The one thing that is often missed in thyroid health and hypothyroidism is the important role of the liver. Cleaning your liver is critical to thyroid health and here is why and how to do it.
The Livers role in thyroid hormones:
It converts T4 to T3 (which is the active version of thyroid hormones needed). If you are not converting these hormones properly it causes many common hypothyroid symptoms such as hair loss, fatigue, weight gain etc.
Thyroid binding globulin (TBG) à TBG is produced in the liver and is a circulating protein that reversibly binds to T3 and T4 and carries them in the bloodstream. If the liver is congested it may not release the correct amounts into the bloodstream.
Reverse T3 (rT3) à Your body does not want to have too much T3 therefore, sometimes T4 is converted to rT3 instead of active T3. This is an issue because rT3 can block thyroid receptor sites. Your liver balances these levels of rT3 and active T3.
So how can you help your liver and therefore, improve your thyroid hormones?
Do a castor oil pack over your liver.
For optimal results try 3-4 times a week. They are a great way to gently detox the liver and the lymphatic system.
Reduce your sugar intake.
Your liver assists with blood sugar control and therefore, the more refined sugar you eat the more congested the liver. This is talking about refined sugars NOT fruit! Fruit is very helpful for the liver, especially apples as they help cleanse the liver.
Store up on carbohydrates.
I cannot emphasize enough that low-carb diets are harmful to your health and here is another way that it will impair your vitality. Going low carb can inhibit the conversion of T4 to T3 in the liver. Foods such as legumes, lentils, potatoes, leafy vegetables and fruits all assist your body in repairing. These are essential for liver detoxification and reducing your toxic load.
Increase your Selenium and Zinc levels
as these are two essential minerals required for the conversion in the liver of T4 to T3. Without these the body struggles to convert. Try foods rich in zinc: oysters, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and chickpeas and food rich in selenium such as brazil nuts (3 a day is ideal), sardines etc.
Your adrenal health is important for proper liver function
If you are fatigued this places extra burden on the liver which can reduce thyroid hormone conversion. Great herbs for adrenal health are adaptogens such as Siberian ginseng and ashwagandha. See my Instagram for further information of these herbs.
Stress reduction is also key because the body can only produce so many hormones at once and in a state of stress more cortisol is produced and therefore less thyroid hormones. Try some meditation, yoga or breathwork.
Consume foods rich in Vitamin A daily. Vitamin A is actually essential for proper detoxification. Add in these foods to your everyday diet: spinach, carrots, sweet potato and red peppers.
Avoid intermittent fasting. Most who are struggling with thyroid issues, need to avoid intermittent fasting because it puts too much strain on the adrenals and liver.
Anti-inflammatory diet
Poor conversion of T4 to T3 often boils down to chronic inflammation. To help lower inflammation, follow an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in fruits, veggies, wild-caught fish, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Limit foods that may worsen inflammation like refined grains, processed foods, alcohol, and refined sugar.
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