| When your thyroid is functioning well and producing | | | | artherosclerosis, and increase in the heart's inability to |
| thyroid hormone (TH) your have energy and feel | | | | pump properly. |
| young and strong. | | | | Because TH governs your body's metabolism, |
| This process is controlled by the hypothalamus, | | | | hypothyroidism makes it easy to gain weight and |
| another gland which regulates the body's hormones | | | | difficult to lose it. Low TH levels are also associated |
| and their activities. When it detects low blood levels of | | | | with diabetes, because it's essential to the body to |
| TH, it release thyroid releasing hormone (TRH). This | | | | maintain healthy levels of blood sugar. Low TH is linked |
| signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating | | | | to increased risk of heart disease and developing |
| hormone (TSH). TSH kicks the thyroid into gear to | | | | cancer. |
| make more TH. | | | | Low thyroid functioning can be caused by nutritional |
| Two situations can interfere with this process. If the | | | | deficiencies, and also: pollutants such as fluoride in |
| thyroid gland itself lacks iodine, it swells up (known as a | | | | water, barbituates, certain antidiabetic medications, |
| goiter), or has a tumor, it can't produce enough TH. | | | | prednisone, supplemental estrogen, some cough |
| This is primary hypothyroidism. | | | | medicines, Cordarone, Lithium, painkillers that contain |
| When the hypothalamus or pituitary glands aren't | | | | salicylates, oil of wintergreen and cigarette smoke |
| functioning properly, the thyroid gland doesn't receive | | | | (another reason to quit). |
| the TSH signal it needs. This is secondary | | | | TH supplementation is available by prescription, but first |
| hypothyroidism. | | | | try eliminating the above causes from your life and |
| The list of symptoms of hypothyroidism reads like a list | | | | taking thyroid-healthy nutrients: Vitamin A and beta |
| of the symptoms of aging: fatigue, weakness, lowered | | | | carotene, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, sea |
| immune system, heavy breathing, muscle cramps, | | | | kelp, the amino acid Tyrosine, unsaturated fatty acids |
| persistent lower back pain, mental sluggishness, | | | | and zinc. |
| headaches, emotional instability, poor circulation, loss of | | | | Don't think of hypothyroidism -- or the problems of |
| appetite, stiff joints, reduced libido, increase in | | | | aging -- as an inevitable part of living longer. |