Hello! I've been a registered dietitian for 24 years and I wrote this blog so I could share my nutrition knowledge about thyroid health while also considering how the interplay of human design energetics might impact thyroid function. The insights shared here are speculative and intended to inspire curiosity and self-reflection. This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice.
Thyroid Physiology and the Human Design Gates
To start, each Center in the human design chart is connected to a physiological part of the body, and the Throat Center is associated with both the Parathyroid gland and Thyroid gland. In addition, every gate in the Throat Center is also associated with a physiological part of the body. So, every throat gate influences thyroid function and some gates have an especially strong influence on the thyroid.
Here are the 11 throat gates with their associated physiology.
Gate 8: Thyroid (Adam's Apple)
Gate 31: Throat/Thyroid
Gate 20: Brainstem
Gate 16: Parathyroid gland
Gate 62: Throat/Thyroid
Gate 23: Throat
Gate 56: Thyroid/Parathyroid
Gate 35: Thyroid/Parathyroid
Gate 12: Thyroid
Gate 45: Thyroid
Gate 33: Throat/Thyroid
Thyroid Function Explained
The thyroid is an essential hub in the body. It's like a call center where the operator sits and connects things. If things are not connecting properly with the thyroid, much in the body becomes dysregulated and out of balance.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It produces two thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate metabolism and play a crucial role in growth and development.
Thyroid Function and Sacral Center Life Force Energy
Life begins with the fuel from the Sacral Center (life-force energy), and what regulates that fuel is your metabolism, which is regulated by the thyroid gland. Having a defined Sacral center suggests a consistent source of life force energy, but if you push yourself beyond your limits (ignoring your body's signals), it could lead to burnout. This is also the case for the undefined Sacral Center. Not knowing when enough is enough will eventually lead to overexerting yourself and burnout.
Yes, the thyroid helps create energy but it can also put on the breaks and slow everything down when it's not healthy.
Chronic Thyroid-Related Issues
The most common chronic thyroid-related issues are:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis - an autoimmune condition causing an underactive thyroid
Grave's disease - an autoimmune condition causing an overactive thyroid
Hypothyroidism (slow thyroid)
Hyperthyroidism (fast thyroid)
Thyroid cancer
Goiters - an enlarged thyroid gland
Indicators of Slow Thyroid Function
Thyroid issues can have a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Here are key symptoms of thyroid dysfunction:
Fatigue and Weight Gain: Persistent tiredness and unexplained weight gain due to a slowed metabolism. Wake up and can’t wait to go back to bed.
Cold Sensitivity and Dry Skin: Increased sensitivity to cold, especially cold feet, and flaky, dry skin from reduced oil production.
Hair Loss and Brittle Nails: Thinning hair (including the outer third of the eyebrows) and weak, brittle nails.
Brain Fog and Mood Changes: Difficulty concentrating, memory issues, depression, and anxiety caused by hormonal imbalances.
Constipation: when the thyroid slows down, metabolism slows down, and everything else in the body slows down, including transit time through the GI tract.
Thyroid and Adrenal Health
There's an old saying in natural medicine: “You can’t fix the thyroid if you don’t fix the adrenals.”
Everything in the body (and body graph) is connected! If you have thyroid issues or want to support thyroid function, you must also assess your adrenal function, which is linked to the Root Center. More specifically, if you have gates 38, 39, and 41, adrenal support should be a huge priority. Here's information about nutrition and self-care to recover from stress, support the adrenals, and avoid adrenal fatigue in the Human Design Root Center. In addition, here are 7 nutrients for the Adrenal Glands.
Thyroid and Emotional Stress
The thyroid gland is very reactive to emotional stress, often more sensitive to emotional ups and downs than the adrenal glands. To support thyroid health, it's important to consider the Solar Plexus Center and how emotions may be impacting your thyroid function. Here are a few reasons how the solar plexus center and thyroid health are connected:
Chronic emotional stress can dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, which governs thyroid function. High cortisol levels can interfere with thyroid hormone production and conversion, reducing the amount of active T3 available for cellular function. T3 is the most important thyroid hormone so you don't want a drop in that.
