7 Habits That Harm Your Thyroid Health
Did you know that stress and lack of exercise have negative effects on your thyroid health? You should pay attention to healthy lifestyle habits in order to prevent thyroid disorders, which also have a very negative effect on the rest of the organism.
The health of your thyroid is of the utmost importance because this butterfly-shaped hormonal gland, located just below the larynx, performs important tasks that are fundamental to various body systems.
The main function of the thyroid gland is the production of the hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine as well as the peptide hormone calcitonin. In addition, this endocrine gland stores iodine, is important for the metabolism and heart rhythm, has an influence on the state of mind and also on other vital processes that influence health and quality of life.
1. Sedentary lifestyle affects the health of your thyroid
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to various diseases, including hypothyroidism.
If you exercise too little, your physical and emotional health is not good: This means that fewer thyroid hormones are produced, the metabolism works more slowly and at the same time it leads to overweight, obesity and diabetes.
A lack of exercise leads to the following complaints:
- fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- weak hair and nails
- increased cholesterol
- high blood pressure
2. Diet low in iodine is bad for your thyroid health
Those who take in little iodine through their diet can endanger the health of the thyroid gland. This could result in an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Iodine is required for healthy thyroid activity, so it is very important to get enough of it through your diet.
The following foods contain iodine:
- sea-salt
- Himalayan salt
- blueberries
- radish
- Beans
- seafood
- chocolate
- Natural yoghurt
- Peas
3. Smoking is bad for your thyroid health
Every child knows by now that smoking is harmful to health in general and to the lungs in particular. The toxins in cigarettes get into different parts of the body via the blood, damaging tissues and cells, which also has a negative effect on the health of your thyroid.
- Tobacco reduces the level of the thyroid hormone (TSH9) and therefore leads to metabolic problems, visual problems and also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
4. Diet rich in gluten is harmful to the health of your thyroid
Gluten is a protein that often causes indigestion. People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance have to do without it altogether.
The health of the thyroid gland can also be impaired, because gluten causes inflammatory reactions and negatively affects the metabolism.
- A low-gluten diet improves the functioning of the thyroid gland and reduces the risk of secondary symptoms, which is why it is not only recommended for people with gluten intolerance.
5. Excessive consumption of soy and soy products is harmful to your thyroid health
Soy has very positive properties that we have already mentioned several times in other articles, but excessive consumption can lead to thyroid problems.
This legume can weaken the thyroid gland , especially in people in the risk group or with incipient disorders when excessive consumption , which is due to the goitrogens it contains.
Patients with thyroid disorders are therefore usually advised to avoid soy and soy products.
6. Alcoholic beverages are bad for your thyroid health
People who drink alcohol excessively are at greater risk of developing a thyroid disorder in the medium and long term.
Although the excretory organs help to filter and metabolize these drinks, many pollutants still get into the blood and can impair hormone production.
7. Uncontrolled stress is bad for your thyroid health
The endocrine system reacts sensitively to changes in the state of mind, even if we are not aware of them.
- If hormone fluctuations are not controlled, stress can also trigger physical pain.
As you can see, various factors can negatively affect the health of your thyroid. Try to break unhealthy habits and take the right measures to protect this endocrine gland.
If there is any suspicion of e-disease, you should definitely consult a doctor who can make the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment.