Increase Free T3 Without Medication

Summary

This video script discusses the importance of T3 levels for thyroid function and offers natural ways to improve them. It highlights the role of supplements like zinc and selenium, the significance of gut health, reducing reverse T3 levels, liver function, and iron levels. It also touches on the use of adaptogens for stress management and the controversial topic of iodine intake, advocating for a balanced approach to boost T3 levels naturally.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ T3 level is a crucial measure of thyroid function, indicating the amount of active thyroid hormone available in the body.
• 💊 Supplements like zinc and selenium can significantly improve T3 levels, especially for those deficient in these minerals.
• 🌿 Natural treatments are effective for enhancing T3 status, with zinc and selenium being particularly beneficial.
• 📉 Hypothyroid patients often lack zinc and selenium, which are essential for the enzymes that convert T4 into T3.
• 🔍 Research shows that supplementing with zinc and selenium can increase free T3 and decrease TSH in deficient individuals.
• 🚫 Excessive zinc or selenium supplementation beyond the optimal dose does not provide additional benefits and may cause side effects.
• 🌀 Gut health is vital for T3 conversion, with approximately 20% of the process occurring in the gut.
• 🍽️ Dietary changes can improve gut health and, consequently, T3 levels.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Intermediate-intensity exercise can help regulate T3 levels by affecting the conversion of T4 to T3.
• 🚫 High reverse T3 levels can impair the effectiveness of T3, and managing it is key to thyroid health.
• 🏥 Liver function is critical for T3 activation, with up to 60% of the conversion process happening in the liver.

Q & A

Why is T3 considered the most important measure of thyroid function?

T3 is considered the most important measure of thyroid function because it represents the amount of active thyroid hormone available for use in the body. The more T3 you have, the better you will feel.

What supplements can help improve T3 levels?

Supplements like zinc and selenium can help improve T3 levels. These minerals are essential co-actors for enzymes that help the body convert T4 into T3.

Why are zinc and selenium important for thyroid health?

Zinc and selenium are important because they help with the conversion of T4 into T3. Deficiencies in these minerals can lead to less efficient enzyme function and lower T3 levels.

What is the recommended dosage for zinc supplements?

The recommended dosage for zinc supplements is about 5 to 15 mg in any one serving. Higher doses will not be absorbed and can increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

What forms of selenium are beneficial for thyroid health?

Selenium as selenomethionine or selenium glycinate is beneficial for thyroid health. A dosage of around 50 to 150 micrograms per serving is recommended.

How can gut health impact T3 levels?

Approximately 20% of T4 to T3 conversion occurs in the gut. Poor gut health can compromise this conversion, leading to lower T3 levels.

What is reverse T3 and how does it affect thyroid function?

Reverse T3 is an anti-thyroid metabolite that competes for T3 binding sites. Higher levels of reverse T3 can reduce the effectiveness of T3 in the body.

How can exercise affect T3 levels?

Exercise intensity can influence T3 levels. Intermediate-intensity exercise, with a heart rate of about 50 to 70% of maximum, can improve T3 levels.

Why is liver function important for T3 status?

The liver plays a crucial role in activating and converting T3. Liver dysfunction can significantly impact thyroid health and T3 levels.

What role does iron play in thyroid function?

Iron is a co-actor for the enzyme thyroid peroxidase, which is necessary for the production of T4 and T3. Iron deficiency can compromise thyroid hormone production.

How can adaptogens help with thyroid function?

Adaptogens like Maca, Ashwagandha, or Rhodiola can help manage stress and normalize cortisol levels, which can improve T3 levels by supporting T4 to T3 conversion.

What is the recommended iodine intake for maintaining optimal T3 levels?

The recommended iodine intake for maintaining optimal T3 levels is between 150 to 300 micrograms per day.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Improving Thyroid Function with Zinc and Selenium

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of T3 levels for thyroid function and introduces natural treatments to enhance T3 status. Supplements like zinc and selenium are highlighted as effective for boosting T3 levels, especially in depleted soils and processed food environments. Research indicates that a significant percentage of hypothyroid patients are deficient in these minerals, which are crucial for converting T4 into T3. The script discusses the impact of deficiency on enzyme efficiency and provides examples of studies showing the benefits of zinc and selenium supplementation. It also advises on the appropriate forms and dosages of these supplements, suggesting that taking them together may be beneficial due to coexisting deficiencies.

