Thyroid – Friend or foe? – Common Diseases and Problems to Watch For

Thyroid ? Many people today are “struggling” with excess weight, but few who “win” the battle, manage to find their own way of eating and exercising. And what happens to those who for years are limited by nothing, and on the contrary – nothing? In them, this is most often a symptom of decreased production of thyroid hormones. And what is this?

The thyroid gland is a small endocrine gland in the neck – it produces two main hormones: about 93% T4 in an inactive form and about 7% T3 in an active form. T4 is produced in the gland itself and in the liver is converted to T3. The main role of its hormone is to stimulate metabolism and affect almost every function of the body.

It interacts or has a “cross-talk” with all other hormones in the body, including insulin, cortisol and sex hormones. The secretion and release of thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland is regulated by a feedback system in the brain – the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which produce TLC and TRX, respectively. If everything works properly, you will produce what you need

T3 acts on specific receptors in the cell’s nucleus, telling DNA to activate metabolism, increase fat burning in the mitochondria and make every system in the body work at the right rate.

It is safe to say that there is no process in the human body in which these hormones do not take an active part. They control:

  • the activity of the brain – our intellect is largely connected with the thyroid gland;
  • nervous system; the heart;
  • the work of the lungs – participate in the management of the respiratory centers in the brain;
  • muscle sensitivity;
  • appetite;
  • metabolism – including monitoring the proper distribution of calcium and phosphorus;
  • thermoregulation – adaptation to temperature change;

As you can see, they are absolutely necessary to sustain our lives. Any problems with the thyroid gland inevitably lead to a violation of its secretory function. If you produce less T3, the whole system is confused. Metabolism and mitochondria do not receive accurate signals, you gain weight, and you suffer from the symptoms above. And some get more inflammation, develop other problems, such as insulin levels, have difficulty processing blood sugar.

This production of few hormones is called hypothyroidism. But it is difficult to diagnose when it is subclinical (without symptoms). Nowadays, there are very few endocrinologists who will know exactly what the patient is suffering from. Doctors are taught to look for “real diseases”, so less perceptible and chronic symptoms are often overlooked.

Probably many of you have gone to the doctor with a complaint of: fatigue, depression, muscle aches, menstrual problems, difficulty losing weight, constipation, memory problems, joint pain. You may have been prescribed an antidepressant and told that you are getting older, or worse, eat less.

Eliminating thyroid problems is important for a healthy metabolism. It is about helping with nutritional supplements, exercise, reducing stress and inflammation, and sometimes removing certain foods and cleansing from heavy metals and pesticides.

Here are some steps to help your gland:

  • Soy foods and vegetables from the broccoli family (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower) are said to cause thyroid function problems, but they also have a very beneficial effect on health. According to a study, mice fed a lot of soy had glandular problems. Gluten is also contraindicated, and in some cases an allergen.
  • It requires you to include exercise and a sauna in your lifestyle. Sport stimulates the secretion in the gland. The sauna or steam bath cleans the body well of pesticides, contributes to its recovery.
  • The production of thyroid hormones requires iodine and omega 3 fatty acids; the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3 requires selenium; binding of T3 to receptors in the nucleus and their inclusion requires vitamin A and D, zinc.

Here are some foods we can get them from:

  • Algae and marine plants containing iodine;
  • Fish (sardines and syomga) containing iodine, omega 3 fats and vitamin D;
  • Arugula, mustard and other dark green leafy vegetables containing vitamin A;
  • Herring, shrimp, Brazilian nuts (selenium).

Avoid foods that disrupt gland function:

  • Gluten – a protein found in rye, barley and wheat crops.
  • Excessive amounts of soy protein – Excess soy has been shown to have a negative effect on people with hypothyroidism and who drink artificial hormones.

The environment, stress and lifestyle also have a big impact. So treat yourself very carefully:

  • Do not overheat or catch a cold. Do not heat for hours on the beach;
  • Avoid situations and stress that can make you nervous;
  • Get enough sleep, at least 7-8 hours;
  • Don’t overtrain;
  • Pay special attention to positive emotions.

Many people hope to find the answer to the weight problem in the “slow metabolism” or in the lazy thyroid gland. It is important to deal with the factors that affect negatively. Improve your diet, drink vitamins and fish oil, do accurate tests and, if necessary, take proper treatment. This can really be the answer to your health and weight problems or at least improve your thyroid function

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