Understanding Thyroid Function
By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC.
It use to be a common occurrence for obese people to blame their weight on their thyroid, so much that it became quite a joke. But we may want to think of the “joke” as a possible cause of many maladies, including: inability to lose weight or rapid weight gain, brittle nails, cold hands and feet, constipation, depression, difficulty swallowing, tongue feels thick, dry skin, elevated cholesterol, fatigue, infertility, menstrual irregularities, nervousness, poor memory, low blood pressure and hair loss.
The thyroid is a small endocrine (ductless gland) located in the area of your Adam’s apple and has a large blood supply. It produces several hormones, most familiar is THYROXIN, which utilizes iodine to help regulate the release of energy from carbohydrates, metabolism. Thyroxin is also necessary for the circulation of fats in the body, the formation of protein, and the regulation of the calcium/phosphorus levels in the body. The thyroid also aids in the absorption of glucose, the secretion of insulin, respiratory rates, secretion of digestive enzymes, bowel movements, blood pressure and heart rate, the production of sex hormones, and our emotional state. Therefore, if this tiny little gland is the least bit off, our body can be affected in many ways.
The thyroid uses iodine more than any other organ in the body. (Next is breast tissue and there is a correlation to breast cancer, polycystic breasts and iodine.) Iodine molecules are attached to an amino acid to form thyroid hormones. Without a sufficient amount of iodine the thyroid functions improperly. We call this a goiter. The use of iodized salt provided just enough iodine to prevent goiters, but like a Margarita with all the ingredients but just a splash of tequila, it doesn’t quite work the same. It needs more! We often need more iodine than provided in salt, especially since so many people are now salt-free or on low salt diets. Iodine is also found in seafood and seaweeds, more popular in the Far East. In the U.S., seaweed is not high on the “must eat” list. In addition, some of us stay away from shellfish, another good iodine source, thinking it raises cholesterol. There is a direct relationship between low thyroid function and high cholesterol, so eating the shellfish may actually be beneficial. The message here is that we need to maintain a good source of iodine from foods or supplements, but there is another problem…
Iodine has a molecular structure similar to chlorine, fluorine and bromine. All four are called HALOGENS. These elements resemble iodine so closely that they can enter the iodine receptor sites and fool the body. We mostly get these dangerous iodine substitutes from our water supply. Fluoride is added to our water supply to prevent tooth decay but in reality it is a toxic waste.
Chlorine is in our water supply as well. Consider our pools and our cleansers and our tap water all contain chlorine. Mamma’s got the magic of bleach all right, but it is poisoning our bodies. Each time we take a shower, swim in a chlorinated pool, use bleach wipes, toilet cleansers and mildew removers we are taking in toxic fumes and exposing ourselves to potential health issues, including hindering our thyroid.
In addition, years ago iodine was found in baked goods. It was replaced with bromates (a form of bromine) cutting off that additional source of iodine.
There is a simple test you could all do to check if you are iodine deficient. Buy an inexpensive bottle of iodine at the drugstore. At night before bed, paint a circle about the size of a quarter on your stomach. If the circle is still there in the morning you may have sufficient iodine in your body. If it disappeared, as mine had, chances are you are iodine deficient. Now that doesn’t mean you take that iodine internally. IT IS A POISON!!! There are food sources but they require supervision.
I suggest you try adding sea vegetables to your diet. You can buy kelp in a shaker, which can be used on many foods. Sea vegetables like kombu, wakame, and arame are not only good sources of iodine, but are rich in other important nutrients and trace minerals, and should be a part of your regular diet. Give it a try!
Most doctors use thyroid testing to determine if the thyroid is functioning properly. Presently, a test called TSH (for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), which is one part of the thyroid panel, is the only test of concern for the conventional medical community. Some may look at T4 and T3 levels, but the TSH determine the treatment. You see, theoretically, the pituitary produces TSH to tell the thyroid to produce thyroxin. If the TSH level is “normal” it is assumed that the thyroid is producing enough hormone. If the TSH is low, the thyroid is producing too much so a feedback mechanism slows the TSH production in the pituitary gland. The opposite is also true; if the TSH goes up, it is believed that the pituitary is signaling more forcefully for the thyroid to produce more thyroxin. Sounds great, but it doesn’t always work that way.
Dr. Barnes believed that the conventional blood tests to check the thyroid were not always accurate so that many cases of sub clinical thyroid dysfunction went unnoticed. More than 50 years ago he found one common denominator in hypothyroidism patients, a low basal body temperature. After thousands of experiments, this was confirmed to be far more accurate than conventional testing of the thyroid. Presently, holistic physicians listen carefully to the patient’s symptoms, have the patient do a basal body temperature chart AND do a thyroid panel including free T3, free T4 and thyroid antibodies. It is only when equal weight is given to each piece of information that a careful and correct diagnosis can be made.
There is a simple self-test for thyroid function; although indicative, it is not conclusive. It is worth the effort. Have a conventional thermometer (not digital) shaken down and ready by the side of their bed at night. The first thing upon awakening, and before any movement, take your temperature under the arm for at least 10 minutes. Do not use an electronic thermometer, the old fashion works best. A temperature below 97.4 may indicate a sluggish thyroid even if your blood tests appear to be normal. Keep in mind that that there is a normal change in a woman’s temperature during ovulation; so try to take your temp at the beginning of your cycle.
If your basal body temperature is consistently low and your iodine spot disappeared from your stomach during the night and you are suffering from many of the symptoms mentioned, read Overcoming Thyroid Disorders, by Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., then armed with this information, ask your doctor to investigate a possible thyroid problem. Your doctor may brush you off but this book will prepare you to act from a position of intelligence and power. It is your body and you are really in control of your health so stand your ground. Maybe there really is a problem with “glands” and that’s why the weight won’t come off or your cholesterol is high. It’s worth checking out. Until next time…stay healthy.
Donna