If you suffer from fatigue, difficulty losing weight as well as low mood and libido… your thyroid could be the culprit!
Yes. Even if your doctor says your blood work is normal.
More on that HERE.
The following are blood tests I requisition as a starting point for my patients so they can get their spark back!
1) TSH – this is a standard test that most doctors use to assess thyroid function, and is a necessary starting point. TSH is like a thermostat, it reflects how much or how little thyroid hormone your thyroid gland needs to produce.
2) Free T4 and Free T3 – Sometimes T4 is tested along with TSH. Only 10% of this hormone is physiologically active and needs to be converted into T3. T3 is the fuel needed for metabolic processes. The ratio of both of these hormones is essential in helping my patients resolve their hypothyroid symptoms such as:
- Low energy
- Weight changes (weight gain/difficult weight loss)
- Constipation
- Cold intolerance, or low body temperature
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Dry skin, hair loss, hoarse voice
- Brain fog, poor memory
- Low mood, depression, anxiety
- High cholesterol
- Menstrual changes
3) B12 – Vitamin B12 deficiency is commonly seen in hypothyroidism, and many patients also suffer from pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 is needed for many essential cellular processes and is often not well absorbed through the diet in this patient population. Replacement of this powerhouse vitamin leads to improvement in symptoms.
4) Iron – Iron deficiency is another deficiency I see commonly in my hypothyroid patients. This deficiency, not only causes low energy, but reduces thyroid hormone by reducing activity and the ability to product T4 and T3.
5) Vitamin D – This is a third nutrient that is commonly deficient in people with autoimmune and thyroid disorders. It is essential for balancing immune function (specifically TH1 and TH2 response), and is crucial if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Oh and I cannot forget thyroid antibodies… more on that next week.
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Here’s to happy thyroid hormones,
Dr. Jordin Wiggins, ND
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