Zarah, a 35-year-old woman, was frustrated by her hypothyroidism symptoms that persisted. Despite the fact that Zarah's thyroid blood parameters were within the normal range, she was still experiencing symptoms like weight gain, depression, and fatigue. Zarah visited the ESCASO Centre, a health and wellness facility that emphasizes optimal thyroid function using functional medicine principles because she knew something wasn't right.
What is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid gland makes hormones that control the rate of metabolism, the temperature of the body, and the rate of the heartbeat. Hypothyroidism happens when the gland doesn't make enough hormones, which slows down the body's metabolism.
During her consultation, the team at ESCASO® delved into Zarah's symptoms to uncover the root cause. We found she had subclinical hypothyroidism, where the hormone levels in her blood parameters were within the normal range but insufficient for proper functioning.
The Comprehensive Approach to Thyroid Health
Zarah's story shows how important it is to take a complete approach to thyroid health that includes both traditional medicine and functional medicine. Typical medicine focuses on using drugs to control the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. ESCASO® approach based on functional medicine looks at the whole person, the whole body, including the gut, mental health, the immune system, and factors like diet and lifestyle.
In Zarah's case, the ESCASO® Centre used a whole-person approach to treat her hypothyroidism symptoms and get to the root causes. This is because treating only the symptoms is not enough to improve long-term thyroid function.
The Importance of Gut Health
Because most hormones are made in the gut, gut health is important for thyroid health. If the gut is inflamed or hurt, the way hormones are used slows down. This makes symptoms of hypothyroidism worse. Zarah worked with the ESCASO® team to improve her gut health by changing her diet and lifestyle and taking targeted supplements.
Diet is important in managing hypothyroidism. Eating foods that support thyroid function is key to improving hormone production. Seafood, and nuts - they contain healthy fats and foods that are high in iodine, selenium, and zinc are especially good for thyroid health. Fermented foods, probiotics, and prebiotics are also important because they keep the gut healthy.
The health of the thyroid can also be affected by things like stress, sleep, environmental factors and exercise. Stress that lasts for a long time can make inflammation worse and slow down hormone production. Getting enough sleep and working out often can help your thyroid work well.
ESCASO’s Clinical Approach
The ESCASO® Team uses a functional medicine approach to find the root cause of the symptoms that mimics hypothyroidism and treat it through a combination of diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplements. They work with each patient to make a personalized plan that fits their needs and health goals.
In addition to gut health and lifestyle factors, the ESCASO® Centre also looks at things like nutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins, and food sensitivities that can cause hypothyroidism. They use advanced testing methods to find these things and make a plan to deal with them. During the progression of the program, the client will experience weight loss. Weight loss is the automatic process of a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are experiencing hypothyroidism symptoms despite having normal thyroid levels, it's essential to take a comprehensive approach to your health. A holistic approach that focuses on gut health, lifestyle factors, and other root causes can support healthy thyroid function and ease symptoms. ESCASO Centre's functional medicine approach can help patients like Zarah find relief from their hypothyroidism symptoms and improve their overall health and well-being.
Healthy Regards
Grinto Davy Chirakekkaren
Founder: ESCASO® GDDiET®
Orthopaedic Physiotherapist
Clinical Nutritionist
Health & Wellness Coach
Applying Functional Medicine In Clinical Practice