Triiodothyronine (T3) and weight loss
are often discussed together for good reason!
T3
is the most potent thyroid hormone that naturally revs up your metabolism. Far
greater amounts of T3 are converted from thyroxine (T4) when your body wants to
step up metabolism. Low T3 is associated with sluggish
metabolism and many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Adequate
T3 assists fat burning which is important for weight loss. It can also reduce many of
the other symptoms of an under active thyroid. This thyroid hormone is also
involved in stimulating energy production and protects against heart
palpitations.
A
single T3 test of your T3 level therefore provides the best clue as to how your
thyroid is working.
If
you are finding it hard to lose weight it is a good idea to discuss doing a
free T3 test with your health practitioner.
Should
you get a T3 test?
Getting
a diagnosis of hypothyroidism has sparked an ongoing debate on what thyroid
hormones should be tested and the levels that will reveal a thyroid hormone
deficiency.
A
single test of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is often the preferred test
used by medical practitioners to diagnose a thyroid disorder.
TSH
is not actually produced in the thyroid. It is a hormone made by the pituitary
gland which is located in the brain. When the pituitary releases TSH this
hormone travels to the thyroid to stimulate the release of the thyroid
hormones. The thyroid responds by getting busy making your thyroid hormones.
When
TSH is high this indicates the thyroid is functioning below par and therefore
requires more stimulation than usual.
The
problem lies in defining a ‘normal’ range for TSH. I have found that even when
TSH is considered ‘normal’ many individuals experience symptoms of
hypothyroidism. A TSH test result should ideally be less than 2.0 mIU/L.
An
accurate assessment of thyroid health can only be achieved by testing 5 key thyroid hormones. A measure
of both T4 and T3 along with TSH is therefore essential.
When
discussing a T3 test with your doctor it is best to specify testing free T3.
The majority of T3 in the blood is carried by a protein compound called
thyroxine binding globulin. A small amount of T3 is unattached and ‘free’ to do
its job. A T3 blood test usually measures both bound and free T3. When you test
free T3 you are measuring the active component.
Your T3 blood test result - What is considered a good number?
The
standard reference range for free T3 is 4.0-8.0 pmol/L. This provides a very
good clue that you ideally want to see your free T3 test result above 4.0
pmol/L.
If
you are experiencing the typical signs and symptoms of an under active thyroid
but your TSH, free T4, and even your free T3 appear to be normal you may want
to consider checking your reverse T3.
Should
you test thyroid antibodies?
A
measure of thyroid antibody levels will rule out Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
This is a common thyroid autoimmune disorder that tends to run in families and
affects women more than men.
If
you have swelling or discomfort around your throat your healthcare practitioner
should also perform a physical examination. If required a thyroid ultrasound
will provide a more in depth investigation of your thyroid.
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
Your
hair is an excellent barometer of how well your thyroid is working.
If
you are concerned about your hair getting thin, or are noticing a greater
amount of hair loss the root cause could be your thyroid.
Thyroid
hair loss is one of the most common and distressing signs of a low thyroid.
Hair
loss linked to an under active thyroid causes hair loss from all areas of the
scalp.
It may even lead to noticeable thinning of the hair, and bald patches in extreme
cases.
You
should also check in the mirror to see if the outer third of your eyebrow is
missing.
It’s a classic hypothyroid sign practitioners look for.
Why does your hair fall out?
The
thyroid hormones fuel day to day function of the hair follicles. This means a
drop in thyroid hormone levels can trigger a significant amount of hair loss.
A
landmark study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism established this important link between thyroid health and hair
loss.
The
researchers studied human scalp tissue taken from people who had undergone
recent plastic surgery. They investigated how the key thyroid hormones
thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) directly target the hair follicles.
The
research revealed the thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating the
natural growth and shedding cycles of hair. Most importantly the thyroid
hormones slow the release of hair from the scalp and activate the growth of new
hair.
If
you have experienced a drop in your thyroid hormone levels a return to healthy
levels of T3 and T4 will help revitalise the hair follicles. Over time this
will put a halt to thyroid hair loss.
Stress and chronic illness triggers greater thyroid hair loss
We
all know stress is not good for overall health. When it comes to thyroid
health, too much stress slows thyroid function. Many individuals suffer sudden,
or greater thyroid hair loss soon after experiencing high amounts of stress.
Extreme
emotional stress, childbirth, surgery, or severe infections are just some of
the stresses that can have a negative impact on your thyroid. A drop in
circulating thyroid hormone levels can set off a range of hypothyroid symptoms.
Early greying of hair is also linked to low thyroid hormone
activity
It
may surprise you to learn that premature greying of hair also indicates low
thyroid hormone activity.
