Healthy Thyroid Function
We tend to hear a lot about when thyroids aren’t working well, but what do they actually do?
A great review of what our thyroids do comes to us by way of Dr. Jillian Stansbury, “[Thyroid hormones are] important to embryological and adolescent growth and development. In adulthood, these hormones help to regulate the function and metabolism of virtually every organ system.” (3) In lay terms this means thyroid hormones are involved in growth, maturation, and our metabolism from the womb to the tomb. This is a very important system that influences every other system in our bodies.
Given the high incidence of thyroid issues in our society, it’s important for us to understand this organ and what it does. This helps us screen for problems, track treatment if we are being treated, and helps us understand just how important it is to keep our thyroids happy and healthy.
Our thyroid glands are shaped like a butterfly or bowtie and are located at the front of our necks just below our voice box. This hard-working organ makes both thyroid hormone and calcitonin - a hormone important in moving calcium from our blood and into our bones with the help of Vitamin D (2). Today, we will focus on thyroid hormone.
Our thyroid works in partnership with another gland - the pituitary gland. This pendulous little gland sits just behind and between our eyes resting in a groove called the sella turcica (turk’s saddle) of our sphenoid bone. Funny enough, the sphenoid bone looks like a butterfly too! Those of you who have enjoyed craniosacral therapy understand the deep work done when the sphenoid bone is gently manipulated and rebalanced - this treatment theoretically improves blood flow and nervous function within the pituitary gland. One of my patents with a pituitary tumor particularly benefits from regular sphenoid work.
Okay, back to thyroid function… The pituitary gland keeps an eye on how much thyroid hormone (T4 specifically) is in circulation. When that level gets low, the pituitary secretes TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). TSH will reach the thyroid through the bloodstream and in response, the thyroid will make and release two hormones: T4 and T3. T3 is the more active thyroid hormone (at least 3x as active), but T4 makes up about 80% of the thyroid hormone released by the gland itself. This is actually a good thing. It gives our body more options for fine-tuning its response.
T4 is made up of 2 molecules of the amino acid tyrosine bound to two molecules of iodine. T3 is similar except it is made up of one molecule of tyrosine with two iodine molecules and one molecule of tyrosine with one molecule of iodine. T4 has four molecules of iodine where T3 has three. Once T4 gets to a cell that is ready to be boosted into action, enzymes at the destination will pop off one molecule of iodine and then the new T3 can bind to the cell membrane, make it’s way inside, and head to the nucleus where it will interact with our DNA. (2)
Once inside the nucleus, T3 increases our metabolism, gets our body temperature up, increases our heart rate, keeps our blood pressure up so we can get oxygen all the way up to our brains, and gets cells dividing for growth and repair. (2) As you can probably guess, this is all vital work.
A great way to see what our thyroid does is to explore what happens when things aren’t working well. And, since about 10% of our population has issues with their thyroid function, you may identify with some of the symptoms on these lists. Also, before you think that just pumping your system full of thyroid hormone is in your best interest, please do pay attention to the signs of an overactive thyroid in addition to an underacting thyroid.
Hypothyroidism
In my practice, as well as in the general population, hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism. In the United States where we have iodized salt the most common form of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In this condition, the body has confused parts of the thyroid as harmful to the body and creates antibodies that will attack and damage these parts. This isn’t a disease of the thyroid, it’s actually an imbalance of the immune system. If you have hypothyroidism and haven’t been screened for antibodies, you should consult with a Naturopathic Physician to see if you have Hashimoto’s. It does involve more blood tests than are usually done to monitor thyroid function. I have successfully helped many patients get a full diagnosis, get on an appropriate treatment plan, and finally find relief from their hypothyroidism.
Signs of an under active thyroid include (4):
slow metabolism
weight gain
forgetfulness
feeling cold or not being able to tolerate cold
depression
fatigue
dry skin
constipation
loss of ambition
hair loss
muscle cramps
stiff joints
loss of the outer 1/3 of the eyebrow
menstrual irregularities
infertility
weakness
slow or absent reflexes
Hyperthyroidism
While not as common as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism is just as important to watch for. I have seen hyperthyroidism in my practice, but luckily no thyroid storms. A thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition where the thyroid makes so much hormone that the body is completely overwhelmed. Symptoms include a high body temperature (fever), racing heart rate, extreme anxiety, and reddening of the skin. A thyroid storm is a medical emergency and is best managed in the hospital where IV medications can quickly bring an out of control system back in line. Your next step after this is, you guessed it, making an appointment with your Naturopathic Physician to come up with a treatment plan to prevent this from happening again.
