Thyroid disease can lead to heart disease,
infertility, muscle weakness, osteoporosis and, in extreme cases, coma or
death, if left untreated. Some experts say between 10 and 40 percent of
Americans have suboptimal thyroid function, half of which with hypothyroidism
(producing less than adequate thyroid hormone) are never even diagnosed. Those
who are, more often than not, are inadequately treated, resulting in partial
recovery at best. Many of these folks may actually have nothing wrong with
their thyroid gland at all – they may just be iodine deficient. Hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid) affects roughly 80 percent of people with thyroid
disease.
Indicators of a thyroid problem
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Chronic fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
- Menopausal symptoms
- Muscle and joint pains
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Autoimmune diseases
Classic signs and well known symptoms of a
sluggish thyroid gland
- Weight gain
- Lethargy
- Poor quality hair and nails
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Cold hands and feet
- Constipation
Conditions not commonly associated with poor
thyroid function
- High cholesterol
- Irregular menstruation
- Low libido
- Infertility
- Gum disease
- Fluid retention
- Skin conditions such as acne and exzema
- Memory problems
- Poor stamina
There are, in fact, many more conditions that
can be associated with poor thyroid function. Your thyroid plays a part in
nearly every physiological process. When it is out of balance, so are you. It
is for this reason that it is so important to have a basic understanding of how
your thyroid gland works and what can cause it to run amok.
Thyroid problems have become quite common
because the same lifestyle factors that are contributing to high rates of
obesity, cancer and diabetes are wreaking havoc on your thyroid. Some of these
factors are:
- Sugar
- Processed foods
- Stress
- Environmental toxins
- Lack of exercise
How your thyroid works
First off, the thyroid gland is a small
butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck and is part of your endocrine,
or hormonal, system. It is responsible for producing the master metabolism
hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in your body.
Thyroid hormones interact with all your other hormones including insulin,
cortisol, and sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
The fact that these hormones are all tied
together and in constant communication explains why an unhappy thyroid is
associated with so many widespread symptoms and diseases.
The thyroid gland produces two major thyroid
hormones: T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). These hormones help oxygen
get into cells, and make your thyroid the master gland of metabolism. About 90%
of the hormone produced by the gland is in the form of T4, which is the
inactive form. The liver then converts T4 into T3, the active form with the
help of an enzyme.
The thyroid also produces T2, which is
currently the least understood component of thyroid function and the subject of
much ongoing study.
The thyroid hormones work in a feedback loop
with your brain – particularly your pituitary and hypothalamus – in regulating
the release of thyroid hormone. The pituitary makes thyroid releasing hormone
(TRH), and your hypothalamus makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). If
everything is working properly, you will make what you need and you’ll have the
proper amounts of T3 and T4.
T3 and T4 are what control the metabolism of
every cell in your body. Their delicate balance can be disrupted by nutritional
imbalances, toxins, allergens, infections and stress.
If T3 is inadequate, either by insufficient
production or just not converting properly from T4, your whole system suffers.
T3 is critically important because it tells the
nucleus of your cells to send messages to your DNA to crank up your metabolism
by burning fat. That is why T3 lowers cholesterol levels, regrows hair, and
helps keep you lean.
How to know if you are hypothyroid
Identifying hypothyroidism and its cause is
difficult because many of the symptoms overlap with other disorders, and many
are vague. Physicians often miss a thyroid problem since they rely on just a
few traditional tests, so other clues to the problem go undetected.
However, you can provide your own clues to help
your physician in determining if there is a problem with your thyroid function.
The more vigilant you can be in assessing your
own symptoms and risk factors and presenting the complete picture to your
physician in an organized way, the easier it will be for your physician to help
you.
Your body will let you know if your thyroid is
not working properly as fatigue is the most common sign, followed by depression
and muscle weakness.
People with hypothyroidism sometimes have
significant fatigue or sluggishness, especially in the morning. You may have
hoarseness for no apparent reason. People with hypothyroidism are often slow to
warm up, even in saunas, and do not sweat with mild exercise. Low mood and
depression are also common.
Sluggish bowels and constipation are major
clues as well, especially if you are drinking enough water and getting enough
fiber.
If your upper outer third of your eyebrows are
thin or missing, this can indicate low thyroid. Chronic recurrent infections
are also seen because thyroid function is important for your immune system.
Another telltale sign of hypothyroidism is a
low basal body temperature (BBT), less than 97.6 degrees Farenheit averaged
over a minimum of 3 days. A BBT thermometer is best to assess this.
