The hidden connection between stress and thyroid health
"The hidden connection between stress and thyroid health"
Are you wrestling with unshakeable fatigue, creeping weight gain, puzzling brain fog, or a persistent sensation of just not feeling right, even though your lab tests come back normal? Don't overlook your thyroid—it could very well be the silent factor that's been eluding you.
The Thyroid & Adrenals: A two Way Street!
Think of your thyroid like the body's energy conductor, directing your metabolism's pace. Your adrenals are like a top-notch emergency squad, ready with cortisol and vital hormones to tackle the stresses of life.
These two are always in communication, and if one falters, it can throw off the other, creating disruptions in their delicate balance.
How does stress impact your Thyroid?
You might be wondering how stress can have such an impact on your thyroid -- let me share with you how chronic stress whether it be from overwork, poor sleep, blood sugar swings, or emotional overwhelm, forces your adrenals to pump out cortisol to keep up.
Here's the problem 💥
Overtime, high cortisol suppresses thyroid function.
It does his by:
Slowing the conversion of T4 to active T3, leaving you with less usable thyroid hormone.
Increasing reverse T3 (RT3), which blocks thyroid hormone activity.
Signalling the brain to reduce thyroid hormone production, slowing metabolism right down.
This leads to ➡️ Lab patterns that often get overlooked:
◾High TSH ---> the brain senses low thyroid function and tries to compensate
◾ Normal or low T4 ---> the thyroid may still produce some hormone, but not enough.
◾ Low T3 and/or high reverse T3 ---> symptoms of hypothyroidism even when T4 is "normal"
🚨This is why stress doesn't just make you feel tired -- it can actually suppress metabolism, cause weight gain, and trigger symptoms like brain fog, hair thinning and cold hands and feet.
What Else Causes a Slow Thyroid?
Stress affects the body down to the cellular level. But the thyroid doesn't work in isolation.
Your thyroid relies on these key factors.
🧂 Key Minerals
🦠 Gut Health
☠️ Toxins
When stress enters the picture, these systems take a hit.
Mineral Depletion - The Thyroids Missing Ingredients
Your thyroid can't produce hormones without the right building blocks, and stress burns through the very nutrients that keep it functioning.
Key thyroid supporting minerals include:
Selenium - Essential for converting T4 to active T3 and reducing inflammation.
Zinc - Supports immune balance and thyroid hormone production
Iodine - the backbone of thyroid hormones (T4= 4 iodine molecules, T3 = 3 iodine molecules)
👉 But here's the issue:
Chronic stress
Poor Diet
Medications
Gut Issues
All deplete these minerals!
Did you know.. Fluoride (found in tap water and toothpaste) competes with iodine, further weakening thyroid function.
Gut Health: Where Thyroid Hormones Get Activated
Did you know 20% of active thyroid hormone (T3) is converted in the gut?
Your gut and thyroid are deeply connected, and here's why:
Dysbiosis and Leaky Gut - an imbalanced gut microbiome or leaky gut (often triggered by stress, antibiotics, or processed foods) can reduce T3 conversion and fuel inflammation.
Low Stomach Acid - Many people with hypothyroidism have low stomach acid, leading to poor absorption of thyroid supporting nutrients like selenium, zinc and B12.
Gut Health and Emotion Suppression - Compromised gut health can trigger an overactive immune response, raising the risk of autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's. The link between the gut and emotions is critical, hence the asterisk. Those dealing with autoimmune diseases frequently put others first, hold back their feelings (anger, in particular), and depend on outside approval. This cycle of chronic stress can disrupt the immune system so severely that doctors label it "autoimmune."
Bottom line: A sluggish thyroid isn't just a thyroid problem -- it's often a gut problem, a stress problem and a mineral deficiency problem.
Heavy Metals and Fluoride: The Hidden Thyroid Saboteurs
Beyond minerals and gut health, toxins are another major stressor on the thyroid.
Fluoride & Chlorine ---> Found in tap water, these halogens compete with iodine and weaken thyroid function
Heavy Metals (Mercury, Lead, Cadmium) ---> Can interfere with thyroid hormone production and fuel inflammation.
Endocrine Disruptors (Plastics, Pesticides, BPA) ---> These mimic hormones, throwing off thyroid balance.
👉 What can you do:
Filter your whole house water system or just your drinking water.
Avoid plastic food containers
Choose organic where possible or shop at local farmers market to get spray free produce.
What About Hashimoto's
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, yet it's often overlooked in standard thyroid testing.
Unlike regular hypothyroidism (where the thyroid simple slows down), Hashimoto's is an "autoimmune" condition - meaning the immune system is mistakenly attacking the thyroid.
Over time, this leads to inflammation, thyroid damage, and a gradual decline in thyroid hormone production.
Antibodies: The Clues to Thyroid Dysfunction
One of the biggest differences between hashimotos and standard hypothyroidism is the presence of thyroid antibodies:
TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) The immune system attacking the thyroid enzymes.
TgAb (thyroglobulin antibodies) The immune system targeting thyroid proteins.
Here's whats tricky:
TSH can look "normal" for years before thyroid function declines.
Antibody testing is the ONLY way to catch Hashimoto's early.
If you test positive for antibodies, it doesn't mean your thyroid is failing overnight - but it does mean your immune system is dysregulated. Addressing immune health is just as important as supporting your thyroid itself.
Your Thyroid is Talking --- Are you Listening?
If you've been dealing with:
Constipation
Brain fog
Weight gain
Cold sensitivity
Dry skin
Muscle cramps
Thinning eyebrows
Fatigue
High cholesterol
Depression ( a major sign of thyroid dysfunction)
Your thyroid could be sending you a message.
The Good News? You CAN take back control of your health, and if you are ready to take back your power with your health, lets chat - book your thyroid & energy breakthrough session here
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With love,
Marisa