Understanding Your Thyroid
The thyroid gland is a small gland located in the front of the neck. This gland, when it is not functioning optimally, can create havoc in our lives because it is responsible for making energy (working hand-in-hand with our adrenal glands); regulating metabolism to keep us at a healthy weight; keeping our moods happy and balanced; and providing sound sleep and smooth-flowing digestion. When any one of these things are out of whack, we simply don’t feel like ourselves.
In this article, we wanted to give you an idea of how the thyroid functions, what to test, what to look for, and how to eat and live to protect this gland. If you are not interested in the science behind the thyroid and want to skip ahead to how to directly boost your thyroid function with diet, supplements, and exercise, please skip to the end of the article.
Now for the science!
The thyroid makes thyroxin (thyroid hormone, or T4), which signals the cells to make energy. The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods (especially kelp and other kinds of seaweed), and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body that can absorb iodine. These cells combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4, which are then released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism (conversion of oxygen and calories to energy). Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism. The normal thyroid gland produces about eight percent T4 and about twenty percent T3, however, T3 possesses about four times the hormone strength as T4.
Testing The Thyroid and Interpreting Your Own Results
There are so many factors affecting this delicate gland, including a food and water supply that is now devoid of minerals, an overabundance of soy and gluten in the diet, sky-high stress and anxiety levels, and increased environmental radiation.
We suggest that all of our clients get their thyroid tested at least once a year, if not twice. When testing the thyroid, it is very important to test all five thyroid hormones and a sixth, reverse T3, if you have a history of thyroid problems or a family history of hypothyroidism, Graves', or Hashimoto’s Disease. Many doctors only test TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), but that is only looking at a small piece of the puzzle, and more often than not, lets thyroid issues go undiagnosed and untreated because patients still have all the symptoms of an underactive gland, such as bloating, inability to lose weight no matter how they eat and exercise, constipation, mental fog, and low energy.
Or worse, many times when TSH comes back too low, in lieu of looking deeper into the problem to see if a potential autoimmune issue is presenting with the presence of thyroid antibodies, a synthetic hormone such as synthroid is prescribed, ultimately causing the already wounded thyroid to work even harder. For a short time, people feel better, but after that window, they almost always feel worse because the root of the problem has not been addressed. What is hard for us to swallow is that many people live their whole lives just managing this and ultimately not experiencing even close to the quality of life they could have.
By reading our description below, you will be able to understand your own lab results and troubleshoot accordingly to protect your thyroid health.
The Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is manufactured in the hypothalamus and transported via the pituitary gland. Its job is to stimulate the thyroid to produce thryroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Basically, it is the first place to look to see if the thyroid is functioning correctly.
Free T4 measures the free, unbound thyroxine levels in your bloodstream. Free T4 is typically elevated in hyperthyroidism and lower in hypothyroidism. T4 has four iodine atoms, and it is a pro-hormone: it lives to become either T3 or RT3.
Triiodothyronine is the active thyroid hormone, and is also known as T3. Total T3 is typically elevated in hyperthyroidism and lowered in hypothyroidism. It is a tyrosine-based (amino acid) hormone.
Free T3 is the hormone that will tell you how much energy you are able to make, and translates to your sense of vibrancy and emotional wellbeing. It measures the free, unbound levels of triiodothyronine in your bloodstream. Free T3 is considered more accurate than Total T3. When the body needs energy, it removes an iodine atom from the T4 and turns it into T3, which, in turn, signals living cells to make energy (ATP). T3 allows the body to turn up the energy when it needs to.
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) testing lets you know if your thyroid is building up antibodies known as Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibodies. These antibodies work against thyroid peroxidase (indicating the thyroid is attacking itself), an enzyme that plays a part in the T4-to-T3 conversion and synthesis process. TPO antibodies can be evidence of tissue destruction and, more often than not, indicate Graves' or Hashimoto’s Disease. When this marker comes back positive, one should avoid gluten at all costs and check to see if a virus is present in the system with immunological testing. Once the GI tract is healed (eliminated of excess yeast, mold, parasites, or microscopic organisms, and the lining is strengthened), gluten is removed completely from the diet, and a virus protocol is administered, the thyroid can heal itself, and sometimes Graves and Hashimoto’s can be reversed. Of course, every case is unique and different.
Reverse T3 (RT3) is made by the body to tone down energy. It is made by removing a different iodine from T4. Like placing the wrong key in the ignition, it blocks the T3 (the working key) from signaling the cell to make energy. It allows the body to turn down the energy when it needs to.
