The
thyroid produces two main thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine
(T3). Production of your thyroid hormones is governed by another thyroid
hormone produced in the pituitary gland located deep within the brain. This
thyroid hormone is called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
While
TSH is considered a thyroid hormone it is not actually produced in the thyroid.
Once released by the pituitary TSH travels to the thyroid via the bloodstream
to stimulate production of the thyroid hormones.
When
levels of T4 and T3 fall, the pituitary secretes more TSH. Conversely, as T4
and T3 levels rise the pituitary secretes less TSH. Normally this feedback
system ensures your body has adequate amounts of both T4 and T3. When TSH is
high it is a clear indication your body is suffering from inadequate thyroid
activity.
A
healthy thyroid gland manufactures far greater quantities of T4 than T3. While
T4 does have some effects, it is considered the ‘storage’ form. T4 is converted
to T3 by the body when a greater thyroid response is needed. This means T4 is
on standby, ready to be quickly converted into the active T3 when it is
required to boost the metabolic rate.
Thyroid
disease results from an underactive or overactive thyroid that produces too
little or too much of the thyroid hormones. Knowing how your thyroid works
helps you understand your thyroid problem. It also helps you understand why
it’s vital to get more than TSH tested. The widely held belief that TSH is an
accurate marker of thyroid health is misleading.
Below
Here are 2 videos for you to understand more about thyroid hormones.
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
If
you have hypothyroidism and are worried about your bone health, or have been
told you have osteoporosis you will definitely want to read this article to
find out why healthy parathyroid glands keep your bones strong.
The
parathyroid glands are endocrine organs. They play an important role in the
body’s complex hormone system to keep you fit and well.
‘Para’
means near, or next to which explains the name given to these four glands
that are attached to the rear of the thyroid. In fact, the tiny
parathyroid glands are so closely situated to the thyroid that they share the
same blood supply.
Although
the parathyroid and thyroid glands have similar sounding names each gland produces
different hormones, each with their own specific functions.
Strong bones need healthy parathyroid glands
When
it comes to bone health, the most fundamental nutrient is calcium. This mineral
plays a critical role to safeguard against osteoporosis, which leads to weak
and fragile bones. The bones are a vast reservoir for calcium as it is an
essential building block to maintain healthy bone structure.
The
parathyroid glands keep your bones strong by ensuring your body gets the
calcium it needs to maintain bone strength. Optimal calcium balance is also
crucial for muscle function and healthy nervous system activity.
As
you may already know, bone is a dynamic, living tissue. Healthy parathyroid
gland activity supports the normal process of bone breakdown and bone building.
Steady and balanced bone turnover is a normal process that benefits lifelong
bone health.
To
help regulate levels of calcium the parathyroid glands make ‘parathyroid
hormone’. This hormone is often termed a calcium-regulating hormone.
When
blood calcium levels drop extra parathyroid hormone is released into the
bloodstream. This draws calcium from the bones and stimulates greater uptake of
calcium by the kidneys. The net effect is an increase of calcium in the blood.
When
blood calcium levels get too high the parathyroid glands respond swiftly by
reducing parathyroid hormone production. This keeps calcium stored in the bone
and puts a halt to bone breakdown.
Strong bones need a well-functioning thyroid
The
thyroid plays an important role in building bone health by producing a
plentiful supply of calcitonin. This thyroid hormone is also termed a
calcium-regulating hormone as it helps block excessive bone breakdown.
When
blood calcium levels rise, the thyroid releases greater amounts of calcitonin
to bring blood calcium levels back down to normal. Parathyroid hormone and
calcitonin work in sync to regulate calcium balance. By having two hormones
with opposing actions, the body can closely regulate calcium concentrations.
The vitamin D – parathyroid connection
The
link between vitamin D
and healthy bones was made many years ago when it was realised that sunlight,
or taking cod liver oil boosted vitamin D which in turn helped prevent a soft
bone disorder in children called rickets.
Today,
vitamin D is seen as vital for overall health and strong bones.
