How To Naturally Improve Your Thyroid Function

Many people who have thyroid dysfunction are not even aware — they may just not feel well.

If you have thyroid disease, it can affect your overall quality of life. Generally speaking and not surprisingly — the more significant the thyroid dysfunction, whether it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the more severe the symptoms may be.

Medications can help improve thyroid function, but there are many natural approaches and recommendations which may be just as helpful. In fact, they may even reduce your need for medications or pharmaceutical interventions.

Read further for natural recommendations to improve your thyroid function.

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While many people choose to treat thyroid dysfunction solely and effectively by medicinal approaches, there are benefits to treating thyroid function naturally and with less potential for adverse effects.



HealthierU aims to treat thyroid concerns holistically, but speaking with your healthcare provider is vital to understand if you can make diet and lifestyle changes for an effective thyroid treatment.  Medications may be required in addition to diet and lifestyle changes — as some conditions may result in serious consequences if not promptly corrected.

Optimal thyroid support can be achieved naturally with diet and nutrition, but it is important to understand the difference between the two.

HealthierU can help provide valuable insights into the connection between diet and nutrition. Diet refers to our food and drink choices, while nutrition is about how our body processes and utilizes these choices for our health.



Our mission is to help you understand how your body uses the foods you consume and to help you make informed choices to support your health and lifestyle goals.

A striking number of Americans, especially the aging population, struggle with nutritional deficiencies that may affect their overall health.

A shift in daily dietary choices can lead to a longer and healthier life.

Being knowledgeable about your food choices is essential for living and aging well.

There is no specific diet for thyroid support, but some foods certainly promote healthy body functioning and contribute to a balanced and wholesome diet.

Consider adding the following foods to your next grocery list:

• Whole, unprocessed foods
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Whole grains
• Legumes
• Lean proteins
• Organ meats
  

Some foods should be limited or avoided to sustain a healthy diet for everyone, not just those with thyroid concerns, include:

• Excessive sugar
• Alcohol
• Processed foods
• Seed oils

However, those with thyroid concerns may be especially sensitive to the following foods:



• Gluten
• Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower
• The thyroid requires dietary uptake of iodine for proper functioning, and studies reveal these vegetables tend to impair the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland.
• Soy products
  

Thyroid challenges are widespread throughout the United States, with a thyroid hormone replacement medication being the 3rd most-prescribed medication.



The good news is that thyroid dysfunction can usually be corrected. Some can be remedied with natural approaches like diet and lifestyle adjustments, while others may require pharmaceutical support or similar measures.

Stress is a word that seems all too common in today’s society. Not only can chronic stress impair overall health and well-being, but it can affect your thyroid, too.

The impact of stress on the thyroid occurs by slowing your body’s metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain. When thyroid functions slow during periods of stress, the T3 and T4 hormone levels fall.

Your thyroid gland also has a close relationship with your adrenal glands. These glands are located above the kidneys and handle small amounts of stress without difficulty and release cortisol, which supports various bodily functions.

However, too much cortisol can be a detriment by leading to weight gain and impaired metabolism and negatively affecting your mood.



For your overall general and thyroid health, it is important to identify your personal stressors and initiate boundaries and reduction techniques as possible.

Professionals recommend at least 30 minutes of daily exercise for obvious physical impact, but routine exercise also positively affects mental health, strong bone maintenance, and increased energy levels.

However, there are considerations for those with thyroid dysfunction, as excessive exercise may be a hindrance.

Repeated intense exercise programs may increase inflammation and negatively affect hormone levels. If you are feeling continually fatigued, ill, or find yourself with frequent injuries and pain, you may have to modify your programs.



Hypothyroidism may contribute to muscle weakness, cramping, or poor endurance. If you are noticing an increase in symptoms, a change in exercise patterns or intensity may be necessary with longer recovery times between intervals.

Getting enough quality sleep on a daily basis can be tough for anyone but especially for those struggling with hypothyroidism. However, aiming for a good night’s sleep can greatly impact your thyroid health, as sleep is the time your body recharges and heals from each day’s activity and stressors.

Obtaining the recommended eight hours of sleep may seem like an unachievable task, but adopting a bedtime routine or sleep hygiene habits may help.

Some tips for falling asleep and getting quality rest each day:

• Create a sleep schedule
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on weekends.

• Establish a bedtime routine
• Read, listen to calming music, pray, or meditate.
• Avoid screen time on devices for at least 30 minutes prior to sleep.

• Maintain a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom
• Keep the room cool, quiet, and able to be darkened.
• Invest in comfortable mattresses, pillows, and bedding.

• Avoid stimulants
• Limit caffeine intake after noon each day.
• Avoid alcohol or nicotine prior to bed.

• Exercise regularly, but avoid intense exercise just before bedtime.



• Keep naps short and avoid napping late in the day.
  

Safe, natural sun exposure can do wonders for our health and well-being, as it:



• Improves blood flow throughout our bodies.
• Decreases blood pressure.
• Helps regulate hormones.
• Promotes natural circadian rhythms.
• Improves natural vitamin D production, which is essential to thyroid function.
  

Unfortunately, we have a potential for significant exposure to toxins, pollutants, and heavy metals in our environments — and this exposure can impact thyroid functioning.

To minimize exposure, the following interventions may be helpful:

• Use natural — not chemical-based — cleaning products

• Filter your drinking water

• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking

• Test your home
• If your home was built before 1978, have an expert test it for lead paint.

• Consider probiotics
• Probiotics may have the potential to prevent or treat heavy metal toxicity in humans.



In order to reduce the amount of toxins making their way into our bodies, it can help to analyze what we ingest and our surroundings and make adjustments as needed.