Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by low amount of thyroid hormones in the body. This condition leads to a lot of health complications because these thyroid hormones are very important.
They control your metabolism, body temperature, repsiration, and many more. There are conventional ways of treating hypothyroidism. There are also natural ways of doing it and this post will be showing you effective home remedies for hypothyroidism.
I advice that you try these home remedies first before opting for the conventional treatment which have more side effects and can even lead to thyroid surgery.
Pure water
Water free from germs, fluoride, chlorine, and other chemicals help relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism. It relieves dry skin, moodiness, fatigue, hoarseness, cravings, constipation, etc.
Dehydration also worsens the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, to improve your condition, digestion of foods, and to relieve the symptoms of this condition, you have to increase your intake of pure water.
Drink at least 8 ounces of water every 2 hours, this is one effective home remedy for hypothyroidism. Avoid water that contains chlorine and fluoride, these two chemicals worsens hypothyroidism.
Fluoride is an endocrine disruptor and a strong carcinogen while chlorine disrupts the absorption of iodine in the body, a nutrient needed for optimal thyroid health.
Drink spring or filtered water.
Iodine
You should aim to increase the levels of iodine in your body through your diet because this has no side effects compared to excess intake of iodine supplements and medications.
Your body will use this iodine to produce thyroid hormones and you have to get it through your diet because your body cannot create iodine. Iodine is an effective home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Regular intake of iodine-rich foods will reduce your risk of hypothyroidism. Foods rich in iodine are iodized table salt, sea weed, grass-fed raw eggs, salt water fish, raw milk, etc.
Schisandra berry
In Chinese traditional medicine, this is used to treat hypothyroidism. This herb is a powerful adaptogen, it relieves the symptoms of hypothyroidism and stress.
It prevents autoimmune diseases by increasing the levels of antioxidants in your body. you can get the capsules from a reputable store or you get the powder and add it to your meals and drinks. Many use this as an effective way to treat hypothyroidism at home.
Coconut oil
This boosts your metabolism and helps to relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism. It is rich in healthy fatty acids such as caprylic acid, lauric acid, and capric acid. This is one of the most common home remedies for hypothyroidism.
This will energize you, fight fatigue and increase your skin conditions. Replace your cooking oil with coconut oil and you can also take in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil twice daily.
Fruits and vegetables
These are effective home remedies for hypothyrodism. They contain a high amount of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants that can help heal your thyroid and maintain its health.
Take them in large amounts and regularly.
Turmeric
This is a wonderful home remedy for hypothyroidism. The active ingredient in turmeric is Curcumin and it treats autoimmune diseases and inflammation. It treats the inflammation caused by hypothyroidism, hastens healing, and relieves other symptoms of this condition.
A good way to incorporate Curcumin into your diet is to take turmeric tea daily. You can make use of fresh turmeric root or turmeric root powder.
If you use turmeric powder, add 2 tablespoons of this powder to a cup of boiling water and leave it to steep for 15 minutes. You can add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper to increase the absorbability of Curcumin.
Then after 15 minutes, you drink this warm tea. If you are making use of fresh turmeric root, you can pound, grate, or slice it and boil it in a cup of clean water.
Sieve it and add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper and drink. Do this many times daily and you will see improvement. You can also add ginger root, honey, or lemon juice to make it more effective and to improve the taste.
Korean ginseng
This root herb help the body manufacture thyroid hormone, it boosts the functions and health of the thyroid gland. It contains powerful antioxidants that help treat hypothyroidism, making it a top home remedy for hypothyroidism.
It also improves the population of probiotics in your gut by serving as a prebiotic (foods for the probiotics). you can get the supplement in a good health store.
Ginger
This powerful root herb is a storehouse of important minerals needed for the optimal health and functions of the thyroid gland. These include magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
The active compound in ginger which is Gingerol is a powerful antioxidant that prevents and treats inflammation in the thyroid. Many naturopaths around the worl promote ginger as an effective home remedy for this condition.
Vitamin A
This important vitamin Plays a critical role in the metabolism of thyroid hormones. It regulates the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood and this regulates your thyroid gland.
High levels of TSH in the body can lead to an underperformance of the thyroid gland, it is also a sign that you’re your thyroid gland is having problems.
High intake of vitamin A-rich foods prevents and reduces high levels of TSH in the bloodstream, and also reduces the risks of hypothyroidism. This makes vitamin A a wonderful home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Foods rich in vitamin A are carrots, green leafy vegetables, colorful fruits and veggies, celery, etc.
