Category: Thyroid Health

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The Comprehensive Guide to Overcoming Tiredness and Increasing Vitality

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Welcome to another episode of Green Wisdom Health. Today, we dive deep into a pervasive issue affecting many of us today—fatigue and lack of energy. We explore the underlying causes of this modern malaise, discuss holistic approaches to regain vitality and enthusiasm for life, and tell you why being fat is good!

“Being FAT, faithful, available, and teachable are key to improving your health and energy levels.”
– Dr. Stephen Lewis

Today on Green Wisdom Health:

  • How sedentary lifestyles and chronic pain are significant contributors to fatigue, which can be managed by increasing physical activity gradually and addressing pain through natural anti-inflammatory remedies and dietary changes.
  • The importance of detoxification in combating fatigue. Regularly detoxifying your body helps alleviate chemical sensitivity and clear metabolic waste that may impair energy production.
  • Taking nutrient-rich supplements and incorporating anti-inflammatory nutrients, essential fatty acids, and minerals is critical in managing inflammation and supporting overall cellular function.
  • The impact of air pollution and recognizing environmental factors like air pollution that contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, can exacerbate feelings of fatigue.
  • There is a significant connection between gut health and motivation. Robust gut health, facilitated by a diet rich in fibers like arabinogalactan and regular use of probiotics, can significantly impact energy levels and motivation.
  • The importance of sleep quality and establishing a consistent sleep routine, aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep, supports energy restoration and mental health.
  • How the connection between anemia and iron levels and regularly checking Ferritin levels can prevent anemia-associated fatigue by ensuring adequate iron and oxygen delivery to cells.
  • How managing stress and adrenal fatigue by adopting stress-reduction techniques and using adaptogenic herbs can mitigate the impact of elevated cortisol levels on sleep and energy.

Resources Mentioned:

IG Arabino Support Vanilla (30 Servings)

Dairy-Free Immunoglobulins and Arabinogalactan* Provides Immunoglobulins and Immunoregulating Factors That Promote Intestinal and Systemic Health* Supports Passive Immunity in the Intestine* Promotes Balanced Cytokine Production* Supports Muscle Performance and Recovery*

Pantothenic B Complex (60 Capsules) – Only 1 Capsule Per Day

The dosage for this product is 1 capsule per day. Do not take this product if you are taking B-12 Methyl Supreme. Pantothenic B Complex is formulated with eight essential B vitamins, choline, inositol, and folate, to support energy production and immune, cardiovascular, and neurological health.

B-12 Methyl Supreme (60 Capsules)

B-12 Methyl Supreme is a comprehensive formula that includes targeted amounts of five key nutrients designed to support methylation and homocysteine balance in the body.

Comprehensive Lab Panel

The Comprehensive Lab Panel contains 12 tests with accompanying biomarkers. This panel includes Dr. Lewis’ consultation, functional medicine report, and supplement recommendations.  Lab costs and fees cannot be refunded Labs are unavailable in NY, NJ, and RI. No discounts or points towards this lab panel. We do not accept insurance as this allows us to keep your test prices more affordable.

 Visit Green Wisdom Health for more personalized advice and to explore our AM/PM pill packs. We also recommend detoxification and gut health products to help propel you towards better health.

Are you ready to take control of your health and start feeling your best?

Green Wisdom Health is excited to offer an exclusive 10% off on our Male Health Extensive Profile Lab Panel and the Women’s Extensive Hormones Weight Loss Lab Panel.

Our comprehensive lab panels are designed to give you deep insights into your health, helping you understand what your body needs to thrive. Whether you’re looking to boost your energy, improve your hormonal balance, or kickstart your weight loss journey, our tests provide the clarity you need to make informed decisions about your health.

Visit GreenWisdomHealth.com and use the code BALANCE to claim your discount.

Don’t wait to feel great—take the first step towards a healthier you with

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For more information and personalized nutrient plans tailored to your health needs, please get in touch with our Green Wisdom Health team at (903) 663-1008

You can also explore our integrative nutrition programs and resources on our WEBSITE Remember to check out the products we’ve discussed today, available at our WEB STORE.

