I’ve been speaking for nearly 15 years, travelling not only around Australia but other parts of the world. Over the last couple of years in particular there seems to be an overwhelming amount of people telling me that they have been diagnosed with Hashimotos or other thyroid conditions such as Graves, Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism. I felt it was about time that I got to understand these diseases so I could best advise people on the direction they could take with diet. Firstly I went to all the Australian sites which basically said the same thing for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions. In many cases the treatment was the same for all conditions. So I decided to look further as I’m never one to take something at face value. What I found was remarkable and completely different to conventional diagnosis and treatment methods. The thyroid gland lies at the front of the throat, below the larynx (Adam’s apple). It is made up of two lobes that sit on either side of the trachea (windpipe). The thyroid gland makes two main hormones – thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3). Two brain structures, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, regulate the hormones released by the thyroid gland. The steps in the process are:
- The chain of command begins at the hypothalamus, which prompts the pituitary gland to make a chemical called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
- The pituitary gland checks the amount of T4 and T3 in the blood and releases TSH if the T4 and T3 levels need to be topped up.
- The thyroid gland secretes T4 and T3 depending on the ‘order’ it receives from the pituitary gland. The more TSH the thyroid receives, the more T4 and T3 it secretes.
- T4 converts to T3 responding to receptors in every cell of the body to monitor metabolism and other important functions.
- T3 is broken down into T1 and T2
The thyroid hormones effect every cell in the body by the help of receptor sites. All cells need thyroid hormones for energy, metabolism and health. Firstly let me give you a brief discussion on thyroid disorders, the symptoms, traditional diagnosis and treatments. Then let’s get onto what the latest advice is about helping these conditions. Hashimotos and Graves Disease are auto immune diseases that affect the thyroid. An autoimmune disease is an inflammatory disease where the body no longer knows intellectually what is foreign and what are its own cells. In other words the body attacks itself and starts to destroy the thyroid gland. Hashimotos and Graves are indicative of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism respectively. Hypothyroidism – (under active thyroid) Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment A very common disorder that usually effects people over the age of 40 but can also effect younger adults. Approximately 10% of the population has this disorder.
- unrelenting fatigue
- Feeling the cold
- Constipation
- Swollen face
- Dry, coarsened skin
- Dry hair that is prone to breakage, hair loss
- Voice changes, such as persistent hoarseness
- Fluid retention (oedema)
- Sudden weight gain that cannot be explained by dietary or lifestyle changes
- High blood cholesterol
- Stiff and tender joints, particularly in the hands, feet and knees
- Cognitive changes, such as depression or forgetfulness
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre)
- In women, heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia).
Hyperthyroidsim – (overactive thyroid) Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Affects approximately 2% of women and 0.2% of men. Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed with a simple test of TSH. There are three main treatments for overactive thyroid – anti-thyroid drugs, radioiodine therapy and surgery. There is never a complete cure. Symptoms
- irritability
- rapid heart rate
- weight loss
- sleeplessness
- heat intolerance
- diarrhoea
Other Diseases of the Thyroid Cancer – papillary and follicular are the most common Nodules – lumps on the thyroid – usually non-cancerous two types hot and cold Congenital Thyroid Disease – where a child is born with an improperly functioning thyroid gland
- Genetic component (not necessarily expressed in members of your family)
- Environmental (food and chemicals)
- Leaky Gut
There is not much you can do about genetics but there is a lot you can do about environment and a leaky gut, so for this discussion we will be concentrating on these two factors as these will effect genetic expression.
- Become informed visit the websites suggested, listen to the interview and read the books I’ve recommended.
- Become gluten free in your diet and do not challenge yourself with any foods, additives or foods that have been contaminated with gluten. This can be done!
- Fix your leaky gut, by consuming a diet clean of artificial foods, increasing your fermented foods and consuming bone broths daily. (recipe in this newsletter). Make sure you sleep at least 8 to 9 hours a night, this will help your Vitamin D status which will in turn help heal your leaky gut.
- If you have some weight to lose, follow the Fat Loss Protocol to not only help you with fat loss but to also help with eliminating foods other than gluten that may be causing your health problems.
- If you do not need to lose weight then I suggest you do the Healthy Keto Way which will help you get off gluten, become leptin sensitive as well as find out what foods cause you pain and discomfort as well as inflammation.
- Read Lab To Table and learn about food and what food manufacturers do to it and why it is important to eat a diet clean of additives, preservatives, flavourings, modified milks and dairy, hydrogenated, interesterified and fractionated fats and oils.
- Once you have learnt more about your condition then write down questions you need to ask your doctor. If your doctor is not prepared to answer your questions or help you into a new routine of medications and tests, then find one that will. Visit ACNEM website to find a doctor who is starting to think differently.
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