Treating Hyperthyroidism Naturally with 3 Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies

Treating hyperthyroidism naturally first requires that we have a better understanding of the root cause of this overactive thyroid function. And yes, many individuals can restore healthy thyroid function using a combination of functional nutrition and lifestyle strategies!

Understanding Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism affects about 1.2% of the population in the United States, with women being 5 times more likely to be affected than men. 

In cases of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. This can lead to a myriad of symptoms –  nervousness, irritability, lack of focus, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, heat intolerance, muscle weakness or twitching, diarrhea, excessive thirst, itchiness, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, hair loss or thinning, increased appetite, or enlarged thyroid gland (also called a goiter).

Hyperthyroidism has a handful of downstream effects that impact reproductive hormones and the menstrual cycle. We often see an increase in prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, as well as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). 

SHBG is important for hormone regulation in the body and binds up hormones like estrogen and testosterone, making them less usable in the body. This can cause irregular periods and decreased menstrual flow. It can even cause anovulatory cycles and amenorrhea, or a loss of a period.

Identifying Hyperthyroidism

To identify hyperthyroidism we need to look at thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as thyroid hormones (free T3 and free T4). TSH is a brain hormone that tells the thyroid how much work it needs to do. TSH levels have an inverse relationship to thyroid function, meaning the lower TSH is the faster the thyroid is functioning. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by TSH levels below 0.5 mIU/L.

To truly assess thyroid function, it’s crucial to look beyond the brain’s signaling to the thyroid gland and also look at thyroid hormone levels. T4 is the inactive thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. T4 is converted to activated T3 in tissues located throughout the body. 

In order to assess the amount of thyroid hormones that are available to be used by the body, we want to test Free T4 and Free T3 levels. In the case of hyperthyroidism, Free T4 and/or Free T3 may be elevated (above 1.8 ng/dL for Free T4, and above 4.2 pg/mL). We offer this comprehensive thyroid testing in our Thyroid Testing Panel.

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

Once you identify overactive thyroid function, it’s important to dive deeper into any potential causes in order to guide an appropriate treatment plan. Causes of overactive thyroid function may include an autoimmune condition (Graves’ disease), a structural or physiological abnormality (thyroid nodules), a side effect of certain medications, among others.

In Graves’ Disease, or autoimmune hyperthyroidism, the immune system attacks receptors on the thyroid gland, resulting in the overstimulation of thyroid hormone production. We can assess thyroid autoimmunity by testing for thyroid antibodies in the blood. These include antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (Anti-TPO), as well as thyrotropin receptor antibodies (Anti-TR).

Another key driver of hyperthyroidism, and often less talked about, is oxidative stress! Oxidative stress is seen in all types of thyroid disorders, and can cause both underactive and overactive thyroid function. 

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Thyroid Health

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in the body between free radicals, or oxidative stressors, and antioxidants. Free radicals are molecules that are significant oxidative stressors, and wreak havoc on all cells and body systems if not neutralized by antioxidants.

In part, oxidative stress is driven by internal factors. For example, certain hormones can have pro-oxidant effects and contribute to free radical formation. External factors that increase oxidative stress can come from our food, lifestyle habits, environmental toxins, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), heavy metals, and mold mycotoxins. That being said, certain foods can have neutralizing effects on this oxidative stress – stay tuned.

Oxidative stress especially affects our mitochondria, which are the energy-producing centers in our cells. Mitochondrial health is critical for hormone health as well as immune and nervous system health. When mitochondria are damaged or altered by oxidative stress, this can lead to thyroid inflammation, autoimmunity, and other downstream hormonal complications such as fertility issues.

Recall that oxidative stress can lead to all types of thyroid dysfunction, causing both underactive and overactive thyroid function. However, oxidative stress is especially important in hyperthyroidism because of the increased thyroid hormone production. The thyroid gland actually uses and forms free radicals to produce thyroid hormones. This in itself can produce more oxidative stress. This is especially important in hyperthyroidism because this process is happening faster than it would if the thyroid was functioning normally.

The thyroid gland has an internal defense system to help protect itself from the free radicals formed during thyroid hormone production. However, excess free radical formation without enough antioxidants to neutralize those free radicals can cause damage to the thyroid cells, resulting in more thyroid dysfunction.