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by a few different things: thyroid cancer, overactive thyroid cells, overactive pituitary cells, Grave’s disease (another autoimmune disorder), and, for short periods of time, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Signs of an overactive Thyroid Gland (4):
weight loss
palpitations (funny or rapid heartbeat)
anxiety
bulging eyes
tremors
irritability
menstrual disturbance
fatigue
heat intolerance
increased appetite
hair loss
As you can see, a disruption in your thyroid function can create havoc throughout the body.
A few tips for keeping your thyroid happy:
Our thyroids need a few key ingredients to make thyroid hormone. Those include iodine, selenium, zinc, and tyrosine. (3. I always recommend getting your nutrients through food first and then supplementing, if there is a need, once a nutrient-dense diet has been established. No supplement can make up for a poor diet, supplements don’t contain all the beneficial nutrients of food, and our bodies just don’t accept the nutrients in supplements the way they do from food.
For people with Hashimotos, a gluten-free diet is key to managing their autoimmunity. Additional foods may also interfere. An elimination diet or food sensitivity testing can make a night and day difference.
As with all autoimmune conditions, good sleep, stress management, movement, hydration, and a nutrient dense diet are key in not only managing your current condition but in preventing or postponing the development of future conditions. People with thyroid issues have a higher risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and depression - the major conditions that cause death and disability in our society.
Foods rich in Iodine (1):
milk
cheese
meat
fish
poultry
eggs
kelp and other seaweeds
iodized salt
Foods rich in Selenium (1):
meat
fish
whole grains
legumes
Brazil nuts
garlic
mushrooms
asparagus
Foods rich in Zinc (1):
seafood
meats
whole grains
wheat germ
wheat bran
dairy products
legumes
peanuts
Foods rich in tyrosine (1):
beef
pork
fish
chicken
tofu
milk
cheese
beans
nuts and seeds
whole grains
A note, tyrosine is synthesized in the body from the amino acid phenylalanine except in people with PKU. It is considered a conditionally essential amino acid meaning we can make it, but sometimes we need more than we can make.
A note on getting advice from the internet or a non-physician:
Please know, that unless you have been seeing me already, I am not your doctor. Please do not ask me for specific advice including dosages - if I don’t know you, your health history, and how you respond to basic interventions, I don’t know what doses will work for you, and I could hurt you if I tried to make something up. Plus, my board keeps me from doing this as does my malpractice insurance. And, my education and knowledge have and continue to required a considerable investment of my time, attention, and finances. I and my family have sacrificed a lot for me to become a doctor, and I keep my rates as low as possible to help as many people as I can.
Please do establish a relationship with a Naturopathic Physician, Functional Medicine Practitioner, or other medical provider who has the legal authority to diagnose and treat your condition even if that’s not me. Dr. Google doesn’t know your medical history, won’t answer your phone calls, and can’t help you find the right treatment for you. There are many, many, many ways to manage health and the internet is full of good, bad, and harmful information. Naturopathic Physicians like myself have gone through medical school with an emphasis on understanding how the body works, how things can go wrong, and how to manage this with diet, lifestyle, herbs, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and pharmaceuticals. We are also trained in how to appropriately monitor, diagnose, and test for disease. Add to that, those of us who are licensed also went through rigorous board exams and are regulated by our state licensing boards to ensure that we are practicing safely and continuing to educate ourselves. Your next door neighbor who sells products from a multi-level-marketing company doesn’t practice “just like a naturopath”. You would be amazed by the stories I have heard!
I have seen people harmed from supplements they have ordered online, essential oils used inappropriately, postponing the care they needed, and through extreme diets that depleted them of needed nutrients.
If you live in Oregon, and you would like to work with me, I welcome this. I’m currently seeing people via telemedicine from all over Oregon. Once the current health crisis has shifted and I can get back into the office, I look forward to seeing people in person and continuing to offer video appointments.
If you would like to schedule a visit, you can do so easily here:
To our health!
References:
Gaby, A, Nutritional Medicine. 2011 Fritz Perlberg Publishing
Marieb, E, Hoehn, K, Human Anatomy & Physiology: 9th Edition, 2013, Pearson Publishing
Stansbury, J, Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals: Volume 3 Endocrinology, 2018 Chelsea Green Publishing
Wentz, I, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, 2015 Wentz LLC