Showing posts with label cause of thyroid problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cause of thyroid problems. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

9 Top Thyroid-Disrupting Toxins to Avoid

6:50:00 AM
Every cell in your body depends on your thyroid gland to function properly. Specifically, your cells use the hormones produced by your thyroid to regulate a range of metabolic processes, including getting energy from the food you eat.
Your thyroid hormones also help regulate your body temperature and play a role in the proper functioning of your brain, heart, muscles and other organs. When working properly, your pituitary gland will release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triggering your thyroid to produce the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), which is then converted into triiodothyronine (T3), in the precise amounts your body needs to thrive.
However, this is a very delicate system, one that is easily disrupted by outside influences, including the chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment. This is one prominent factor that is increasingly being linked to disruptions of the thyroid, disruptions that can seriously impact your health.
What Types of Chemicals Can Disrupt Your Thyroid?
There are concerns regarding numerous chemicals that are currently abundant in the environment.
Nine of the chief offenders include:
1. Phthalates
Phthalates are widely used chemicals often used to make plastic flexible. They're commonly found in shower curtains, medical tubing and plastic toys, as well as in numerous personal care products such as fragrances, nail polish and lotions. Because the chemicals are so widely used, they're also present in drinking water supplies.
Known to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity in animal studies, phthalates can also impact thyroid regulation by decreasing thyroid hormone receptor activity -- at levels found in drinking water.[1] Currently, drinking water treatments do not effectively remove thyroid-disrupting chemicals like phthalates from your drinking water.
2. Flame Retardants
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) are flame retardant chemicals commonly used in furniture foam, carpets, upholstery, clothing, toys, draperies, electronics and more. It's estimated that up to 97 percent of Americans have PBDEs in their blood.
The chemicals easily accumulate in your fat cells, and increased levels have been linked to a decrease in TSH levels and an increased risk of subclinical hyperthyroidism in pregnant women.[2]
3. Bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA is another plastics chemical commonly used in polycarbonate water bottles, baby bottles, plastic toys, medical tubing, food packaging, dental sealants and more. Widely known as an endocrine disrupter that can cause developmental problems, early puberty, genital deformities and more, BPA has also been linked to thyroid disruption.
In one study on frog tadpoles, low levels of BPA exposure -- similar to those found in human infants -- interfered with the T3 hormone and thereby suppressed genes controlled by T3, resulting in slowed development and other changes.[3] Previous animal studies have also linked BPA to disruptions in thyroid receptors and thyroid function.
4. Dioxin
Dioxin is a group of chemicals -- including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs) -- that are formed as byproducts from industrial processes like chlorine paper bleaching, pesticide manufacturing and smelting. Dioxin was also a part of the toxic Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War.
PCBs, another type of dioxin, were widely used prior to 1977 when they were banned due to environmental concerns. However, they and other dioxins still exist in abundance in the environment, including in your food (especially meat, dairy and seafood).
Not only is dioxin a known carcinogen, but it also has been found to interfere with the production, transportation, and metabolism of thyroid hormones.[4]
5. Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFOA)
PFOA and a related chemical called PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) -- widely used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant materials and food packaging -- can also cause trouble with your thyroid.
One study found that people with high levels of PFOA in their blood were twice as likely to have thyroid problems as those with the lowest levels[5] while past studies have also linked the chemical to decreased thyroid hormone levels. It's not known how PFOA may cause thyroid disease, or whether the chemical directly impacts the thyroid or instead the immune system, causing it to attack the thyroid gland.