Calcitriol
is a calcium-regulating hormone produced from vitamin D. When blood calcium
levels drop, parathyroid hormone triggers the kidneys to make greater amounts
of this active form of vitamin D. Calcitriol increases blood calcium levels by
increasing absorption of calcium from the digestive system.
A
drop in vitamin D is associated with higher production of parathyroid hormone.
This has the potential to increase bone loss. Maintaining optimal vitamin D can
therefore have a protective effect to guard against excessive bone turnover.
How do you check parathyroid health?
If
you are worried about your bone health or have been told you have osteoporosis
it is a great idea to check your parathyroid health.
A
blood test that specifically measures parathyroid hormone levels is the main
way to diagnose a problem. Medical practitioners and pathology labs routinely
abbreviate the words parathyroid hormone to ‘PTH’. The PTH test is usually done
along with a check of blood calcium levels.
Problems
can occur if the parathyroid glands are either producing too much or too little
parathyroid hormone.
Hypoparathyroidism
is characterised by low levels of parathyroid hormone. On the other hand, when
the parathyroid glands are overactive these glands produce an inappropriately
high amount of parathyroid hormone.
When
parathyroid hormone levels are high the rate at which bone is lost exceeds the
rate at which new bone is being formed. This leads to bones becoming weak and
susceptible to fractures. This is the reason hyperparathyroidism is linked
to the development of osteoporosis.
The
parathyroid glands are tiny and are normally only the size of a grain of
rice. This makes visual identification of a problem tricky. Your medical
practitioner may request a scan to help diagnose a problem with one or more of
the parathyroid glands. A bone density test may also be performed to assess
bone health.
The
25-hydroxycholecalciferol, or 25OHD blood test is the most accurate way to
measure how much active vitamin D is in the body.
Are environmental toxins also taking a toll on parathyroid
health?
Like
or not we are exposed to a wide range of environmental toxins in the air we
breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. As mentioned above the thyroid
and parathyroid glands share the same blood supply.
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
For
decades vitamin D was thought of only in terms of bone health. This nutrient
decreases parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels
which reduces calcium loss from bone. This is important for maintaining bone
density.
However
ongoing research reveals vitamin D plays a much broader role.
When
converted by the body to its active form this nutrient actually has
hormone-like functions. The active form of vitamin D is referred to as D3 and
it is now recognised as a hormone, not a vitamin.
D3
is important for many aspects of health including supporting optimal thyroid
hormone activity. D3 deficiencies occur more frequently than previously
believed.
Reduced
sun exposure along with ageing significantly decreases the skin’s capacity to
activate D3. A specific blood test of D3, not vitamin D is a good place to
assess D3 levels.
The
body naturally makes vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to ultraviolet
B (UVB) rays from the sun. That’s why this nutrient is often dubbed the
‘sunshine’ vitamin.
Absorption
of vitamin D occurs rapidly and you don’t need to tan or to burn in order to
get adequate amounts. In addition, individuals with paler skin are able to
produce vitamin D more easily than those with darker skin.
D3
deficiencies occur more frequently than previously believed and a significant
number of individuals are at risk due to reduced sun exposure and the
widespread use of sunscreens.
More
than just bone health
Emerging
research reveals vitamin D plays a much broader role to support health.
The active form of vitamin D is referred to as D3 and it is now
officially termed a hormone rather than a vitamin.
D3
is important for many aspects of health. Most notably this nutrient controls
the way in which cells grow and divide. For this reason research continues into
the anti-cancer effects of D3.
Some
of the functions of the body that D3 supports include:
·Immune
system to help fight infection
·Muscle
function by reducing inflammation within the muscles
·Cardiovascular
function for a healthy heart and circulation
·Respiratory
system for healthy lungs and airways
·Brain
development to ward off neurological decline
·Anti-cancer
effects
Low
D3 now common even in countries with abundant sunshine
The
most natural way to get vitamin D3 is by exposing your bare skin to sunlight.
However there are some limiting factors which can affect the amount of vitamin
D your body can produce. This includes:
·The amount of skin
you expose.
The less skin you expose, the less vitamin D you can produce.
