Part 2: Natural Solutions for Hypothyroidism: Detoxing the Body and Mind for Thyroid Health
With hypothyroidism on the rise, you have to wonder, why is the thyroid gland so prone to disease? Toxins, stress, infections, lack of nourishment, and other factors create an attack against the thyroid. The thyroid gland is kind of like the canary in the coal mine – it’s a barometer for how healthy your lifestyle is. And with the rise of thyroid conditions that we learned about in Part 1, we need to investigate all the root causes of thyroid dysfunction. The good news is that once the root causes are identified, your body can heal and hypothyroidism can be reversed!
Be sure to read Part 1 for a quick primer on the different types of hypothyroidism, thyroid hormones, testing, and proper interpretation.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
Our 5-Point Model System focuses on the main areas that must be balanced to achieve optimal health. In Part 1 we discussed the first two points of our 5-Point Model System: nutrition and the impact that other hormones have on thyroid function. This article addresses how toxicity and mind-body obstacles contribute to thyroid dysfunction. Imbalances in any of these 5 areas can contribute to hypothyroidism.
Detoxify Your Body for Better Thyroid Health
It’s no secret that our environment is toxic. Many studies have shown that numerous pollutants affect the thyroid gland. Industrial chemicals and toxic heavy metals including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Perchlorate, Bisphenol-A, phthalates, mercury, cadmium, and others decrease thyroid function. These chemicals in everyday living include pesticides on food, drinking water, fish, fertilizers, food packaging, paints, electronics, mattresses, plastic products, toys, cosmetics, personal care products, and cigarette smoke – they’re everywhere![1,2,3,4]
There are a few common toxins of interest that decrease thyroid function:
- Fluoride is added to municipal water systems to prevent cavities. The problem is that high fluoride exposure is associated with increased TSH and decreased T3 and T4 levels. Ingested fluoride may damage thyroid cells, impair conversion of T4 to active T3, and antagonize iodine.[5] Most reverse osmosis filters will filter out fluoride.
- Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are all around us. Your thyroid gland is in a particularly vulnerable location on the front of your neck making it more sensitive to the effects of EMF radiation from things like screens and cell phones. Body tissues closest to the cell phone such as the thyroid and brain absorb more energy. Cell phone radiation affects thyroid gland metabolism, altering thyroid hormone levels.[6,7] Decreasing exposure to devices can help.
- Alcohol is toxic to thyroid cells. Ethanol (alcohol) is actually injected therapeutically to destroy thyroid nodules and cysts. It causes thyroid tissue to shrink, reduces your thyroid hormones free T3 and free T4, and increases reverse T3 (rT3) (an inert hormone).[8] It’s important to run a comprehensive thyroid panel because these abnormalities can be seen even with normal TSH and free T4, which are often the only two thyroid labs a conventional provider will order. It’s best to limit or avoid alcohol for many reasons.
So what do you do about toxicity? You can’t really live in a bubble. You can choose less toxic products, organic foods, filter your drinking water, and filter your home air. Visit the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) A-Z Index to learn more about pollutants. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers practical guides on how to live a healthy life in a healthy environment.
You will inevitably be exposed to toxins, so you can optimize your body’s ability to detoxify with these tips:
- At least two bowel movements daily eliminate waste and toxins through your gut. People with hypothyroidism sometimes struggle with constipation, which can impair proper detoxification.
- Drinking 100 ounces of filtered water with pink salt to taste and 1-2 lemons supports kidney health and toxin elimination.
- Consider a high-quality probiotic and add fermented food (live probiotics) to your meals. This improves your gut microbiome, a population of bacteria that protects the gut lining from toxicity. Microbiome imbalances contribute to hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.[9,10,11] Learn more about the gut-thyroid connection in Part 1.
- Sunrise walks, swinging your arms, while belly breathing helps improve circulation, lymphatic flow, and toxin excretion from the lungs. This is also great for stress management!
- A plant-based diet contains multiple plant chemicals that help to decrease inflammation and promote detoxification.[9] Plants are also a source of fiber that helps promote healthy bowel movements.
Healthy Mind and Body for Healthy Thyroid
Speaking of toxicity, stress is very toxic to the thyroid! The Chronic Stress Response increases your adrenal glands’ cortisol output, leading to lower thyroid hormone levels.[12] Stress also converts T4 into inactive reverse T3 (rT3).[13,14] Reverse T3 looks almost identical to T3, except that when it binds to a receptor in your body, there is no effect. rT3 blocks T3 from being able to do its job, leading to symptoms of hypothryoidism.
Under chronic stress, your body tries to adapt and find balance. In essence, when you develop hypothyroidism, it’s your body’s way of forcing you to slow down. Yet so many fight it with caffeine, energy drinks, and even increased doses of hormones to keep the pace! Once you find more harmony and balance in your life, your adrenals and thyroid will find equilibrium again.
Stress management is crucial for a healthy thyroid. The following tips can help:
- Consider reducing your non-essential commitments for a few months to “slow the engine” and allow your thyroid to recover. For example, spend less time on social media, your phone, at work, or attending certain events.