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Don’t Settle for Standard Thyroid Tests that Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Your thyroid is a small organ with a huge impact on all aspects of your health. Thyroid hormone impacts every cell in your body, so even a small disturbance in thyroid hormone levels affects your digestive tract, brain, heart, metabolism, glucose and cholesterol levels, and much more.

Yet, despite its importance, thyroid problems are one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in the world. As many as 60% of people with thyroid problems aren’t aware. By some estimates, up to one in 10 North Americans have a thyroid problem, and that number rises to one in eight for women. That’s a lot of people experiencing unnecessary health issues!

For many people, thyroid issues are the result of low levels of thyroid hormone, a condition referred to as hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

  • Weight gain
  • Fuzzy thinking
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Always feeling cold
  • Infertility
  • Dry skin

To further complicate matters, many thyroid treatments fall spectacularly short when it comes to improving a patient’s quality of life. At the root of the problem lie inadequate diagnostic tools. Traditionally, conventional medical practitioners run two tests for thyroid hormone levels: one for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and one for the hormone thyroxine (T4). Then they place patients on thyroid hormones or iodine in hopes of restoring balance. In effect, this is a Band-Aid solution that doesn’t get to the root of the problem.

By prescribing thyroid hormone without a full investigation, medical practitioners may run the risk of harming their patients’ health. Growing evidence suggests thyroid hormone is over-prescribed, and may even increase a patient’s risk of mortality.

When blood tests show a dip in thyroid hormone levels, thyroid hormone replacement therapy drugs such as levothyroxine, are very commonly prescribed.

Those that have clear low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) benefit from this medical treatment, however, the problem may lie in those who may have only a few, mild symptoms of hypothyroidism and come back with borderline test results, known as subclinical hypothyroidism, and older adults in particular.

Studies show those aged 65 and over who have been given thyroid replacement therapy have an increased risk of death. Due to the many hormonal changes that naturally begin to occur in older adults such as sleep changes and increased inflammation, natural dips in thyroid levels may occur. Thyroid replacement medication in these cases may not be necessary and if taken may be causing an override of said changes, therefore causing further complications.

Why traditional approaches fall short.

Focusing solely on levels of TSH and T4, and then applying a quick fix, ignores the fact that the most common cause of hypothyroidism is actually an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s. When someone experiences Hashimoto’s, their white blood cells and antibodies erroneously attack the thyroid, leading to a reduction in thyroid hormone secretion.

We haven’t yet determined the cause of autoimmune diseases, although evidence suggests genetic factors, inflammation, certain medications, and stress can all contribute. As well, studies have found possible connections between “leaky gut” syndrome, or increased permeability, and the autoimmune system.

Because of the vague causes for autoimmune disorders, traditional medicine tends to treat just the symptoms, without taking a holistic approach to address overall health. This is particularly true for Hashimoto’s, which is problematic. Without proper treatment, the immune system will continue to attack the thyroid gland, making it increasingly difficult to treat without addressing the autoimmune response.

The problem with traditional lab tests.

As you can see, thyroid problems and treatments are more complex than simply trying to fix a shortage of hormones as determined from testing TSH and T4. For better results, and a more holistic treatment plan, patients need more comprehensive assessments. Below are five causes of thyroid problems that won’t be detected by standard tests.

Pituitary problems.

The production of thyroid hormone is controlled by a gland at the base of the brain called the pituitary gland, which releases TSH. Elevated cortisol levels can damage the pituitary gland, which in turn reduces the amount of TSH, and consequently the amount of thyroid hormone.

Inefficient conversion of T4 to T3.

In order to be used by your body, T4 must be converted to another hormone, triiodothyronine, more commonly called T3. If this process doesn’t run smoothly, your body won’t have its optimum amount of T3, even if your T4 test results look good. An excess of the stress hormone cortisol in your body can impact this process.

High TBG levels.

Thyroid hormone travels through the bloodstream thanks to a protein called thyroid-binding globulin (TBG). High TBG levels can lower the amount of active thyroid hormone since it is inactive when bound to TBG. Excess estrogen can result in elevated TBG levels, which can lead to hypothyroidism, even if the results of the traditional tests are within the normal range.

Low TBG levels.

