Did you know that your gut and thyroid are intricately linked?
It may surprise you to learn that they are so closely connected that their association has been termed the “thyroid-gut axis”!
In my latest post, originally published on Rupa Health, I dive deep into the connections between the thyroid and gut.
I explain in detail why you need to pay attention to your digestive health to have a happy thyroid gland.
Below is a summary from an excerpt in the article and the link to the full article.
How Does the Gut Support Thyroid Health?
The gut supports thyroid health in a variety of ways.
- The bacteria found in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract provide a range of benefits to our physiology. These include influencing micronutrient absorption, producing specific vitamins, helping to break down dietary fibers, regulating the immune response, and providing signals to our brain. All these aspects affect the function of the thyroid directly or indirectly.
- The thyroid is reliant on iodine selenium, zinc, and iron for proper function. These nutrients must be assimilated in the gut to be utilized effectively by the thyroid.
- The microbiota in our gut help regulate immune balance. This means the ratio of pathogens to beneficial gut bugs can either increase or decrease one’s probability of getting autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD).
- An enzyme that converts thyroid hormone to its active form is in the intestines.
- A healthy liver is needed for thyroid hormone conversion.
This is just a beginning of what I covered in the article.
Other topics include:
- GI Disorders Associated with Thyroid Dysfunction
- What Nutrients Are Important for Thyroid Function
- How the Thyroid Influences the Digestive System
- The Thyroid/Gut Autoimmunity Connection
- How to Test for Thyroid Health (i.e., Thyroid function, Gut health, and Micronutrient Testing)
- Getting to the Root Cause of a Thyroid-Gut Axis Imbalance Using a Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approach
It is not wise to only treat thyroid health using medication based on thyroid blood levels. One must assess the underlying root causes to lead to the resolution of symptoms and balance the thyroid.
Addressing gut health, determining ideal nutrient status, and optimizing nutrition and lifestyle factors using a functional medicine and naturopathic approach can help to regulate and balance the thyroid-gut axis.
Is your doctor looking at your gut for your thyroid health? If not, and you still feel lousy, it could be the missing link to regain better thyroid regulation.
Click here to the read the article, watch the video, get the link for the resources, and access additional thyroid information.
Click here to access the original article on Rupa Health with the full references listed.
Please share your experience and comments below.
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This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
