T3: Why is it low and what can you do?

I recently discovered that my iodine levels were slightly low. Not by much, but tending toward the lower side.

Why do you have low iodine and why does it matter?

Your body produces hormones for a wide variety of reasons. To regulate metabolism, mood, digestion, et al. Hormones have a master switch, the thyroid.

It does this through a very tightly regulated loop of signals and feedback between the brain and the thyroid.

Your thyroid is stimulated based on these signals to produce and release thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Both T4 and T3 are made using the iodine that you consume in your food. Sometimes things go wrong, especially if you are not eating sufficient iodine. Which is what probably happened to me.

Symptoms include severe tiredness and muscle weakness, unexpected weight gain and depression. You might get thick puffy skin or puffiness of the face find it difficult to concentrate, experience a weak slow heartbeat.

You might get dry skin, hair loss and feel cold to name a few.

So what can you do to fix it?

There are three minerals responsible for regulating your thyroid. Selenium, zinc and iodine.

The first goal woule be to make sure that you are eating sufficient quanties of all. Remember, sufficient, not too much or too little.

Food is your first go to source. Nuts including brazil nuts. Salt contains iodine. Especially iodized table salt.

Sea food and other products such as seaweed that emanate from the sea also help. Add them back into your diet if you have been shunning it.

Sleep, exercise, slow breathing all help improve the way your body perceives threat and stresss. All of these are directly related to the way your thyroid functions.

Your thyroid is a master switch. You want to make sure you have done everything to regulate it before looking for longevity pills.

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