The Hidden Link Between Thyroid and Hormone Imbalance
The thyroid is a very important gland in the endocrine system that produces hormones which regulate your metabolism, heart rate, body temperature and more. This tiny gland can have a huge impact on the entire body if it’s not functioning properly. Common symptoms of thyroid imbalance are fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, cold hands and feet and depression or anxiety.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. Not only does the thyroid have an effect on the entire body, but the thyroid itself is also effected by many other organs, glands and hormones in the body including estrogen and cortisol. There is a complex connection between these systems. When one piece isn’t functioning optimally, it can create a cascade reaction of uncomfortable symptoms and even chronic health concerns.
To understand how the thyroid is linked to other hormonal imbalances, let’s explore what the thyroid does as well as two of the most common hormone imbalances linked to thyroid function: estrogen and cortisol.
Thyroid Function
Most people who have had their thyroid labs checked have heard of TSH. But TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is actually produced by the pituitary gland, not the thyroid. TSH tells the thyroid how much thyroid hormone to produce based on signals it receives throughout the body. The thyroid actually produces two main hormones: T4, which is the primary hormone produced but is essentially inactive, and T3, which is produced in much smaller amounts and is the active or usable form of thyroid hormone. Various organs and body systems (including the liver, kidneys, muscles and fat tissue) work to convert T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) to T3 (active thyroid hormone) for the rest of the cells in the body to be able to use it.
Thyroid, Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen is a sex hormone primarily produced by the ovaries and has a significant link to our bodies ability to use thyroid hormone. For a variety of reasons, women can develop unusually high levels of estrogen in their body (known as estrogen dominance). These high levels of estrogen can produce large amounts of a protein called TBG (thyroxine-binding globulin), which binds to thyroid hormones rendering them essentially useless. In this case, the thyroid may be producing enough thyroid hormone, but the TBG proteins caused by estrogen dominance make it so that the cells in our body can’t actually use the thyroid hormone being produced. This can results in many of the same symptoms of under-active thyroid like fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, depression or anxiety.
High estrogen levels can sometimes be caused by low progesterone levels. Progesterone, another sex hormone, acts as a balance to estrogen in the body, but can be negatively affected by things like hormonal birth control, pregnancy, and other metabolic disorders such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Adequate progesterone levels are essential for proper thyroid function as progesterone helps to decrease TBG levels and increases the conversion of T4 into T3 in the body.
Estrogen dominance can also be created or worsened by hypothyroidism. Estrogen must be broken down and eliminated from the body through the liver. In the case of an underactive thyroid, these elimination pathways are hindered, causing an excess buildup of estrogen in the body, thereby worsening the vicious cycle of estrogen dominance and thyroid function.
Thyroid and Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenals and is often referred to as the “stress hormone”. It helps our bodies respond to stressful situations and also plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. A little bit of this hormone is extremely beneficial when navigating a fight-or-flight situation (think back thousands of years to when humans had much bigger life-threatening situations to deal with on a daily basis). But too much of this hormone over time can lead to many health conditions including thyroid dysfunction.
Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels in the body, which can produce a host of symptoms on its own, but also disrupts thyroid function. Elevated cortisol levels decrease the body’s ability to convert T4 into T3 (active thyroid hormone) and hinders the body’s ability to use the T3 it does have. In addition, high cortisol levels over time can lead to insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes.
Supporting The Thyroid/Hormone Relationship
The link between your thyroid and other hormones produced in your body is complex and imbalances in any one of these areas can have a profound effect on your overall health. If you have symptoms of thyroid dysfunction or hormone imbalance, it is important to work with a functional health practitioner who is well-versed in the intricacies of these systems. Some other steps you can take to ease the symptoms on your own are:
Reduce stress. Anything you can do to reduce stress in your life will have a huge impact on cortisol production. Going for easy walks, doing yoga or meditating, and finding time to relax and clear your mind can all help to alleviate the effects of daily stressors in your life.
Balance blood sugar. Avoiding foods that are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates as well as eating at regularly scheduled intervals can all help with balancing blood sugar, which has a huge impact on thyroid function and hormone production.
Avoid inflammatory foods. Consuming inflammatory foods such as sugar, alcohol, processed foods, gluten, dairy and soy can severely impact thyroid function and hormone levels in the body as well as overall health. These foods should be consumed only sparingly or avoided altogether.
Increase healthy fats. Incorporating a variety of healthy fats with omega-3’s and 9’s into your diet, such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, and sardines can significantly help to balance hormones and thyroid function.
Finding the right kind of help
Thyroid dysfunction and other hormone imbalances often go hand-in-hand, but can be difficult to differentiate, especially if the proper tests are not being conducted or if the provider is not familiar with the intricacies of these systems. If you have symptoms of underactive thyroid or any other signs of hormone imbalance such as irregular menstrual cycles, stubborn weight gain (especially in the abdomen or hips), hot flashes, or adult acne, it’s time to seek professional help.
Here at Tru Wellness, we are passionate about helping our patients find the root cause of their discomfort and working with them holistically to achieve whole-body wellness. We will work with you to run the necessary tests to figure out what’s truly going on in your body and then provide actionable strategies to get you feeling better.