The Real Reason You’re Tired All the Time

Good morning!

How’s your week going? Between the scorching heat waves sweeping much of the country and the start of back-to-school prep (already?!), it’s been a full one for many of us. Maybe you’ve been trying to keep the house cool without blasting the AC nonstop, or juggling summer camps while still carving out time for a little calm. Wherever this finds you, in the chaos, the quiet, or somewhere in between. I hope you’ve had a chance to breathe, reset, and care for yourself in the ways that matter most.

In this week’s newsletter, we’re diving into a seriously misunderstood body part that quietly affects up to 12% of people and often goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. We're talking about the thyroid: what it is, how it works, what happens when it doesn't, and how you can support it in your everyday routine.

Let’s break it down.

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located just below your Adam’s apple, and though it’s easy to overlook it plays a huge role in how your body runs.

This gland is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for producing four main hormones that control how your body uses energy:

• Thyroxine (T4): Officially called Tetraiodothyronine (yeah, try saying that three times fast), this hormone contains four iodine atoms. On its own, T4 doesn’t do much, it acts more like a storage form. Its main job is to convert into T3, the active version.

• Triiodothyronine (T3): This is the hormone that actually gets to work. T3 binds to cells and turns on the genes involved in energy use, metabolism (yes, fat burning), muscle repair, digestion, and even your heart rate.

• Reverse T3 (RT3): A counterbalancing hormone that blocks the action of T3 when needed, keeping your system from going into overdrive.

• Calcitonin: Unlike the others, calcitonin helps regulate calcium by stimulating bone breakdown (a process called resorption), which releases calcium into your bloodstream.
  

What happens when it Glitches?

When your thyroid is under- or over-performing, your metabolism is the first thing to feel it. You might suddenly start gaining or losing weight, or feel like your internal thermostat is malfunctioning.

Thyroid issues disproportionately affect women, they’re 5 to 8 times more likely to experience problems than men. And while many people go undiagnosed for years, there are signs you can look out for.

Common symptoms of thyroid dysfunction:

• Rapid or slowed heart rate

• Unexplained weight loss or gain

• Sensitivity to heat or cold

• Mood changes (depression or anxiety)

• Irregular menstrual cycles

Not all thyroid issues look the same,  an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) puts your body in overdrive, causing a fast heart rate, excess heat, and anxiety. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows everything down, leaving you tired, foggy, and sluggish. If something feels off, it’s worth looking into.

The Role of Iodine

Let’s talk fuel. The thyroid absolutely depends on iodine to make its hormones. T3 and T4 don’t just have iodine in the name, they literally are iodine-based compounds. No iodine = no thyroid hormones = sluggish metabolism.

Even though the U.S. has been considered “iodine sufficient” since the 1920s (thanks to iodized salt), we’ve seen a surprising drop in iodine levels, especially in women of reproductive age.

Here’s what the numbers show:

• 40.3% of lactating women are iodine deficient

• 48.8% of women ages 15–49 have inadequate intake

  
  

Why the decline?

Less dairy consumption: Milk used to be one of the top sources of iodine, but our intake has been cut nearly in half since the 1970s. That’s a huge shift, considering dairy is also rich in other critical nutrients.

The salt swap: Iodized salt was introduced in rural areas in the early 20th century to fight goiter caused by iodine deficiency. But today, many people have switched to sea salt or Himalayan salt, which contain little to no iodine. That leaves a gap that most diets aren’t filling.

How to Keep a Healthy Thyroid

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. Start by making sure you’re getting enough iodine regularly. You can do this in two main ways:

Through food:
Include iodine-rich foods in your meals. Top sources include:

• Seaweed (especially kelp and nori)

• White fish like cod

• Shellfish

• Eggs

• Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese)

Try to work at least one of these into your daily routine. Even a simple yogurt snack or seaweed salad can go a long way.

Through iodized salt:
If you’ve swapped to sea salt or Himalayan salt, consider rotating in iodized salt for cooking. Even a few shakes a day can help cover your needs.

OmniBlue Original

If you feel that your lifestyle or diet make it hard to get enough critical minerals like iodine OmniBlue Ocean Minerals delivers a full spectrum multi mineral complex that includes 420mg of magnesium, over 70 trace and essential minerals and 20.15 mcg of Iodine or roughly 13% of your daily requirement. By taking just one serving a day you are giving your body a nutrient boost that will help you secure nutritional adequacy across all the essential minerals that your body needs to thrive.

And remember: It’s not just about iodine. A healthy thyroid also depends on key nutrients like selenium, zinc, iron, and tyrosine… all of which help with hormone production, conversion, and signaling.

Final Thoughts

The thyroid might be small, but its impact is massive. When it’s running smoothly, you feel balanced, energized, and in sync. But when it’s off, everything from weight to mood to menstrual cycles can shift.

Luckily, this is one area where a few simple dietary changes and a little label awareness can make a big difference. Knowledge is power… and so is iodine.

Until next week!

- Adrian Macdonald (Chief Dietitian) | The 8% Author