By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

Your thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland that sits in your neck. It is responsible for important bodily functions such as breathing rate, heart rate, digestion, energy, weight gain or loss, and even your moods.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism. These hormones are primarily, thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyroinine (T3). The correct balance of these hormones keeps your body’s functions running smoothly. The thyroid also produces cells called c-cells make calcitonin, which assists in calcium and bone metabolism.

When the body needs more or less of these hormones, the pituitary gland in the brain sends a hormone called “thyroid stimulating hormone” (TSH) that signals the thyroid to change the production level. High levels of TSH mean that the thyroid hormones are too low, and low levels of TSH mean that thyroid levels are too high.
Various conditions can affect the thyroid gland, and thyroid disease can develop when the thyroid makes too much or too little T3 and T4. Women – due to the complex balance between thyroid hormones and female sex hormones–tend to have thyroid problems more often than men or children; however, men, especially older men, can get thyroid problems as well.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common thyroid disorders. This is “low” thyroid. This occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough T4 and T3. This can also occur when the thyroid cannot convert T4 into the more active thyroid hormone T3 for use in the body.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Fluid retention
• Muscle and joint pain
• Constipation
• Irregular periods
• Hair loss
• Feeling chilly all the time
• Depression
• Slowed heart rate
• Fertility problems

Hypothyroid treatment usually involves supplementing with thyroid hormones—either just a synthetic T4 medication, like Synthroid, or a natural combination drug that includes T3 and T4, such as Armour thyroid, or Nature-Thyroid.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the thyroid gland, and it becomes chronically inflamed. This happens most commonly in middle-aged women, but can affect men and children as well. Over time, this chronic inflammation develops into hypothyroidism, causing:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to cold
• Depression
• Hair loss
• Muscle aches
• Constipation

Those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may not show any symptoms early on, but may have the thyroid (TPO) antibodies detected in blood tests. TPO is an enzyme that plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones.

Left untreated, Hashimoto’s can gradually become worse and destroy thyroid function. Treatment for Hashimoto’s is like treatment for hypothyroidism and individual’s take either a synthetic or natural form of thyroid hormones. A blood test for thyroid function needs to be done every 6-8 weeks to determine correct dosages for medication.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. While this does occur more often in women, it can also occur in men—especially over the age of 60. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are just the opposite of hypothyroidism. These include:

• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Muscle weakness
• Feeling hot all the time
• Insomnia
• Rapid, irregular heartbeat
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Mood swings
• Bulging eyes

Hyperthyroidism treatment involves taking an anti-thyroid or beta-blockers (medication which slows the heart rate), radioiodine therapy, or surgery to remove the thyroid. If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause serious heart, muscle, bone, fertility, and other health problems, because the body goes into overdrive with hyperthyroid conditions.

Graves’ Disease

The most common disease related to hyperthyroidism is a condition called Graves’ disease. This autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack the thyroid, causing the gland to produce too much thyroid hormone.

Graves’ can create complications in many parts of the body, from the eyes and skin to the heart and bones.

One of the most serious complications of Graves’ disease is something called a “thyroid storm”. A thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition that can happen when Graves’ disease is not treated. It often develops in patients with long-standing hyperthyroidism. It can flare up when there are other stressors in the body, such as heart attacks or even infections. It can also occur following radioactive therapy for hyperthyroidism or from irregular use of anti-thyroid medications. Symptoms include a pounding heart, shaking, sweating, agitation, and confusion. Immediate emergency treatment is critical—a thyroid storm can cause cardiac arrest and death.

Causes of Thyroid Malfunction

1. Gluten – Gluten has been found to be linked to many cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. There are several studies show a strong link between autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), including Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease, and gluten intolerance. This connection is well-established in the medical community and researchers strongly recommend that all people with AITD be screened for gluten intolerance.

