Learn How to Have a Healthy Thyroid
Thyroid hormones interact with many other hormones like insulin, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. All these hormones are tied together, like a symphony. When one gets out of whack, it affects everything. Your thyroid produces T3 and T4, mostly inactive T4. The liver converts the inactive T4 into active T3, so your liver is critical to thyroid function!
The pituitary makes TRH (Thyroid Releasing Hormone) and the Hypothalamus makes TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). If all of these are in working order, you have plenty of T3 and T4, which controls the metabolism of every cell in your body. T3 cranks up metabolism, which you need in order to lower cholesterol, re-grow hair and stay lean and fit. Thyroid hormones help oxygen get into the cells which is why you may be tired all the time if you have poor thyroid function, or poor T4 to T3 conversion.
For women the thyroid works in unison with our ovaries. A problem with one creates problems with the other. The ovaries support the entire hormonal system, and when missing, affects everything else. If the ovaries are removed, it is critical to support the sister glands, the adrenals and thyroid. The adrenal glands are also critical for thyroid function and vice-versa. If the adrenals are weak, the thyroid will try to compensate, therefore also weakening the thyroid gland. In other words, you need to deal with your stress! It is important to support your entire glandular system at all times!
Underactive Thyroid
Classic symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism) include sluggishness, weight gain, cold body temperature, poor quality hair, skin and nails, hair loss, and dry skin. However it can also include brain fog (short-term memory deficits), attention-deficit disorders, hypoglycemia, depression, dementia, emotional instability, high cholesterol, low libido and infertility. The autoimmune form of hypothyroidism is known as Hashimoto’s. This is most common in menopausal women living high stress lives. Hypothyroidism can cause poor circulation (arteriosclerosis), and impaired immune function with vulnerability to infections.
Some signs of an underactive Thyroid gland
- Upper outer third of your eyebrows is very thin or missing
- Weight is stored in the front (abdomen and thighs) not in the buttocks
- Low basal body temperature of less than 97.6 degrees average over a 3-4 day period: To check basal body temperature you can buy a BBT thermometer for less than $10. Shake down the thermometer to below 95. Place the thermometer by your bed. Immediately upon waking, put the thermometer under your armpit for 10 minutes with minimal movement, stay still and do not get up. Record the temperature for 3-4 straight days. Menstruating women do this days 2, 3 and 4 of monthly period. Post-menopausal, any time. Average is 97.6 degrees to 98.6 degrees. Below 97.6 degrees is a strong indicator for an underactive thyroid. This is much more accurate than any blood test and better indicator than the TSH levels. Its best to get an overall picture of the hormonal system. Just measuring TSH is inadequate.
- Here is what else you want to ask the doctor to check.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): High sensitivity version, ideal range 1.0 to 1.5 (the normal ranges they give you are inadequate)
- FREE T4 and T3 levels. Normal T4 is .9 to 1.8 ng/dl. T3 should be 240 to 450 pg/dl.
- Thyroid antibodies: including thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. This checks for auto-immune issues and doctors almost always leave this one out.
- TSH is NOT a good indicator for thyroid health. More and more doctors are realizing this. Women are being told their levels are normal when they have major thyroid concerns. And the levels for TSH keep changing! Most physicians do agree that any level over 1.5 is a strong indicator for a thyroid problem. This is a small piece of the puzzle, you are not a number, you are a person. We must look at other lifestyle factors and information to determine the best action.
Even if all tests come back “normal” but you have multiple symptoms, you could still have an underactive thyroid. Most medical tests are extremely inaccurate, especially concerning thyroid health. Modern medicine will say your thyroid is fine ONLY IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DISEASE. Remember, diagnostic tools look for disease. They tell you nothing about your current state of health. You have lost over 70% of thyroid function by the time it shows a deficiency in conventional medical examinations, including your blood work!
Here is why you may have an underactive thyroid
- Estrogen dominance is caused by petrochemicals, fuel exhaust that we breathe, estrogenic hormones in meat and chickens, plastics, propylene glycol, sodium laurel sulphate in ointments, herbicides and pesticides. These potent estrogenic substances block the production of thyroid hormone and greatly magnify the incidence of estrogen dependent cancers. Most all males and females in developed nations have estrogen dominance.
- Antibiotics, chlorine from our water purification systems, fluoride, and NSAID drugs used for arthritis all kill the healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract. This results in overgrowth in the intestines of candida, fungi, mycoplasma, and anaerobic bacteria (Yeast syndrome). These dangerous organisms release powerful neurotoxic substances into the bloodstream that damage the hypothalamus often resulting in multiple endocrine disorders including under- activity of the thyroid gland.
- Mercury released from our dental amalgams is toxic to the thyroid gland.
- Fluoride and Chlorine in our water directly interferes with thyroid function.
- Selenium deficiency is related to the lack of trace minerals in our soil. The proper conversion of precursors into thyroid hormone depends on a selenium containing enzyme which is lacking in our diet.
