The thyroid is a gland that is responsible for regulating many of your bodily functions and if it isn’t functioning properly, you will experience a variety of symptoms that can impact your life in unfavorable ways.
The problem is that diagnosing a thyroid disorder can be difficult because the symptoms can be vague and attributed to many different things. Because of this, millions of people wake up every day with thyroid issues without even knowing it.
- Do you constantly feel so fatigued that you barely have the energy to brush your teeth?
- Do you find that there is more hair than usual ending up in your brush or shower drain?
- Are you gaining weight or just not losing no matter how much you try to adapt a healthy lifestyle?
- Do you often feel cold or have sensitivity to cold temperatures?
- Do you have constant brain fog or memory issues?
Well most of us experience these things at various times and because we simply assume that age is catching up with us or that we are not exercising as frequently as we should or that we are not getting enough sleep…we just chalk them up to something we have to live with and don’t pursue any medical follow-up.
Unfortunately, what many of us don’t know is that these are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is often overlooked as a diagnosis because it can present as other health conditions such as PMS, depression, menopause and the like and it’s only by going for a thorough check-up that your doctor can unearth what is really going on below the surface.
If you are experiencing any symptoms that may indicate a thyroid problem, it is important that you have a complete physical along with the specific blood work necessary to determine how well your thyroid is functioning.
If your medical exam confirms that you have a sluggish thyroid, there are steps you can take to improve the health of your thyroid naturally.
However, before we get into healing your thyroid for weight loss, increased energy and optimal health, let us first start by understanding exactly what the thyroid is and the role it plays in your body.
Understanding the Thyroid Gland
Your hormonal system comprises of a group of glands, namely; thyroid, pituitary, testes, ovaries and pancreas, that are tasked with releasing hormones such as the thyroid hormone, growth hormone, estrogen, insulin and testosterone.
The thyroid is the largest gland in the hormonal system. It has a butterfly shape and sits right in the middle of your neck. When you go for a physical checkup and your physician asks you to swallow, they are trying to feel your thyroid.
What Role Does the Thyroid Play in Energy, Weight Loss & Overall Health?
Did you know that the thyroid hormone affects each and every cell in your body? It’s easy to think that this hormone only affects the gland. The thyroid secretes three thyroid hormones which play a fundamental role in your metabolism as well as energy regulation.
These hormones act on all cell types in your body in order to boost cellular activity or metabolism from the cellular level. If your thyroid gland produces too little or too much thyroid hormones, then your metabolism is significantly impacted.
- Hyperthyroidism – this occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones.
- Hypothyroidism – this occurs when your thyroid gland produces very little of the thyroid hormones.
For now, we are going to focus on hypothyroidism and how this condition impacts your health.
When for any reason, there’s not enough thyroid hormone released by the thyroid, the body’s metabolic function slows down. This in turn leads to weight gain or difficulty in losing weight and general fatigue. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition that can be fixed through surgery.
In truth, hypothyroidism presents very obvious but vague symptoms so it’s very easy to miss the diagnosis. The first presenting symptoms usually affect your emotions and metabolism. You may notice fluctuations in your mood that are out of character for you and you also start to consistently gain weight.
The next thing you may notice is never ending fatigue that you just can’t explain. You then may start to notice thinning hair, joint pain, brain fog or memory impairment and sensitivity to cold.
If you experience any of these on a regular basis, it’s advisable that you book an appointment with your doctor and request to have your thyroid checked.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Inactive Thyroid)
- Never ending fatigue
- Mood swings
- Blurred vision
- Weight gain
- Weakness
- Muscle aches and cramping
- Sleepiness
- Loss of hair
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to cold
- Swelling in legs
- Lower perspiration
- Irritability
- Oscillating blood pressure levels
- Forgetfulness
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
- Increased sweating
- Diarrhea or frequent bowel movement
- Heart palpitations
- Insomnia
- Appetite changes
- Irritability
- Heat intolerance
What causes the thyroid to slow down?
The most common cause of a slow thyroid is an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or just Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disorder – meaning your immune system attacks your thyroid.
Your body’s immune system is responsible for protecting you from bacterial, viral and any foreign invasion.
If you have autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s), you immune system starts fighting your thyroid gland. This impairs your thyroid function and leads to reduced secretion of thyroid hormones.
