5 Simple Ways To Heal Your Thyroid Holistically
Are you struggling with thyroid issues and looking for natural ways to restore your health? It’s time to explore the power of holistic healing and discover five simple and effective methods to naturally restore your thyroid health.
The thyroid gland plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and overall well-being. When it's not functioning optimally, it can lead to a range of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, and mood swings. Instead of relying solely on traditional medications, I encourage my patients to explore holistic approaches to support their thyroid health and fix imbalances.
In this blog, I’ll go over the five most common strategies I use with my patients to get them real results when treating thyroid dysfunction like hyperthyroidism, Graves disease, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:
Dietary modifications
Stress Management
Gut health optimization
Supporting detoxification pathways
Thyroid hormone replacement
1. Dietary Modifications
The first thing you want to do is make sure you're getting enough of the right nutrients to support your thyroid health. Here are the most common nutrients I see lacking in my thyroid and patients and why they're important for healing thyroid dysfunction:
Iodine: Needed for thyroid hormone production (found in sea vegetables and iodized salt)
Selenium: Supports the conversion of T4 to T3 and helps reduce autoimmune thyroid issues (found in Brazil nuts, fish, eggs)
Zinc: Plays a role in T3 production (found in meats, shellfish, and pumpkin seeds)
Iron: Essential for thyroid hormone synthesis (from red meat, lentils, spinach).
Tyrosine: An amino acid that is a building block for thyroid hormones (found in poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy).
Vitamin D: Regulates the immune system and may help in autoimmune thyroid conditions. Often supplemented when levels are lowOnce you start including these nutrients, you also need to ensure you're following an anti-inflammatory diet. You can reduce inflammation throughout your entire body by incorporating whole foods rich in antioxidants and healthy fats (like omega-3s from fish), while avoiding the common culprits of inflammation: processed foods, sugar, and inflammatory oils.
If you can’t get enough of these from whole food sources, there are thyroid-specific supplements out there that include many (or all) of these nutrients to help you get on the right track.
I also recommend you follow a gluten-free diet, especially is autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) is suspected or confirmed. This is because gluten may trigger an autoimmune reaction in some people.
2. Stress management
The next thing you want to manage besides your nutrient intake is your stress. High stress and cortisol levels can inhibit T4 to T3 conversion and increase Reverse T3. You need to make it a goal every day to take steps to reduce your overall stress.
Here are some activities I ask my patients to incorporate:
Meditation or mindfulness
Regular exercise, like yoga or walking
Adequate sleep hygiene to improve sleep duration and quality
Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil to support adrenal health and reduce stress
3. Gut health optimization
Since poor gut health is linked to autoimmune issues and thyroid problems, healing the gut (especially suspected leaky gut) is critical for improving thyroid dysfunction. This might include:
Eating a low-inflammatory, gut-healing diet, such as the autoimmune paleo diet or eliminating common irritants like gluten, dairy, and processed sugars
Adding probiotics to your diet by eating probiotic-rich foods ( like fermented foods) or taking probiotic supplements every day to balance the gut flora
Identifying any food sensitivities, since food allergies or sensitivities can contribute to inflammation and thyroid imbalance. I know I sound like a broken record here, but test for gluten, dairy, and soy at a minimum for this part of the approach.
4. Support detoxification pathways
Now it's time to reduce your toxic load by opening up your detox pathways. Here's what that can often look like for thyroid dysfunction:
Liver Support: Since the liver plays a crucial role in the conversion of T4 to T3, supporting liver detoxification through proper hydration, a nutrient-dense diet, and targeted supplements (e.g., milk thistle, NAC) can be beneficial
Reduce Exposure to Toxin: Minimize exposure to endocrine disruptors like BPA, phthalates, and heavy metals that can impair thyroid function. Consider detox protocols, depending on toxin load
5. Thyroid hormone replacement (if necessary)
I don’t love to jump to thyroid replacement therapy, but I do believe it can make a positive impact in certain circumstances. Especially in cases where dietary and lifestyle interventions are insufficient. In this case, we may need to address your hormones with supplements, like:
Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT): (e.g., Armour Thyroid, Nature-Thyroid) contains both T4 and T3. This can often be a better option than synthetic T4 (Levothyroxine) alone, especially for people with poor T4-to-T3 conversion.
T3 Supplementation: In some cases, direct T3 supplementation (Liothyronine) might be used to address low Free T3 levels, especially if Reverse T3 is elevated, indicating a problem with T4-to-T3 conversion.
Ready to get started?
Unlocking the power of holistic healing for thyroid health involves a multifaceted approach that addresses physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors. By implementing the steps above, we are able to heal the root causes of my clients’ thyroid issues.
Embracing a holistic approach means prioritizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Each aspect of our lives, from the food we consume to the relationships we nurture, plays a role in our thyroid health. As we explore natural remedies and lifestyle modifications, we empower ourselves to take control of our well-being and cultivate a healthier, happier life.
Are you ready to get started healing your thyroid naturally? Or maybe there’s another issue you’re facing that traditional medicine has failed to heal. As a functional medicine practitioner, I’m here to help. Let’s solve your thyroid problems together. Let’s get started with a free, 20-minute consult. I can’t wait to learn more about you and help craft a plan to help you thrive.
✨ To your healing,✨
Lexianna
