Glossary
AACE American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (aace.com).
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotropin, which is made by your pituitary glands to regulate the hormone production of your adrenal glands.
Addison’s disease A physical problem with your adrenal glands (such as a genetic defect) or an autoimmune disorder in which they’re being attacked by antibodies, that causes them to underperform. Also called adrenal insufficiency.
adenoma A small non-cancerous growth.
adenosine triphosphate See ATP.
adrenal glands Two small triangle-shaped lumps of tissue residing over your kidneys that produce cortisol, which (among other things) helps convert T4 into T3, and allows T3 to enter cell membranes and access mitochondria.
adrenaline A hormone produced by your adrenal glands in response to dangerous or unexpected situations. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, expands your blood vessels and air passages, and makes other subtle changes that help you react instantly by either battling or running (fight or flight).
adrenocorticotropic hormone See ACTH.
alpha-lipoic acid See lipoic acid.
antibodies Proteins used by your immune system to attack foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. When your immune system mistakes your thyroid as a threat, it may attack those cells with thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) and/or thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg), resulting in Hashimoto’s disease; or with thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin antibodies (TSI), resulting in Graves’ disease.
antithyroid medications Drugs such as Tapazole/methimazole and propylthiouracil (PTU) that manage hyperthyroidism by interfering with your thyroid’s ability to make its hormones.
Armour Thyroid Medication made from desiccated pig thyroid that contains all four thyroid hormones: T4, T3, T2, and T1. Manufactured by Forest Laboratories (ArmourThyroid.com and FRX.com).
ashwagandha Traditional Ayurvedic herb (Latin name withania somnifera) that can help heal and strengthen glands, including the thyroid and adrenal glands. Ashwagandha is Sanskrit for “smells like a horse,” but in its commercial form its odor is typically neither strong nor unpleasant, and it has virtually no side effects.
atenolol A beta blocker that’s effective at slowing a rapid heartbeat caused by hyperthyroidism.
ATP Adenosine triphosphate, the energy created from the conversion of glucose by the mitochondria in your cells.
autoimmune disease A condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks an area of your body. Over 80 percent of thyroid disease cases are caused by the autoimmune diseases Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism) and Graves’ (hyperthyroidism), both of which attack your thyroid with antibodies.
basal temperature test An old-fashioned test used to identify hypothyroidism via body temperature. It’s been made obsolete by modern lab tests, which are much more reliable and precise.
benzodiazepines Medications that are effective at managing anxiety caused by hyperthyroidism, including Valium, Xanax, Dalmane, and Tranxene.
beta blocker A medication that blocks the effects of adrenaline, making your heart beat more slowly and with less force. It also helps reduce your blood pressure and improve your blood’s circulation. The best beta blockers for hyperthyroidism include atenolol and propranolol.
betaine HCl Medication used to combat low stomach acid. The typical dosage is 2-4 pills at every meal that includes protein, but can vary for each person. You typically shouldn’t use an acid-raising medication such as betaine HCl if you have a history of ulcers, gastritis, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn. Consult your doctor for details.
biopsy See fine needle aspiration biopsy and coarse needle biopsy.
block-and-replace therapy A technique for managing hyperthyroidism in which your doctor blocks the disease with antithyroid medication while simultaneously replacing any lack of hormones with thyroid medication.
Brazil nut Your best source of selenium. Eat just one a day; more risks an eventual selenium overdose.
bromocriptine A medication used to slow the growth of, and often shrink, an adenoma on the pituitary gland.
burst training Also called high-intensity interval training, this workout method involves exerting yourself as hard as you can (by sprinting, swimming, etc.) for 30-60 seconds, resting for 1-3 minutes, and then exerting yourself all-out again. Burst training typically burns fat much more efficiently than conventional exercise such as walking or jogging. Burst training works best when combined with strength training.
cancer See thyroid cancer.
carnitine See L-carnitine.