Some other common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
1. Forgetfulness
2. Changes in weight and appetite
3. Sluggish and tired
4. Difficulty losing weight despite proper
diet and exercise
5. Dry, rough, scaly skin
6. Dry, tangled hair
7. Hair loss, particularly from the outer
part of your eyebrows
8. Brittle nails
9. Cold sensitivity
10. Cannot sustain energy long enough,
especially when compared to a past level of fitness or ability
11. If thyroid foundation is weak,
sustaining energy output is difficult and will notice you don’t have the energy
to do things you used to be able to do
12. Feeling like you don’t have the energy
to exercise
13. Heavy or tired head, especially in the
afternoon, as your head is a very sensitive indicator of thyroid hormone status
14. Falling asleep as soon as you sit down
and don’t have to do anything
If you wake up energized, maintain decent
energy throughout the day, are able to maintain alertness/sharpness, you have
energy as needed to meet demands, and your muscles feel fit, you do not have
thyroid-related fatigue. The more you don’t feel like this, the greater chance
there is a thyroid-related problem
Family history could provide clues as well.
Some family history that may suggest you could have a higher risk for
hypothyroidism include:
- High or low thyroid function
- Goiter
- Prematurely gray hair
- Left-handedness
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid
arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s)
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Elevated cholesterol levels
Now that there is an understanding of the
importance of your thyroid and how it works, let’s take a look at the factors
that can readily cause problems with your thyroid gland.
Diet
Your lifestyle choices dictate, to a great
degree, how well your thyroid will function.
Eliminating junk food, processed food,
artificial sweeteners, trans fats, and anything with chemical ingredients is a
start. Choosing to eat only whole, unprocessed foods, and as many organics as
possible is the next step.
Gluten
Gluten and other food sensitivities are among
the most common causes of thyroid dysfunction because they cause inflammation.
Gluten causes autoimmune responses in many
people and can be responsible for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common autoimmune
thyroid condition. Approximately 30 percent of people with Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis have an autoimmune reaction to gluten, and is usually unrecognized.
How this works is, gluten can cause your
gastrointestinal system to malfunction, so foods you eat aren’t completely
digested (aka Leaky Gut Syndrome). These food particles can then be absorbed
into your bloodstream where your body misidentifies them as antigens –
substances that shouldn’t be there – our body then produces antibodies against
them.
These antigens are similar to molecules in your
thyroid gland. So your body accidentally attacks your thyroid. This is known as
an autoimmune reaction or one in which your body actually attacks itself.
Testing which involves measuring your IgG and
IgA antibodies for gluten and other food sensitivities can be done.
Soy
Another major contributor to thyroid
dysfunction is unfermented soy. Soy isoflavones can wreak havoc on your
thyroid. Soy in NOT the health food the agricultural and food companies would
have you believe.
Soy is high in isoflavones (or goitrogens),
which are damaging to your thyroid gland. Thousands of studies now link soy
foods to malnutrition, digestive stress, immune system weakness, cognitive
decline, reproductive disorders, infertility, cancer, heart disease and a host
of other problems – in addition to damaging your thyroid.
However, properly fermented organic soy
products such as natto, miso, and tempeh are fine – it’s the unfermented soy
products that you should stay away from.
Coconut oil
One of the best foods you can eat for your
thyroid is coconut oil. Coconut oil is a saturated fat comprised of medium
chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are known to increase metabolism and promote
weight loss.
Coconut oil is very stable (3 to 5 years shelf
life at room temperature), so your body is much less burdened with oxidative
stress than it is from many other vegetable oils. Coconut oil also does not
interfere with the conversion of T4 to T3 like other oils can.
Iodine
Iodine is a key component of thyroid hormone.
In fact, the names of the different forms of thyroid hormone reflect the number
of iodine molecules attached – T4 has four attached iodine molecules, and T3
has three – showing what an important part iodine plays in thyroid
biochemistry.
Iodine deficiency is one of the three most
common nutritional deficiencies, along with magnesium and vitamin D.
Because iodine is so important with thyroid
function, hypothyroidism can be a direct result of insufficient iodine levels.
This means that a thyroid problem could
actually be an iodine deficiency problem.
If you aren’t getting enough iodine in your
diet, and most North Americans don’t, no matter how healthy your thyroid gland
is, it won’t have the raw materials to make enough thyroid hormone.
