The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped one found in your neck. Though small, diseases of this gland will have grave consequences on your overall body protein production and metabolism, because the hormones produced by your thyroid are used on almost all parts of your body. Oftentimes people will seek treatment for chronic fatigue, only to find out that the problem lies within their thyroid gland and not just merely with stress.
Unfortunately, thyroid disorders are quite common nowadays, with its rise being attributed to poor lifestyle choices. A lot of our diet consists of unhealthy food and drink, and we are particularly susceptible to indulge in these behaviors when we are stressed.
The first thing you will have to do is lessen or minimize the stressors in your life. If that is not possible, look for ways wherein you can manage your stressors effectively.
Once you’ve taken care of that problem, here are other ways you can change your lifestyle.
Limit Dietary Stress
In your body, nutritional stress will be caused by the intake of food that raises your sugar levels or cause inflammation, allergies, and sensitivities. The stress can also arise from the consumption of foods with toxins and chemicals that trigger immune responses and high unhealthy fat amounts. With a heightened case of dietary stress, the function of the thyroid hormones is destabilized, and the body experiences different symptoms.
Get Rid of Heavily-Processed Foods
Most processed foods do not directly impact the thyroid gland. Heavily processed ones like microwave dinners and frozen pizzas, however, are unhealthy. This is because they contain certain chemicals that might trigger an immune response in your body and worsen the symptoms of thyroid disorders. Other than the chemicals, heavily processed foods will do little for your body.
Focus on Eating Enough Vegetables
Most people with thyroid issues will focus on the vegetables that they should remove from their diets. Doctors recommend that people suffering hypothyroidism should avoid eating cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, brusells sprouts, kale, and the like. Even so, the best approach is to eat enough vegetables. This will generally mean mixing up the vegetables you include in your diet. This way, you are not taking an excess of ions and nutrients from one group of vegetables and not taking enough of the other.
Resist Headlining Diets
Several healthcare providers have come up with headlining diets for weight loss and the health of different body organs. Do not be tempted to take up one touted as the best for your thyroid health without your doctor’s input. Some of these diets might worsen your symptoms.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine marks one of the most common stimulants. High consumption of tea, carbonated drinks, and coffee will deliver considerable doses of caffeine to your body. The caffeine generally raises your cortisol levels and worsens your sugar imbalance. These, in turn, will worsen your thyroid disorder symptoms.
With the above guidelines, a functional medicine specialist will work with you to get the right dietary rhythm for your body. You might need to tweak the diet several times before getting one that works best. With the proper diet, you are sure to have effective control of your thyroid gland.
