Thyroid Gland

What is the Thyroid Gland & How It Works

Our thyroid, one of our most important endocrine glands, greatly influences almost every cell in our body. Aside from regulating our metabolism by releasing the essential hormones, the thyroid is also imperative for the growth and development in children, as well as nearly every physiological process in our body.
When our thyroid levels are out of equilibrium, so are we. Too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) hormone secretion can cause issues for our overall health.

Deprived thyroid function has been linked to health conditions such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel disease, vitiligo, gum disease, infertility in women and autoimmune diseases, which is why it's vital to learn how our thyroid works and what can cause it to go off-kilter.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland found inside our neck, right under our larynx or voice box. It has two lobes on each side of the windpipe that are connected by a tissue called the isthmus.

A normal thyroid gland weighs everywhere between 20 and 60 grams (0.7 to 2.1 ounces).
Our thyroid is responsible for producing the master metabolism hormones that control every function in our body. It produces two hormones:

• Triiodothyronine (T3)
• Thyroxine (T4)

Hormones secreted by our thyroid interact with our mitochondria, causing an increase in nutrient breakdown and production of ATP. The fact that these hormones play important roles throughout our body explains why a less-than-optimal thyroid status is associated with many widespread symptoms and diseases.
Almost 90% of the hormone produced by our thyroid is in the form of T4, the inactive form. Our liver then converts the T4 into T3, the active form, through deiodination.

If everything is working properly, we will make what we need and have the accurate amounts of thyroid hormones, which manage the metabolism of every cell in our body.
If our T3 is insufficient, either by scarce production or by not converting properly from T4, our whole system suffers. T3 is critically important because it plays a role in burning fat in our body. In one study, researchers noted that when they increased T3 levels in participants, weight loss occurred.

What Affects Thyroid Health & Ways to Strengthen It

4 Things That Can Affect Our Thyroid Health
These are some key causal aspects that can ruin our healthy thyroid function:

1. Gluten — Gluten is a notorious culprit of thyroid dysfunction, as it can cause inflammation and autoimmune responses in many people, and can be responsible for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Gluten sensitivity can cause our gastrointestinal system to break down, so foods we eat aren't completely digested, which may lead to leaky gut syndrome, allowing bacteria and other toxins to enter our bloodstream. This link becomes more apparent as one study highlights a connection between autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease, a gluten-related autoimmune condition that damages our small intestines.

2. Soy — Soy is not the wholesome health food the agricultural and food companies have led us to believe.

There are studies explaining the danger of soy foods such as their anti-nutrients, impact on digestive health and goitrogens that affect thyroid function.
Properly or traditionally fermented, organic, non-GMO and unprocessed soy products such as natto, miso, and tempeh are fine - it's the unfermented soy products we should stay away from, like soy "meat," soy milk and soy cheese.

3. Bromine — Bromine is a common endocrine disruptor found in fire retardants. Evidence shows that this compound may affect proper thyroid function, as well as hormone transport.

When we ingest or absorb bromine, it displaces iodine, and this iodine shortage leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast, thyroid gland, ovary and prostate cancers that we see at alarmingly high rates today. This phenomenon is significant enough to have been given its own name: the Bromide Dominance Theory.
In addition, when food becomes tainted with bromine, it may cause nausea and vomiting.

Bromine can be found regularly in a number of places, including:

• Pesticides for agricultural applications
  
• Plastics such as those used to make common consumer products
• Bakery products such as flour
• Soft drinks that have citrus flavor — in the form of brominated vegetable oils (BVOs)
• Swimming pools as an alternative to chlorine
• Fire retardants to prevent fires from occurring

To achieve the best thyroid health possible, proper lifestyle changes are suggested. Try avoiding products and environments that can expose you to bromine.

 4. Stress and adrenal function — Stress is one of the worst thyroid offenders. Our thyroid function is intimately tied to our adrenal function, which is affected by how we deal with stress.

Many of us are almost always under chronic stress, which results in increased adrenal stress hormones and cortisol levels, and elevated cortisol has a negative impact on thyroid function. Thyroid hormone levels decrease during stressful times.
When stress becomes chronic, the flood of stress chemicals, adrenaline and cortisol, produced by our adrenal glands interfere with our thyroid hormones, causing a whole range of health-related issues like obesity, high blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol. It also affects our glucose metabolism.