How does this work? It’s a case of the body mistakenly identifying components of gluten in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains, for the thyroid gland. Gliadin, which is one of the protein components that make up gluten, resembles thyroid tissue. Repeated ingestion of wheat creates inflammation in the gut (whether you react to it or not). Chronic gut inflammation can cause tiny holes in the gut, where tiny particles of food can leak outside of the gut. When gluten is eaten, the gliadin from the gluten escapes the gut barrier and gets into the bloodstream, and the immune system attacks it. These same antibodies become activated to attack the thyroid tissue.

The immune response to gluten can last for 6 months each time you eat it. So, if you have any type of thyroid problems, it is critical for you to eliminate ALL gluten from your diet. Being mostly gluten—free will not help your gut or your thyroid function.

Standard lab tests for gluten are not very accurate. They only test for antibodies to gluten in the bloodstream. Antibodies for gluten in the blood are only found when the gut has been damaged to the point where the gluten is escaping the gut, which is a relatively advanced stage of this sneaky disease. Blood tests will miss the milder or early cases.

Additionally, when you are tested for celiac disease, you are tested for only ONE specific gliadin, alpha gliadin and tissue transglutaminase, tTG-2.

Consider this:

• People can react negatively to other components in gluten that are not included in the standard celiac/gluten intolerance test. And this includes your thyroid function.
• Even if you test negative for celiac disease you can have serious negative reactions to other wheat proteins or transglutaminases—which all can cause inflammation and problems with the thyroid gland.
• For every positive gluten test, there are many more that go undiagnosed—many with NO gastrointestinal symptoms at all.

If you have any symptoms of the above hyper- or hypo-thyroid conditions, it is best to avoid gluten totally. Partially avoiding it will not help your condition.

2. Hormone Imbalance

We often think of our sex hormones as functioning totally separately from the thyroid hormone. However, thyroid hormones are affected by estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol levels.

Women’s sex hormones — especially progesterone —can have a strong influence on the conversion and effectiveness of thyroid hormones. When sex hormones are out of balance, it will generally lead to hypothyroid symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, and hair loss—even when your lab work tests in the normal ranges.

For women, the healthy hormonal balance between estrogen, testosterone and progesterone can become unbalanced after childbirth, from using oral contraceptives, or during perimenopause.

During perimenopause (the 10 or so years prior to menopause), women’s hormones begin to shift in as progesterone levels can drop quickly to about 75% of the previous levels. Estrogen decreases more gradually and can remain high, throwing off the delicate balance that exists. This causes a condition called “estrogen dominance”. The result is higher estrogen levels in relation to progesterone. Many of the typical perimenopause and menopause symptoms are often because of estrogen dominance.

When estrogen levels are high and progesterone levels too low, the liver increases production of a protein called thyroid binding globulin or TBG. TBG binds up the free thyroid hormones in your blood. TBG basically holds thyroid hormones hostage, and they don’t get to your cells where they need to. Instead, you get symptoms of low thyroid. The frustrating thing is that your thyroid lab work can look perfectly normal unless testing is done to look at the levels of TBG.

People who are hypothyroid also tend to overproduce estrogen and their body cannot detoxify as well, causing higher than normal levels of estrogen to accumulate in their body. So, this creates an ever-worsening problem. Regardless of the mechanism, you end up with long-term exposure to high levels of estrogen. Long term exposure to high levels of estrogen without enough progesterone to balance it out, can create serious health problems including diabetes, uterine fibroids, ovarian and breast cancer. In addition, prolonged exposure to an overabundance of estrogen (in relation to progesterone) is shown to significantly increase the production of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis antibodies, leading to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Progesterone also helps to facilitate the action of the thyroid hormones, while estrogen is antagonistic to thyroid hormone. So, women with low progesterone and high estrogen have a more difficult time getting the thyroid hormone to do its job.

Solution: Depending on hormone levels and a woman’s age, natural over-the-counter progesterone cream can be applied to the skin to help bring estrogen and progesterone levels back into balance. In turn this can help thyroid function return to normal.

3. Cortisol, Stress and Thyroid Hormones

By now we should all know that high levels of stress can cause increased cortisol. High cortisol can have wide-ranging effects including thinning of the bones, muscle wasting, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, compromised immune function, memory loss and more.