05:01

🏋️‍♂️ Enhancing T3 Levels Through Diet and Exercise

The second paragraph discusses the role of gut health in T4 to T3 conversion, suggesting that intestinal issues can compromise T3 production. It advocates for dietary changes to improve gut and thyroid health, creating a positive cycle of mineral and nutrient absorption. The paragraph also addresses the concept of reverse T3, an anti-thyroid metabolite that competes with T3. It recommends monitoring reverse T3 levels through lab tests and suggests treatments like T3-only thyroid medications, intermediate-intensity exercise, and sufficient calorie intake to reduce reverse T3 levels.

10:03

💊 Natural Approaches to Optimize T3 Levels

This paragraph covers various natural approaches to optimize T3 levels. It starts with the importance of liver health in T3 activation, suggesting that liver dysfunction is common among thyroid patients and impacts thyroid health. It recommends liver function tests and a diet that reduces insulin resistance to improve liver health. The paragraph also discusses the significance of iron and ferritin for thyroid function, advising testing and supplementation if deficient. It introduces adaptogens to manage stress and cortisol levels, which can affect T3 conversion. Iodine intake is also addressed, suggesting a safe range of 150 to 300 micrograms per day to support T3 production without causing thyroid disorders. The paragraph concludes by advocating for natural methods over prescription medications to allow the body to produce its own T3.

Keywords

💡T3 level

T3 level refers to the concentration of triiodothyronine, an active thyroid hormone, in the body. The video emphasizes that T3 is a critical measure of thyroid function because it represents the hormone available for use, affecting how one feels. A higher T3 level correlates with better health and well-being. The script discusses various natural treatments to improve T3 levels, indicating its central role in the video's narrative.

💡TSH

TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone, is produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Although TSH is a standard measure for thyroid function, the video suggests that T3 level is even more important as it reflects the active hormone available in the body. The script contrasts TSH with T3 to highlight the direct impact of T3 on health.

💡Zinc and Selenium

Zinc and selenium are essential trace elements that act as co-factors for enzymes converting T4 to T3. The script points out that deficiencies in these minerals can impair enzyme efficiency, reducing T3 production. Supplementing with zinc and selenium is presented as a natural treatment to enhance T3 levels, underscoring the importance of these nutrients in thyroid health.

💡Gut health

Gut health is mentioned as integral to thyroid function because a significant portion of T4 to T3 conversion occurs in the gut. The video suggests that intestinal issues can compromise this conversion, emphasizing the interplay between gut and thyroid health. Improving gut health through diet is recommended as a strategy to boost T3 levels.

💡Reverse T3

Reverse T3 is an inactive form of thyroid hormone that competes with active T3 for binding sites. High levels of reverse T3 can inhibit the effects of T3 in the body. The script advises monitoring and reducing reverse T3 levels to enhance T3 function, indicating that balance between T3 and reverse T3 is crucial for thyroid health.

💡Liver function

The liver's role in converting T4 to T3 is highlighted, with the script noting that a significant portion of this conversion occurs in the liver. Liver dysfunction is common among thyroid patients, and the video suggests that liver function tests are essential for thyroid patients to optimize T3 levels. Proper liver function is portrayed as vital for maintaining healthy T3 levels.

💡Iron and Ferritin

Iron is a co-factor for the enzyme thyroid peroxidase, which is necessary for T4 and T3 production. Ferritin is a marker of iron storage in the body. The video discusses how deficiencies in iron and ferritin can impair thyroid hormone production, linking these elements to T3 status and suggesting supplementation for deficiencies as a means to improve T3 levels.

💡Adaptogens

Adaptogens are natural compounds that help the body manage stress. The script explains that stress can increase cortisol levels, which may inhibit T4 to T3 conversion. Adaptogens like Maca, Ashwagandha, and Rhodiola are recommended to normalize cortisol levels and support T3 function, illustrating the video's focus on holistic health approaches.

💡Iodine

Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones. The video addresses the controversy around iodine intake but concludes that a moderate intake (150-300 micrograms per day) is safe and necessary for optimal T3 production. Iodine deficiency can lead to goiter or hypothyroidism, making iodine a critical factor in thyroid health discussed in the script.

💡Calorie restriction

Calorie restriction is mentioned as a signal to the body to increase reverse T3, which can negatively impact T3 levels. The video advises eating enough calories to counteract this effect, showing that proper nutrition is key to maintaining thyroid hormone balance and, by extension, T3 levels.

Highlights

T3 level is a critical measure of thyroid function, representing the active thyroid hormone available for use in the body.

Natural treatments can improve T3 status.

Supplements like zinc and selenium can support thyroid function.

Zinc and selenium deficiencies are common among hypothyroid patients.

Zinc and selenium act as essential co-actors for enzymes that help convert T4 into T3.