Thyroid imbalances often manifest emotionally because the hormones T3 and T4 are essential for brain health and mood regulation.
Also, thyroid hormones support the regulation of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, GABA, and norepinephrine. These help your brain stay emotionally resilient. Imbalances in these hormones can lead to emotional dysregulation.
If you have Emotional Authority, taking time to process important decisions is essential. It's also critical to allow your emotions to flow to the depths they need to go without fighting it. Chronic illness could arise if you rush decisions or don't allow your emotions to go to the depths they need to, creating stress in the body.
If you have an undefined solar plexus, learning how to regulate your nervous system and being able to recognize which emotions belong to you and which emotions belong to the other person is essential.
Embracing a diet rich in nutrients that support the solar plexus is helpful. Here are 7 nutrition tips for supporting your nervous system, stress, and for calming emotions.
Resiliency Keys Associated with the Throat Center
I am in the process of taking an intensive human design training called the Quantum Alignment System with Karen Curry Parker. This training teaches an integrated, systematic approach for uncovering and releasing the causes of pain and conditioning that take people off course. The goal and intention of looking at emotions is to bring you closer to living out the highest expression of your authentic self.
The three resiliency keys related to the Throat Center are:
Authenticity - Authenticity in the throat means you are fully self-expressed in healthy ways, creating a life you love.
Vitality - Vitality in the throat means you manage your throat energy well. You have balanced energy and productivity, with plenty of reserves. How you tend to this depends on whether your throat center is defined or undefined.
Self-Trust - Self-Trust in the throat means you know how you "know." You are comfortable relying on your inner knowing. You feel capable, dependable, and trustworthy.
To assess these three resiliency "keys," I would have you rank how you feel about yourself for each key on a scale of 0 - 10. After an in-depth discussion about your experience around the resiliencykey, I would start the clearing process, which uses EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to release the emotions and beliefs that prevent you from expressing that resiliency key more fully. It's astonishing how effective something as simple as EFT is for processing and healing stuck conditioning.
How the Undefined Throat Center Influences Thyroid Health
The Throat is the center of manifestation and communication in Human Design, but if its expression isn't guided by your strategy and authority, it become misaligned.
If you have an undefined Throat Center, this is where energetic amplification takes place and it's prone to conditioning and functioning in the not-self.
Here are some common traps or conditioned patterns someone with an undefined Throat may fall into:
Speaking to please others instead of with integrity.
Speaking to get attention so you can be heard.
Attempting to dominate conversations.
Forcing conversations or timing speech inappropriately.
Fearing you won't know what to say so you try to rehearse conversations rather than allowing for spontaneity.
Trying to initiate throat energy to start conversations, leading to exhaustion and throat/thyroid issues or other health problems.
This conditioning may cause thyroid struggles, but the good news is I believe with deconditioning and returning to alignment in this center, you are able to heal this area of your chart and reduce your risk of future thyroid issues.
How the Defined Throat Center Influences Thyroid Health
Those with a defined Throat are the individuals who really need to watch out for thyroid issues! The deepest shadows are in the definition of your chart because the energy is so fixed. Read that again. Defined centers can have conditioning. Therefore, being in the not-self of a defined Throat is risky to your thyroid health. I've talked to a lot of Manifestors and Manifesting Generators who experience thyroid issues, myself included. One reason for this could be related to using your voice in a way that's out of alignment with your design. Other reasons could related to the three resiliency keys mentioned above not operating at the highest level.
The Voices of the Throat Gates and Thyroid Health
The next way to assess issues energetically related to thyroid dysfunction is to look at the gates defined in your throat center. Consider these questions:
Are you operating in the reactive or repressive shadow of any of these gates?
Are you in the victim or the dilemma of the gate?
What conditioning is impacting the gate?
What external influences might be influencing how these gates express themselves?