Stress and cortisol also slow down immune function. High cortisol can inhibit secretion of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) from the pituitary gland, leading to suppression of thyroxine, which is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Increased cortisol can shift the thyroid into an inactive state, elevating reverse T3, instead of the proper conversion of T4 into T3.

Chronic stress also has a big effect on progesterone levels. When your body is stressed, it works to produce higher levels of the hormone cortisol which helps to handle stress in your body. Progesterone is a master hormone and a precursor to cortisol. So, when cortisol levels increase, progesterone levels decrease, and this also causes problems with hypothyroid and puts you more at risk for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Receptors for all progesterone, thyroid and cortisol are in nearly every cell of the body, so the relationship between them and the adrenal gland, thyroid, and pancreas is critical for energy production and balanced physiology.

Solution: Vitamin C helps cortisol, as does meditation and exercise to relieve stress. Women may benefit from a natural progesterone cream as well.

4. Birth Control Pills and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy at any point in a woman’s life, can create thyroid problems by creating an overabundance of estrogen in the body. This also slows production of the body’s natural progesterone, creating chaos in the endocrine system.

This creates a similar situation to the above, with low progesterone, high estrogen, and lowered levels of thyroid. High levels of estrogen also contribute to a rise in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Generally, this happens far more often with oral contraception, as opposed to dermal patches or sublingual treatments.

For women on long term birth control, estrogen in birth control pills increases the amount of thyroid binding proteins available to bind to thyroid hormone. What does this mean? If you have a lot of thyroid hormones bound to TBG, you’ll have less free T4 in your body that’s able to do its job.

And be aware, that if you are on birth control and you need medication for hypothyroidism, you might need a higher dose of thyroid medication to get to your normal thyroid levels. TBG starts to increase around two weeks after starting oral contraceptives.

Anyone who is taking thyroid medication, whether it’s synthetic T4 or T3, should be monitored for six to eight weeks after the oral contraceptives are started, to check thyroid hormones. If symptoms of hypothyroidism appear in a woman taking HRT or birth control pills, the best treatment, if possible, is to stop the treatment or birth control pill and see if symptoms disappear.

Women who have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and start on birth control pill, will most likely need more thyroid hormone as estrogen contained in the pill works against it. Women who are on any type of birth control pill may need to have a full thyroid panel done to check thyroid function frequently.

5. Nutritional Deficiencies

Believe it or not, nutritional deficiencies, even slight ones, can have a drastic effect on thyroid hormones. Inadequate intake of iodine impairs thyroid function and results in a spectrum of disorders. Other common deficiencies of micronutrients such as iron, selenium, vitamin A, and possibly zinc may interact with iodine nutrition and thyroid function.

Iodine is the main component in T3 and T4 hormones. But our bodies cannot produce iodine on their own, so it is essential to get enough iodine through the diet. In the United States and other countries, iodized salt was introduced many years ago, helping to eliminate problems with too little iodine in the diet. Other common deficiencies of micronutrients that affect thyroid function include iron, selenium, vitamin A, and zinc which all interact with iodine uptake and thyroid function.

Goitrogens are naturally occurring chemicals found in many plant-based foods. Goitrogens interfere with thyroid hormones and can cause thyroid malfunction. Consuming large amounts of these substances on a regular basis can affect thyroid health. The key goitrogen-rich foods include cruciferous vegetables, some types of fruit, nuts, and soy.

There are three types of goitrogens: goitrins, thiocyanates, and flavonoids. Some of the more common foods that contain goitrogens include:

• Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, cauliflower, collard greens, radishes, kohlrabi, turnups and arugula.
• Cassava (this is an ingredient very common in gluten free/no grain products)
• Pine nuts, peanuts
• Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, and soy milk

Foods that contain goitrogens disrupt thyroid hormones by slowing down the body’s ability to iodine. Goitrogens can block the process by which iodine is incorporated into the key thyroid hormones T3 and T4.

