Thyroid Solutions

August 15, 2017
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Restore your thyroid to restore your health.

The thyroid—a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck—plays a prominent role in the health of your body from head to toe. In fact, every single cell in your body has thyroid hormone receptor sites. Besides regulating body temperature and driving metabolism, this mighty gland supports the immune system, the nervous system, and the intestines. It also influences the brain, muscles, heart, gallbladder, and liver. Thyroid hormones help strengthen hair, nails, and skin, and they support normal bone growth.

The American Thyroid Association states that one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder, and women are five to eight times more likely than men to develop thyroid problems. It is also estimated that thirty million Americans exhibit some type of thyroid disease—and I believe that this number is actually much higher. Plus, many perimenopausal women exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism even if their thyroid levels are normal.

A Multitude of Symptoms

Too frequently the signs of a malfunctioning thyroid go unrecognized and ignored, as women assume their symptoms are just a normal part of the aging process.

More commonly known symptoms include:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Cold hands and feet

Less commonly known, include, but are in no way limited to:

• Loss of appetite
• Premature graying of hair
• Fluid retentions
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling around the eyes
• Constipation
• Brain fog
• Muscle stiffness

Even subclinical levels of thyroid problems can have unwanted effects, such as increased risk for heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Thyroid Fixes

Consider these saboteurs to get your thyroid—and your overall health—back in optimum condition.

Fluoride. Fluoride, along with bromide and chlorine, interferes with the thyroid’s uptake of iodine, an element necessary for thyroid hormone production. Think of it this way: the more fluoride, the less thyroid hormone produced—hence, hypothyroidism. A 2015 study by researchers at the University of Kent published a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that individuals who lived in communities with fluorinated water had a 30 percent higher chance of developing hypothyroidism. This amounted to 9 percent more occurrences of hypothyroidism in communities with fluorinated water than communities that did not fluorinate their water.

Iodine. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The connection between thyroid function and adequate iodine levels became clear decades ago. The thyroid gland depends on iodine to make its hormones. If your body lacks an adequate level of iodine, your thyroid gland can’t produce those all-important T3 and T4 hormones.

Bile. You may have never considered bile and what it does for your body, but the connection between hypothyroidism and bile is of serious importance. According to a study conducted at Tampere University Hospital in Finland, hypothyroidism may cause delays in the emptying of the biliary tract. Researchers at the same hospital found that hypothyroidism is seven times more likely in people who experience reduced bile flow.

Gluten. When it comes to the thyroid, the problem with gluten lies with the structure of its protein gliadin. A gluten intolerance causes the body to attack any gluten in the body. The molecular structure of gliadin so closely resembles that of thyroid tissue that when the body tries to attack gliadin, it attacks the thyroid too. That’s right, gluten literally turns the body against its own thyroid gland. Not only does gluten weaken the intestinal walls, increasing intestinal permeability, but it manipulates and damages the body that lives on the other side of those walls. You must give up gluten entirely. Cutting back on foods containing gluten and cheating just “once in a while” won’t cut it.

Stress. You simply must stress less—your health depends on it. Chronic stress and the high cortisol levels that come with it are another enemy of thyroid health. The thyroid is one of your chief hormone regulators, and stress is one of your chief hormone disruptors. In conjunction with stress reduction, I encourage you to explore supplements that nourish your adrenals in order to further support your thyroid. When your adrenal glands are well nourished, your thyroid will be supported too.

Before the Change

For even more information about supporting your thyroid and many other time-tested natural solutions for a peaceful perimenopause, preorder your copy of Before the Change. The official release date is just around the corner on September 5th and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

Do place your preorders to gain access to FREE bonus gifts. They include:

• Before the Change Companion Workbook
• Report: 3 Steps to Hormone Happiness
• 20% Discount on Natural Progesterone Crème

Consider Before the Change your light to guide you through the change before the change. Learn more here.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

10 Comments

  1. Tasha

    Hi there! I saw ALG’s Facebook Q & A where she mentions Thytrophin PMG. I think she said 3 pills of Thytrophin were equivalent to about 1 grain of Armour. However, I think she also said that Thytrophin didn’t contain thyroid hormones. How does Thytrophin work when it doesn’t contain thyroid hormones, yet is also equivalent to 1 grain of Armour which does contain thyroid hormones? Thanks so much!

    Reply
  2. Team ALG

    Dear Tasha: Thank you for your post. Thytrophin PMG is the tissue glandular which helps to nourish and support the gland and has been used for decades. The DNA/RNA structure of the tissue glandular can help rebuild the thyroid similar to how eating organic liver can help restore liver function. While ALG notes this may not work for every body, it has certainly worked for many of her clients throughout the years who could not afford a thyroid prescription.

    Reply
  3. Kristin Krause

    Does ALG recommend a particular brand of Thytrophin PMG?

    Reply
  4. Team ALG

    Dear Kristin: Standard Process is the brand.

    Reply
  5. ada

    I have already , I am 58
    Will the book be helpful for me or it’s too late? Or maybe I need another book?
    Thanks

    Reply
  6. Team ALG

    Ada, Before the Change will be very helpful for you. We need to keep our hormones balanced at every age and stage. This book will give you great information to keep feeling your best.

    Reply
  7. Susan

    Dear Ann Louise,
    Thank you so much for all this valuable information on thyroid function. How enlightening to learn of the less commonly known symptoms.
    A few questions come to mind:
    1. Is a copper zinc imbalance a possible cause/effect of thyroid problems?
    2. Is Candida a possible cause/effect of thyroid problems?
    3. Is Thytrophin PMG a supplement just taken for a while to rebuild the thyroid or can it also be a supplement one can take regularly?
    Thanks so much. Look forward to reading your revised book! I learned so much from the first edition!

    Reply
  8. Dawn

    Good Morning Ann Louise,
    A good friend of mine recommended you to me. Like countless others, I suffer with hypothyroidism. It’s an understatement to say the symptoms are AWFUL! There are too many to list. I have had several surgeries from car accidents which makes everything even more complicated. I would love to know what you would recommend as my starting point. I have been taking Armour for years. To be honest, I don’t feel like it is helping and I only feel worse. I have try to cut gluten. I feel overwhelmed by all the products and info at this point and really could use guidance. Thank you in advance!

    Reply
  9. Candy Wright

    What about hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Candy, since your question is very open ended please call our nutritionist, Liz Beck direct line 208 209-8253 to discuss this with her.

      Reply

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