Note: T4 will become T3, which causes energy (in the form of ATP) to be made in each living cell or Reverse T3 (RT3) and interferes with the energy production in the cell. Just as a car needs an accelerator and brakes to function properly, the same is true for the body. The body needs T3 (the accelerator) and RT3 (the brake) to manage its energy needs. When the body is under stress, instead of converting T4 into T3, the active form of thyroid hormone, the body conserves energy by making what is known as Reverse T3 (RT3), an inactive form of the T3 hormone.
Understanding the Hormonal Cascade that Begins in the Brain
With the hypothalamus/pituitary/thyroid connection, the thyroid gland is under the control of the pituitary gland, which is why we often address the pituitary gland first. It is a master gland in the brain that works under the influence of the hypothalamus to control the endocrine cascade. So not only the thyroid, but the adrenal glands are also responsible for producing cortisol and DHEA. These stress hormones, when balanced, can help the sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) to create their own level of homeostasis.
The body is an amazing organism and is consistently moving in a delicate dance to keep you healthy and balanced. When the level of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) drops too low, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones. Under the influence of TSH, the thyroid will manufacture and secrete T3 and T4, thereby raising their blood levels. The pituitary senses this and responds by decreasing its TSH production. One can imagine the thyroid gland as a furnace and the pituitary gland as the thermostat. Thyroid hormones are like heat. When the heat gets back to the thermostat, it turns off the thermostat. As the room cools (the thyroid hormone levels drop), the thermostat turns back on (TSH increases), and the furnace produces more heat (thyroid hormones). The pituitary gland itself is regulated by another gland, the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is part of the brain and produces TSH Releasing Hormone, which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland (release TSH). One might imagine the hypothalamus as the person who regulates the thermostat, since it tells the pituitary gland at what level the thyroid should be set.
Health and Nutrition Tips to Build and Boost the Thyroid
1. Avoid unfermented soy like the plague. Soy blocks the uptake of iodine to the thyroid, thereby starving it of the essential nutrients it needs to function. This means no tofu, no soy milk, no edamame, and no intentional use of soybean oil. Check all your labels, because soybean is genetically modified and made in excess in the United States, therefore it is very cheap and used in a ton of products. Wheat-free tamari (soy sauce), tempeh (like a veggie burger/tofu replacement), and miso (fermented soybean paste) are the only acceptable forms of soy.
2. Avoid gluten like the plague, too. Gluten is overly acid, genetically modified, overproduced, and, more often than not, devoid of nutrients (especially in the United States.). In the United States, our wheat contains three times the amount of gluten than the wheat in Europe or South America. It is overly acidic and causes immune antibody production in those with elevated TPO levels. There are so many other options today.
3. If you have had persistent thyroid issues, get yourself checked for an underlying virus (HPV and herpes can affect it as well). There are simple ways to clean up viruses from the system in a matter of months. For the viruses that cannot be totally eradicated, they can at least be cleaned up out of the bloodstream to remove the body burden and chased back deep inside the cells so it doesn’t adversely affect your health. If you want to check for this with your doctor, ask for these tests/markers below.
- Absolute CD3, CD4, and CD8 (three sets of T-cells)
- Natural Killer Cell Activity (function, not count)
- Immunoglobulin
- GHSV
- IgGEBV
- IgGCMV
- IgGIL-1B, IL-4, TNF
- alpha C-reactive protein
When a virus is present in the system, it is like going against the wind. Whatever you do to boost the thyroid will be in vain, until you remove the wind (virus) so the thyroid can fly.
4. If you have Hashimoto's or Graves’ Disease, or if your thyroid report comes back with positive thyroid antibodies or high TPO, then I would highly suggest getting a parasite test (stool test called a GI pathogen test) because antibodies (Graves’/Hashimoto's) almost always correlate to a parasitic infection in the intestinal tract. At The Whole Journey, we like to run an eight-day test to get a full sample of the colon and to increase the accuracy of the results. Make sure your practitioner gives you at least a four-day stool test. Many MDs only run a one-day sample, and accuracy can be questionable with that little of information.
5. Eat seaweed and sea veggies often because they are the highest food in iodine. For ideas, check out our sea veggie recipes.
6. Only eat these vegetables cooked, not raw: cabbage, broccoli, rutabaga, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy, and watercress. They contain a chemical called goitrogen, that when eaten raw, can block thyroid hormone production. Cooking even partially inactivates goitrogen.
