Are you affected by low thyroid function?
Low thyroid function can leave you depressed, exhausted, frazzled, overweight, bloated and rundown just to name a few of the symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with low thyroid or suspect you may have an underactive thyroid then chances are you are tired of feeling this way.
The thyroid a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck and can have significant effects on your mood, metabolism, weight and body temperature.
Some of the signs of a thyroid issue are:
- You may have gained weight easily and are struggling to shift even a pound.
- You may feel tired, lethargic, and the brain fog can cause you to frequently forget what you are doing in this room for.
- Your joints may feel sore and achy.
- Your hair can be listless, dry and falls out
- You may have lost your enthusiasm, joy and spark for life.
- Your mood can be often blue and the things that used to excite you seem to no longer.
- You may always bloated, gassy and constipated.
- You can always seem cold.
- You may crave sugar and starchy food.
- Your PMS may be out of control.
If you have answered yes to 3 or more of the above symptoms then chances are your thyroid may not be functioning at optimum.
Over the years in private practice, I have seen many clients with hypothyroidism, some who have suffered for years without much relief.
In some cases they were told to just eat less and exercise more, or were prescribed anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication or told to take more fibre for their sluggish bowels.
And then there are some clients who have been placed on thyroid medication as they had abnormal bloods yet they still suffer all of the symptoms of low thyroid and have just gotten resigned to feeling tired, with sluggish bowels and those other symptoms like thinning, dry hair and skin.
From my experience the client still feels symptomatic because there are other factors that may be at play that are ultimately affecting the metabolism.
Factors like:
- Low nutrients levels – iodine, zinc, selenium, tyrosine, iron, Vit D, folate, B12.
- Adrenal dysfunction – cortisol (stress) and Dhea levels, oestrogen dominance.
- Chronic inflammation.
- Chronic hidden infections
- Genetic variations like MTHFR, detox pathways, stress pathways.
- Leaky gut and Gut dysbiosis.
- Heavy metal toxicity like mercury and cadmium.
- Lifestyle factors like relationship issues, long hours at work, emotional stress and shocks like losing a loved one, or caring for ageing parents.
All of the above should be taken into account when looking at healing the whole.
From this viewpoint you can begin to see that a thyroid issue may not just be a thyroid issue.
Rebecca and her struggle for energy and weight loss*
Rebecca aged 43 came to see me as she was gaining weight, felt exhausted when she woke up in the morning so much so that it was a struggle for her to get through a normal day let alone think about exercise. She felt like she was becoming forgetful and “foggy” and her premenstrual tension was getting worse as she aged. Upon case taking she revealed that her bowels were sluggish moving only every second to third day and she felt like she was becoming increasingly “sensitive” to foods as she would eat and then feel bloated and full of gas.
I share with you this case study as Rebecca’s bloods (Thyroid stimulating hormone TSH) came back normal so her GP said there was nothing wrong with her and that it was the consequence of raising kids and working a full time job.
Rebecca tried very hard to eat well yet by 4pm it became challenging for her because she was so tired that she would hit the chocolate.
To help Rebecca regain her vitality and start to shed the kilos together we simply addressed the Underlying causes of her subclinical low thyroid.
How Rebecca Healed Her Hormonal Balance*
Firstly, I explained to Rebecca that TSH testing is inconclusive and can be an unreliable method for addressing thyroid function. In fact, it can often appear normal yet you have all of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
We arranged for her to a complete thyroid panel along with testing for deficiencies like Iron, B12, Vitamin D, magnesium, zinc and iodine.
Some were standard lab testing and some were done in house in the clinic, we also had a look at food intolerances along with saliva hormone testing
We then ran a biochemistry, metabolism test along with a biological age test so we could assess Rebecca’s muscle mass and metabolism and what was really getting in the way for her to feel optimum
Rebecca also did some simple temperature testing at home.
These tests revealed some interesting facts that helped us to formulate a plan to help Rebecca on the path. Her particular issues were blood sugar imbalances (despite appearing normal in bloods)
A severe iodine deficiency, impacting the conversion of her thyroid hormones along with a yeast overgrowth (candida) in her bowel and multiple food intolerances. Her saliva hormone results revealed cortisol (stress hormone) dysfunction and oestrogen dominance
Our plan included a food plan to help her switch her metabolism on so it switches into fat burning rather than fat storing and we proceeded to correct all the other issues. We gave her herbal remedies, and supplements to balance her hormones and eliminate the yeast overgrowth.
Fast-forward three months later, Rebecca had shed 13 kilos of fat. Her energy was optimum she was exercising consistently and her PMS had vanished.
Her biological age had reduced to 7 years younger than her putting her at 35 and she was free from the suffering that had snuck up on her.
You may be wondering whether medication is necessary to treat in some?
And the answer is yes in some cases they are essential.
But for many they aren’t.
In those cases where medication is necessary treating the underlying issues will help to restore you to optimum health so that you can take back your vitality, energy and metabolism. Remember the symptoms that you may be experiencing can potentially be rarely just related to your thyroid gland alone.
Many clients come to me already on medication yet continue to have lingering symptoms that range from mild to severe.
Treating the root causes gives you chance to reach that new level of health potential.
How Can I Help Create Change For You?
My personal mission is to reach and help as many people as possible. Here are 3 ways to get started working with me for FREE.
OPTION ONE:
Download my “7-day Jumpstart to more energy and vitality.” This will help get you started on your journey. The plan starts by identifying foods that are known disruptors of good digestive health.
OPTION TWO:
Join my free webinar series. Here you will learn all about preventative health and the key issues like stress, gut health, allergies, hormonal imbalance, mindset and genetics.
OPTION THREE:
I would love you to schedule a 1:1 session where we can work together to design a blueprint for you to experience a positive change in your overall health and vitality.