8 Habits that are hurting your thyroid health
Studies indicate that thyroid problems and disorders are among the leading health issues faced by people today. The age group that gets affected the most are college going youth and the young working population; that is people between 15 to 40 years of age. Thyroid disorders are often genetic, but with modern lifestyle, these disorders are often linked with dietary patterns and stress.
The thyroid gland controls a vast number of body functions that are linked to the brain, heart, and digestive systems. Therefore, any kind of thyroid dysfunction will negatively impact overall quality of health. Fortunately, a few minor changes in routine lifestyle habits can greatly improve the form and function of your thyroid and save you from needing any expensive thyroid treatment medication. Let’s look at habits that you need to drop to recover thyroid health.
- Taking too much stress
Stress almost seems normal these days; a part of the hectic city life. However, what most people aren’t aware of is the heavy impact of stress on the body’s internal systems. High levels of stress cause digestive dysfunction, blood sugar irregularities, and lead to the onset of autoimmune diseases. These disorders weaken the adrenal glands and cause thyroid problems.
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Consuming too much sugar
Sugar is found in almost all our daily foods including bread, biscuits, processed snacks, breakfast cereal, and even beverages. Excess sugar in the blood causes the pancreas to secrete increasing amounts of insulin. In turn, our body often develops a resistance to insulin which can harm normal thyroid function.
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Eating a diet based on processed foods
Processed foods are bad for the body for the same reason as sugar. A diet high in processed foods causes the body’s normal insulin levels to yo-yo and sends mixed signals throughout the body. Processed foods are often simple carbs that burn fast and release sugar in the blood. A high intake of processed foods can wreck your metabolism and cause the thyroid to malfunction.
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Smoking daily
You need to stub out that habit for cigarettes, if you want to get your thyroid health back on track. Apart from being bad for your lungs, the hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke is harmful to your thyroid gland. Smoking may prove to be a tough habit to quit, but it is a necessary one.
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Not getting enough sleep
Sleep is the body’s natural way of recovering and healing. You need an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to maintain your health. Sufficient sleep helps eliminate stress, smoothens out the function of the digestive system and helps repair the immune system. Less sleep weakens the adrenal glands and slows down the thyroid function leading to hypothyroidism.
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Drinking too much of coffee
Studies have found that coffee is highly inflammatory and can damage the gut lining. Moreover, consuming a cup of coffee on an empty stomach can cause acidity and increase a craving for carbs. This sudden rush of sugar in the body imbalances the insulin levels and can create thyroid problems.
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Leading a sedentary lifestyle
Whether we are in college or at work, we stay chained to a desk for the better part of our waking hours. Workload and time spent travelling leave very little space for us to indulge in physical activities. Sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of thyroid problems especially in the metro cities. Our metabolism needs to be stimulated with the right balance of a healthy diet and exercise to stay fit. A sluggish metabolism is one of the first warning signals of a thyroid disorder.
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Overdependence on medication
One of the reasons why our parents probably do not face thyroid issues is because they did not rely on medicines to cure most of their common ailments. Often, a slight cold or a cough can be healed with rest and good food. Popping a pill, each time you feel mildly sick or tired can harm your body organs in the long run. Try to get as much of nutrition as possible from food and avoid taking multivitamin supplements unless you are really ill.
Healing the thyroid
The good news is that thyroid problems are very much curable, in the initial stage, through a change in diet and lifestyle habits. If you still feel unwell or low inspite of following a healthy routine, then it might be time to get your thyroid hormone levels checked.
Homeopathic thyroid treatment is a popular choice among those suffering from hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Homeopathy treats each patient keeping in mind genetic factors, susceptibility to thyroid gland weakness and lifestyle habits. Homeopathic medicine is safe and free from chemicals and side-effects. Do consult at your nearest homeopathic clinic today for a complete check-up on your thyroid function.