The
thyroid hormones stimulate melanin production within the hair follicles.
Melanin is naturally produced to give colour to both your skin and hair.
When
melanin levels drop it causes the hair to turn grey. The connection between a
drop in thyroid function and early greying of the hair is often missed.
Why female pattern baldness is different to thyroid hair loss
Hair
loss associated with low thyroid hormone activity is different to female
pattern baldness.
Female
pattern baldness usually starts on the crown of the head, or there is
noticeable thinning on the top of the scalp.
This
type of baldness is due to a hormone imbalance. There is usually an increase in
androgens, the male type hormones that should only be present in small amounts
in women.
When
women have excessive levels of androgens it stimulates male type baldness. This
is the type of baldness commonly seen in men.
Putting a halt to hair loss
If
you are worried about hair loss it is important to discuss thyroid testing with
your healthcare practitioner.
The
top 5 thyroid tests I recommend include;
thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and a measure
of thyroid antibody levels.
Checking
your free T3 levels is
particularly important and I recommend you take a close look at your T3 levels.
You want to see this thyroid hormone in the mid, or upper level of the healthy
range.
Treating
an underlying thyroid disorder is an important step to improving your hair
health. As thyroid hormone activity improves, especially T3 it is usual to see
improvements in your hair health. This means you should see improvements in
both the appearance of your hair and less visible hair loss.
A
nutritious diet, specific nutrients and lifestyle modifications can greatly
assist healthy thyroid function. You may also need to speak to your doctor about
taking a prescribed T4/T3 thyroid medication.
Note:
There can be other reasons women shed hair more than normal. It may be best to
discuss your concerns with your healthcare practitioner so they can investigate
further.
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
Did
you know your thyroid hormones regulate your body temperature? When your core
body temperature is consistently low it’s a strong signal your thyroid is
working below par.
What
is an ideal body temperature?
Your
body works best within a very narrow temperature range. Enzymes, hormones,
vitamins and minerals work best between 36.5 – 37.5 degrees Celsius (97.8 –
99.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
A colder
body temperature can indicate you are experiencing reduced metabolic activity
due to low thyroid hormone activity.
Testing
your basal body temperature is therefore a simple way to assess your current
thyroid health.
How
to do your own basal temperature testing
Basal
temperature testing is a simple, at home test. All that is required is a good
quality thermometer. Here is what you need to do;
Place a
digital thermometer by your bed before going to sleep at night. This will make it
easy to grab in the morning.
As soon
as you wake up and before you get out of bed place the thermometer in your
mouth.
It is important to make as little movement as possible. Lying and resting with
your eyes closed works well.
Read and
record the temperature and date. Do not get up until you have this
temperature result. When you get up and move around your temperature naturally
rises.
Perform
this test on at least five mornings. If possible do this test around the same
time each day.
Note: Menstruating women
should avoid doing this test around the middle of their cycle as body
temperature naturally rises at ovulation. Men and non-menstruating women can
perform the test at any time.
Even
a small drop in body temperature is significant
There
is a strong correlation between your waking, or ‘basal temperature’ and how
well your thyroid is functioning.
Under
normal conditions the body is able to maintain a fairly steady core body
temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). If your
temperature appears to be consistently below 37 degrees Celsius (or 98.6 Fahrenheit) you should
discuss your findings with your healthcare practitioner.
Basal
temperature testing is not usually used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool. Your
basal temperature is considered along with other signs and symptoms of an
underactive thyroid.
To
provide some perspective on how significant even small changes in body
temperature can be let’s take a look at two potentially dangerous situations.
Hyperthermia occurs when the
body’s core temperature gets too high due to fever, vigorous exercise or heat
stress. When the temperature climbs above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees
Fahrenheit) it is considered life-threatening
Conversely,
mild hypothermia
occurs when the core temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees
Fahrenheit). In severe hypothermia, the core body temperature drops to 32
degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower.
As
the core body temperature cools the vital organs produce less heat which in
essence causes a protective ‘shut down’ of the body to preserve heat and
protect the brain.
Low
body temperature slows brain activity, breathing, and heart rate. Many
hypothyroid sufferers would be familiar with these symptoms!
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
Bradycardia
is the medical term to describe a slow heart rate. It is defined as a resting
heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less.
For
most people a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute while at rest is
considered normal.
If
the heart rate drops below 60 beats per minute it places far greater strain on
the heart as it struggles to pump blood efficiently around the body. This
impaired blood flow also reduces delivery of oxygen and vital nutrients to the
different organs and tissues of the body.
What causes bradycardia?