Goitrogens can also inhibit the release of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland and block the conversion of T4 into active thyroid hormone T3. In very large quantities, goitrogens can cause a goiter on the thyroid gland and act like anti-thyroid drugs, slowing down an underactive thyroid causing hypothyroidism.

Soy foods generally do not affect the thyroid function in people who have normal thyroid function and healthy iodine levels, but soy does interfere with absorption of thyroid hormone replacement medication. It is recommended that patients on medication for hypothyroidism take their thyroid medication on an empty stomach an hour so before eating.

Eating a diet low in nutrient dense foods or following a restrictive diet may lead to other nutritional deficiencies that affect thyroid function. The following supplements may help to support thyroid health:

Iodine provides the building blocks of thyroid hormones, and is essential to healthy thyroid function. Beware of too much iodine, however, especially if you Hashimoto’s, because this can stimulate the autoimmune antibodies.

Selenium is a critical element of thyroid hormone production. Selenium helps the thyroid convert T4 into T3. Selenium also helps to reduce thyroid antibodies that attack the thyroid.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to Hashimoto’s disease and helps to manage and balance hormones.

Zinc is necessary for DNA synthesis and immune function. This vital mineral is also needed for the conversion of T4 into active T3, as well as the production of TSH. Zinc is also required for the T3 receptor to adopt its biologically active status.

Iron is important to prevent iron-deficiency anemia, and helps to move iodine to the thyroid gland to create more thyroid hormone. Iron deficiency is associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Vitamin B12 is common in people with hypothyroid and Hashimoto’s disease. Taking a B12 or B complex supplement can help prevent and treat deficiency, as well as maintain optimal B12 levels. Be sure to take a supplement that contains methylcobalamin, the most absorbable type of B12. It is thought that B12 absorption may be affected by the presence of gluten sensitivity.

Magnesium is an often-overlooked critical mineral. Magnesium is responsible for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium supports the immune system, helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function, regulates the heartbeat, strengthens bones, keeps blood glucose levels steady and plays a role in the production of energy. Magnesium is necessary for iodine utilization by the thyroid gland.

Dietary changes can have a positive effect on thyroid conditions. Some of the most important ones include:

• Adopt a gluten free diet—If you have ANY type of thyroid issues, whether it may be hyper- or hypothyroid; Hashimoto’s or Graves, it’s important to avoid ALL gluten in the diet. Gluten has been found as a contributing factor in a large percentage of thyroid conditions. Avoiding gluten 100% is the only way to avoid the inflammation that gluten can cause.
• Anti-inflammatory diet—Following an anti-inflammatory diet can be highly beneficial for anyone with Hashimoto’s disease and improving gut health. Avoid omega 6 vegetable oils, all forms of sugar, and other foods that trigger an immune response such as nightshades, dairy, grains, and even legumes, especially soy products.
• Organic foods—Eating organic foods will help you avoid environmental triggers that can harm the thyroid gland and contribute to thyroid problems.
• Reduce your intake of goitrogens—While cruciferous vegetables can be highly nutritious, reduce your intake of them and be sure to lightly cook them before eating. Avoid eating soy products as these foods are often from genetically modified soy, sprayed with pesticides—in addition to causing problems with thyroid hormones.
• Beware of ketogenic diets—Very low carb diets can negatively affect thyroid function. While this is not always the case for everyone, be aware that this type of diet may affect your thyroid function.

Proper Testing is Vital

There are many things that can negatively affect thyroid function. If you have any of the above thyroid symptoms: fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, depression, loss of appetite; or insomnia, racing heart, weight loss, nervous energy, and anxiety, be sure to get a full thyroid panel from your doctor. Just checking your TSH status will not always expose thyroid problems.

If you are on birth control pills, hormone therapy or are a woman experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms, it is wise to get your thyroid function tested completely. Often the same symptoms of menopause can be thyroid issues.

