Why Your Thyroid Might Not Be Working Right

Angelica Clark
Sep 6, 2025
3 min read

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck—but don’t let its size fool you. It plays a massive role in regulating your metabolism, energy, weight, mood, and even digestion. When the thyroid isn’t working properly, it can leave you feeling exhausted, foggy, and frustrated.

Many people are told their thyroid is “normal” based on basic labs, yet they still struggle with classic thyroid symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, weight changes, constipation, or anxiety. The truth is, there are many reasons why your thyroid may not be functioning as it should.

Let’s look at some of the most common root causes.

1. Nutrient Deficiencies

Your thyroid needs specific nutrients to make and convert thyroid hormones. If you’re missing even one of these building blocks, your thyroid can slow down.

• Iodine – necessary to produce thyroid hormones.

• Selenium & Zinc – help convert inactive T4 into active T3.

• Iron & B Vitamins – support energy production and hormone balance.

• Vitamin A – crucial for healthy thyroid receptor sensitivity and hormone signaling.

• Vitamin B Complex (B2, B6, B12, Folate) – needed for energy metabolism, methylation, and T4-to-T3 conversion.

• Vitamin E – protects the thyroid from oxidative stress and supports healthy immune balance.

Low stomach acid, poor gut health, or restrictive diets can all contribute to these deficiencies.

2. Chronic Stress & Cortisol Imbalance

Your thyroid and adrenals work closely together. When you’re under constant stress, your body may “dial down” thyroid function to conserve energy. High cortisol can block the conversion of T4 to T3, leaving you with symptoms of hypothyroidism—even if your TSH looks normal.

3. Gut Imbalances

Over 20% of thyroid hormone conversion happens in your gut. If you have dysbiosis, leaky gut, or infections (like candida, parasites, or H. pylori), your thyroid may struggle. Gut inflammation also raises the risk of autoimmune thyroid disease (like Hashimoto’s).

4. Autoimmunity

Hashimoto’s (autoimmune hypothyroidism) is one of the most common causes of low thyroid in the U.S. Your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid, leading to gradual damage. This is often triggered by:

• Gluten sensitivity

• Toxin exposure (mold, heavy metals, plastics)

• Chronic infections

• Gut permeability (“leaky gut”)

Many people with Hashimoto’s never get properly tested, since standard labs don’t always include thyroid antibodies.

5. Toxin Overload

Fluoride, chlorine, mercury, BPA, pesticides, and mold toxins can all interfere with thyroid hormone production and receptor sensitivity. Your thyroid is especially sensitive to environmental toxins because it absorbs iodine-like compounds easily.

6. Poor Conversion of Thyroid Hormone

Even if your thyroid is producing enough T4, your body may not be converting it into the active hormone T3. This can leave you with low-thyroid symptoms despite “normal” labs. Causes include stress, nutrient deficiencies, liver congestion, and gut imbalances.

7. Undiagnosed Blood Sugar & Insulin Issues

Blood sugar swings put stress on the adrenals, which in turn slows thyroid function. Insulin resistance also drives inflammation and can worsen autoimmune thyroid problems.

How Clark Wellness Can Help

At Clark Wellness, we take a root-cause approach to thyroid health. Instead of only looking at TSH, we run comprehensive labs that include Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. We also investigate gut health, nutrient status, stress hormones, and toxin exposures—because your thyroid never struggles in isolation.

When you partner with us, you’ll receive:

✅ A personalized wellness plan

✅ Access to discounted supplements through Fullscript

✅ Nutrition and lifestyle coaching

✅ Functional testing to uncover hidden root causes

We believe your body is designed to heal when given the right support.

Stay Connected

🌿 Ready to take charge of your thyroid health? Book your Functional Medicine New Patient Visit with Clark Wellness today.

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