If you are bloated, constipated, running to the bathroom, exhausted, and being told your labs are “normal,” it might not just be your gut. The real problem could be low or poorly used T3, your active thyroid hormone. T3 is the signal that tells your gut lining cells to grow, repair, absorb nutrients, and keep inflammation in check. If T3 is low, or if your body is shuttling T4 into reverse T3 from stress, under eating, inflammation, poor sleep, or liver and gut issues, your gut literally cannot heal well, no matter how “clean” you eat. Supporting T3 is not just about medication. It is about feeding the conversion process with key nutrients, calming stress, stabilizing blood sugar, healing the gut, and supporting the liver, so your thyroid and gut can finally work together instead of against you.
You’ve cut out gluten.
You’re drinking the green juice.
You’ve tried the low FODMAP diet, the gut repair powders, the digestive enzymes, and the probiotics that Instagram swears will fix it all.
You’re doing “everything right.”
And still…
You’re bloated.
You’re tired.
Your digestion feels off.
You swing between constipation and urgency.
And you can’t shake the nagging feeling that your body just isn’t healing the way it should.
Maybe you’ve even had your thyroid checked. Your doctor ran some labs, shrugged, and told you everything looks “normal.”
But what if it’s not?
What if your gut symptoms aren’t just about food or bacteria or inflammation—
What if they’re rooted in a missing hormone your gut lining desperately needs to repair itself?
That hormone is T3—and it may be the most overlooked link between your thyroid and your gut.
T3 (triiodothyronine) is your active thyroid hormone. It’s what actually enters your cells and turns the dial up on energy production, metabolism, mood, and—yes—gut repair.
Here’s what most people don’t realize:
T3 isn’t just about weight or energy. It plays a massive behind-the-scenes role in the development, maintenance, and repair of the gut lining, specifically the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa.
These gut lining cells:
In short: They’re the frontline of your digestive and immune health.
And they take orders from T3.
When T3 is present, those cells grow, repair, and function.
When T3 is low?
The gut lining weakens. Nutrient absorption drops. Inflammation rises.
And your digestion suffers.
Every day, your body is repairing microscopic damage in your gut lining. It’s replacing old cells, patching weak spots, and building new ones. But none of that happens without a foreman—someone to oversee the process.
That foreman is T3.
T3 tells intestinal cells when to:
Without enough T3, it’s like the construction crew shows up… but no one’s in charge.
The materials don’t get used.
The job stalls.
The site gets messy.
And nothing gets fixed.
That’s why low T3 can lead to:
If you’ve been treating your gut with all the right protocols and still not getting better, your thyroid could be the missing piece.
Katie is 34. She works full-time, has two kids, and came to us exhausted, inflamed, and confused.
“I eat healthy, but I’m bloated all the time. My digestion is all over the place. And I’m so tired by 2 p.m. that I feel like I need a nap just to pick my kids up from school.”
Her doctor told her everything looked normal. TSH? In range. T4? Fine.
But when we ran a full panel, we found that her free T3 was barely above the bottom of the reference range. And that mattered.
Here’s why:
Without enough T3, her gut lining couldn’t repair.
Brush border enzymes weren’t being produced.
Her motility was sluggish.
She couldn’t fully absorb her food, no matter how “healthy” it was.
And she was stuck in a cycle of inflammation, fatigue, and feeling like her body was working against her.
Let’s be clear: T3 isn’t just made by your thyroid.
In fact, most of your T3 is created when your body converts T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) into T3—a process that happens mostly in the liver and gut.
And that process is… picky.
It depends on:
Which means if you’re stressed, undernourished, inflamed, or running on coffee and protein bars, you may be blocking your own T3 production.
T4 → T3 conversion is nutrient dependent.
Your body needs:
If you’re not eating enough of these, your conversion slows.
When your body is inflamed, underfed, or overstressed, it takes T4 and turns it into reverse T3—a “brake” hormone that blocks T3 activity.
What causes high reverse T3?
What helps?
Here’s the wild thing: gut and thyroid function are a two-way street.
Not only does T3 help repair the gut—but the gut helps convert thyroid hormones.
About 20% of your T3 is created by bacterial enzymes in the gut.
To support this:
Your liver does a big chunk of your T4 → T3 conversion, and it works hardest while you sleep.
