Despite all of the medical research available, thyroid disorders continue to be very complex. Thyroid issues can occur at any age, but seems to be particularly troublesome after menopause. So, we wanted to provide a list of ways to identify and reverse thyroid dysfunction by naturally balancing your hormones.
The thyroid controls your metabolism and affects nearly every part of your body, including the skin, muscles, heart, and brain. It is vital to maintaining our energy levels on a daily basis. Thyroid disorders can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, but have a good chance of being reversed!
How do I know if I have thyroid problems?
So how do you know if you have thyroid problems? The first thing to do is make a thorough inventory of any symptoms and see if they match signs of thyroid dysfunction.
If your thyroid gland is underactive, this is known as hypothyroidism and your body does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This is a common imbalance and can lead to symptoms including:
- Weight gain
- Increased sensitivity to the cold
- Fatigue
- Enlarged thyroid glands
- Difficulty with weight loss
- Depression
- Dry skin, hair and nails
- Hair loss (including eyebrows)
- Muscle weakness and joint pain
- Menstrual problems
- Infertility
- Brain fog
- Low stress resistance
- Recurrent infections
If your thyroid gland is overactive, bodily functions will speed up, as it does in hyperthyroidism. Symptoms often associated with hyperthyroid could include:
- Weight loss
- Increased sensitivity to heat
- Frequent bowel movements
- Nervousness and irritability
- Thyroid gland enlargement
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
What can I do to support my thyroid?
Tip #1: Optimize your nutrition
Thyroid supportive foods include foods rich in iodine, zinc, omega-3 fats, selenium, and more. Foods such as roasted seaweed, salted nuts, baked fish, frozen yogurt, and fresh organic eggs are great options; Diets that are also free from sugar and gluten may make a difference in the way that you feel!
Tip #2: Minimize stress on the body
Stress causes your hormones to constantly work harder than they need to and prevents weight loss! It also leads to many other hormone imbalances that can mimic some of the same symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Therefore it is very important to incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine.
Tip #3: Add low impact exercise into your daily routine
Exercises including walking, yoga, pilates, and resistance training allow your hormones to be naturally supported. With the thyroid gland specifically, exercise has been shown to boost thyroid function.
Tip #4: Incorporate high-quality supplements
High quality supplements are needed for proper thyroid metabolism and function.
Supplements like vitamin D, zinc, iodine, omega-3 fats, and selenium support your thyroid and adrenal glands.
Tip #5: Utilize heat therapy
Using heat therapy, such as a sauna or even a hot steam shower, has been shown to eliminate toxins which can store up in the body and prevent the thyroid from functioning properly.
Tip #6: Add B vitamins
B vitamins have been shown to provide nutritional support for the thyroid but also increase energy level, which makes you feel better!
Tip #7: Include probiotics
By using a high-quality probiotic, you are increasing gut health. This allows for thyroid-supportive nutrients to be absorbed from the foods that you eat and enter into the bloodstream and be available for thyroid health.
Tip #8: Work with your medical provider
Sometimes it takes 5 weeks for laboratory testing to show changes that reflect thyroid disease, so even if you have had negative testing in the past, you can still ask your medical provider to send you for testing, especially if your symptoms have lasted for months! If you want to speak with a medical specialist, an endocrinologist is your best option since they focus on hormones within the body.
Thorough thyroid testing includes: TSH, Free T-3, Free T4, TPO, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.
Other testing to ask your medical provider to consider: Check for celiac disease with the celiac panel, consider heavy-metal toxicity testing, and check your vitamin D level.
Treating any underlying medical causes like thyroid dysfunction, gluten allergy, heavy-metal toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies will allow your body to begin the healing process.
By making additional lifestyle changes to support thyroid health, you can support your body and allow it to heal!
Ellen, who struggles with Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease, lost 29 pounds and improved her symptoms.
There are many underlying reasons for thyroid problems. The most common cause is an autoimmune thyroid problem like Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease, in which your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. Various research estimates that up to 90 percent of all cases of hypothyroidism are autoimmune in nature, with the most common result being Hashimoto’s disease. When this happens, your thyroid is not the source of the problem, but the victim of a misguided immune system attack in which your body mistakes your thyroid for a virus.
Ellen, BeBalanced client, was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease and was feeling hopeless. Listen (in the video below) to her incredible story of how our program not only helped her to lose 29 pounds of stubborn weight, but to finally feel like herself again!
Thyroid disease is complicated but can be reversible!
Thyroid disease is complicated but is completely reversible when you use all of your resources! It takes a combination of lifestyle changes, medical support, and the proper nutrition. But once these are corrected, you can experience thyroid health and reversal of your symptoms!
For more information about supporting your thyroid, losing stubborn weight, having more energy and better sleep, feeling focused and calm, and alleviating symptoms related to PMS or menopause, reach out to us today! We offer free consultations at all BeBalanced Centers across the country. Click here to find a center near you or fill out our FREE hormone assessment to see if your hormones could be holding you back.
Be well!