Hypothyroid is a condition that effects 80% of American’s, mostly unknowingly. This condition is marked by both obvious and not so obvious symptoms including; poor blood circulation (chronically cold extremities), chronic fatigue (low energy), hair loss, weight gain or trouble burning fat, edema, dry skin, waking body temperature below 97.8 F, hormonal imbalances, low sex drive and others.
The reason this condition goes unnoticed is mostly due to poor testing methods and also, a widely accepted reality of lower than normal body temperature. As far as why this condition is such an epidemic, well, there are many…
The thyroid is a master gland in regulation healthy metabolic function. However, the digestive process in general precedes the functioning of the metabolism. Therefore, improper and erratic digestion and absorption of food plays a role in hypothyroidism. When digestion is poor, the liver can become sluggish; however, low thyroid function can also cause the liver to become sluggish, resulting in the poor release of glucose from the liver, causing blood sugar to drop.
This inadequate release of glucose in the liver caused by both poor digestion and sluggish thyroid are primary factors in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
This being said, proper holistic thyroid therapy would focus on improving digestion and absorption so that there a constant supply of nourishment in the blood – this way the liver senses to the need for glucose release after digestion is complete.
However, this is not the only thing that goes wrong during improper liver function.
Thyroid – Liver Connection
The liver has an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism and the level of thyroid hormones is also important to normal hepatic function and bilirubin metabolism. In addition to the obvious associations between thyroid and liver disease (the nature of autoimmune conditions), there is a very strong correlation between liver impairment and hypothyroidism.
In other words, thyroid diseases are frequently associated with liver impairments. This is for the simple fact that the liver is responsible for 60% of the conversion of inactive thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into its active form triiodothyronine (T3).
It is the the liver that metabolizes most of the thyroid hormone and regulates their systemic endocrine effects. These conditions are interrelated, thyroid dysfunction may perturb liver function, and liver disease inhibits thyroid hormone metabolism. The best solution then is a holistic approach that intentionally nourishes both the thyroid and liver.
A Holistic Approach
- Don’t Avoid Meat & Eat Nose-to-Tail: There is a HUGE misconception that animal proteins “clog” the body and are damaging to the liver. However, this couldn’t be further from from the truth. Your liver needs protein to complete Phase 1 liver detoxification. However, it needs the correct amino acid balance, particularly between methionine and glycine. I suspect one of the major reasons meat was demonized was because of the industrialization of meat consumption. Our quick, hastily and wasteful eating habits around meat have lead us to throw out some of the most important parts of the animals (the bones, organs, and other connective tissues). These parts of the animal contain high levels of precious amino acids that are not present in meat tissues, particularly glycine and proline. By only eating muscle meat, the ratio between methionine:glycine becomes imbalanced, leading your body toward inflammation and inhibiting proper liver function. So, don’t disregard meat, the complete amino acid profile of meat is some of the most traditional and recognizable of natural foods, just consume nose-to-tail by utilizing bones, organs and other animal parts.
- Eat Enough Carbs: There is a strong connection between chronic low-carb diets and hypothyroid. So, be sure to Include more nutrient rich sources of carbs or sugar. Keep in mind, all carbohydrates metabolize into sugar. So, if you fear sugar, understand that sugar has become demonized for basic misunderstandings in biology. The fact of hte matter is, most tissues and organs in the body cannot utilize free fatty acids for energy, they need glucose. The thing is, you want to be healthy enough to proeprly metabolize sugar. The fact of the matter is, carbs are not the enemy, most of what sugar has been blamed for is really the result of PUFA consumption. Learn more about dangerous anti-metabolic effects of PUFAs HERE.
- Eat Saturated Fats: Saturated fats like coconut oil and butter are pro-thyroid foods that support metabolic function. Like carbs, do not fear fat, just be sure to eliminate the unnatural, unhealthy, unsaturated fats (PUFA), considering that they suppress thyroid function. Coconut oil is one of the best fats for the thyroid. Brain Octane and MCT oil is another great way to get in the pro-thyroid effects of coconut oil.
- Eat to Support Blood Sugar Balance: Irregular blood sugar is a biological stress that causes the adrenal glands to release stress hormones and makes the liver produce catabolic hormones that breakdown proteins and fats for energy. This process releases anti-metabolic amino acids that inhibit the thyroid. The process of muscle catabolism releases a large amount of the amino acids cysteine, and cysteine, methionine, and tryptophan suppress thyroid function. Eating foods rich in glycine, such as Gelatin and Collagen, is helpful for maintaining blood sugar balance.
- Simplify Your Diet: A good diet should be satisfying, delicious, and simple. Eliminate overly complex and indigestible foods; especially GMO corn, soy, wheat and dairy. Opt for natural, organic, homegrown (if you can) meat, eggs, dairy, fruits, veggies and herbs. Remember, digestive precedes metabolism, so if digestive function is poor, metabolic function will also be poor. Anything to improve your digestion will improve your thyroid and metabolism. Get all my best tips for optimizing your digestion HERE.
- Eliminate Lifestyle & Psychological Stressors: Getting rid of stress; for many, is easier said than done. Keep in mind, that stress is any situation where there is pressure; or more specifically, a force, counter-force (two opposing energies). This can manifest in many ways; physcoligcally speaking, mental stress is thinking thoughts you’d rather not think about, emotionally, it can be feeling something you’d rather not feel, physically speaking it could be needing to get enough sleep that you’re not getting. The basic anatomy of stress in any situation is “I want to, I don’t want to” or “I want it, I can’t have it” or something along these lines. Therefore, the best way to handle any stress is to dismantle one of the opposing sides. For example, if you are stressed because you need more sleep but can’t get it, then you can eliminate the mental stress by accepting that you’re not getting enough sleep. But, you can also dissolve the stress by simply doing what it takes to get more sleep! Its really quiet simple; however, simple does not imply easy. In general, anything that helps you relax will be good for reducing stress, so take time daily to do something you love, enjoy and that makes you feel relaxed. Drop the glorification of being busy, the lie of “no pain, no gain” – here’s a secret…you don’t need to suffer to succeed.
- Correct Digestion and SIBO: Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can be caused by hypothyroidism, but also, poor metabolic function can weaken the immune system making the body more susceptible to bacterial infection. Again, digestion precedes metabolism, but also immunity. The metabolic byproducts by bacteria in the small intestine can damage the lining of the small intestine, causing the loss of lactase enzymes (inhibiting dairy digestion), but also stimulating a chronic immune response, slowing metabolic function, casing a vicious cycle. Correcting digestion should be a primary goal for anyone interested in optimal health, but especially for those with hypothyroid. Get all my best advice, information and tips for improving digestion HERE.