Did you know that you – in fact, every one of us – wear a bow-tie on the inside of our necks? It’s not a real bow-tie, of course, it’s a critically important, hormone-producing gland that sits in front of the throat and is butterfly-shaped. It’s called the thyroid.

Like other glands that generate hormones, the thyroid is part of the body’s endocrine system – and, in particular, its work is overseen by the pituitary gland to be found at the base of the brain. It’s the endocrine system that’s responsible for the overall creation and secretion of hormones into the bloodstream, so they’re transported to the body’s organs. As such, it could be said then to act as a kind of messaging system (with hormones as its chemical messengers), helping to direct and regulate growth, development and reproduction processes.

For its part, the thyroid produces and secretes the hormones triiodothyronine (or T3) and thyroxine (or T4), which together are essential for the body to effectively regulate growth, development and metabolism¹. T3 is, in fact, a rarer, refined version of T4; the latter accounting for 80% of the thyroid’s hormone production².

More specifically, T3 and T4 are relied on to signal when cells should convert the oxygen and calories in them into energy. Although the thyroid releases both hormones constantly, it will allow for extra spurts of them when cells especially need them – for instance, if you’re pregnant, the thyroid will regularly boost T3 and T4 production and distribution to meet your and your baby’s energy demands.

Thyroid disorders

Evidently then, the thyroid plays a crucially important role in maintaining our everyday health and shaping that of our future. In which case, thyroid disorders can be very bad news. The trouble is, though, diagnosing one isn’t easy – quite different disorders can possess very similar symptoms. Nonetheless, if you feel you may be suffering from a thyroid disorder, you should see a healthcare professional immediately. Such disorders include:

• Hypothyroidism – basically an underactive thyroid, thus resulting in low levels of T3 and T4 and causing symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, weight gain, unnatural cold sensibility, fatigue, weakness, slowed heart rate, constipation, heavy/ irregular menstruation and potential hair loss and depression³; young children and fetuses can be especially susceptible to this disorder

• Hyperthyroidism – it may sound very similar to hypothyroidism, but it couldn’t be more different, as it’s the opposite, an overactive thyroid that creates too much T3 and T4; thus its symptoms can include diarrhoea, tremors, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, irregular menstruation, insomnia and potential hair loss³

• Graves’ Disease – most common in women over 20-years-old⁴, it’s an autoimmune condition that sees the immune system mistakenly attack the thyroid, inflame it and cause it to overproduce hormones, thus potentially bringing on hyperthyroidism

• Thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid that may have come about through viral infection, drug reaction, trauma or an immune disorder⁵

• Goitre – usually caused by iodine deficiency, this is a swollen enlargement of the thyroid that’s often visible from the outside of the neck⁶

• Thyroid nodule – a small growth or lump in the thyroid; few are cancerous⁷.

Diet and nutrition

Like everything in your body, for your thyroid to operate as it should it needs feeding – it needs nutrition. Quite simply, if it’s malnourished, it will malfunction. Again, as with most other parts of the body, your thyroid requires specific nutrients to remain healthy, but you should be able to glean most of them through a good, sensible, balanced diet – note: vegetarians and vegans may wish to make careful provision here, as most thyroid-friendly nutrients are derived through animal (and animal-related) consumption. The nutrients in question are:

• Iodine – the most essential thyroid nutrient, as T4 and T3 are literally made from it, indeed our development, growth and metabolism can be devastated by iodine deficiency⁸; perhaps the best sources for it are seafood and seaweed

• Selenium – another very important micronutrient, it features highly in many seafoods, meats, dairy products and brazil nuts, as well as beans, spinach and brown rice⁹

• Curcumin – the yellow chemical that gives ginger-related plant turmeric its colour, curcumin, so studies suggest, may help prevent cancer cells growing in the thyroid^{10, 11}, while turmeric itself may aid in reducing the chance of goitres forming¹²

• Iron and zinc – two highly important nutrients for the body in general, these two – for the thyroid specifically – help the gland process iodine (iron) and help receptors identify hormonal signals (zinc).

Supplements

Unfortunately, for one reason or another, not all of us are capable of adjusting our diets to get the above nutrients – for instance, some people have unavoidable issues with marine-sourced food owing to allergies. In which case, you can always turn to supplementation to boost your diet with thyroid-aiding nutrients. All the following thyroid health supplements can be purchased through us at The Finchley Clinic:

Detoxadine (1 fl oz bottle) – a diet-transformative version of iodine in the form of a daily supplement that’s gentle on the stomach; helps balance iodine levels and supports thyroid health

 

Kelp Formula (60 capsules) – designed specifically to aid thyroid maintenance, this supplement’s key ingredient kelp (a type of seaweed) is a fine source of iodine; also contains six other herbs

TH Intensive (powder/ 28, 14 and single sachets) – a high-potency combination of iodine and selenium to support normal thyroid function, as well as high-potency amino acids, nutrients and antioxidants; great taste

Thyroid Support Formula (60 capsules) – comprises tyrosine and other key vitamins and minerals to help enable thyroid hormone production and conversion of T3 and T4; combines very well with Kelp Formula.

References:

1. ‘How Does the Thyroid Work?’. PubMed Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 Jan 2015.
2. Sapin, R. and Schlienger, J. L. ‘Thyroxine (T4) and Tri-Iodothyronine (T3) Determinations: Techniques and Value in the Assessment of Thyroid Function’. Annales de Biologie Clinique, vol. 61, no. 4, 14 Aug. 2003, pp. 411–20.
3. ‘Hypothyroidism’. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Apr 2015.
4. ‘Grave’s Disease’. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 3 Feb 2016.
5. ‘Thyroiditis’. University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 Mar 2014.
6. ‘Goiter – simple’. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Apr 2015.
7. ‘Thyroid nodule’. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Apr 2016.
8. Kapil, U. ‘Health Consequences of Iodine Deficiency’. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 7.3 (2007): 267–272. Print.
9. ‘Office of Dietary Supplements – Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium’. National Institute of Health, USA.gov, 11 Feb 2016.
10. Zhang, C. Y. et al. ‘Curcumin Inhibits Invasion and Metastasis in K1 Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells’. Food Chemistry, vol. 139, 9 Apr 2013, pp. 1021–8.
11. Hutchins-Wolfbrandt, A. and Mistry, A. M. ‘Dietary Turmeric Potentially Reduces the Risk of Cancer’. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: APJCP, vol. 12, no. 12, 1 Jan 2011, pp. 3169–73.
12. Jawa, A. et al. ‘Turmeric Use Is Associated with Reduced Goitrogenesis: Thyroid Disorder Prevalence in Pakistan (THYPAK) Study’. Indian Journal of Endocrinology.