The Complete A-Z Starter’s Guide for People with Thyroid Problems
How does a person’s body look when it has thyroid problems?
What are the symptoms and root causes of thyroid problems?
What is the best diet, supplements & type of exercise to support thyroid function?
Did you know it’s possible to find the cause to a thyroid or weight problem?
Take Online Thyroid Evaluation
This is a great tool and the first major step in determining the possible underlying cause to your thyroid problem.
This post will be broken down into 4 sections:
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How a person’s body looks when they have thyroid problems.
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Symptoms a person may experience when they have thyroid problems.
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Some potential causes as to why thyroid problems develop.
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Some natural suggestions (diet, nutritional supplements, exercise) to help people with thyroid problems.
We’ll talk about natural diets, supplements and causes to thyroid problems toward the end of this post.
Disclaimer: Please note this post is purely educational and nothing in this post, nor is AlternaCare, intending to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure thyroid problems or disease. Please consult your medical doctor before applying to yourself or others any of the below information.
Appearance:
Lots of extra fat or loose skin under the arms. Some people refer to them as bat wings.
A loss or thinning of hair. Some will notice more hair in the brush or more hair in the drain.
There will typically be weight gain all over the body. This is different than the sugar case that has pre-diabetes, a big belly and no butt, or the too much estrogen case that is shaped like a pear.
There will be a loss of the outer part of the eyebrow.
The nails can become thin and weak. In addition, little vertical lines can start to appear in the nails.
A scalloped tongue. This is a crazy one. In the hypothyroid case, we’ll see indentations along the side of the tongue. It may be due to the tongue actually enlarging because the thyroid gland is under-active.
Symptoms:
There will usually be fatigue and/or brain fog to the point where the person has difficulty remembering things and is just tired.
There will be cravings for sugar, carbohydrates and/or junk food.
Depression, lack of motivation and general moodiness.
Feeling cold and difficulty in getting warm, as well as as cold hands and feet.
Other symptoms. There are many other symptoms which could indicate an under-active thyroid. They include: constipation, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles, decreased sex drive and dry skin.
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Causes:
There are nearly 40 different causes to an under-active thyroid gland. I’ve covered a few of the most common ones below.
Halogen Toxicity
Halogens are chemicals that block the absorption of iodine into the thyroid, stopping the thyroid from making thyroid hormone.
Halogen toxicities are easily tested by conducting a 24-hour urine study. Halogen toxicity is explained in detail in the below video.
Liver Detoxification Impairment
The thyroid gland makes and releases T4, which is a relatively inactive form of thyroid hormone.
T4 must travel through the blood to the liver where it is converted from the inactive T4 into the active thyroid hormone called T3.
Different liver problems prevent the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3.
There are lab tests available to detect these liver problems, but be aware, the standard medical “liver enzyme” blood test is near useless. I cover liver detoxification impairment and how it can cause thyroid problems in the below video.
Adrenal Fatigue
When the adrenal glands start to weaken, they often reduce the production of certain beneficial hormones and overproduce cortisol. Excess cortisol stops the thyroid gland from producing thyroid hormone and also interferes with the conversion of inactive T4 into active T3.
Adrenal fatigue is easy to test for and can be done via saliva, dried urine or 24-hour hormone analysis. I also cover adrenal fatigue and its connection to thyroid problems in the below video.
Natural Suggestions:
Test. Test. Test.
The standard medical tests for finding a thyroid problem are ok but they don’t do anything to identify the root cause. So now what?
“Mrs. Smith, the doctor wants you to take this thyroid medication forever.” “Excuse me? How long?” “Forever!” “Thanks for the life sentence, Doc!”
There are definitely underlying causes to most thyroid problems. Some cases may have to stay on medications forever, while others are able to significantly reduce or come off their medications completely and feel wonderful.
Reduced thyroid medication 7 times from 112 mcg to 12.5 mcg and lost 48 pounds.