- Lack of iodine in our soil and diet leads to decreased thyroid hormone production.
- Diagnostic x-rays injure the thyroid gland (dental, neck, spine). For example, mammograms.
Overactive Thyroid
Often complains of feeling “wired” for no reason, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, insomnia, noticeable bulging eyes, light menstrual period, feeling warm and unexplained weight loss.
Thyroid Medications (i.e. Synthroid)
This as an attempt to artificially replace what the thyroid gland is supposed to be doing naturally. The isolated hormone approach, however, weakens the gland it is replacing and causes all other glands to fall out of balance. If people’s symptoms disappear, they receive the false notion that they are better, but if your glands are not working, how are you better? This is the fallacy of modern medicine.
Often, Synthroid causes extreme reactions in people such as insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, skipped heartbeats and palpitations, and a rapid heartbeat. As with steroid hormones for the adrenals, this is a sign of EXCESS! Your body has been given way more hormone than it will be able to use which irritates the entire system and you have now traded your original symptoms for a whole new set of complaints. The synthetic hormone accumulates in the body and symptoms will continue until you decrease your dosage!
However, understand that although taking thyroid medications are a band-aid approach to thyroid repair, they are very safe to take. And even though you may experience frightening cardiovascular symptoms, simply reducing your dosage should stop the problem.
Knowing this, as you begin to heal your thyroid naturally, pay attention to these symptoms. If you are taking powerful things to heal your thyroid naturally, and these symptoms occur, you know that you can decrease your medication! This is a great sign towards healing! This can happen in 2 weeks!
How to Heal an Underactive Thyroid Gland
FOOD
The same foods that cause cancer, heart disease and diabetes in America are the same that cause thyroid disorders. This is the Standard American Diet (SAD). Sugar, processed foods, lack of exercise, disconnect from the earth and environmental toxins are all responsible. It is usually a combination of lifestyle factors that cause the thyroid to become so out of balance. Sugar is the #1 thing that will destroy your immune system and your glandular system. Gluten, processed dairy, soy, peanuts and other common allergenic foods can cause auto-immune reactions in the body leading to thyroid concerns such as Hashimoto’s. In addition, soy and peanuts block thyroid function. Soy should be avoided at all costs. Foods that heal the thyroid are salty foods such as sea vegetables, lean meats, and eggs as well as good fats like butter, nut butters, nuts, seeds, coconut, olive oil and avocado.
Electricity
Your body is electric, a giant ocean of electricity. You, therefore, are a conductor of electricity. Your thyroid is electric, VERY electric. Thyroid comes from the Greek “thyreos” which means shield. Your thyroid shields you from the world, and we get broken down from the world we live in. The thyroid is negatively charged, which means it attracts all the positively charged poisons in our world.The earth is an infinite supply of energy, of electricity. Our disconnect from that earth causes thyroid problems. However, reconnecting to the earth can heal the thyroid. You can cut your thyroid medication in half simply by reconnecting to the earth through grounding. What is grounding?Through grounding mats, pads, bed sheets, car seats, etc. you can recharge and energize your thyroid. Not only that, you will sleep better, normalize cortisol levels that affect stress and reduce pain and inflammation. This is one of the best things you can invest in for your health, but specifically for your shield of protection, your thyroid.
Detoxification
Your thyroid is negatively charged. In fact, it is the most vascularized and negatively charged gland in your entire body. It is prone to contaminants. This can be heavy metals, fluoride in water, chlorine and a host of other invaders. Ask for a protocol that works for you, but a combination of the following can detox and cleanse the thyroid gland: MSM, fulvic acid, zeolites, iodine, potassium iodide, chlorella, etc. Toxin TherapyandMetal Freeare great products that combine some of these into one formula.
Iodine & selenium
The thyroid requires iodine and selenium to produce hormones properly. We rarely get either. Black walnut is the richest herbal source of iodine which completely surround us here in Kansas City. Sea vegetables such as kelp have iodine as well. A supplement of iodine is critical for anyone, especially for women. It is important for breast health, thyroid health and ovary health, as well as working to eliminate pathogens in the body. Selenium comes from Brazil Nuts and a few other foods. Taking a selenium supplement is always a good idea. It is one of the most critical minerals and anti-oxidants in the body.
Iodine functions include stabilization of metabolism and body weight, fertility, brain development in children and optimum functioning of your immune system. XODINE by Cedar Bear is the best.
- Seaweeds. Kelp and dulse are the best.
- Coconut. This stimulates and heals the thyroid. It is a precursor for hormone production. You should eat it and rub it on your neck in the area of your thyroid.
- Herbs. Have an experienced herbalist make a combination that is best for you. Best known herbs for thyroid health include Ashwagandha, Black Walnut,Kelp, Stinging Nettle, Alfalfa, Horsetail, Bladderwrack and Irish Moss. Maca is wonderful for normalizing thyroid function.
- Exercise and Sunshine. Sunshine feeds the entire glandular system! This is why I never wear sunglasses. You are blocking the most important energy in the entire world.