A low level of thyroid hormone is a common problem, affecting perhaps
one out of five women and a smaller percentage of men. If your thyroid
activity is reduced, your body may not respond as well as it should
to nutritional or supplemental strategies. For that reason, a crucial
step in attaining or maintaining good health is to make sure your
thyroid is working properly.
What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck below the
voice box. It is just about the same size and shape - and is in
the same location - as a small bow tie. The thyroid secretes two
hormones that are crucial for regulating metabolism: triiodothyronine
(T3) and thyroxine (T4). The numbers refer to the numbers of iodine
atoms each molecule of hormone contains. T4 is the major player,
because it affects virtually every cell in the body.
Since thyroid hormones affect every cell of the body, a deficiency
or hypothyroidism will usually result in a large number of signs
and symptoms including low body temperature, intolerance to cold,
weight gain or an inability to lose weight, depression, lack of
concentration, hair loss, and fatigue. Hypothyroidism is an extremely
common condition that is estimated to affect nearly 20% of all women
and 10% of all men in the United States.
Common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Depression
- Difficulty in losing weight
- Dry skin
- Headaches
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Menstrual problems
- Recurrent infections
- Sensitivity to cold
Diagnosing hypothyroidism
Your doctor can conduct blood tests that measure thyroid hormone
levels. The test assesses the quantity of T4 and T3 hormones and
determines how well the body's cells respond to the hormones by
measuring the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical
released by the pituitary gland. High levels of TSH indicate that
the cells of the body are not receiving adequate thyroid hormone.
As a result, the pituitary is in overdrive, frantically trying to
signal the thyroid to step up its hormone output.
Although a low level of thyroid hormone or an elevated TSH clearly
indicate low thyroid function, in milder cases of thyroid hormone
insufficiency, the blood tests may show that hormone levels are
within "normal" ranges, even if the person is experiencing
symptoms. In these individuals, I recommend that they try to boost
thyroid hormone activity by taking Thyroid Health Formula from Natural
Factors. This recommendation is especially useful in people that
have a TSH value is greater than 2.0 IU/ml (International Units
per milliliter), but less than the 5.5 IU/ml level indicative of
hypothyroidism.
Before rushing off to your doctor for a blood test, however, I
suggest that you first determine your basal body temperature. Your
body temperature reflects your metabolic rate, a rate that in turn
is largely determined by thyroid hormone activity. When your thyroid
is out of whack, your temperature often falls. Many experts agree
that the basal body temperature is the most sensitive functional
test of thyroid function. The test is simple: all you need is a
thermometer.
Many health experts believe that determining your basal body temperature
- the temperature of your body at rest - is the most sensitive test
of thyroid function. The test is simple: all you need is a thermometer.
Taking Your Basal Body Temperature
- Plan to take the test first thing in the morning after you
wake up, because it's important to measure temperature after
you have had adequate rest.
- Before going to sleep, if you are not using a digital thermometer
shake down a regular thermometer to below the 95-degree mark
and place it by your bed.
- Immediately upon waking, place the thermometer in your armpit
(if using a regular thermometer keep it there for a full 10).
Hold your elbow close to your side to keep the thermometer in
place.
- Read and record the temperature and date.
- Repeat the test for least three mornings (preferably at the
same time of day).
- A reading between 97.6 and 98.2 degrees F is normal. Readings
below 97.6 may indicate hypothyroidism.
Note: Menstruating women must perform the test on the second,
third, and fourth days of menstruation. Men and postmenopausal
women can perform the test at any time.
Dealing with hypothyroidism
Severe hypothyroidism requires the use of supplemental thyroid
hormone - available only by prescription. Mild or subclinical hypothyroidism
may respond to nutritional and herbal support such as Thyroid Health
Formula. Like other glands, the thyroid has special nutritional
needs. Here are some of the key nutrients required for proper thyroid
function that are found in Thyroid Health Formula:
- Iodine. The thyroid gland needs iodine to make
its hormones. In fact, iodine's only role in your body is in making
thyroid hormones. Too little iodine can cause impaired thyroid
function, while too much iodine can actually interfere with the
thyroid's ability to produce hormones. The dosage range for iodine
supplementation is 300 to 400 mcg per day. Read the labels on
your multivitamin supplement and on any thyroid preparations you
are taking. Keep your intake of iodized salt to a bare minimum.
Make sure that your total amount of iodine intake is within the
recommended range - not too low or too high.
