If you’re experiencing symptoms like unexplained weight gain, feeling cold and fatigue your physician will likely suspect your thyroid. But treating just the thyroid hormones, if the test even shows low levels, may only be addressing part of the problem.
Hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels have several different causes. But one cause that is often overlooked is low progesterone levels.
Thyroid 101
Your thyroid is a small gland located at the front of your neck. It produces hormones (T3 and T4) which control your metabolism, or how your body uses energy. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough of these hormones that is hypothyroidism. The result is a slower metabolism. Some of the symptoms of this are:
Weight gain
Brain fog
Depression or anxiety
Fatigue
Feeling cold
Muscle weakness
Hair loss
Your thyroid can also be overactive which results in symptoms like weight loss, rapid heart rate and excessive sweating. Hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism.
Causes of hypothyroidism
There are several reasons why you might develop hypothyroidism. Here are some of the most common causes of hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism
Some medications like lithium, thalidomide and amiodarone can cause low thyroid hormones
Iodine deficiency. Iodine is necessary for proper function of your thyroid and if levels are low you’ll experience symptoms of hypothyroidism
Thyroid inflammation can reduce the function of your thyroid leading to lower hormone production.
Dieting and using low calorie diets like Keto or Fasting
Reproductive hormone imbalance. Progesterone and estrogen have opposite effects on thyroid hormone levels. When these hormones are imbalanced it can cause issues with your thyroid. We’ll look at this in more detail below.
The link to progesterone
As women enter perimenopause progesterone levels become imbalanced with respect to estrogen levels. Low progesterone can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, joint or muscle pain, poor sleep and difficulty losing weight (link to recent progesterone blog post).
Reproductive hormone levels also fluctuate during pregnancy and even during regular menstrual cycles which can cause thyroid hormone fluctuations.
Men also see reduced progesterone once they’re over 40. This can also be coupled with estrogen dominance, especially if they are overweight. These issues contribute to thyroid imbalances in men.
Progesterone also is the key to keeping your thyroid hormones in balance:
Stimulates the production of thyroid hormones. During menopause and perimenopause the drop in levels can contribute to hypothyroidism
It helps the conversion of T4 to T3 thyroid hormone. T3 has a much greater effect on metabolism than T4 so this conversion is important
High relative estrogen levels can make thyroid hormones less biologically available. Progesterone can help to counteract this effect.
Progesterone helps to reduce inflammation in the body. This means that it helps to reduce thyroid inflammation
Progesterone also helps to manage blood sugar and cortisol levels. Both of these have an effect on thyroid function.
What can you do?
If you’re experiencing symptoms like irregular menstrual cycles, brain fog, weight gain, depression, and fatigue you may need to address both low progesterone levels and hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism in women mimic the symptoms of perimenopause. Fortunately, many of the same steps are needed to address both hormones.
Get tested for low levels of these hormones. But ask for a test that measures free T3 and T4 as well as TSH. T3 and T4 can be present but bound and not biologically available.
Progesterone replacement can be useful in balancing thyroid hormone levels and reducing other symptoms of low progesterone, but ask for natural forms of progesterone, not synthetic progesterone which has many side effects.
Reduce stress in your life which can contribute to imbalances of progesterone levels and thyroid hormone levels
Maintain a healthy body weight. Estrogen is made by fat cells so this results in an imbalanced hormone situation becoming even worse.
Your diet should include foods like non starchy vegetables, legumes, lean sources of protein and healthy fats. Iodine is essential for thyroid function. Zinc, selenium and vitamin D also help with both thyroid hormones and progesterone.
But avoid inflammatory foods like those containing gluten, ultra processed foods and high fat foods
Include weight training in your exercise routine. The added muscle will help to increase your metabolism, which helps to counter the effect of hypothyroidism.
How I can help
I can provide you with a program that helps you to balance your hormones and get you back on track. Together we can review your current situation and devise a plan that helps to keep your progesterone and thyroid hormones at optimal levels.
Book a call to find out how I can help.
Warm wishes,
Vicki Witt | Clinical Nutritionist | Holistic Coach | Reiki Master | Certified LEAP allergy therapist Over 25 years of successfully helping you achieve optimal health and weight loss 🍏| www.vickiwittweightloss.com
About Vicki:
Vicki Witt is a Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Coach, and Reiki Master. She has been practicing over 25 years and specializes in holistically customizing diet and lifestyle plans to each individual for weight loss and hormonal control. Her clientele often report they feel the best they have ever felt and wish they had started sooner. One of the USA and Australia's top Nutritionists, she has won multiple awards for her services in the industry.
Certified and Registered Nutritionist
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