What is The Thyroid and How Does it Relate to Women's Health?
Not until later in my studies did I learn how important the relationship between our thyroid and our monthly cycle is. To my surprise, most menstrual problems have some type of link with thyroid conditions. The thyroid is a pretty cute gland, it’s shaped like a butterfly and it sits right at the front of the throat. It’s the largest gland in the endocrine system and it’s job is to work as the body’s internal thermostat and regulates body temperature, energy expenditure and hunger. I like to think of it as the '“HANGRY” gland because it sure knows how to get your blood boiling when you’re hungry!
Have you noticed too heavy or too light periods? Have you experienced a miscarriage, postpartum depression, more than one period a month, or anovulatory cycles (the absence of the release of an egg/ovulation)? This could mean your thyroid may not be working optimally.
Here’s the breakdown:
The thyroid produces two main hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). These hormones have the ability to stimulate certain metabolic processes like ovulation, digestion and detoxification. They also influence mood, sex drive and cognitive function- hence, why I call it the “HANGRY” gland.
Thyroid disorders can go mistreated or untreated and many women don’t even realize they have an issue with their thyroid. The two most common disorders are HYPOthyroidism and HYPERthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism means your thyroid is underactive, or working slower than it should. This disorder is more common than hyperthyroidism and means there are not enough thyroid hormones being produced in the body. This can be due to high stress, lack of sleep, high toxic burden, iodine and/or zinc deficiency. Symptoms can manifest as unexplained weight gain, itchy ears, hair loss, trouble losing weight, constipation, anxiety, muscle weakness/stiffness swollen neck/lymph nodes and more.
Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid is overactive, and producing too many thyroid hormones. This causes the body to work faster than normal, revving up other body systems like metabolism, heartbeat, irritability, appetite, sweating, diarrhea and more. In more serious cases, Grave’s disease can manifest (usually hereditary) which is caused by too many antibodies that cause the thyroid to secrete too much thyroid hormone. It can also be caused by taking too many T4 hormone tablets as well.
I know from personal experience, some weeks it feels so difficult to get enough sleep, manage my stress levels, take my supplements, have a social life AND work 3 jobs. BUT, once I understood how the thyroid can HELP me, I was better equipped to make informed decisions surrounding my hormone health. I hope I can be that person for you! You might be thinking, Ro, what can I do right now to improve my thyroid health? Well, many things, but let’s start with these:
Turn off electronics and remove screen time at least an hour before bed. Blue light from these devices can reduce melatonin in the body making it more difficult to fall asleep
Stop heating up your food in plastic containers and drinking out of plastic water bottles- even better, stop USING plastic containers to house your food in! Plastics contain EDC’s or endocrine-distrupting chemicals which pretend to be your hormones- throwing your natural ones out of whack
Up your zinc intake by consuming more nuts, seeds, broccoli and garlic!
*Although I am a CHNC (Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant) please note I am not a Doctor, medical professional, therapist or lawyer. I do not intend to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease. My blog posts are for informational purposes only and intended to motivate and empower readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. The information I provide is not intended as medical advice, nor as diagnoses to determine treatment for a medical condition. Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Consult a licensed medical doctor prior to taking any supplement or modifying any medication regimen for contraindications.