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Weight Loss Sabotage By: Kristy Haugen

The thyroid is a gland located on the anterior (front) portion of the neck attached to
the upper part of the trachea (windpipe). The thyroid is a bi-lobed gland. This gland
Forgot Password? New is small in size, about 4 centimeters long and 1-2 centimeters wide.
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The thyroid produces and secretes biologically important hormones. Tissue in the
thyroid is made up of two different kinds of cells: follicular and parafollicular cells.
The thyroid is composed mostly of follicular cells which secrete T3 and T4
hormones. The T4 hormone (thyroxine) and T3 hormone (triiodothyronine) is derived
Home Based Business from the amino acid tyrosine during iodination of the amino acid. Parafollicular cells
Health & Fitness secrete the hormone calcitonin. Iodine is important in the function of the thyroid
Arts & Entertainment gland. Iodine is a chief component of the hormones produced by the thyroid gland.
Loans Iodine deficiency can cause thyroid dysfunction, hence the need for iodized salt. The
Small Business thyroid also produces and secretes the hormone calcitonin. The hormone calcitonin
Alternative Medicine decreases plasma calcium ions concentration by inhibiting the release of calcium ions
Business from the bone. Calcitonin secretion is regulated by plasma calcium ion levels.
Vehicles
Religion The thyroid plays a key role in regulating the body's metabolism. What is
Internet Marketing metabolism? Metabolism is a chemical reaction that occurs in the body's cells,
Weight Loss releasing energy from the nutrients ingested. Metabolism also uses energy to create
Pets other biologically important substances such as proteins. Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
Beauty is a measurement of the body's required energy to keep functioning at rest (measured
Marketing in calories). Exertion, stress, fear, and illness increase the body's metabolic rate.
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The thyroid has many other bodily functions. The thyroid helps regulate calcium
View all Categories levels in the body. The thyroid can increase the body's temperature, thus burning
more calories. This in turn increases the body's appetite. The thyroid also promotes
glucose catabolism. Catabolism is the break down of complex glucose forms into
simpler, more usable forms for energy usage. This gland stimulates protein synthesis,
Submit increases lipolysis. Lipolysis is the hydrolysis of lipids (fats), in which the lipids are
broken down into simpler or usable forms. The thyroid also promotes normal heart
function, normal neural development in fetus and growing infants, and normal neural
function in adults.

The thyroid is influenced by hormones produced by the pituitary gland and the
hypothalamus. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. This gland
produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to
absorb iodine and then synthesize and release thyroid hormones.

The hypothalamus is located above the pituitary gland in the brain. This hormone
produces thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). The hypothalamus and pituitary
gland detect low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. TRH is released by the
hypothalamus to stimulate the pituitary gland to release TSH. TSH in turn stimulates
the thyroid gland to produce more T3 and T4 hormones. This returns the thyroid
hormone levels in the blood back to normal.

Inflammation of the thyroid or a deficiency in iodine causes the condition called

hypothyroidism. The thyroid hormones become under secreted or are not secreted at
 all with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism symptoms include fatigue, slowed heart
and respiratory rate, cold intolerance, and weight gain. Newborn infants with
hypothyroidism (cretinism) are characterized by mental retardation and short stature.

The thyroid can also be over stimulated in a condition termed hyperthyroidism. This
results in over secretion of the thyroid hormones. Symptoms associated with this
disorder include an increased metabolic rate, profuse sweating, heart palpitations,
weight loss, protruding eyes, and a feeling of excessive warmth. With both
conditions the thyroid often enlarges resulting in goiter. However, goiter does not
always indicate disease. Thyroid enlargement can result during pregnancy and
puberty.

If you exhibit some of the above symptoms, you should consult your physician for
further follow up. Many women due have serious concerns regarding their thyroid
gland. If you have tried to lose weight with no success, maybe it is due to the
thyroid.
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Kristy Haugen is a mother working to finish her second bachelor degree in Chemical
Engineering. She is also a Licensed Practical Nurse with a current bachelor degree in
Biology and Chemistry. She writes to inform consumers about nutrition and health
topics. Learn more about your health and buy liquid vitamins online at
http://liquidvitamins.vitaminmaniac.com
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