7 Steps For A Healthy Thyroid

Hi, I’m Dr. Marie Starling

At The Healing Center, your Denver Functional Medicine specialist,  we help people like you reach their full potential. I specialize in adjunctive care for internal disorders, autoimmune conditions, IBS, thyroid symptoms, diabetes, and other complex health issues.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, and mood and bone maintenance. Unfortunately, it is all too common we see patients in our office with thyroid conditions. Indicators of possible thyroid issues include:

• Autoimmune conditions
• Fatigue
• GI tract issues such as gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea
• Weight gain
• Hair and skin issues
• Sleeping problems
• Muscle weakness

At The Healing Center Denver, we are experts in thyroid care. We specialize in getting to the root cause of your health issues using a holistic, functional medicine approach. We have come up with 7 steps you can take to have healthy thyroid function. We help guide our patients in these steps to help them access their full potential of health— including thyroid health!

Step 1: Autoimmune Disorders and Vitamin D

One important step to taking care of your thyroid is to find out if you have antibodies to gluten and dairy. Signs of an autoimmune disorder may make you more at risk for thyroid issues.

Another important factor in your thyroid health is optimum levels vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a big role is maintaining a strong immune system. Make sure you get your vitamin D levels checked as well.

In our office, we offer an array of different lab testing customized to your specific case.

Step 2: Fix Your GI Tract

It is important to address any GI symptoms and seek out doctor’s care to help identify the steps needed to be taken to resolve any GI dysfunction such as leaky gut, SIBO, SIFO, food allergies and reactions.

Pathogens can also play a part in GI Tract problems, it is important to look at and address these as well. High quality probiotics are used to reset the gut microbiome and replenish your natural stores of good bacteria to reduce inflammation.

Step 3: Regulate Your Blood Sugar

If you ever get shaky, jittery, light headed, or irritable, your blood sugar has dropped. When your blood sugar spikes, you can feel tired after eating and crave sugar. It is important to keep your body from experiencing these highs and lows in order to help keep your thyroid in check.

Step 4: Manage Stress

Identify sources of stress in your life, and work to figure out techniques that help you mitigate your stressors. Stress as a great impact on your physiology, and wreaks havoc on your hormones— including your thyroid hormones.

Step 5: Get Enough Sleep

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. Sleep also helps maintain your circadian rhythms, which play an important role in keeping your hormones balanced.

Step 6: Exercise

Exercise decreases stress hormones, increases insulin sensitivity, increases neurotransmitter production, and increases mitochondria which is your energy factory! Motion is the lotion of your joints and the engine for your brain. Exercise helps to maintain optimal hormone functioning, including thyroid hormones.

Step 7: Supplements and Support

Here at The Healing Center we assist our patients with finding the right supplements and support their bodies need. Giving your body the nutrients it needs enriches the body’s internal environment and supports the protection, repair, and regeneration of our cells.

Written by KT Colgan

In-Depth Sources: Nelson, Bradley. The Body Code. Dr. Bradley Nelson and Wellness Unmasked, Inc., 2009. Chiasson, Ann Marie. Energy Healing: The Essentials of Self-Care. Sounds True, 2013.