Thyroid gland

Hello,
what health problem can occur when the parathyroid glands produce an excessive amount of calcium?
Thank you.

The parathyroid glands do not produce calcium, but rather parathyroid hormone, which increases the level of calcium in the blood. In such a situation, hyperparathyroidism occurs, leading to an excessive increase in blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), while the level of phosphates decreases (known as hypophosphatemia). Hyperparathyroidism primarily affects the bones (resulting in osteodystrophy) and kidneys (causing the formation of stones).

Good day,
when a child has a thyroid disorder, is it necessary to provide them with vitamin B2?
Thank you.

Thyroid dysfunction can affect metabolism and the absorption of nutrients, including vitamin B2. If a child is diagnosed with a deficiency of this vitamin, supplementation may be recommended, but the attending physician should make this decision based on the child’s specific condition.

Hello, Mr. Jelínek,

you mention that thyroid dysfunction can make it difficult for women to lose fat. How does this work? Does this also apply to women who have been treated and stabilized for a long time? Personally, I have been treated for my thyroid for 20 years and have always had the opposite problem of gaining anything. Could you outline how work is approached with such clients?

Thank you very much for your answer, have a wonderful day.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that fundamentally influence metabolic behavior. Simply put, in relation to body weight, they either accelerate metabolism, leading to the reduction of fat reserves, or conversely, slow down metabolic processes, resulting in the storage of energy in fat reserves. It depends on which dysfunction is diagnosed (hyperfunction vs. hypofunction). The thyroid gland responds to the quality of the diet, although, of course, it does not have a medicinal effect in the medical sense. In the case of hypofunction, it is possible to support the function of this organ in its activity (= production of certain hormonal substances) through dietary adjustments. This has a limited impact, but it is still worthwhile to attempt it. It involves:
- increasing the intake of iodine, selenium, and zinc,
- reducing the intake of sugars,
- slightly increasing the proportion of proteins,
- minimizing the intake of fats.
Bear in mind that with medication, the impact of diet will be even smaller, as the thyroid gland is managed by hormonal substitution.

Hello,

I am interested in your perspective on gluten and autoimmune diseases. I have often encountered claims that diseases such as thyroid disorders are linked to gluten intolerance.

Gluten can not only potentially be, but indeed often is, the cause of various diseases. However, it is not entirely correct to generalize such situations, as it creates the impression that gluten is the root of all evil, which then leads individuals to make less than ideal dietary choices. For a health problem related to gluten consumption to occur, a spectrum of certain conditions must be met (a set of genetic and epigenetic factors) that are not predictable in individuals. Most of the population is adapted to gluten sources, and this protein does not cause them any problems. The rest are simply "unlucky," and it is a matter of individuality which organ or system in the body will respond with an imbalance (for example, in thyroid function disorders, we know that Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs more frequently in celiacs).

In general, it holds that:
1. Gluten intake in a healthy individual should not cause any issues,
2. It is preferable to opt for fermented gluten sources (they are easier to digest and impose less of a burden on the immune system),
3. Health complications are not caused by gluten alone, but in combination with other dietary components – this too is individual, but is most commonly presented with long-term excess sugar, a predominance of ultra-processed foods in the diet, and the influence of certain food additives. Altogether, these factors are such a significant burden on the immune system that they lead to the onset of autoimmune reactions.

Hello,

I have had a borderline thyroid condition for a long time after two childbirths. However, my doctor has not prescribed any medication yet. Would it be harmful in this situation if I regularly consumed pickles made from cabbage or kohlrabi? I also often steam broccoli for a few minutes. Do these preparations, such as fermentation or steaming, reduce the goitrogen content in cruciferous vegetables?

In the case of seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes, if I always soak them, should I also be able to eliminate the negative impact of antinutritional factors? I was a bit surprised by your answer regarding veganism and thyroid issues, where you basically do not recommend solely plant-based diets. Yet, if I follow practices like soaking, fermenting, and sprouting, I thought I could significantly eliminate the negative substances in these foods.

Thank you for your response.

Thermal treatments including soaking and fermentation reduce the amount of antinutritional factors, but not significantly in the case of goitrogens. In fact, fermented cabbage contains these compounds in unnecessarily high quantities. A vegan diet contains the highest proportion of antinutritional factors of all dietary regimens, making it unsuitable for individuals with a genetic predisposition to thyroid function disorders. In practice, this means that in such cases it is necessary to adhere even more strictly to all available guidelines that improve the digestibility of plant foods and simultaneously reduce the proportion of antinutritional factors.

In general, it is advisable not to avoid these "implicated" foods directly, but rather to keep their intake under control (= occasional consumption in moderate amounts will not harm). This is conditional on efforts to ensure an adequate intake of substances that support thyroid function (iodine, zinc, selenium, antioxidants, sufficient protein, etc.).