Thyroid
Written by Melanie Dixon
Common Symptoms
Psoriasis is a whole-body inflammatory condition that is so much more than skin deep. People with psoriasis often experience symptoms including:
- Skin plaques that can be large or small, smooth or scaly, red or white, depending on which type of psoriasis you have
- Food sensitivities
- Other auto-immune conditions such as Coeliac disease, thyroid auto-immunity and rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes and heart disease
- Depression
Common Causes
Conventional medicine often views psoriasis as just a skin condition, but psoriasis is actually an auto-immune condition, meaning that part of the body’s own immune system becomes confused and attacks normal tissues in the body.
- Poor Digestion & Leaky Gut undigested protein can create toxins that get into the body through the gut lining, causing the immune system to react
- Yeast Overgrowth a yeast infection in the gut called Candida is quite common in those with psoriasis
- Nutritional Deficiencies are seen in psoriasis, particularly of omega-3 fats (found in fish and some nuts and seeds), vitamin D, B12, selenium and fibre
Certain food sensitivities are also linked to psoriasis, especially gluten, nightshades (red peppers, aubergine and tomatoes) and alcohol. Stress, sunburn and anything that affects the immune system can also cause flare-ups.
Thyroid
Given that thyroid hormones work on almost every cell in our bodies, it’s no wonder that thyroid dysfunction can cause so many symptoms, some say there are 100s. Thyroid conditions are 10 times more common in women than men (lucky us!), and to complicate matters further, thyroid hormones are closely linked adrenal and sex hormones and symptoms of imbalance can overlap. So how can you tell if your thyroid needs some love?
There are two main thyroid conditions:
- Underactive: Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’ s Disease (autoimmune) – most common
- Overactive: Hyperthyroidism or Grave’s Disease (autoimmune) – less common
Common Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid
- Low energy & tiredness
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Constipation
- Foggy thinking
- Constipation
Common Symptoms of an Overactive Thyroid
- Nervousness and irritability
- Weight loss
- Anxiety and palpitations
- Sensitivity to heat, warm, moist skin
- Insomnia & fatigue
Underlying Drivers of Thyroid Conditions
- Autoimmunity – this is when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland and causes dysfunction
- Genetics can also play a role in autoimmune thyroid conditions – check your family history
- Stress and stress hormones
- Low protein intake
- Nutrient deficiencies
Common Signs
Without even noticing, it’s completely normal to lose between 50-100 strands of hair every day, especially when brushing or washing your hair. If you’re worried that you’re losing more hair than this, it’s advisable to see your GP. Common signs that your hair loss isn’t normal are:
- Gradual thinning on top of the head
- Hair that’s easy to pull out or comes out in clumps
- Bald patches
- Loss of body hair
- Itching or burning of the scalp
Common Causes
- Tight hairstyles and chemical treatments
- Age
- Family history
- Pregnancy
- Stress or trauma
- Sudden weight loss
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Health conditions, after an illness or cancer
- Medications, chemotherapy or radiation treatment
Top Tips To Feel Better
Speak to your GP in the first instance to get tested. Private testing might be necessary for the full thyroid picture – knowledge is power!
Minimise and manage stress as best you can – think mindfulness, breathing, yoga, pilates or whatever floats your boat.
Look after your gut microbes and liver – thyroid hormones need to be activated and around 80% of this happens in the gut and liver. Think plenty of plant foods; not just fruit and vegetables but also nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, beans and legumes.
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More Helpful Articles
- Gluten – what’s the big deal?
- Tops tips to manage stress
- All you need to know about your gut microbiome