References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/thyroid-gland-function#anatomy
https://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30060266/
https://www.thyroid.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis/
https://shop.forefronthealth.com/pages/hashimotos?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=search&utm_content=hashimotos-landing-page&utm_term=Gen2&wickedsource=google&wickedid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1L1P_NFzicxOAUDHW7DhoKIQpLX1pDf2Nf1O91oWK4kTgUgJGFL2fxoC3gwQAvD_BwE&wickedid=619501432204&wcid=9900722625&wv=4&&&gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1L1P_NFzicxOAUDHW7DhoKIQpLX1pDf2Nf1O91oWK4kTgUgJGFL2fxoC3gwQAvD_BwE
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/thyroid-gland-function#common-conditions
https://www.fibrokur.com/hypothyroidism-thyroid-menopause-connection/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-birth-control-cause-thyroid-problems/
https://blog.davincilabs.com/blog/warning-signs-of-high-cortisol-and-low-thyroid

The post Five Things that can Destroy Your Thyroid appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, BSN,co-author of the best-sellers: The Fat Burning Kitchen,The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging&The Diabetes Fix

You are fatigued—beyond what a good night’s sleep would help, you lack energy, you’ve gained weight, you feel chilly most of the time, you may even be slightly depressed. You don’t even have the energy to follow any kind of fitness program.

You’ve been catching every cold or flu going around, so you go to your physician and he does some blood work. The doctor checks your thyroid, but he tells you, “Your TSH is in the normal range, so your thyroid is fine.” He sends you home with some vitamins, tells you to get a good night’s sleep or even worse, says it’s all in your head, and offers you an anti-depressant.

Back to square one? Why DO you feel tired all the time? Even if your physician is telling you your thyroid is ‘normal’, it may not be. Unfortunately, most physicians will only do a standard test for thyroid dysfunction which is the TSH test. TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.

Around 30 million people suffer from thyroid disorders. More than half of those (60%) have no idea their poor health and low energy is related to thyroid problems. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder at some point in their lives, and the number of people suffering from dysfunctional thyroid is increasing every year. Some studies have suggested that up to 10 percent of women over 60 have diagnosed or un-diagnosed hypothyroidism.

Low thyroid, the most common thyroid disorder, is characterized by foggy thinking, depression, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, an intolerance to cold, a hoarse voice, menstrual problems, infertility, muscle stiffness and pain, and other symptoms.

If you consider that every cell in your body has receptors for thyroid hormone, then it’s easy to see that the thyroid gland governs all major systems of the body. Thyroid hormone is closely tied to brain function, the G.I. tract, cardiovascular system, bone metabolism, red blood cell production and growth, gall bladder and liver function, hormone production, glucose control, cholesterol metabolism, nutrient metabolism, and body temperature regulation.

The thyroid is basically the accelerator in a sophisticated engine. If that accelerator isn’t working properly the engine is stuck going either too slow or too fast.

How does this happen?

Thyroid physiology is complex. Most conventional doctors use only a standard test for thyroid function which includes only TSH and T4. But this standard test only picks up a small percentage of thyroid disorders, unfortunately.

Normally when the body cannot supply enough usable thyroid hormone for it to function properly, the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) increases in an effort to get the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. Many thyroid problems, however, exist even if TSH shows as “normal”. This is more common than you may realize.

Just what is considered “normal” on a thyroid test? Ranges for “normal” vary from lab to lab, and from one doctor’s interpretation to another doctor’s. Lab ranges are not based on research that tells us a true optimal range, but on a bell curve of values obtained from people who come to the labs for testing, many of whom may have thyroid problems. So that’s the starting point for thyroid (mis)readings. They just aren’t looked at within an optimal lab range context.

That brings us to another problem with the TSH standard thyroid test.

Many doctors consider the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level to be the gold standard for diagnosing thyroid issues. This test is typically performed each year as part of your routine physical. The problem with just this test is that it often will show up in the normal range, in spite of thyroid problems it’s just not picking up. In truth, looking at TSH levels is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to diagnosing thyroid issues.

Your body creates two primary thyroid hormones—T3 and T4. About 94 percent of the hormone made in the thyroid gland is T4. The remaining 6 % is T3, named for its three molecules of iodine.