Bradycardia
is caused by changes to the normal electrical impulses controlling the heart
rate. There are a few factors that can contribute to problems with your heart’s
electrical system. This includes hypothyroidism.
In
fact, this heart disorder is a common finding in individuals with
hypothyroidism.
The
thyroid hormones target the heart to keep it working in tip-top shape. The
thyroid hormones regulate your heart rate, the force of each heartbeat and help
maintain the physical strength of your heart by supporting ongoing tissue
repair and growth.
When
your thyroid is under active there is inadequate thyroid hormone activity
within the heart. This has dramatic effects on your heart function.
A
slow pulse rate and low blood pressure may be symptoms that actually lead to a
diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath
and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
A
gluten free diet excludes all types
of grains that contain gluten. Your local health food store is one of the best
places to seek out gluten free alternatives to common grain based products.
Here
is a gluten free shopping list which shows gluten free alternatives to some
common foods:
It
is important to read food labels carefully as gluten is often a hidden
ingredient in packaged foods. This includes; baking powder, flavourings and
hydrolysed vegetable protein. Beer may contain varying amounts of gluten as it
is produced by the alcoholic fermentation of germinated cereals, usually
barley.
Cross
contamination of gluten free foods can occur during the manufacturing process
when these foods come into contact with foods that contain gluten.
For
example, if the same equipment is used to make a variety of snack foods some
gluten free items may become contaminated. Food labels often include a ‘may
contain gluten’ statement if this is the case.
If a
food is labelled ‘gluten free’ is does not necessarily mean it is healthy
‘Gluten
free’ foods are not always healthy and can in fact be harmful to the thyroid.
Food manufacturers regard corn (maize) and soy ingredients as cost effective
substitutes for gluten containing grains.
Corn
and soy ingredients should be strictly avoided when you have an under active
thyroid problem. Further, corn and soy are common food allergens and in turn
can also initiate symptoms of food intolerance.
When
you are checking labels also look for soy and Canola oil. These cheap oils are
popular with food manufacturers and are routinely labelled as ‘vegetable oil’.
This makes them sound healthy but they are actually damaging to the thyroid
gland. If you are not sure be a label detective, look closely under the
ingredient list to see if it states the product contains soy.
Activating
your gluten free grains
All
grains including gluten free varieties have naturally occurring enzyme
inhibitors that make them difficult to digest and also lower absorption of
important minerals.
Eating
large quantities of grains and using flours that have not been soaked, sprouted
or fermented can lead to mineral deficiencies and long term bone loss. This
means all gluten free flours and wholegrains should be activated with these
traditional methods to release their full nutritional potential.
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
Is
a gluten free diet just a fad, or could eliminating gluten help thyroid health
and end the bloat, brain fog, and nagging indigestion?
Could
a gluten free diet really help thyroid health?
What is gluten?
Gluten
is the main structural protein found naturally in a variety of grains including
wheat, rye, spelt, barley, oats and triticale. Triticale is a cross between
wheat and rye.
Gluten
is also used as a single ingredient in many processed foods as it makes an
ideal binder or thickener. This means you could be consuming additional gluten
without knowing it.
A gluten free diet
A
gluten free diet strictly excludes all grains and packaged foods containing
gluten. This means cutting the common gluten containing foods such as bread,
pasta, breakfast cereals, desserts and biscuits from the daily diet.
This
may not be as restrictive as it first appears as health food stores and
supermarkets offer gluten free alternatives. In
addition, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, fresh fish and lean organic
animal protein are all naturally gluten free.
However
for most people changing to a gluten free diet plan is a big step and takes
some getting used to. The restrictions can even make you feel downright
deprived. But the payoff can be enormous!
Many
people experience life changing transformation when they cut gluten. They lose
weight, especially around the middle and they notice a dramatic improvement in
their health and vitality.
These
days highly refined wheat is the most common source of gluten as it is used in
a wide variety of foods found in supermarkets. To meet ongoing demand wheat is
grown on an industrial scale. Along with the development of modern agricultural
methods there has also been selective breeding of wheat.
Wheat
crops now yield a much higher ratio of gluten. This is not good news for those
who are gluten sensitive or have diagnosed gluten-related disorders. If eating
gluten causes digestive discomfort, even weight gain the culprit may actually
be the modern, hybrid wheat varieties.
Dr.
William Davis is a respected cardiologist and author of Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your
Path Back to Health. Dr Davis believes wheat is the single biggest
contributor to the country’s obesity epidemic. In part because aggressive
breeding methods and genetic manipulation have turned wheat into what Davis
describes as a ‘Frankenwheat’.
There
is also evidence the newer high yield wheat strains are less nutritious and
lack important nutrients such as zinc, iron, copper and magnesium.
