Thyroid - Part 3
Non-Auto-Immune Hypothyroid
Yes, stress is a major factor in hypothyroid, and in this part, we’re going to look at three other causes:
1. Nutrient deficiencies
2. Too many goitrogenic foods
3. Thyroid hormone conversion problem & thyroid hormone resistance
Your body may be dealing with one of these issues or all of them. Item #3 can be an issue if you’re being treated for hypothyroidism (taking medication or desiccated thyroid) but you’re still feeling exhausted, cold, or other low thyroid symptoms.
Let’s dive into these puppies!
1. Nutrient Deficiencies
Your body needs certain nutrients to be able to make thyroid hormones properly. Your thyroid can’t work properly if you’re deficient in any of these nutrients.
Iodine –
This mineral is famous for its thyroid-supporting skills and it’s one of the most common deficiencies worldwide. Low iodine intake can halt the production of thyroid hormones, causing hypothyroidism. Iodine’s best pal is selenium, so it’s no surprise it’s on this list as well :). The ideal dose is 150mcg, and always keep your intake below 500mcg (too much can be a BIG problem).
Selenium –
This trace mineral is also an antioxidant and protects the thyroid from inflammation. More importantly, it’s critical for the conversion of T4 (inactive form) to T3 (active form). 200mcg, found in 2 brazil nuts a day, is all you need for your daily dose of selenium!
Vitamin D –
What doesn’t Vitamin D do? The sunshine vitamin (which is more like a hormone) plays a big role in helping the body produce thyroid hormones. Have your blood tested especially if your treatment isn’t working.
Magnesium –
I wonder if I’ve ever made a list of important nutrients that didn’t include magnesium. It’s the most common deficiency I see, mostly because we use up a ton of it when we’re under stress. In the thyroid, it’s important for thyroid hormone production.
Tight muscles, difficulty relaxing, and chocolate cravings are the most common signs of low magnesium.
Iron –
Low iron alone can make you absolutely bone-tired…and it can also slow down your thyroid and that makes you even more tired! Iron is crucial for making TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). Keep an eye on your iron levels in your blood work and consider an iron infusion if your levels are consistently low.
2. Too many goitrogenic foods
What do cruciferous veggies (broccoli, kale, cabbage, etc), peaches, strawberries, and peanuts have in common? They all contain goitrogens.
Goitrogens are compounds that are found in many very healthy foods that can (sometimes) wreak havoc on your thyroid. They can block iodine uptake, interfere with the base-protein needed to make hormones, and lower TSH.
It takes a lot of these foods to cause a problem, but it does happen. Handfuls of kale added to your smoothie in the morning and a broccoli salad for lunch every day can do it. I had a fellow student in nutrition school who at 2 cups of raw broccoli each day which caused symptoms of hypothyroidism.
The good news is – the goitrogens are only a problem when they’re raw! Cooking, steaming, or fermenting releases the goitrogens and the foods are a-okay to enjoy to your heart’s content :). (and small amounts of raw are a-okay too :)
Here’s a full list of goitrogenic foods:
http://eiwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BrassicaVegetables.pdf
3. Thyroid hormone conversion problem
and thyroid hormone resistance
I’m putting these together because they have a similar underlying cause…that old friend, Stress.
Your body can be producing all of the right amounts of thyroid hormones (and so your blood work looks great!), but stress can mess things up a bit.
When your body is under stress it wants to conserve energy. It needs to hold onto resources, so it sloooows down the conductor of your energy system – your thyroid.
First, it either stops the conversion of (inactive) T4 to (active) T3 or it does something extra sinister. It converts all of your wonderful active T3 to the inactive form, reverse T3, which stores it away for later use.
And, stress causes a lesser-known and lesser-understood condition called Thyroid Hormone Resistance. Like Insulin Resistance, your cells stop accepting all of your precious thyroid hormone.
Frustratingly, this means that you can be treating your hypothyroidism with medication or desiccated thyroid, but your symptoms aren’t improving. Or, you feel TERRIBLE, but your blood work is a-okay.
So, basically, the stress is making you extra tired. Ugg! Am I right?!?!
This is where the Thyroid Temperature Test comes in handy. It shows how your thyroid is actually functioning. If your temperature is low, your thyroid could use some extra help from the “Finding Balance” section :)
If you suspect you might be dealing with a conversion problem or thyroid hormone resistance, focus on helping your body handle stress (Part 2). This can reverse both conditions :).
For some, their low thyroid issues are due to a common auto-immune condition, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Head over to Part 4 to learn more!
Got any questions or comments? Comment below, jump to our private Facebook Group, or the Ask Lisa page :)