There are so many women being diagnosed with hypothyroidism! Symptoms are vast and can include; brain fog, low energy, fertility, weight gain, impaired digestion, hair loss, dry skin, etc. I think the latest stats are that 1 in 8 women will experience an under-active thyroid in their lifetime and many actually go undiagnosed because of the ‘typical ranges’ used in traditional medicine. I have struggled with hypothyroidism and what I would give to have known all of this information when I was 20!
So here’s a little lesson about cortisol and your thyroid and how they are connected…
Cortisol is a hormone produced by our adrenal glands. Our cortisol levels can be considered too high or too low. If too high then your adrenal glands are over-pumping cortisol (our fight or flight hormone). This is most common in my type A mommas (I can say this, I am one and I can check all the boxes below!)
There are a few causes of HIGH cortisol, among them:
1 - Food allergies or Sensitivities (the most common being wheat, sugar, dairy, corn and soy)
2 - Intense exercise and/or under-eating
3 - Stress!
Keep in mind your body interprets stress from a fight with your husband the same way it would the stress from running 20 miles, experiencing financial distress or having a sabertooth tiger chase you in a dark forest.
Causes of LOW cortisol:
1 - chronic stress and high cortisol (your adrenals basically give up!)
2 - extreme trauma
3 - Addison’s disease (which is very rare)
4 - congenital adrenal hyperplasia (also pretty rare)
Our thyroid gland is literally the epicenter of our bodies. It regulates or impacts heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, weight, fertility, skin tone, energy, sleep, memory, digestion and nearly every other body organ! That’s a lot of work for one tiny little gland!
Low Thyroid or Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone.
This happens when:
1 - cortisol has been too high or too low and this in turn impacts how much thyroid hormone is made - also known as the HPT axis
2 - body can’t convert T4 to T3 due to:
a) hashimotos (an autoimmune condition that causes the body to produce antibodies to the thyroid gland)
b) chronic stress (once again!)
c) endocrine disrupting chemicals (plastics)
d) nutrient deficiencies
Luckily there are natural ways to assist restoring hormonal function. Here are a few things I did that I found very helpful in my hormone healing journey!
1 - Cut out all refined sugar, dairy and wheat therefore reducing my inflammation! I swapped out refined sugar for coconut sugar which has been a life saver for my sweet tooth! I went about a year without any of those items and now because I have healed my gut, I enjoy my favorites at special occasions. (Gut dysbiosis and hypothyroidism are closely linked because of the effect on digestion, FYI, and yes, I've struggled with that too!).
2 - I increased my nutrient intake and stabilized my blood sugar! I don’t count calories, I just made sure to eat a breakfast with protein + fiber + healthy fats and complex carbs, lunch (same combo) and dinner (again same combo of nutrients) instead of drinking coffee for breakfast, having a bar that was in the car for lunch and then being so ravenous for dinner, I'd eat anything in my path. Once your blood sugar is stabilized your energy and sleep are greatly improved! I'm going to do another blog post on blood sugar because its so important and needs a lot of attention!
3 - Worked on reducing my stress levels....
I cut out caffeine! I use to drink coffee all day long and it took me 3 years to finally quit. Over the course of 3 years, I cut back to 1/2 caff then all decaf then finally to tea (with some months of going back to full fledged caffeine in between!). This was a game changer in my level of anxiety and energy throughout the day. When you start your day on an empty stomach and infuse your body with caffeine UP goes the cortisol (fight or flight) and that has set the pace for the rest of your day... until you crash and then need more caffeine (or sugar) to get you through the rest of the afternoon. Sound familiar?
I STARTED PRACTICING MEDITATION. I learned what it felt like to truly relax and feel safe in my body. My greatest wish is that all of your could experience this. Once you do, the power of meditation becomes the most important tool in your toolkit to handle life.
If you think you are struggling with thyroid issues, please contact your doctor for testing! I would love to support you along your healing journey, please contact me for a complimentary health history consultation.
Hope this was helpful and informative.
Om shanti friends. xx