Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that produces hormones and then releases them into the body through the bloodstream. Your thyroid gland is located in your neck, just below the larynx. And so although the thyroid gland is right under the skin, in good health it is hardly noticeable from the outside, if at all.

The functioning of the thyroid gland and the secretion of hormones is a complex process. The mineral iodine plays an important role in this process. Therefore, it is important to get enough iodine, otherwise the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. Iodine is an essential mineral, which means that your body does not produce iodine itself. Iodine is found in fish (such as salmon, anchovies and mackerel), seafood, seaweed and is added to table salt and is therefore also found in bread. If you do not eat bread, it is important to use some Celtic sea salt every day through your food and include foods from the sea on the menu on a weekly basis. Eggs and dairy products also contain some iodine.

So if you don't get enough iodine, your thyroid can't make enough hormones. However, it keeps trying to do so, and during this attempt, the thyroid gland will grow. The result of this can be a goiter - a swollen thyroid gland. And when this swelling is this large, it can cause swallowing or breathing problems.

Thyroid function is regulated from your brain, by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small hormone gland; it stimulates other glands in the body to make hormones as well. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland. If there is too little of the thyroid hormone in your blood, the hypothalamus and pituitary cause the thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormone. And it works the same way the other way around. If there is too much thyroid hormone in your blood, they cause the thyroid gland to make less hormone. You can compare this to the thermostat in your home: when it gets colder than the set temperature at home, the thermostat turns on. And once the right temperature is reached, the heater will turn off again.  

Important body

The thyroid is a very important organ. Actually, you can say that the thyroid is the energy distributor of your body and thus determines where the energy can go and when. Every body cell has a receptor for the thyroid hormone. So this hormone affects all tissues.

The various functions of the thyroid gland include: 

• Influence heart rate and blood pressure
• Stimulate basal metabolism (your burning)
• Regulating your body temperature, especially at night. During the day, this is more the job of the muscles.
• Distributing energy
• Impact on digestion
• Influence on muscle and nerve conduction 
• Brain activity, brain development and psyche
• Growth and development of the body
• Child brain development until about the ^20thweek of pregnancy
• Influence on female hormone balance (and thus menstrual cycle)
• Important for fertility. Affects the ovaries, implantation and formation of the placenta
• Temperature management

Although the thyroid is actually a very small organ (about 7 to 11 centimeters), it can cause many symptoms when it is not functioning properly or too slowly. For example, do you sleep a lot but remain tired? Are you constantly cold? Are you (inexplicably) overweight or have less strength in your legs? Then it could just be that your thyroid is working too slowly. This is because the thyroid gland produces hormones that are important for various functions of the body and when this process falters, your body runs on a low level. Deficiencies in iodine and selenium are common in sluggish thyroid, as are iron and B12 deficiencies. Vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and magnesium are also important for a properly functioning thyroid. 

Signs of a sluggish thyroid:

• Weight gain, without eating more or exercising less than before
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain and/or muscle weakness
• Joint Pain
• Chest tightness, shortness of breath and palpitations
• Low libido
• Severe menstruation
• Moisture retention around eyes and face
• Depressed and/or nervous feelings
• Being constantly cold, especially hands and feet
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression

It may also be that a thyroid gland is actually working too fast. We see this more often at the beginning of a period of acute stress.

Signs of an overactive thyroid:

• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Tremble
• Restlessness, irritation
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Weight reduction
• Clammy, damp skin

Prolonged stress

Prolonged stress has a major impact on the functioning of your thyroid gland. Therefore, this is at the top of the list when it comes to causes of imbalance. During stress, the body creates a different distribution of energy so that you could flee or fight. After all, the ultimate evolutionary goal is survival. This reaction always takes priority and comes at the expense of energy that was intended for other organs. These are put on the back burner for a while, so to speak. This is not a problem for a while, but in the long run there are consequences.

As a result, for example, you often feel cold because the thyroid gland cannot maintain your body temperature properly en/on you gain weight because your metabolism slows down. Hormonal imbalance, disrupted cycles and fertility problems also result. This is because reproduction does not take priority when there is danger or the brain signals danger in times of stress. After all, your brain does not distinguish between real danger or a feeling of psycho emotional stress.

Possible other causes of impaired thyroid function include:

• Deficiency of iodine, selenium, omega 3, iron or vit B12
• Eating no or too little fish and other foods from the sea. Shrimp, for example, contain ready-made thyroid hormone.
• Autoimmune response
• Radiation
• Medication
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland
• Imbalance after pregnancy

Healthy thyroid gland

So for a healthy thyroid, it is important to eat a preventively healthy and varied diet (Brain Food), with enough iodine and selenium. For example, eat 3 Brazil nuts daily and sea food a few times a week. And most importantly, be in Brain Balance with adequate rest and relaxation so that chronic stress is a thing of the past or prevented. If you have a thyroid gland that works too fast, iodine is just an extra booster and you should consult with your practitioner.

Do you recognize symptoms yourself and want to know if everything is okay with your thyroid gland? Then a blood test with your doctor is a first step. In addition, an orthomolecular consultation with one of our therapists may be of interest to you. 

Good to know

For example, if you are on thyroid medication, it is important not to combine it with supplements on your own. However, you can consult with your practitioner or pharmacist or request a personalized supplement recommendation.