Thyroid Function Explained Part 2

Thyroid Function Explained Part 2



Thyroid Function Explained Part-2

Well if you made it through the first read...In this chapter I will explain the importance of diet and how it impacts your thyroid.

KEY INFLUENCES ON THYROID FUNCTION

As we have already discussed in PART 1, the endocrine glands are in constant comunication not only with each other, but also with the nervous and immune systems. In conjunction with the pituitary gland, thyroid hormones influence almost every function in the body, as metabolism establishes the official temp at which systems operate. Because the thyroid gland's work involves interaction with many body systems, it is particularly sesitive to influences that can disrupt it's proper functioning ( this is key to those supplementing with thyroid meds, AAS, and GH).

DIET AND THYROID FUNCTION

There is a direct relationship between nutrition status and the impact of hormones. The foods we eat and the vitamins, minerals and nutrients available to the body regulate the synthesis and utilization of thyroid hormones. At the same time, thyroid hormones influence the rate of metabolism of fuel sources from food: fats, protiens, and carbohydrates. Thyroid hormones increase the rate of energy released from carbs, increase the rate of protein synthesis, and stimulate the breakdown of fats. Low thyroid function slows the metabolism of these foods, leading to depleted energy and a slower metabolic rate that leads to weight gain.
In the presence of too much thyroid hormone, food is turned to energy with high speed and efficiency, increasing the basal metabolic rate (BMR) you should be familiar with this term by now!...and leading to exccesive weight loss.

The digestive and endocrine systems are dependent upon each other for the optimal absoption of nutrients from foods and the utilization of nutrients for hormone synthesis. Hypothyroidism results in weight gain, despite a poor appetite, constipation, pernicious anemia, poor utilization of fatty acids, and inadequate conversion of beta carotene to vit A. Hypothyroidism is also associated with insufficient production of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach. For those who don't know what HCA does...It provides the proper PH environment for the digestion of proteins by the enzyme pepsin. Without HCA, the amino acid phenylalinine (from which tyrosine is derived) remeber the importance of tyrosine in PART1...)))cannot be obtained from food, and tyrosine is unavailable in adequate amounts for the production of thyroxine (T4) A cycle of hypothyroidism can be created in this interplay between digestion and thyroid function. Hyperthyroidism can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and deficiencies in fat soluble vitamins and calcium. Hyperthyroidism can increase metabolic rates by as much as 200%, requiring a proportional intake of calories.

NUTRIENTS AND THYROID FUNCTION

Several nutrients are critical for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. In order for the thyroid gland to produce T4, it needs the trace element iodine, chromium, and selenium, the mineral zinc, and the amino acid tyrosine. Without sufficient supply of these nutrients in the diet, thyroid function is diminished. Several reasons why a person may be lacking these nutrients include dysbiosis ( a disruption in the normal balance of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal mucosa), taking oral contraceptives, which deplete many nutrients, especially selenium and zinc...I thought I'd through that in incase some of our female members are looking into taking thyroid meds. Also consuming a diet high in processed foods lack these nutrients due to the destruction during processing.

ENZYMES

I'm just going to sweep over this because most of us understand the importance of enzymes...but one enzyme in particular must be mentioned as it relates so closely to thyroid function at that is ADENYLATE CYCLASE. This enzyme activates the molecule cyclic adenosine monophosphate or ( cAMP) sometimes reffered to as cyclic AMP. cAMP is the "second messenger" of cells, helping to initiate changes in the cells specific to certain hormones. Hormones whose actions depend on the cAMP mechanism include thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) folicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) bet you didn't know you had one of them! from the posterior pituitary, parathyroid hormone (PTH) from the parathyroid , and calcitonin from the thyroid. If Adenylate cyclase and the cAMP mechanism are disrupted, all the metabolic process dependent on them, including thyroid activity, are shut down.
The conversion of t4 to the more active t3 is regulated in part, by the enzyme iodothyronine deiodinase.

Any body suffering from a low body temp reading...I always recomend taking acti-cyclase ( which contains forskolin) to help regulate your thyroid function and have seen great success, and would recommend anybody taking t3 or t4 to take this compound post thyroid!

Last I will discuss briefly the symptoms of thyroid hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism as well as some natural ways to help treat these problems and get them undere control...stay tuned for PART 3 for those of you who haven't fallen asleep yet.