Thyroid Fatigue… Tune into Your Hormones!

image

 

Our thyroid gland is considered the battery of our entire body.  Thyroid hormone function is extremely important for the metabolism of every cell in the body, including the brain.  In today’s medical world some of the most prestigious doctors are always ready, willing, and available to sever this connection!

There are similar symptoms of fatigue and anxiety that may prevent us from knowing the true cause, as to why we are not feeling well.  For instance: Hypothyroidism symptoms are very similar to the ones experienced by Adrenal Stress and Chronic Fatigue sufferers.  When we are lethargic, experience brain fog, joint pain, mood swings, sensitivities to gluten or live on caffeine – our thyroid and adrenal glands may need a tune up!

Recent evidence supports that both thyroid and adrenals can become dysfunctional through stress, heavy metal toxicity, and nutritional deficiency.  With an increased toxic load, we discovered we’ve lost our spark and can’t find our drive.  Hence it has been labeled “ACQUIRED THYROID ADRENAL FATIGUE SYNDROME”.(1)

To make matters worse, several M.D’s don’t really believe in dietary intervention when it comes to thyroid or adrenal fatigue.(2)

Desperate- we reach for our caffeine and sugar fix and continue the downward spiral of fatigue.  If we’re lucky, we find there’s no amount of coffee or sugar that will fix us.  In fact-these two notorious hijackers create additional hormonal disruption such as: Insulin Resistance.  If we begin with just one“bite size step” to balance just one hormone in our body, the first choice would be insulin.  Because “Insulin Resistance” worsens thyroid function. (3)

Insulin Resistance can have several causes.  The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO’s, including insulin regulation, immune problems, accelerated aging, and changes in the gastrointestinal system.”  They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects.”  Research published in 1998 (the journal Diabetes) reported that “nearly two-thirds of the test subjects who were insulin resistant also had high blood pressure.”

This is the crucial connection between insulin resistance, thyroid disorders, HBP and adrenal fatigue.

Insulin resistance and high cortisol levels can be caused by consuming a poor diet containing too many carbs, and too little good fats in the diet.”  You may not know that cortisol contributes to the control of sugar metabolism.  It affects fat and protein metabolism.  “If cortisol levels remain elevated longer than 10 days, then there are marked imbalances in your glucose metabolism, immune system, and thyroid hormone.”(4)  

So rather than simply taking thyroid medication, it is very important to identify the “underlying root causes” of low thyroid or thyroid cancer.  Simply taking thyroid hormone replacement drugs for a lifetime does not feed the thyroid or correct the problem.

A quote from David Frahm, N.D. states, “instead of feeding the thyroid and bringing it back into full function in the body, they’re using medications to simply by-passing it.”

 

Risky Business

Certain medications, including aspirin, have a suppressant effect upon the thyroid gland.  “The Journal of Endocrinology tells us that aspirin, has an immediate anti-thyroid action and hypothyroidism is often the result of its use.”(5)

Research tells us there are skin cancers associated with medications, (such as immunosuppressive therapies for autoimmune disorders,) that include Graves Disease.(6)   And there are risks involved after “thyroid radioactive therapy” such as second hand cancers.(Leukemia) (7)

The thyroid gland sits on our voice box.  We may find it difficult at times expressing ourselves or communicating our needs.  Emotional issues can play a roll in thyroid fatigue.  Most find a quick fix with anti-depression therapy.  What we may not know is anti-depressants can diminish thyroid function even further, as a side effect.(11)

 

What can you do?

Optimize your Gut Health First

There are studies suggesting thyroid imbalances are caused from nutritional imbalances.  (These include a poor diet laced with junk and processed foods, gluten, sugar, food allergies, and alcohol)  Simply put-when we eat too many refined carbohydrates and sugar, our body will produce too much insulin.

