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Imagine a conductor standing in front of a symphony orchestra with
hundreds of musicians. The melodious strains of music from each instrument blend
together in perfect unison or shine individual in solo. With just a wave of the baton, the conductor
instructs this violin or that trombone to join in or fade out, speed up or slow down, pacing the
tempo with exact precision. Without the baton, the body of musicians would lack cue and timing.
Your thyroid is a lot like that baton, releasing hormones that set the momentum and the rhythm
in every cell in your body.
This is the third in the series on thyroid. In brief review, the thyroid gland is the tiniest gland in the endocrine system. Its primary function is the conversion of food to energy via its two hormones, tetraiodothyronine or thyroxine (T4) and triodothyronine (T3). A sign of low function may be a goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland, located just under your Adam’s apple. Or you may show symptoms of endless fatigue, weight gain, brain “fog”, puffiness in the face, depression, dry skin and hair and intolerance to cold. Just as the baton doesn’t affect one musician but the whole orchestra, a thyroid malfunction doesn’t affect just one body part. When the thyroid slows down, so does your whole body.
As with everything else, when new research emerges, medical opinion changes based on the new data. Such is true with thyroid testing. The upper limit of the TSH value has been lowered, making the diagnosis of hypothyroidism more common than before. As more Americans suffer this disorder—more than 11 million people are hypothyroid; another 8 million have it but are undiagnosed—the problem becomes big enough to warrant attention. Some doctors feel the upper limit of the TSH value is still too high, leaving many with sluggish metabolism in a state of compromised health. As the debate goes on about what a “normal” TSH is, those “on the line” are wondering what to do to feel better. This article will help you decide which factors you can change, which you should maintain and if you’re on medication, how that affects the body’s symphony as well.
The thyroid is a dynamic gland that is constantly in action, affecting blood cells and systems. Lifestyle choices affect how efficiently this little gland operates. Food, drugs and nutrients either enhance or interfere with thyroid function. The liver and kidneys help to process thyroid hormones, so a compromise of either or both may affect function as well. It would be impossible to list all of the ways the thyroid could malfunction, but here are some of the most common. These factors influence the thyroid by interfering at any one of the stages of hormone production, transport via the bloodstream, and cell entry Water. A basic for life, you should drink 8-10 glasses a day. The
majority of drinking water contains fluoride, chlorine or bromide. If you habitually swim in a chlorinated pool, use cleansers with bleach and even brush with fluoride toothpaste, these chemicals slow Low Thyroid.
Radiation. There is also evidence that radiation can
cause hypothyroidism, as in what happened following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. A dose of radiation is Food. Certain foods that contain chemicals which may often a treatment to slow hyperthyroidism but if too much is
suppress thyroid activity and cause goiters (goitrogenic) if given, the thyroid may become hypothyroid. Although low eaten in large quantities raw are the cruciferous veggies: levels, the use of cell phones, televisions, computer screens broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, mustard greens, and irradiated foods can expose you to an accumulated dose radishes, spinach, turnips, and nuts such as peanuts, pine of radiation, which may cause free radical damage to the nuts and walnuts. Soy, by its slight estrogenic effect, may also affect the thyroid by blocking the formation of iodine and L-tyrosine (see Hormones). Limiting yourself to no more Whether you’re on replacement or believe you have low than a 4 oz serving of food or 8 oz soy milk is suggested. thyroid (despite a “normal” test), you may not feel “like Cooking the veggies and soy reduces the goitrogenic effect. yourself”. Try avoiding or reducing the items above for 3-5 weeks that slow down or interfere with optimal function. Calcium, Iron, Iodine. Whether in food or supplements, Keep a journal and monitor how you feel drinking distilled
calcium and iron can block T4 absorption. Although you water, changing to nonchlorine cleansers and skipping the need iodine to make thyroid hormones, believe it or not, daily dip in the pool or hot tub. If you notice a difference, too much can slow it down. Iodized table salt is a problem. you may want to adopt those habits into your daily living.
A better, more natural choice is sea salt. To avoid conflicts, take thyroid meds one half hour before eating in the morning.
“Legal” Drugs. Many people look for
energy in “legal” drugs: Alcohol, caffeine, to the adrenals, but then let you “down” again. Nicotine especially impairs T4 to T3 conversion. Even if you did not have a sluggish thyroid, you’d feel better without is not effective in lowering the TSH value, which may indicate a problem Medications. The list of medications is
a long one. How they affect your thyroid will depend on if you are on replacement or not. Some drugs affect the production of drugs in one way or another affect the thyroid: certain diuretics, sulfa drugs, steroids, salicylates, heart rhythm synthetic Thyrolar. Finally, there’s natural Armour Thyroid, a drugs, cholesterol lowering and diabetic agents, estrogens, desiccated porcine thyroid and a blend of T4/T3 that many morphines, ulcer meds, and psychoactives. It’s important to feel best taking. Like the individual musicians, a finely tuned coordinate all medication use with your physician if you take instrument is the key to perfect harmony.
more than one medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is any likelihood of an interaction.