Gluten sensitivity can result in a broad range of symptoms
Gluten
can easily irritate the lining of the digestive system. Once this happen the
body launches a swift immune response as it reacts to gluten as something
foreign.
This
creates inflammation that spreads like wildfire throughout the whole body.
Gluten
sensitivity symptoms can therefore be linked to specific digestive problems as
well as broader health issues in other parts of the body.
Renowned
neurologist David Perlmutter believes gluten can initiate reactions within the
brain that can spark a range of health problems. This includes headaches,
depression, anxiety and even dementia. Dr Perlumtter is the author of the #1
New York Times bestseller Grain Brain: The
Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar. Your Brain’s Silent Killers.
In his book Dr Perlmutter explains that gluten containing grains can be
extremely destructive within the brain.
Could you be gluten intolerant?
Gluten
sensitivity can result in a broad range of symptoms. Here is a checklist of the
main symptoms:
·Weight
loss or weight gain, especially abdominal weight gain
·Fatigue
or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten
·Digestive
problems: bloating, pain, gas + diarrhoea
·Weak
+ cracked fingernails
·Fat
in the stools due to poor breakdown of dietary fat
·Joint
+ muscle pain
·Mood
swings + depression
·Poor
memory + concentration
·Skin
rashes including dermatitis herpetiformis
·Osteoporosis
due to lowered mineral absorption
·Migraine
headaches
Emotional
stress can play a significant role in intensifying the symptoms.
Did
you know it takes around 4 weeks of strictly avoiding gluten to discover if
gluten is a problem for you?
It
takes this long for your system to calm down if gluten has been causing
digestive distress. If you feel far better when you exclude gluten, or feel
worse when you reintroduce gluten then it’s very likely a problem for you.
The
good news is that it’s much easier these days to find healthy gluten free alternatives that help thyroid health,
which I will write about in my next blog post.
Can a gluten free diet help thyroid health and heal hypothyroidism?
Once
gluten is removed from your diet it is very likely you will notice improvements
in your health, especially if you have an autoimmune thyroid disorder.
Minor
symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, brain fog and indigestion can disappear
fairly quickly when gluten is excluded from the diet.
Improvements
in chronic health problems made worse by gluten sensitivity such as arthritis,
eczema and autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis usually take
longer.
What is the gluten – thyroid link?
#
Gluten can also cause your immune system to start attacking the thyroid.
The molecular composition of your thyroid tissue is very similar to gluten. So
for those with an autoimmune thyroid disorder it can be a case of mistaken
identity.
Eliminating
gluten from your diet may reduce the ongoing autoimmune attack on your thyroid.
For some individuals, when they strictly eliminate gluten from their diet their
thyroid antibody levels decrease.
#
Gluten is destructive to the lining of the digestive tract. A gluten
intolerance reduces digestive function leading to compromised immune function
and lower absorption of a wide range of vital nutrients. This is not good news
for thyroid health.
Digestive
health is closely linked to optimal immune system function. A large mass of
lymphoid tissue including several types of specialised immune cells are located
in the digestive tract. The lymphoid tissue helps defend your body against
pathogens. An imbalance in digestive function can therefore impair immune
activity.
#
Poor digestive health leads to mal-absorption issues. The thyroid is
particularly sensitive to nutritional deficiencies. For example; iodine, zinc
and selenium are crucial to proper thyroid hormone activity. In addition,
ongoing research confirms individuals with low selenium intake, or poor
absorption of selenium are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
There
are two factors:
A
selenium deficiency results in lower activity of the selenium dependent enzymes
vital to assist ongoing activity of the thyroid hormones, including activation
of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). Low T3 is associated with the
symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Selenium
plays a role in protecting the thyroid gland itself as this mineral boosts
glutathione activity. Glutathione is naturally produced by the body using
selenium and a combination of three amino acids sourced from dietary protein –
cysteine, glycine and glutamine. Glutathione acts as a potent antioxidant and
is highly active within the thyroid to help protect this important gland.
For
people with coeliac disease a strict gluten free diet is advocated for life as
gluten damages the lining of their small intestine and prevents adsorption of
essential nutrients. Even a minute amount of gluten will prompt a noticeable
immune reaction.
Coeliac
disease is one of the most common inflammatory conditions affecting the
digestive system. The abnormal immune response caused by gluten can make a
person susceptible to other autoimmune problems including autoimmune thyroid
disorders. Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are frequently diagnosed
along with coeliac disease.
Coeliac
disease is commonly considered to be a genetic disorder however it can be set off
later in life by a stressful event, such as an infection, injury or surgery. A
specific diagnostic test is used to confirm coeliac disease.
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click onThe-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