cholecystokinin A hormone that stimulates the digestion of fat and suppresses hunger. One reason to eat a moderate amount of healthy fat every meal is to produce this hormone, which effectively tells your brain that you’re full and so makes you less likely to overeat.
coarse needle biopsy A procedure for a potentially cancerous nodule three quarters of an inch or larger; it employs a needle to extract tissue samples for examination in a lab. See also fine needle aspiration biopsy.
cold nodule See thyroid nodule.
compounded thyroid medication Thyroid medication prepared by a compounding pharmacy instead of a drug manufacturer (which has greater quality assurance and post-production analysis). It’s normally fine to use a compounding pharmacy, but thyroid hormones are so minute that the risk of a mistake being made outweighs any convenience gained by compounding.
comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) A very common test that identifies the levels of a variety of critical chemicals in your bloodstream, including calcium (which is useful if you suspect a problem with your parathyroid glands). Also called a chemistry panel, chemistry screen, and SMAC test.
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) A natural dietary supplement that can help combat insulin resistance by re-sensitizing insulin cell receptors. See also lipoic acid.
corticotropin See ACTH.
cortisol A critical hormone produced by your adrenal glands. Its many functions include regulating your blood’s glucose levels, controlling your blood pressure, healing inflammation, helping convert T4 into T3, and allowing T3 to enter cell membranes and access mitochondria.
cortisol challenge test A test in which you’re given a small dose of ACTH to see how much cortisol your adrenal glands produce in response, which provides precise information on your adrenals’ health. See also salivary cortisol testing.
Cushing’s syndrome A condition in which weight gain, weakened immunity, thinning skin and hair, and other problems are caused by too much cortisol. See also pheochromocytoma.
Cytomel Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T3, manufactured by King Pharmaceuticals (KingPharm.com). The generic version is liothyronine.
cytopathologist A doctor who’s an expert at analyzing cells extracted via a biopsy.
deiodinase type 1 The enzyme your body uses to strip off an iodine atom from a thyroid hormone molecule and convert it into a different hormone—most notably, turning T4 into T3. See also selenium.
desiccated thyroid Medication made from desiccated pig thyroid that contains all four thyroid hormones: T4, T3, T2, and T1. Also called glandular thyroid, natural desiccated thyroid, or NDT. Brand name versions of this medication include Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, and WesThroid.
desiccated thyroid powder The raw material used to make desiccated thyroid, manufactured by American Laboratories (AmericanLaboratories.com).
do-iodothyronine See T2.
dulse A seaweed that’s an excellent source of iodine.
endocrine system A group of glands that secrete hormones regulating how your body functions. The glands include the thyroid, parathyroids, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenals, pineal, pituitary, and hypothalamus.
endocrinologist A doctor who specializes in disorders of the glands of the endocrine system and their hormones.
ENT Ear, nose, and throat surgeon, which is typically the doctor needed for thyroid cancer.
eye disease See hyperthyroid eye disease.
fine needle aspiration biopsy A procedure that employs a very thin needle to extract tissue samples from any potentially cancerous nodules on your thyroid for examination in a lab. See also coarse needle biopsy.
fluoride A mineral primarily used for dental health that can interfere with your thyroid’s production of hormones. Fluoride can cause or worsen hypothyroidism, but is an inexpensive and relatively harmless remedy for hyperthyroidism (either by itself, or combined with medication such as Tapazole).
follicular thyroid cancer The second most common form of thyroid cancer, accounting for about 12 percent of cases. Its cure rate is 97 percent. See also thyroid cancer.
free T3 The amount of T3 in your bloodstream that’s available for powering up your cells (as opposed to the T3 that’s rendered inert by being bound by proteins). Measuring free T3 is one of the key ways to determine your thyroid’s status.
free T4 The amount of T4 in your bloodstream that’s available for conversion to T3 (as opposed to the T4 that’s rendered inert by being bound by proteins). Measuring free T4 is one of the key ways to determine your thyroid’s status.
ghrelin A hormone produced by cells in your stomach and pancreas that makes you hungry. When you skimp on sleep your body produces more ghrelin, making it likelier that you’ll overeat. See also leptin.
glandular thyroid See desiccated thyroid.
glucose A fundamental sugar your body creates from the food you eat. The mitochondria in your cells convert it into energy.
goiter A large non-cancerous growth on your thyroid, typically resulting from a lack of iodine or hyperthyroidism.
goitrogens Foods that inhibit your thyroid’s ability to make its hormones and so can combat hyperthyroidism. These include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale, which are all loaded with indole-3-carbinol; and soy products, which contain isoflavones.