Deficiencies in these minerals can lead to less efficient T3 production.

Studies show that supplementing with zinc can increase free T3 and decrease TSH in certain individuals.

Zinc supplementation is most beneficial for those who are deficient.

Proper dosage for zinc is 5 to 15 mg per serving.

Selenium should be taken as selenomethionine or selenium glycinate, with a dosage of 50 to 150 micrograms.

Higher selenium doses can increase the risk of toxicity.

Improving gut health is crucial for T3 conversion.

Approximately 20% of T4 to T3 conversion occurs in the gut.

Dietary changes can improve both thyroid and gut health.

Reducing reverse T3 can help improve T3 levels.

Reverse T3 competes with T3 for binding, reducing its effectiveness.

T3-only thyroid medications can effectively reduce reverse T3.

Intermediate-intensity exercise can improve T3 levels.

Eating enough calories can prevent an increase in reverse T3.

Liver health is vital for T3 activation and conversion.

Liver dysfunction is common among thyroid patients.

Liver function tests can indicate liver damage and potential impact on thyroid health.

Iron deficiency can impair T4 and T3 production.

Adaptogens can help manage stress and support T3 levels.

Iodine is essential for T3 production, and deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism.

A balanced iodine intake of 150 to 300 micrograms per day is recommended.

Natural methods are preferred for increasing T3 levels as they allow the body to produce more T3 naturally.

