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Monday, April 3, 2017

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

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.

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.



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.

Read the following related articles:











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



Friday, March 31, 2017

Why Low T3 + T4 Can Trigger Thyroid Hair Loss?

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.

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:











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


Thursday, March 30, 2017

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Basal temperature testing is a simple, at home test to diagnose whether your thyroid is functioning normally. All that is required is a good quality thermometer. Read on to find out more.

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.



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:










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



Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Why is Bradycardia Often Associated with Hypothyroidism?

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.

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:















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



Tuesday, March 28, 2017

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.




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:














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




Monday, March 27, 2017

Why a Gluten Free Diet can Help Thyroid Health?

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



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.

Watch this Video Below Here – My Gluten Free Diet - What I Eat


The modern problem with wheat

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.






Coeliac disease

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.

The Natural Thyroid Diet.The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly recommends excluding all gluten foods from your diet. This forms a part of a holistic plan to recover your thyroid health. If you do not have a copy of this eBook you can get instant access on the order page.

Read the following related articles:














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



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