Preferred Nutrition for
PHOTO © ALB I NA GLI SI C
1 in 3 Canadians have low thyroid The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck on both sides of the lower part of the voice box (larynx) and upper part of the wind pipe. BY DR. MARITA SCHAUCH, BSC. ND
The thyroid produces hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which regulate the body’s metabolism by controlling body temperature, the synthesis of protein and the release of energy from the cells. Hypothyroidism (underactive or low thyroid function) is the most common thyroid disorder, affecting up to 25% of North American women and 10% of men. Symptoms vary widely and can develop slowly over years—making them easily mistaken for other issues or overlooked. Symptoms can include: • Fatigue • Low libido • Difficulty • Cold hands staying warm and feet • Dry, brittle hair • Hair loss • Weight gain • Dry, pale, • Thin, brittle scaly skin nails • Depression V PI SOT N A SM A ZEI D N IET O I SRSI U S OARG ED A EL N O . 1 1 2
• Headaches • Constipation • Puffy face
• Infertility, miscarriage
symptoms of low thyroid. Don’t assume that this is due to peri-menopause or menopause; you could be suffering from symptoms of low thyroid. Risk factors include: • Female over 50 • Autoimmune disease • Close relative with low thyroid or autoimmune disease • Previously treated with radioactive iodine • Radiation to neck or upper chest • History of thyroid surgery
Clinically low thyroid, as confirmed by your doctor, requires prescription Hypothyroidism or low thyroid medication. However, if your tests occurs when the gland fails to produce come back normal and you are still sufficient amounts of the thyroid horexperiencing symptoms you can support mones T4 and T3 or if there is a failure your thyroid with a natural formulation in the conversion of T4 to T3. When containing L-tyrosine, ashwagandha, blood levels of T3 and T4 increase, the guggul, pantothenic acid, copper, pituitary gland slows down production manganese, iodine and selenium as of TSH. Commonly, TSH is the only found in ThyroSense. blood test ordered to measure thyroid I recommend ThyroSense for the function. If the TSH falls between support of thyroid health in my patients 0.38 to 5.5 IU/ml the test is generally with symptoms of low thyroid. It does not considered normal. However, most replace prescription thyroid medication, naturopathic doctors and some medical but can provide nutritional support to doctors will treat patients if the TSH lab help with the symptoms of low thyroid. value is above 1.9—especially if you have It can also be used by women already on several of the low thyroid symptoms. low thyroid medication but still experiMany doctors screen older women encing symptoms. Ask for it at your local for low thyroid disease during routine Natural Health Retailer. d annual physicals. Most women who are approaching menopause will experience LEARN MORE AT PNO.CA
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