3 Ways to Boost Your Thyroid Naturally

The thyroid is a small but mighty gland in the front of your neck. It helps control your metabolism and produces hormones critical for growth and development. The thyroid also produces T3 and T4 hormones which helps to regulate everything from your breathing to your heart rate to your body temperature. That’s why we’re sharing 3 Ways to Boost Your Thyroid Naturally.

The thyroid is a small but mighty gland in the front of your neck. It helps control your metabolism and produces hormones critical for growth and development. The thyroid also produces

When your thyroid isn’t working properly and producing the necessary hormones, you might suffer from hypothyroidism. According to the Mayo Clinic, an inactive thyroid over time can lead to various health problems such as obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease. In the meantime, common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Muscle weakness
• Elevated blood cholesterol level
• Depression

For many people, living with an underperforming thyroid is miserable! Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. Prescribing thyroid hormone pills might be a “quick” fix to get to feeling better, but there are several natural at-home proven ways to give your thyroid a jumpstart.

1. Eat more iodine-rich foods

A common cause of hypothyroidism is a lack of iodine in a person’s diet. While not produced in the body naturally, iodine is necessary for keeping the thyroid hormone production in balance. Since the human body does not make it, it is introduced to our systems through the foods we eat. Incorporating more foods that contain iodine can help naturally boost your thyroid. Great sources of iodine include:

 

• Dairy products like low-fat cheese, low-fat ice cream, low-fat yogurt, milk, etc.
• Eggs
• Saltwater fish like salmon or tuna
• Seaweed (including kelp, dulce, nori)
• Shellfish
• Soy sauce

While there should be a conscious effort to incorporate these types of food into your diet, you also need to look at your eating habits overall to make sure you are eating a balanced diet of whole foods.

2. Eat less goitrogens and refined sugars

In addition to adding more iodine-rich foods to your diet, another way to help jumpstart your thyroid’s productivity is to avoid certain foods as well. The primary culprit for lowering thyroid function is foods that contain the chemical goitrogens. These include but are not limited to uncooked:

• Almonds and peanuts
• Cauliflower/broccoli
• Pears
• Brussels sprouts
• Corn
• Pine nuts
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Peaches
• Spinach

For most people, many of these foods would constitute a healthy food choice. However, people with hypothyroidism need to be cautious. Once cooked, the goitrogens lose most of its potency, so eating in moderation will not have as major of an impact.

Refined sugars are another type of food that can wreak havoc on thyroid production. Sugar causes the gland to fire up but faced with an overload of sugar, the thyroid must remain constantly active until it burns out and stops working altogether. Over time, this can cause permanent damage and worsen hypothyroidism which is why it should be eaten sparingly or eliminated entirely.

3. Exercise regularly

By now, we understand the importance of regular exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For people with an underperforming thyroid, physical activity is even more critical. It’s recommended that those with hypothyroidism or those who may be at risk of it, should participate in 40 minutes workouts at least three times a week. This recommendation is the bare minimum for those with a thyroid disorder, and in reality, if your thyroid struggles with hormone production, you need to eventually aim to engage in some form of exercise every day.

 

Boosting your thyroid is critical, but it’s all just one piece of improving your overall health. Functional medicine helps to get to the root causes of ailments. Learn more about this approach in our blog “What is Functional Medicine and How Can It Help You?”

If you think you suffer from hypothyroidism, Benehealth might be able to help. Book your complimentary discovery today.