Located in the front of the neck, covering the trachea, the thyroid produces two main hormones: T3 and T4, for which iodine is needed for synthesis. These hormones are the "master switches" of metabolism: they affect breathing, heart rate, brain activity, motor activity, sleep, even the digestive system and the functioning of other glands.
Hormone deficiency slows metabolism by up to 40%, causing lethargy and weight gain.
An excess speeds up the process by 60 to 100%, which also creates problems.
The most common disorder is hypothyroidism, often associated with Hashimoto's syndrome.
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