Thyroid: causes, links & foods
Hey Muse,
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the front of the neck, in the center of the throat, in front of the larynx and trachea. It is formed by two lateral lobes connected by a thin isthmus and has the task of producing thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), iodine-based compounds, based on the input sent by the thyrotropic hormone (TSH). produced by the pituitary gland, in addition to calcitonin which is a hormone produced by the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid, which takes part in the metabolism of calcium.
The synthesis and secretion of these substances, in turn, is regulated by two glands located in the brain, the hypothalamus (TRH hormones) and the pituitary gland (THS hormones). This complex interconnection mechanism reveals the importance of the thyroid gland, as precious as it is multipurpose gland. The thyroid has many tasks: in addition to governing the metabolism, it controls the activity of the heart, affects nervous excitability, stimulates skeletal growth, sexual maturation and psychic development. It follows that his ailments can have serious repercussions on physical health.
Thyroid hormones have a specific action on the nervous system, just as emotional reactions (tension and anxious states) affect the alteration of hormonal secretion. The location of the thyroid near the throat refers to those aspects of consciousness that refer to "expressing" and "receiving"; this latter theme, very broad and complex, encompasses both material things and assimilated affectivity.
The people who struggle with these issues are mostly women, although men are also affected.
It is important to understand that when it comes to thyroid disease, one cannot think of this organ as independent of the rest and treat only that. So much so that people who suffer from hypothyroidism notice it because they are always tired, fatigued and gain weight even if they do not eat much and do not abuse food.
If we do not correct all the mechanisms that lead to the proper functioning of the thyroid, we will hardly be able to improve.
ANALYSIS
What to check with thyroid blood tests?
TSH, FT3, FT4 and antibodies.
The hormone that makes us feel good, vital, fit, strong is the free fraction of T3 therefore FT3.
FT3 is produced starting from T4 and this conversion occurs mainly in the liver.
This means that if we indulge in excess food, alcohol abuse or have liver steatosis, perhaps in the face of a healthy thyroid, we may have a slower metabolism because the hormone is converted less. Or we may have less optimal thyroid function due to external factors.
Diagnosis
To diagnose one of the pathologies of the thyroid, a simple blood test is used that doses the hormone produced to regulate it, the THS. This hormone will show up as high as the thyroid gland works poorly, and low levels when the thyroid gland works so badly. In the first case we speak of hypothyroidism. Furthermore, through blood tests, it is also possible to dose thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine, whose levels will be low in case of hypothyroidism, while they will rise in hyperthyroidism.
Finally, if you suspect the presence of nodules, you can resort to an ultrasound that helps in the diagnosis.
INTESTINE AND LIVER
But there is one important thing that many do not say: autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, like all autoimmune diseases, has to do with the intestine and with the health of the intestinal wall and microbiota, i.e. the bacteria that they live in our intestines.
In reality, our second brain resides in the intestine, which influences our thoughts and our immune system because it is precisely in the intestine that there is 80% of our immune system. So let's treat it with respect and remember that what we introduce makes a difference on how we react from a metabolic point of view.
When an intestinal dysbiosis is triggered, when there is a permeability of the intestine, the immune system is activated to defend us against substances, viruses, bacteria or molecules that come with food and that have similarities with our glands, in the cases with the thyroid. Hence, our immune system activates against these substances and in parallel also attacks the thyroid.
While once there was only talk of "secondary thyroiditis" due, for example, to the abuse of algae mud or iodine deficiency, in reality it has been seen that autoimmune disease can start from the intestine. Therefore, it is essential to keep it under control, checking if there is intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal permeability.
When it comes to thyroid, you can't solve the problem just by taking one tablet. The tablet mainly affects the perception of how you feel. If you are in marked hypothyroidism, hormone replacement therapy is definitely what you need to get out of drowsiness, tiredness, weight that has stopped, but in the meantime you must go in search of the causes that caused thyroiditis. The microbiota examination of the stool is important and tells us a lot about the microbial and fungal intestinal population. For intestinal permeability, take the methane hydrogen test.