·Your age. As you get older,
your skin has a harder time producing vitamin D.
·Wearing sunscreens. Sunscreens block a
lot of vitamin D production.
·The
altitude you live at. The sun is more intense at the top of a mountain than at
the beach. This means you make more vitamin D when you live at a higher
altitude.
·Cloudy weather. Less sunlight
reaches your skin on a cloudy day and your skin therefore makes less vitamin D.
·Air pollution. Particles in
polluted air reflect sunlight back into space. This means that if you live
somewhere where there is lots of air pollution your skin produces less vitamin
D.
·Working or living
behind glass.
Glass windows blocks UVB rays so you can’t make vitamin D even when there is
sunlight outside.
·You avoid direct
sun exposure.
If you have had skin cancer or if you’re worried about exposing your skin to
the sun you are more likely to have low D3 levels.
D3
and thyroid health
A
recent study published in Endocrine Practice reveals low D3 may contribute to
the severity of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This thyroid disorder is extremely
common, especially in women. It is associated with high levels of autoimmune
antibodies that directly target the thyroid gland.
Researchers
found patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis had significantly low
levels of active D3 in their blood and the scale of the vitamin D deficiency
correlated with the severity of the thyroid disorder.
Endocrine
Practice is the official journal of the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)
and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
Additional
research is required to determine if low thyroid function causes a vitamin D3
deficiency, or low vitamin D3 status may contribute to a thyroid disorder.
Getting
the right amount of vitamin D3
The
25-hydroxycholecalciferol blood test, abbreviated to 25 OHD is the most
accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is present in the body.
It’s
now accepted vitamin D can do so much more than simply prevent bone disease.
However
the ground breaking research into the effects of vitamin D has significantly
changed the viewpoints on the accepted reference ranges. It brings into
question the current reference ranges that start at around 50 nmol/L.
The
Vitamin D Council is a leading US research organisation committed to educating
the public on the importance of vitamin D. They currently suggests that 50
ng/ml of 25 OHD is the ideal level to aim for. The equivalent metric
measurement is 125 nmol/L.
Whereas
the Endocrine Society recommends taking a vitamin D supplement of around 2,000
IU daily to reach and stay above a level of 30ng/ml or 75 nmol/l.
Until
the experts agree on an acceptable target if you have been told your levels are
low after a blood test it’s a good idea to take a vitamin D3 supplement to
restore healthy levels. This is a simple, cost effective step to ensure
adequate intake.
Balanced
intake using a specific vitamin D3 supplement is the best strategy to consider
as this form is more effective at raising levels 25 OHD in the blood than a D2
supplement.
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
The
link between hypothyroidism and depression has long been recognised. Back in
1969 researchers reported ‘clinical symptoms may mimic that of melancholic
depression and dementia’.
Depression is More Than Feeling sad
Feeling
sad or disappointed at times is a normal reaction to the challenges of everyday
life. However when it comes to depression
this condition is associated with more than general feelings of sadness.
Depression
leads to feelings of pessimism and ongoing despair.
Individuals
with depression suffer in many areas of their lives. It interferes with their
ability to cope with everyday life. In addition, they often feel disconnected
from their friends and family.
The link between your emotional health and hypothyroidism
Emotional
health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-natal depression may be
due to an underlying thyroid issue.
Hypothyroidism occurs when there is
low production, or reduced activity of the thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism,
especially when coupled with adrenal fatigue, gives rise to a diverse range of
emotional health problems. Many individuals with a thyroid-adrenal imbalance
also experience depression.
The
symptoms that help identify depression include:
·Feeling
hopeless about life.
·A
lack of interest in daily activities.
·Anger
or irritability.
·Memory
and concentration problems.
·Appetite
or weight changes.
·Sleep
changes.
·Feeling
physically drained.
·Feelings
of not being worthy.
·Addictions
and addictive behaviour.
·Unexplained
muscle aches and headaches
Low T3 + mood
One
explanation for the link between hypothyroidism and depression is the influence
of triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is normally
concentrated in the area of the brain that controls emotions such as joy, anger
and fear.