Black walnut hull
This is a powerful remedy for hypothyroidism. It is a storehouse of vitamin B and C, selenium, and iodine. All these nutrients are needed for the thyroid gland to function effectively.
It also increases digestion of foods and absorption also. It treats hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency. Blackwallnut is a powerful remedy for this condition.
Foods rich in fiber
Digestive problems such as constipation and indigestion are common in people with hypothyroidism. Fiber will prevent these problems and relieve the symptoms.
Make sure you eat about 30 to 40 grams of fiber each day, it will reduce excess cholesterol, protect your heart and reduce your risks of chronic diseases. Fiber-rich foods can serve as a home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Selenium
This vital mineral is an effective home remedy for selenium. Studies have shown that people who have hypothyroidism are deficient in selenium. This vital mineral is of great benefit to people suffering from hypothyroidism.
Don’t take selenium supplements except it is recommended by your doctor, excess of this supplement is toxic to your body.
Rather you should increase your levels of selenium by eating foods rich in it, examples are tuna, shrimp, whole wheat bread, egg nuts, and grass-fed chicken.
Glutathione
This is the most powerful antioxidant produced by your body. It boosts your immune system, fights autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, and other health problems.
There are some natural foods that can boost the ability of your body to produce glutathione and some of them are garlic, avocados, asparagus, broccoli, peaches, squash, grapefruits, raw eggs, and spinach.
Eat little but not excess of goitrogens like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage because they help produce glutathione in your body.
Protein-rich foods
Foods rich in protein transport thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland to all parts of your body. It also makes sure your thyroid gland is functioning normally.
Natural sources of proteins are seeds and nuts, quinoa, legumes, organic animals and their products. Make sure they are free from hormones, antibiotics, and drugs.
Guggul
This powerful Ayurveda herb has been used in treating all kinds of thyroid problems for hundreds of years. There are even studies backing this claim and it has now been discovered that this herb supports the thyroid gland by converting the T4 thyroid hormone to the T3 thyroid hormone.
Guggul is commonly used in combination formulas used to treat thyroid problems and it is called by many names. Some of the common names for guggul are guggulipid, guggulsterones, commiphora mukul, etc.
Ashwaghanda
This is a strong adaptogen herb, it maintains proper levels of hormones in the body and helps the body responds to stress. It reduces the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone and balances the levels of T4 hormones in the body.
This herb also known as Indian ginseng converts T4 hormones into T3 hormones and it helps the thyroid gland to function properly.
Studies have shown that supplementing with this ashwangandha for 8 weeks will increase the levels of thyroid hormones in people who already have hypothyroidism.
It also reduces the severity and symptoms of this condition. You can get the supplement from a reputable health store and take like 500 mg daily.
Other adaptogenic herbs you can try are ginger, holy basil, Rhodiola, and licorice root. They top the lists of home remedies for hypothyroidism.
Cayenne pepper
Capsaicin is the active ingredient in this hot spice and it helps treat hypothyroidism by restoring the normal production of thyroid hormones. It relieves the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Add cayenne pepper to your foods and drinks. This is how you can use it as a powerful home remedy for Hypothyroidism.
Vitamin D
Many studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism. The greater the severity of vitamin D, the greater the severity of hashimoto’s and you can reduce your risk of this by getting enough sunlight.
Free range chickens and their eggs are also good sources of vitamin D. This simply means exposure to moderate sunlight is an effective home remedy for hypothyroidism.
L-tyrosine
This is an amino acid that helps your body to synthesize thyroid hormones, it relieves sleeplessness, fatigue, poor mood, and other symptoms of hypothyroidism. This is a wonder home therapy for this condition.
It also improves the functions of your neurotransmitter and sharpens your alertness. This amino acid is used in producing the feel good hormones of the body and this can help relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Get the supplement from a reputable health store and take about 500 mg two times daily as a home remedy.
Sprouted seeds
These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and they help maintain healthy levels of hormones in the body. They also maintain proper functions of your thyroid gland.
Examples of seeds you can sprout are chia seeds, flax and hemp seeds. Intake of sprouted seeds will improve your thyroid health. Use this as a daily home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Zinc
Zinc has immense benefits for your thyroid gland, it boosts the production of thyroid hormones. You can take it along with selenium to work faster and maintain a healthy thyroid gland.
