The thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck, above the collarbone, is an endocrine organ whose main function is the secretion of hormones. Thus, it regulates many vital processes and activities of the body.
We emphasize that the thyroid gland is crucial for metabolic functions. It also affects mood, heart rate, and body temperature. Thyroid problems have several health consequences and a negative impact on quality of life.
For this reason, it is important to know what habits can affect this and, of course, take preventive measures before a serious problem arises. Below we want to tell you about the 7 most common ones so that you try to avoid them as much as possible.
How To Keep Your Thyroid Healthy?
Thyroid dysfunction is due to several reasons. Sometimes it can be caused by bad habits such as smoking. Find out more!
1. Smoking
Tobacco use increases the likelihood of thyroid disease. Although the main effects of smoking are in the respiratory system, smokers make up the majority of patients with thyroid disease. This is because tobacco lowers thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. This hormone is involved in metabolism, maintaining eye health, and the cardiovascular system. You should quit smoking as it is not good for the normal functioning of your body.
2. Drinking Alcohol
Everyone knows about the harmful effects of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, it is worth mentioning that the thyroid gland is one of the most vulnerable organs. The liver suffers the most because it is responsible for filtering and metabolizing these drinks.
However, toxins enter the bloodstream and interfere with hormone production, among other things. Alcohol consumption can interfere with weight loss. Its excess contributes to the development of metabolic problems. Thus, it is not wrong to say that alcohol interferes with the functioning of the thyroid indirectly.
You need to know if you have an alcohol addiction so you can get rid of it. If you meet the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder as mentioned by American Psychiatric Association (APA), it is important to get immediate help. It will help to keep your thyroid as well as your overall body fit and healthy.
3. Sedentary Lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle affects the development of many disorders that threaten physical and emotional health. Among them are thyroid diseases. Lack of activity increases the tendency to accumulate fat. This can lead to overweight, obesity, and various metabolic problems such as diabetes.
The latter also includes hypothyroidism due to a decrease in the secretion of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism, in turn, makes it difficult to burn fat, increases the risk of heart disease, baldness, and fatigue. So you should try to move around more and spend an active lifestyle to prevent thyroid problems.
4. Stress
The inability to control the stress that occurs in everyday life can provoke a malfunction of the thyroid gland. The thyroid functioning and the endocrine system gets affected by a person’s emotional state. High-stress levels affect thyroid hormone levels.
As a result, hormonal imbalances occur that affect the health of other body systems. So find healthier ways to deal with stress, such as breathing exercises and practicing yoga. You can even try going out with friends and spending time with loved ones to cope with stress.
5. Diet Low In Iodine
Low iodine levels are a common cause of thyroid problems. Among them, the most common is hypothyroidism. The body needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones. Here are some foods rich in iodine:
- Sea salt
- Seaweed
- Blueberry
- Yogurt
- Beans
- Potato
- Green pea
- Pineapple
- Chocolate
You should try to include more iodine-rich foods in your diet to improve your thyroid’s functioning.
6. Gluten Consumption
In patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, thyroid health may be compromised due to the effects of gluten proteins on the body. This happens because the immune system attacks healthy tissue when it detects this substance in the body. As a result, it can cause a variety of problems in the gut and thyroid.
It is important to rule out gluten intolerance unless another explanation for thyroid disease is found. To do this, you need to see a doctor and avoid following any restrictive diet, as this can only exacerbate the problem. You should not get worried and try to find the cause of the problem before making any impulsive changes in your diet.
7. Excessive Consumption Of Soy
There is no denying that soy is a healthy food with numerous nutritional benefits. However, its consumption should not be excessive. In large amounts, it can inhibit the absorption of thyroid hormones.
Those who already have thyroid disease should limit or completely eliminate soy and all its derivatives from the diet. Besides, if you take any medication to cure the problem, soy will again interfere with the absorption of medicine in the body. Thus, it is better to exclude it from your diet.
8. Excessive Consumption of Sugar
We all are well aware of the harmful effects of sugar on our bodies. It is one of the leading causes of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other serious health threats. Another major concern is that it slows down the conversion of thyroid hormones because sugar causes inflammation in the body.
Thus, if a person is already suffering from hypothyroidism, excessive consumption of sugar will only worsen his or her condition. So if you want to improve your thyroid health and avoid further complications, you should limit sugar intake.
Take Away
A healthy thyroid ensures the well-being of our whole body. Thus, it is important to take special care of the well-being of this vital organ. We mentioned some bad habits in this article that interfere with its functioning.
Do you have these bad habits? If so, try to get rid of them as a preventive measure to protect your thyroid. If you have any doubts, consult your doctor, as there are many reasons that can affect the functioning of this organ.