If I were to ask what you think plays the biggest role in your level of health from head to toe, what would you say?

Your diet?

Your gut microbiome?

How much you exercise?

Those are all great answers, but arguably, the factor that packs the biggest punch in terms of your overall health is a little butterfly-shaped gland that is comfortably nestled in the base of your neck.

Your THYROID.

Here’s what I mean—this is a brief summation of how your thyroid pretty much controls your entire state of health.

Tiny little gland, BIG health impact

Thyroid hormones are the primary regulators if your metabolism and are needed for virtually every single physiological function in your body.

So as you can probably surmise, when things go awry with your thyroid, that can produce a wide variety of symptoms and issues.

Although both overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and underactive (hypothyroidism) can impact your body’s functioning, the far more common form of thyroid disorder is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is typically known for causing slow metabolism, weight gain and fatigue.

It is also associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and excess cholesterol.

Your thyroid helps regulate your immune system, so one of the outcomes of hypothyroidism is reduced immune function and repeated sickness and infections.

Your musculoskeletal system is affected too. Hypothyroidism can induce muscle weakness, joint stiffness and tenderness, and increase your susceptibility to injury.

Depression is very common with hypothyroidism, as are dry, rough skin, brittle nails and hair loss.

Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, constipation, impaired kidney function and menstrual irregularities in women.

Why this epidemic of thyroid disease?

More so than ANY other time in our existence, thyroid disease is at epidemic levels!

Currently over 20 million Americans have it, with women being affected more than men—their risk is about one in eight, and once menopause hits, that risk shoots up to about one in four.

Here are some of the common causes of thyroid disease:

Autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by your immune system becoming hypersensitive and attacking your healthy cells, tissues and organs.

When the thyroid becomes the immune system’s target, you get Hashimoto’s disease—aka autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Nutrient deficiencies

Your thyroid needs a wide variety of nutrients to do its job properly, and when you’re lacking in what it needs, you will suffer the consequences.

Especially important are zinc and vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, C and E.

Iodine is also essential to thyroid function, but it’s an interesting paradox. Most of our salt is iodized and Heaven knows the average person gets enough salt in processed and fast foods… so, very few of us are lacking iodine.

However, too much iodine can backfire on you and interfere with your thyroid’s ability to produce hormones! People with high-salt, processed food/fast food diets are especially vulnerable.

Water fluoridation

Studies have shown that fluoride is an endocrine disruptor and can impair normal endocrine function.

In addition to your thyroid, fluoride can also affect your parathyroid and pineal glands, as well as your adrenals, pancreas, and pituitary.

Heavy metals

Heavy metals can disrupt thyroid function, especially mercury.

Common sources of mercury include vaccines (commonly a preservative in flu shots), dental amalgam fillings, large carnivorous fish like swordfish, cigarette smoking, municipal water supplies, water-resistant fabrics and chlorine bleach.

Certain medications

Certain medications such as steroids, barbiturates, statins and beta blockers can disrupt your thyroid function.

Get tested—and help it bounce back!

Start by seeing a doctor and getting a complete thyroid workup—NOT just a TSH test. The TSH is a snapshot test that is more of a measure of pituitary function than thyroid function.

Ask for these thyroid tests as well:

• Free T4 and Free T3

• Total T4 and Total T3

• Thyroid Antibody Testing

• Reverse T3

• TRH Stimulation Test (aka TRH Challenge test)—note that this is more of a holistic test, so many mainstream doctors are unfamiliar with it. You will likely need to seek out an integrative physician to have this test done.

Depending on what’s behind your exhausted thyroid, here are some ways to help it bounce back—and feel a whole lot better FAST:

Fight back against autoimmunity 

A top-quality vitamin D supplement like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B can help counteract and tame the “overzealous” immune responses taking place with autoimmune conditions.

This is especially important because once someone has an autoimmune disease (and their immune system is already hypersensitive), they are extremely likely to develop another one or more!

And considering that vitamin D is a very common deficiency (especially in the Northeast where sunlight is limited), it’s no wonder that autoimmunity is on the rise and people’s thyroids are increasingly affected.

Choose the best hormone replacement

If thyroid hormone replacement has been recommended to you, there two options:

Synthetic hormones (such as Synthroid)—which contains only one thyroid hormone (T4).

Natural thyroid hormones (such as Armour Thyroid)—these are made from desiccated pig thyroid glands and contain the complete range of thyroid hormones (T1, T2, T3 and T4). Natural thyroid hormones have been a Godsend for many people with hypothyroidism.

If your doctor is unfamiliar with natural thyroid hormones, ask him to research them, or find a doctor who is familiar with them.

Have your nutritional bases covered

Eating a healthy diet and supplementing with a complete multi-vitamin and mineral formula like Super Core can help make sure you have adequate levels of the nutrients your thyroid needs.

Super Core contains health-supportive doses of all the crucial thyroid nutrients I mentioned above, plus its natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are helpful to counteract disease-causing free radicals and inflammation!

Limit your exposure to fluoride and mercury

Try to eliminate these toxins from your environment (and body)—for example: 

• If you smoke, please quit. Get help if you need it.

• Use chemical-free, chlorine-free, biodegradable laundry and household cleaning products.

• Use filtered water for drinking and bathing.

• Avoid the following types of fish that have high levels of mercury: Tuna, sea bass, marlin, pike, shark, oysters, halibut, walleye, largemouth bass, swordfish or farmed fish.

• Request that your dentist use composite materials in any fillings instead of silver amalgam and replace existing amalgam fillings (by a dentist who is experienced in safe removal of amalgam).

• Heavily weigh the risks vs. benefits of flu shots. Having a strong immune system is your body’s best defense against flu and other viruses and infections (and Optimum DK Formula can help with this too!).

Rethink medications

If you use any type of medication that can affect your thyroid, talk to your doctor about alternatives.

Reduce stress

Stress can impact your health from head to toe and your thyroid is no exception.

Do whatever you need to reduce stress in your life, keeping in mind that regular exercise is the best stress reducer there is! (Just make sure to get your doctor’s OK first.)

See what a difference it can make in how you feel when you get properly tested, choose natural hormone replacement (if necessary) and take safe, natural measures to support strong thyroid (and overall) health.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia