Thyroid Dysfunction- the Unsuspected Illness
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is part of the body’s hormonal system. Since it determines how fast your body burns calories to create energy, it affects every organ and system in the body. Depending on how well it is functioning, everything slows down, speeds up, or works just right.
What causes thyroid dysfunction?
Like many conditions, it comes from nutritional deficiency, in this case a deficiency of either iodine or tyrosine, an amino acid.
How does the thyroid work?
It produces the thyroid hormone (T4) in response to a hormone produced in the pituitary gland. This is converted into the active form of the hormone (T3) primarily in the liver so liver function is essential to proper thyroid functioning.
When all cells are functioning properly, the pituitary gland gets a signal saying “stop making thyroid hormone” and this regulates the thyroid.
Too much or too little?
Either too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause problems. Most commonly, thyroid functioning is too low, either on a pathological level that requires hormones, or on a functional level where all the symptoms are there but it doesn’t show up on a blood test.
Symptoms of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism)
- Extreme tiredness or sluggishness
- Low heart rate and blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to cold
- Inability to focus and concentrate
- Depression
- Losing or thinning of hair
- Menstrual problems
- Low sex drive
Symptoms of high thyroid function (hyperthyroidism)
- Fatigue due to insomnia caused by thyroid running so high you can’t sleep well
- Heart palpitations
- Thin skin
- Increased appetite
- Unable to gain weight
- Fine, brittle hair
- Nervousness
- Panic attacks
How do you determine thyroid dysfunction?
A standard blood test determines if there are antibodies to the thyroid.
Standard applied kinesiology testing and an old test using the Achilles tendon reflex are both very effective. However, the best way is to measure your resting temperature (basal temperature) in the morning before you sit up in bed. If it’s below 97.8, your thyroid is low: above 98.2 and the function is high.
How do you treat a dysfunctional thyroid?
Sometimes medication may be necessary.
However most of the time, the thyroid doesn’t have the raw materials it needs – iodine and tyrosine
Supplementation helps with iodine deficiency.
A tyrosine deficiency means your body is low in protein: either you’re not eating enough or your body is not absorbing it properly. In this case we deal with protein digestion and absorption.
Final thoughts
A blood test can tell us if we need more medical intervention but is not sensitive enough to identify the level of dysfunction that can be dealt with by nutrition.
For a more detailed discussion of the points mentioned above, click here to listen to our podcast.
Dr. Brown
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