7. Avoid peanuts, too, because they contain goitrogens.
8. Get your gastrointestinal and adrenal health evaluated by a qualified holistic practitioner to look for root cause issues that must be concurrently addressed.
9. Melt two teaspoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil into hot water at night and drink it before bed. This will support GI and immune health, which indirectly assists the thyroid.
10. See our recipe for healing chicken bone broth in the recipe section. Drink one cup of that per day with Celtic sea salt (matches the exact mineral profile of our blood) with one teaspoon of kelp flakes.
11. Use one to two teaspoons of ghee (clarified butter with no milk solids) per day in cooking to strengthen GI and immune health.
For more information, we recommend the book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal by Dr. Datis Kharrazian.
I need this information from this category, I got such a good tips and suggestions from your site only. Thank you for your support to us. You made a good site it’s very interesting one and very help us.
I had a right hemi-thyroidectomy in 2005 due to Hashimoto’s and Herthle cells in a biopsy. That half came back cancer-free. Now a recent CT revealed I have “multiple nodules” on the remaining left half of my thyroid. It hurts, especially today after eating edamame and sushi last night (I forgot about those being off the fod list). How do I stop the pain? Does astaxanthin help the thyroid heal? Can I take anything to detox my body from the goitrogenic foods I ate yesterday and alleviate pain and swelling?
Hi Jana, Sorry to hear about the pain. It’s legally irresponsible for us to advise you outside of a program. Since you are under a doctors care we advise you follow up with them regarding pain relief. Continue to avoid aggravating foods and the inflammation should settle down shortly. All our best, Team TWJ.
I have had Hashimoto’s disease (hypothyroidism) for 11 years. Before being diagnosed I felt like death! I started out on Levoxyl 50 mcg. And eventually needed, over the course of time, up to 250 mcg. It made me felt better, however, my symptoms did not go away, joint pains, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, rough and dry skin, constipation, depression etc.Go grain free for hypothyroidism!
Yup, that’ll do it. You have my appreciation.
I have a doctor’s appointment next week and I think I’ll ask him to test it. Cause I’m at the heavies that I have ever been and I can’t lose the weight no matter what I do. It’s weird. I’ve never had this issue.
Amazing information. I have been on Levothyroxin for approximately 9 years. THe does has never been changed. I had a great physician that first diagnosed me with Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos disease. My T3 and T4 were not excessively low but she also ran a antibody yest and that showed my antibodies to be off the charts high!!!!! That is when I was put on levothyroxin. I since have a new doctor and all they ever test is my T3 and T4. I have had a goiter most of my life since I was like 6 years of age. They tell me I need to stay on the levo so that does not get any larger. I have had a scan done of my thyroid and they found it to be glanduar benign tissue. I do no think that it has grown, but I would really like to take control of my own thyroid health. I just had the T3 and T4 tested in Janaury of this year. My TSH result was 2.98. Two years ago it tested at 3.66. I just really feel like there is more going on. I can not loose an ounce, even though I eat barely any sugar. However since I found Thewholeourney.com, I will be revamping my entire way of life. I just need some assistance and guidance on what to do about the Hashimotos, and can i ever get off the levo? Since my leves are always in “normal range” they never want to test the antibodies. I am exhausted and gaining weight. I get more than 9-10 hours a sleep a night and do not wake up rested. What can I do on my own to improve my thyroid health? i love your site and love the thirst I now have for knowledge. Thanks for the great info!!!!!
I am so thankful for this article, it has given me more information in which I can do to help me. I have been taking Levothyroxine for about 4 years and it has not helped me not one bit. I am tired to the point where I can just wake up from a 6 to 7 hours of sleep and be tired within 45 minutes. I stay active while I am working, meaning I constantly get up from my desk, and I walk a half of a mile to work and a half of a mile home. I go to the gym 4 days out of the week and I still can’t lose weight, and I eat fairly healthy menu. In the morning I have 2 eggs whites, with onions, mushrooms, tomato’s, and bell peppers; 1 slice of wheat bread, and fruit. For lunch I eat tomato’s, cucumbers, carrots with vinegar and olive oil and either 1 piece of chicken breast or kidney beans. I am to the point where I am doing research to see what I can take naturally so that I don’t have to take my Levothyroxine, for they are doing nothing for me. If anyone who is hypothyroidism, that has any suggestions that worked for them please, please, please let me know.
