Is your Thyroid Challenged?

Do you feel depressed or anxious at times?
Difficulty falling asleep at night?
Trouble with weight loss even though you have changed your diet and exercise?
Are you fatigued or experiencing energy dips during the day?
Do you have to rely on stimulants like caffeine to get you through?
Do you often feel irritable?
Are you experiencing PMS or having a difficult transition into menopause?
Dealing with poor circulation in your legs and arms?
Concerned about heart palpitations?
Do you ever feel constriction in your throat?

Has your medical practitioner considered your thyroid?

Chances are they have… and even run some blood work – only to come back with “everything looks fine.”

Keep reading through… there is more to the story…

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ located in the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is also known as a regulating gland releasing hormones that control body metabolism, or in simpler terms, governing how your body uses energy.

It is amazing to think that one gland that consists of two small connected lobes could wreak so much havoc on body metabolism. But it does.

The Unsung Thyroid Pandemic

A leading thyroid doctor, Dr. Broda Barnes of the Broda Barnes Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to education, research and training in the field of thyroid and metabolic balance says thyroid dysfunction affects 90% of American men and women. Dr. Barnes states that thyroid dysfunction is a pandemic affecting women four times more than men.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) reports that 27 million Americans suffer from a thyroid condition and at least 50% are undiagnosed but still struggle with symptoms.

Thyroid Conditions are the #1 Endocrine Disorder in the U.S.

According to the AACE, thyroid conditions are the primary endocrine disorder in the US. Compare those numbers to diabetes which affects 16 million people.

The stats get more disheartening. Some sources report that up to 90% of women age 40 and over experience subclinical hypothyroidism (symptomatic but undiagnosed).

Hypothyroidism is an early warning signal that the body’s cellular and metabolic processes are weakened and ailing. Left undiagnosed and mistreated, the condition often precedes hundreds of other health concerns because metabolic and hormonal processes are involved in maintaining health throughout the body. Left unattended chronic thyroid stress can lead to more serious conditions such as Hashimoto’s- an autoimmune disorder. In poorly optimized thyroid states (from undiagnosed to auto-immune) there are underlying immune challenges and heavy metal toxicities creating stress on the organ.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition that occurs due to excessive production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. This condition has an opposite affect and can accelerate the body’s metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. This condition is much less prevalent in the population than hypothyroidism. A hypothyroid can also be the underlying cause of this situation, as the thyroid suffers acute phases of inflammation and can mimic the symptoms of a hyperthyroid.

Each condition reflects that the thyroid is challenged and struggling to maintain an optimal metabolic balance.

According to the AACE, thyroid conditions are the primary endocrine disorder in the US. Compare those numbers to diabetes which affects 16 million people.

The stats get more disheartening. Some sources report that up to 90% of women age 40 and over experience subclinical hypothyroidism (symptomatic but undiagnosed).

Thyroid Dysfunction Predisposes Men and Women to other Degenerative Diseases

A challenged thyroid plays a major role in obesity and diseases associated with weight gain. Older women with subclinical hypothyroidism have a two-fold risk of developing a blocked aorta putting them at higher risk for experiencing a heart attack.

According to the National Thyroid Institute, 50% of depression could be caused by an undiagnosed thyroid condition.

Studies show autoimmune types of hypothyroid (Hashimsoto’s), may lead to psychosis, seizures, dementia and mood changes.

Hormone imbalance issues and the stressful transition into perimenopause and menopause may be due to thyroid dysfunction.

Other symptoms of a challenged thyroid include cold hands, or feet, hair thinning and loss in women and in men, depression brain fog, dry skin, thin or brittle nails, infertility, or constipation.

Leading Causes of Thyroid Dysfunction

First of all note that the terminology we use at Paramount Wellness focuses on “challenges”, “dysfunction”, “imbalance”… not illness.

We look at whole body health, and use a time-tested technique called Nutrition Response Testing – a non-invasive analysis of nutrient deficiencies to determine the underlying causes of ill health that prevent the body from rebounding and healing.

Underlying causes relating to thyroid dysfunction include:

• Selenium/iodine deficiency. Both are essential minerals required by the body to regulate metabolism and support the production of thyroid hormones.
• Pesticides/chemicals/heavy metals.
• Leaky gut syndrome. Symptoms include bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains.
• Nutritional deficiencies. Lack of dietary phytonutrients like antioxidants that are compounds in plants (apart from vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients) which have a beneficial effect on the body.
• Inflammation. A biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and as well as a protective response.
• Stress hormones. These hormones suppress optimal function forcing the body into overdrive affecting metabolism and optimal cellular and hormone functioning.

The reality is that the majority of symptoms related to a dysfunctional thyroid begin long before a blood test picks them up.

Resolving Issues with Thyroid Dysfunction Involve Two Primary Areas

• Assessing iodine sufficiency needed to produce thyroid hormones.
• Addressing cellular inflammation caused by environmental toxins, sugars/grains, and bad fats.

Taking the Guesswork out of How to Heal the Thyroid is Imperative

At Paramount Wellness we develop a customized nutrition program based on an analysis of nutrient deficiencies – educating our clients every step of the way so they can begin and actively participate in their recovery.

Using a customized approach to handling thyroid imbalances is crucial when it comes to the thyroid. The wrong herbs, supplementation and inability to provide a targeted approach to handling the root cause of the problem can be especially problematic for people with thyroid imbalances. The thyroid is a very sensitive gland and can often be made worse symptomatically if the wrong intervention is used.

When corrected through safe, natural, nutritional means, the body has the ability to repair itself to attain and maintain an optimum healthy lifestyle.

Our mission is to support our clients in living well and being well.