In summary, Hashimoto’s is a disease that causes hypothyroidism which is a medical condition.
What causes Hashimoto’s to develop?
This disease has many different possible causes including genetics/family history, exposure to radiation, excessive iodine, gluten sensitivity, celiac disease and hormonal imbalance.
What causes Hypothyroidism to develop?
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the person’s thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Although, Hashimoto’s is considered a very common cause of hypothyroidism, it isn’t the only reason this condition may develop.
Other common causes of hypothyroidism include:
Removal of the Thyroid
This could be partial or complete. When a part of your thyroid is removed for medical reasons, the remaining portion stops working optimally and this could lead to hypothyroidism.
Medication Induced Hypothyroidism
Some medication may inhibit your thyroid gland from secreting enough thyroid hormone. It’s advisable to find out from your doctor if any medication you are on could lead to hypothyroidism.
Iodine Imbalance
The thyroid gland needs iodine in order to produce thyroid hormone. An imbalance can lead to hypothyroidism. Though iodine deficiency is rare because it is supplemented in salt, it’s important you get enough iodine from dietary sources such as beef, chicken, dairy, fish and pork. Be aware that sea salt does not contain iodine so if you are concerned about your iodine intake, switch to iodized table salt.
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency affects the levels of iodine in the blood, and as stated above, iodine is crucial to the synthesis of hormones.
Drinking Tap Water
We all know that you should be drinking water throughout the day to not only stay hydrated but to reap the other life changing benefits such as reducing heart attack and diabetes risk, firmer skin, less wrinkles, increased energy and weight loss.
However, a large percentage of tap water contains fluoride. While this may be great for your teeth, it depletes iodine in the body and this causes the thyroid to slow down. So if your daily water intake is coming from the tap or bottled water that contains fluoride, it may be impacting your thyroid.
Exposure to Radiation
Cancer treatments, natural disasters and even chronic exposure through x-rays can lead to damage to your thyroid. It is important that speak to a medical provider if you are concerned about exposure to radiation. If you require an excessive amount x-rays for dental or medical reasons, request a special collar for your neck to protect your thyroid.
The Dysfunction of the Pituitary Gland
This gland works hand in hand with your thyroid by telling it how much thyroid hormone to secrete. If the pituitary gland malfunctions, this can lead to inadequate production of the thyroid hormone.
Stress and Toxins
Factors such as food intolerances, toxins, sugar highs and lows can trigger your hormonal system to release more stress hormones. This can inhibit enough production of thyroid hormone therein leading to hypothyroidism.
What’s the correlation between the liver, inflammation and thyroid?
Your body, like our planet, it is a network of interacting ecosystems that communicate to one another and influence one another in not just good ways but also bad ways. Your liver and thyroid are a perfect example of this ecosystem.
Thyroid hormones influence how cholesterol and all other lipids are broken down in your liver. This is why people with hypothyroidism have been shown to have higher cholesterol levels.
Thyroid hormones also affect the detoxification routes in the liver as well as insulin and other enzymes that metabolize medication and environmental toxins which we are exposed to on a daily basis. When this function is impaired, the increased toxic burden causes inflammation and results in a multitude of symptoms – one of which is weight gain.
The liver is responsible for many functions and one of them is breaking down dietary fats so they can be used by the body to function optimally. The adequate production of bile is the key to this process. The liver secretes bile to break down fats so they can be absorbed into the body and used for energy. When your liver is not working properly as a result of inflammation or toxic overload, it stops producing enough bile and the fats are therefore not digested correctly and are instead stored as fat – hence the weight gain.
But it goes even further – dietary fats provide the building blocks the thyroid needs in order to function properly. When those fats are being stored rather than delivered the thyroid is not provided with what it needs to thrive. Research has looked at this connection between the role of the liver and thyroid and found that those with impaired bile flow are more likely to suffer from hypothyroidism.
But the good news is, once the bile starts flowing as it should, it will help to heal the thyroid and improve its functioning.
Effective Ways of Healing Your Thyroid
So far we have established that your thyroid plays an essential role in regulating metabolism. Along with cortisol and insulin, the thyroid hormone completes the trio of hormones that control your energy, metabolism and weight.