Graves’ disease An autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakes your thyroid for a threat and attacks it with TSI antibodies. Over 80 percent of hyperthyroidism cases are caused by Graves’ disease.
Hashimoto’s disease An autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakes your thyroid for a threat and attacks it with antibodies. Roughly 75-85 percent of hypothyroidism cases are caused by Hashimoto’s disease.
Hashitoxicosis A manifestation of Hashimoto’s disease that swings you back and forth between hyperthyroidism (during antibody attacks that slaughter thyroid cells, spilling out their stored hormones) and hypothyroidism (between attacks, as the thyroid becomes increasingly less functional). These extreme states can average out, making your TSH appear normal.
high-intensity interval training See burst training.
hot nodule See thyroid nodule.
hyperthyroid eye disease Ocular problems from hyperthyroidism, and especially Graves’ disease, including “lid lag,” sensitivity to light, feeling painful dryness or grittiness in the eyes, double vision, and eyelids retracting while the eyes enlarge and protrude to create a “bug-eyed” look.
hyperthyroidism A disease that causes your thyroid to produce too much of its hormones, leading to dangerous overstimulation of your body’s cells. Common symptoms include a pounding heart, anxiety, panic attacks, tremors, and goiters.
hypothalamus The portion of your brain that (among other things) senses when your body needs more energy and sends a chemical signal to your pituitary gland to make more TSH.
hypothyroidism A disease in which you don’t have enough thyroid hormones to provide your body’s cells with the energy they need. Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, depression, slowed thinking, and hair loss. Experts estimate 1 in 10 Americans suffers from hypothyroidism.
indole-3-carbinol A natural compound found in cruciferous vegetables—such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale—that can interfere with your thyroid’s hormone production and so may be useful in combating hyperthyroidism.
insulin resistance A condition in which your cell receptors designed to respond to insulin become less sensitive, requiring your body to pump out significantly more insulin than normal. This can lead to decreased fat burning, increased inflammation, and diseases such as high blood pressure. You can potentially re-sensitive the cell receptors by taking conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and/or lipoic acid.
inulin A natural fiber extracted from plants such as Jerusalem artichoke, wild yam, and chicory. Once hard to find, inulin is now readily available in powder form via the commercial product Metamucil Clear & Natural. Inulin dissolves completely in water, and is very mildly sweet, so you can add it to smoothies, oatmeal, etc., and barely notice it’s there. See also PGX.
iodine The element your thyroid combines with tyrosine to make its hormones.
iodine uptake and thyroid scan Test that involves injecting you with or having you swallow a tiny amount of radioactive iodine, waiting 6-24 hours, and then scanning your neck to get a clear picture of what’s happening in your thyroid.
iodine-induced thyroiditis See thyroiditis.
isoflavones A natural compound found in soy products that can interfere with your thyroid’s hormone production and so may be useful in combating hyperthyroidism.
isthmus The middle section of your thyroid, connecting its left and right lobes.
IU/mL International unit for antibodies per milliliter of blood, used to measure TPO and Tg antibodies.
kava-kava A natural remedy that may help calm anxiety due to hyperthyroidism. See also theanine and benzodiazepines.