Question: I know TSH is suppose to be between 1-2… But what does a normal TPO level read and what should Thyroglobulin Antibodies be at? – Thanks!
Just finished Phase I of the Candida Cleanse and still have persistent pain and stiffness. After reading this I have made a possible connection!!! I have had herpes for 20 years, I am 49 and the outbreaks have never slowed down. I have 2-3 outbreaks a year. I have one this week and noticed the severity of the joint and muscle pain is more acute in the affected areas behind the knees, neck, traps, low back and upper arms. I see my hormone doctor Thursday and printed this article for the proper testing. You mention a viral clean up, where can I get more information about this? This is so enlightening to me!!!!!!!!!
wonderful information, I had come to know about your blog from my friend nandu , hyderabad,i have read atleast 7 posts of yours by now, and let me tell you, your website gives the best and the most interesting information. This is just the kind of information that i had been looking for, i’m already your rss reader now and i would regularly watch out for the new posts, once again hats off to you! Thanks a ton once again, Regards, Prabhas body workout plan
You mention in this article, getting rid of viruses in the body in a matter of months to heal thyroid. I have hyperthyroidism. It’s a struggle. How do I get eradicate the viruses for better thyroid function? What’s protocol?
Your statement that when the TSH is low that medical doctors will give synthroid. This incorrect, low TSH indicates hyperthyroid situation and synthroid would be contra-indicated. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune dz that can initially present as hyperthyroid and eventually as the thyroid stops working becomes hypothyroid, but one must be careful it is not Grave’s dz.
I am 66 years old and had Hashimoto 25 yrs ago and was glad that I have been following the Adkins diet for many years that kept me away from bread. I have learned so much from your article and videos. This will help me to eat right and no gluten. I hope that it will help me manage my weight since I have been gaining weight and taking magnesium for constipation. Thank you.
Hi Christa,
Love you…you have so much knowledge to share. Viewed the Thyroid Sessions hosted by Sean C. Very informative and empowering.
What information is out there for those who received RAI TX who still don’t feel 100% well???
Would like to hear anything from you or anyone who has something to offer.
Much love and peace,
prabha mary
Hi, loving this site, so much great info!! You mention that it is possible to “clean up viruses from the system in a matter of months”. I am keen to find out how as I believe that that is a big part of my problem. Would be happy for some info :o)
Good post…visit our site for good tertments for Back Pain, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Thyroid. http://www.drbastomski.com/
Hi,
I’m being treated for hypothyriod for years with Armor thyroid. My recent thyroid panel came back showing that my levels were to high for once in my life and was advised to lower my dose. I did and 2 days after and since, I’ve have this burning bitter taste in my mouth when I’m not eating. Can the change in dose be related to the bitter taste?
Hello,
i had suffering with thyroid problem while am search Ur blog is very interesting to know the problem and its treatment.
I got this article from a friend of yours. I really need some help and this is the best info i have seen. Could you contact me?
Thank you so much for sharing Liz. It is so great that we have a community, so that maybe someone else can benefit from what we have learned. Please keep us posted on what you find!
Just wanted to put my info out there in hopes it may help someone else recognize symptoms and misdiagnosis in their own family. I am a 36yr old mother of 4 kids. I have been sick for years not knowing what it could be. I have been treated for hypothyroidism for 16yrs. Ive been prescribed adderall, Vitamins, antidepressants, anti-anxiety and pain meds over the years to help my symptoms all with no luck. I was beginning to think I was a hypochondriac. I have had all the typical symptoms over the years and they have slowly gotten worse. I started tying in things my family has been diagnosed with and now making a connection with symptoms in my own kids. I suffered from high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, and pre-term labor in all 4 pregnancies. Each baby had to be hospitalized for jaundice and respiratory distress. I had 2 babies with failure to thrive and developmental delays. 1 baby with low muscle mass/floppy and had to go to pt for months. Now kids are older and all 4 have ADD or ADHD, 1 with dyslexia, 2 with anxiety/depression, 5 yr old had to have gallbladder removed. Im hoping to stop any further damage to them with t4/t3 & antibody testing. So concerned because my mother and grandmother have suffered with hypothyroid like me but i believe they have been misdiagnosed for years and it has taken a toll on them and caused one problem to turn into another. They have both been diagnosed with EXACTLY the same things like heart failure, major depression, osteoporosis, arthritis, gallbladder/appendicitis, vitamin D deficiency, IBS, acid reflux, diabetes etc. Is this the road I am destined to go down if I dont get a proper diagnosis…my kids to follow…maybe even their children? No way! Hoping for some answers soon!
