Thyroid Imbalance and What You Can Do
Are you experiencing weight gain, constipation, foggy thinking, hair loss, and/or frequently feeling tired or cold?
If so, you may have a thyroid imbalance…even if you have been told that everything is “normal”. If your gut is telling you something is off, then it is important to listen to it, and dig a little deeper.
As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter on the top 5 areas to check if your energy is low (click here if you missed it) , a full thyroid panel is the best way to get a full picture of how your thyroid is functioning.
This week I’m going to explain what constitutes a full thyroid panel, and why it is so helpful to check it.
-TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) - this hormone is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain in response to how much thyroid hormone is present in your blood. If your blood thyroid hormone level is high, then you will produce less TSH. If it is low, then the number will be higher in an attempt to stimulate more production. It’s like the thermostat for your body - if the temperature (thyroid hormone) is too low, it turns up the heat (TSH) and vice versa if it’s too high. This is often the only blood test that is checked by your medical doctor when you ask to have your thyroid checked.One important point to note: the “normal” lab range for TSH often goes up to 4.5 mU/L (or even 5 with some labs), but it should optimally be less than 2-2.5.
- T4 and T3 - T4 is produced by your thyroid gland (a small organ located in your neck). It then needs to be converted into the active hormone, T3. This conversion requires minerals like copper, iodine, selenium and zinc. So, if you are deficient in any of these, your level of T3 could be low, even if your TSH is normal. It’s a good idea to get your T4 and T3 levels checked, even if you are already on hypothyroid medication (Thyroxine or Eltroxin are common ones). The medications contains T4, but you still need those minerals to convert it to the active T3 hormone. I have seen many cases where thyroid function was low and the medication dose was increased, but it was actually due to deficient levels of these minerals.
- Thyroid Antibodies - antibodies are something your immune system produces to fight outside invaders like bacteria and viruses, but sometimes it can get confused and make antibodies against your own thyroid, specifically thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. If they are present, they can bind to the thyroid hormone receptors blocking the active T3 from being able to bind and do its job. It’s like the antibody key fits in the lock, but it can’t actually open the door. Depending on how many antibodies are present, TSH can appear normal or elevated, but the antibodies need to be reduced before the thyroid hormones can function optimally.
What Can Be Done Naturally to Help Boost Thyroid Function?
The good news is that there are lots of natural possibilities that can help optimize thyroid function. The best approach depends on what the blood work reveals and the specific symptoms you are experiencing. For example…
· If T4 is normal, but T3 is low or low normal, then it is helpful to look at zinc, selenium, iodine and/or copper levels. If needed, they can be increased with diet (i.e Brazil nuts to boost selenium, or pumpkin seeds to get more zinc) or by taking them as a supplement.
· If TSH is high, no antibodies are present and T4 and T3 are low, then I will look to herbal options like Rosemary or Iris Versicolor that can stimulate overall thyroid function. I am also able to prescribe Desiccated Thyroid Hormone, which can be very helpful. Stress can be a big factor in slowing down thyroid function, so I may consider herbs like astragalus or rhodiola or ashwagandha, check sleep habits and discuss lifestyle factors that can help the adrenals.
· If thyroid antibodies are high, they can be reduced by eliminating food sensitivities (blood testing can determine if these are present), and addressing digestive tract health (that is where most of your immune system is located, and an imbalance here can cause your body to start making thyroid antibodies). Stress can also be a factor here.
In addition to checking bloodwork, I always take a careful history to make sure I have a comprehensive understanding of what’s going on. Symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that something is out of balance. By figuring out what the root imbalance is and addressing it, many symptoms will clear up or improve.