Have regular checkups. At any time that your medication brand or dose is changed, you should check to see if the Other Hormones. When you’re stressed—whether the change shows up in your blood by having a repeat TSH, free
source is physical, mental or emotional—the adrenal glands T3 or free T4 blood test. It can often take up to 12 weeks overproduce cortisol, the hormone that puts your body into to see results but should symptoms worsen before then, a fight or flight mode. Two things can happen. The excess notify your doctor. Once you find a dose that suits you and cortisol 1) interferes with the conversion of T4 into T3, the tests are stable, a yearly check is recommended as long as active thyroid hormone and 2) raises insulin levels, which you’re feeling good. Anytime you have sustained stress, enter may lead to insulin resistance, weight gain and diabetes. An menopause or become pregnant, or develop a new health imbalance of estrogen and progesterone also affects weight. problem like high cholesterol or diabetes, your thyroid may Estrogen dominance causes calories to turn to fat. If your need to be checked as these changes may affect (or be thyroid is working, it converts the fat to calories. A topical progesterone cream may help the body utilize the estrogen, thus offsetting the fat storage. Valerian Rest™ and 5-HTP help you fight the associated Low Thyroid.
sleep disruption, as well as in reducing achiness in muscles and in uplifting mood swings. Adrenal support can be enhanced with the herbs Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) and Astralgus, as well as DMG (B15). Another herb, Aswagandha By now you’ve learned how not to drop your baton. Besides has been shown to favorably affect T4, T3. And don’t forget lifestyle choices, your nutritional status plays a role in progesterone cream for balancing estrogen.
supporting a healthy thyroid. A good multiple will provide many of these nutrients. Your diet may supply the rest. Now Finally, a word about osteoporosis and thyroid replacement. let’s look at the supporting band members. Previous medical opinion suggested that too much T4 caused bone loss, resulting in an increased risk of fractures L-tyrosine is an amino acid that combines with iodine to and potentially developing osteoporosis. Newer data does form the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. A suggested dose not confirm this opinion. Not treating an underactive thyroid is 500 mg once or twice daily on an empty stomach, can result in osteoporosis, however. For your peace of mind, taken with juice or water; remember not to take it with have a bone density test (DEXA), make sure you take a milk! Another option is to take a mixed amino powder, 2:1 calcium to magnesium complex and try to get weight which includes glutamine (500 mg), and add it to a healthy morning shake. Nutrients that enhance L-tyrosine absorption are B6 (50 mg) and vitamin C (100 mg), B-12 (1000 mg daily minimum, 3,000 maximum in I’m glad you stuck with me to get this divided doses), and a B-complex. Although beta carotene helps make thyroid, it takes T3 to convert it to usable vitamin A. If you have excessively symphony. I strongly suggest that you pick up one of the books below. Make notes in want to discuss with your physician since they are all written by doctors well versed in thyroid dysfunction. Whether you’re dealing with suboptimal thyroid function or diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, it may take practice Flaxseed oil is another nutrient for optimal (and more practice) with the baton. Whenever a new factor (musician) gets thrown onto the stage, you may need to re-tune again. Before you know Other immune builders are vitamins C (500 it, you’ll be enjoying the harmony of the “music” your mg with bioflavonoids up to four times a day) and E (400 IU), selenium (up to 400 mcg) and zinc (50 mg). Two critical minerals for the thyroid include Resources
magnesium and manganese. Without any of these minerals, 1. Goldberg, B. Alternative Medical Guide to Chronic Fatigue, T4 to T3 conversion will not happen. Again a good multiple Fibromyalgia and Environmental Illness. Future Medicine 2. Rothfeld, G & Romaine, D. Thyroid Balance. Adams Media, 2003.
Low thyroid function has been linked to high cholesterol, 3. Shames, R & Shames, K. Thyroid Power, 10 Steps to Total since thyroid hormone is needed to convert fat to energy. Health. Quill Publishing, 2001/2002.
Oxidative stress to blood vessels compounds the problem. 4. Siegal, S. Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat? Warner Books, 2000.
CoQ10, found abundantly in the heart, provides both energy and antioxidant protection. Alpha lipoic acid is another 2004-2011 TyH Publications (M. Squires) antioxidant that supports the liver, which can thus do its job in breaking down cholesterol and regenerating CoQ10. Published in Health Points. This article is protected by Again, orchestration, one organ helping another! copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission. For information on a subscription, please call One point to consider, especially for those with fibromyalgia TyH Publications, 1-800-801-1406 or write TyH Publications, and chronic fatigue, is the role of stress and its effect on the 12005 N. Saguaro Blvd., Ste. 102, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. hypothalamus. Under duress, the hypothalamus shuts down E-mail editor@e-tyh.com. For information on TyH products, defensively, resulting in low thyroid hormone production and symptoms of low metabolism. It may be the mitochondrial dysfunction that causes the hypothalamus suppression. Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not intended to CoQ10 provides support for the mitochondria.
diagnose, cure or treat any disorders, or replace professional medical counsel.

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