Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is the leading cause of hypothyroidism. It’s responsible for more than 90% of cases. If you’ve been diagnosed or think you may be at risk, there are medical treatments and lifestyle changes that can help you to manage underactive thyroid symptoms.

Hypothyroidism develops when your immune system mistakenly targets healthy cells.
This autoimmune disorder interferes with thyroid function and causes chronic inflammation.

Eventually, your thyroid gland may be unable to produce enough hormones for its usual functions. That includes regulating your metabolism and body temperature.

With smart decisions, you may be able to avoid the weight gain and fatigue often associated with an underactive thyroid. Learn more about how to live with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Lifestyle Tips for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Try To Eat As Clean As You Can

Ultra-processed products are a major source of inflammation. Plan your meals and snacks around natural whole foods. Make sure you are filling your plate with a variety of foods that have a lower inflammatory threshold. Choose healthy fats and lean proteins.

There are diet plans out their to help guide you through the process of identifying what may be a trigger for you. Remember to always consult your physician or seek out help from a holistic nutritionist, who can help you set a road map to less inflammation.

Manage Food Sensitivities

Certain foods may add to your digestive troubles. Common culprits include dairy products, eggs, peanuts, and caffeine. Try removing them from your diet one at a time to see if it makes a difference.

Avoid Gluten

This protein found in wheat and other grains is more likely to trigger an immune response if you have a medical condition such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Check food labels and buy a cookbook that will teach you about gluten substitutes and foods that are naturally gluten-free.

Work Smarter, Not Harder With Exercise

Working out can give you more energy. It may also help to relieve depression, stiffness, and other symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Be careful on the selection of exercise and activity, as too strenuous of exercises can promote a negative response for your body.

Try starting with lower impact type of activities and to limit the amount of intense cardiovascular activity. If you over exercise, you may deplete out specific thyroid hormone levels that will negatively impact your energy levels.

Protect Your Joints

While physical activity is beneficial, it’s important to avoid overdoing it, especially if you experience muscle and joint aches. Listen to your body and schedule rest days.

Lose Weight

Slimming down can be more challenging when you have a thyroid condition. However, it’s important because those excess pounds can aggravate your symptoms. Follow a sensible diet and workout plan and talk with your doctor if you need more help.

This sometimes can place you between a rock and a hard place, as sometimes the secondary impairments related to Hashimoto’s wreak havoc on your weight, regardless of how clean a diet you may have and/or how much you exercise.

It is important to have a team of clinicians in your corner who are treating the root cause and can fully understand YOUR symptoms, as everyone’s experience with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis will be different.

Sleep Well

Adequate rest helps your body to heal. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and stick to a consistent bedtime. Understand that poor sleep can also be impacted by poor gut health, which can also affect your Hashimoto’s.

Reduce Stress

High levels of cortisol and other stress hormones can block thyroid hormones and increase inflammation. Find relaxation practices that work for you or talk about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member.

Sometimes family members or friends may not understand what you may be battling on a daily basis, so you may want to seek out a counselor who specializes in Autoimmune Conditions to help better understand what you may be going through and to help develop strategies that will work best for you.

Medical Treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Know Your Risks

Females have significant higher likelihood to develop Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis than males, about a seven fold increase. Other risk factors include your family history or having other autoimmune conditions.

Get Diagnosed

You may not notice thyroid symptoms because they develop slowly. Some signs may include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, mental confusion, and mood changes. Your doctor can give you a physical exam and test your thyroid function and antibody levels.

Be your own advocate to ensure you are being heard. With Hashimoto’s, just because you may fall within normal ranges on blood tests does not necessarily mean that it may be a normal range for you. Having someone in your corner who understands your presentation of symptoms and individualizes your treatment plan is crucial, as this is an ever evolving Autoimmune Condition, and may present in many different forms throughout your life.

Take The Right Medication

If your thyroid function is normal, your doctor may suggest a wait and see approach that will include testing at regular intervals. Otherwise, you’ll probably be prescribed a synthetic hormone called levothyroxine, which is considered very safe and effective. Something to take into consideration for those who do not respond favorably to a medication, may have to consider if some of the fillers in the medications may be hindering the effectiveness.

This may be a process to figure out what is most beneficial for you and to hone in on an effective dosage, and may frequently have to be adjusted based on your symptoms and your levels on blood tests. Just because you may not respond favorably to levothyroxine does not mean you have to lose hope, as there are alternative medications that may be better suited for you, and this is where the importance of being your own advocate and having clinicians who are there to listen are of the highest priority.

Discuss supplements

You may see ads for thyroid supplements, but they’re often unnecessary. Your physician may prescribe supplements to help address the secondary impairments that may be worsening your Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis symptoms and to promote better balance within your body. Check with your doctor first. Your physician can also advise you on how supplements or foods may affect your medication.

Experiences with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis vary widely from one individual to another. Talk with your doctor about what combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments can help you to be more comfortable and productive.

A Beautiful Soul Holistic Counseling provides a holistic counseling approach to help clients achieve optimal health and wellness. 

We serve Chandler, Gilbert, and Greater Phoenix areas. We offer the following services: Individual/Couples/Group Counseling for Anxiety, Autoimmune Conditions, Behavioral Issues, Child Counseling, Chronic Pain, Coping Skills, Depression, Divorce, Eating Disorders, Emotional Disturbances, Infertility, Infidelity, Integrative Mental Health, Marital and Premarital, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD), Parenting, Peer Relationships, School Issues, Self Esteem, Stress Management, Trauma/PTSD, Weight Loss, Women’s Issues.