Iodine has four important functions in your
body:
1. Stabilization of metabolism
2. Brain development in children
3. Fertility
4. Optimization of your immune system
(iodine is a potent anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral and anti-cancer
agent)
While iodine levels have fallen, there have
been simultaneous increases in rates of thyroid disease, breast cancer,
fibrocystic breast disease, prostate cancer, and obesity in North American
adults, and an increase in mental retardation and developmental delays in North
American children.
On a side note, it’s important to mention why
iodine levels are dropping.
In the 1980’s the baking industry replaced
iodine-based anti-caking agents with bromine-based agents.
In addition to iodine’s disappearance from our
supply, exposure to toxic competing halogens (bromine, fluorine, chlorine and
perchlorate) has dramatically increased.
Chlorine, fluorine and bromine are also
culprits in thyroid function, and since they are halides like iodine, they
compete for your iodine receptors.
You absorb these halogens through your food,
water, medications and environment, and they selectively occupy your iodine
receptors, further deepening your iodine deficit.
If you are exposed to a lot of bromine, you
will not hold on to the iodine you need. Bromine is present in many places in
your everyday world – plastics, pesticides, hot tub treatments, fire
retardants, some flours and bakery goods, and even some soft drinks.
Fluoridation of water is a major contributor to
iodine deficiency, besides being very damaging to your health in many other
ways.
Make sure the water you drink is filtered.
Fluoride is particularly damaging to your thyroid gland. Not all water filters
remove fluoride, so make sure the one you have does.
Additional factors contributing to falling
iodine levels are:
1. Diets low in fish, shellfish and
seaweed
2. Vegan and vegetarian diets
3. Decreased use of iodized salt
4. Less use of iodide in the food and
agricultural industry
5. Use of radioactive iodine in many
medical procedures, which competes with natural iodine
The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect
A major reason why iodine fell out of favour is
the Wolff-Chaikoff Effect, which has been a disaster for public health.
There was an experiment done that resulted in a
case of hypothyroidism, which researchers misinterpreted as being caused by
excessive iodine intake. However, the individual was given intravenous
radioactive iodine – which is toxic. It had nothing to do with food or
supplement iodine intake, and the two are completely different.
Yet, tales of this experiment quickly spread,
creating a fear of iodine that caused it to be removed from the American food
supply for the last three decades.
Iodine deficiency is particularly profound in
the Midwest and Great Lakes region of the United States because iodine is
typically found only in soils close to the oceans, whereas soils of inland
areas are iodine deficient. In fact, that region used to be called the “goiter
belt” because of its extremely high incidence of people with goiters (swelling
of the thyroid gland).
Iodine and cancer risk
Iodine levels have dropped significantly due to
bromine exposure; declining consumption of iodized salt, eggs, fish, and sea
vegetables; and soil depletion. There was a 50 percent reduction in urinary
iodine excreted between 1970 and 1990 in the U.S.
The Japanese consume 89 times more iodine than
Americans due to daily consumption of sea vegetables, and they have reduced
rates of many chronic diseases, including the lowest rates of cancer in the
world.
RDA (recommended daily amount) for iodine in
the U.S. is a meagre 150 mcg/day, which pales in comparison with the average
daily intake of 13,800 mcg/day for the Japanese.
There is a large body of evidence suggesting
that the low cancer rates in Japan are a result of their substantially higher
iodine levels. Iodine has documented antioxidant and anti-proliferative
properties.
Strong case can be made that iodine RDA should
be closer to what the Japanese consume daily, if breast cancer rates are any
indication. Low iodine can lead to fibrocystic breast disease in women (density,
lumps and bumps), hyperplasia, and atypical mammary tissue. Such fibrocystic
changes in breast tissue have been shown to reverse in the presence of iodine
supplementation after 3-4 months.
Toxic halides
Iodine is a member of a class of related elements
called “halogens” that includes bromine, fluorine, and chlorine. When they are
chemically reduced, they become “halides”: iodide, bromide, fluoride, and
chloride. These are the forms you usually encounter in your foods, medications
and environment.
Iodide and chloride are beneficial in small
amounts, but bromide and fluoride are toxic. They grab onto your iodine
receptors, blocking the action of iodide and thyroid hormones, resulting in, or
at least contributing to many serious diseases.
Bromine and chlorine were the most common toxic
elements reportedly found in automobiles, according to the blog of David
Brownstein, MD. They showed up in seats, armrests, door trim, shift knobs and
other areas of the car. This is especially important considering most people
spend hours in their car daily with the windows up and no air circulation.
