How to Balance Thyroid Hormones
What are thyroid hormones?
In this article, we are sharing evidence-based tips on how to balance thyroid hormones and live your best life. Your thyroid is a small gland that makes two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones control how fast your body uses energy, makes proteins, and control how sensitive your body is to other hormones.
For many people, keeping their thyroid hormones balanced can be a challenge. If your body produces too much of this hormone, you’ll suffer from an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. When it produces too little of the hormone, you’ll suffer from an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. There are many possible symptoms of an imbalance, including tiredness, muscle aches and pains, and weight gain or loss.
Causes of Imbalanced Thyroid Hormones
A lack of iodine, a lack of exercise, obesity, unhealthy dieting, and excessive use of certain medications can all cause thyroid imbalance. It is also common for endocrine disorders like Hashimoto’s disease to cause these types of hormonal imbalances. The key is figuring out what caused your hormones to become unbalanced and then addressing that issue with a natural fix. This can help you get back on track towards good health and proper thyroid function.
Consequences of Imbalanced Thyroid Hormones
The most common consequence of imbalanced thyroid hormones is weight gain. If you’re experiencing signs and symptoms of weight gain along with a multitude of other health issues, such as fatigue or a feeling of always being cold, it could be due to an imbalance in your thyroid hormones. Other possible symptoms include hair loss, constipation, anxiety, and depression. If you suspect that you might have an imbalance in your thyroid hormones, consult with your doctor for more information about how to balance your hormone levels.
Here are the best tips on how to balance thyroid hormones and live your best life:
- Balance Your Blood Sugar
The thyroid controls your body’s metabolism, and blood sugar levels affect how your thyroid functions. Maintaining healthy blood sugar is an important factor in balancing thyroid hormones. Eating healthy foods high in fiber and low in refined sugars is good for managing your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about ways to keep that under control so it doesn’t interfere with thyroid health. When you control your blood sugar, you improve your chances of balancing hormone levels naturally.
- Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods can take a toll on your thyroid health, largely because they lack nutrients. To keep your thyroid in tip-top shape, limit processed foods as much as possible and replace them with a healthy diet full of whole foods. These natural alternatives are both tasty and nutritious—and they’ll help keep you happy and healthy! For example, try snacking on some almonds or other nuts instead of potato chips or pretzels. You’ll feel fuller faster while also boosting your energy levels and maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
And for breakfast? Try a piece of fruit instead of sugary cereal or pastries—it’s an easy way to start your day feeling energized and satisfied without taking too many calories from unhealthy snacks!
- Support Your Thyroid With Vitamins and Herbs From Their Natural Source
Since thyroid issues are linked with nutritional deficiencies, using vitamins and herbs from their natural source (i.e., seaweed, kelp, broccoli) is a way to support thyroid function. Seaweeds like kombu and wakame contain high amounts of iodine, which can help balance out your thyroid hormones if you have an underactive one. These supplements can be found at most health food stores or online. You can also try adding more iodine-rich foods into your diet such as asparagus, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, and kale. Herbs that may help include ashwagandha, fenugreek, ginseng, and Rhodiola Rosea. Just make sure to talk with your doctor before taking any supplements or herbal remedies since some of them may interact negatively with other medications you’re taking.
- Exercise
One of the best ways to balance your thyroid hormone levels is through exercise. Exercising helps decrease stress and blood pressure, both of which negatively affect thyroid health. It also increases circulation, allowing more oxygen to reach cells throughout your body—including those in your thyroid gland. Additionally, regular exercise can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. This can help reduce symptoms of hypothyroidism caused by obesity. When you have a healthy weight, your body produces more active thyroid hormones that can regulate metabolism and boost energy levels naturally.
The key to balancing your thyroid hormones is understanding which ones are out of whack. While you may need more or less of a certain hormone at different times, your doctor can help you determine exactly what it is you’re deficient in and prescribe you a treatment plan tailored for your specific needs. So if you suspect your thyroid isn’t functioning as well as it should be, talk with your doctor about scheduling an appointment. You deserve to live a healthy life!