Do you prioritize thyroid health in the way that you do other aspects of your overall wellness? You SHOULD! No need to reach for pills or expensive unproven treatments. You can boost the health of your thyroid naturally with these easy tips!
NOTE: This post is not intended to replace the advice or direction of your medical professional. I am not a medical professional and don’t claim to be. Please seek the counsel of your practitioners before making changes to your own lifestyle.
Believe it or not, even the most health conscious of folks fail to pay enough attention to certain (critical!) areas of their overall wellness. Let’s face it, we can’t be PERFECT pictures of health all the time and it wouldn’t be advisable to obsess over every little thing on a daily basis, but to some extent it’s good to check in on each body part every once in a while. A certain amount of awareness about the state of lesser thought about body parts is good for your whole being…especially if small changes in that area can make you healthier IN GENERAL!
This is the case with the thyroid, for example. Did you know some people don’t know where the thyroid is even located in the body OR what it does for us on a daily basis!? Crazy! But true.
Well hopefully, if you’re uninformed about this small gland that sits right under your Adam’s Apple, you’ll finish this post feeling a little more educated on its big job and importance in the body.
So what does the thyroid do anyways? Like I said above, it’s a small gland that secretes hormones that directly affect numerous parts of your body and mind. A few areas it directly affects are: your metabolism, energy levels, hormone secretion, weight loss and/or gain, cholesterol levels, skin health, heart rate regulation, eyesight, and even your memory. Basically, it does A LOT.
Given its big role, you can only imagine the things that can go wrong if it’s not functioning properly. When your thyroid is functioning the way it was intended to, you look and feel great. But if it’s not doing its job, you’ll know…whether you like it or not!
If you’re feeling any symptoms that seem ‘off’ or just not feeling yourself, it’s probably time to get your thyroid checked by a medical professional. Depending on your case and level of dysfunction, they may suggest medical treatments or even prescription medications. But what if I told you there was a way to take care of your thyroid health naturally? Would you be on board?
Well, you’re in luck. I am sharing not 1, but 9 Natural Ways to Boost Thyroid Health on the blog today. With these effective suggestions, you may be able to stop a thyroid issue before one even starts!
Reduced Processed Food Consumption
I’ve discussed processed foods in the past. Some are completely fine to consume daily and are actually GOOD for you, but others? They can harm your health in more ways than you know…including your thyroid. Processed foods that are high in refined sugars, processed carbohydrates, and nutritionally void ingredients can hurt you by chronically elevating your blood sugar and robbing your body of much-needed minerals. Limit these foods and your thyroid with thrive!
Consume More Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Anytime you reduce your consumption of inflammatory foods, it helps with thyroid conversion and pituitary function. A diet full of anti-inflammatory foods, stimulates repair and recovery and boosts energy while preventing hunger. It also helps tame thyroid/hormone imbalances and repair leaky gut.
Incorporate Fermented Foods & Sea Vegetables
Our thyroids love Vitamin C and cultured foods (such as fermented dairy), are a great way to boost the benefits of Vitamin C by hundreds of times. Additionally, sea vegetables should be consumed daily because of their high levels of iodine and trace minerals, vitamins, healthy proteins & fats. Most of us drink coffee, soft drinks an/or alcohol, live under a lot of stress, and eat refined, acidic foods including sugar. So incorporating sea veggies into every meal is a must to counteract those other poor dietary choices.
Boost Your Healthy Fats
All healthy fats will benefit your thyroid, but coconut oil is especially health promoting! Coconut oil is great for warming your thyroid. Added regularly to a balanced diet, coconut oil can help lower cholesterol to normal levels as well. Other good fats for your thyroid include: raw butter & ghee, cod liver oil, red palm oil, and egg yolks.
Opt for Sea Salt
When it comes to thyroid health, Iodine deficiency is a common cause of hypothyroidism. Whether you use salt regularly or not, switch from whatever you are currently using to Celtic sea salt. Iodine is a naturally occurring in Celtic seas salt and it is one of the healthiest salts available. It’s free of chemicals and additives.
Limit Exposure to PFOA
Higher incidences of thyroid issues are connected to those with a greater exposure to PFOAs according to research. What are PFOAs? Perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as C8, is another man-made chemical that has the potential to be a health concern because it can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time. to avoid exposure to PFOAs as best you can, avoid using non-stick cookware and waterproofed fabrics.
Move More
Exercise helps detoxify your thyroid and your body overall! The right exercise amount and routine for YOU can help you fight poor thyroid health, lose or maintain weight, and start feeling much better. Exercise burns energy to prevent excess weight gain (which can negatively affect thyroid health) and can counter the effects of a slow metabolism. A fun sweat session can also be a mood-booster with the release of endorphins and other mood-enhancing chemicals that is causes.
Manage Stress
Stress may help foster the perfect environment for an underlying thyroid condition. Under stress, your body releases cortisol. Too much cortisol can interfere with thyroid hormone production and can stimulate the thyroid to work harder to create sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone.
When over stressed, you’re also more vulnerable to autoimmune conditions having to do with the thyroid! To reduce stress and protect your thyroid, turn to stress management techniques like: mind-body therapies (yoga, meditation, etc.), daily exercise, and getting adequate sleep.
Prioritize Sleep
If you’re struggling with negative thyroid symptoms, getting better sleep can help boost your energy. To get better sleep and bolster the health of your thyroid, try some of the following sleep techniques:
- keep your room cool
- simulate the night-time experience 30-60 minutes before tucking in for the night (turning off lights, lowering shades, etc.)
- avoid nighttime caffeine or stimulants
- make sure you’re actually comfortable in your bed
- practice relaxation techniques while drifting to sleep
Do you consider the health of your thyroid daily?
Have you or do you have problems with the health of your thyroid?
Would you consider any of these tips for boosting the health of your thyroid?
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Thanks so much for educating me on this topic! Yes I am one to always overlook the thyroid. Now I have some natural steps I can take. Thank you …stopped by from the pin junkie party:)
So welcome, Kathleen! Happy you stopped by!
My dad has had problems with thyroid health, and I’m thankful you shared this. It’s such an important part of our body; it’s amazing how God purposed every part of our body for a certain reason, and we know when one part isn’t working well.
I’m starting to get better sleep lately; it’s amazing how sleep impacts so many parts of our bodies.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, Em!! I am glad you found it helpful. Happy to hear you’re sleeping better lately!
I just love that opting for sea salt helps with thyroid issues. I have recently switched to it and I am amazed at how much more flavor food is given.
I love sea salt too!! It’s definitely my go to!!
Thanks for all the great info here! I’m trying to learn more about thyroid health.
So welcome Lisa! Thanks for reading!