WHAT CAUSES THYROID DISEASE AND CAN IT BE CURED?
According to the American Thyroid Association, 12 percent of Americans will develop a thyroid condition. Some estimates suggest that up to 40 percent of the population suffers from at least some level of under active thyroid, known medically as hypothyroidism.
WHERE IS THE THYROID GLAND LOCATED?
The thyroid gland is a small H-shaped organ that sits at the bottom of your neck. Though this gland is no bigger than a walnut, it has a tremendous impact on your entire body. When your thyroid gland malfunctions, it will either produces too little or too much thyroid hormone – which results in debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain and hair loss.
WHAT DOES THE THYROID GLAND DO?
The major function of the thyroid is to help regulate hormones and metabolism. This powerful gland also plays a role with muscle control, temperature regulating, bone maintenance, growth, brain development, hunger,digestive function, energy, heart function and more. When something is going awry inside your body, the thyroid gland works overtime in an attempt to regulate your system. As a result, the gland can become fatigued and start to function poorly.
CAN THYROID DISEASE BE CURED?
By identifying the root cause, inflammatory factors that cause hypothyroidism can be switched from the active damaging phase to the quiet or latent phase by utilizing customized and targeted treatment plans that include lifestyle changes.
WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM:
• Fatigue
• Cold Intolerance
• Diffuse Headaches, migraines
• Morning stiffness, joint/muscle pain
• Dry skin, brittle nails
• Diffuse hair loss
• Depression
• Constipation
• Low libido
• Menstrual irregularities
• Puffy face, swollen eyelids
• Leg swelling
WHAT CAUSES HYPOTHYROIDISM?
Ninety to ninety-five percent of all hypothyroidism is related to an autoimmune disorder, called Hashimoto’s disease, where the body’s immune defense mistakes thyroid tissue as an enemy and attacks it. This attack causes the thyroid to become inflamed, which can result in permanent loss of thyroid function.
Other factors that contribute to hypothyroidism include nutrient and mineral deficiencies, stress and related adrenal dysfunction, or a lack of proper signaling from the pituitary gland (a part of the brain) to the thyroid gland.
DO GENETICS PLAY A ROLE IN THYROID DISEASE?
Like all autoimmune diseases, genetics play an important role in determining who will be afflicted. If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with thyroid disease, you are at risk of developing the illness. While the genetic predisposition is a risk factor, research reveals that environmental exposures play a role in activating the genes that result in active thyroid disease.
IF I DON’T HAVE THE GENE, DOES THAT MEAN I CAN’T GET THYROID DISEASE?
Just because you don’t have the gene associated with thyroid disease, does not mean that you are immune from developing the condition. Recently scientists have learned that what you eat can have a significant impact on the development of autoimmune related thyroid disease.
This condition develops if you have a reaction to several common inflammatory foods, such as gluten, dairy, corn and spinach, which all have protein structures that are very similar to part of your thyroid gland – this is called molecular mimicry. When your body detects the inflammatory reaction to these foods, it mounts an attack. Due the structural similarities between these inflammatory foods and your thyroid, your body attacks your thyroid too – particularly if you have leaky gut. Clinical testing for leaky gut and food immune reactions is critical for anyone with Hashimoto’s, as the results of this testing (along with an understanding of your environmental and medical history) allows your functional medicine doctor to create a customized dietary plan that will put your body on a path to optimal health.
In addition to inflammatory foods, common infectious agents such as EBV (the virus responsible for Mononucleosis) and Yersinia Enterocolitica (a common gut pathogen) also create similar molecular mimicry that can result in Hashimoto’s disease. In this case, the body attacks your thyroid along with the virus, bacteria or microorganism it is trying to eradicate.
Exposure to environmental toxins (which are difficult to avoid these days) also play a major role in the development of Hashimoto’s and all autoimmune thyroid diseases. Common chemicals such as Bisphenol A (found plastic containers), perchlorates (found in lubricants and coolants), organochloride pesticides, PBDEs (found in flame retardants) and Triclosan (found in antibacterial soaps) can decrease overall thyroid function and increase the odds that your body’s immune system will accidentally attack your thyroid gland. While many of these toxins can be difficult to completely avoid, there are steps that you can take to significantly decrease your exposure to them, and ways you can enable your body to remove them from your system before they cause harm.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY CHANCES OF GETTING THYROID DISEASE?
1. Avoid foods and beverages stored in plastic containers (even those that are BPA free). For example; keep a pre-filled glass or stainless steel container (like the Hydroflask) with you.
2. Buy organic foods as much as possible. Check out EWG.org Dirty Dozen list for foods that you can be certain are organic.
3. Avoid products with Triclosan – Purell is safe, but shockingly Colgate Total isn’t!
4. Avoid non-stick cookware. Switch our for Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, or Copper cookware.
HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY AUTOIMMUNE RELATED THYROID DISEASE IS BEING TREATED PROPERLY?
1.Under the guidance of an experience functional medicine physician, undergo simple blood testing to determine which environmental factors are at the root cause of your individual autoimmune thyroid condition.
2. Work with your physician to develop a customized plan to eliminate the contributing root causes to your illness. This will likely mean significant dietary changes, along with the addition of specific dietary supplements.
3. Autoimmune disease is the result of an immune imbalance. The goal of your treatment plan is therefore to restore your immune balance, so that the disease goes into remission. Supplements and foods that target restoring T regulatory cell function are necessary for all autoimmune diseases. These include foods and supplements high in Vitamins A, D, K, probiotics in addition to other treatments.
If you suffer from thyroid disease or any of the following disruptive and sometimes debilitating energy and metabolism conditions and diseases, Regenera Medical can help.
• Adrenal Fatigue
• Anemia
• Detox
• Hashimotos
• Low Libido
• Low Testosterone
• Lupus
• Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency
Metabolism
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Weight Gain
• Weight Loss
Please contact Regenera Medical to set up a consultation at 424 256 0272 or email us at Info@RegeneraMedical.com