Low Thyroid in 21 Lessons (Article 15)

Hello,

I am Dr Michael Teplisky, a holistic medical doctor from Low Thyroid Doctor.com and this is lecture 15 in our seminar about low thyroid called “Low thyroid in 21 days.” 

In the last lecture we talked about medications for low thyroid. The most popular one is synthetic T4 called Synthroid or levothyroxine sodium. There are multiple other generic preparations of Synthroid with different names, but they all have the same chemical structure, with one hydrogen replaced by sodium. 

Less popular among “regular” doctors, but often used by holistic doctors are the natural T3 and T4. They come from dried up thyroid glands of pigs and produce better results because they are not fake, like Synthroid, but real. There are many companies making desiccated or dry thyroid, they all have different names, but we usually just call desiccated thyroid Armour thyroid or simply Armour. 

Today we’ll talk about general treatment of hypothyroidism with emphasis on nutritional supplements. In the next lecture we’ll talk specifically about treatment of Hashimoto's.

If a doctor diagnoses you with low thyroid, the first thing they do is give you a thyroid medication, usually Synthroid. And this usually helps, once you find the right dose. We’ll talk about the right dose later. 

For now, let’s just consider why the person has low thyroid and has low T3 in the blood and inside the cells. Sometimes it’s because she does not have the thyroid gland. It was removed or destroyed by radiation. In this case medication is the only solution. It doesn’t matter how much iodine you consume, you still can’t make any thyroid hormone without the thyroid gland. 

But in 90 % of cases people have Hashimoto's, where the person still has the thyroid gland, although partially destroyed by the immune system. The person still has the thyroid gland, but there are fewer thyroid cells because some or many are gone. These people usually also need medication, although the dose may be less than in a person without the thyroid. 

In short, almost all people with hypothyroidism end up taking thyroid medications. And most of these people do nothing else, just take medications. In most cases they feel so happy, so much better than before, that they don’t think there is anything else that needs to be done. And that’s where they are wrong. In most people we can reduce or even eliminate (rarely) thyroid medication if we make the thyroid gland work as productively as it can. 

Thyroid cells are just like all the other cells in the body. They need proteins, carbohydrates and fats. They need vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids. They need anti-oxidants and phytonutrients and many other things.

Because we cannot make vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and many other things, we must get all these things from food. And we did up until about 100 years ago, when we started eating refined food, processed food and artificial food. The result is that many people are deficient in essential nutrients. That’s why we use supplements.  

We certainly get enough calories, but many people are deficient in important nutrients and need supplements. I think it’s a good idea for everyone to take a good multivitamin/multimineral supplement. But I mean a good one. The one being advertised everywhere as #1 is not good, it’s junk. It uses the cheapest ingredients that are poorly absorbed and contains dyes and potentially harmful chemicals. 

Your doctor, if he is knowledgeable about these matters, will help you find a good multi. In my practice I use high quality supplements from several reliable companies.

All the substances that we need for good health but cannot make ourselves are called essential. The best source of these essential substances is food. 

For example, you get the best fish oil by eating fish. Any fish or seafood contains fish oil, some more, some less. It’s natural, high quality fish oil that your body needs. Or you can get a fish oil supplement. And here you are at the mercy of the company that produces fish oil. How was the fish or krill processed to get the oil? Was high temperature used? Were chemicals used? Is the product in the form of triglycerides or in some other form? Is the product pure or contains contaminants? Does it supply the right combination of omega 3 fatty acids? Most people don’t realize all the factors that need to be considered, which is why a knowledgeable doctor is very helpful. And that’s why it’s important to use products from reputable companies. 

Yes, they are usually more expensive, but they are also much healthier. 

Why do we need all these essential nutrients? For thousands of things. Vitamins and minerals are often used as structural components, like calcium for bones, iron for hemoglobin in red cells. And, of course, iodine to make thyroid hormones. They also function as co-enzymes. 