Lectins

“Cow’s milk, soy beans, wheat, peanuts, and potatoes can contain lectins.  Lectins can contribute to eroding our intestinal barrier (leaky gut).  Because the lectins also circulate throughout the bloodstream they can bind to any tissue in the body, such as the thyroid and pancreas.” (8)

Oils

Be aware that most commercial salad dressings and mayonnaise contain soybean oil or another vegetable oils.  You may benefit from preparing your own salad dressings and taking them with you when you travel or eat out.

Coconut oil increases metabolism.  This can be good news for people who suffer with low thyroid function. There have been scores of testimonies to this effect.

Water

Fluoride is found in city water, medications, drinks, juices, teas, vitamins, mouthwash and toothpaste which can negatively effect the function of the thyroid.  Fluoride is an excitotoxin, which can be linked to thyroid disorders.  Find a water filter that removes fluoride.

Metals

“Toxic metals like lead interferes with calcium metabolism and can contribute to thyroid imbalance.” “Cadmium interferes with zinc and calcium. This can contribute to symptoms of thyroid hyperactivity. However, cadmium interferes with other enzyme systems, often causing symptoms of fatigue and lowered thyroid activity.”(9)
“Mercury and copper toxicity interfere with thyroid activity and can result in lowered thyroid activity. Copper exerts an attenuating (weakening) effect on thyroxin, the secretion of which is diminished in hypothyroidism.  Milk frequently contains copper which it accumulated passing over heated copper rollers while it is being pasteurized, or being transported in copper containers…”(10)

 

Conclusion

This information may be contrary to medical belief, but we really do need our thyroid and all glands and organs in our body.  Why?  Because they work together synergistically.

There are long-term consequences, when we deny ourselves proper nutrients and ignore the red flags that play a roll in thyroid fatigue.  If you are looking for a quick fix, relax there is none.  Get the positive support you deserve .. connect here.   Thyroid & Adrenal Fatigue are reversible when we build the immune system and give the body permission to heal itself….

 

 

Connie Rogers is a Certified Integrative Nutritional Holistic Health Coach, Radio Show Host, Reiki Master, a Certified Cosmetologist and Esthetician for 37 years.  Founder and Owner of www.Bitesizepieces.net and www.weightlossforlifechange.com .  She coaches and supports men and women with programs such as: Tune up your Hormones, Cancer Prevention, Reversing Diabetes,  Skin Health from Within and Weight Loss for Life.  Her expertise lies in toxins that can disrupt our skin, metabolic and endocrine health.  I invite you to connect on Facebook here.  www.facebook.com/ReverseageWellnessSpa

 

footnotes

1-http://healthworksimc.com/articles/Thyroid-Adrenal-Fatigue-Syndrome.pdf
2- http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-08-21/health/ct-met-adrenal-fatigue-20100821_1_adrenal-failure-adrenal-glands-unexplained-fatigue
3-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19633072
4-http://healthworksimc.com/articles/Thyroid-Adrenal-Fatigue-Syndrome.html
5-The Journal of Endocrinology (November, 1953) tells us that aspirin, . . . has an immediate anti-thyroid action and hypothyroidism is often the result of its use.” –EOCD, pp. 760
6-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20551958
7-http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/vol-4-issue-7/vol-4-issue-7-p-12/  see also http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/endo-meetings.2014.THPTA.9.OR52-2  see also http://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/head-neck-cancer/news/print/hemonc-today/%7Bbd702a62-fa09-425d-a53c-a0b98b597dac%7D/radioactive-iodine-therapy-associated-with-increased-second-malignancies-in-low-risk-thyroid-cancer
8-http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/studies-showing-adverse-effects-of-dietary-soy-1939-2008/
9-http://www.arltma.com/Articles/HypothyroidismDoc.htm
10-Rodale &  http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/thyroid.htm
11- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9571980

 

 

 

 

Connie Rogers
Connie Rogers is a Certified Integrative Nutritional Holistic Health Coach, Published Author, Certified Skin Health Educator for 40 years, Expert in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses for endocrine, metabolic, and skin health.

Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding well-being from the ground up. As she works with each client, together they open a door that empowers them to rewrite their life, one bite size step at a time!