What can promote underactive thyroid?

DO YOU SUSPECT HAVING THYROID ISSUES? Thyroid issues are quite common especially among women, with hypothyroidism as the most common thyroid disorder. It is characterized by mental slowing, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, cold intolerance, irregular menstruation, infertility, muscle stiffness and pain, depression, dementia, and a wide range of other symptoms. Actually, every cell in our body has receptors for thyroid hormone. These hormones are responsible for the most basic aspects of body function, impacting all major systems of the body. Thyroid hormone directly acts on the brain, the G.I. tract, the cardiovascular system, bone metabolism, red blood cell metabolism, gall bladder and liver function, steroid hormone production, glucose metabolism, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, protein metabolism and body temperature regulation. One of the biggest challenges facing those with hypothyroidism is that it is often under- and misdiagnosed, as many patients with thyroid symptoms have “normal” lab results, yet not optimal if you interpret them properly. What can promote LOW THYROID HORMONES:

• IMPAIRED GUT HEALTH (poor diet, impaired digestion, low stomach acid, poor bile production, intestinal dysbiosis such as Candida overgrowth, increased intestinal permeability)
• IMMUNE DYSREGULATION (auto-immune attack)
• INFLAMMATION (inflammation suppresses the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid HPT axis, inflammation decreases both the number and sensitivity of thyroid hormone receptors, inflammation decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone. The body has to convert it to the active T3 form before it can be used)
• CHRONIC STRESS (chronically elevated cortisol contributes to under-conversion of free T4 to free T3)
• MALNUTRITION (lack of nutrients to allow hormone synthesis, conversion, and functioning, think of selenium, iodine, zinc, vitamin C, tyrosine)
• BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES (hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, healthy thyroid function depends on keeping your blood sugar in a normal range, and keeping your blood sugar in a normal range depends on healthy thyroid function)

RECOMMENDED BASIC TESTS TO ASSES YOUR THYROID HEALTH:

• Blood serum TSH, free T4, free T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG
• Thyroid ultrasound

In a process of supporting thyroid functioning it’s important to look for the underlying cause(s) of its dysfunction. If you need more, please feel free to get in touch with me via info@probioticdigest.com