What is behind a Sluggish Thyroid Gland

Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

Underlying Causes of a Sluggish Thyroid Gland

Dr. Eric Berg DC

Almost everyone has heard about the impact that an underactive thyroid gland can have on a person’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. Hypothyroidism is the underactive production of the thyroid hormone.

This hormone directly impacts the body’s metabolism, causing the body to put on weight uncontrollably.

It’s NOT Really Your Thyroid.

What many people don’t realize is that the majority of hypothyroid issues are not primary conditions. What this means is that the condition has an underlying “other” source that causes it.

The key to improving the thyroid is to find the real root of the problem. This article will take a brief look at a couple of common causes of an underactive thyroid.

Damaged Liver or Gallbladder Problem

The thyroid gland produces an inactive hormone that has 4 iodine molecules attached to it called T4. The hormone then travels through the liver, where enzymes within the liver strip away one of the iodine molecule, activating the hormone to T3.

Eighty percent of the thyroid function occurs through the liver. When the liver is damaged, it negatively impacts the ability of the liver to strip away the iodine molecule, which leaves the hormone in inactive mode.

Even with a healthy liver, a low production of bile will also make it difficult for the liver to properly process thyroid hormone.

One common remedy is to use my Gallbladder Support, which has bile salts as this will help the conversion from T4 to T3.

Estrogen

High levels of the hormone, estrogen, in the body will also interfere with the thyroid’s ability to function properly. Often, women who have recently given birth suffer from hypothyroidism because of the estrogen spike that takes place post partum.

High levels of estrogen interfere with the thyroid because estrogen competes with the thyroid for the thyroid receptors.

Estrogen can also negatively impact the liver’s ability to process the thyroid hormone, as well as block the production of bile, which would also create an underproductive thyroid gland.

The hormone produced by the thyroid is extremely important to the body’s metabolic processes. If the thyroid is not functioning properly, it can be almost impossible to properly maintain and manage your body’s weight.

The key is to understand that in almost every case (except radiation exposure), hypothyroidism is the secondary symptom to a primer or to an underlying cause.

The remedy for this is to consume more cruciferous vegetables as they are anti-estrogenic. But of course, add some sea kelp just to make sure the iodine is available.

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