To support your liver:
If you’re not sleeping, under-eating, or skipping protein, your liver can’t keep up.
It’s about how your body feels.
If you:
…it’s time to look deeper.
It’s time to ask: What’s my T3 doing?
Not just on paper—but in my cells. In my gut lining. In my energy, my inflammation, my mood, and my digestion.
T3 isn’t just something you have or don’t have.
It’s something we can support strategically.
You don’t need more restriction.
You don’t need another generic gut protocol or a random supplement you saw on social media.
You need someone who knows how to connect the dots.
That’s what we do.
We run the labs most providers don’t.
We look at the patterns your symptoms are showing us.
And we help rebuild your gut and thyroid health from the root.
Because when you give your body what it actually needs—
The healing finally happens.
If you’re stuck in the “my labs are normal but I feel terrible” cycle…
If your gut is inflamed, your energy is flat, and nothing seems to be working…
There’s likely more to uncover.
📲 Apply to work with our team.
We’ll help you understand what your symptoms are really telling you and build a personalized plan to support your thyroid, your gut, and your life.
Because you deserve to feel better than just “fine.”
If you have cut gluten, tried gut protocols, taken probiotics, and still feel bloated and exhausted, the missing piece may be your thyroid, especially T3. You can eat well and still struggle if your gut lining is not getting the thyroid signal it needs to repair and function.
T3 is the active thyroid hormone that tells your cells to create energy. It also plays a major role in repairing and maintaining the intestinal lining. T3 supports the growth and activity of gut lining cells that help you absorb nutrients, produce enzymes, defend against pathogens, and maintain a strong gut barrier.
When T3 is low or not working well in your cells, gut repair slows down. This can lead to increased intestinal permeability, poor nutrient absorption, sluggish or unpredictable motility, food sensitivities, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and ongoing inflammation. It is like having a construction site with no contractor in charge.
Yes. Many standard thyroid panels only check TSH and sometimes T4. You can have a TSH in range and still have low free T3 or high reverse T3. This means the thyroid looks fine on paper while your cells and gut lining are missing the active hormone they need.
Most T3 is created when your body converts T4 into T3 in the liver and gut. This process depends on nutrients such as selenium, zinc, iron, and magnesium. It also relies on stable blood sugar, healthy gut bacteria, enough calories, low inflammation, and quality sleep. Stress, under eating, gut infections, and an overworked liver can all lower T3.
Reverse T3 is a form of thyroid hormone that blocks T3 activity. When your body is stressed, inflamed, under fueled, or over trained, it may convert more T4 into reverse T3 instead of active T3. This slows metabolism and can worsen fatigue, digestive symptoms, and brain fog.
Focus on nutrient dense foods that supply the minerals needed for thyroid conversion. Examples include selenium from Brazil nuts, eggs, and sardines. Zinc from red meat and pumpkin seeds. Iron from beef, liver, and spinach. Magnesium from leafy greens, avocado, and dark chocolate. Eating enough protein and calories is also essential.
The relationship goes both ways. T3 helps repair the gut lining. The gut helps convert T4 into T3. About twenty percent of your T3 is produced with the help of gut bacteria. A healthy microbiome, good motility, and low inflammation all support better thyroid hormone activation and use.
Feed beneficial bacteria with fiber rich foods, cooked vegetables, chia or flax, and resistant starches. Reduce irritants such as excess sugar, alcohol, and ultra processed foods. Consider targeted probiotics when appropriate. Gut supportive nutrients such as zinc carnosine, L glutamine, collagen, or colostrum can help when used with professional guidance.
Your liver performs a large share of T4 to T3 conversion. It needs protein, B vitamins, minerals, and consistent sleep to work well. If you are under eating, not sleeping, skipping protein, or dealing with chronic stress, your liver may struggle to convert enough T3, which affects gut repair.
No. Labs help, but your symptoms matter just as much. Persistent bloating, constipation, urgency, fatigue, and brain fog, despite eating well, are signs that your gut and thyroid need deeper support. The goal is not a perfect report. The goal is a body that feels and functions better.
We look far beyond basic labs. Our team uses comprehensive thyroid panels, gut testing, micronutrient analysis, and your personal history to understand the full picture. Then we build a personalized plan that supports T3 production, gut repair, liver function, and nervous system regulation so your body can finally heal instead of coast.
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