The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. You might know about the thyroids role in weight loss and our energy but do you know these other things about your thyroid.
However despite the thyroid’s size it’s a busy gland.
8 Things that might suprise you about your thyroid.
- Regulates our Metabolism: Thyroid hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), help regulate metabolism, which is the process by which the body converts food into energy. These hormones influence the rate at which cells burn energy, affecting overall metabolic rate.
- Maintains Body Temperature: Thyroid hormones also play a role in regulating body temperature.
- Controls Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Thyroid hormones influence the function of the cardiovascular system, including heart rate and blood pressure. They help regulate the rate and force of heart contractions, ensuring proper blood flow throughout the body.
- Helps our bodies Growth and Development: Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth and development, particularly during infancy and childhood. The thyroid is key in the development of the brain, bones and muscles.
- Regulates our Digestive Function: Thyroid hormones affect the function of the digestive system, including nutrient absorption, intestinal motility, and metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
- Optimises our Brain Function: Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in brain development and function. They are essential for normal cognitive function, memory, and mood regulation. (stops brain fog, forgetfulness)
- Gives us great Energy: Thyroid hormones influence energy levels and overall vitality. Imbalances in thyroid function can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, muscle weakness and a general whole body fatigue
- Controls our Reproductive Function: Thyroid hormones help regulate reproductive function, including menstrual cycles in women and sperm production in men. Thyroid disorders can impact fertility and reproductive health.
8 Thyroid disruptors
Things that are impacting your thyroid health
- Environmental Toxins: Exposure to environmental toxins such as pollutants, heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead), pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., bisphenol A, phthalates) can interfere with thyroid hormone function.
- Iodine Deficiency or Excess: Iodine is an essential nutrient required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Both iodine deficiency and excess can disrupt thyroid function. The quality of your water really matters when it comes to your thyroid function.
- Autoimmune Disorders: Autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. These conditions can result in inflammation, impaired hormone production, and alterations in thyroid function.
- Stress: Chronic stress can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, the regulatory system responsible for thyroid hormone secretion. This disruption can lead to imbalances in thyroid hormone levels and affect overall thyroid function.
- Nutritional Imbalances: Inadequate intake of essential nutrients such as selenium, zinc, fatty acids, iodine and vitamin D can affect thyroid function. (amongst other nutrients). We also need to be able to digest these nutrients.
- Medications: Certain medications, can interfere with thyroid function and contribute to thyroid disorders
- Radiation Exposure: Exposure to ionizing radiation, whether from medical treatments (e.g., radiation therapy) or environmental sources can damage the thyroid gland
- Genetic Factors: Genetic predisposition plays a role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to thyroid disorders. Often thyroid conditions are passed on via the female line.
DOWNLOAD: 12 Tips To Improve Your Thyroid Health
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