Thyroid Function_ A Short Explanation

The thyroid hormone, the first hormone to evolve in multicellular organisms as they transitioned from the iodine-rich sea to land, has a fascinating evolutionary journey. Its development was crucial to ensure the continuous availability of iodine to cells. This hormone, which controls all endocrine organs, is the first to develop in the fetus, preceding even the central nervous system. The tissues from the neural tube give rise to the thyroid and then the brain, highlighting the thyroid's unique and essential role in our development.Iodine is essential for this. It is crucial not only to grow the brain but also to control development and tissue growth. There are thyroid hormone receptors in all cell membranes, all mitochondria, and all cell nuclei. The thyroid makes 80% t4, 16% t3, and 4% T2 and T1. In addition, 1% of the thyroid makes 90% of the body's calcitonin, which is important for regulating bone formation and kidney vitamin D activation. T4 has to be converted into T3, T2, and T1 to be active. Thyroid hormone, specifically T3, the active thyroid hormone, sparks the release of energy in all cells. All nutrients, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates can be turned into ATP within each cell using enzymes in the mitochondria. T3 hormone assists these enzymes in pulling fat, protein, sodium, potassium, and other chemicals into the cell membrane. Thyroid hormone also lets waste move out of cells. It is T3 hormone and, to some extent, T2, that controls metabolism because it sparks the process of metabolizing nutrients. T2 is also involved in energy metabolism, especially in the liver, heart, muscle, and brown adipose tissue. T3 also maintains cellular DNA, which is involved in regeneration and immune function. Since thyroid hormones activate all cells, all physiological function suffers without enough active thyroid hormones. Acid reflux, sleep apnea, arrhythmia and insomnia, depression, anxiety, low steroid hormones, gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, chest tightness, anemia, menstrual disorders, heart disease, loss of hair, fatigue, weight gain, the list goes on forever, are related to inadequate levels of thyroid hormone. It isn't a malfunction in the organ in your intestines, lungs, brain, and heart, but not enough energy to function correctly.

The thyroid gland sits in the front of your neck. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves innervate it. One of these, the vagus nerve, starts in the brain and travels from the brain to the tongue, thyroid, heart, lungs, stomach, and then to the intestines. The vagus nerve has afferent nerve fibers-- to carry stimulus toward the central nervous system and efferent nerve fibers-- to carry stimulus away from the nervous system. Inflammation in the thyroid can affect the function of the organs along the vagus nerve. Inflammation in any organs on the nerve's pathway--in the tongue, the heart, the stomach-- can affect thyroid function. Inflamed thyroid tissue can also cause swelling and pain in the vertebra near the thyroid. In some cases, neck pain is not caused by degenerated bone tissue in the vertebra but by swollen tissue around the thyroid, interfering with the proper movement of bones and ligaments.

Nutrition, intestinal function, and stress levels are the leading causes of thyroid dysfunction. Producing thyroid hormone, converting it, and getting it to all the receptors in different tissues depends on adequate nutrition. Thyroid hormones are made out of iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. The thyroid needs specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to manufacture hormones. Without selenium, zinc, iron, iodine, and other minerals, both macro and trace, the three enzymes that convert the inactive form of T4 into the active form of T3 and T2 in different tissues can't be made. However, all these enzymes depend on the body temperature at which they are catalyzed. Fewer enzymes can be catalyzed in people with low body temperatures. Proteins carry thyroid hormones to target tissues. Any digestive issues will disrupt this process.

Thyroid tissue itself suffers if the immune system attacks thyroid tissue. Autoimmune thyroid conditions are the most common autoimmune disorders, and they are more prevalent in women. Inadequate nutrition can also cause autoimmunity. Certain foods can trigger an autoimmune reaction because they cause inflammation. However, none of these foods, like soy and some vegetables, like raw cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, come from animals. Instead, animal based nutrition provides all the raw materials you need to optimize thyroid function. In addition, removing plant foods from your diet eliminates trigger foods and foods that can interfere with the absorption of iron, B12, and other B vitamins, as well as goitrogens, which prevent iodine absorption essential to thyroid function. These nutrients are vital during puberty when the thyroid is busy forming sexual characteristics.

Chronic stress will make the thyroid suffer as well. The thyroid is a very sympathetic organ. It is stimulated by and interacts with the sympatho-adrenal, sympathetic nervous, and adrenals. The thyroid constantly responds to dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine made by the adrenal glands. The thyroid reacts to temperature by warming you up or cooling you down. It also means that it responds to stress, physical or mental. Childhood trauma can damage thyroid function.

What the thyroid doesn't need are carbohydrates. Starvation suppresses thyroid hormone conversion, not a lack of carbohydrates. Hunger, or any stress, causes the thyroid to downregulate conversion in peripheral tissues. As a result, the T3 levels go down. Growth and regeneration must be suspended. Stress is nutritionally expensive. Hence, there will be insufficient energy or food to produce raw materials. What T3 is available has to go to heart, kidney, and brain function to keep you alive.