Doing the correct holistic lab tests is an important step that helps to identify the root cause.
Take Online Thyroid Evaluation
If I was able to bring my own body back from the dead….LOL….so can you!
This is a great tool and the first major step that helps determine the possible underlying cause to your thyroid problem.
I highly recommend that you take the evaluation, it tells us so much and it only takes a few minutes.
Thyroid Supplements
Please consult your medical doctor before starting or stopping any supplements or medications.
- Asparagine: 500 mg right before breakfast. Take it with the below L-Tyrosine. This comes from protein and is needed to produce TSH, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.
- L-Tyrosine: 250 mg right before breakfast. L-Tyrosine comes from protein and is combined in your body with iodine to manufacture thyroid hormone.
- Dr. Rob’s Thyroid Complete: This is a whole food nutritional formula containing many of the nutrients that are needed for proper thyroid function. Dr. Rob will have many of his own thyroid patients take this formula. (Do not take if you have hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
- Kelp Powder: 300 mg twice a day. Kelp is a good source of iodine and trace minerals that can be beneficial for the thyroid. (Do not take if you have hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
- Ashwagandha Root: 450 mg at breakfast. Ashwagandha has been show to help keep reverse T3 levels in check. Reverse T3 binds to T3 receptors and prevents the healthy T3 from working properly.
- Dr. Rob’s Adrenal HB: This is a vitamin, amino acid and herbal formulation designed to support healthy adrenals in people with thyroid problems. Check it out here: Dr. Rob’s Adrenal HB
- Larix Laricina Arabinogalactan: 150 mg per day. This can be beneficial support for a healthy intestinal tract, which some thyroid patients need.
- Bladderwrack Whole Plant Extract: 100 mg at breakfast. This is an herbal source of iodine and also supports healthy thyroid function. (Do not take if you have hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
- Selenium: 200 mcg per day. Selenium is very important for the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3. (Can be taken by Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis cases)
- Zinc: 25mg at breakfast. Zinc is needed for the production of T4 and the conversion of T3. (Usually safe for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis cases).
- Vitamin A: 5,000 IUs at breakfast. This will probably be in a good multi-vitamin but I did want to note it for 2 reasons. 1) It is one of the most common deficiencies in the world and 2) It is needed to activate the gene that regulates TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) production.
- Multi-Vitamin: A good complete multi-vitamin is best.
Diet
The right diet to promote weight loss and the health of the thyroid is of course crucial. In the below video I cover just that.
Exercise
Providing that there are no adrenal issues present, then intense exercise is best for the thyroid. If possible, getting in a brisk morning walk on an empty stomach is great.
If it’s warm enough, let the sun hit your skin and breathe deeply. The sunlight hitting your skin actually stimulates your metabolism and wakes up your thyroid and adrenal glands, as well as suppresses melatonin–the sleep hormone.
Please do not start or stop any nutritional supplements, medications or exercise programs with out the approval from your licensed medical doctor.
Take Online Thyroid Evaluation
A word from *Dr. Robert G DeBease, BS, DC: Hey Guys! Thanks for visiting this page! I just wanted to say that if you have a thyroid problem or health or weight concern – no matter what it is – please reach out to me. I’ve been doing this for over 23 years. My clinic and I have worked with over 25,000 patients and clients from 43 other states and 23 other countries.
I have a true passion to help people and I’d love the opportunity to help you. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the Online Thyroid Evaluation.
I look forward to meeting and helping you soon!
Here’s one of our patients that was helped. Look to the bottom for a few more 🙂
Melanie Hypothyroidism Weight Loss
“A thyroid problem isn’t just a thyroid problem – it’s an entire body problem.”
“Taking medication and ‘treating’ your thyroid condition may absolutely be necessary; however, creating a healthy body free from disease is just as important.”
Continue reading about hypothyroid and thyroid problems from Dr. Rob’s Blog!
