Thyroid - Gut Connection

When was the last time you walked into your doctor’s office and said “I would like my digestive tract assessed because I know my thyroid hormones are out of balance?”

Hippocrates (Image Right) told us 2,000 years ago, “Death begins in the colon.”

How did he know that? 

Did he have like a special antenna that only he could hear or tune into? NO!! He observed the human body and thought logically. When you eat food, it goes in your mouth and down into your gut. Right? (the answer is yes)

What if that salad was not washed right and it still had pesticides on it? What if that steak was improperly cooked and it was infected with E. Coli? I can sit here and write 10,000 what if scenarios but what if you had a properly working digestive system?

Most people don’t, especially those with thyroid issues including hypo- (poor) and hyper- (too much) -thyroidism. All the nutrients, minerals, cofactors, etc. must be digested and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. If there is a digestive issue, indigestion, food allergies, diarrhea and/or constipation etc. it means there is an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract which ultimately causes a loss of stomach acid production, inadequate pH and dysbiosis.

The Thyroid - Gut connection is a very complex an integrated system that should be screened in EVERY thyroid case. The #1 cause worldwide of thyroid hypofunction (hypothyroidism) is iodine deficiency, but it is NOT the #1 cause in the United States. The #1 cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. is Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid. (For more information about autoimmune thyroid consult our office)

To support hypothyroidism or regulate an autoimmune thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s, you must address the digestive tract. Gut dysfunctions are the most commonly overlooked health issue in the medical field today (including alternative care).

Healthy Gut = Healthy Thyroid

The thyroid gland is the gas pedal for the body. When the body's metabolism is running slow, more thyroid hormone is produced to speed up metabolism. When the body’s metabolism is on overdrive, the thyroid will diminish the amount of thyroid produced. The body is a reflex machine, constantly trying to maintain homeostasis or equilibrium. In doing this many mechanisms and pathways are cut short or over used. For example, if you eat fried fatty foods 4 days out of the week, your gallbladder will not like you and will become sluggish and make gallstones.

Did you know with a sluggish gallbladder you minimize your body’s ability to clear hormones including estrogen?

FUN FACT:  

When you remove your gallbladder the cystic duct takes over  the storage of bile.

Every cell in the body has a thyroid receptor, even neurons (cells in the brain). Most people are unaware they have a thyroid issue until they start having issues including but not limited too:

- Fatigue / Sluggish

- Thinning of hair

- Loss of the outer ⅓ of eyebrow

- Cold hands and feet, all over

- Dry skin / flaky

- Difficulty losing weight

Summary

The Thyroid - Gut Connection is an invaluable aspect of health that many healthcare providers overlook. The thyroid has a receptor on every cell in the body. The gut digest and absorbs food for every cell in the body. When gastric atrophy occurs, proteins are not properly digested and often become a source of inflammation. With sluggish gallbladder / biliary system the body is not equipped to digest and absorb fats which also affect cholesterol levels, adrenals status, and hormones. The Thyroid - Gut Connection should be assessed on every patient with the above signs and symptoms for preventative health.

For more information on the Thyroid - Gut Connection contact our office through our website Weber Chiropractic or call 916.616.1595.

Dysglycemia: Body Disruptor

Dysglycemia

Do you have poor focus and concentration? Do you have some extra pounds around your waist that will not seem to leave no matter how much exercise or healthy eating you do? You very well may have a blood sugar issue.

Dysglycemia is defined as any disorder of blood sugar (glucose) metabolism. This includes incompetent pancreatic function and/or faulty insulin receptor sites. Poor blood sugar metabolism is highly common in the U.S. population today. The “SAD” (Standard American Diet) is very low in essential fatty acids and fiber, but high in polyunsaturated fats and sugar which will promote blood sugar disorders for decades to come.

"Diabetes Mellitus type II has become explosive in today’s society, and studies have predicted that it will bankrupt the national healthcare system over the next decade."

Health Considerations:

Dysglycemia disrupts ALL aspects of human physiology; muscular performance, digestion, hormones, and central nervous system function including neurotransmitter production. If the body is unable to adequately digest and utilize blood sugar from our diet, it leads to oxidative stress which results in inflammatory processes and free radicals causing cell death.

