Low thyroid is more common in women as high estrogen can lower thyroid function. Same can happen with men with high conversion of testosterone into estrogen via aromatase enzyme which is high in body fat. Less fat, less estrogen possibly increased thyroid hormones….another reason to maintain normal body fat levels.

Training too hard on low calories / carbs is another sure way to lower thyroid hormone production. A great reason to cycle restrictive periods with levelling calories and carbs. Carb cycling helps with this.

Deficiencies in any nutrient can cause some of the symptoms listed above. For thyroid hormone and thyroid function, selenium and zinc are especially important. Along with vitamin A which can have a much higher deficiency rate than is currently recognised. All nutrients work together so you can find these minerals in quality thyroid multivitamins. A high quality multi will also provide everything you need in balance to guard against deficiencies.

Don’t guess test – blood tests can help you identify areas of insufficiency.

TOO BIG?

The bigger you are the less thyroid hormone will be available to the body as in a dilution aspect. Indeed, if you need or currently take thyroid hormone replacement you normally need to take this according to how dysfunctional your own thyroid is and also your body weight.

The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones the key one is called T4 which is stimulated by the brain releasing TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). The T4 then converts to T3 which does all the work it’s like the active thyroid hormone, T4 is a pre-cursor hormone.

T4 is made or built from tyrosine and iodine. Taking more tyrosine can moderately increase thyroid hormone production. Taking iodine (not too much) also normalises thyroid hormone production. Kelp is an excellent way to get iodine. Even 3-5g of tyrosine can help support thyroid hormone production.

Guggulsterones can also help shift T4 into T3 whilst the evidence for this is weak the real-world effects appear to be strong. By this I mean people who take this and test their thyroid function tend to do well.

Ashwaganda, is a really effective herb for normalising lower thyroid function. I’ve used this frequently to help individuals feel better without having to resort to medication. Their Dr’s are happy with this intervention.

As mentioned above most strategies to support adrenal function will help thyroid function if this is a cause of the lower thyroid function. Vagal nerve stimulation is also helpful, with mindfulness, breathing and cold showers all having a good effect on vagal nerve tone and in turn thyroid function. I’ll be talking about vagal nerve stuff soon in a future newsletter.

The thyroid can also get overactive. This is normally due to antibodies and a condition known as Hashimoto’s where you get alternating low and then higher functioning thyroid.

As with many autoimmune diseases food intolerances, leaky gut, environmental toxins, air pollution and low vitamin D are all implicated and may drive and cause these conditions.

Finally if you have any of these symptoms obviously consult your GP – if they continue then you’ll need to dig deeper, beyond the TSH and T4 tests looking at something called reverse T3. This is like a metabolic break – slowing down all the other normal numbers and meaning you’ll continue to have symptoms.

Gut bugs and dysbiosis (imbalanced gut flora) are also a key for normal health but also normal thyroid hormone production.

Vagal nerve stimulation

https://hashimoto.help/vagus-nerve-inflammatory-disorders/

Tyrosine

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/ijch.v66i5.18312

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4308793/

https://examine.com/supplements/l-tyrosine/

Gugglesterones

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4637499/

Ashwaganda

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296437/

Cold Exposure

https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1113/jphysiol.1974.sp010647