Why Brain and Gut Health Are
Important to a Properly Functioning Thyroid
The thyroid is the small, butterfly
shaped gland located on the front of the neck. It is responsible for secreting
the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which then attach to all cells of the body to
cause much needed reactions.
Too little of these hormones and the
reactions in our body start to slow down, causing fatigue, weakness, weight
gain, dry skin, constipation, and cold fingers and toes.
Too many of these hormones and the opposite
happens. The reactions in our body start to speed up and we have trouble
falling asleep, get heart palpitations, have some anxiety and nervousness, and
are normally hot.
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However, thyroid
control doesn’t start with the thyroid. Instead, it starts up in the brain in
an area known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is basically the control
center for the brain. It takes all the signals coming in from the body, and then tells your body what it should do in
response to those signals.
In the case of the thyroid, if there are
too little thyroid hormones being secreted, the hypothalamus will tell the body
to secrete more. If there are too many thyroid hormones being secreted, the
hypothalamus will tell the body to secrete less.
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However, if something is
affecting the hypothalamus, the signaling to the thyroid gland is going to be off. So what affects the hypothalamus?
We need proper levels of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, for the hypothalamus to work properly. Neurotransmitters are the messengers of the brain.
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Changes in the gut bacteria can either
decrease or increase the production of
serotonin and dopamine. A healthy gut allows proper production of these two
neurotransmitters .
An unhealthy gut creates toxins that
travel to the brain and decreases or increases the levels of these messengers,
throwing off the regulatory system of the hypothalamus.
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If you are having hypothyroid symptoms,
such as fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin,
depression, or muscles weakness, it’s important to look to the health of the
gut.
The toxins produced by bad bacteria have
a very powerful impact on brain health. If there are more of them than good
bacteria, chances are, your brain and other systems will suffer too.
Symptoms of bad gut bacteria
include:
•Bloating
or distension after eating
•Cramping
and abdominal pain
•Constipation,
Diarrhea, or Both
•Heartburn/GERD
•Excess
Gas
•Belching/Burping
•Ulcers
•Bad
breath
•Coated
tongue
Other symptoms:
•Anxiety/Depression
•Vitamin
B deficiencies
•Neurological
problems
•Hormonal
problems
•Arthritis
•High
cholesterol
•Skin
Rashes/ Dryness
If you are suffering from any of these
symptoms, ask your functional medicine practitioner to run one of the following
tests; a comprehensive Stool Test,
Organic Acids Test, or the Hydrogen Breath Test. These will confirm whether or
not the bacteria in your gut are at the proper ratios and will also help your
practitioner decide the next best course of action!
yours in health,
dr. samantha boldt
