Hypothyroidism is an under-active thyroid gland that is not producing enough thyroid hormone to keep the body operating efficiently leaving a person feeling sluggish and low functioning. Having an undiagnosed thyroid problem is an all too common occurrence because blood tests aren’t accurate enough and the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions.
Tonight on Dr. Dean’s weekly LIVE show we’ll be unraveling the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and how to begin to restore your body to optimal thyroid and immune system function.
What do you do when you suspect that you do have a thyroid imbalance? For starters, you could see if you are experiencing 3 or more of the following common signs of Hypothyroidism:
- Yeast infection/ yeast overgrowth
- Weight gain or difficulty burning calories
- Body temperature regulation
- Stomach and digestive issues including acid reflux, bloating
- Depression
- Feeling tired or fatigued
- Sleep apnea which can also be associated with low cortisol due to continued hypothyroid state
- Low heart rate
- Heart palpitations, AFib
- Thinning, brittle hair
- Raynaud’s syndrome (painful blue/red fingers with exposure to cold
- Polymyalgia (muscle pain and stiffness around shoulders, hips)
- Constipation
- Brain fog, memory loss
- Dry skin
- Muscle cramps
- Lump in breast
- Brittle nails
- Skin problems (hives, psoriasis, eczema)
- Hoarse voice
- Cold hands and feet
- Scalloped tongue
- Sex hormone and menstrual issues
- Low sex drive
- Chronic infections, immune compromised
- Headaches and migraines
Furthering your investigation, consider a screening blood test. Through our partnership with GrassrootsHealth Dr. Dean has added a blood test for TSH to Magnesium RBC, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamin D.
With symptoms and blood tests in hand, determining the most likely culprits will help you address the causes of your condition and move into recovery. The most common causes of hypothyroidism are mineral deficiency and yeast overgrowth – two conditions that disable the thyroid from functioning properly creating a perfect storm that leads to autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s and chronic mineral deficiency.
Slowing the effects of Hashimoto’s and chronic mineral deficiency starts with removing inflammatory foods and introducing highly absorbed minerals helps to restore the immune system and allows the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones.
It was long believed that iodine was the only mineral for the thyroid. But within the last several years it has become apparent, through research and biochemical evidence, that there are nine separate minerals involved with thyroid hormone production.
Iodine
T3 has 3 iodine molecules; T4 has 4. So, it’s safe to say that the thyroid can’t function without iodine. T4 or (thyroxine) is 68 percent iodine by weight, and T3 (triiodothyronine) is 58 percent.
Selenium
A necessary cofactor in the production of thyroxine (T4) and it also converts T4 to the more active form, T3. A total of 11 selenium-dependent enzymes have been identified as necessary for thyroid function and thyroid hormone production. If you take iodine, especially the high amounts of iodine that some doctors are recommending, without selenium, you can cause selenium deficiency and all the selenium deficiency side effects that are not that well known. If you take selenium without iodine, you can cause iodine deficiency.
Zinc
Required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Zinc deficiency, plain and simple, can result in hypothyroidism. Conversely, thyroid hormones are essential for the absorption of zinc. And here’s a scary fact – the hair loss attributed to hypothyroidism may not improve with thyroid hormone replacement unless zinc supplements are added.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum-dependent enzymes function in the oxidative system of thyrocytes (thyroid epithelial cells). They also play an important role in T3 (triiodothyronine) release from the thyroid gland. Here’s another interesting fact, molybdenum helps to break down yeast toxins and yeast gets a leg up when your temperature is low due to hypothyroidism.
Boron
Helps the conversion of the storage form of thyroid hormone, T4, to T3, the active form.
Copper
Plays an important role in the metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine, which is a precursor to T4 (thyroxine).
Chromium
Enhances insulin activity playing a major role in the regulation of insulin release and its effects on carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Conversion of T4 to T3 is influenced by insulin, so in a roundabout way, chromium helps this conversion.
Manganese
Required to transport the hormone thyroxine into our cells.
Magnesium
Calcium and magnesium must be balanced in the body to ensure proper thyroid function. If there is too much calcium, thyroid hormones can become diminished. Magnesium is the regulator of calcium absorption and utilization.
Disclosure: Dr. Dean does have a financial interest in the sale of all the Completement Formulas.