The Spring 2015 issue of the quarterly magazine Good Health Lifestyles is full of interesting and helpful information. They cite the source of research articles along with commentary on the importance to the individual.
An article on pages 22-28 (Vol. 2, Issue 0415) that I found especially intriguing is Underactive Thyroid ? by Robert Thompson, MD. He not only highlights the importance of iodine in the transformation of T4 into T3, but details the steps in thyroid hormone production. The article states that “The conversion of T4 into T3 takes place mainly in the liver, but also in cells of the heart, muscles, gut, and nerves.”
Factors that can “undermine” the process are “chronic stress, hormonal and digestive problems, exposure to environmental toxins like mercury, or even menopause and pregnancy. A diet high in refined carbohydrates or excessive amounts of processed foods and foods containing soy or gluten can also thwart the conversion process leaving you with less T3 than you need for proper thyroid function.”
One test for hypothyroidism is the T3/RT3 ratio–that is, the ratio of Total T3, and Reverse T3, a form created from T4 that “tones down excess energy”. “A normal ratio is 10-12:1. If you are below that, mostly likely you are still hypothyroid–even if you are on therapy and even if you have low TSH. On the other hand, if you are above that ratio, you may need more T4 or less T3.” (Simultaneous measurements of Free T4 and Free T3 would seem useful in deciding which option to try.)
Basal body temperature (BBT), taken at the same time for 5 minutes each morning with an oral thermometer not a digital one, is another helpful indicator. “If your average BBT is consistently lower than 97.8 F (36.5 C) you may have an underactive thyroid.”
The article includes a Symptom Checker and nutrients and foods that are essential in thyroid functioning. The latter includes iodine, L-tyrosine, Vitamin C, Selenium, Thiamine (B1) and Riboflavin (B2).
Good Health Lifestyles is published by Mukoy Publishing, however, I was unable to find a website for either. Editorial Office email address is editorial@goodhealthlifestylesmag.com. I have my local Vita Villa Health Food Store to thank for a complimentary copy.