Understanding the Thyroid gland: metabolism, terms and functions
Thyroid gland: metabolism, terms and functions
What is the thyroid gland and how does it work?
You’ve probably heard about the thyroid gland before, but do you even know what it is and what it does?! The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the neck, underneath your Adam’s apple and is wrapped around the windpipe.
Why is the thyroid gland so important?
You might not have heard or known much about the thyroid gland before, so it’s understandable if you’re wondering why it’s so important.
Our thyroid gland secretes hormones that help regulate sexual functions, digestion, etc. However, the thyroid gland is different as it governs our heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, energy and metabolism. But it doesn’t end there. Although those are its primary functions, the thyroid can affect and interact with every single cell in our body.
Now can you understand why keeping the thyroid gland healthy and optimal is so important?!
Here’s a great analogy that’s helped me understand it better: imagine your body is a car. It needs fuel to function. Your thyroid gland is the accelerator which regulates how much fuel is used, when it is used and how it is used. If it detects that a particular area of the body needs more fuel (i.e. energy) it will send some extra. Similar to a car, once parts of our body stop working properly, our fuel efficiency also takes a hit, and we end up burning more than needed to keep up. This can explain why our body becomes tired and we suffer from fatigue.
Let’s look at some thyroid gland terms and functions
A healthy thyroid gland produces the following hormones: T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.
T3 — triiodothyronine
T3 is thought to play a key part in evaluating the health of your thyroid. It is the more effective and influential form of the two key hormones our thyroid gland is producing. T3 is much more effective as a thyroid hormone than T4 — four to ten times more in fact. T3 is also formed from the conversion of thyroxine (AKA T4) in tissues and cells. (but that process doesn’t always run smoothly)
T4 — thyroxine
Your body produces plenty of T4, hence its name the ‘proliferator’. T4 is a storage hormone (meant for later use) and the primary hormone produced by our thyroid. T4 is meant to convert into the active hormone T3 in your body cells.
Thyroid gland and metabolism
Staying on the car analogy, think of your metabolism as the speed setting. In layman’s terms, let’s think of the Thyroid gland as the master gland of our metabolism. The thyroid releases hormones that are critical in regulating your body’s temperature and the way your body processes and uses foods each day. Depending on its health, it can either use up the energy given through food and nutrients very quickly or very slowly. Our T3 and T4 hormones also have a hand in this. Your metabolism can work optimal or inefficient/dysfunctional. When your metabolism is dysfunctional, your basal metabolism (calories we burn to stay alive, without any extra activity) is reduced. This new metabolic set point leads to more fatigue, fewer muscles, more weight, increased issues and so on.
Hypothyroid versus hyperthyroid
So far, we’ve discussed the causes of hypothyroid and possible ways to manage it, on the opposite end of the spectrum is hyperthyroid. A hyperthyroid occurs when our thyroid becomes too active. Treatment for hyperthyroidism is a lot more intense and may involve radiation therapy or medication that brings thyroid function down, sometimes permanently. Always try natural ways first and incorporate a lifestyle that lowers inflammation prior to taking such drastic steps.
Micro and macronutrients
Macronutrients and micronutrients are specialised functions, related to our metabolism.
Examples of macronutrients are fats, proteins and glucose, which is where we get most of our energy from. Our thyroid decides how much macronutrients are burned and where it is needed most. It also metabolises the protein and sugar in our body and processes micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Micronutrients are connected to a thyroid known as the parathyroid glands, which regulates the levels of minerals in our system.
Macro and micronutrients are controlled by the thyroid, which makes them essential for energy and strength.
The conclusion of the role your thyroid gland has in your body
Hopefully, you’re beginning to get a picture of the kind of role the thyroid gland has in your body and how incredibly important it is that it remains healthy and functioning. The thyroid is responsible for allocating micro and macronutrients across the
It decides what organ, muscle, bone, or brain cell in the body needs fat, blood glucose, protein, calcium and magnesium! The thyroid gland plays an even bigger role within our vascular system as it correlates to a heightened heartbeat and cardiac output. It also increases and supports our breathing, which then helps oxygen flow through our bloodstream.
Thyroid hormone levels also play a role in the nervous system, as it helps to create greater awareness, mental focus, and alertness by increasing sympathetic response. Finally, a well- balanced thyroid contributes to uterine health in women, which is thought to improve fertility and reproduction. Maintaining a healthy level of T3 and T4 is essential to ensure our organs and systems are functioning properly.
A healthy thyroid means that your energy is being used correctly leaving you full of vitality and zest. It also means that the other functions that it affects are in working order. An unhealthy thyroid, however, can lead to all sorts of problems including chronic fatigue, depression, amongst many other.
Here are some hypothyroidism causes:
RT3 — Reverse triiodothyronine
RT3 is a form of inactive T3, produced during stress episodes (flue, chronic stress, surgery, accidents, certain drugs, etc) where the body needs to sacrifice energy for fixing problems. Remember the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones that we discussed earlier? If these hormones do not convert well it can lead to all sorts of health issues. Then, sometimes too much T4 is converted which can lead to ‘reverse T3’, also known as RT3. RT3 can inhibit thyroid function, leading to an underactive thyroid.
Proinflammatory antibodies
The chapter on inflammation covers all the information you need but to put it simply; inflammation is triggered when there is a perceived attack on the body or immune system. At its worst, it can lead to chronic inflammation, where the body continuously attacks itself, even when there is no threat. This is a situation where auto-immune diseases start surfacing and begin to attack the thyroid or any other gland or body-part.
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