Déséquilibres hormonaux (5_5)_ THYROÏDES-2

Hormonal imbalances (5/5): Thyroid - regulator of vital energy - archetype of the young girl.

https://www.thierrysouccar.com/sante/info/les-4-causes-dhypothyroidie-2867
  • They regulate almost all activities of our cells
  • Regulation of our body's sensitivity to other hormones - which explains why an imbalance of thyroid hormones will generally be accompanied by another hormonal imbalance
  • Regulation of metabolism : they regulate how quickly we burn calories - hence the weight gain when the thyroid gland is underactive.
  • Regulation of body temperature - if hypofunction, there is an "internal cold" (cold hands and feet + sensitivity to cold, because one cannot warm oneself)
  • Regulation of mood and cognitive function (memory)
  • Regulation of libido
  • Regulation of digestive function
  • Regulation of heart rate
  • Regulation of muscle energy
  • Ensure fetal growth and proper brain development
  • Hair loss , this includes loss of eyebrows
  • Dry and brittle hair
  • Dry skin
  • Thin and brittle nails
  • High cortisol
  • Rapid weight gain and difficult to lose even with a balanced diet
  • Water retention , especially in the ankles, wrists or fingers
  • Slowing of intestinal transit , see constipation
  • Little or no sweating during exercise
  • Migraines or headaches persist
  • High cholesterol level
  • Cold feet and hands even if it is not cold
  • Very sensitive to cold
  • Very tired overall, especially when waking up.
  • Depression or low mood
  • Infertility or repeated miscarriages
  • Very heavy periods or other menstrual cycle disturbances
  • Family history of hypothyroidism
  • Autoimmune disease: Hashimoto's thyroiditis where your own immune system attacks the thyroid gland. I will definitely do an article around this topic, because the supposed cause of this disease is genetics, but for me the role of good gut health is the basis of prevention.
  • Iatrogenic: consequence of pharmacological treatment of hyperthyroidism or treatment with Lithium (treatment of bipolar disorders), interferon (treatment of viral hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, etc.), amiodarone (treatment of certain cardiac disorders, etc.)
  • Thyroid gland removal
  • Radiation around the neck or upper chest
  • Congenital disease
  • Pregnancy: Some women may develop antibodies to the thyroid gland during or after pregnancy, resulting in hypothyroidism. This can result in an increased risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and preeclampsia.
  • Iodine deficiency , which comes from diet. Since 1993, WHO has adopted a global policy of adding iodine to salt to prevent deficiency.
  • Perimenopause
  • Being exposed to certain endocrine disruptors
  • Stress: It decreases the amount of active thyroid hormones (T3) in addition to excess cortisol which weakens thyroid function.
  • Vitamin D deficiency : increases risk of autoimmune disease
  • Copper-Zinc Imbalance : Studies Suggest Correlation Between Copper-Zinc Deficiency and Hypothyroidism
  • If you find yourself with several signs of hypothyroidism , I advise you first of all to take this online test
    • Then ask your doctor to do a check-up to make sure your blood levels are balanced. Ideally, ask for TSH, T4, T3 and T3r , because often they only prescribe the check-up for TSH and T4 and this does not allow to see if the problem is for example in the conversion of T4 to T3 (most often in women who suffer from functional hypothyroidism or also called subclinical - with symptoms, but with a TSH above 2.5 and T4/T3 in the "normal")
    • If you have already been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism , I recommend this book to learn more and learn how to manage it as best as possible and independently: "End hypothyroidism - Dr Benoît Claeys"
  • What nutrients are important for proper thyroid function:
    • Vitamin D : it plays a role in the balance of the immune system and therefore protects against the development of autoimmune diseases. Studies have also demonstrated the relationship between low levels of vitamin D and autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland , even if we cannot know if it is a cause or a consequence, but it is important to fill the deficiencies/deficiencies in order to improve one's condition. Currently, the majority of the population suffers from a deficiency. To know your levels, you just need to have a blood test (it is not reimbursed by social security) which costs between 11-15€ depending on the laboratory.
      • If there is a deficiency or deficiency (or a vegetarian/vegan diet), it is essential to take supplements - on the market, you can find several vitamin D supplements and even those of plant origin. I will write an article on vitamin D.
      • For food sources:
        • Herrings
        • Sardines
        • Cod Liver Oil
        • Egg yolks, but not cooked: "soft-boiled egg"
        • Mushrooms
    • Iodine: the essential micronutrient for the thyroid gland. Be careful for all those who consume non-industrial salts (healthier), but which may not be sufficiently concentrated in iodine. In this case, I advise you to mix them with seaweed which is very rich , for vegetarians/vegans I recommend a supplement if you do not regularly consume seaweed.
      • Seaweed: wakame, nori, kombu, etc.
      • Cod
      • Shrimp
      • Yoghurt
      • Eggs
      • Plums
      • Mussels
      • Lima bean
    • Copper:
      • Oysters
      • Spirulina
      • Shiitake Mushrooms
      • Nuts and almonds
      • Sesame seeds and others
      • Green vegetables
      • Dark chocolate
    • Zinc: important element to increase the transformation of active thyroid hormone (T3)
      • Oysters
      • Seafood
      • Legumes: lentils, beans, etc.
      • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
      • Hemp seeds
      • Nut
      • Yoghurt
      • Potato
      • Dark chocolate
    • Selenium: which protects the thyroid against attacks by free radicals
      • Brazil nuts
      • Fish
      • Pork
      • Chicken
      • Brown rice
      • Sunflower seeds
      • Mushrooms
      • Spinach
  • Vitamin A
    • Cod Liver Oil
    • Sweet potato
    • Squash
    • Kale (gentle cooking)
    • Carrots (gently cooked with a little oil)
    • Red pepper (raw)
    • Spinach sprouts (raw)
  • Avoid eating too many raw brassicas : like broccoli, cabbage, etc. which are very beneficial for the elimination of estrogens, but which can reduce thyroid function. Eat with caution if hypothyroid . Same for isoflavones (soy)
  • Keeping the gut healthy: Another article I will do, because I want to explain to you why almost everything happens in the gut.
  • Stress, strong emotions or shocks : can have an influence on cortisol levels, I let you read the following article on this subject, the consequence of which is a risk of immune imbalance and therefore of development of an autoimmune disease (possibly Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or other if your genetic load is high).
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