6. Fluoride
Most municipal drinking water supplies in the United States contain added fluoride, a measure that's intended to reduce rates of tooth decay. It can also enter water supplies from fluoride-containing rocks and soils.
Studies have shown that exposure to fluoride can result in decreased thyroid function, including at exposure levels of 4 mg/L or less, which is the EPA maximum allowable concentration for fluoride in drinking water.[6] The effects may be especially problematic for children and people who drink a lot of water.
7. Perchlorate
Perchlorate is a byproduct of rocket fuel production that is now a widespread contaminant in drinking water, certain fruits and vegetables and dairy products from cows that eat contaminated grasses.
Research suggests it can inhibit your thyorid's ability to absorb iodine, leading to an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, even at low-level exposure. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was estimated that 44 million U.S. women -- including those who are pregnant, have lower iodine levels or have subclinical hypothyroidism -- could be at increased risk of thyroid problems from perchlorate exposure.[7]
8. Thiocyanate
Thiocyanate is a chemical found in cigarettes and certain foods. It may inhibit iodine uptake by the thyroid, leading to decreased production of thyroid hormone.
9. Pesticides
Thyroid disease has also been linked to pesticide exposure from a variety of sources. Among women whose spouses were licensed pesticide applicators that had used organoclorine insecticides, rates of hypothyroidism were 1.2 times higher than in the general population. Increased rates of thyroid disease were also found among women exposed to fungus killers, herb killers and other types of pesticides.[8]
How to Reduce Your Exposure to Thyroid-Disrupting Chemicals
Chemicals are ubiquitous in our environment, but there are steps you can take to help cut back on your exposure. Some of the top suggestions include:
  • Use natural personal care products with ingredients you are familiar with. At the very least look for phthalate-free options.
  • Buy children's toys made of natural materials, or at least phthalate-free plastic.
  • Avoid exposure to old carpeting and carpet pads and polyurethane foam products (upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows) manufactured prior to 2005 (these are most likely to contain PBDEs).
  • Store your food and beverages in glass or ceramic containers instead of plastic, and do not reheat foods in plastic containers or covered in plastic wrap.
  • Limit your use of canned goods and soda cans (the linings often include BPA), or look for BPA-free canned items.
  • Trim the fat from your meats to cut back on dioxins stored in animal fats, and choose leaner cuts of meat.
  • Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, such as plastic milk jugs.
  • Look for unbleached sources of household products like coffee filters, tampons, diapers, paper towels, etc.
  • Avoid using non-stick cookware, opting for stainless steel, ceramic, or other inert materials instead.
  • Install a reverse osmosis water filtration system in your home to remove fluoride from your drinking water, and consider a comprehensive filter to also remove other chemicals like perchlorate.
  • Avoid smoking cigarettes and exposure to second-hand smoke.
  • Choose organic foods as much as possible to limit your exposure to pesticides. Also, do not use the chemicals around your home (including chemical lice treatments and flea and tick products for pets).
With the evidence increasingly showing that exposure to environmental chemicals, even at low levels, can negatively impact your thyroid, and the knowledge that even small changes in your thyroid homeostasis can influence your health, it's important to reduce your exposure as much as possible.
By making small changes in your food choices and your personal care products and paying special attention to finding household goods made from primarily natural sources, you'll be off to a great start in protecting your thyroid function from these pervasive toxins.
References
1. Environmental Science and Technology 2010, 44 (17), pp 6863-6868
2. Environmental Health Perspectives October 2010, 118(10)
3. Endocrinology Vol. 150, No. 6 2964-2973
4. Alternative Medicine Review 2009 Dec;14(4):326-46
5. Environmental Health Perspectives 118(5) May 2010
6. Committee on Fluoride in Drinking Water, National Research Council, Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards, 2006
7. Environmental Working Group News Release October 4, 2006
8. American Journal of Epidemiology (2010) 171 (4): 455-464