- To optimize the mind and body, we encourage finding restoration in nature, meditation, joy, sleep, deep belly breathing, acupuncture, and following your heart.
- Heart-Math is a technique that involves listening to your heart’s rhythm and observing your heart rate variability (HRV). By doing this, you can learn to change your HRV in under 60 seconds which results in reduced stress, improved sleep, and balanced emotions.[18] This same technique is used by fortune 500 companies to reduce the drain of the “fuel tank” and increase resilience and performance.
- Ashwagandha is an herb often prescribed to alleviate stress and improve energy levels. Ashwagandha also influences thyroid function. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 8 weeks of ashwagandha treatment resulted in more optimal thyroid hormone levels. Ashwagandha reduces cortisol, which improves thyroid hormone levels.[15]
- Exercise increases tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormones, improving their effect on your body’s systems. Exercise helps oxygen reach your micro-vessels which is important for each organ’s function, including your thyroid. Don’t overdo it though – low to moderate-intensity physical activity is best for people with hypothyroidism. Daily walking, swimming, or yoga is a great place to start![16,17]
Your Journey to Natural Thyroid Health
Many people with hypothyroidism are resigned to thinking it’s going to be a lifelong struggle. Under the conventional medical model, that’s often the case. We’re glad you landed here to learn that there’s another way. When root causes are addressed through our 5-Point Model System, your body is free to function optimally. You CAN experience optimal health and reverse hypothyroidism!
We’re here for you in your journey to Vibrant Health! To learn more, call us at 407-478-9797 or fill out our contact form and we’ll respond promptly by the next business day.
Located in Longwood, Florida, we serve Seminole County, Orange County and nearby counties and cities such as Longwood, Lake Mary, Winter Park, Orlando, Oviedo, Heathrow, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Sanford, Windermere and more. We also offer telemedicine for all Florida residents.
References
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[2] Benvenga S, Elia G, Ragusa F, et al. Endocrine disruptors and thyroid autoimmunity. Best practice & research Clinical endocrinology & metabolism. 2020;34(1):101377.
[3] Saranac L, Zivanovic S, Bjelakovic B, Stamenkovic H, Novak M, Kamenov B. Why is the thyroid so prone to autoimmune disease? Hormone research in paediatrics. 2011;75(3):157-165.
[4] Buha A, Matovic V, Antonijevic B, et al. Overview of Cadmium Thyroid Disrupting Effects and Mechanisms. International journal of molecular sciences. 2018;19(5).
[5] Iamandii I, De Pasquale L, Giannone ME, et al. Does fluoride exposure affect thyroid function? A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Environmental research. 2024;242:117759.
[6] Baby NM, Koshy G, Mathew A. The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation due to Mobile Phone Use on Thyroid Function in Medical Students Studying in a Medical College in South India. Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism. 2017;21(6):797-802.
[7] Mortavazi S, Habib A, Ganj-Karami A, Samimi-Doost R, Pour-Abedi A, Babaie A. Alterations in TSH and Thyroid Hormones following Mobile Phone Use. Oman medical journal. 2009;24(4):274-278.
[8] Balhara YP, Deb KS. Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function. Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism. 2013;17(4):580-587.
[9] Danailova Y, Velikova T, Nikolaev G, et al. Nutritional Management of Thyroiditis of Hashimoto. International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;23(9).
[10] Talebi S, Karimifar M, Heidari Z, Mohammadi H, Askari G. The effects of synbiotic supplementation on thyroid function and inflammation in hypothyroid patients: A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2020;48:102234.
[11] Gong B, Wang C, Meng F, et al. Association Between Gut Microbiota and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in endocrinology. 2021;12:774362.
[12] Tsigos C, Chrousos GP. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroendocrine factors and stress. Journal of psychosomatic research. 2002;53(4):865-871.
[13] Fröhlich E, Wahl R. Physiological Role and Use of Thyroid Hormone Metabolites – Potential Utility in COVID-19 Patients. Frontiers in endocrinology. 2021;12:587518.
[14] Chatzitomaris A, Hoermann R, Midgley JE, et al. Thyroid Allostasis-Adaptive Responses of Thyrotropic Feedback Control to Conditions of Strain, Stress, and Developmental Programming. Frontiers in endocrinology. 2017;8:163.
[15] Sharma AK, Basu I, Singh S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2018;24(3):243-248.
[16] Tian L, Lu C, Teng W. Association between physical activity and thyroid function in American adults: a survey from the NHANES database. BMC public health. 2024;24(1):1277.
[17] Bansal A, Kaushik A, Singh C, Sharma V, Singh H. The effect of regular physical exercise on the thyroid function of treated hypothyroid patients: An interventional study at a tertiary care center in Bastar region of India. Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences. 2015;3(2):244-246.
[18] McCraty R. Following the Rhythm of the Heart: HeartMath Institute’s Path to HRV Biofeedback. Applied psychophysiology biofeedback. 2022;47(4):305-316.
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