Transcripts

your T3 level is probably the single

most important measure of thyroid

function even more important than the

TSH why because it represents the amount

of active thyroid hormone that is

available for use in your body the more

of it you have the better you will feel

this then begs the question can you

personally do anything to improve your

T3 status the answer to this question is

absolutely and today we're going to be

talking about how to do just that with

the use of some natural treatments first

on that list is the use of supplement

like zinc and selenium there are a ton

of different supplements that you can

use to support your thyroid but few are

going to be better at improving T3 than

zinc and selenium in a world where the

soil is depleted of natural nutrients

and in a world where we often eat

processed foods which are devoid of

these essential minerals there is a very

high chance that you aren't getting

enough of either of them and available

research supports this idea according to

the data approximately 20 to 40% of

hypothyroid patients don't have enough

zinc and approximately 30 to 50% of

thyroid patients don't have enough

selenium this means that about four out

of 10 people listening to this right now

do not have enough of either of these

and that's a problem because both of

them act as essential co-actors for the

enzymes that help your body turn T4 into

T3 thyroid hormone if you are deficient

in either of them these enzymes will

still work but they will work less

efficiently in a practical sense what

this means is that your body will still

create some T3 but it will create less

than it needs to how big of an impact

are we talking here it depends on the

person but it can range from mild to

severe to illustrate this we can look at

some studies one in particular looked at

hypothyroid women who were also

overweight and found that if they also

had low zinc and they replaced it with

supplements they saw an increase in

their free T3 and a drop in their TSH

the only catch here is that in order to

obtain these prothy roid benefits you

must first be zinc deficient in other

words if you have enough zinc and you

take more zinc you're probably not going

to see this benefit to T3 but given that

there's such a high percentage of

thyroid patients who are zinc deficient

taking it will likely provide some

benefit if you determine that you are

somebody who should be taking either

zinc or selenium here's what you need to

know if you're using zinc make sure you

look for zinc as zinc chelate zinc

monomethionine zinc gluconate zinc

acetate or zinc citrate avoid all other

forms as they are inferior to those I

just mentioned as far as dosing is

concerned you only need about 5 to 15 mg

in any one serving higher doses will not

be absorbed and they only increase your

risk of GI related side effects if

you're going to take selenium look for

selenium as selenomethionine or as

selenium glycinate complex as far as

dosing is concerned you only need around

50 to 150 micrograms per serving some

people will advise that thyroid patients

take higher doses than this somewhere in

the range of 400 to 500 micrograms per

day but these higher doses increase your

risk of selenium toxicity and are not

needed and by the way if you're going to

take zinc or selenium you might as well

take them together since a deficiency in

both often coexists if you want to see a

supplement that contains both you can

check out the link in the description

the second thing you want to do is to

improve your gut health as a thyroid

patient you should care a lot about your

gut health for one important reason

approximately 20% of T4 to T3 conversion

occurs there this means if you have any

sort of intestinal problem your ability

to create T3 in the gut will be

compromised to some degree this

impairment may not be as significant as

if you are zinc or selenium deficient

but 20% is nothing to scoff at and given

that your thyroid has a direct impact on

your gut health through its impact on

peristalsis and the production of

stomach acid there's a very high chance

that you aren't creating as much T3 as

you could in your gut this also means

that improving your gut is one quick way

to improve your T3 status but how do you

do that there are many ways but my

preferred way is by changing your diet

if you follow my dietary recommendations

then you will not only improve your

thyroid in the process but you'll also

improve your gut health as well this

strategy works because as you improve

your thyroid you will naturally improve

your gut health which will naturally

improve how many minerals and nutrients

you absorb which increases your thyroid

which then increases your gut and this

cycle continues onward but there will

always be some people who need more than

just dietary changes in the form of

things like supplements probiotics

prebiotics and even antibiotics in some

cases no matter what though changing

your diet is always the first step and

does provide plenty of benefits to most

patients who do it the number three

thing that you want to do is look to

reduce your reverse T3 if this is the

first first time you're hearing about

reverse T3 let me fill you in on some

Basics reverse T3 is considered an

anti-thyroid metabolite that competes

for T3 binding the more reverse T3 you

have in your body the less effective T3

will be so if you want to banish your

low thyroid symptoms you want your free

T3 to be as high as possible and your

reverse T3 to be as low as possible it

just so happens that because of the way

the body works if you increase free T3

you will automatically decrease reverse

T3 but the reverse is also true if your

reverse T3 is high then you know your

free T3 level is impaired for most

people just keeping an eye on the

reverse T3 is sufficient and you can do

this by ordering a simple lab test

called reverse D3 as far as

interpretation goes you want that

reverse D3 to be less than 15 nanog per

deciliter anything higher than this

value sends a signal to you that your

body is probably preferentially creating

reverse T3 instead of the alternative

which is free T3 the good news is you

can push down that reverse T3 level with

a few simple treatments one of those is

the use of t 3 only thyroid medications

like cyam or liothyronine nothing is

more effective at reducing reverse T3

than these medications the only problem

is they can be difficult to obtain in

some instances but if you have access to

them and your reverse T3 is Skyhigh

taking them for even a short period of

time can drive that reverse T3 down

rather quickly the second thing you can

do is take advantage of intermediate

intensity exercise research shows that

you can improve your T3 level by

tweaking how intensely you exercise if

your intensity is too high it can

actually drive down T3 levels and if

your exercise intensity isn't high

enough it will just have no benefit for

optimal T3 function you want your heart

rate to be about 50 to 70% of its

maximum this is the ideal range for

improving your T3 status and it just so

happens to fall in that intermediate

Zone the third thing you can do to drive

your reverse T3 down is eat enough

calories calorie restriction is a

powerful signal that is sent to the body

to increase reverse T3 but you can

completely fight this problem by just

eating enough it sounds simple but many

thyroid patients don't eat enough

calories because they're trying to lose

weight but unfortunately this calorie

restriction only serves to hurt their

thyroid function in the long term your

next step number four is to check your

liver remember when I told you that

about 20% of your T3 is activated in

your gut well even more is activated and

converted in your liver and I mean a lot

more some estimates put it as high as