Doing only replacement therapy does not make a difference: drowsiness, tiredness, water retention remains and this happens if nobody teaches you how to eat and how to correct intestinal dysfunction and, above all, if nobody teaches you that endocrine disruptors are destroying us not only the thyroid but also our metabolism. Use glass containers to store food. Learn to manage stress with techniques will make you metabolize the turbo, learn to breathe to relax.
There are many habits that can be used to counter and control the harmful effects of stress. Stress keeps cortisol high, which is the stress hormone and makes us gain weight, accumulate fat on the abdomen, chest, around the neck, on the back. It slows down our metabolism and blocks the conversion of T4 to T3 by promoting the formation of Reverse T3: our brake on metabolism. Instead we have to lift our foot off the brake and push it on the accelerator pedal!
Women who take hormonal therapy perhaps as a contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy in menopause can tend to hypothyroidism. Also in this case it is necessary to make an adequate integration to make sure that the microbiota works regularly.
Another organ not to forget is the liver.
In fact, it can work with more effort if there is liver steatosis, that is, you have a fatty liver, making our thyroid hormones less available and free.
INTERFERING
Endocrine disruptors
Other factors to consider are endocrine disruptors such as plastic.
Plastic hurts. In fact, it releases toxic substances for our body: phthalates and bisphenol. These toxic agents bind to hormone receptors by altering the metabolism. Thus, they can slow down the thyroid function and worsen insulin resistance.
Unfortunately, these substances are also present in plastic bottles and pacifiers, exposing our children to intoxication from infants.
It is also necessary to eliminate some foods that "mimic" the thyroid cells, confusing the immune system. Which ones are they? Gluten, dairy, milk proteins in general, endocrine disruptors.
When we come into contact with these substances, especially if we have intestinal permeability, our immune system activates because it defends us against them but at the same time also attacks the thyroid (thyroiditis). So it is not enough to do replacement therapy for thyroid function to improve the situation, but it is important to always look at the picture at 360 °.
Another good practice is to analyze tap water (kit in a pharmacy) which, if highly chlorinated, destroys our intestinal flora instead of keeping it healthy. Add filters to the tap or use filter jugs with no bisphenols.
The goal of all these precautions is to keep the thyroid gland healthy while keeping the intestine healthy, avoiding all those substances that alter its balance (excess gluten, refined starchy foods, sugar and dairy products).
NUTRITION
Useful foods
In addition, to promote thyroid metabolism and therefore the production of hormones, we can integrate our oily fruit to our diet, in particular pistachios that contain tyrosine which is the hormone precursor of thyroid hormones, especially for women of childbearing age if the flow is very abundant.
Another factor to check are the iron stocks, which we need to produce the right dose of thyroid hormones.
Let's remember omega 3, of vegetable or animal origin, because they are anti-inflammatory fats, therefore in the face of an auto immune disease, which is supported by chronic inflammation, it is important to use foods that are anti-inflammatory as well as limiting simple sugars, including sugar cane.
Iodine is the key factor in restoring the function of the thyroid gland. This is true in general, however, because the disorder recognizes different causes of origin and therefore the response to oral iodine supplementation may be different. Seaweed is a very valuable source of iodine.
Also selenium deficiency has been studied can significantly affect the well-being of the thyroid gland. Selenium is a formidable antioxidant contained in peanuts, beans, lentils, pistachios and Brazilian nuts. Just eat 2 Brazil nuts a day to get the correct amount for the thyroid to work.
Recall that the frequency of the meal and the distance between one meal and another greatly influences the activity of the thyroid gland, this because during fasting the sensitivity of the tissues towards the thyroid hormones decreases.
NO food in case of hypothyroidism and thyroiditis
Limit dairy products to the maximum, try to limit gluten (bread, pasta, biscuits, baked goods).
This does not mean that they will no longer be able to eat, but we must reset to allow the intestinal barrier to repair itself. It is a process that can take 2-3-4 weeks or 2-3 months depending on the initial conditions. Try to include other cereals that are low in gluten and opt for unrefined foods.
Soak the cereals and legumes to activate them. Cereals are covered with phytates that are antinutrients that prevent us from absorbing precisely those minerals and vitamins that we need to make the thyroid function properly. Soaking also rice, buckwheat, quinoa before cooking it.
