Are We Looking At Hypothyroidism Wrong?
With thyroid conditions on the rise, it’s important that we address the root cause of these conditions, not simply the symptoms. Why are millions of women (and men) dealing with hidden thyroid conditions and what can we do to heal?
Symptoms Pointing Towards Thyroid Imbalance
The thyroid is important for many functions, including regulation metabolism, body temperature, weight, energy and mood. Symptoms one may experience with hypothyroidism include:
cold hands and feet
depression
constipation and other digestive symptoms
weight gain
high cholesterol
brain fog and poor memory
poor sleep
low libido
dry skin and hair
hair loss
Hypothyroidism is Often Autoimmune
Hypothyroidism occurs when there is an underproduction of thyroid hormone, which can be caused by poor production or poor conversion of T4 to active T3.
For most people though, especially as is commonly seen in women, hypothyroidism is an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system goes haywire and starts attacking our own tissues, instead of invaders like pathogenic bacteria.
Conventionally, doctors are looking at hypothyroidism as a thyroid problem in isolation. When someone has an underactive thyroid, they’re often given medication to help regulate the thyroid, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause of why the thyroid is underactive to begin with.
Additionally, thyroid issues aren’t just thyroid issues, they’re system issues.
The Thyroid-Gut Connection
If the majority of thyroiditis’ are autoimmune in nature, we should be looking at thyroid imbalances as an immune-gut condition that is affecting the thyroid, not a thyroid condition alone.
For autoimmune conditions we must address the gut.
Cleaning up the diet, getting rid of gluten, which has a major impact on the thyroid, as well as other inflammatory foods, and developing a lifestyle that will benefit your thyroid instead of harm it, are key factors. A gut-healing diet and the right thyroid-supportive supplements are important components to the healing process. But you want to test first, to see what’s really happening under the surface.
Furthermore, there are many nutrients that affect thyroid hormone production, conversion and function, and these nutrients are often depleted due to poor gut health, stress, medications such as hormonal birth control, toxins such as fluoride from tap water, poor diet, etc.
Reduce Immune Stressors for Thyroid Health
The role of the immune system in thyroid health is critical and we must be reducing the daily stressors on our immune system in order to heal. When the immune system is overburdened, this creates inflammation, which directly impacts thyroid function.
Reducing stressors can include:
Eating an anti-allergenic diet
Avoiding seed oils
Removing toxic cleaners, candles, personal care products and other pollutants
Drinking filtered water and using a shower filter
Dealing with past hurts, unforgiveness and traumas
The Thyroid-Stress Connection
Chronic stress impacts the hypothalamic-pituatary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which affects not just the thyroid gland, but also the adrenal glands and others. When we’re stressed, our body’s priority is to keep us safe and address the immediate concern in front of us (which in this day likely isn’t life-threatening). It favours putting our energy, nutrients and resources into getting us ready for action, instead of keeping our hormones balanced. Chronic stress encourages the body to produce more stress hormones at the expense of thyroid hormones. This is why overtime, we can develop some serious issues with the thyroid if stress isn’t addressed.
To find out if you’re dealing with an autoimmune thyroid condition, you need to test for thyroid antibodies, which are often missed during regular screening.
If you’re ready to find answers, get started with the right tests. Read more about our comprehensive thyroid panel.
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist™
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