Beware of Disinformation Around Thyroid Health

If you suffer from mood swings, low energy, or a weakened immune system, you may be tempted to believe that these problems are due to thyroid health – especially if you have been researching on the internet for a diagnosis! (1)

The thyroid can be credited with many of the inner workings of the human body. However, it is also an easy (and frequently incorrect) place to point the finger when something doesn’t feel quite right within our bodies. (2)

The problem is that many symptoms can be related to thyroid troubles including:

• Sleeplessness 
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Hair thinning 
• Body chills
• Brain fog
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure
• Nervousness
• Excessive perspiration
• Muscle weakness
• Trembling hands 
• Lighter, or shorter menstrual periods
• Frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea
• Development of a goiter (enlargement in the neck) 
• Infertility
• Miscarriage (1,2)

Dr. Monica Moreno is an endocrinologist at Intermountain St. George Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic. She advises patients to consider that there may be other underlying causes contributing to their symptoms, such as fatigue and weight fluctuations.

She has recently stated in the media “There is much disinformation about thyroid disease, it’s hard to know where to begin.” (3)

Thyroid Symptoms 

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of certain hormones. 

In the early stages, there may be no noticeable symptoms, but hypothyroidism can lead to a variety of issues, including obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease. (4)

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) happens when the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than the body needs.

Depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency, the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism vary. These can include fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, a puffy face, and weight gain. (5)

A thyroid nodule is a growth of thyroid cells in the thyroid gland. Overgrowth of the thyroid gland can result in the formation of one or more nodules. When nodules form, the most serious concern is cancer. 

Fortunately, this is rare, occurring in less than 5% of all nodules. 

Most nodules do not produce any symptoms. If you have several or large nodules, you may be able to see them. They can press against structures in the neck and cause:

• Trouble when swallowing or breathing
• Hoarseness or voice change
• Pain 
• Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland). (11)

The three thyroid-related issues — hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid nodules — are very real and may require medical attention.

Yet, if you are suffering from some of the long list of symptoms at the top, it does not mean that your problem is thyroid-related. 

Thyroid May Not Be The Problem 

“Our lives are stressful,” Dr. Moreno states. “A person’s diet may not be good. They’re busy, working long hours, all of which can lead to feelings of fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, hair loss, brittle nails, and dry skin.

Because those can be symptoms of hypothyroidism, people often want to blame that, rather than addressing the stress and lifestyle that could also be contributing factors.”

Moreno claims more tests are needed in order to determine if health issues are thyroid-related, and symptoms should be correlated with a lab test available through a patient’s physician.

If the tests are normal, that’s not always what the patient wants to hear,” Dr. Moreno said. “People want an explanation for their fatigue that goes beyond stress or lifestyle. They often want something that can be treated with a pill.” (3)

Experts agree that a variety of tests should be given (often including a consultation with an endocrinologist) before an exact diagnosis of thyroid problems should be given.

This should include blood work, radioactive iodine tests, a thyroid scan where a camera makes an image of your thyroid on a computer screen, a thyroid ultrasound, and a thyroid needle biopsy. (5)

“Hyperthyroidism is not a chronic condition like hypo,” Dr. Moreno concluded. 

She summarized “Sometimes things like thyroid nodules just happen and we don’t know why, but it doesn’t seem to be lifestyle-related. Still, a healthy diet and lifestyle will help with everything, whether the root cause is thyroid or not.” (3)

If you are struggling with undiagnosed symptoms or struggle with clarity around your health, Dr. Nandi’s Toxic Ingredients Guide is a good place to start if you wish to clean up your diet.

Causes Of Poor Thyroid Health

• Previous thyroid problems or imbalanced hormones.
• Surgery or radiotherapy affecting the thyroid gland.
• Having a condition such as anemia, or type 1 diabetes. 
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• Long-term infections or toxicities.
• Poor digestion. 
• Autoimmune thyroid issues. (5,6)
• Graves’ disease – an immune disorder that causes excessive thyroid hormone production. (10)

Women are more impacted by thyroid issues than men. There are two peaks for women when they may see a problem, during the reproductive age (20s and 30s), and during menopausal age (40s or 50s). (3)

After A Thyroid Diagnosis

Hormone supplements can support by:

1. Helping in uninterrupted sleep.
2. Assisting adrenal & thyroid (T3 & T4) hormone production.
3. Reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
4. Acting as a mood stabilizer in treating symptoms of depression.
5. Treating the GI system. A normally functioning GI tract usually equates to reduced stress and increased immune response, which is of utmost importance in treating thyroid patients. (7,8)

Which Foods Support The Thyroid Gland?

Iodine, selenium, and zinc are important to include in a diet for thyroid health. People with a family history of thyroid nodules and those who do not get enough iodine are more likely to develop nodules. (5,9)

Eggs are beneficial as iodine and selenium are found in the yolk, while the whites are full of protein. All meats, including lamb, beef, chicken, and all seafood, including salmon, tuna, halibut, and shrimp, are perfect. (9)

Vegetables and cruciferous vegetables are fine to eat. Fruits including oranges, berries, bananas, and tomatoes are beneficial, as well as gluten-free grains and seeds: rice, buckwheat, quinoa, chia, and flax seeds.

Dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt are recommended along with drinking lots of water. (9)

Thyroid And Overall Health

Many of us wish to “bounce back” from difficult health times, and a part of bouncing back is feeding your brain and your body with the best nutrition.

Dr. Nandi’s Toxic Ingredients Guide is great for anyone who’d love to not only learn about better nutrition but also to turn this knowledge into healthy eating.

With this knowledge, you can start to energize your body, fight fatigue, increase mental focus, and boost your metabolism. 

My Personal RX on Reclaiming Your Energy When You’re Running on Empty

It is incredibly easy to wake up exhausted, notice your hair thinning or feel that familiar brain fog, and immediately consult the internet. Within minutes, you might convince yourself your thyroid is failing. While thyroid issues are very real and deserve medical attention, the truth is often much closer to home: many of us are simply overworked, overstressed, and running on empty.

Before you jump to the worst-case scenario, let’s look at your actual daily routine. Often, making small, practical tweaks to how you eat, sleep, and decompress can resolve the lingering symptoms that mimic a thyroid problem. Here are some highly doable, everyday tips to help you get your energy back without feeling like you have to flip your whole life upside down.

1. Upgrade your morning eggs: You don’t need a complicated, restrictive diet to support your glandular health. The article mentioned iodine and selenium—both of which are found right in egg yolks. Scramble a couple of whole eggs for breakfast instead of just the whites to give your body these essential building blocks with zero extra prep time.
2. Cover your nutritional bases easily: When life gets hectic, our diets are usually the first thing to suffer, leading to hidden deficiencies that cause fatigue and mood swings. I recommend grabbing the Core Four Bundle (which includes Omega-3 Fish Oil, Ultra Cal-Mag, Vitamin D3 + K2, and MindBiotic). It seamlessly helps fill the most common nutrient gaps that start to show up after 40, keeps your energy, digestion, and stress response steady and supported, and gives your body what it needs to function well now and stay strong over time.
3. Take five “nothing” minutes: You don’t need a one-hour meditation session to lower your stress hormones. Find just five minutes a day—maybe sitting in your parked car before walking into the house, or sitting on the edge of your bed before getting up—to do absolutely nothing but take a few deep breaths and reset.
4. Keep water in your line of sight: Brain fog, sluggish digestion, and feeling cold are classic signs of dehydration, which easily mimics a slow thyroid. Keep a large glass or water bottle right on your desk or kitchen counter so you sip it mindlessly throughout the day without having to think about it.
5. Set a hard stop for screens: We all fall into the trap of “revenge bedtime procrastination” after a long, stressful day, but poor sleep ruins your energy. If your mind is racing and you can’t wind down, consider adding Sleep Max to your evening routine for better, restorative sleep; with a science-backed blend of magnesium, GABA, 5-HTP, and taurine that helps calm your mind, balance neurotransmitters, and promote restorative REM sleep.
6. Snack on exercise: If a 45-minute gym session feels completely impossible right now, just do 10 minutes. Take a brisk walk around the block on your lunch break or do a few stretches while watching TV. Small bursts of movement boost your metabolism and mood just as effectively as one grueling session.
7. Listen to your gut: If you are feeling down or continuously foggy, your digestion might actually be the culprit. A sluggish GI tract directly impacts your mood and energy. I dive deep into this connection in my book, Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain, which is a great resource to learn the science behind the gut-brain axis and a holistic approach to improving gut health and mental health.
8. Delay your morning coffee: Instead of reaching for caffeine the exact second you wake up, drink a glass of water first and wait 45 minutes to an hour. This lets your body’s natural cortisol wake you up and prevents that brutal mid-afternoon crash that feels like chronic fatigue.
9. Be completely honest with your doctor: If you do go in for a thyroid test and the results are perfectly normal, don’t feel defeated. Have a frank, honest conversation with your physician about your actual stress levels, work hours, and daily habits. Sometimes, simply acknowledging burnout is the first step to fixing it.
10. Stop aiming for perfect: Stressing over having a “perfectly clean” diet or a flawless workout routine just adds more stress and cortisol to your system. Aim for making healthy choices 80% of the time and give yourself some grace for the rest. Less guilt always equals more energy.

Sources:

1. https://www.webmd.com/women/understanding-thyroid-problems-symptoms 
2. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2019/09/signs-you-might-have-a-thyroid-problem/ 
3. https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/02/27/live-well-beware-disinformation-surrounding-thyroid-health/6952165001/
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284 
5. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/thyroid-disease 
6. https://centrespringmd.com/5-signs-symptoms-of-thyroid-problems-in-females
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684134/ 
8. https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/34/5/619/2354647 
9. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-diet#meal-plan 
10. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240 
11. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13121-thyroid-nodule