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Complete Guide to Boosting Thyroid Hormones and Function Naturally

Thyroid Advisor

July 30, 2017

Fact Checked

Last Updated on December 21, 2021

Introduction

An underactive thyroid gland or hypothyroidism is indicated by a number of symptoms including but not limited to fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, weight gain, thinning hair, depression, impaired memory, muscle aches and tenderness, irregular menstrual periods, and slowed heart rate.

Although experiencing these symptoms and dealing with hypothyroidism can be quite frustrating, you are not helpless.

Along with adherence to doctor’s orders and following treatment recommendations, various options allow you to boost thyroid function naturally.

This article reveals the most effective ways to do so.

Diet/Nutrition

Generally speaking, the types of food that you eat plays a major role in hypo or hyperthyroidism diet. Specific diets can help alleviate symptoms and restore your thyroid balance.

These types of foods are rich in Iodine.

Sufficient iodine intake is a must! (Unless, of course, it is harmful for you. Some patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis feel worse with Iodine.)

Iodine deficiency is the primary cause of hypothyroidism in most people.

Evidence shows that iodine controls thyroid function^[i] and plays a major role in the development of conditions associated with underactive thyroid or the opposite effect – hyperthyroidism.

Data shows that iodine intake among Americans is adequate^[ii], meaning it might not be necessary to tamper with enhancing iodine consumption without consulting your doctor first.

Instead, focus on foods you should eat or avoid in order to boost thyroid functioning.

Foods to avoid

Some nutrients in food have a major influence on the function of thyroid gland while some other foods decrease the body’s ability to absorb replacement hormones you take as a hypothyroidism treatment.

Below, you can see the list of foods to avoid (or limit) if you want to boost thyroid function:

Soy

It is a phytoestrogen which can interfere with the body’s ability to use thyroid hormone.

Studies show that soy foods, “by inhibiting absorption, may increase the dosage of thyroid hormone required by hypothyroid patients.”^[iii]

You don’t need to banish soy from the menu, if you’re not able to, but stick to the moderate to low intake.

Broccoli can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis.

Cruciferous vegetables

Broccoli, cabbage, and other members of this family can interfere with the production of thyroid hormone, particularly in those with iodine deficiency.

Evidence suggests that very high intake of cruciferous vegetables has been found to cause hypothyroidism.

It could be down to hydrolysis of chemical progoitrin which yields a compound called goitrin. This compound interferes with synthesis of thyroid hormone.^[iv]

What you can do is to limit intake of these vegetables or cook them.

One study showed that cooking cruciferous vegetables reduces their effect on thyroid gland.^[v]

Gluten

High intake of gluten can irritate the small intestine and, thus, hamper the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement medication.

Opt for whole grain varieties instead.

Fatty foods

Just like with gluten and many other nutrients, fats disrupt the body’s ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medication and they also interfere with the thyroid’s ability to produce hormone

Sugary foods

The main reason to avoid them is that they contribute to weight gain.

Since hypothyroidism is associated with weight gain, you should reduce or limit intake of foods that prevent you from maintaining your weight adequately

Processed foods

They are abundant in sodium because it would make you more susceptible to high blood pressure resulting health risks

Coffee

One study found that coffee interferes with the intestinal absorption of levothyroxine or T₄^[vi], the standard drug for treatment of hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer

Foods to eat

Although some foods can impair the absorption of thyroid replacement hormone or increase the risk of hypothyroidism, many nutrients support proper functioning of the gland. Below, you can see the list of foods which support thyroid health and benefit persons with hypothyroidism:

Fish and nuts are great foods for the thyroid

Fatty fish

Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which reduce the risk of heart disease associated with hypothyroidism. These healthy fats decrease inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

Evidence shows that consumption of Omega-3s ameliorates memory deficits and act as a useful neuroprotective agent against hypothyroidism-induced cognitive impairment^[vii]

Nuts

They are a rich source of selenium, mineral known for its ability to support thyroid functioning

Whole grains

Constipation is one of many symptoms of hypothyroidism. Whole grain foods are rich in important nutrients and they also provide fiber, which is essential for regular and healthy digestion.

Excessive amounts of fiber can interfere with synthetic thyroid hormones. Make sure you take your medications several hours before or after foods rich in dietary fiber

Fresh fruits and vegetables

They are low in calories, abundant in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Plus, intake of fresh fruits and some vegetables allows you to keep weight in a healthy range more successfully. Studies show that plant-based diet reduces the risk of hypothyroidism.^[viii] Of course, limit intake of cruciferous vegetables or cook them

Coconut oil

Supports healthy metabolism, boosts energy levels, and tackles fatigue. Plus, coconut oil is easy to digest, nourishes your digestive system, and exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial effects that suppress inflammation

Probiotic-rich foods

They create a healthy gut environment by balancing microflora bacteria to reduce nutrient deficiencies, leaky gut syndrome, inflammation.