One of the main problems is that toxic halides
become stuck in your body.
There is no known detoxification pathway for
bromine and fluorine – your body simply cannot break them down. So, they build
up in your tissues and wreak havoc on your health.
Bromides
Bromides are a menace to your endocrine system
and are present all around you.
One clinical consequence of overexposure to
bromine is suppression of your thyroid, leading to hypothyroidism and another
is bromide toxicity.
Because bromide is also a halide, what makes it
so dangerous is it competes for the same receptors that are used in the thyroid
gland (among other places) to capture iodine. This will inhibit thyroid hormone
production resulting in a low thyroid state.
If you are exposed to a lot of bromide, your
body will not hold on to the iodine that it needs. Iodine affects every tissue
in your body, not just your thyroid.
The ban on bromides has not prevented them from
sneaking into our foods and personal care products.
Bromide can be found in several forms. Methyl
bromide is a pesticide used on mainly strawberries, found predominantly in the
California areas.
Bromide vegetable oil (BVO) is added to
citrus/soft drinks (including Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Sun Drop, Squirt, Fresca
and other citrus-flavoured sodas) to help suspend the flavouring in the liquid.
Mountain Dew uses brominated vegetable oil as
an emulsifier. It also contains high fructose corn syrup, sodium benzoate, over
55mg of caffeine per 12 ounce can, and yellow dye #5 (tartrazine, which has
been banned in Norway, Austria and Germany). This is literally a weapon of mass
destruction in a can!
Despite a ban on the use of potassium bromate
in flour by the World Health Organization, bromides can still be found in some
over-the-counter medications, foods, and personal care products.
Potassium bromate is a dough conditioner found
in commercial bakery products and some flours. The use of potassium bromate as
an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to
bromide overload in Western cultures. Nearly every time you eat bread in a
restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as
it is commonly used in flours.
Bromated flour is “enriched” with potassium
bromate. Commercial baking companies claim it makes the dough more elastic and
better able to stand up to bread hooks. Other successful companies managed to
use only unbromated flour without any of these so-called “structural problems”.
Potassium bromate is also found in some
toothpastes and mouthwashes, where it’s added as an antiseptic and astringent.
It has been found to cause bleeding and inflammation of gums in people using
these products
Sodium bromate can be found in products such as
permanent waves, hair dyes, and textile dyes.
Benzylkonium is used as a preservative in some
cosmetics. Even trace amounts of bromine can trigger severe acne in sensitive
individuals. Who would want a skin care product that causes acne?
Bromine is also found in fire retardants used
in carpets, mattresses, upholstery, and furniture and some medical equipment,
plastics, like those used to make computers, and medications such as Atrovent
Inhaler, Atrovent Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine (for ulcers), and anesthesia
agents.
Bromine-based hot tub and swimming pool
treatments are common.
Even drinking water can be a source of bromide.
When drinking water containing bromide is exposed to ozone, bromated ions are
formed, which are powerful oxidizing agents. Such was the case in 2004 when
Coca Cola Company had to recall Dasani bottled water.
Based on animal research, bromides have been
linked to behavioural changes and neurodevelopmental disorders, including
Attention Deficit Disorders, in children.
The United States is quite behind in putting an
end to the egregious practice of allowing bromine chemicals in your food and
products whereas other nations have taken the bull by the horns:
1. The United Kingdom banned bromate in
bread in 1990
2. Canada in 1994
3. Brazil recently outlawed bromide in
flour products
4. The European Union has banned some PBDE
compounds (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
The reason it has yet to be banned in the
United States is because the dollar still takes precedence when it comes to
corporate America.
If you ingest bromide
When you ingest or absorb, it displaces iodine,
and this deficiency leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast,
thyroid gland, ovary and prostate – cancers that we see at an alarmingly high
rate today. This has become significant enough to have been given its own name
– “the bromide dominance theory”.
Bromide is toxic in and of itself. Bromide
builds up in your central nervous system and results in many problems. It’s a
central nervous system depressant and can trigger a number of psychological
symptoms such as acute paranoia and other psychotic symptoms
In addition to psychiatric problems, bromine
toxicity can manifest as the following:
1. Skin rashes and severe acne
2. Loss of appetite and abdominal pain
3. Fatigue
4. Metallic taste
5. Cardiac arrhythmias
Tips for avoiding bromine and optimizing iodine
levels
Trying to avoid bromine is like trying to avoid
air pollution – all you can do is minimize your exposure.
Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all
produce thoroughly. This will minimize your pesticide exposure.
Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food
and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels.
Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour.
Grind your own grain, if possible. Look for the “no bromine” or “bromine free”
label on commercial baked goods.
Avoid sodas. Drink natural, filtered water
instead.
Look into ozone purification system, if you own
a hot tub. Such systems make it possible to keep the water clean with minimal
chemical treatments.
Look for personal care products that are as
chemical free as possible. Remember – anything going on you, goes in you.
When in a car or a building, open windows as
often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross
ventilation. Utilize fans to circulate the air. Chemical pollutants are much
higher inside buildings (and cars) than outside.
Stress and adrenal function
Stress is one of the worst thyroid offenders.
Your thyroid is intimately tied to your adrenal function, which is intimately
affected by how you handle stress.
Many of us are under chronic stress, which
results in increased adrenalin and cortisol levels, and elevated cortisol has a
negative impact on thyroid function. Thyroid hormone levels drop during stress,
while you actually need more thyroid hormones during stressful times.
When stress becomes chronic, the flood of
stress chemicals (adrenalin and cortisol) produced by your adrenal glands
interferes with thyroid hormones and can contribute to obesity, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, unstable blood sugar, and more.
A prolonged stress can lead to adrenal
exhaustion (also known as adrenal fatigue), which is often found alongside
thyroid disease.
Environmental toxins place additional stress on
your body. Pollutants such as petrochemicals, organochlorines, pesticides and
chemical food additives negatively affect thyroid function.
One of the best destressors is exercise, which
is why it is so beneficial for your thyroid.
Exercise directly stimulates your thyroid gland
to secrete more thyroid hormone. Exercise also increases the sensitivity of all
your tissues to thyroid hormone. It is even thought that many of the health
benefits of exercise stem directly from improved thyroid function.
Even something as simple as a 30-minute walk is
a great form of exercise, and all you need is a good pair of walking shoes.
Don’t forget to add strength training to your exercise routine, because
increasing your muscle mass helps raise your metabolic rate.
Also make sure you are getting enough sleep.
Inadequate sleep contributes to stress and prevents your body from regenerating
fully.
Tips to treat a sluggish thyroid
Address and reduce stress, particularly
emotional stress. The vast majority of people’s thyroid glands become impaired
as a result of weak/stressed ADRENAL GLANDS. The thyroid gland tries to
compensate for this and eventually just gives up and stops working. There is
little likelihood of recovering your thyroid function without hormonal
replacement if the adrenals remain stressed.
Keeping your iodine levels optimal is
particularly important if you are a women that is contemplating pregnancy, or
are already pregnant Make sure you are taking seaweed or a prenatal vitamin
with the right amount and form of iodide, not iodine, to help protect your
baby.
Identify and treat the underlying cause (iodine
deficiency, hormone imbalance, environmental toxicity, inflammation).
Adjust your diet and understand the role of
nutrition (iodine, as well as tyrosine, selenium, vitamins A and D, zinc, B
vitamins, and omega-3 fats), food allergies, gluten intolerance, and foods that
contain goitrogens, such as soy, which interfere with the utilization of iodine.
Eat plenty of sea vegetables such as seaweed,
which are rich in minerals and iodine (hijiki, wakame, arame, dulse, nori, and
kombu). This is probably the most ideal form of iodine supplementation as it is
also loaded with many other beneficial nutrients.
Eat Brazil nuts, which are rich in selenium.
Get plenty of sunlight to optimize your vitamin
D levels; if you live where sunlight is limited, use vitamin D3
supplementation.
Eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as dandelion
greens, carrots, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, and sweet
potatoes.
Make sure you are eating enough omega-3 fatty
acids (fish oil).
Use pure, organic coconut oil in your cooking –
it’s great for stir fries and sautéing many different meats and vegetables.
Filter your drinking water and your bathing
water.
Filter your air, since it is one of the ways
you take in environmental pollutants.
Use an infrared sauna to help your body combat
infections and detoxify from petrochemicals, metals, PCBs, pesticides and
mercury.
Taking chlorella is another excellent
detoxification aid.
Many women suffering with hormonal imbalances
report significant benefits from the South American herb maca.
Make sure you’re getting enough selenium and
iodine, which provide the raw materials for thyroid gland to work better.