- Tyrosine. The other key ingredient in thyroid
hormones is the amino acid tyrosine. Taking L-tyrosine alone or
as a component as a nutritional supplement at a dosage of 500
mg daily may enhance thyroid function.
Herbal support for thyroid function
Two herbs long used in Ayurvedic medicine - Withania somnifera
(ashwaganda) and Commiphora mukul (myrrh) - have shown an ability
to boost thyroid function in experimental studies in animals. The
two plants appear to exert synergistic effects. Specifically, withania
extract appears to produce a significant increase in the level of
thyroid hormone (T4) while commiphora extract enhances the conversion
of T4 to the more potent T3 form.1-4
Both of the plants appear to boost thyroid function without influencing
the release of the pituitary hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
indicating the herbs work directly on the thyroid gland and other
body tissues to exert their effects. This action is quite important
as 95% of all cases of hypothyroidism are not due to a problem with
pituitary. The problem is with the thyroid gland itself and an impaired
conversion of T4 into the more potent T3 in tissues outside the
thyroid gland. The recommended dosages for thyroid support for the
two herbs as contained in two Thyroid Health Formula capsules are:
- Withania somnifera root extract (standardized
to contain 1.5% withanolides)
- 150 mg
- Commiphora mukul extract (standardized
to contain 2.5% guggulsterones)
- 100 mg
A Testimonial
Since the Thyroid Health Formula has been available I have been
continually been amazed at some of the feedback from users - really
life changing experiences. Perhaps the best story is that of one
health food store worker - Jane. A 38 year old woman, Jane had battled
with her weight ever since high school. In the 20 years after high
school she had gained 45 pounds. I was amazed when I saw her recently
as she finally was able to shed the excess weight. She cried with
joy when she thanked me for providing the answer to her health challenges.
She said that the only thing that she had done differently over
the past six months was add the Thyroid Health Formula to her routine.
She credited the formula with producing the changes in her life.
It seems that Jane had always suffered from a mild insufficiency
of thyroid hormone. By providing the nutritional and herbal support,
the Thyroid Health Formula reset her fat burning thermostat and
she was able to lose the weight that had plagued her for 20 years.
If you are a regular reader of my work, then you know that I rarely
provide anecdotal information. The reason that I am doing so here
is simply to illustrate how getting your thyroid into shape can
produce a dramatic changes in your life.
Additional Recommendations for Thyroid
Health
As I have previously described in other newsletters, I am a firm
believer in building a strong foundation. In that goal, there are
three key dietary supplements that I recommend to provide a strong
foundation for a proper nutritional supplement plan:
A strong nutritional foundation is important as a deficiency of
nutrients like zinc, copper, manganese, and the vitamins A, B2,
B3, B6, C, and E could cause or contribute to hypothyroidism. Taking
MultiStart will ensure optimal levels of these important nutrients.
An important dietary recommendation is to avoid goitrogens. Some
foods, especially when eaten raw, contain substances that interfere
with your body's ability to absorb and use iodine. Because these
foods can contribute to the risk of goiter, they are classified
as goitrogens. Examples include turnips, cabbage, mustard, cassava
root, soybean, peanuts, pine nuts, and millet. Because these foods
contain many other valuable nutrients, I recommend that you avoid
them only if low thyroid hormone levels are a problem for you. Cooking
usually inactivates goitrogens, so don't be concerned about these
items in your diet if you serve them cooked. Also, the BIG concern
over soy isoflavones inhibiting thyroid function appears to be overstated
as recent studies have shown no adverse effect on thyroid function.5
Key References:
- Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in
the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in
female mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;67(2):233-9.
- Panda S, Kar A. Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after
administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice.
J Pharm Pharmacol 1998;50(9):1065-8.
- Panda S, Kar A. Gugulu (Commiphora mukul) induces triiodothyronine
production: possible involvement of lipid peroxidation. Life Sci
1999;65(12):PL137-41.
- Tripathi YB, Malhotra OP, Tripathi SN. Thyroid stimulating
action of Z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta
Med 1984;(1):78-80.
- Doerge DR, Sheehan DM. Goitrogenic and estrogenic activity
of soy isoflavones. Environ Health Perspect 2002;110(Suppl 3):349-53.
Michael T. Murray, N.D., is widely regarded as one of world's leading authorities on natural medicine. A prolific author, Dr. Murray has written over 20 books on health and nutrition including the best-selling Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and his latest book The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. Dr. Murray is also Director of Product Development and Education for Natural Factors one of the leading manufacturers of natural products.
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