Common symptoms of underactive thyroid
Firstly, it’s important to understand a little about the thyroid gland and how it works. Your thyroid gland is located in your neck and has an important role in managing our overall metabolism, that is, how quickly we burn energy. However, more than that, our thyroid works by distributing two major thyroid hormones called T3 and T4. These can have an influence on many different areas of our body, from our heart to our stomach.
If we don’t have sufficient levels of our thyroid hormones we can easily develop symptoms of underactive thyroid. Some common symptoms to look out for include some of the following:
- Weight gain or trouble losing weight
- Fatigue or low energy
- Feeling weak
- Dry hair, lacking lustre
- Thinning hair, thinning eyebrows (starting with the outer third)
- Dry, coarse, pale skin
- Feeling cold
- Muscle cramps or aches and pains
- Acid reflux or heartburn
- Constipation
- Low mood, irritability or memory loss
- Low libido
- Irregular menstrual cycles
So, what happens if you suspect you have low levels of the all-important thyroid hormones and are therefore experiencing some of the symptoms listed above? A trip to the doctor will result in a blood test, allowing them to test your thyroid hormones levels.
However, an important point; generally these tests don’t tend to look at levels of the most active thyroid hormone in the body – T3. They generally, only look at precursors to this hormone including a hormone called Thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) and T4, when in reality, we know that a number of steps have to successfully take place in the body, in order for T4 to be converted into T3.
What influence do thyroid hormones have on your digestion?
Digestive issues aren’t always commonly associated with an underactive thyroid but I’m here to tell you that there is a probable link. Below are some of the areas that could be being affected:
Upper digestive discomfort including acid reflux or heartburn
I like to think of our thyroid hormones as regulators in the body. They help keep everything ticking over nicely, and in most cases when we don’t have enough, things become generally sluggish and not quite as efficient as before.
Unfortunately when it comes to your stomach, this effect is also true. Contrary to popular belief, too little stomach acid isn’t a positive thing; we need sufficient stomach acid and gastric secretions to help break down the food we eat, assist in the absorption of nutrients and keep any bad bacteria or pathogens at bay.
Research has suggested that there’s a positive association between underactive thyroid and both digestive upset (1) and low stomach acid levels (2) (which as we know, tend to go hand in hand anyway), and this may be related to low levels of another hormone called gastrin, which can also affect the function of the lower oesophageal sphincter in the stomach; cue the heartburn if this isn’t working properly!
Pressure on the liver
Underactive thyroid is also associated with delayed gastric emptying, most likely as a result of the poor secretion of digestive juices as mentioned above. (3) Do you find that you’ve become accustomed to that feeling of fullness or nausea? Perhaps this is what’s going on.
Then, if your stomach is under pressure and not working at its best, this can ultimately put more pressure on your liver. This can be a double-edged sword as our metabolically active liver cells are also reliant on thyroid hormones to keep them ticking over, so underactive thyroid and liver issues often go hand in hand as anyway. (4) The liver is responsible for secreting bile and metabolising fats from our diet, so if this isn’t working effectively, it can cause problems for us further down the line.
Constipation
Again, constipation and liver issues often go hand in hand. Bile, which is produced by the liver and secreted from our gallbladder is important for breaking down any fats that we’ve recently consumed, but also, bile is important for stimulating peristalsis. Peristalsis is the unique, wave-like contractions that carry waste from one end of your digestive tract to the other. With sluggish bile secretion, comes a sluggish gut and constipation is a likely occurrence.
Diarrhoea
Although constipation is much more common when it comes to underactive thyroid, in some cases, diarrhoea or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhoea can crop up. If alternation bouts of both affect you then constipation is likely to be the underlying cause.
When it comes to diarrhoea, a previously sluggish gut may have created the right environment to create an imbalance of gut bacteria, which could then be contributing to your new-found toilet troubles. (5)
How else can your gut bacteria have an influence?
We now know that a sluggish bowel may have contributed to an imbalance in our gut bacteria, but could an imbalance in gut bacteria cause a problem when it comes to thyroid function in the first place? It’s like the chicken and the egg scenario really – in some cases it’s not so easy to determine which occurred first.
I’ve already explained a little about why we need to be more aware of what the doctors are testing for and what we should ask for, but if your T3 levels turn out to be on the low side, what could be the going on? See, T4 is released from your thyroid gland, but for best effects in the body, this needs to be converted into the active form, T3, in some of your peripheral tissues. Both your liver and your good gut bacteria have an important part to play in supporting this process. Therefore it’s perfectly feasible that an imbalance in good gut bacteria could be hindering your success.
What’s the best advice to support your digestion and thyroid health going forward?
1 - Start by supporting stomach
As I’ve mentioned above, it seems likely that supporting your digestive system can be a useful first step when it comes to managing thyroid imbalance and boosting your metabolism.
Firstly, depending on which symptoms bother you, a remedy such as Digestisan may be helpful. This is licensed for symptoms including indigestion and flatulence combines herbal extracts of artichoke, dandelion, boldo and peppermint. It should be taken three times daily in a small splash of water, before meals.
2 – Then, your gut
Next, since we now suspect that the balance of bacteria in your gut may have an important part to play when it comes to thyroid health, prebiotics and probiotics may also be a useful addition to your regime too.
Dietary sources of L+ lactic can help to set up the gut nicely for the introduction of some extra, good bacteria which is where your probiotics, such as the Optibac range, come in.
3 – Last but not least, your thyroid gland itself 
Although your digestive system is a good place to start, supporting your thyroid more directly can also be an important step. Getting enough sleep, eating plenty of iodine-rich foods including seaweed, fish and eggs and taking part in regular, gentle exercise to help support your metabolism, are good measures to put in place.
Next, in terms of products for thyroid health (assuming you aren’t already on any thyroid medication that is, or else it wouldn’t be suitable), a Sea Kelp supplement is a good choice. Kelp is naturally rich in iodine, an important micronutrient for supporting the thyroid gland. Our Kelp tablets provides a sensible daily dose of up to 150μg daily – ideal for helping to gently get your thyroid and metabolism back on track.
4 - Don't forget about the doctor
Armed with all of your new-found knowledge around thyroid health, if you are still struggling with your symptoms it would be time to go to the doctor. If you haven’t had a blood test already, it would be time to ask for one, preferably ensuring that you are having your T3 levels checked.
Depending on the verdict, it’s still important to listen to your symptoms. If your symptoms persist but you haven’t had the results you were expecting, don’t be afraid to ask for an additional test, as above. Similarly, if you’ve been prescribed medication and don’t feel it’s working, this is also worth discussing with your doctor to see if there is an alternative option for you.