I have hypothyroidism and have been on levrothyroxine since i was pregnant with my first child. Recently, i have been having muscle cramps that strike without warning in my feet, hands, stomach, etc. I have never thought it could be my hypothyroidism causing it, but have to wonder now. Anyone else with this problem?
Suzanne- How great that you want to try and heal your thyroid naturally! Many of my clients were able to use food as medicine, evaluate the hidden stressors in their life, and would no longer need medication. We suggest working with a holistic practitioner, while you continue to make upgrades in your life to support the thyroid. But if you are on a such a low dose, you might look into take 500-1000mg of the amino acid l-tyrosine combined with 3000mg of kelp for a short while. Both will combine to make more thyroid hormone and balance the adrenals naturally.
Hi Care – It seems like the biggest issue with iodine is that many common foods such as soy, gluten and goitrogens block the uptake of iodine. We dive deeper into how to support the thyroid in our TWJ online course which will be available again in the early spring. Also chriskresser.com is a valuable resource for thyroid health and all things functional medicine. Too much niacin if not needed, can lower thyroid hormone levels which is why it’s important never to over-rely on an one isolated nutrient. Here’s more info on that: http://www.livestrong.com/article/470816-niacin-thyroid-disease/#ixzz2jib3irBo
Hi Nancy, thank you for sharing your journey! It is so tough to deal with health or thyroid issues ourselves, but definitely even harder to watch our children go through it. Great work in eliminating wheat and adding in things like coconut oil. As to your kale question, it is better to cook your kale when dealing with a thyroid issue. Also raw milk can be very healing, help digestive function and boost immunity. See this post for more information: http://thewholejourney.com/bacteria-and-raw-milk-a-very-healing-food. I responded to the rest of your questions via email. ?
Eileen -thanks for reaching out, it can be so frustrating to make great changes and feel like you aren’t getting any results! Working with a Naturopath is a great idea since we always want to get to the root cause. Check out one of our best articles about weight loss: http://thewholejourney.com/100-weight-loss-secrets-it-took-me-years-to-learn
If you want to keep adding in positive habits in a step by step way, consider signing up for TWJ online program which will be available again in the early spring. The program is built for you to go at your own pace and to approach your health from a place of loving, valuing, and respecting your body and its capacity for healing and wholeness.
Hi Veronica, I am glad that you found this information helpful, and diet is a great place to start! You can search for an Integrative MD, Functional Medicine Doctor or a FDN (Functional Diagnostic Nutrition) Practitioner in your area. Emily is also a nutritionist on my team and we can run all labs for Hashimoto’s and work remotely with clients. You can email Twila at [email protected] if you’d like to set that up. Alternatively, we are interviewing functional medicine doctors to put together a nationwide referral network, so please stay tuned.
I have been battling a weight problem for years. I can loose it with a struggle but can’t keep it off. I’ve gone wheat/grain and sugar free since July/13 and haven’t lost a single pound. I was told to get a full panel thyroid test but they won’t do that in Canada. I’m going to see a natrapath tomorrow. I hope she will do it. Anyone with any ideas would be welcome. I’m 67 years old, 164lbs and am 5′ tall. HELP
Hi Christa,
I am really glad I found your blog, videos, recipes, etc! Thank you for such an informative article and tips on what to do for testing and also with food for this issue. We were devastated when our 9 yr old daughter, Maggie, was diagnosed in Aug with Hashimoto’s. My mother-in-law also has this so we knew a little about it, but we were really hoping to hear something positive about a more natural route to help her. Maggie’s TSH started out at 93.35 and we started her on Armour Thyroid, but her Endocrinologist recommended Synthroid because it’s easier to regulate and they’re concerned about her growth and development. It has helped to get her numbers down to a little over 8, but I still wonder if there’s another way to help her. We’d love to be able to get her off the meds!
She has much more energy and is a little more like herself, but what’s worse is that she’s been fighting stomach pains/nausea and constipation for a long time. We’ve added more fiber, fruits and vegetables, juice, etc. We’ve eliminated wheat from her diet (and mine because I didn’t want her alone in this journey and I think I might also have thyroid issues…but that’s another story).
