We created a new webcast, “A Deeper Look at Thyroid”. It is probably one of the most detailed thyroid trainings we’ve created.
(If you would prefer to listen or watch then read, you can do that here: https://naturalhormonebalance.co/free-training-thyroid-gut-adrenal/)
What it made me realise, is that we needed to explain a few things a bit further.
When we work with our patients, the key difference between us and other clinics, is we can’t just look at your hormones or just your metabolic hormones or just your gut or just do a detox.
We look at the full picture.
If we do pathology, sometimes we’re looking at your stool, your urine, sometimes we even look at your vaginal mucous – in addition to your blood work.
And whilst bacteria plays a big part on digestive symptoms and the immune system (or autoimmune conditions – like Hashimoto’s), it isn’t just the gut that needs to be looked at.
That’s why today, I want to dig deeper into what else you may need to look at when it comes to thyroid dysfunction.
Active Free T3 is the thyroid hormone that energises the body.
It’s the active thyroid hormone that touches every cell in the body.
But Active Free T3 is made active through a T4 conversion that converts through the liver and the gut.
So today, I want to discuss three big points.
- The Liver (where 80% of the Active T3 Conversion happens),
- The Gut (where 20% of the Active T3 Conversion happens), and,
- The Adrenal System.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, have had a thyroidectomy, or feel like you’re borderline hypothyroid, these three points are important to understanding to supporting healthy metabolic function.
The Liver
Function of the Liver
The liver is an important organ that is responsible for a multitude of processes: it filters the blood, stores glucose for energy, produces and secretes bile for fat digestion, and is necessary for converting T4 to the active T3 hormone. It’s also our primary detoxification organ.
The elimination of toxins is done through a two-step enzymatic process.
In the first step (known as Phase I), fat-soluble toxins undergo processes such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration, and dehalogenation. The toxins are metabolised into intermediary substances that make them easier to process as they move along and prepare for the next phase.
In the second step (known as Phase II), the substances undergo conjugation, sulfation, glucuronidation, glutathione conjugation, acetylation, amino acid conjugation, and methylation reactions. These processes detoxify the substances and make them water-soluble so they can be excreted via the stool or urine.
Think of the liver as an office worker who needs the right kind of tools to process an incoming stream of paperwork.
Modern medicine makes an assumption is that our body naturally detoxes, like it’s a naturally occurring event. This is one of the main reasons doctors suggest diet and an exercise – as it helps with that natural detoxification.
We actually find that most of our patients are suffering from poor detoxification and may have a toxic overload.
Note: Liver detoxification is a serious thing. Please do with an experienced practitioner as consequences of too much stimulation can cause adverse reactions. Even creating food allergies that are onset because of detox overload.
In fact, two things are very important to know if you are feeling like something isn’t quite right with your thyroid as it pertains to the liver:
- Having an adverse reaction to foods, dust, grass, animals, or supplements is often a result of toxic buildup and a signal of an overburdened detoxification system.
- If your liver is impaired, your body may be unable to convert T4 to the Active T3 hormone correctly, which can cause symptoms of hypothyroidism.
It’s important to have sufficient levels of Active T3 as it’s our “go” hormone that tells our body to grow hair, boost metabolism, and create more energy!
Those with autoimmune conditions are especially prone to liver congestion. This risk can increase when one’s intestines are damaged.
The Gut
Which leads me to why the gut is so important.
A healthy intestine allows for nutrients to be absorbed and blocks the absorption of toxins and pathogens. Studies have shown that everyone with an autoimmune disorder, including Hashimoto’s, has some degree of intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut.”
The gaps in the gut allow for irritating molecules and substances to “leak” into the bloodstream. A leaky gut can result in the absorption of potentially problematic substances and lead to impaired detox abilities.
The gut plays two key roles in thyroid function:
- The Immune System
You know how when you are sick, you often feel the need to rest or sleep? Active Free T3 is your “go” hormone. 80% of your immune system sits in your gut. This is the simplest way to see an every day impact of poor gut function impairing energy.
The other side that many do not think of is how coming off the back of being sick or a low immune system can impact your energy and your thyroid, which impairs your metabolism. We do cover this in more detail on the A deeper looking into thyroid webcast here: https://naturalhormonebalance.co/free-training-thyroid-gut-adrenal/ - IBS, Constipation, Reflux, Indigestion, and/or Leaky Gut
What’s fascinating to see is the correlation of thyroid challenges and digestive issues.
Many of our patients suffering from lower and/or upper digestive challenges, often experience metabolic changes in their life.
Constipation is a listed symptom of hypothyroidism; however, the question we continue to ask is the whether constipation is the reason.
If you aren’t able to clear bile, or bacteria is going into the blood stream, or overgrown in the small intestine, this has an impact on the T4 to Active Free T3 conversion.
A common scenario we see is patients between the ages of 38 to 50 with a history of constipation or IBS and a newfound thyroid diagnosis and/or thyroid concern.
The Adrenal System
Now-a-days, women are under a significantly higher amount of stress on a daily basis then historically.
The adrenal system can play a big part in not just thyroid function, but increased symptoms of other underlying conditions in the body (even worsening of SIBO or leaky gut).
Naturally, between 40 and 55, during peri-menopause, the adrenal system is triggered (via the HPA Axis) due to the decrease in progesterone at this time.
When there is additional stress at this time, like the loss of a loved one, divorce, stress at work, many women can feel like an alien climbed into their body. This is often because the adrenal system has gotten involved.
The HPA Axis is the connection between the adrenal system and the thyroid hormones.
- The Hypothalamus gland does two very important things, as it pertains to the adrenal system, and the thyroid. First, it produces oxytocin, the feel good hormone, that neutralises cortisol. And second, it tells the pituitary gland to release TSH.
- The Pituitary gland releases the TSH that tells the thyroid gland to release T4 and T3.
- The Adrenal gland is our flight and fight mechanism that sends several hormones, most notably cortisol (the stress hormone).
When the body is under stress, it’s common for women to feel thyroid-related disruption. And certain women need to watch stress more than others.
I liken cortisol to an amplifying hormone.
If there is something wrong, it’s common for it to be amplified, especially if you experiencing peri-menopause.
Thyroid symptoms are the most common largely due to HPA axis.
And if cortisol continues due to ongoing stress, it’s a big cause for poor sleep or inability to stay asleep.
Poor sleep impact the immune system and thyroid hormones. Which can further increase thyroid anti-bodies, worsen fatigue, or augment other conditions happening in the body.
Summary
If you are noticing thyroid related symptoms, please don’t just write it off.
“We are the canaries in the coal mines, and our symptoms are the signs of the invisible dangers surrounding us.” – Dr. Isabella Wentz, The Thyroid Doctor
Whilst stress is a normal part of every day life now-a-days, it’s important to support your nervous system so that cortisol doesn’t get the chance to amplify hormones in the wrong direction.
Even if your pathology says that everything is okay, that doesn’t mean that you have to accept your symptoms until it’s so dangerous that you require medication.
There’s quite a bit that you can do. We have medical doctors from all across the world come to see what we are doing with herbal medicine and nutrition because we are getting incredible results with our patients.
If you’d like to learn more, we put together several case studies and a detailed explanation on our webcast, A deeper look at thyroid function. It’s a one hour presentation. You can reserve a spot or watch a replay by going to this link here: https://naturalhormonebalance.co/free-training-thyroid-gut-adrenal/
If you would like to start support and get feeling like your old self again, we offer a Free Introductory Consultation. You can organise that here: https://calendly.com/nz-naturopathy/intro-consult
Look forward to connecting with you again soon!
Warmly,
Tiaan