Your body converts the T4 hormone into the active form of thyroid hormone, T3. If your body is not good at this conversion, (which happens fairly often) your TSH will still show as normal, even though you are low in T3. Many people are poor converters of T4, meaning they may have enough T4 in their bodies but just don’t convert the T4 into T3 well enough to function properly. When this happens, you can have all the symptoms of a low thyroid and still have a normal TSH test.

It is necessary to get a more thorough thyroid test called a “complete thyroid panel” that will look at T3 and T4 levels and other essential components of thyroid function.

What Causes Thyroid to Malfunction?

Interestingly enough, the liver and gut are primary locations for conversion of T4 to T3 and places where a breakdown in this conversion process can occur. (Are you beginning to see just how important your gut health to your overall health?)

Your liver metabolizes your hormones, filters out toxins, and cleans out the blood system. Many of the waste products from the liver are sent to the gallbladder or digestive system for removal.

Since thyroid function impacts the entire body, when it is low, everything is SLOW—including the liver, gallbladder and digestive system. A liver bogged down with toxic sludge cannot convert T4 into T3 very well, so easy to see how this becomes a vicious cycle.

That brings us to the all-important gut bacteria. Our intestines help to convert at least 20% or more of T4 into T3, but that requires healthy gut bacteria. Among many other things including having an effect on proper immune function, creation of serotonin (for a happy mood), and helping with digestion, the gut also helps convert T4.

A poor diet creates an overabundance of bad bacteria and yeast overgrowth. When there is a lack of the appropriate beneficial bacteria, the body cannot process the T4-T3 conversion well.

Other things that hinder thyroid conversion in the gut include antibiotic use, inflammation from gluten and other food allergies, and certain medications—all leading to inadequate T3.

If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, it is very likely that you will have thyroid problems as the two maladies tend to go hand in hand.

Cortisol, the stress hormone can further decrease the active T3 levels as well. Low serotonin (of which 90% is created in the gut) and low levels of dopamine, two essential brain neurotransmitters can also cause thyroid problems.

Nutrient deficiencies can also lead to thyroid problems. Iodine, selenium and zinc are vital to proper thyroid function, so deficiencies in these minerals can cause thyroid disorders.

So, it’s easy to see that there are several reasons that a poor diet, high in processed starches and sugars and additives, will not only cause gut dysbiosis (overgrowth of bad bacteria), but will also lead to nutrient deficiencies, all opening the door to thyroid dysfunction.

Thyroid problems tend to run in families too, so if you know your grandmother, or mother had thyroid problems, it’s easy to assume you may get them too, at some point in your life.

Thyroid disorders can have a negative impact on almost every body system.

Since they govern your metabolism, thyroid hormones can cause you to lose or gain a lot of weight, affect your sleep, your mood, your energy, your appetite, your digestion, how fast your hair and nails grow, how well your body heals, and how well you fight infection. A high or low thyroid also has a big effect on emotions and mental capacity, causing either anxiety and nervousness, or depression and brain fog.

Thyroid dysfunction falls into two main categories: hypothyroid or low thyroid, and hyperthyroid or high thyroid. Hypothyroidism is the most common type of dysfunction and affects primarily women (but men can be affected, too) of all ages. Often hypothyroidism is related to an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes overactive and makes excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. When the thyroid gland is overactive every function in the body is sped up, causing nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, sweating, weight loss, and in, among other symptoms.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune disorder Graves’ disease. This type of thyroid disorder causes the body to make an antibody that causes the thyroid gland to go haywire. Graves’ disease tends to run in families and is more commonly found in women.

Hyperthyroidism also may be caused by lumps or nodules in the thyroid gland that cause the thyroid to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. In addition, inflammation of the thyroid gland—called thyroiditis—resulting from a virus or a problem with the immune system may temporarily cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

You can actually have fluctuating levels of both hyper-and hypoactive thyroid as well.