HERBS
Natural medicine aims to recover thyroid function by working on three aspects: detoxification of the organism and reduction of the general inflammatory state, correction of the food style and "green" remedies to gently rebalance the activity of the gland, correction of the psycho-emotional states that alter the body's endocrine harmony.
Gentian (Gentiana lutea) and Birch (Betula pubescens) for detoxifying and anti-inflammation.
Detoxifying and flaming the tissues is the first step in recovering a healthy humoral environment, an essential requirement for the immune system to function properly. Among the detoxifying remedies the most powerful is the gentian root, which in addition to stimulating pancreatic and hepatic activity, purifies the blood of all toxins. It is used in association with birch, a powerful anti-inflammatory and cell-draining agent.
Dosage: Betula pubescens glycerine macerate, 50 drops in a little water the morning before breakfast. Take for no more than 15 consecutive days.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) Considered in precious antiquity as gold for its antiseptic and analgesic power, myrrh is a vegetable resin rich in etheric, gum resins and sesquiterpenes oils with disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties, which can be recognized for its ability to stimulate thyroid activity in a gentler and safer way than iodine plants. The disinfectant properties make it particularly useful in viral thyroiditis.
Dosage: Myrrh mother tincture, 20 drops diluted in a little water 2 times a day.
Coleus (Coleus forskholii) Numerous studies have shown that forkolina, the active ingredient contained in this plant of the Ayurvedic tradition, plays an important role in modulating thyroid metabolism thanks to its ability to increase the production of thyroid hormones and stimulate their release. Antidepressant, myo-relaxing and anti-inflammatory, coleus is also able to increase the lipolysis of the fat stored in the tissues due to the metabolic slowdown. Dosage: Dry extract of Coleus Forkolii titrated to 10% in Forkolin, 100mg twice a day. N.B. Do not exceed the recommended doses, do not use in pregnancy.
It is assumed that thyroid disorders vary greatly depending on the case, one must understand the origin of the dysfunction, have the opinion of an endocrinologist and possibly support it with that of a nutritionist, to discuss the supplements with both specialists.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The thyroid is very receptive to the effect of acupuncture, as it is a very superficial gland rich in vessels and nerve endings. Chinese acupuncture has so far given excellent results in cases of medium-sized hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, on thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. On average 3-5 sessions are needed for hyperthyroidism and 5-7 for hypothyroidism. Chinese medicinal mushrooms are also helpful in relieving the symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Homeopathic remedies
Treatment with thyroidism homeopathy is very much linked to the stage of dysfunction and its genesis. In many conditions of subclinical hypothyroidism, a good homeopathic therapy can certainly be able to support the functional recovery of the thyroid, avoiding further aggravations that result in a manifest hypothyroidism.
Exercise
I urge you to stay away from using thyroid hormones in sports. These are taken precisely for the purpose of increasing body metabolism, consequently reducing excess fat reserves. Many weight loss medicines are also based on thyroid hormone precursors.
Taking precursors from the outside reduces the stimulus for endogenous production with the risk of encountering, once the intake is suspended, hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction or chronic hypothyroidism (in case of prolonged administration).
Important
Too extreme diets and unmanaged chronic stress increase a hormone - which always has to do with the thyroid - called Reverse T3: the metabolism brake.
While the T3 turns us on and increases the energy expenditure, makes us shiny, healthy, quick and dry, the Reverse T3 does the opposite: it blocks us and makes us feel tired. So, stress, lack of sleep, overprivileged diets, “DIY” diets, which do not have the right amount of protein at the right time and which are low in complex carbohydrates, stress us and increase the Reverse T3. Also, cortisone therapy increases Reverse T3, inflammations, excess estrogen.
It is essential to pay attention to water retention. If you suffer from water retention it could be due to a thyroid problem, there may be subclinical hypothyroidism or a lymphatic component for which specific tests must be done.
Always consult your doctor before starting a DIY therapy, and if you have any doubts, write to me in order to set up a nutrition consultation.
In the next blog posts, I will talk about hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto, their psychosomatic interpretations (which have opened up a world for me to deepen on the connection between psyche and physical body).
Let me know what you think.
Much Love,
Manuela