Feeling cold all the time, or maybe you are experiencing fatigue, unlike anything you thought possible? What’s going on with these vague symptoms that you might be chalking up as “normal’ aging? Let’s meet your tiny, but might Thyroid, which is responsible for oh so many things. Located just below the center of the neck, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is the body’s internal thermostat. It regulates body temperature by secreting hormones that control how quickly the body burns calories and uses energy for all body functions.
Every cell in the body relies on the thyroid hormone for the regulation of its metabolism. After all, if there’s not a lot of gas in the car, it won’t go far! Because of its effect on all other body systems, thyroid disorder can be a key driver or root cause of many other states of disease and dysfunction in the body.
What is Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism (things are running too slowly) is a common, under-diagnosed, under-treated issue affecting more than 200+ million people worldwide, mostly women. Women are 10 times more likely to have a thyroid disorder than men. It is a silent epidemic, with over half the cases undiagnosed and many others undertreated.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- ongoing fatigue
- inability to tolerate cold
- easy weight gain/hard to lose weight
- elevated LDL cholesterol
- painful PMS
- depression
- Hair loss on the outer one-third of the eyebrow
- brain fog
- constipation
- muscle weakness or low stamina
- Brittle nails
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
Low thyroid function can be caused by a wide array of things including poor diet, low iodine, pesticides, ongoing chlorine exposure, fluoride intake, toxins, radiation, or over-consumption of inflammatory, dietary fats.
What is Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism is also often an autoimmune dynamic (often called Hashimoto’s disease or thyroiditis), where the action of the immune system itself is actually negatively affecting our own thyroid function. Food sensitivities, toxins, microbial imbalances in the gut, intestinal permeability, viral infections, nutrient deficiencies: these may all contribute to triggering this type of autoimmune reaction.
Many people who have Hashimoto’s feel better pursuing an anti-inflammatory diet that reduces intestinal permeability and immune hyper-reactivity. This typically includes 100% elimination of gluten and dairy foods, the most common culprits. Some people also benefit from fully eliminating all grains from the diet.
What is Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism (things are running too intensely) occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
Signs of Hyperthyroidism:
- Heart Palpitations (or racing heart)
- Weight loss
- Often feeling warm or hot
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Low or no menstrual period
- Excessive sweating
- Trouble Concentrating
- Restlessness
A fully balanced whole foods diet is key for the thyroid, one including vegetables, sea vegetables, nuts/seeds, fruits, and (if it feels good in your body) animal protein and fats. Legumes and gluten-free whole grains may also be nourishing if you digest them well and if they don’t cause you to feel even more sluggish.
In addition to eating a balanced diet, it is important to understand that some foods can contribute to thyroid issues.
“Healthy” foods that can contribute to thyroid dysfunction
Process, packaged convenience foods. Because these are typically missing key minerals, regular consumption reduces your body’s overall nutrition (empty calories) and can inhibit thyroid function.
Refined Vegetable Oils – People don’t often realize the damage that refined vegetable oils cause. It’s best to avoid consuming transfats or fried foods. Consider cooking with avocado oil (for high heat), ghee, or coconut oil. Olive oil is good for low heat and salad dressings but becomes carcinogenic at high heat.
Too much Raw Cruciferous vegetables. These are very healthy foods and should definitely be part of your daily diet. This family of vegetables includes goitrogens which are deactivated with heat (but not in processed soy). Foods from these families (e.g. Brassicaceae) contain goitrogenic compounds: broccoli, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, bok choy, arugula, daikon, and rutabaga. Small servings of these veggies raw are fine, so don’t be afraid of them. If you have low thyroid function and tend to indulge heavily in these vegetables, good for you; just choose most of them in a cooked form.
Unfermented, Processed Soy Products. Americans eat way too much refined and highly-processed soy products such as soy milk and “fake meat” products marketed to vegetarians. Soy must be fermented to release its natural goitrogens, anti-nutrients that inhibit the body’s ability to use iodine, promote goiter formation, and act like anti-thyroid drugs. Fermented soybean products, a healthy staple in many Asian cultures, including tempeh, miso, natto, shoyu, and tamari (natural soy sauce) can be consumed in small quantities. If you do choose to consume soy products more often, it is important to ensure you have adequate selenium and iodine intake.
Fluoride, found in toothpaste and tap water, Chlorine, found in municipal water supplies, pesticides, and numerous household cleaners, and Bromine, found in many pesticides and almost all commercial baked goods and flours (and flour-containing foods). These three all block iodine receptors in the thyroid gland. Many alternative types of toothpaste are available. My favorite toothpaste is RiseWell, you can check it out here.
Caffeine and Stress. A life fueled by caffeine to make up for lack of rest and sleep often leads to exhaustion of the adrenal gland. Stress hormones secreted by the adrenal gland can block thyroid hormone function and lower your metabolism as a protective mechanism.
If you’re experiencing the above symptoms it’s important to work with a practitioner to check your thyroid levels. While you may think it’s just part of aging, relentless fatigue, low sex drive, being cold all the time, and hair loss are common, but they aren’t normal. It’s time to take back your health and feel better.
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Resources and References for this Blog
1. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by Phyllis A Balch, Penguin Books, 2006, pages 501-504.
2. Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon, New Trends Publishing Inc, 2001.
3. The Coconut Diet, by Cherie Calbom, Warner Books, 2005.
4. Ultra-Prevention, by Mary Hyman MD and Mark Liponis MD, Simon & Schuster, 2003.
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