Thyroid and Metabolism

Whenever someone says I have a sluggish metabolism I always think of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and is one of the bodies largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland has many functions within the body including controlling how fast the body metabolizes food, makes proteins, and controls the body’s sensitivity to other hormones. The thyroid is controlled by the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The primary function of the thyroid however is to produce thyroxine, triiodothyronine and calcitonin. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine are commonly known as T4 and T3. Thyroxine (T4) produced by the thyroid is converted into triiodothyronine (T3) by peripheral organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen. Up to 80% of T4 is converted by the peripheral organs into T3. T4 is made by follicular cells from the amino acid tyrosine and residues of tyrosine, a protein called thyroglobulin.

Thyroid gland sends chemical messages to every cell in the body, controlling body temperature, heart rate, and muscle movement. An underactive thyroid is known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism produces feelings of sluggishness, increase bodyweight and accumulation of fat. Since the thyroid gland sends chemical messages to every cell in the body, an underactive thyroid can affect every cell in the body. Some symptoms of an underactive thyroid are depression, poor memory, mood swings, dual personalities, paranoia and irritability, inappropriate crying, excessive worry, insomnia, slow reaction time, mental sluggishness, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some of the physical symptoms one may notice with an underactive thyroid are weight fluctuation, edema, hypoglycemia, skin problems, chronic infections, chronic fatigue, lethargy, low body temperature and cold extremities. Slow pulse rate, hair loss and headaches can also be signs of an underactive thyroid.

What are the causes of hypothyroidism?

There can be a number of reasons why an individual would experience thyroid problems. Environmental pollutants can cause the thyroid to malfunction as well as dietary excesses or insufficiencies. Certain drugs can interfere with thyroid function, as well as stress and yeast infections. Another pollutant that seems to hinder thyroid function is exposure to radiation , fluoride in our water and toothpaste. Another toxin to our thyroid is Mercury from silver amalgam dental fillings. With so many of these problems present in our world today it is no wonder that many people profess to have a slow metabolism. This would also explain why so many people have such a difficult time with losing weight.

Along with enviromental pollutants they can aslo be dietary problems for the thyroid which include genetically engineered hormones in dairy products, poultry, and eggs. Raw cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, or cauliflower, contain thyroid inhibitors which can be rendered inactive by lightly steaming these vegetables. There is also some evidence that soy can affect thyroid function. Deficiencies in vitamins A and B. as well as mineral deficiencies from zinc, copper, iron and selenium will also lead to poor thyroid function.

How can one detect if they have a thyroid problem? With so many things in our environment that affect the thyroid in a negative way it’s almost safe to assume that the majority of us have some type of thyroid problem. Many people believe that the conventional tests that most doctors rely upon to assess thyroid function are in adequate to the task. Some people use the Broda Barnes basal temperature test to determine the help of their thyroid. While this test can be of some benefit it should not be considered 100% accurate with regard to the help of the thyroid. More expensive and accurate tests are available and may be necessary if one is experiencing the debilitating effects of hypothyroidism. If you are interested in losing weight and would like an easy free test to find out if you have a sluggish thyroid you might want to check out http://cardiograde.info/Diet/DrBerg . Click on the Free Quiz button to see if you have a body type that indicates you have a sluggish Thyroid.

Share and Enjoy: