04/07/2022
Thyroid function is very much determined by our micronutrient levels and our digestive health. Did you know that one of the best ways to support a healthy thyroid and overall well-being is with an optimal nutrition plan?
Thyroid function and its metabolic roles are reliant on nutrient feedback signals. Without specific nutrients, there is a lack of expression from a variety of physiological activities that ultimately cause a decline in total health.
Supporting thyroid function is essential for promoting metabolism and aiding normal growth and neurological development. When thyroid health suffers, the ability of the whole body to maintain homeostasis is thrown off balance.
The thyroid gland communicates with the adrenal, pituitary, and hypothalamus glands as well as the kidneys, liver and skeletal muscle. When thyroid function is sub-optimal, hundreds of enzymatic processes are disturbed in the body.
Hypothyroidism is characterized by:
Slow resting energy expenditure (reduced ability to burn fat)
Elevated cholesterol levels
Increased fat storage
Reduced energy breakdown for the brain
Weight gain
Oxidative stress increases under conditions of nutrient deficiency and further triggers a problem in metabolic pathways. Deficiencies in the following nutrients can manifest in the body in several ways. Some of these include:
Mood disturbances, fatigue and poor cognitive thought (Vitamin B6, tyrosine, omega-3 and/or selenium deficiency)
Hair changes including brittleness, loss of pigment or alopecia. Can also affect eyebrows, eyelashes, and nails (Zinc deficiency)
Irritability, depression, and skin rashes (Zinc, iodine and/or vitamin B12 deficiency)
Anemia (Vitamin B6, B12, and/or iron)
Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) (Vitamin A deficiency)
Gastrointestinal complications like constipation, impaired fertility and sexual reproductive health, numbness and/or sharp pains in extremities resulting from nerve damage (Vitamin B12 and/or omega-3s)
Elevated cholesterol levels (Omega-3 fatty acids)
Weakened immunity (Vitamin C, D, selenium and/or zinc deficiency)
