Natural Approaches to Thyroid Health
Natural Approaches to Thyroid Health
Thyroid issues can often cause debilitating symptoms, making it difficult to function in daily life. However, natural approaches such as dietary interventions, lifestyle adjustments, and incorporating supplemental herbs have the potential to improve thyroid health over time.
Dietary Interventions
The food we eat is vital to our overall health, and it is especially important for those struggling with thyroid dysfunction. Here are some dietary tips to improve thyroid health:
- Increase iodine intake: Eating iodine rich foods such as seaweed, fish, shellfish, egg yolks, and cranberries can help support the balance of hormones in the thyroid gland.
- Avoid goitrogens: Goitrogens are foods that suppress the thyroid hormone. While modest amounts of these foods may be safe, it is best for those with thyroid issues to stick to low-goitrogen foods such as cauliflower, watercress, asparagus, spinach, garlic, broccoli, and collard greens.
- Reduce sugar intake: High sugar and processed foods can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormones, so avoiding them or cutting them down to a reasonable level is important.
Lifestyle Adjustments
In addition to dietary changes, there are also lifestyle tips that may help improve thyroid health. These adjustments can include:
- Manage stress: Stress has a major impact on the body and can worsen existing thyroid problems. Finding ways to manage stress, such as meditation, can help restore balance to the body.
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps to reduce inflammation and balance hormones, which can help improve thyroid health.
- Get adequate sleep: Adequate sleep is necessary for the body to function properly and to support the health of the thyroid.
Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements can also be helpful to support thyroid health. Some useful herbs to consider incorporating into your daily routine include:
- Ashwagandha – a popular Ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha helps reduce stress and balance hormones.
- Schisandra – this Chinese herb helps to improve the body’s natural response to stress, which can help improve thyroid function.
- Guggul – this Ayurvedic herb helps to reduce inflammation and improve overall thyroid health.
Overall, including these natural approaches into a daily routine can help to improve thyroid health over time. However, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider before making any major dietary or lifestyle changes, to ensure it is done safely.
Other Tips
Other tips to consider when improving thyroid health can include:
- Getting regular check-ups: Regular check-ups can help to identify any potential issues early on and make necessary changes before health problems worsen.
- Monitoring for deficiencies: Testing for nutrient deficiency can help to identify any imbalances which may be affecting health.
- Avoiding environmental toxins: Minimizing exposure to environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke and heavy metals, may help to improve thyroid health.
The natural approaches discussed can help to improve overall health and reduce the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction over time. When we understand how to better support our thyroid health, we are able to create a foundation for greater wellbeing.
References:
- Sorrentino, M. (2020, July 9). 5 Natural Approaches To Throid Health. Retrieved August 18, 2020, from wholify.com/health-resources/5-natural-approaches-thyroid-health
- Vickery, L. (2020, June 10). The Best Herbs to Support Thyroid Health. Retrieved August 18, 2020, from draxe.com/nutrition/herbs-thyroid-health/