Signs and Symptoms low thyroid include:

• Fatigue that won’t go away with a good night’s sleep
• Lethargy, no motivation to exercise
• Depression and/or moodiness
• Feeling chilly all the time
• Elevated cholesterol, especially LDL
• Dry hair and skin
• Slow-growing hair and nails
• Brain fog, trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
• Hoarse voice
• Unexplainable weight gain
• Constipation, bloating and other digestive issues
• Muscle weakness
• Weak immune system
• Heavy menstrual periods, premenstrual syndrome and infertility
• Gallstones
• Anemia

Signs and Symptoms high thyroid include:

• Nervousness and anxiety
• Insomnia
• High heart rate, fast breathing
• Eyes that appear bulging
• Unexplained weight loss
• Heavy perspiration
• Muscle weakness
• Multiple bowel movements throughout the day
• Thin, brittle hair
• Light or absent menstrual periods

The two main types of thyroid problems, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and treatment for each is very different. In one case we want more thyroid hormone, and in the other case you need less thyroid hormone.

Treatment options differ depending on each patient’s particular disorder and the specifics of the case. Here’s how thyroid problems are usually treated with conventional medicine.

• For hypothyroidism, the common treatment from a conventional medical doctor is to give you synthetic thyroxine or T4. The problem with this treatment is if your body does not convert T4 into T3 well, it doesn’t matter how much extra T4 or thyroxine you get.

If the doctor has done a thyroid panel and sees that you are low on T3, he may prescribe combination of the synthetic version of T4 and T3. Patients who don’t convert T4 to T3 well do better on naturally-derived hormones like Armour Thyroid because it contains both T4 and T3 in the correct ratio.

• For hyperthyroidism, the most common conventional medical treatment (in the U.S.) is radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid medications or surgery that removes a large portion of actual thyroid gland.

All of these treatments can have lots of side effects and may not be entirely affected. Meanwhile your whole life can be affected by thyroid disorders, so getting to the bottom of it is of key importance.

Natural Thyroid Treatments

1. Supplements to Boost Thyroid Function

Iodine and selenium—These minerals are vital to proper thyroid function, whether you have hyper- or hypo thyroid problems. Most people with a low thyroid are deficient in iodine, and worldwide, this is the number one cause of low thyroid.

While iodine-rich foods are plentiful, they are not in the typical Standard American Diet. Seaweeds like dulse, kelp, and nori are one of the richest sources of iodine, along with wild-caught fish like tuna, cod and shrimp, and raw dairy and eggs.

While you can purchase iodine-enhanced salt, it actually can have an unexpected result. In countries where iodine has been added to table salt, rates of autoimmune thyroid disease have actually gone up. The key to adding iodine to the diet is to balance it with selenium as the combination of nutrients will help thyroid function.

Selenium is one of the most important minerals for a healthy thyroid, and helps balance levels of T4 hormones, while helping convert T4 into T3. To get more selenium, add in foods that are good sources like Brazil nuts, spinach, yellowfin tuna or halibut, canned sardines, grass-fed beef, turkey, and beef liver. People with Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or other autoimmune disorders are most deficient in selenium, so a supplement might be necessary to get the needed amounts.

Zinc—A catalyst for many different pathways in the body and essential for digestive health, and for converting T4 to T3. It is also valuable for immune function, tissue healing (internally and externally), and the production of TSH.

Zinc is very helpful to heal and tighten the intestinal junctions in the gut that contribute to intestinal permeability, or ‘leaky gut’. For this reason, increasing your zinc levels may help reduce your symptoms and even lead you towards remission!

B vitamins are also very important for thyroid health, especially if you are vegan. While B12 is the primary B vitamin that plays a role in thyroid health, it is important to take B vitamins that exist in a balanced, multi-B vitamin, as the B vitamins work best in the correct balance with each other.

One of the nutrients that people with Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid disease are particularly prone to being deficient in is Vitamin B12. In fact, in studies, people with Hashimoto’s reported testing deficient in this all important vitamin, and 76 percent said they felt better after taking a B12 supplement.

