If you’re experiencing thyroid issues, poor gut health might be the root cause. Here’s how the two are connected and why healing your gut could support better thyroid function:
- Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity: When the gut lining is compromised or weak, big bits of food can sneak into our blood and make the immune system confused, which can accidentally lead to attacks on the our cells, especially if the body thinks these bits look like human tissue or cells. For people with Hashimoto’s, these molecules resemble thyroid tissue, triggering immune attacks on the thyroid itself. There are several markers on our stool test that may be indicative of leaky gut, so come get tested today! We have a foolproof leaky gut protocol if this is found.
- Iodine Absorption: Healthy gut function allows for better absorption of iodine, a mineral essential for thyroid hormone production. Without enough iodine, the thyroid struggles to keep up with hormonal needs. Inflammation, excess toxins, damaged microvilli and more can lead to absorption issues within the gut.
- Reducing Inflammation: There’s a type of helper (enzyme) called deiodinase that turns a thyroid chemical called T4 into T3, which gives us energy. If this helper isn’t doing its job, T4 might turn into reverse T3 instead, which can’t give us energy and makes us feel tired. Inflammation in the body can increase reverse T3 (rT3), an inactive form of thyroid hormone. By lowering inflammation through gut health, more active thyroid hormone (T3) is available for your cells. Additionally, our body also needs enzymes to clean up any waste or harmful stuff. By cleaning up, they reduce stress and “heat” (or inflammation) that could hurt our thyroid. Sometimes we can have issues with this process, even because of specific gene mutations. At modern Medicine, we can test for these and help clean up the inflammation-causing toxins.
- Immune Balance: Enzymes also help balance our immune system. When things get out of balance, our immune system might start attacking our thyroid by mistake, like in a condition called Hashimoto’s. A healthy gut regulates immune activity, reducing the likelihood of autoimmune thyroid flares.
Improving gut health supports thyroid function from the root by enhancing nutrient absorption, reducing inflammation, and calming autoimmune responses. It’s a foundational step for long-term thyroid healing.