60% this makes your liver the most

important organ for optimizing T3 status

and unfortunately liver dysfunction is

very common among thyroid patients

Research indicates that about 20 to 50%

of thyroid patients have some degree of

liver dysfunction in the form of

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

compared to the average population which

is about 25 to 30% this is almost 20%

higher and this dysfunction in the liver

absolutely impacts thyroid Health what

makes this condition even more Sinister

is that many people who have it have no

idea that they do this means that if

you're listening to this right now

there's a very high chance that you have

some element of fatty liver disease and

you may not even realize it but you can

e easily test for this problem with some

simple liver function tests these tests

assess for liver enzymes which can be

found in the blood and if these are

present and in a high amount they

indicate some degree of liver damage as

a thyroid patient it's critical to keep

an eye on your liver function just like

you keep an eye on your thyroid function

so the next time you get your thyroid

tested make sure you are also testing

your liver the two tests that you want

to get are a and ALT for optimal T3

status you want both of these values to

be less than 20 if you find that they

are higher than this then the underlying

cause is most likely insulin resistance

and just like gut health if you follow

my dietary recommendations that will

automatically help reduce insulin

resistance which should naturally

improve your liver to give you an idea

of just how important optimizing your

liver is you should know that if you

were to fix your liver function you will

probably see the biggest benefit in your

T3 level compared to doing anything else

on this list number five is to check

your iron as well as your fertin iron

deficiency is a problem that you may not

connect to your T3 status but it's more

more important than you probably realize

inside of your thyroid the enzyme

thyroid peroxidase uses iron as a

co-actor to function if you don't have

enough iron then your ability to create

both T4 and T3 will be compromised while

it is true that iron deficiency may not

be as common as something like zinc

deficiency or selenium deficiency it's

still important because it's something

that is often missed by many doctors to

make matters worse you don't have to be

grossly deficient in iron in order to

see a negative impact on your thyroid so

it may very well be the case that you're

walking around with a low normal iron

which doesn't get flagged as low on your

lab tests but is sufficiently low to

negatively impact your T3 level you can

test for both of these by ordering a

serum iron level and a serum fertin your

serum iron tells you how much iron is

available in your bloodstream and your

fertin is used as a marker of iron

storage across the entire body a common

scenario that I see among thyroid

patients is one where their serum iron

is normal however their Serum fertin is

lower than it should be but just having

this low fertin or suboptimal fertin is

enough to reduce your T3 level for

optimal T3 levels you want your serum

fertin to be around 40 to 60 nanog per

milliliter if you find that either are

low you can often replace them by using

some simple iron over the counter

supplements but a word of warning do not

use iron unless you have a documented

deficiency taking more than you need can

make your thyroid worse so only use it

if you need it number six on the list is

to take an adaptogen these natural

Botanical based compounds help your body

adapt to and manage stress and as far as

your thyroid is concerned stress is a

killer of T3 The more stress that you

are under the more cortisol that will be

released from your adrenal glands and if

released in excessive amounts cortisol

can blunt T4 to T3 conversion thereby

leading to low T3 adrenal adaptogens

like Macar rude or ashwagandha or riola

can help fight this problem by

normalizing cortisol a little bit of

stress is actually healthy but you can

tell if your stress is starting to

negatively impact your T3 level by

looking for these symptoms fatigue even

after a good night's rest the sensation

of feeling feeling wired but tired

Reliance upon caffeine and sugar as a

source of energy and both high and low

energies at the wrong time of the day if

you have any of these symptoms then it's

probably time to consider taking an

adaptogen each adaptogen has a slightly

different benefit so you can match your

adaptogen to your symptoms for instance

Macaro will not only help with energy

and vitality but also sex drive and

libido ashwana on the other hand is

great for low energy but also for weight

loss and riola is good for energy but

also for mood and cognition number seven

is to take iodine the topic of iodine is

always controversial but it doesn't have

to be here's what we know about iodine

and T3 because iodine forms an essential

component of the T3 thyroid hormone

iodine deficiency impairs its production

in terms of magnitude this one is huge

you can kind of get by with a suboptimal

level of zinc and selenium but the same

is not true for biodine if you don't

have enough iodine you will feel it and

you will experience major symptoms

whether it's a physical change to the

size of your thyroid gland which it can

actually enlarge causing a goiter or a

gross decline in thyroid hormone

production leading to hypothyroidism

iodine deficiency is not going unnoticed

so the real question is less about

whether or not iodine is important for

your T3 status and more about whether or

not you should be taking more of it and

unfortunately the data is about as clear

as mud so instead of diving into the

controversies of iodine intake here's

what I can tell you research has shown

that iodine intake in the range of 150

microgram to 300 micrograms is quite

safe and taking iodine within this range

will ensure that your thyroid has what

it needs to create enough T3 and if

you're taking it within this tight range

you will reduce your risk of iodine

induced problems like Hashimoto's or

Graves disease it is true though that

some people do feel better when taking

higher doses of iodine but I would

caution against this approach as the

pros do not always outweigh the cons

likewise it is also true that some

people do see a benefit to their T3

level by completely avoiding iodine but

this only works if you were previously

taking more than you needed and this is

a big assumption so don't do this unless

you know for sure that's the case as far

as pretty much everyone else is

concerned you will not see a problem if

you take your iodine in the range of 150

to 300 microG per day and in my opinion

the best way to do this is with an

iodine supplement because Foods vary

quite dramatically in their iodine

content some people get upset because I

spend a lot of time talking about the

natural ways to improve T3 levels but

you should know that you can increase

your T3 level by simply taking a

prescription medication but there's a

reason why I focus more on the natural

options the natural way is always

preferred because it allows your body to

create more of the T3 that it needs on

its own as opposed to taking a T3

medication

which will temporarily shut down your

body's capacity for producing its own T3

it's not that taking T3 thyroid

medications themselves can be dangerous

or harmful but like any medication they

do carry some risks so why wouldn't you

at least entertain the natural option

before jumping into the prescription

option that's my own personal philosophy

but you can do whatever you think is

best by the way if you're somebody who

likes the idea of taking control of your

thyroid the natural way then I'd

recommend checking out this video next