Paradoxically, low TBG levels can also lead to hypothyroidism. That’s because low levels result in an excess of free thyroid hormone in the blood, which causes cells to develop resistance. The result is hypothyroidism since although there is enough thyroid hormone in the blood, the body’s cells aren’t receptive to it. Common causes of low TBG levels include high testosterone levels and insulin resistance.

Thyroid resistance.

The receptors in your cells can be damaged by high levels of T4 or T3, or high levels of cortisol. As well, chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, which is also harmful.

Optimum thyroid performance depends on a tightly woven interplay of processes, and, as shown above, just one imbalance can throw the whole thing off.

Traditional tests aren’t always going to recognize the various factors that contribute to thyroid problems. If you want to take a deeper dive into your thyroid health, give us a call!

Sources

Stoll K. Disparities in Thyroid Screening and Medication Use in Quebec, Canada. Health Equity. 2019;3(1):328-335. Published 2019 Jul 11. doi:10.1089/heq.2018.0051

Mu Q, Kirby J, Reilly CM, Luo XM. Leaky Gut As a Danger Signal for Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol. 2017;8:598. Published 2017 May 23. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00598

Stratakis CA, Chrousos GP. Neuroendocrinology and pathophysiology of the stress system. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1995 Dec 29;771:1-18. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb44666.x. PMID: 8597390.

Bernadette Biondi, David S. Cooper, The Clinical Significance of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction, Endocrine Reviews, Volume 29, Issue 1, 1 February 2008, Pages 76–131, https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2006-0043

Enoch Joseph Abbey, MD, MPH, Eleanor M Simonsick, PhD, John McGready, PhD, Jennifer Sophie Mammen, MD,PHD, OR18-05 Thyroid Hormone Use and Survival among Older Adults – Longitudinal Analysis of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_1, April-May 2020, OR18–05, https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaa046.235

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Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

Fish and vegetables; hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are conditions that affect the thyroid gland. The thyroid is responsible for releasing hormones that are crucial to many important functions like regulation of metabolism, heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. It also affects cholesterol levels, mood, energy, and weight management. Let’s take a look at the differences between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and what you can do to help improve thyroid health.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid gland is producing too much of certain thyroid hormones (T4 for example). Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include unexplained weight loss, brittle hair, sensitivity to heat, sleep issues, irregular heartbeat, weakness, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. However, these symptoms could also be signs of a more serious condition, so always check with your doctor. Some common causes of hyperthyroidism include an autoimmune condition like Graves’ Disease, and inflammation of the thyroid.

Hypothyroidism

Conversely, hypothryoidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include unexplained weight gain, fatigue, weakness, thinning hair, decreased heart rate, dry skin, and depression. The most common causes of hypothyroidism include an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, radiation therapy, inflammation of the thyroid gland, an iodine deficiency, and certain medications.

What You Can Do

Although thyroid issues are common, there are some things you can do to help improve the health of your thyroid and possibly reduce your risk of developing more serious thyroid conditions. The main thing you need to do is take a look at your diet. What you eat affects every system in your body, and proper nutrition is necessary for good health. Getting enough vitamins, minerals, and iodine in your diet is crucial to a properly functioning thyroid, in addition to all other organs and bodily systems. Some of the best foods to get iodine from are fish, shrimp, and other seafood because you also get omega-3’s. Cutting inflammatory foods and drinks out of your diet is also important because inflammation is one of the main causes of thyroid conditions. Inflammatory foods include processed foods, sodas, candy, breads, etc.

Taking certain supplements may also help provide the nutrients necessary for a healthy thyroid. Our product Thyroid Essentials Plus is a great formula containing iodine, selenium, l-tyrosine, and several other ingredients that may help promote thyroid health. Bacopa 320 is another product that is great for overall hormone balancing, including thyroid hormones, and may help promote healthy memory, energy levels, and mood.

Thyroid issues are becoming more and more common, which is likely due to the stress and environmental toxins we encounter each day. Fortunately, proper nutrition and supplementation may help improve some of the symptoms of existing conditions, and may even help lower your risk of developing some in the future. Your health should always be a top priority, and we want to help you feel your best!

You can listen to our Early Warning Signs of a Thyroid Problem podcast episode on our website here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.