Why do Most People Often Misunderstand Thyroid Health?

Thyroid health plays a key role in how your body works every day. While many people know about hypothyroidism, fewer understand hyperthyroidism. 

Graves' disease, one of its leading causes, often goes unnoticed despite its wide impact. It can trigger symptoms like a fast heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, and heat sensitivity. 

These symptoms can feel confusing and may build up before anyone connects them to the thyroid. As more people turn to natural ways to support their health, there's growing interest in how stress, food, and gut health affect the thyroid.

Dr. Eric Osansky understands this better than most. He's a licensed chiropractor and functional medicine expert who works with people facing thyroid conditions, especially hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease. He was diagnosed with Graves' himself in 2008 and healed through natural methods. That experience shaped his career and inspired his mission to help others going through similar challenges.

Today, he helps people remotely through telemedicine and shares what he's learned on the Save My Thyroid Podcast as the founder of Save My Thyroid. He's also written several books on the topic, including Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and The Hyperthyroid Healing Diet.

In this article, we'll look at how Graves' disease affects the body, what causes it, and how to manage symptoms. We'll also explore diet, gut health, stress, detox options, and other natural ways to support the thyroid without harsh treatments.

What Is Graves' Disease and How Does It Affect Thyroid Health

Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition that causes the thyroid to become overactive. It leads to hyperthyroidism, where the body makes too much thyroid hormone. 

This condition often gets less attention than hypothyroidism, but it affects many people and works differently.

                                Image Credits: Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

             ALT Text: What Is Graves' Disease and How Does It Affect Thyroid Health

What Happens in the Body?

In Graves', the immune system creates antibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI). These antibodies trick the thyroid into making more hormones than needed. 

This causes:

• High levels of T3 and T4
• Very low or undetectable TSH

With Graves' disease, hormone levels go up while TSH drops. This creates many symptoms linked to too much thyroid activity.

The Role of Reverse T3 in Thyroid Health

People with hyperthyroidism often have high reverse T3. The body may use this to slow hormone effects. It tries to block some hormones from entering cells.

However, enough hormones still get through to cause symptoms. Since reverse T3 stays high and doesn't affect treatment, it's not often tested.

Where Is T3 Produced?

The thyroid mostly makes T4. The body then converts it into T3. About 60% of this happens in the liver, 20% in the gut, and the rest in other tissues. A poor liver can slow this process, even if the thyroid works well.

What Triggers Graves'?

Graves starts with an autoimmune reaction. The body attacks the thyroid by mistake. This pushes it to make too much hormone. Experts still don't fully understand why this happens.

Common Symptoms Graves' often causes:

• Rapid heart rate, even at rest
• Unexplained weight loss
• More hunger
• Heat intolerance

Strict diets and hard training may trigger it in some people. Genetics also plays a role.

Natural Ways to Support Thyroid Health Safely

Hyperthyroidism often comes with a fast heart rate, weight loss, shaky hands, anxiety, and poor sleep. Some also lose bone strength over time due to fast metabolism. These symptoms need attention before working on long-term healing.

                                Image Credits: Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

                             ALT Text: Natural Ways to Support Thyroid Health Safely

Managing Symptoms First

Most people begin with anti-thyroid medicine. These drugs slow down thyroid hormone production. They help quickly but can cause problems. That's why doctors check blood often during treatment.

Common side effects include:

1. Liver stress: Medicine can raise liver enzymes, which may lead to liver issues.
2. Low white blood cells: This can weaken the immune system and raise the risk of infection.
3. Hypothyroid symptoms: Too much medicine can swing hormone levels too low, leading to fatigue or weight gain.
4. Other reactions: Some people feel off, get rashes, or have headaches and stomach issues.

Natural Support Options

Bugleweed is one herb that may help. It lowers how much the thyroid gets told to work. This can reduce hormone levels. Many notice a drop in heart rate and fewer palpitations. It doesn't work for everyone, but it is worth trying with guidance.

L-carnitine is another tool. In higher doses, it may block thyroid hormones from entering cells. Some studies show it helps in strong cases of hyperthyroidism. It's not a cure, but it can help with symptoms.

Root Causes That Disrupt Thyroid Health

Stress and lifestyle habits often play a big part. Overwork, poor sleep, or bad food can push the body too hard. Gut health also matters. 

A weak gut barrier can affect the immune system. While tests exist, many experts focus more on improving diet, reducing stress, and building healthy habits to support thyroid health.

How Diet Gut Health and Stress Impact Thyroid Health

Hyperthyroidism often stems from deeper issues in the body. These include poor gut health, ongoing stress, and immune system imbalance. Understanding these links helps create a better plan to support healing.

                                     Image Credits: Photo by Anna Keibalo on Unsplash

                         ALT Text: How Diet Gut Health and Stress Impact Thyroid Health

The Gut and Immune Response

The gut plays a major role in how the immune system works. Many people with thyroid problems also deal with bloating, gas, or food issues. Often, there's too much bacteria or yeast in the gut.

