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The thyroid is the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that makes the thyroid hormones T4 and T3, the thermostat of metabolism: they set the rate at which each cell burns energy and influence weight, temperature, the heart, mood, energy, skin, and hair.
How it works. The pituitary releases TSH, which orders the production of T4 (reserve); in tissues, T4 is converted to T3 (active). It needs two key nutrients: iodine (the central atom of the hormone) and selenium (for the T4→T3 conversion and to protect the gland).
When it is dysregulated: too little → hypothyroidism (everything slows down); too much → hyperthyroidism (everything speeds up). The most common autoimmune cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Information, not medical advice.