Best Weapon Against Thyroid Problems

Iodine is perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle when it comes to thyroid hormones. It's an important nutrient found in every organ and tissue. It's essential for healthy thyroid function and efficient metabolism, and evidence shows that low iodine levels relate to numerous diseases.

Iodine is a potent antibacterial and antiviral agent. It has other significant roles in our body, namely to maintain proper metabolic function, develop brain and cognitive function in children and strengthen your immune system. Though thyroid health is often associate with iodine, deficiency in this nutrient can affect human biology in several ways.

Some noteworthy examples include:

• Cretinism — This is a form of intellectual disability documented in children, along with other symptoms such as dwarfism.
  
• Goiter — One study shows that inadequate iodine levels may lead to nontoxic nodular goiter.
  
• Pregnancy problems — One study shows that iodine deficiency may lead to pregnancy-related complications such as stillbirths, congenital anomalies and increased infant mortality.
  

The Total Diet Study, performed by the FDA, reported an iodine intake of 621 micrograms for 2-year-olds between 1974 and 1982, compared with 373 micrograms between 1982 and 1991. One probable reason for the reduced iodine intake through the years is its disappearance from our food supply because of iodine-deficient soil

How to Increase Your Iodine Levels Naturally

Sadly, up to 30% of the population worldwide could be at risk for iodine deficiency. In fact, iodine deficiency is one of the three most common nutritional deficiencies, along with iron and vitamin D. Here are some helpful strategies to increase our iodine levels naturally:

1. Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly to minimize your pesticide exposure.

2. Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels.

3. If you have to eat grain, look for organic whole grain breads and flour. Grind your own grain, if possible. Look for the "no bromine" or "bromine-free" labels on commercial baked goods.

4. Avoid sodas. Make natural, filtered water your beverage of choice.

5. If you own a hot tub, look into an ozone purification system. Such systems make it possible to keep the water clean with minimal chemical treatments.

6. Look for personal care products that aren't laced with toxic chemicals. Remember: Anything you put on your skin can potentially go into your bloodstream.

7. When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation. Utilize fans to circulate the air. Chemical pollutants are in much higher concentrations inside buildings (and cars) than outside.

Simple Steps We Can Do to Improve Our Thyroid Health

Here are simple ways that we can take in order to improve the performance of our thyroid:

• Identify and treat the underlying causes — Find out what's really triggering your thyroid problems — whether it's iodine deficiency, hormone imbalance, environmental toxicity or inflammation — to address it appropriately. For best results, consult an integrative medical practitioner.
  

• Load up on fresh iodine-rich foods — As an alternative to iodine supplementation, eat toxin-free seafood such as seaweed, sardines and Alaskan salmon. However, make sure that these are harvested from uncontaminated waters. Eggs and dairy products such as grass fed milk, yogurt and cheese contain iodine as well.
  

• Avoid gluten — A 2019 study stated that avoiding gluten, or undergoing a gluten-free diet may benefit our thyroid, especially to those who have autoimmune thyroid disease.
  

• Minimize stress levels — Take a break, meditate, soak in the tub, go on vacation — do whatever works for you.
  

• Make an effort to limit your exposure to toxins — As mentioned earlier, exposure to environmental pollutants may increase our risk of thyroid cancer. Examples include BPA and phthalates.
  

• Exercise — Research shows that getting regular exercise may help reduce the risk of cancer. Walk your dog in the park, jog in the morning and incorporate strength training and other core-building routines.
  

• Avoid all sources of bromine as much as possible — Bromines are a menace to our endocrine system and are present all around us. Despite a ban on the use of potassium bromate in flour by the World Health Organization, bromines can still be found in some over-the-counter medications, foods and personal care products. Being a savvy reader of labels can save you from tons of toxic trouble.
  

• Get adequate amounts of sleep — Inadequate or low-quality sleep can put our health at risk. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology notes that participants "with greater insomnia scores, especially non-obese women, had a significantly increased risk of thyroid cancer."
  

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