Thyroid Problem?: What You Should Know
Signs You May Have Suboptimal Thyroid Function
Thyroid hormone is one of the most misunderstood hormones.
Itās so misunderstood that as many as 60% of people who have a thyroid issue DON'T EVEN KNOW IT!
Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck. It releases thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism, energy levels, brain function & more.
If your thyroid is not working optimally, here are some possible signs:
āļø Exhaustion
āļø Forgetfulness
āļø Mood Problems
āļø Feeling Cold
āļø Weight Gain
āļø Constipation
āļø Irregular periods
āļø Thinning Hair
āļø Dry Skin
āļø Brittle Nails
Some people who experience these symptoms end up being diagnosed with hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). Others struggle with these issues & are told their thyroid labs look normal. This can happen because the normal lab ranges are not necessarily optimal or because not all forms of thyroid hormone have been looked at in the test.
Itās possible to have suboptimal thyroid function even if your routine thyroid labs look ānormal.ā
Women are up to 8 times as likely to develop a thyroid condition as men!
If left ignored, it could cause problems during pregnancy or increase your risk of things like heart disease as you age.
Could you be one of the millions of people with unrecognized suboptimal thyroid function?
Root Causes of Suboptimal Thyroid Function
Is it possible to experience thyroid-related problems even when routine labs show that thyroid function is ānormal?ā
Letās break this down!
Hereās how your thyroid works:
A hormone called TRH is released from your hypothalamus (deep inside your brain), which triggers TSH release from your pituitary gland (also in your brain). TSH travels through your blood to trigger thyroid hormone production in your thyroid gland (at the base of your neck).
Your thyroid gland produces 2 active forms of thyroid hormone that circulate through your body:
T4 (thyroxine)
T3 (triiodothyronine)
Even though your body makes much more T4 than T3, your T3 is about 4 times as powerful and considered an even more active form. Your body can also produce reverse T3 (rT3), which actually blocks thyroid function.
The most common screening test for thyroid function is TSH. Even when that falls within the labās normal reference range, here are some possible scenarios to explain suboptimal thyroid function:
Insufficient production of T4
Insufficient conversion of T4 ā T3
Increased production of reverse T3 (rT3)
Thatās whyāif you're struggling with unexplained exhaustion, brain fog, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails, or any other signs of thyroid imbalanceāitās so important to have your doctor run a more comprehensive panel of thyroid tests.
Of course, the next question to ask is what could be causing suboptimal thyroid function? Here are just a few of the possible root causes:
Exposure to environmental toxins (many chemicals disrupt thyroid function)
Autoimmunity (antithyroid antibodies can be detected in many people with suboptimal thyroid function)
Undereating or Overexercising (your thyroid controls your metabolism, so your lifestyle can throw it out of whack)
Stress (more to come on this!)
Nutrient insufficiencies (Iāll be talking about this in my next post!)
In Functional Medicine, we always aim to understand the root cause of your health concerns. We dig deep to look for patterns and explanations. And most importantly, we want to OPTIMIZE your healthābecause when you're not feeling your best, it affects every aspect of your life.
Nutrients for Thyroid Health
Unexplained fatigue. Brain fog. Moodiness. Weight gain. Hair loss. Brittle nailsā¦.all of these can be signs of suboptimal thyroid function.
Many different factors can disrupt thyroid function. One possibility is nutrient imbalances.
So, letās take a look at some of the most important nutrients for thyroid health!
Tyrosine. L-tyrosine is an amino acid present in many protein-rich foods. Your body can also make it from other amino acids. Tyrosine is a building block required for the synthesis of thyroid hormone.
Iodine. Iodine is a trace mineral in seaweed, seafood, and iodized salt. It binds with tyrosine as another essential building block of thyroid hormone.
Selenium. Selenium is a trace mineral found in especially high amounts in Brazil nuts. Your thyroid gland concentrates more selenium than any other organ of the body. Selenium acts as an antioxidant and also supports thyroid hormone production.
Zinc. Zinc is a mineral found in meats and many other foods. It supports enzymes involved in thyroid hormone production and function.
This is not an exhaustive list of nutrients needed for thyroid function. You also need B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, and more. One of the best ways to get the range of nutrients your thyroid needs is through a nutrient-dense diet.
Nutrition and supplements can be a powerful way to support thyroid health, but they are best used under the direction of a qualified healthcare provider. Always test first!
Why Stress Disrupts Your Thyroid
Do you know what your body does when you're feeling stress?
It produces cortisol.
Cortisol is an adrenal hormone thatās meant to help your body respond to stressful situations.
But...too much and too often can have damaging effects on your thyroid.
Hereās why:
ā”ļøCortisol increases the production of reverse T3 (rT3), which blocks thyroid function.
ā”ļøCortisol decreases TSH, which is needed to stimulate thyroid hormone production.
ā”ļøCortisol can indirectly lead to higher levels of TBG, which decreases the amount of free thyroid hormone available for cells.
The relationship between thyroid health and stress is quite complicated because of the hormones involved with each. But thereās a pretty simple takeaway message here: If you want to support optimal thyroid function, you canāt ignore the effects of stressāand that means anything your body PERCEIVES as stress.
Here are a handful of things you can do to reduce your stress:
š Eat in a way that supports healthy blood sugar balance
š Exercise the right amount for your body
š§āāļøāāļø Take breaks (your body needs rest as much as it needs activity!)
š¤ Aim for sound sleep
No doubt about it - thyroid hormones are one of the most misunderstood hormones. Way too many people struggle with issues that are related to their thyroid and never know why.
If you or somebody you love would like to have your thyroid function assessed, look for root causes, and get a personalized plan, I would be happy to help!
With much ā¤ļø,
