LET’S TALK ALL THINGS THYROID

PART ONE: WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE ROLE OF THE THYROID GLAND?

If you feel like you're doing all the 'right things' when it comes to health, fitness and body composition, but just aren't making the progress you’d like….. then hopefully this mini series will shed light on a few of your symptoms....

When it comes to conventional medicine and wellness, thyroid health is a complex and often overlooked topic so this series of articles is aimed to get into the nitty gritty and provide you with a guide to all things thyroid. 

We'll be covering:

- The role of the thyroid within the body

- Symptoms of low and high thyroid function

- Testing for thyroid function

- Some of the causes of thyroid dysfunction

- Nutritional and lifestyle hacks to support the thyroid

So let’s get stuck in this week…

WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE ROLE OF THE THYROID GLAND?

  • The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland which sits just below the 'adam's apple' (larynx)

  • This is an endocrine gland (involved in hormonal function) which plays a major role in regulating your metabolism (it could be the reason you aren’t able to lose or gain weight)

  • It also influences your heart rate, body temperature, digestive function, growth, bone maintenance, muscle function, breathing, central and peripheral nervous systems, menstrual cycles, cholesterol levels.... etc.... it's pretty damn important!

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • The release of thyroid hormones starts at the hypothalamus which releases TRH (thyrotropin stimulating hormone), this triggers the pituitary to release TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone - you've probably heard of that one)... which finally triggers the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine).

  • The thyroid predominantly produces T4 but this actually needs to be converted to T3 to be used in the body. 

  • Approximately 60% of this conversion occurs in the liver but also in the heart, muscles, nerves and gut (with the help of healthy gut bacteria!)

  • Not all T4 is converted to active T3 though, approximately 20% is converted to reverse T3 (an inactive form the body cannot use).

  • The thyroid also releases a third hormone called calcitonin which helps to regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood and is particularly important for bone health.

So that’s the basics of the thyroid’s role and function. Next week we’ll be looking at symptoms which suggest your thyroid may be ‘out of whack’. 

Coach Harri :)

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The content in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.