L-carnitine An amino acid that can help fight hyperthyroidism by interfering with T3’s ability to penetrate cell membranes and the thyroid’s responsiveness to TSH. L-carnitine is inexpensive, readily available, and has virtually no side effects.
lean body mass (LBM) The parts of your body that are fat-free, including your muscles and bones.
leptin A hormone that decreases appetite. When you skimp on sleep your body produces less leptin, making it likelier that you’ll overeat. See also ghrelin.
Levothroid Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T4, manufactured by Forest Laboratories (FRX.com). The generic version is levothyroxine.
levothyroxine Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T4. The most prescribed brand name version is Synthroid.
Levoxyl Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T4, manufactured by King Pharmaceuticals (KingPharm.com). The generic version is levothyroxine.
liothyronine Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T3. The brand name version is Cytomel.
lipoic acid A natural dietary supplement that can help combat insulin resistance by re-sensitizing insulin cell receptors. See also conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
lobes The left and right parts of your thyroid gland. If one lobe fails or is removed, the other can take over the job of making hormones.
low stomach acid A condition that can be caused by age, stress, and/or food sensitivity. It decreases your stomach’s ability to digest protein, making less protein available to build muscle. It also creates the possibility of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, which can lead to your body extracting more calories from the foods you eat and storing them as fat. A telltale sign of the latter is continual bloating. Your doctor can check for such overgrowth via a urine organic acid test for gut dysbiosis (meaning “out of balance”). See also betaine HCl.
magnesium A natural remedy for a rapid heartbeat due to hyperthyroidism.
mcg Short for microgram.
medullary thyroid cancer The third most common form of thyroid cancer, accounting for about 5 percent of cases. The recommended treatment is surgically removing the entire thyroid, possibly the lymph nodes, and anywhere else it appears to have invaded.
MEN1 syndrome Multiple endocrine neoplasia 1, a rare condition in which several different endocrine glands—the thyroid, parathyroids, pancreas, pituitary, and/or adrenals—start growing tumors at the same time. These tumors usually aren’t cancerous, but they lead to an overproduction of hormones. Also known as Werner’s syndrome.
MEN2 syndrome Multiple endocrine neoplasia 2, a rare condition in which several different endocrine glands start growing cancerous tumors at the same time. Also known as Sipple syndrome.
metabolism Your body’s energy level, which is set by your hypothalamus and enforced by your thyroid’s hormones.
methimazole Medication that very effectively combats even severe hyperthyroidism by interfering with the thyroid’s ability to make its hormones. The brand name version is Tapazole.
mg Short for milligram. Equivalent to 1,000 mcg.
mitochondria The “power plants” in each of your cells that take glucose and convert it into energy, or ATP.
mIU/L Milli-international units per liter of blood, used to measure TSH.
mono-iodothyronine See T1.
multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 See MEN1 syndrome.
multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 See MEN2 syndrome.
natural desiccated thyroid See desiccated thyroid.
Nature-Throid Medication made from desiccated pig thyroid that contains all four thyroid hormones: T4, T3, T2, and T1. Manufactured by RLC Labs (RLCLabs.com). This medication is identical to RLC’s WesThroid.
NDT See desiccated thyroid.
ng/dL Nanograms per deciliter of blood, used to measure free T4.
nodule See thyroid nodule.
nori A seaweed that’s an excellent source of iodine.
painful subacute thyroiditis See thyroiditis.
papillary thyroid cancer The most common form of thyroid cancer, accounting for about 80 percent of cases. It’s typically caused by exposure to radiation. Its cure rate is 97 percent. See also thyroid cancer.
parathyroid glands Small glands residing behind your thyroid that regulate the amount of calcium in your blood and bones.
pg/dL Picograms per deciliter of blood, used to measure free T3.