The best sources of B12 and zinc are animal proteins like beef, turkey, eggs, etc. Other non-meat options include green peas, asparagus, chickpeas, cocoa, Brussels sprouts, sesame seeds, flaxseeds, nuts, and mushrooms, but these are not as well absorbed as the B12 from animal sources. Note—if you are taking extra B12, take a multi-B supplement as B vitamins work best in the correct balance.

Lastly, other nutritional deficiencies also play a role in thyroid dysfunction. These include deficiencies of vitamin D, omega-3 fats, vitamin A, and vitamin E, so be sure to supplement with high quality forms of these nutrients, as well as getting plenty of wild caught fish, grass fed meat, and colorful veggies in your diet. And don’t forget to get some sun!

2. Manage Your Stress

Physical and emotional stress can elevate the hormone cortisol and put your body into a chronic state of ‘fight or flight’. Cortisol has negative effects on your body long term like increased blood pressure and pulse rate, and creating high levels of inflammatory proteins that suppress immune function and damage the thyroid gland and adrenals. The hormonal changes in the body also affect libido, fertility problems, mood swings and more.

Managing stress is tricky if you cannot take away the cause. You can however, do plenty of things that help ease the effects of stress, including getting a good eight hours of restful sleep, meditation, vigorous exercise, and making time to relax with friends and family.

3. Reduce Toxins and Inflammation

Chemical toxins including medications, birth control pills, commercial beauty products, cigarette smoke and household cleaning products can all contribute to inflammation—especially in the gut, affecting the T3-T4 conversion.

Many household cleaning products and beauty products can contain very toxic, unregulated chemicals which can wreak havoc on the body. These toxins exit out through the digestive system and contribute to the inflammatory processes in the body, affecting thyroid function.

Other inflammatory toxins include air pollution, unfiltered tap water, plastic bottles, pesticides on fruit and vegetables, conventionally raised meat, and conventionally grown wheat, corn, oats and soybeans (sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate, that harms gut bacteria). These toxins act as hormone or endocrine disruptors and interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism and function.

Chronic inflammation in the gut is very common and most common is inflammation related to gluten in wheat, barley, rye and spelt. Gluten is a very common allergen that affects at least 10 to 20 percent of the population. Even if you have no sign of a gluten intolerance, it is so tightly associated with thyroid problems, it is wise to remove gluten entirely from your diet.

Key Points to Solving Your Thyroid Problems

While it isn’t an overnight remedy, you can take these steps if you have experienced any of the above symptoms for hypo or hyperthyroid problems and fix the problem not the symptoms.

• The thyroid gland is the body’s thermostat, regulating every function in the body. Thyroid problems will affect weight, appetite, moods, fertility, digestion, energy levels, and libido.
• Hypothyroid conditions are fairly common, especially in women, and often undiagnosed.
• Request a Full Thyroid Panel if you have any symptoms of hyper or hypothyroid.
• If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, you can be pretty certain that you may also have a thyroid problem. Celiac disease can go undetected, get a full celiac panel test. And be sure to ask your doctor for a full thyroid panel test.
• Other co-existing health issues for thyroid problems include anemia, high cholesterol, depression, heavy menstrual periods and infertility. If your doctor diagnoses any of these, you should also request the full thyroid panel.
• Optimize Your Nutrition by making changes in your diet and supplementing with essential nutrients. Cut out processed, sweetened, starchy foods and conventionally raised foods.
• Minimize stress by exercising and meditation.
• If you need a thyroid supplement, request a bio-identical, natural hormone replacement that contains both T3 and T4, like Armour thyroid.

Once you get back on track with your thyroid in the optimal ranges, you will absolutely feel like a new person!

References
https://draxe.com/thyroid-problems/
https://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/a-7-step-plan-to-boost-your-low-thyroid-and-metabolis/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticide-use-thyroid-disease/
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-zinc-deficiency/
https://drknews.com/conversion-t4-t3-important-consideration-low-thyroid-function/
https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20723100,00.html?slide=103830#103830
https://floridahwi.com/why-your-thyroid-disorder-diagnosis-may-have-been-missed/

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