By reducing oxidative stress, we can support the root cause of so much thyroid dysfunction and improve hormone health.

Functional Strategies to Support Hyperthyroidism & Reduce Oxidative Stress 

1. Thyroid-supportive Minerals

Minerals are essential nutrients that serve as spark plugs for the chemical reactions that produce energy in the body. Minerals are also required to activate thyroid hormones. Without them, brain-to-thyroid communication, thyroid hormone production, and thyroid hormone conversion can all be negatively impacted.

We can get a variety of essential and trace minerals through food sources, for example pumpkin seeds, beans and legumes, animal-based proteins, root vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables. Unfortunately, because of current widespread farming practices, our soil, and therefore the food that comes from it, is significantly nutrient-depleted compared to decades ago. 

This is where implementing a complete mineral complex that has an appropriate balance of essential and trace minerals can serve as a helpful nutritional insurance policy. Minerals such as iodine, selenium, and zinc are the building blocks of thyroid hormone production and conversion. 

Mineral deficiencies or insufficiencies are known drivers of inflammation. Certain minerals, such as iodine, can also cause thyroid dysfunction if consumed in excess, so it’s important to replenish minerals using a balanced approach, which is something we guide you through in our Inflammation Hormony program.

2. Daily Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatories

Antioxidants are directly responsible for helping neutralize free radicals and decrease oxidative stress. Antioxidants are naturally occurring in many plant foods, such as citrus fruits and dark berries, dark leafy green and allium vegetables (onions, garlic, etc.), high-quality extra virgin olive oil, green tea, ginger, and turmeric.

These foods are packed with phytonutrients, which are beneficial compounds in plants, many of which have antioxidant properties. Consume a variety of plant foods daily to get a diverse spread of different phytonutrients. For more potent antioxidant support, we can turn to supplementation to ensure we are getting therapeutic, or clinically effective, doses of these nutrients. 

Certain trace minerals even act as antioxidants, which we can get through a variety of food sources (like pumpkin seeds and beans!) as well as in supplement form. We cannot forget one of the most important antioxidants for our liver, glutathione! Glutathione is critical for liver detoxification and decreasing the burden of oxidative stress. 

Anti-inflammatory nutrients help decrease the inflammation caused by oxidative stress. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that have anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3s are what we call essential fats, meaning that we have to get them through our diet or supplementation. Salmon, sardines, mackerel, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts are all great sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. 

3. Lifestyle Changes to Support Thyroid Function 

Psychological stress, especially chronic or long-term stress, has strong physical effects on the body. It contributes to oxidative stress throughout the body, taxes our adrenal glands, which make the stress hormone cortisol, and even can impact brain health.

The best part is, there are countless stress management techniques that are completely free! Meditation and breathwork have been shown to reduce oxidative stress both in the moment, reducing cortisol levels, and in the long-term, improving stress responses. These practices can take many shapes, so find a form that works best for you. Audio guided meditations and box breathing exercises (inhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds) are two great ways to start!

Red light therapy is another tool that can help diminish oxidative stress by decreasing free radical formation and easing inflammation. Red light therapy has also been shown to improve mitochondrial function, while we know plays a pivotal role in hormone and thyroid health.

Exercise can either help or hinder inflammation and oxidative stress. Overtraining can mean exercising at a higher intensity or for a longer duration than your body can handle, as well as not giving your body appropriate recovery time. As you can imagine, this is a major contributor to oxidative stress. If we design our exercise plan appropriately, we can leverage this acute inflammation for maximum fitness benefit, while minimizing oxidative stress. This is the core philosophy of our Strength in Hormones workout program.

Steps to Treating Hyperthyroidism Naturally

Maybe you haven’t been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, but you know something is off and you’d like to explore your symptoms further. The first step is getting the appropriate lab testing. 

Many thyroid disorders go under the radar for far too long because alterations to lab values are still within what is considered within “normal” range by many labs. However, “normal” does not mean optimal, and it’s important to look at all thyroid labs to better understand the full scope of your thyroid function. Check out our Thyroid Testing Package today to get started!

Written by Romana Brennan, MS, RDN