Why Knowing How to Calculate Your Reverse T3 Ratio Helps to Assess Overall Thyroid Health?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

When compared to thyroxine (T4) the thyroid hormone known as triiodothyronine (T3) is much more potent.

T3 helps ‘rev’ up your body. It increases the rate at which you burn calories for energy.

Under normal conditions T4 converts to both T3 and ‘reverse T3’ which is the inactive form of T3. The body maintains a healthy T3 to reverse T3 ratio to control an optimal metabolic rate. Reverse T3 is quickly eliminated if it is not required to slow metabolism.

What happens when too much T4 is shunted towards production of reverse T3 and this thyroid hormone pools in the body?

Excessive amounts of reverse T3 will block the effects of active T3. Ongoing excess production of reverse T3 leads to a low thyroid disorder called ‘reverse T3 dominance’. Reverse T3 dominance is associated with many of the typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Testing for reverse T3

Only a specific blood test for reverse T3 (rT3) will identify high levels of this inactive form of T3. Most importantly, an assessment of reverse T3 takes on far greater meaning when the total amount of reverse T3 is compared to the total amount of ‘free T3’. A drop in free T3 can be accompanied by an increase in reverse T3.

There is a simple equation to work out your reverse T3/T3 ratio. You will need your blood test results for both free T3 and reverse T3 to do this.

Watch this Video Below Here – Understanding Thyroid Function Tests

How to calculate your reverse T3/T3 ratio

To work out your reverse T3/T3 ratio divide the total free T3 by the total reverse T3 and multiply this by 100.

As of July 2016, Australian pathology labs are using a reference range of 1.200 – 2.200.

If your reverse T3/T3 ratio is at the lower end, or below this range it indicates you have a thyroid hormone imbalance.

Your thyroid blood results can be a little confusing. Here is a real example to help explain how you can calculate your own reverse T3/T3 ratio.

The free T3 test result is 4.3 pmol/L and reverse T3 is 704 pmol/L. To work out the reverse T3 ratio divide 4.3 by 704 then multiply this by 100. The result is 0.610 which is well below the healthy range, and indicates this individual is dealing with reverse T3 dominance.

Watch this Video Below Here – Thyroid Lab Testing - Thyroid Lab Ranges - Hypothyroid Patterns

Is single T3 thyroid medication ideal?

There is no one size fits all approach to reducing high reverse T3 levels. A combination of T4/T3, or a single T3 medication may be appropriate for you. It is important to work with a healthcare practitioner who understands your thyroid issues.

Care needs to be taken with taking too much T4 as this provides the body with a greater amount of T4 with the potential to create even more reverse T3. This can perpetuate the cycle of reverse T3 production.

Thyroid medications may take a little while to work as it takes time for the excess reverse T3 to clear from the body. To properly treat reverse T3 dominance it is very important to look at the individual factors that are causing this thyroid disorder.

You can read what causes high reverse T3 on thisblog post.

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil forThyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

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.

In fact, low T3 can have far-reaching effects in the body. Reduced T3 activity is often associated with a slow heart rate, lower than normal body temperature, thyroid hair loss and chronic fatigue.

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.

Watch this Video Below Here – Interpreting Thyroid labs, part 1.Low TSH. Saul Marcus Naturopathic Doctor

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.

Watch this Video Below Here – Interpreting Thyroid labs, part 2: T3, T4 & Reverse T3.Saul Marcus ND

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.

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Why Low T3 + T4 Can Trigger Thyroid Hair Loss?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

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.

Watch this Video Below Here – 10 Ways to Cure Thyroid Hair Loss

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

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.

Watch this Video Below Here - Thyroid Problem or Adrenal Problem - Thyroid Basal Temperature Testing - Self-Test

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!

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Why is Bradycardia Often Associated with Hypothyroidism?

Click HERE toFind Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

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.

Watch this Video Below Here – Bradycardia or Low Heart Rate -Causes, Symptoms, Dangers

Read the following related articles:

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

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5 Best Ways to Protect Yourself from Iodine Toxicity

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Why Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms are Strikingly Similar to Hypothyroidism Symptoms?

Why Testing for Viral Infections Can Solve Your Thyroid Disorder?

What can Harmful Environmental Chemicals Do to Thyroid Function and Body Weight?

Here is a Gluten free shopping list for thyroid health

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Here is a Gluten free shopping list for thyroid health

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

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:

·         Breads: rice, buckwheat + ‘wheat free’ varieties.

·         Breakfast cereals: organic corn flakes, rice bubbles, Amaranth, puffed buckwheat + gluten free muesli.

·         Flours: 100% buckwheat, rice, Besan (chickpea), Lupin, coconut.

·         Noodles: rice + 100% buckwheat.

·         Pasta: vegetable + rice varieties.

·         Porridge: Quinoa, rice + Polenta porridge.

·         Rice: brown rice + white rice varieties.

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.

Watch this Video Below Here – Gluten Free Shopping List - 10 Day Clean Eating Challenge

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.

Read the following related articles:

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

5 Best Ways to Protect Yourself from Iodine Toxicity

Is It Safe To Take Iodine When You Have Hashimotos Disease?

Why these Top 5 Thyroid Blood Tests are Essential?

What Causes High Reverse T3 (RT3) – a Major Driver of an Underactive Thyroid?

Why Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms are Strikingly Similar to Hypothyroidism Symptoms?

Why Testing for Viral Infections Can Solve Your Thyroid Disorder?

What can Harmful Environmental Chemicals Do to Thyroid Function and Body Weight?

Author Bio:

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 on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com