Does Stress Impact Your Thyroid Health?

Stress affects us in many ways that we can feel, but not necessarily identify right away.

It impacts your mental health as well as your physical health.

Since there’s a link between mental and physical health, this also means that there’s a connection between mental health and thyroid health.

Let’s take a deeper look at that connection.

What Is Your Thyroid?

The thyroid is a two-inch-long butterfly-shaped gland in your neck.

It regulates your metabolism, the process by which your body breaks down what you eat and turns it into energy.

Your metabolism can affect your heart rate, weight gain and loss, your body temperature, levels of cholesterol and your menstrual cycle, if applicable.

The thyroid also produces hormones.

How does stress impact your thyroid, and why does that matter?

How can you keep your thyroid healthy?

Keep reading to find out.

How Stress Can Contribute To Thyroid Issues

Stress slows your metabolism, which is why stress is linked to weight gain.

When thyroid functions slow during stress, its hormone production levels fall.

This condition is known as hypothyroidism.

It can make you gain weight or make you feel sluggish or depressed.

In addition, when under stress, the body is less able to make the active thyroid hormone, T3, from its precursor hormone, T4.

This reduces your metabolism even further.

Ways To Reduce Your Stress

The best way to take care of your thyroid and take care of your mind and body is to reduce stress.

Reducing stress can be a challenge because there are things in life that are inherently stressful, but it’s not impossible.

Check out my tips on how to reduce stress.

 

1. Consider Nutritional Supplements

Healthy diets are balanced diets: three meals and sometimes snacks with a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and protein each day.

To make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need, you might want to add supplements to your daily routine.

Different vitamins and minerals, such as selenium, zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins A, B, C, and E can help support your thyroid.

Iodine is also important.

Not getting enough iodine can cause hypothyroidism.

However, it’s not as simple as just throwing vitamins at yourself and hoping for the best.

To find out more about what nutrients you’re missing and how it might be contributing to a thyroid issue, contact me and let’s book a nutritional counselling session.

2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Relaxing helps your body and your mind.

It also reduces your stress levels and can lessen the impact on your thyroid.

One of the best ways to relax is with progressive muscle relaxation.

A 2015 study found that progressive muscle relaxation reduces anxiety and depression.

To engage in progressive muscle relaxation, tense and release different muscle groups in turn, all the way from your fingers to your toes.

Once your body is relaxed like this, it becomes easier to relax your mind.

Take a look at the video from Hamilton Health Sciences below to find out more about how this works.

3. Make Sure You’re Getting Quality Sleep

Stress can interfere with the quality of your sleep, but the quality of your sleep can also affect your stress levels.

Ironically, this creates a feedback loop – the worse one gets, the worse the other gets.

Therefore, aiming for a good night’s rest can help your thyroid – and your stress levels – immensely.

Try to establish a routine before bed and avoid technology before going to sleep.

Slow down before bed and let yourself ease into sleep so you feel mentally and physically prepared to rest.

4. Take A Few Deep Breaths (No, Really)

It may seem like a trivial recommendation, but deep breathing can be really good for you.

A 2017 study found that the mind-body practice of deep breathing lowers cortisol levels, which reduces stress and anxiety¹.

By taking a few moments out of your day to pause and breathe, you can help reduce your stress levels and promote the health of your thyroid.

Interestingly, many people describe smoking cigarettes as being a relaxing experience, but physiologically, nicotine actually increases physical stress.

One of the theories behind why cigarettes seem to have this calming effect is the fact that when you’re inhaling cigarette smoke, you’re taking deep breaths.

Of course, you’re inhaling a lot more than that too – at least 69 of the chemicals in cigarettes are known carcinogens².

So, if you’re feeling stressed, instead of picking up a cigarette, consider taking some deep breaths.

5. Drink Some Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is one of the most ancient herbs known to humankind and it has long been used for its healing properties.

Modern medicine has also acknowledged this, with a 2011 study describing the use of chamomile as a therapeutic agent that promotes human health³.

Mint teas can also have a similar effect.

1. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874/full
2. https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette.html
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

Book An Appointment With Nardini Naturopathic

Are you dealing with high stress levels and feel like it may be impacting your health?

Have you read the symptoms of hypothyroidism and found they hit just a little too close to home?

If so, book an appointment with me, Dr. Pat Nardini, a naturopathic doctor in Toronto.

During your initial appointment, you’ll get a chance to sit down with me and express all your health concerns.

From there, I’ll answer any questions you may have, and we’ll put together a treatment plan that works for you based on your unique health needs.

Contact me, Dr. Nardini, today.