In our office, it is astounding how many patients fight depression, anxiety and/or dementia. Several of our patients have decreased the signs and symptoms of these issues just by managing their blood sugar better. Issues like these are often a direct result of unresolved blood sugar metabolism. Years of misery and sadness can be avoided if your blood sugar is regulated appropriately.

The current healthcare model does not adequately manage or prevent the progression of dysglycemia. We have to remember that we get our energy from blood sugar properly converted to ATP (cellular energy). When blood sugar is not properly regulated it may lead to the following:

1. Increased Risk for coagulation (Clots)
2. Arteriosclerosis
3. Difficulty losing weight
4. High Cholesterol
5. Hormone Disorders in Women and Men
6. Increased Risk for Infections
7. Fatigue
8. Hypothyroid
9. Anemia
10. Allergies/Food Sensitivities
11. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Adrenal)
12. Dementia / Alzheimer's
13. Early Onset Aging
14. Insomnia
15. Chronic Pain patterns - Fibromyalgia

Types:

There are two main types of blood sugar problems that should be identified before diabetes mellitus is diagnosed, insulin resistance and reactive hypoglycemia.

Reactive Hypoglycemia takes effect when the pancreas pumps out too much insulin due to spikes in blood sugar, this is typically the result of sweets or other high glycemic foods. These types of people space out easily, have poor short term memory, irritable and short-tempered if they go too long between meals. These people often have difficulty eating breakfast because of nausea or lack of appetite and feel exhausted around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune reaction. This article discusses insulin receptor issues.

Please understand what a normal functioning insulin receptor site does.

The second type of blood sugar problem typically results in high blood sugar levels, a fasting glucose above 100 mg/dL termed insulin resistant.

This particular group of people are on their way to Type 2 Diabetes in a very short time if lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) is not changed quickly. Insulin resistance is also known as Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome in current literature. Insulin is normally used to allow glucose into the cell, the same way a key gets put into the lock of a door to open it. The excess amount of insulin in high blood sugar exhaust the lock (cell), making the key (insulin) not work effectively, therefore the cells become insulin resistant. 

     In this respect the cells are not receiving their food supply and lacking the ability to make energy. These types of people fall asleep easily after a meal. If this particular person eats a rich-carbohydrate meal they typically nod-off after the meal. People with this issue often find it difficult to fall asleep, they may need coffee or sweets after a meal to keep from napping, and have a very difficult time losing weight. When these people get stressed, it is very easy to put on unwanted weight.

     So with respect of knowing these 2 types of dysglycemia, our office can effectively manage and assist people with these blood sugar issues with nutritional supplementation, SOT chiropractic methods, change in dietary habits, and better exercise routines.

In Conclusion:

Dysglycemia is not something that you should just watch and monitor until full blown Diabetes. In my opinion this is a serious problem that is overlooked by our current healthcare model. Take it upon yourself to recognize the symptoms and seek help and support. At Weber Chiropractic we are passionate about educating patients and making sure they know what their body can handle and not handle to keep it healthy.

If you are interested in discussing your case with our office staff, please contact our office, www.weberchiroca.com.

Cortisol: The Stress Hormone

Cortisol

The Stress Hormone

Is stress running your life? Do you have blood sugar issues? Do you feel that you are just chasing your tail? Do you sleep for several hours but still wake up tired?

If you answered “Yes” to any or all of these questions then your cortisol circadian rhythm may be imbalanced. BUT.. this article is not about your adrenal glands!!

I always tell patients, "if you want me to support your adrenal glands, by all means I will because I have plenty of student loans that still need to be paid back." In other words, you will dump your entire life savings before any adrenal supplement will help you get ahead. So lets get a head of the problem and not just manage your ongoing issues.

Normal Circadian Rhythm:

Cortisol has been termed a stress hormone due to its physiological nature in terms of raising blood sugar and heightening your bodies immune response through cytokine signaling. In a normal healthy individual starting at midnight (12 A.M.) cortisol is at its lowest point and continues to raise throughout the early morning and peaks approximately seven A.M. and diminishes throughout the day. See the diagram below.

What items will disrupt circadian rhythm?

1. Anemia

2. Blood sugar

3. Chronic immune issues

4. Food allergies

5. Emotional stress

6. Taking Melatonin orally (supplement)

7. Environmental toxins (i.e. mold, pesticides, parabens, phthalates)

8. Cytokine storms (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-a)

These 8 categories are only a few of several that can disrupt circadian rhythm. The most common factor that we see that has a dramatic impact is blood sugar.

