Thyroid and Hormone Balance - what you need to know

Thyroid - the butterfly shaped gland located at the front of your neck below the adam’s apple.

It is a little understood or talk about gland but it is an absolute powerhouse for you, your health and your hormones. It regulates your metabolism which impacts every function and organ in your body so if your thyroid isn’t working as well as it can be, you will soon know about it.

Some of the symptoms of a low functioning thyroid are:

• Constipation

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Cold hands and feet

• Low mood

• Brain fog

• Loss of the first third of your eyebrow

Often, particularly for women these symptoms are dismissed or just medicated with drugs like Levothyroxine (synthetic T4 hormone) which can be really beneficial for some but, as I am seeing more and more in my clinic not ‘resolving’ the original issues and leaving many women still feeling below par to say the least.

What to test to fully understand how your thyroid is functioning:

You need more than TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

If your GP is only testing TSH and then determining you have ‘normal’ functioning thyroid they are missing a big part of the picture.

TSH isn’t even a thyroid hormone, it is released from the pituitary to stimulate our thyroid – hence Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.

In order to get a full picture of your thyroid you need a full panel. Your TSH can look ‘normal’ but you can still have high thyroid antibodies attacking your thyroid gland and contributing to an autoimmune disease. Or your TSH can look ‘fine’ but your T3 and T4 are out of range.

The markers you need to fully understand your thyroid are:

• TSH

• Free T4 (less active thyroid hormone)

• Free T3 (most active thyroid hormone)

• Thyroid Antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies)

• Reverse T3 (this is a bonus)

Once you have the full picture you can understand how your thyroid is functioning and what area needs support. If the issue isn’t with the conversion of T4 to T3 then Levothyroxine or equivalent medications may not help you as you may have enough T4 but your body is struggling to convert it to the most active form T3, this can be for a variety of reasons including not having the enough of the nutrient cofactors obtain from your diet to support the process as well as high stress. If you would like some more support with this, why not click here to book in a free call so we can dig a little deeper together.

To get you started, some of the most important nutrients to support thyroid function are :

Selenium and Zinc help to activate thyroid hormones so that they can be used by the body. Selenium is also a powerful antioxidant which may help to protect the thyroid, and Zinc may help to regulate Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Just two Brazil nuts a day should provide adequate Selenium, and can also be found in sardines, eggs and legumes. Good sources of Zinc include shellfish (especially oysters), pumpkin seeds and legumes like chickpeas and lentils.

Iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones; iodine deficiency can be a cause of hypothyroidism. To ensure adequate iodine intake, increase consumption of seaweed and include some fish, dairy and eggs in your diet.

Iron is needed for the conversion of the less active T4 to the more active thyroid hormone T3. Good sources include seeds (especially pumpkin & sesame), parsley, nuts (especially almonds, cashews, brazils, walnuts, pecans), prunes, raisins, dates, cooked dried beans, shellfish, fish (especially sardines), lean red meat, cocoa, leafy green vegetables.

Copper is needed for proper thyroid function. Good sources include shellfish, lamb, pecans, sesame, hazelnuts, pistachios, brazils, sunflower seeds, avocado, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, plums, yeast, mushrooms, cocoa.

Magnesium is needed for the conversion of less active T4 to the more active thyroid hormone T3. Good sources include buckwheat, nuts (especially brazils, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios) cooked beans, lentils, garlic, raisins, apricots, dried figs, bananas, peas, potato skin, dark green leafy vegetables, avocado, poultry, fish, seafood, cocoa.

Manganese is needed for proper thyroid function. Good sources include watercress, pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, lettuce, grapes, strawberries, oats, root vegetables (especially beetroot), celery, eggs, nuts, fish.

How does thyroid function affect hormone balance?

Elevated oestrogen can reduce thyroid function

Hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid) with elevated TSH can:

-          Reduce the expression of oocytes leading to faulty ovulation to follicle Stimulating Hormone

-          Reduce Lutenising Hormone output shortening the luteal phase leading to a shortened menstrual cycle

-          Reduce activation of endometrium progesterone receptors (light or heavy menstrual bleeding, reduce risk for implantation and increase risk of miscarriage)

-          If someone is looking to conceive and has hypothyroidism that isn’t supported then it can increase risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, placenta abruption and postpartum haemorrhage

If you think you have symptoms of a low functioning thyroid and would like some support to help figure out what is the right course of action for you so you can have more energy and feel radiant, book in your free call with me today.