Get plenty of omega-3 fats from a high quality
source. A variety of studies and physiological principles suggest that 3-5
grams of omega-3’s a day would be helpful in restoring thyroid function.
Get sound sleep every night, in complete
darkness.
Take active steps to minimize your stress ...
relaxation, meditation, hot soaks, whatever works for you.
Exercise!!!!
Reduce your stress!!!!
The more you can rid your body of toxic
halides, the more iodine your body will be able to hang onto, and the better
your thyroid will function.
Tips to increase secretion of fluoride and
bromide
High-dose iodine
High-dose vitamin C
Unrefined sea salt
Epsom salt baths
Sweating in a far infrared sauna
Thyroid hormone replacement
Nearly every conventional doctor will use
synthetic thyroid to treat the symptoms of underactive thyroid.
If you have poor thyroid function, despite
making the supportive lifestyle changes already discussed, then it might be
time to look at thyroid supplementation.
Taking thyroid hormone should be done only
after you have ruled out other conditions that could be causing the thyroid
dysfunction such as adrenal fatigue, gluten or other food allergies, hormonal
imbalance, etc. It is always best to get your thyroid working again by treating
the underlying cause, as opposed to taking an external source of thyroid
hormone.
Sometimes supplementation is necessary.
Conventional pharmaceutical treatment usually
consists of replacing only T4 in the form of Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothyroid,
Unithroid, and Levothyroxine, leaving your body to convert this to T3.
Literature suggests that most people can’t
effectively convert the pure T4 in synthetic thyroid preparations to T3 so a
natural thyroid hormone like Armour Thyroid may be a better bet than synthetic
thyroid prescriptions like Synthroid.
However, research has shown that a combination
of T4 and T3 is often more effective than T4 alone. The conversion to T3 can be
hampered by nutritional deficiencies such as low selenium, inadequate omega-3
fatty acids, low zinc, chemicals from the environment, or by stress.
Oftentimes, taking T4 alone will result in only
partial improvement.
Taking T3 alone is usually too stimulating. The
drug Cytomel is a very short-acting form of T3 that can cause palpitations,
anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
By far, the best approach is combined T4 and T3
therapy.
Natural thyroid products, like Armour Thyroid
are a combination of T4, T3 and T2 made from desiccated, or dried, porcine
thyroid. Armour Thyroid has gotten a bad rap over the years, perceived by
physicians to be unstable and unreliable in terms of dosage. However, many
improvements have been made in the product, making it a safe and effective
option for treating hypothyroidism today.
In fact, a study done ten years ago clearly
demonstrated that patients with hypothyroidism showed greater improvements in
mood and brain function if they received treatment with Armour Thyroid than if
they received Synthroid.
The optimal dose for Armour Thyroid ranges from
15 to 180 milligrams, depending on the individual. You will need a
prescription.
Once on thyroid replacement, you will not
necessarily need to take it for the rest of your life, which is a common
misconception. Once all the factors that have led to your thyroid dysfunction
have been corrected, you may be able to reduce or discontinue the thyroid
hormone replacement.
Once on thyroid hormone replacement, I
recommend you monitor your progress by paying attention to how you feel, in
addition to regular lab studies.
If you remain on thyroid hormones for a period
of years, your thyroid will tend to become progressively less functional. In
time, it will probably stop producing any functional hormones whatsoever, which
could condemn you to taking thyroid hormones for the rest of your life.
Literature suggests that people on thyroid
hormones for less than five years respond far better to natural thyroid hormone
supplementation that has both T1, T2, T3 and T4, not just T4 like Synthroid
which is a synthetic thyroid hormone
You can also routinely check your basal body
temperature. If you are not on the correct dose, your BBT should be about 98.6
degrees Farenheit.
If you begin to feel symptoms such as anxiety,
palpitations, diarrhea, high blood pressure, or a resting pulse of more than 80
beats per minute, your dose is likely too high as these are symptoms of
hyperthyroidism, and you should let your physician know immediately.
A thyroid problem is no different than any
other chronic illness -- you must address the underlying issues if you hope to
correct the problem. The path to wellness may involve a variety of twists and
turns before you find what works for you.
But hang in there. If you approach it from a
comprehensive, wholistic perspective, you will find in time that all of the
little steps you take will ultimately result in your feeling much better than
you could have ever imagined.
If you have any questions about any of the
content presented, feel free to contact me at ben@paramounttraining.ca. I'm available for online consulting and
personalized program design, as well as one on one training if you are located
in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
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