PGX PolyGlycopleX, a natural fiber extracted from plants. PGX absorbs a great deal of water and so is especially good at filling you up if you take it right before a meal. PGX is readily available commercially in both capsule and softgel forms. See also inulin.
pheochromocytoma A condition in which your adrenal glands’ cells spawn tumors that grow either on the glands or outside of them, and produce hormones independently, resulting in too much cortisol. See also Cushing’s syndrome.
pituitary disease Underactivity or overactivity of the pituitary glands, most commonly caused by one or more tumors. If a pituitary tumor is 14 millimeters or smaller, it can usually be shrunk with the medicine bromocriptine. Otherwise, surgery is required.
pituitary gland A pea-size organ just above your sinuses that, among other things, regulates the hormone production of your thyroid (via TSH) and adrenal glands (via ACTH).
Plummer’s disease The second most common cause of hyperthyroidism, resulting in one or more non-cancerous nodules that produce hormones independently—without waiting to be stimulated by TSH. Also called Plummer’s adenoma (when there’s just one nodule) or toxic multinodular goiter.
PolyGlycopleX See PGX.
postpartum thyroiditis See thyroiditis.
propranolol A beta blocker that’s effective at slowing a rapid heartbeat caused by hyperthyroidism.
PTU (propylthiouracil) Medication that combats hyperthyroidism by interfering with the thyroid’s ability to make its hormones. PTU has largely been replaced by the superior medication Tapazole, but is useful if you’re allergic to Tapazole, find Tapazole ineffective, or are pregnant.
radioiodine ablation A procedure designed to end hyperthyroidism via radioactive iodine that destroys a substantial percentage of the thyroid’s cells, making it too small to continue overproducing hormones. This procedure is also used to destroy remaining thyroid cells after the thyroid is removed (typically due to cancer).
red blood cell element test Measures your three-month average levels of essential chemicals boron, chromium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vanadium, and zinc; and detects the presence of the toxins arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and thallium.
resting metabolic rate (RMR) A measure of your base level of activity (your heart beating, your lungs breathing, your brain processing information, etc.) when you’re not doing anything strenuous.
reverse T3 A nonfunctional thyroid hormone your body creates by removing an iodine atom from obsolete or excess T4. The resulting reverse T3 can then be easily flushed from your system.
RMR See resting metabolic rate.
salivary cortisol testing A test in which you take a sample of your saliva periodically over 24 hours, which allows your doctor to track your cortisol levels throughout the day. See also cortisol challenge test.
selenium The chemical your body uses to make the enzyme deiodinase type 1 effective. You can ensure you have enough selenium by eating a single Brazil nut a day.
shoulder stand Yoga posture in which you lie flat on your back, letting your body rest on your shoulders and the back of your neck, and raise your legs together until they’re pointing straight up. This places substantial compression on your thyroid and can increase the blood supply to it.
silent thyroiditis See thyroiditis.
Sipple syndrome See MEN2 syndrome.
Stevia A natural sugar substitute you can use in place of unhealthy artificial sweeteners. See also Xylitol.
strength training A workout method that builds up your muscles, which in turn helps you burn fat by both raising your metabolism and heightening your body’s responsiveness to insulin. Strength training works best when combined with burst training.
struma ovarii A rare condition in which thyroid cells grow in the ovaries. If these cells produce hormones independently, they’ll make you hyperthyroid. They’re treated via surgical removal.
Synthroid Bestselling thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T4, manufactured by Abbott (Abbott.com). The generic version is levothyroxine.
T1 A thyroid hormone with one iodine atom. No useful function has been discovered for T1 so far, but that may change with further research. Also called mono-iodothyronine.
T2 A thyroid hormone with two iodine atoms that studies have found plays a role in metabolism and burning fat. Also called do-iodothyronine.
T3 A thyroid hormone with three iodine atoms that does the work of powering up the mitochondria in your cells. Also called tri-iodothyronine. Taking T3 medication can be especially effective in lifting depression.
T4 A thyroid hormone with four iodine atoms designed to circulate in your bloodstream, and be stored in your tissues, until it’s needed to be converted into T3. Also called thyroxine or tetra-iodothyronine.
Tanita Segmental scale A high-tech scale that identifies how much fat you have and where it’s located on your body.
Tapazole Medication that very effectively combats even severe hyperthyroidism by interfering with the thyroid’s ability to make its hormones. The generic version is methimazole.
tetra-iodothyronine See T4.
Tg Thyroglobulin antibodies, which attack your thyroid and cause the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s.
theanine A natural remedy which may help calm anxiety due to hyperthyroidism. See also kava-kava and benzodiazepines.
thyroglobulin The protein your thyroid binds with iodine to make its hormones.
thyroglobulin antibodies See Tg.
thyroid A butterfly-shaped gland that resides in your neck. It produces T4, T3, T2, and T1 hormones that regulate the energy level, growth, and reproduction of every cell in your body.
thyroid cancer A serious but seldom fatal disease that’s typically treated with surgery and radioactive iodine. The most common forms are papillary and follicular, which have a cure rate of 97 percent.
thyroid disease A medical condition of your thyroid, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or thyroid cancer.
thyroid eye disease See hyperthyroid eye disease.
thyroid nodule A small growth on your thyroid. If a scan indicates the nodule is “cold,” meaning it’s not absorbing iodine and or making hormones, there’s about a 10 percent chance it’s cancerous. Alternatively, if the nodule is “hot,” it’s producing hormones and may be making you hyperthyroid.
thyroid peroxidase antibodies See TPO.
thyroid scan See iodine uptake and thyroid scan.
thyroid stimulating hormone See TSH.
thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin See TSI.
thyroid storm A condition in which you’re so overloaded with thyroid hormones that you’re at risk of a heart attack. The quickest way to end this condition is to overload you with iodine, which “blows a fuse” and temporarily shuts down your thyroid.
thyroiditis A condition in which antibodies attack and inflame your thyroid. This usually stems from Hashitoxicosis, but can also result from (typically) temporary illnesses such as painful subacute thyroiditis (triggered by a respiratory infection), silent thyroiditis (which causes no pain), postpartum thyroiditis (which occurs after pregnancy), and iodine-induced thyroiditis (which is caused by iodine overdosing).
Thyrolar Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic mix of T4 and T3 in a 4:1 ratio. Manufactured by Forest Laboratories (FRX.com).
thyrotoxicosis factitia A condition in which hyperthyroidism occurs as a result of artificial rather than natural causes—such as an overdose of thyroid medication.
thyroxine See T4.
TOFI Thin outside, fat inside. To avoid becoming TOFI, focus on shedding fat rather than just weight.
total T3 The total amount of T3 in your body—that is, both free T3 and the T3 bound by proteins. This information seldom has practical value, as what matters is free T3.
total T4 The total amount of T4 in your body—that is, both free T4 and the T4 bound by proteins. This information seldom has practical value, as what matters is free T4.
toxic nodule A small non-cancerous growth that produces thyroid hormones independently. This is a result of Plummer’s disease.
TPO Thyroid peroxidase antibodies, which attack your thyroid and cause the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s.
tri-iodothyronine See T3.
TSH Thyroid stimulating hormone, made by your pituitary gland to instruct your thyroid gland to increase its T4, T3, T2, and T2 production. Measuring your TSH level (which is a 2-3 month average) is one of the key ways to determine your thyroid’s status.
TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma See pituitary disease.
TSI Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin, which are antibodies that attack your thyroid and cause the autoimmune disease Graves’.
tyrosine The amino acid your thyroid combines with iodine to make its hormones.
ultrasound Safe and inexpensive test that can create images of your thyroid by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off it.
Unithroid Thyroid medication that’s a synthetic version of T4, manufactured by Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals (Unithroid.com). The generic version is levothyroxine.
wakame A seaweed that’s an excellent source of iodine.
Werner’s syndrome See MEN1 syndrome.
WesThroid Medication made from desiccated pig thyroid that contains all four thyroid hormones: T4, T3, T2, and T1. Manufactured by RLC Labs (RLCLabs.com). This medication is identical to RLC’s Nature-Throid.
Xylitol A natural sugar substitute you can use in place of unhealthy artificial sweeteners. See also Stevia.