This little gland weighs less than an ounce. It is a butterfly-shaped gland in the middle of your lower neck; it plays a very important role for the entire body and in your life. It produces hormones that influence every single cell, tissue, and organ in your body.
Your thyroid regulates your metabolism, that you would be familiar with, however, it also regulates how your body produces energy, and in turn, it affects critical body functions, such as energy levels, heart rate, and fertility. The thyroid gland is also involved in gastrointestinal function, blood-sugar regulation, stomach-acid production, brain chemistry, and liver detoxification. Is it any wonder, that when something goes wrong with your thyroid, it can manifest in many different ways!
The signs of a thyroid condition can be subtle and are often misdiagnosed, that is due to improper testing. Not all, but most GPs will only order a standard test which is just not sufficient. Fatigue, or just feeling run down is often just brushed off as getting older.
Here are some of the most common symptoms I see in my clients that I encourage you to be on the lookout for as well.
Weight issues are a common complaint with a thyroid not functioning properly. Not just weight gain, it can also be unexplained weight loss that depends on whether it is hypo or hyper active. Many people but especially women address weight problems without addressing the thyroid. Sadly they will struggle without success.
Low thyroid function can remove the normal movement of your intestines, which is essential for healthy digestion. It would affect the ability of your body absorbing nutrients properly. When your gut isn’t working well, it could lead to gut inflammation which causes multiple issues such as gastric ulcers and leaky gut.
Blood sugar problems can also arise because the cells are not getting the glucose they need, you can feel like you are hypoglycemic, even with normal looking blood sugar labs.
Then there are hormonal imbalances this would be anything from low sex drive, depression and hair loss.
As you can see, thyroid health is essential for you to feel and be healthy all round.
Natalia Jones
