The Thyroid

Byadmin

Do any of the following sound familiar to you?

  • You feel tired all the time 
  • You suffer from hair loss 
  • You retain moisture 
  • You have unexplained weight gain or loss. 
  • Your libido is reduced
  • You suffer from PMS or severe menstrual cramps. 
  • You are struggling to get or stay pregnant
  • You often suffer from constipation
  • Your muscles and joints ache
  • Your skin is dry and your nails are brittle.
  • You get cold easily 
  • You can't fall asleep or stay asleep 
  • You suffer from a "wimpy" head
  • You have memory problems
  • You struggle with depression or anxiety 
  • You suffer from palpitations
  • You have low resistance 

Your thyroid may be out of balance. 

The thyroid gland secretes hormones that regulate energy production and metabolism of every cell in your body. Therefore, thyroid disorders can manifest themselves in many ways, depending on which tissue is affected. 

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common form of impaired thyroid function, or hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies that attack and destroy healthy thyroid tissue. When the thyroid gland is damaged, it loses its ability to produce enough hormone, causing all the processes in your body to slow down. 

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much hormone. This causes all body processes to speed up. 

Grave's disease, also an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. In it, the immune system makes antibodies that attach to thyroid cells, stimulating them to overproduce thyroid hormone, which can cause the thyroid gland to swell, resulting in goiter. 

Some causes of thyroid disorders? 

  • Stress
  • Gluten and Neu5gc siglec of mammals
  • Nutrient deficiencies, especially selenium, iron, iodine, zinc and vitamin D
  • Poisons
  • Liver dysfunction 
  • Ignition 
  • Genetics 
  • Infections
  • Medicines
  • Poor gut health and food hypersensitivities 

What can you do to fix your thyroid problems? 

1. Look at your eating habits

Improving your diet can make a big difference in your thyroid health. Go for fresh, organic fruits and vegetables as well as nuts, seeds and algae that contain vitamins and minerals needed to support your thyroid. 

Gluten can lead to the formation of antibodies that attack not only gluten molecules but also thyroid tissue. Caffeine, refined sugar and flour can unbalance stress hormones, disrupting the thyroid and affecting gut function.

2. Try to avoid exposure to toxins

Our exposure to industrial chemicals is increasing: in our air, food, water, furniture, household products, personal care products, etc. 

These chemicals disrupt the proper functioning of the endocrine system (our hormone system). Depending on your genetic make-up, diet, stress level and other risk factors, your sex hormones, stress hormones, thyroid hormones or all three can become dysregulated. 

Reduce your exposure by using a water filter, avoiding processed foods, clean, chemical-free products and not using plastic containers and bottles.  

3. Stress reduction 

Stress triggers the adrenal glands to release stress hormones, including cortisol. Excess cortisol causes inflammation, disrupts thyroid function, disrupts the gut and basically all systems. Excess cortisol can also disrupt the pituitary gland, which in turn can disrupt the thyroid. Yes, stress reduction is essential. 

4. Regular exercise

Moderate exercise is important because of its role in stress relief, reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow. Physical activity also helps you sleep better, which is essential for the healing process. 

5. Use food as medicine. 

Support your thyroid with this breakfast. Free of gluten, sugar and dairy, good for gut and thyroid. 

Ingredients:

  • 60 g buckwheat flakes
  • ½ apple, grated
  • 125 ml vegetable milk
  • 125 ml vegetable yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 Brazil nuts
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Stir all ingredients together in a bowl. Put it in the fridge overnight. For your breakfast, you can add some vegetable milk and a nice garnish if needed. 

For the garnish, you can think of;

- Strawberry wedges, blueberries, mint leaves, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds

A natural supplement could be Ashwagandha. It is an herb that appears to stimulate your endocrine system, boosting thyroid hormone levels by reducing cortisol, your primary stress hormone. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, so you need to use it for at least 8 weeks before you notice any effects. You can take 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract daily. 

Note: Ashwagandha should not be used if you have an overactive thyroid, as it can stimulate thyroid hormones and worsen your symptoms.

It is always better to address the cause of your symptoms with a therapist. A Psycho-Neuro-Immuno-Endocrino (PNI) therapist can give you all the advice needed to help you overcome an autoimmune disease. Ask me for more information.