One study found that probiotics are effective in management of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)^[ix], associated with hypothyroidism

Supplements

Boosting thyroid function is not just about taking medications, but making some healthier habits.

As shown above, some foods can help improve thyroid functioning due to nutrients they contain.

Even though we consume these nutrients through food, sometimes the amount isn’t sufficient i.e. doesn’t meet daily requirements.

In this case, supplements can be of huge help. They deliver specific nutrients and enable you to meet the recommended daily intake. Here is the list of supplements for hypothyroidism:

Vitamin B

Crucial for people with hypothyroidism because vitamins from B complex play a role in thyroid function and hormone regulation. Studies show that patients with hypothyroidism are deficient in vitamin B12.^[x] When looking for supplements, opt for those with vitamin B complex rather than individual vitamins

Selenium

Supports thyroid synthesis and metabolism. Check out this article for more information on selenium and it’s benefits for the thyroid.

Zinc

Plays a role in the conversion of the thyroid hormone T₄ to T₃. Evidence suggests zinc deficiency is also associated with hypothyroidism^[xi]

Tyrosine

Involved in thyroid hormone production and conversion. Tyrosine is an amino acid and studies show hypothyroidism is caused by impaired T4 production and deficiency in amino acids. Supplementation with these amino acids, primarily tyrosine, gives a rapid increase in T₄ and T₃^[xii]

Vitamin D is very helpful for thyroid hormones

Vitamin D

A growing body of evidence confirms the link between low levels of sunshine vitamin and autoimmune thyroid diseases.^[xiii] Also, studies reveal patients with hypothyroidism are deficient in vitamin D^[xiv] as well.

In most cases food sources of this vitamin are insufficient and supplements come as an effective way to solve this problem. Lacking this vitamin can lead to unwanted fatigue.

Probiotics

If you don’t consume enough probiotic-rich foods, supplements are a practical solution to support thyroid functioning

Omega-3 fatty acids

Just like with probiotic supplements, if you don’t consume sufficient amount of Omega-3-rich foods (fatty fish), then you could benefit from Omega-3 supplementation

Thyroid Supplements

Thyroid support supplements are popular ways of enhancing your nutrition to make sure you get all the vitamins, minerals, and herbs needed to allow your thyroid to function at its best.

We review some thyroid supplements on this website.

We take all of our thyroid support supplement product reviews very seriously and each product is personally reviewed with great care. This is to provide you with enough information to make an informed decision, before spending your hard earned money.

A short list of the five best supplements we reviewed thus far, can be found below with an excerpt. The full list of the thyroid support supplements can be found here.

Supplement	Description	Score	Learn More
Editor choice	ThyroMate ThyroMate is one of the most effective and strongest of all the thyroid supplements on the market today. It has the potential to offer many benefits in terms of supporting thyroid functionality, promoting a healthy metabolism, increasing energy levels, improving concentration, promoting weight loss, and enhancing mood enhancement. We have heard and read good reviews on ThyroMate.	10 Read review	$29.99 Visit Website
2	ThyroChoice When we recently came across ThyroChoice, a newly released high-end, “premium” thyroid support supplement, we thought that a lot of people, especially those with Hashimoto's, would be curious to know whether or not it truly worked. There are certainly some good, effective thyroid supplements on the market currently. As you probably know, we've reviewed a lot of them on Thyroid Advisor(which ...	9.8 Read review	$22.00 $30.00 Visit Website
3	Zhou Nutrition Thyroid Support Zhou Nutrition is a USA-based food supplements and nutrition company. Their motto is "Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Research." It seems that they are trying to market themselves as an company based on eastern, asian philosophy. They have a lot of supplement ranging from "horny goat weed" to "water away with dandelion." Zhou Nutrition also has a thyroid support product that we decided to review. ...	8.9 Read review	$29.99 Visit Website
4	Thorne Research Thyrocsin Thorne Research was founded over 30 years ago, but it has only recently emerged into the spotlight due to their involvement with sports nutrition. About a year ago, they partnered with the U.S. National Governing Bodies for fencing, gymnastics, soccer, and a few other sports to become their exclusive nutritional supplement source. That means that Team USA athletes likely receive certain ...	8.5 Read review	$29.60 Visit Website
5	Thyrotain It is no secret that no two supplement companies are equal. The same supplement produced by two different companies can have distinct effects for the same person due to the quality of the manufacturing process. Ortho Molecular is a bit different from most supplement companies. According to their website, the company owns the manufacturing facilities where the supplements are made. Most ...	8.2 Read review	37.40 Buy It Now

Natural desiccated thyroid

Armour Thyroid is a popular brand of natural desiccated thyroid treatment

Treatment of hypothyroidism nowadays revolves around taking Synthroid or another synthetic thyroid medication such as Cytomel.

