Have you ever considered that some of the daily habits you rely on to get through the day could actually be making your thyroid function worse?
While we often focus on diet when it comes to thyroid health, there’s much more to the story. From the way you manage stress to the chemicals you’re exposed to in your environment, several factors can significantly impact your thyroid.
Let’s dive into 3 important areas you need to know to keep your thyroid functioning at its best.
1. 3 Things to Stop Doing for Better Thyroid Health
To optimize your thyroid health, it’s important to STOP doing these three things:
- ❌ Over-exercising
- ❌ Under-eating
- ❌ Over-caffeinating
These activities might seem helpful in the short term, especially if you’re trying to lose weight or boost energy, but they actually cause your body more harm than good. Why? Because your body interprets these actions as stress, triggering your adrenal glands to produce cortisol. High cortisol levels lead to the conversion of T4 to reverse T3, an inactive form of thyroid hormone. This means less T3 is available to regulate your metabolism, leading to fatigue and other thyroid-related symptoms.
Instead, consider a different approach: calm inflammation and address the underlying issues like toxins, infections, or nutrient deficiencies. By doing so, you can improve your thyroid function without falling into the trap of overdoing it.
In order to find a healthier balance, it’s important to identify and address these root causes.
2. Surprising Habits that Support Your Thyroid
When it comes to thyroid health, it’s easy to focus on what we eat. However, did you know that certain habits unrelated to diet can also support thyroid function? Here are three research-backed activities that can help:
- 🧘♀️ Yoga: Reduces stress and supports overall endocrine function.
- 🚶♀️ Walking: Improves circulation and aids in hormone balance.
- 💫 Vagal Toning: Strengthens the vagus nerve, which helps regulate the nervous system and, by extension, the thyroid.
Incorporating these activities into your daily routine can create a more holistic approach to maintaining thyroid health, as they help to regulate the nervous system, which is closely connected to the endocrine system.
3. Watch Out for Harmful Chemicals
Last but not least, be mindful of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are found in everyday items:
- 🥤 BPA: Found in plastics and can disrupt thyroid hormone production.
- 🧴 Phthalates: Common in personal care products and can interfere with hormone receptors.
- 🐟 PCBs: Present in certain seafood and may hinder thyroid hormone transport.
- 🛋️ PBDBs: Flame retardants in furniture and carpets that can impact thyroid health.
These chemicals are unfortunately widespread, but by choosing safer products—such as avoiding plastics for food storage, using clean personal care products, and selecting safer seafood—you can reduce your exposure and protect your thyroid health.
This is why our holistic approach to thyroid health goes beyond just diet and exercise. We take into account how different body systems interact and how we can minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Understanding the broader factors that influence thyroid health is essential to reclaiming your vitality. If you’re struggling with thyroid health and want to take a holistic approach, we can help. Visit our offerings page to learn more about how we can support you, or sign up for our community newsletter to stay informed about the latest health research and practical wellness advice.
We look forward to helping you thrive!
Reference
Sokal A, Jarmakiewicz-Czaja S, Tabarkiewicz J, Filip R. Dietary Intake of Endocrine Disrupting Substances Presents in Environment and Their Impact on Thyroid Function. Nutrients. 2021;13(3):867. [link]
Baishya A, Metri K. Effects of yoga on hypothyroidism: A systematic review. J Ayurveda Integr Med. Published online March 19, 2024. [link]
Macena ML, da Silva Júnior AE, Praxedes DRS, et al. Association between sitting/lying down, standing, walking time and number of steps per day with the hormonal profile and resting energy expenditure of women with obesity living in a low-income region. Br J Nutr. 2022;128(4):646-652. [link]
Karthik S, Pal GK, Nanda N, et al. Sympathovagal imbalance in thyroid dysfunctions in females: correlation with thyroid profile, heart rate and blood pressure. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;53(3):243-252. [link]