Friday, March 28, 2014

9 Common Causes for Thyroid Problems

4:39:00 AM
How you sleep, how easy it is to wake up, and how much energy and stamina you have during the day is directly related to the levels of the thyroid hormones. The thyroid is heavily involved in so many more processes in the body as well!
Hypothyroidism is a common health condition in the U.S. and means that the thyroid gland is not active enough. It may cause symptoms such as weight gain, tiredness, pale and cold skin, constipation, high cholesterol levels, weakness, and joint pain. The opposite condition is called Hyperthyroidism in which the thyroid gland is too active. This may result in symptoms such as weight loss, tremors, heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, and so forth. But naturally, the thyroid is a sneaky organ and your symptoms typically won't be "textbook" as described or all occur at the same time. It could be something as subtle as noticing you just can't make it through a day without coffee anymore.
The blood work performed by doctors is typically a "basic" or "expanded" thyroid panel, and can include variety of measurements. Normal values are constantly changing. As a physician, I am only interested in the optimal, ideal specific range of these values, whereas many outdated laboratory values have a great range and a different motivation and view point for what's normal.
Here's briefly how the thyroid gland works and don't worry, I won't bore you with science! The thyroid is like middle management in the corporate world. His office is located in the throat, wrapped around our windpipe as two lobes. His big time boss is the brain, who works up at corporate headquarters. That's how body works - the brain is the master control of every organ, tissue, muscle, and cell in the body. The thyroid's upper management is the pituitary gland, whom he also takes orders from. Thyroid manages many functions of the corporation especially the customer service teams, but instead of sending out memos all day from his desk, he sends out hormones. Hormones are the messages that act out what the brain commands. So he send out hormones (messages) to his customer service team to go out into the body and check in with every single cell (customers). They stop at every cell to see if its doing okay - does it need more nutrients? More oxygen? Anything? More important than that, the hormones get to call on some large important customers. For example hormones help the heart utilize cholesterol. His best customer service representatives are T3 and T4 and are his right hand team. For that reason, T3 is the most active thyroid number measured. This is certainly not the complete picture, just an overview of what the thyroid does.
Did you know that there's a real definition of "being healthy?" It's the definition adopted by all major medical textbooks, including Gray's Anatomy (the textbook that's the corner stone of the entire medical profession, not the television show). Being healthy is the ability to function at one hundred percent mentally, physically, and socially. This definition tells me that health is more than just the physical body, it's all encompassing. And health is about function. Nowhere in that definition did it discuss how someone feels. It's about how well the body works beneath the surface and adapts for you.
Here are 9 causes of thyroid levels that are off on your blood work, and what further steps might you want to explore:
1) Environmental Factors. The body is shutting down because it's exhausted. The two most common examples of environmental factors affecting the thyroid gland are high stress levels and a lack of sleep. Sleep is literally the body's time to heal itself and depriving ourselves of that has a much greater effect than we realize. High stress levels will cause excess cortisol in the body, which is a hormone linked to increased risks of heart disease (and other conditions) and keeps your body in the "flight or fight" response mode. These are the two first things that I recommend all of my patients to address. Here are some tips for sleeping well and lowering stress:
a. Deep breathing exercises
b. Use of essential oils like lavender
c. Eliminate tvs, cell phones, etc. in the bedroom
d. Yoga, meditation, or stretching to promote a calm, clear mind
2) Gastrointestinal Function. Not only does our digestive system break down food to use as nutrients, it also contains almost 80% of our immune system! Food Intolerances are a common cause of digestive problems and there is a strong link in the research to Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease with thyroid imbalances. Many people with suspected gluten intolerance also have many other hidden undetected food intolerances that mimick similar symptoms.
3) Toxicity. A common sign of toxicity in the body can be bags underneath the eyes. Liver is our main organ responsible for detoxing the body and preventing any garbage from hanging around to destroy our tissues. If a need for detoxing exists, it can involve dietary changes, adding more vegetables to the diet in the form of Juicing in order to make the internal body conditions inhospitable for toxins, infrared saunas, and acupuncture to balance energy meridians corresponding to these organs. One of my tips is to drink a mug of warm water with half a fresh squeezed lemon every morning 15 minutes before breakfast. It gets the liver active and ready to work!
4) Hormonal Imbalances such as pregnancy, contraceptive use, estrogen / hormone replacement therapy, or bowel dysfunctions. Too much estrogen will increase the activity in the thyroid gland. Estrogen is also used as a medication for which the effects are over played and risks minimized. Research and results on Hormone Replacement Therapy now show that it does not protect anyone from incontinence, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and so forth but it actually increases your risk for cancer. Other natural ways to resolve a hormonal imbalance, especially around menopausal age are acupuncture or a physician grade nutritional supplement prescription.
5) Consumption of soy products and non-organic dairy. Soy and non-organic dairy both will increase estrogen in the body and therefore affect the thyroid gland. I would recommend anyone (regardless of your health condition) to eliminate both of these items from your diet. Remember, both of these are very sneaky and hidden in many processed foods.
6) Constipation. Too many toxins being recycled in our bowels from lack of elimination will put extra estrogen into system. My favorite, most effect and natural solutions for constipation are acupuncture, dietary changes like eliminating sugar and grains, probiotics supplementation, food intolerance testing, other lab measurements that could enlighten the reason for constipation.
7) Nutritional Deficiencies such as B12 or Iron deficiency. Some of the signs of nutrient deficiencies are similar to symptoms of hypothyroidism. Reasons that one could have nutrient deficiencies could include lack of nutritional dietary habits or heavy metal toxicity (which is actually much more common than it sounds). Hair analysis is the best long term blueprint of the body to assess for heavy metal toxicity or nutrient deficiencies.
8) Immune System Dysfunctions such as adrenal problems which increase cortisol in the body, increase your risk for heart disease (among other conditions) and keep your body in constant "flight or fight" panic mode. Adrenal problems are typically measured with easy, at home saliva testing.
9) Chronic Candidiasis which may cause symptoms such as white patches in mouth, memory problems, issues with sugar handling, gas and bloating, mucous in the stool, and cold hands or feet. Ask your doctor about an easy blood test to see if you have an acute or long term candida problem. Solutions for candidiasis may involve dietary changes, detoxification, and using natural herbs or supplements to resolve candida imbalance.
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