After reading your article and watching your video on the “4 changes to feel better in a wk”, I really think your ideas can make a difference for her and for myself. We have been using coconut oil for almost a year, although not as often as you suggest, and I’ve been using almond milk too. Is this something that is beneficial, or would raw milk still be better? I knew it was important to drink water, but we’ll definitely be drinking A LOT more after watching your video! WOW 😉 The kale thing is a little confusing…would we be better off cooking it vs. raw for us? I wrote down the tests you recommend to have taken and will be talking to her Dr on Monday to have them done. We’d appreciate any other advice you could give regarding thyroid issues, and the diet we should be focusing on for her. Thank you so much for all the information and helping people like ourselves to understand more about getting healthy in a natural way!
God bless,
Nancy 🙂
Thank you for all your info! I was diagnosed with a slightly low thyroid about 4 months ago. My doctor prescribed a low dose(25mcg) of a thyroid medication. My thyroid levels are now back up. I do not want to take this medication anymore & would like to go off it & try to correct it with diet if possible. Any suggestions? Can I stop taking the medication & do it naturally??
Thank you!
Hi Marion,
Thank you for your kind words and also for catching our typo in recommendation #9. Yes, it is coconut oil.
Hi : Just a quick question . Above, in the ” Health and Nutrition Tips to Build and Boost the Thyroid ” number 9 . it says ; ” Melt 2 teaspoons of organic extra virgin coconut into hot water at night ” Is it coconut or coconut oil or butter . ? Please guide , regards .
Thanks for for sharing this great piece of info .
I have just started a thyroid voyage with
what looks like a series of see – saw test
results , first result showing slight ‘hypo” then
results 3 weeks later showing normal . I am
surely now clearer about aspects of the thyroid ,
even though I find it all very scary . once again a
big thanks for sharing .
I’m going to the lab today for a thyroid test.
Is it possible to have an issue with iodine & that then affecting thyroid? Also, someone mentioned possible reaction to niacin being a problem? Appreciate any info related to thyroid by iodine or niacin when the body reacts negatively to them.
Thank-you for this information! I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 5 yrs ago. The Dr. who diagnosed me is no longer in the area. I can’t find a doctor who will run tests other than
TSH. Would be great to find a holistic practitioner in my area but I don’t even know how to begin to search for one. Am tired of being tired, sick and overweight! Will surely be changing diet!
Veronica
Thank you for this information. I have desperatley been searching for natural help for my throid problem Really hoping to be able to get off of levothyroxine some day!
Great article…I think heavy metal testing has to be mentioned since heavy metals can get in the way of the proper functioning of T4, T3, rT3, etc. At http://www.drmorsillo.com, we routinely run heavy metal testing for thyroid patients.
Hi Niccole:
Thank you for reading our blog. The Whole Journey is located in Encinitas, so our practitioners would be happy to work with you on your nutritional issues. Please contact us at [email protected] to arrange an initial consult. You may also check out our referral partners for any other type of discipline at http://thewholejourney.com/referral-partners. Thank you for your interest.
Can you recommend a holistic practitioner in the Encinitas area?
Whole-natural supplements and syethntic supplements are the two forms of thyroid supplements. It is almost always better to use a extract because the syethntic versions usually only comprise of one of the thyroid hormones, (such as, T3 or T4), whereas, whole-natural thyroids cover a fuller spectrum of thyroid hormones (including T1, T2, T3 and T4).
I am just starting this journey and am so appreciative of this information. Thank you so much.
Mrs O! You look great, I am sure. 🙂 So happy you are following our work and benefiting from it. Thanks for your comment and good luck with your thyroid. Maybe Dr. W should revisit your thyroid program.
Christa I really enjoyed this article very much…I have been batteling my thyroid for a year and a
half now… told I have an underactive thyroid… and exercise and still have bloating and can’t lose a pound.. I even take thyroid medicine and that doesn;t help… great article explaining how the thyroid works… very informative article… and thank you for sending me this email… i loved it..
Have to lose the weight for Lauren’s wedding.!!!
Sometimes I make a green drink and it has kale romaine lemon and 1 apple. Is raw kale in this form bad? I had an over active thyroid but after taking methmazole for a year it is now under active and I am putting on lots of weight. I am currently taking supplement called regenzyme thyroid and also a adrenale regenazyme.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this article. My 12 year old has been struggling with her weight since she has been little. We tried everything including thyroid tests, but not in this detail. We both have been so frustrated with the process. Now I have something to move forward with.