A doctor can prescribe a good supplement for you, but you can also up your levels of zinc through your diet. This is a wonderful home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Eat zinc-rich foods such as grass-fed chicken, organic beef, pork, pumpkin seeds, fortified cereals, yogurt, oysters, crabs, and legumes.
Bladder wrack
This is seaweed that treats iodine deficiency. It is rich in iodine and this helps replenish lost iodine in the body. It is so effective even when taken in little amounts.
People with iodine deficiency induced hypothyroidism will benefit from this herb greatly. Add two tablespoons of this herb to a cup of boiling water. You can get it from a reputable health store.
Leave it for ten minutes and then strain before drinking, you can add raw honey to improve the taste. Take this daily to imporve your condition, it is one of the best home remedies for hypothyroidism.
Echinacea
This powerful herb has been used for hundreds of years to treat all kinds of thyroid problems. This includes hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism.
It has strong anti-inflammatory actions. You can get the capsules or tea from a good health store, take it according to the prescription on the label. This is a powerful home remedy for hypothyroidism.
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B helps improve hypothyroidism in a good number of ways. Vitamin B12 and thiamine balance the levels of thyroid hormones in the body and it also boosts neurological functions.
Vitamin B2 fights chronic fatigue because it has a powerful effect on the central nervous system. It maintains the health of your nerve cells and neurotransmitters.
It also protects your cell’s myelin sheath, this is a protective layer that covers your nerves and it converts nutrients into energy.
Natural rich sources of vitamin B complex are sesame seeds, peas, asparagus, tuna, cheese, milk, eggs, etc.
Probiotics
Studies have revealed that people with hypothyroidism have bacteria changes in their gut. These bacteria move from their colon where they usually stay to a place where they are not supposed to be like the small intestine.
This causes a condition known as “small intestine bacterial overgrowth” (SIBO). This condition can be treated by increasing your intake of probiotics and you can get this from fermented foods and fermented fruits and vegetables.
A good probiotic supplement can also be prescribed by a doctor, you can ask for the Bacillus clausii strain which is more effective for SIBO and should be taken for one month at least.
Nettle
Natural health experts call this herb “thyroid tonic”. It treats all kinds of thyroid problems and it is highly dense in iodine.
This helps in correcting iodine deficiency and replenishing this important mineral.
What to Avoid if You Have Hypothyroidism
Fluoride
Some studies have seen that fluoride displaces iodine in the body and the thyroid gland absorbs this toxic chemical instead of absorbing iodine.
This, in turn, will affect the thyroid gland and its functions. Avoid fluoride toothpaste, fluoridated water, and other products containing fluoride if you have hypothyroidism.
Gluten
This is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and there are many controversies surrounding it. Some studies have shown that people who have autoimmune diseases can develop another one if they consume gluten.
People with celiac disease and other autoimmune diseases are told not to eat gluten because their bodies will attack it mistakenly thinking and even damage the surrounding tissues.
You will notice an improvement in your condition if you remove gluten from your diet.
Alcohol
Alcohol can wreak havoc on your thyroid gland, it affects the production of thyroid hormones and even affect the levels of these hormones in your bloodstream.
This toxic substance affects the ability of your body to utilize thyroid hormones. If you have hypothyroidism, you have to cut alcohol completely from your diet.
Frozen foods and processed foods
These foods mentioned above contain a lot of sugar, they are also high in salt (sodium) and contain unnatural chemicals which act as preservatives and they are not meant to be in your body.
These chemicals can easily affect people with hypothyroidism, the sodium raises your blood pressure and your risks of hypothyroidism.
Avoid these foods if you want to improve your condition.
Sugar and sugary foods
Individuals with hypothyroidism have slow metabolism. Taking in excess sugar and sugary foods can lead to obesity, apart from the fact that sugar increases weight, your metabolism is slow, so your body cannot utilize this fast.
Excessive sugar intake can make it difficult for you to control your weight, eliminate all forms of refined sugar for your diet and you can opt for raw honey instead.
Fried and fatty foods
Excess amounts of fats in your body can affect how your body utilizes thyroid hormone replacement drugs. It can even affect the ability of your thyroid gland to produce hormones.
Reduce your intake of fats, avoid fatty meats, butter, mayonnaise, margarine, etc. Then eliminate fried foods from your diet.
References;
- Processed foods to avoid Healthline
- Selenium NCBI
- Autoimmune conditions related to hypothyroidism
- Link between hypothyroidism and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; NCBI