Enzymes are special proteins, each performing a certain function, from digestion of food to creating hormones and regulating various biochemical processes. There are literally tens of thousands of enzymes in the body and without them life would not be possible.

You know that to make thyroid hormone you need to combine 2 amino acids called tyrosine with 3 or 4 iodines. We make it happen with the help of an enzyme call thyroid peroxidase. 

To turn inactive T4 into an active T3, you need an enzyme deiodinase. Every important process in the body uses one or more enzymes. 

Each enzyme needs one or more helpers. They are called co-enzymes. They must be present or else the enzyme will not work.

For example, you have the most recent Ferrari with all the advanced gadgets. You get into a driver’s seat and press the start button. And nothing happens. Because you don’t have the key. A little thing like a key is missing and your whole car does not work. In this example, the car is an enzyme, the key is co-enzyme, and as you see, coenzymes are just as important as enzymes. 

The enzymes involved in production and release of thyroid hormones need many coenzymes. TPO needs iodine, zinc, copper, iron, vitamin D, vitamin A, chromium and quite a few other things to do its work. De-iodinase, the one that removes one iodine from T4 needs selenium. All the processes involving thyroid, from the production of TRH and TSH, production of T3 and T4, T3 going into the cells and doing its work there require multiple enzymes.

In other words, for thyroid to function properly, it needs quite a few vitamins and minerals. This is true about every organ in the body

There are many herbs that help thyroid gland. For example, guggul, which was used a lot in old Indian medicine called Ayurvedic medicine and is still used today. It has other names like Commifora Mucul. We are familiar with guggul as the herb that reduces the cholesterol level, which it does, but maybe the reason it works is because it improves the thyroid. 

Ashwagandha is another Indian herb, we call it Withania. It belongs to a class of adaptogens. They reduce stress, which improves T4 to T3 conversion. In addition, Ashwagandha has separate positive effects on thyroid. I use a supplement that combines many of these products in a single pill. Of course, you can’t put everything into one pill, just the essentials.

Many people have low vitamin D level, which is bad for bones and for immune system and may have a role in Hashimoto's. It’s good for circulation, cognitive functions and has many other good properties. I check vitamin D level in everybody and give a supplement if the level is not high enough.

Many people, especially women, are deficient in Magnesium, starting from childhood. Magnesium participates as a structural enzyme or co-enzyme in almost 300 different reactions in the body, including many related to thyroid and I often give it to my hypothyroid patients. 

There are supplements that restore proper balance of bacteria in the intestine and reduce leaky gut syndrome, like probiotics, digestive enzymes, and others. I will mention them in the next lecture where I’ll talk about intestinal aspect of thyroid disease,

As you see, treating low thyroid is more than just taking a thyroid medication. It involves good diet, eliminating certain things, adding certain things, taking supplements and also a medication. 

Two more things that are good for the thyroid, and tor the whole body for that matter, is 1.getting enough sleep, which usually is 7-8 hours a night and 2.avoiding excessive stress. If stress is unavoidable, use relaxation techniques that work for you, from yoga and tai chi to just relaxing for 5-10 minutes or maybe medicating for 5-10 minutes with your eyes closed and concentrating on your breathing. 

Next time we’ll talk about gastro-intestinal aspect of thyroid disease and why GI tract needs to be fixed. 

Please make sure to subscribe to my newsletter which you will get about once a week. If you know someone who might benefit from this information, please forward it to them. Also, if you have questions or comments, please email them to info@LowThyroidDoctor.com. I try to read and answer all of them, time permitting.  

Also, please keep in mind that if you suspect that you have low thyroid or you are being treated and are not getting better, you can get a free, no obligation 30 min phone consultation with me to see if I can help you get better. Just book it online or call my office at 718-769-0997. 

I’ll see you in the next lecture. 

Until then, I am Dr. Michael Teplisky from LowThyroidDoctor.com wishing you the best of health.