High blood sugar individuals such as diabetics typically have elevated cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol results in an increase breakdown of glycogen (sugar storage) and when it is not being used by cells it is stored as fats. This is why most diabetics suffer from obesity. 

High cortisol individuals often fatigue after a heavy carb meal. When I was going through school, I could always tell who had an elevated blood sugar issue because they would pass out after lunch. Same thing for family members after a holiday meal.

For people with insulin resistance or diabetics continue to worsen in their condition they suffer from a weakened immune system, leaky gut issues (increase potential for food sensitivities) and neural issues (i.e. neuropathy). The only way to provide beneficial care for diabetics is to balance their circadian rhythm through diet, exercise, and supplementation to gain sensitivity back to the insulin receptor site. 

Before you read on, please understand that when you take supplements they are suppose to "supplement" what you are not getting in your daily eating regiment. They are not an excuse to eat whatever you want. People who suffer from chronic conditions, we recommend supplements to push their physiology and speed up recovery time. We never expect patients to take supplements for life with a few exceptions like receptor site polymorphisms.

Diagram 2: This shows a normal circadian rhythm (black) and an imbalanced circadian rhythm (red) causing physiological damage to cells through all systems of the body including nervous, gut and hormones.

Reactive Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar issues can really be very detrimental to cortisol circadian rhythms. These individuals are easy to spot because their signs and symptoms typically include:

• Cannot stay asleep through the night
• Have a hard time getting out of bed
• Must rely on coffee or caffeine to get motivated in the morning
• Afternoon headaches
• Afternoon fatigue (need a nap)
• Trouble shutting your mind off at night

These patients often feel worse than someone with type II diabetes due to the fact that their adrenals are constantly secreting cortisol to raise blood sugar, this is absolutely exhausting to the body. Constant release of cortisol results in the following: 

• Advanced aging process due to elevated IL-6
• Increased insulin release
• Decreases mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal track resulting in increased food reactivity
• Chronic immune stimulation
• Poor hormone receptor site attachment (decrease mood, libido, erectile dysfunction, painful menstruation, etc.)
• Liver congestion --> biliary stasis (problems with fats)
• Increased risk for osteoporosis
• Increased risk for dementia
• Breakdown of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis resulting in poor cellular metabolism
• So much more

When people forget to eat, this low blood sugar state results in the release of adrenalin throughout the day and even night. Eventually the body releases too much blood sugar and causes an increased blood sugar state causing the patient to slip into a deep restful sleep. This is the beginning of elevated blood sugar issues.

These patients constantly crave carbs and are always tired because their stress pathway (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) is always being pushed. Teenagers and college students fit this profile more often than most because they skip breakfast and typically carb load.

Many of these blood sugar issues can be easily balanced with proper diet and change of eating habits  along with patient’s strong desire to get better.

Closing Thoughts

So many people these days are trying to lose weight, get in shape, get healthier but they are focusing on the wrong things. Food is the most important aspect when it comes to revitalizing your health. You have to eat right.

Eating right in itself is a task. I married a Japanese woman who is an excellent cook. She makes sure the food is in season, organic, pesticide free, the oils it is cooked in is healthy, knowing the correct amount of time where the food is not overcooked and so many more items.

Cooking itself is very in depth but like anything, in the beginning it is hard and feels like a humungous task, however, with a little bit of effort and attention it becomes second nature. Now you can reap on the benefits of eating healthy.

Eating healthy will in and of itself help you lose weight regardless of exercising. Food is what helps your recover and repair. Sugar and vegetable oils are poisons and we should all eliminate them from our meals. Sugar is more addictive than cocaine AND it is more deadly than cocaine because it kills you slower.

Quick note for all of your sugar-holics out there! The reason you do not like vegetables is because sugar destroys your taste buds. When your taste buds are destroyed, strawberries, blueberries, bananas and spinach do not taste as rich because of your dead taste buds. Give yourself 30 days off sugar (of ALL KINDS!!) and try it. You will be amazed.

We at Quantum Chiropractic are here to help you. So please do what you can to better yourself, if you need help whether it be SOT Chiropractic or nutritional laboratory analysis, contact our office.