Hypothyroidism, a Journey Into Self-Discovery
written by EVE IULO and reviewed by HELLO PALATE
With my adventure and interest in veganism and soy-based approach to eating, I noticed I was suffering from chronic bloat, fatigue, and face puffiness. It left me confused; after all, wasn’t everyone my age devoted to eating a plant-based lifestyle, feeling aware of apparent climate crisis issues, and pursuing healthier outcomes?
I was denying my bio-individual health and continued for eight months of multiple misdiagnoses and explorations to get to the root cause of discomfort and symptoms that seemed to come on out of nowhere. Finally, I grew impatient and sought help. After receiving a thyroid blood test, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Immediately, I was inspired and motivated to begin my research into a holistic approach. I was fascinated to connect how food, environment, and genetics influenced my health and how to adjust my eating and lifestyle based on my care. I slowly reintroduced local seafood and hormone-free poultry into my diet. I still enjoy an occasional tofu dish; I remain conscious of its source and often pair it with iodine-rich seaweed or follow up a meal with a few Brazil nuts, rich in selenium. Most importantly, I discovered exciting insights on how soy and a pesticide called glyphosate were the leading causes of my thyroid symptoms.
I am no stranger to the discomforts of poor thyroid health nor the frustration derived from not having answers for our dynamic individual bodies. Thus, my mission is to make science and nutrition more accessible to my peers and the public so that fewer women face similar afflictions. I hope you find my research into how soy and glyphosate influenced my thyroid health and possibly help you make parallel connections to food and your health.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). This causes the body’s system to slow down, leading to symptoms like fatigue, coldness, weight gain due to fluid retention, dry skin, and hair loss. [1]
When experiencing these symptoms, getting your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) tested may be in your best interest. Please ask your doctor for a functional lab test, which includes much more than a conventional blood test.
Functional Lab Testing
A blood test that looks at TSH and T4 but also at T3 uptake, total T3, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies
They give you the most accurate picture of your thyroid health and rule out possible autoimmune thyroid problems like Hashimoto’s disease.
Additionally, it can be used to monitor the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
The Neuroendocrine System
The neuroendocrine system, which comprises the hypothalamus–pituitary-gland axis, is responsible for the homeostatic regulation of most physiological processes such as reproduction, growth, metabolism, energy balance, and stress response. In particular, the HPT axis controls the thyroid gland metabolism and synthesis and the secretion of thyroid hormones [5]
A Snapshot into TSH in a Functioning Thyroid
The hypothalamus in the brain produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which informs the pituitary gland to produce TSH.
The pituitary gland then sends out TSH, which informs the thyroid to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine)
These hormones help regulate numerous critical bodily functions.
A snapshot into TSH in an improperly functioning thyroid:
The thyroid is unable to produce an adequate amount of thyroid hormones
In turn, the pituitary gland reacts to these low levels by producing more TRH and TSH
As this system continues, the high levels of TSH in conjunction with the low levels of T4 indicate hypothyroidism
Details Matter T3 and T4
What are They, and Why are They Important?
T3 (Triiodothyronine)
T3 is bound, and Free T3
Bound T3: abundant in the body, attaches to proteins that circulate hormones
Free T3: not in abundance, the active form of T3, unattached to proteins
These two forms play a vital role in the body’s regulation of metabolism
80% is derived from T4 conversion, and the thyroid gland produces the rest
Biologically active (can bind to thyroid hormone receptors)
T4 (Thyroxine)
Bound T4 and FREE T$
Bound T4: attaches to proteins that circulate hormones
Free T4: Unattached to proteins, enters your body’s tissue when needed
The primary thyroid hormone released into your bloodstream
Biologically inactive (does not impact your cells)
T4 must be converted into T3 by removing one iodine atom (deiodination) to become active. This often occurs in the liver or kidney.
Does Soy influence our Thyroid health?
Some experts have speculated that soy's isoflavones, which act like weak estrogens, may hamper the body's synthesis of thyroid hormones. [3]
Studies have shown soy to interfere with the thyroid’s absorption of thyroid hormones and alter thyroid function
The two main components of soy thought to be responsible for the proposed health benefits are soy protein and soy isoflavones. It is believed that isoflavones present in soy are the main active compounds that produce both hormonal and non-hormonal effects
there is speculation that for specific subsets of the population, soy foods and isoflavones may be detrimental
Study leader Serena Tonstad, MD, Ph.D., professor of public health at Loma Linda and a preventive cardiology physician in Norway. [3]
The chances of having a high TSH were quadrupled in those who ate, on average, just under two servings a day [of soy foods] compared to those who didn't eat any."
These trends were only observed in women.
The reason for the gender-dependent variable could be due to women, especially as they age, encountering more thyroid problems than men.