T3
plays an important role in regulating activity of the three ‘feel good’
neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters have a powerful effect on your
emotions. These key neurotransmitters include serotonin, noradrenaline and GABA
(gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Serotonin
and noradrenaline are often referred to as the ‘happy’ messengers. They boost
your mood. Serotonin also helps regulate sleep and hunger.
Chronic
stress can lower both serotonin and noradrenaline production. GABA is often
referred to as the ‘calming’ messenger. It helps keep you relaxed and focused.
T3
regulates the action of serotonin, adrenaline and GABA. If you do not have
enough T3, or the action is blocked, production of these neurotransmitters can
be affected.
Could it be hypothyroidism?
Individuals
with depression, anxiety, or some type of serious psychiatric illness should be
screened for hypothyroidism.
According
to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, “The diagnosis of
subclinical, or clinical hypothyroidism must be considered in every patient
with depression’.
It’s
possible an individual could experience a significant shift in their mood, and
cognitive function if an underlying thyroid disorder is addressed.
SPECIAL
NOTE:
This ‘Hypothyroidism and Depression’ article is for educational purposes to
assist you in living well. It should not be used as a substitute for the advice
provided by your medical practitioner.
If
you suspect you are experiencing depression, promptly seek professional advice.
Do not cease taking your prescribed medication without the consent of your
medical doctor.
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
Trans
fats are considered the most harmful type of dietary fat for you and your
family. Small amounts of trans fats are naturally found in meat and dairy
products. However the main dietary source is processed foods.
Trans
fats can be synthetically produced and are routinely used in a wide variety of
foods found in your local supermarket.
They
are highly favoured by food manufacturers as they add texture to a food product
and extend shelf life.
Trans
fats are found in processed foods such as deep fried foods, margarine,
commercial baked goods (doughnuts, biscuits, cakes, chips and crackers) and
microwave popcorn.
Trans
fats can be listed on a food label with vague names such as ‘hydrogenated oils’
or ‘partially hydrogenated vegetable oils’.
What are trans fats?
Trans
fats are formed by turning liquid vegetable oils into solid fats. This
industrial process is termed ‘hydrogenation’. Ongoing scientific evidence
confirms a diet high in trans fats will increase a persons’ risk of developing
heart disease and diabetes.
Increasing
consumer awareness is driving the demand to ban the use of this deadly food
ingredient. Prohibiting its use would definitely be a step in the right
direction.
The
USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently acknowledged that reducing
trans fat intake could prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths.
Truth in labelling trans fats
Trans
fats are produced on an industrial scale to fuel demand by large food
manufactures. They are found in an extensive range of popular food products.
Due
to lax labelling laws food manufacturers do not always declare that a food
product contains trans fats. This means you could be unknowingly consuming
these dangerous fats as part of your daily diet. Until food companies provide
more truth in labelling this risky food ingredient can easily find its way into
your shopping trolley.
You are what you eat {literally!} Trans fats and your thyroid
Our
bodies are constantly regenerated from the food we consume. This means we are
what we eat, literally. Any type of dietary fat, good or bad has the potential
to be used by the body. Your body needs dietary fat to store energy, to provide
structure to cell membranes, and to make important vitamins and hormones.
The
body does not require trans fats. In fact these fats are very harmful to the
body at a basic cell level. Each cell of your body is surrounded by a fatty
membrane. When a cell is healthy the outer membrane is flexible. This allows
nutrients to pass in and unwanted substances to pass out.
When
a cell membrane is constructed using hardened and unhealthy fats it becomes
rigid. The function of the entire cell is then compromised. This can easily
occur in the specialized thyroid cells.
Trans
fats are very damaging to the thyroid cell membranes. When the cells are
compromised it can undermine healthy day-to-day thyroid function.
A
natural thyroid diet that emphasizes plenty of fresh unprocessed foods is an
important step to eliminate trans fats intake. Good quality butter, coconut
oil, macadamia nut oil and extra virgin oil are all sources of beneficial
dietary fat that will not harm 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