It's not uncommon for people to speak from a conditioned voice versus their authentic voice because they don't know any different. This conditioning suppresses your gifts and the unique “voices” in the Throat. These voices are genetically programmed to express your truth and align with your design. Misaligned communication from conditioning can create energetic blocks that may contribute to physical imbalances, including thyroid dysfunction.
Are you familiar with the Voice of the Throat? If not, find out your individual voice here.
Stop Codons in the Throat Center
Clues to our genetic vulnerabilities are in our human design chart. Ra said there are "weak spot" gates in the chart, and one of those areas are in the three stop codon gates, which all happen to be in the Throat Center. I find that fascinating!
Gate 12 (electromagnetic gate 22 and amino acid Proline)
Gate 56 (electromagnetic gate 11 and amino acid Threonine)
Gate 33 (electromagnetic gate 13 and amino acid Glutamine)
Gates with stop codons do not have an associated amino acid because they signal the end of protein synthesis in gene expression. Therefore, if you have a stop codon gate defined in your chart, look at its electromagnetic gate's associated amino acid to further investigate potential health vulnerabilities.
Thyroid and Nutrition
The thyroid requires specific nutrients to function properly, to make T4, and to convert T4 to T3 (the active form of thyroid hormone). Here are the key nutrients for thyroid health:
Iodine: Essential for producing thyroid hormones, iodine deficiency can impair the gland's ability to synthesize T4 and T3. Incorporate iodine-rich foods like seaweed, eggs, and iodized salt into your diet.
L-Tyrosine: This amino acid combines with iodine to form thyroid hormones. It is found in protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, nuts, and dairy.
B-Vitamins: B12 and B6 are vital for energy production, hormone regulation, and cellular metabolism, which directly impact thyroid health. Include foods like leafy greens, whole grains, and lean meats to ensure adequate levels.
Antioxidants: Selenium, zinc, and vitamins C and E combat oxidative stress, which can damage thyroid cells and impair function. Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, and citrus fruits are nutrient-dense options to support thyroid resilience.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA & DHA): The essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are not produced in the body and must be obtained through the diet. They are anti-inflammatory and help maintain healthy thyroid cells and support hormone production. Food sources include fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Taking a high-quality fish oil supplements is an excellent way to get these fats if your dietary intake is insufficient.
From my experience working in the supplement industry for 11 years, here are my top fish oil & cod liver oil recommendations (no affiliation; only years of personal experience):
I use daily this fish oil by Nordic Naturals.
I've also used (and like) this Nordic Natural cod liver oil with vitamin D.
I've also used (and like) this Lysi lemon cod liver oil.
I've also used (and like) this Carlson's Fish oil.
A well-rounded diet that includes these nutrients, alongside regular monitoring of thyroid function, can help maintain optimal thyroid health.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this information gets you thinking more deeply about how your thyroid health is potentially energetically impacted by your Human Design chart and especially your Throat Center.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chronic health issues often arise from many contributing factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and emotional or psychological stress. There's growing recognition of the role of energetics in chronic health challenges.
I believe misaligned energetics can manifest as imbalances between the mind, body, and spirit, leading to chronic symptoms. Addressing both the physical and energetic imbalances can provide a more holistic approach to healing, supporting the body in a more integrated way.
As you take the time to explore your Throat Center and thyroid health, let me know what you find out.
Human Design Appointments
Moving from where you are now toward your highest, fullest potential requires long-term dedication to learning and experimenting with your human design. I've learned so much through the process of researching human design, observing myself and others, feeling the energetics in my body in real life, and repeating that cycle over and over.
I believe growth requires more than one appointment, which is why I offer an initial appointment (90 minutes) with a follow-up appointment (60 minutes).
Much love,
Kelly xo
I have an undefined throat with gates 33 and 35. In 2008 I had half a lobe removed due to a big suspicious nodule, but it ended up benign. Sixteen years later, a new nodule grew on what’s left, had it removed last month, and it was cancer. I definitely feel my undefined status at work and in life, and often don’t express myself and stuff things down—which adversely affected me. I’m glad I’m now aware of this and am allowing my strategy and authority to help me know when to speak and that it’s okay to do so.