The first step to healing your thyroid is to undergo proper medical testing to confirm whether a sluggish thyroid is the reason behind your loss of energy, irritability, and uncontrolled weight gain among other problems. Once you are sure of the answer, there are many ways in which you can heal your thyroid and go back to your energetic, happier and slimmer self.
There are six main ways of healing your thyroid:
1 – Eliminate All Causes of Hypo/Hyperthyroidism
Start by running an audit of your lifestyle dating back to when you started experience the symptoms of thyroid problems. The best place to start with is your diet. Eliminate all processed foods and instead focus on fresh, healthy, natural and unprocessed foods, preferably organic.
You can also test to find out whether you are allergic to gluten as this can result in inflammation and consequently hypothyroidism.
Supporting your body’s natural detoxification process will also help your thyroid. Utilizing a comprehensive nutritional cleanse program can be the jumpstart you need to healing your thyroid.
Avoid foods and anything you get in contact with that’s doused with chemicals. You can start growing a few veggies organically in your kitchen garden or buying organic food at farmers’ markets.
Stress is another contributor to hypothyroidism. Change your attitude towards life and surround yourself with positive energy.
2 – Exercise On a Regular Basis
Regular exercise boosts tissue sensitivity and boosts thyroid gland secretions. Do exercises that will get your heart pumping and your body sweating. After working up a healthy sweat you can relax in a sauna and help your body get rid of excess toxins through sweating.
3 – Support Your Thyroid Nutritionally
Healing for your thyroid depends on a healthy and balanced nutrition. You can boost the secretion of thyroid hormones by taking iodine, zinc, vitamins A & D and omega-3 fats. Thyroid –healthy foods include sea veggies including seaweed, wild caught fish especially salmon and sardines, dark leafy greens including dandelions and mustard and other whole foods.
The secret is to avoid foods that can negatively impact on your thyroid such as gluten and processed foods.
4 – Drink Bottled Water that Does Not Contain Fluoride
Most at-home water filters can’t filter fluoride from your tap water so opt for bottled water that does not contain fluoride. Be sure to read labels because many bottled waters do contain fluoride. Look for brands that use reverse osmosis as the method of removing impurities.
5 – Supplement Your Food
Ideally, you should get all your nutrition from fresh and natural food. But, if you suffer from hypothyroidism, you may need to help out your thyroid by taking some mineral supplements in order to boost the healing process.
You can supplement with a multivitamin and a mineral supplement containing vitamins A & D, omega3 3 fatty acids – fish oil, selenium, zinc and iodine. However, first consult with your doctor before starting on any supplements.
6 – Get Tested Today
There is no single symptom that will perfectly point you towards a thyroid problem. The surest thing you can do to get you a proper diagnosis is to look at all your symptoms, run physical tests and run blood tests.
You can go to a general practitioner or a specialist to get tested for thyroid issues. The important thing is that you get thorough testing done. Ask your doctor to run exhaustive tests so you know for sure if you have a thyroid problem or not.
You must request a full thyroid panel – if your doctor only tests TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) the diagnosis can be missed because it has been found that this test alone does not provide enough information to rule out a diagnosis. The TSH level may return in the “normal” range despite that you may in fact have hypothyroidism.
Be your own advocate and demand to have a full thyroid panel done.
Benefits of Healing Your Thyroid
Great health is the perfect gift you can get yourself and healing your thyroid will make you rediscover life in a way you never thought possible.
Some of the benefits you are sure to see include:
Increased Energy
Forget about breakfast coffee to power you through your day. A perfectly working thyroid will make you feel superhuman!
Sustainable Weight Loss
Weight gain is one of the most annoying side effects of hypothyroidism. Healing your thyroid and continuing with a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen will help you lose weight and keep it off.
Clarity of Mind
When everything in your body is working perfectly, you won’t have to fight yourself to remember something as simple as your colleague’s name.
Sleep Like a Baby
Forget about the days of never getting enough sleep. With a healed thyroid, you are going to feel amazing and you will sleep like a baby.
Rediscover the Fountain of Youth
Beautifully radiant skin and smooth, shiny locks are in your future! You will feel forever young with an added spring to your step thanks to a healed thyroid.
Take it one day at a time and follow these simple guidelines and before long, you will start experiencing and living life a new!