This medication provides a synthetic version of hormone T₄ known as levothyroxine. Although most widely used, these aren’t the only drugs for hypothyroidism.

The natural desiccated thyroid is common, and obviously, natural method of supporting proper functioning of thyroid gland.

The term refers to a prescription form of thyroid hormone replacement. Here, the hormone isn’t synthetic. Check out this article for more information on Natural Desiccated Thyroid vs Synthroid.

Instead, it is made of the desiccated thyroid gland of animals, most commonly pigs. Armour Thyroid is the most well-known type of these medications. Nature Throid is another popular one.

Although the use of natural desiccated thyroid is considered controversial by some, studies show Armour Thyroid is beneficial for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

One research discovered natural thyroid was equal to levothyroxine in the improvement of the quality of life among patients.

However, natural thyroid also caused modest weight loss and participants preferred it over levothyroxine^[xv].

It is needless to mention you should consult your doctor about this topic and natural desiccated thyroid before making a decision whether to start using it or not.

Essential oils

Essential oils have been around for centuries and are well-known for their health benefits.

While most people do not use these, as the effect they have on thyroid disorders is rather low compared to the other options we have talked about, oils are useful for relieving or managing some of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism.

With that being said, many experts believe it is very unlikely oils will cure or improve your thyroid disorder in any way.

Below, you can see the list of the most effective essential oils you can use to improve thyroid function in a natural manner:

Essential Oils may be helpful in managing thyroid symptoms

Clary sage oil

One study discovered the inhalation of this essential oil reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels by 36% and it also improved thyroid hormone levels.^[xvi]

Spearmint

Helps relax the intestines and eases constipation and gas, symptoms associated with hypothyroidism

Lemongrass oil

Alleviates headaches and reduces inflammation, which are also linked to hypothyroidism. In addition, it tackles muscle joint pains and aches, detoxifies digestive tract, and improves immune system health

Geranium

Reduces inflammation and helps manage stress and depression. This oil has the potential to balance hormone levels in the body

Clove oil

Anti-inflammatory

Rosemary oil

Dubbed practical for hair loss

Frankincense

Effective in prevention of memory deficit and cognitive decline^[xvii] linked to hypothyroidism

Lifestyle

To improve thyroid function, you have to be more mindful regarding your lifestyle.

The rule is simple; if you want to be healthier and manage your condition successfully, then you have to make some tweaks in your lifestyle.

Sometimes we overlook our daily habits, but they can either help us or destroy our efforts. Here are some useful lifestyle adjustments to make for better thyroid functioning:

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet

Tips for adequate nutrition are shown above. Diet is an inseparable part of a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise

Regular physical activity helps you keep weight in a healthy range or aids weight loss if you’re overweight/obese.

This is particularly important if you bear in mind that hypothyroidism is linked to weight gain. Studies show that regular exercise increases T₃ and _T4 levels in the body.

Scientists recommend hypothyroid patients to do regular physical exercise to improve thyroid function.^[xviii]

Get enough sleep

The importance of good night’s rest is usually overlooked, but it plays a major role in your health. Sleep deprivation is strongly linked to hypothyroidism.^[xix]

Also, it increases your stress levels, affects productivity, lowers energy levels, among other things.

Reduce stress

The effect of stress on thyroid function is complicated. Changes induced by stress on the serotonergic system (part of brain function) and cortisol levels may affect the metabolism of thyroid hormones.

A growing body of evidence confirms that stress has an impact on thyroid levels^[xx] while-de-stressing improves thyroid functioning and serum levels of hormones. The choice of stress-relieving method depends on you.

Ideally, you should do something that relaxes you every time e.g. count to 10 and take deep breaths

Quit smoking

This bad habit doesn’t only wreak havoc on your skin or in lungs, but your entire body.

One study found that smoking is negatively associated with hypothyroidism.^[xxi] To support the health of this gland and preserve your eyes, strive to quit smoking.

For this, you’ll need strong willpower and support from loved ones

Meditate and practice yoga

Both ancient practices are incredibly beneficial for your mind, body, and soul.

Meditation combats stress just like yoga. Also, one study found that yoga has a beneficial effect on pulmonary functions of hypothyroid patients.^[xxii]

Both meditation and yoga are easy on your joints and muscles

Know other ways of naturally improving the thyroid? Let us know below.

Conclusion

Underactive thyroid is a common, but the manageable problem that we face nowadays.

The condition is indicated by a number of symptoms and treatment usually revolves around the intake of medications.

Adherence to the recommended treatment is always important, but you shouldn’t forget to make adjustments in your lifestyle including diet in order to feel better and healthier with improved thyroid function.

References