Hypothyroidism - Michael T. Murray,. N.D.

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The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck below the

voice box. It is just about the same size and shape - and is in the

same location - as a small bow tie. The thyroid secretes two

hormones that are crucial for regulating metabolism:

triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

 

The numbers refer to the numbers of iodine atoms each molecule of

hormone contains. T4 is the major player, because it affects

virtually every cell in the body.

 

Hypothyroidism refers to a low level of thyroid hormone.

Hypothyroidism is a common problem, affecting perhaps one out of

five women and a smaller percentage of men.

 

If your thyroid activity is reduced, your body may not respond as

well as it should to nutritional or supplemental strategies. For

that reason, a crucial step in attaining or maintaining good health

is to make sure your thyroid is working properly.

 

Since thyroid hormones affect every cell of the body, a deficiency

or hypothyroidism will usually result in a large number of signs and

symptoms including low body temperature, intolerance to cold, weight

gain or an inability to lose weight, depression, lack of

concentration, hair loss, and fatigue. Hypothyroidism is an

extremely common condition that is estimated to affect nearly 20% of

all women and 10% of all men in the United States.

 

Your doctor can conduct blood tests that measure thyroid hormone

levels. The test assesses the quantity of T4 and T3 hormones and

determines how well the body's cells respond to the hormones by

measuring the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical

released by the pituitary gland.

 

High levels of TSH indicate that the cells of the body are not

receiving adequate thyroid hormone. As a result, the pituitary is in

overdrive, frantically trying to signal the thyroid to step up its

hormone output.

 

Although a low level of thyroid hormone or an elevated TSH clearly

indicate low thyroid function, in milder cases of thyroid hormone

insufficiency, the blood tests may show that hormone levels are

within " normal " ranges, even if the person is experiencing symptoms.

In these individuals, I recommend that they try to boost thyroid

hormone activity by taking Thyroid Health Formula from Natural

Factors. This recommendation is especially useful in people that

have a TSH value is greater than 2.0 IU/ml (International Units per

milliliter), but less than the 5.5 IU/ml level indicative of

hypothyroidism.

 

Before rushing off to your doctor for a blood test, however, I

suggest that you first determine your basal body temperature. Your

body temperature reflects your metabolic rate, a rate that in turn

is largely determined by thyroid hormone activity. When your thyroid

is out of whack, your temperature often falls.

 

Many experts agree that the basal body temperature is the most

sensitive functional test of thyroid function. The test is simple:

all you need is a thermometer.

 

Many health experts believe that determining your basal body

temperature - the temperature of your body at rest - is the most

sensitive test of thyroid function. The test is simple: all you need

is a thermometer.

 

Taking Your Basal Body Temperature

 

Plan to take the test first thing in the morning after you wake up,

because it's important to measure temperature after you have had

adequate rest.

Before going to sleep, if you are not using a digital thermometer

shake down a regular thermometer to below the 95-degree mark and

place it by your bed.

Immediately upon waking, place the thermometer in your armpit (if

using a regular thermometer keep it there for a full 10). Hold your

elbow close to your side to keep the thermometer in place.

Read and record the temperature and date.

Repeat the test for least three mornings (preferably at the same

time of day).

A reading between 97.6 and 98.2 degrees F is normal. Readings below

97.6 may indicate hypothyroidism.

Note: Menstruating women must perform the test on the second, third,

and fourth days of menstruation. Men and postmenopausal women can

perform the test at any time.

 

What dietary factors are important in Hypothyroidism?

 

An important dietary recommendation is to avoid goitrogens. Some

foods, especially when eaten raw, contain substances that interfere

with your body's ability to absorb and use iodine. Because these

foods can contribute to the risk of goiter, they are classified as

goitrogens.

Examples include turnips, cabbage, mustard, cassava root, soybean,

peanuts, pine nuts, and millet. Because these foods contain many

other valuable nutrients, I recommend that you avoid them only if

low thyroid hormone levels are a problem for you.

 

Cooking usually inactivates goitrogens, so don't be concerned about

these items in your diet if you serve them cooked. Also, the BIG

concern over soy isoflavones inhibiting thyroid function appears to

be overstated as recent studies have shown no adverse effect on

thyroid function.

 

What nutritional supplements should I take for Hypothyroidism?

 

Severe hypothyroidism requires the use of supplemental thyroid

hormone - available only by prescription. Mild or subclinical

hypothyroidism may respond to nutritional and herbal support.

 

Thyroid Health from Natural Factors provides additional key

nutrients required for proper thyroid function as well as L-tyrosine

the amino acid precursor to thyroid hormones and two herbs long used

in Ayurvedic medicine -

 

Withania somnifera (ashwaganda) and Commiphora mukul (myrrh) - that

have shown an ability to boost thyroid function in experimental

studies in animals. The two plants appear to exert synergistic

effects.

 

Specifically, withania extract appears to produce a significant

increase in the level of thyroid hormone (T4) while commiphora

extract enhances the conversion of T4 to the more potent T3 form.

 

Both of the plants appear to boost thyroid function without

influencing the release of the pituitary hormone TSH (thyroid

stimulating hormone) indicating the herbs work directly on the

thyroid gland and other body tissues to exert their effects.

 

This action is quite important as 95% of all cases of

hypothyroidism are not due to a problem with pituitary.

 

The problem is with the thyroid gland itself and an impaired

conversion of T4 into the more potent T3 in tissues outside the

thyroid gland. The recommended dosages for Thyroid Health is two

capsules one to two times daily.

 

 

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