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Hashimoto’s Health Tip: Low Thyroid Function
Frappuccino with low thyroid function
Did you know that low thyroid function is often caused by some other condition first, and often adrenal gland stress and blood sugar problems are the culprits?
Translation? High sugar, high caffeine beverages (coffee drinks, energy drinks, etc.). These stimulate the adrenal stress response and cause serious blood sugar imbalances.
Chronic Adrenal Stress Can:
* Affect communication between the brain and glands that produce hormones. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are the directors of hormone production and chronic adrenal stress can mess up communication with the thyroid.
* Increase thyroid binding activity, keeping thyroid hormones from getting absorbed by the cells of the body.
* Interfere with the conversion of T4 to active forms of T3 that the body can use.
* Affect detoxification pathways that clear out unnecessary thyroid hormone, when these get stuck in the body you can develop thyroid hormone resistance making cells lose their sensitivity to thyroid hormones.
* Weaken the immune barriers of the gut, lungs, and brain and weaken the immune system, in general. When this happens, you can have more immune flare ups and this can trigger your Hashimoto’s and make it worse.
Blood Sugar Imbalances Can:
Cause cortisol to be released to try to restore blood sugar balance (see the connection between the adrenals and blood sugar?)
* Cortisol directly inhibits the enzyme (5’-deiodinase) which converts inactive T4 into active T3. This can lead to low T3 levels.
* In addition, elevated cortisol will cause thyroid hormone receptor insensitivity meaning that even if T3 levels are high enough, they may not be able to bind normally to receptor sites. And when this happens it doesn’t get into the cells.
* Cortisol will also increase the production of reverse T3 (rT3) which is inactive. (It’s kind of like the anti-hormone.)
* rT3 can cause an increase in the production of substances known as thyronamines that can cause hypothyroid symptoms (like, low basal body temperature,fatigue, depression, etc.) along with insulin resistance symptoms of increased blood sugar.
* Cortisol can also lower the levels of protein that binds to thyroid hormone so it can circulate in a stable structure.
* And finally, elevated cortisol will slow TSH production by messing with hypothalamic-pituitary feedback leading to lower TSH production.
So put down that frozen frappuccino hypothyroid drink and your thyroid will thank you!
