Helping you reach the top 1% of male performance. Testosterone, Dopamine, Biohacking, Performance
The Least Appreciated Aspect of Testosterone Optimization
Sophrosyne newsletterThe Least Appreciated Aspect of Testosterone Optimization? |
The Butterfly-Shaped Gland: Your ThyroidToday, I'm going to explain the necessity for optimizing your Thyroid health as a man. I aim to cover;
Oftentimes, men who seek remedies in a clinical Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) setting, simply require tweaks to optimize their Thyroid function. In other words, low Testosterone symptoms can be solved in many cases by optimizing the gentlemen's Thyroid health. This gets them back to sufficient natural Testosterone levels, without medical intervention. This stuff is low-hanging fruit guys. Let's get into it. A Quick OverviewSo what is the Thyroid? The Thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck. Its main role is regulating energy expenditure and metabolism. However, the Thyroid has many other functions and features; including sexual function, bone density, and heart health. If you've been following my content for a while now, you'll know that Testosterone is primarily synthesized through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonad (HPG) Axis.
The Hypothalamus also releases Thyroid Releasing Hormones (TRH).
Testosterone Synthesis?The T3 Thyroid hormone - Triiodothyronine - is the bioavailable one. It's heavily involved in the synthesis of Testosterone. Here's a synopsis of its involvement;
SHBG binds to our bioavailable, Free Testosterone, which is technically the most important because it carries out the gene transcription once it docks to our Androgen Receptors. This interaction is what allows you to experience the marvels of Testosterone.
Prolactin and Testosterone tend to work inversely. As Prolactin spikes, Testosterone dips.
The T3 Thyroid hormone also boosts important enzymes - such as Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) - in the Testosterone cascade. StAR boosts the conversion of Cholesterol to Pregnenolone. These are two precursors of Testosterone.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) signals to our testes to make Testosterone. The T3 Thyroid Hormone increases the body's response to LH, by increasing the number of LH receptors. As you can see, Thyroid health is crucial for optimal Testosterone production. But what happens if we neglect the Thyroid? Hyperthyroidism VS HypothyroidismThere are two undesirable Thyroid situations; hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the Thyroid is working in overdrive. It can be caused by Grave's disease, other autoimmunity issues, and internal Thyroid inflammation. Hyperthyroidism impacts Testosterone through;
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism include;
On the flip side, Hypothyroidism is an underactive Thyroid gland. It can be caused by Iodine deficiencies or autoimmune conditions. Hypothyroidism impacts Testosterone through;
Symptoms include;
How Do You Know If Your Thyroid Is Functioning Properly?If you find yourself experiencing any of the above consequences/symptoms, it may be worth doing a blood panel to test your Thyroid Hormones. It's a very simple process. You can either;
Both are easy and worth doing. However, optimizing your lifestyle so that the below tactics are adopted will ensure some level of Thyroid health. The Fundamentals of Thyroid Optimization
Chronic stress is a silent killer. It drives our biologically programmed alarm system - Cortisol - to undesirable levels. Excessive Cortisol production can put strain on our Pituitary gland, which distorts Thyroid hormone production - remember that Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) are released from our Pituitary gland. Chronic stress can essentially shift the Thyroid into an inactive state. Some Cortisol modulation basics are;
I wrote an entire newsletter on managing chronic stress. You can read it here if you like. 2. Prioritize L-Tyrosine, Selenium & Choline There is a growing cohort of people online promoting micros > macros. It's a justified position to take, given the current state of food and nutrition. It's no secret that food is less nutrient dense nowadays, due to modern farming practices, environmental toxins, and herbicides. This is why prioritizing micronutrient intake in this modern ecosystem is so vital. There are three essential micronutrients for Thyroid hormone production;
L-Tyrosine is a naturally occurring Amino Acid, involved in the synthesis of Dopamine. It's also involved in the production of T3 & T4 Thyroid hormones. The best sources of L-Tyrosine include;
2. Selenium Selenium is an important mineral that allows L-Tyrosine and Iodine (below) to interact, and thus produce Thyroid hormones. The best sources include;
3. Iodine Iodine is a trace element required for the production of T3 & T4 Thyroid Hormones. The best sources include;
My dietary strategy for getting all three of these micronutrients is a small serving of beef liver with some iodized salt on top. The liver is L-Tyrosine and Selenium rich, and the Iodized salt is Iodine rich. 3. Cold Water The dreaded cold shower. Yes, cold water is brutal - especially if you're lean - but it is fantastic for the burning of brown fat, and the stimulation of Thyroid Hormones. Every morning I take a cold shower, but there's initial resistance. I often bark, shout, and shadowbox in the mirror to get myself gee'd up for it. Legit me before I get in: Cold water is tricky, but it has a massive antidepressant effect on me - I feel a million bucks after I get out. I recommend you do the same if you don't already. 4. High-Octane Light When I say high-octane light, I'm referring to natural sunlight or certain artificial Infrared wavelengths. Sunlight should be the priority, but Infrared panels are fantastic too. These are the panels I'm referring to: The majority of Thyroid issues stem from some distorted immune response - think Grave's Disease & Hashimoto's Disease. Sunlight, and specifically Vitamin D, assist with the regulation and function of your immune system which further assists with Thyroid health. Aim to get natural sunlight through your eyes and on the skin in the early AM, noon and evening. 5. Gut Health This ties into the previous section. A distorted immune response can be amplified or caused by a leaky gut. Addressing your gut health holistically is the best path forward;
6. Metabolic Activity The human organism is mostly sedentary nowadays, which is in direct opposition to our nature. You need to be prioritizing some form of movement daily. It can be as strenuous as a leg day in the gym, or as laid-back as a post-meal walk. Just move more. SynopsisIf you're still reading at this point, I thank you dearly - we've covered a lot. This newsletter was written to help you understand the Thyroid gland and its necessity for men's health. We went through a quick overview of the Thyroid, and its main role - energy expenditure. We also covered the Thyroid's role in the production of Testosterone, and how to measure your Thyroid hormones. The T3 Thyroid hormone;
Finally, I listed six Thyroid health basics;
I hope I have demonstrated the necessity for Thyroid health as a man. It truly is the least appreciated aspect of Testosterone optimization. I wish you well on your journey brother! Until next time. PS, my Twitter DMs are always open if you have any questions. Jack, from Sophrosyne |
113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 |
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Helping you reach the top 1% of male performance. Testosterone, Dopamine, Biohacking, Performance
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