Largely a result of the interplay between thyroid hormones and the hormones that fluctuate during the menstrual cycle.
It is believed that normally functioning thyroids can be ok with regularly consuming soy, while those with more vulnerable thyroids (females) can be pushed over the threshold of hypothyroidism if soy is consumed too frequently [3]
Who May It Impact?
Those who adhere to vegan/vegetarian diets, deficient in iodine
Post-menopausal women
Thyroid problems can happen anytime, but they are prevalent in women during and after menopause when hormone levels change dramatically.
Those who consume soy in excessive amounts (beyond one to two servings of whole soy foods)
Yet, let’s look at the Benefits of Soy in Moderation
Supplies B vitamins, healthy unsaturated fatty acids, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron
Some research has found that greater soy intake is associated with a lower risk of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women.
Eating more plant-based foods can not only improve human health but also improve the health of the globe.
Source of Protective antioxidants
Isoflavones act as antioxidants diminishing damage done by free radicals.
Some studies have also reported a protective effect of soy for prostate and lung cancers.
Finding Quality Soy Foods (Tofu)
High protein: seek out tofu with at least 12 grams of protein per serving higher-protein tofu is often made with thicker and richer soymilk
Higher fat: look for tofu with at least 4 grams of fat per serving; fat (tofu has only unsaturated)
Texture: good tofu has elasticity (bend the tofu to see if it breaks) and is more chewy than chalky; good tofu should be springy and not crumbly
Taste: after some chewing, tofu should taste slightly sweet, nutty, and buttery; if tofu is sour or bitter, it is either not fresh or has not been solidified in a balanced way
Look for organic soybeans: using organic beans makes thicker soymilk, which will make tofu with an enhanced flavor (if the maker describes where the soybean is from on the package, that's a good sign—good tofu starts with a carefully grown and sourced beans)
Hello Palate recommends sourcing quality tofu with these brands: Meiji Tofu, and Hodo Tofu, and for accessibility, WholeFOODS Market 365
What about the impact of Glyphosate & Soy Farming?
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds and grasses.
GT soybeans produced on commercial farms in the USA, Brazil, and Argentina accumulate an estimated 2500–10,000 metric tonnes of glyphosate per year, which enter global food chains. [4]
About 77% of global soybean production comes from GT soybean, and the dominant soy-producing countries of Brazil, the USA, and Argentina have a 94%–100% adoption rate of ‘biotech crops,’ mostly glyphosate-tolerant varieties [4]
And Glyphosate on Thyroid Health
Glyphosate has been associated with several diseases, including thyroid disorders (10). The increase in the use of glyphosate shows a positive correlation with the rise in several intestinal diseases, such as celiac disease (10). Celiac disease and thyroid disorders often coexist (11), and it is speculated that there is a possible link between exposure to glyphosate and the development of these pathologies (10). Recently, glyphosate was associated with an increased risk for thyroid diseases in farmers [5]
Another study evaluated the association between the use of pesticides, including glyphosate, and the incidence of hypothyroidism in applicators over 20 years and found that the risk of hypothyroidism was significantly increased due to contact with these substances.
Do you HONOR YOUR BIO INDIVIDUAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS for healthier outcomes?
Roasted seaweed
Rich in iodine to prevent goiter (irregular growth of the thyroid gland)
Preferably salmon, char, and mackerel (rich in Omega-3s)
Brazil nuts
High-quality milk or yogurt
Chicken or beef (rich in zinc)
Taking in too little zinc can lead to hypothyroidism
Berries for antioxidants
Cruciferous veggies, so long as they are adequately cooked, not raw or consumed too often, diversity in our eating habits is ideal.
Create a well balanced meal with your palate preferences in mind. EVERYDAY FOOD MANDALA
Citations
“Hypothyroidism: A Closer Look.” Hypothyroidism: A Closer Look, https://www.synthroid.com/hypothyroidism-a-closer-look?cid=ppc_ppd_ggl_Synthroid_BV_what_is_hypothyroidism_Exact_USSYNT210336&gclid=CjwKCAiA3pugBhAwEiwAWFzwdUSXN4zQDfFQFdIRSAngjhJLOjZmQhVuRQArUWIicm0pTmzexBT8HBoCIx4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.
Otun, Jemiliat, et al. “Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Soy on Thyroid Function.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 8 Mar. 2019, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40647-x.
Soy & Your Thyroid: How Much Is Too Much? - Endocrineweb. https://www.endocrineweb.com/news/thyroid-diseases/54056-soy-your-thyroid-how-much-too-much.
“Home - PMC - NCBI.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/.
Romano, Renata Marino, et al. “Could Glyphosate and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Be Associated with Increased Thyroid Diseases Worldwide?” Frontiers in Endocrinology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Mar. 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8018287/.