This can release toxins like LPS, triggering inflammation and keeping the immune system alert. Some people feel better after removing foods that feed gut bacteria. Cutting out fiber or FODMAPs can help lower symptoms for a while.

These diets reduce the fuel that bacteria feed on. While not always a long-term fix, they often bring relief when things feel out of balance. Instead of focusing on antibody tests, many practitioners look at symptoms and simple stool tests.

If someone has SIBO or signs of a disrupted gut, the goal is to lower harmful bacteria and support gut balance. Easing gut stress often helps calm the immune system, too.

Diet and Testing

Most plans start with diet. A whole-food, anti-inflammatory approach works best. Many use the autoimmune paleo (AIP) diet to reduce gut stress and immune reactions.

Key AIP eliminations include:

• Grains and legumes: Common triggers that may slow gut healing.
• Dairy: Often hard to digest and may inflame the gut.
• Eggs, nuts, and seeds: Nutritious but common allergens.
• Nightshades: Foods like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant may irritate the gut lining.

This diet helps calm the immune system while giving the body what it needs to heal. Testing can help guide the next steps.

The Stress Connection

Chronic stress affects gut health, hormones, and immune function. Emotional stress, even from years ago, can still impact the body. It may show up as skin issues, fatigue, or digestive trouble. That's why stress management is not optional.

Simple tools like deep breathing, walks, or guided apps work well if used daily. The diet helps, but healing often stalls without managing stress, too.

Can Chiropractic Care and Detox Support Thyroid Health?

The nervous system controls many body functions, including digestion, hormone flow, and thyroid activity. When nerves become irritated, signals between the brain and the thyroid can get disrupted. That can stress the body and affect how well the thyroid works.

                                       Image Credits: Photo by Marc Zeman on Unsplash

                      ALT Text: Can Chiropractic Care and Detox Support Thyroid Health

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system. While most people use it for back or neck pain, it may help in other ways. Misalignment in the neck or upper back can affect nearby nerves that support thyroid function. Upper spine areas also influence signals from the brain and pituitary gland.

Chiropractic care isn't a direct treatment for thyroid problems. But in some cases, reducing nerve stress may support better balance. It may also help if gut inflammation is present since the spine and gut sit close together.

Addressing Toxins and Endocrine Disruptors

Many everyday items, like plastic bottles and containers, release chemicals that disrupt hormones. These substances, called endocrine disruptors, can mimic or block estrogen and thyroid hormones.

They may also damage the gut barrier and worsen inflammation. You can't avoid all toxins, but can lower your daily exposure. Start by switching to glass or stainless-steel bottles and avoiding food stored in plastic. 

Also, support your body's detox with clean food, water, and regular sweating. Sauna use helps many people. Even sweating during exercise may support this process.

Plastics may bind to hormone receptors, causing more problems over time. While one small change won't fix everything, each step helps lower the burden on your system.

Are Cruciferous Vegetables Safe for Thyroid Health

Some people worry that broccoli or cauliflower lowers thyroid function. But for most, they're safe to eat.

1. Even large amounts rarely affect thyroid levels
2. Most people don't notice worse symptoms
3. Avoid them if they make you feel worse
4. Most can enjoy them as part of a balanced diet

Conclusion

Improving thyroid health starts by looking at the bigger picture, not just the thyroid itself. Graves' disease often begins when the immune system, gut, and stress levels fall out of balance.

Managing only symptoms may help in the short term, but real change comes from daily choices that support the body as a whole. Food, rest, and stress all play a role. A clean, whole-food diet helps calm the immune system and reduce gut stress.

Regular stress relief, like deep breathing or short walks, supports healing too. It may seem simple, but these habits often bring lasting results when done consistently. Avoiding plastics and other hormone-disrupting chemicals also makes a difference.

While it's hard to avoid them all, small changes still help. Use glass containers, stay hydrated, and get regular movement or sauna time to support detox. Chiropractic care may offer extra support by reducing nerve tension.

This can help if nerve signals between the brain, thyroid, and gut are disrupted. For some people, it creates space for healing. Everyone's path looks a little different. Focus on what you can control.

Support your body with steady habits. Listen to how you feel. With time, these steps can help bring your thyroid back into balance. Small actions, done daily, often lead to big changes.

FAQs

Can exercise help improve thyroid health?

Yes. Daily movement supports blood flow, reduces stress, and helps the body regulate hormones better.

Does sleep affect thyroid health?

Poor sleep can raise stress hormones, which may worsen thyroid issues. Good sleep helps the body heal and stay balanced.

Can birth control pills affect thyroid health?

Some pills may affect thyroid hormone levels and how they bind in the body. Always discuss changes with your doctor.

Is weight gain or loss always linked to thyroid health?

Not always. However, unexplained weight changes, especially with other symptoms, may point to a thyroid issue.

Can thyroid health affect mental focus or mood?

Yes. Thyroid imbalances can cause brain fog, anxiety, or a low mood. Balancing hormones often improves mental clarity.