Thyroid issues are by no means rare these days, and in the past couple of years, my understanding of this topic has really evolved (building on great influence from Dr. Ray Peat). Let me explain.
A well-functioning thyroid is a cornerstone marker of optimal health. Discovering the connection between the liver, the metabolism, and the thyroid will help one understand how to improve their thyroid status.
What does the thyroid do?
The thyroid is like the master headquarters of our body's overall health. It affects energy production, hormone production, neurotransmitters, body temperature, mood, immune health, and more. Active thyroid hormone T3 is used in every cell in the body to create energy.
There’s no quick fix for thyroid issues, but it is possible to restore thyroid health through consistent lifestyle changes that benefit the liver and metabolism.
This is why it's important to support both metabolic and liver health, which in turn benefit the thyroid function and overall healing.
This is largely in parallel to the Energy Restoration Process (a free guide on our website) and has some main goals:
- prioritize electrolyte intake via food/hydration/supplement
- optimize nutritional intake with quality foods and round off with supplementation as needed
- execute health-promoting behaviors such as circadian regulation, movement, grounding, sunlight, fresh air, etc
- eliminate and avoid toxins as much as practically possible (processed junk foods, pufa oils, toxic soaps cosmetics, and home products, etc)
The additional specific liver-supporting tools and detoxification methods mentioned below will also help all of the above work much better, as the liver is responsible for the majority of T3 production in the body.
Lack of T3 = high TSH, a.k.a the body sending a signal to request more T3. A functioning liver is crucial or else this cycle will continue forever.
Ways to Support Liver Health
(our main detoxifier and metabolic orchestrator)
- limit toxin exposure (drugs, household chemicals, alcohol, environmental, pesticides, seed oils)
- castor oil packs
- consuming adequate protein daily
- taking TUDCA MAX to support bile flow
- liver flushing
- lymphatic drainage massage
- mindful eating
- processing anger/resentment
- beef liver, dark leafy greens
- dandelion root tea, ginger tea
- B vitamins, vitamin E, trace minerals
- coffee enemas
Ways to Support Metabolic Health
(how well we generate and process energy in the body)
- regulating blood sugar with consistent eating, every 2-4hrs, with both carbohydrates and protein.
- sufficient electrolyte intake and balance
- exercise / daily movement
- supporting circadian rhythm (blocking blue light at night, getting sunlight in the morning/red light therapy)
- post-meal walks
- quality and consistent sleep
- Iodine: shellfish, dairy, seaweed
- Tyrosine: eggs, cheese
- Zinc: red meat, oysters
- Selenium: red meat, shellfish, eggs
- B2/B3/B6: eggs, dairy, meat
- C: fruit
- D: sun, eggs, dairy, mushrooms
- E: Antidote vitamin E
- A: eggs, dairy fat, liver
Supplements for thyroid, metabolic and/or liver health:
supports the liver/metabolism in the following ways:
- Helps prevent the oxidation of PUFA
- Decreases excess estrogen (inhibits the enzyme aromatase)
- Improves cell waste detoxification
- Helps cells utilize oxygen
- Mitigate macular degeneration
- Improves insulin resistance
Learn more about Antidote here.
supports the liver/metabolism in the following ways:
- Improved bile flow
- Improved fat digestion
- Increased fat-soluble vitamin absorption
- Supports gut health
- Aids in toxin elimination via bile
- May assist in dissolving gallstones
- May improve liver and muscle insulin sensitivity
- May reduce elevated liver enzyme markers
- May lower cholesterol
- May reduce cholestasis
- May improve conditions of liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, and hepatitis
Learn more about TUDCA and how it works here.
supports metabolic health in the following ways:
- Broad spectrum anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant capable of lowering oxidative stress and markers of aging
- Repairs cellular mitochondrial energy production
- Improves cellular ability to use oxygen (oxidative phosphorylation)
- Shown to improve depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia
- Promotes autophagy (the cell's garbage removal system)
- Reduces harmful Nitric Oxide
Learn more about MB and how it works here.
B vitamins are crucial to metabolic health (creating energy), and also important for liver function as the liver uses B vitamins to metabolize toxins, generate energy from food, and for other important processes like methylation.
TyroPhen: L-Tyrosine & L-Phenylalanine
are both amino acids that are precursors to Dopamine, and the Thyroid hormone.
- Dopamine synthesis
- Thyroid hormone production support
- Improved motivation
- Improved focus
- Attention deficit assistance
- Regulation of reward-seeking behavior
- May assist with addiction alleviation
- Aids melanin production
- Adrenal support
- Prolactin lowering
- Serotonin lowering
Learn more about TyroPhen here.
The All-Star Amino Acid, does many things in our bodies, but in regards to liver health, it is crucial for bile formation and flow.
Taurine is conjugated with bile acids to form bile salts, which are released by the gallbladder to both help us digest the fat we consume, and assimilate the fat-soluble vitamins in that fat. If bile accumulates and is not formed into the salts that can be used, this can congest the liver and gallbladder with 'gallstones' or formations of bile/cholesterol/other proteins.
Taurine is also highly concentrated in the most metabolically active tissue of the body, and the highest quantity of any free amino acid. In a healthy body, taurine is abundant.
Taurine is also highly concentrated in the most metabolically active tissue of the body, and the highest quantity of any free amino acid. In a healthy body, taurine is abundant.
