15 Best Home Remedies to Improve Thyroid Function

Consulting thyroid function

One of the most common issues related to weight loss and weight gain issues is directly related to the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. The body’s metabolic rate, which burns calories faster or slower, is a part of thyroid function. No matter whether you are having trouble gaining or losing weight these 15 home remedies will help balance thyroid function.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland, which is located below and to each side of the Adam’s apple in your throat. The thyroid is directly connected to the pituitary gland and functions due to hormonal signals that are sent to it from the pituitary gland and signal the thyroid to produce the proper hormones to regulate metabolic rate. There are four major causes of thyroid imbalance including:

  • Radiation and heavy metal exposure;
  • Iodine and/or selenium deficiency;
  • Gluten and/or A1 casein food allergies;
  • High levels of cortisol from stress, too many carbs and too little fat in diet.

An overactive thyroid, known as hyperthyroidism causes: muscle weakness, nervousness, vision problems, irritability and extreme weight loss. Where an underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism, tends to make a person have depression, lethargy, forgetfulness and out of the ordinary weight gain.

Here are 15 best home remedies to improve thyroid function, but they aren’t all inclusive. In extreme instances, it is best to consult your health care provider.

15 Best Home Remedies to Improve Thyroid Function

Vitamin B

Vitamin B is an essential element in maintaining proper thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Consume foods that are high in vitamin B as a regular part of your daily diet, especially those rich in B12 such as shellfish and beef.
  • Take 100 mg of vitamin B supplement daily.

How it works:
Research shows that those suffering from thyroid issues often have a vitamin B deficiency, especially low B12.

plums in a tree
Plums are high in the Vitamin B complex.

Fish Oil

Fish oil has been shown to help balance proper thyroid function as well.

What to do:

  • Increase your consumption of cold water fish like salmon, halibut, mackerel and cod.
  • You can also take a fish oil supplement (krill oil is the best) at a dose of 3 grams daily.

How it works:
Omega 3 fatty acids help maintain proper thyroid function by boosting hormone uptake. They also fight inflammation and help with immunity, two other factors that can lead to reduced thyroid function.

Apple Cider Vinegar

To give your thyroid function a good boost and help it stay balanced, give apple cider vinegar a try.

What to do:

  • In a glass of warm water mix 2 Tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar.
  • Stir in a dab of honey.
  • Drink on a daily basis.

How it works:
Apple cider vinegar aids in detoxification, keeping a healthy pH balance in the blood and helps to regulate hormones production.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another great way to improve thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Make use of coconut oil in your cooking.
  • Consume coconut oil in your morning smoothies.
  • Make your own coconut milk and consume it daily.

How it works:
Medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil raise your basal body temperature, which is an important factor in maintaining proper thyroid function.

Increase Iodine

Increasing iodine intake can help regulate thyroid function also.

What to do:

  • Make sure that you consume foods that are rich in iodine, such as strawberries, cranberries, organic and Greek yogurts, seaweed and sea vegetables.
  • You can also take an iodine supplement with a daily dosage of 2000 micrograms.

How it works:
A major cause of thyroid malfunction stems from iodine deficiency.

Vitamin D

Getting enough vitamin D is another of the many ways to help balance thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Get at least 15 minutes of direct exposure of early morning sunrays on a daily basis.
  • You can also take a D3 supplement, but it is not nearly as effective as exposure to the sun.

How it works:
Vitamin D deficiency is another contributing factor to poor thyroid performance.

Get Rid of Gluten

Proper thyroid function may require that you get rid of gluten in your diet.

What to do:

  • Steer clear of processed foods that list wheat as one of the first few ingredients on the label.
  • Reduce your intake of breads, crackers, cookies, cakes and other foods that are made with wheat flour.
  • Replace these flours with non-gluten alternatives.

How it works:
Major causes of improper thyroid function are food allergies to gluten or gluten sensitivity.

Avoid Soy

Avoiding soy is another way to properly balance thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Avoid soy products in your regular diet.
  • Read labels and recognize where soy is hiding in the foods you eat.

How it works:
Isoflavones (or goitrogens) found in soy and soy products can damage your thyroid gland.

Reduce Exposure to PFOA

Reducing your exposure to PFOA chemicals can also help your thyroid function at its best.

What to do:

  • Avoid using non-stick cookware, which contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
  • Also avoid waterproofed fabrics.

How it works:
Higher incidences of thyroid issues are connected to those with a greater exposure to PFOAs according to research.

peppermint oil with leaves

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil can help alleviate poor thyroid function symptoms.

What to do:

  • Add 1-2 tsp of lemon juice or juice of half a lemon to a cup of hot water.
  • Mix in 1-2 drops of peppermint oil.
  • Consume 2 to 3 times daily.

How it works:
Peppermint helps to alleviate fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues and even calms nerves, which are typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Essential Oil Mix

A mix of essential oils can also help regulate proper thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Mix 5 drops of clove oil, 3 drops of frankincense oil and 5 drops of lemongrass oil in 1 Tbsp of coconut oil.
  • Massage this oil mixture directly into the area around your Adam’s apple.
  • Repeat the process 2 to 3 times daily.

How it works:
The mixture of these oils helps improve thyroid function. Clove oil cleans cell receptors for better cell function, frankincense oil helps in stress relief, lemongrass oil helps to reduce any inflammation in the area, and coconut oil helps to raise basal body temperature.

Ginger Root

Ginger root is found to have a significant effect on proper thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Boil 1 cup of water.
  • Grate 2 Tbsp of ginger and add it to the water.
  • Allow the ginger to simmer in the water for 10 minutes.
  • Strain the water and ginger into a cup.
  • Drink 2 to 3 times daily with lemon and honey if you like.

How it works:
The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help to improve proper thyroid functioning.

Lower Carbohydrate Intake

Lowering your intake of carbohydrates can also help improve thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Reduce breads and sugars in your diet, even the non-gluten ones.
  • Replace these foods with healthy fats that are found in coconut oil, avocados, grass fed beef, wild salmon, chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds.

How it works:
The dietary imbalance of high carbohydrates and low levels of healthy fats tend to increase estrogen production, which in turn negatively effects proper thyroid function.

salmon on a plate

Selenium

Adding more selenium to your diet at a moderate level can also improve thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Natural sources of selenium are wild salmon, grass-fed beef, mushrooms, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and onions. Increase your daily intake of these foods, but try not to go overboard.
  • Opt for Vitamin and mineral supplements that have added selenium.

How it works:
Selenium deficiency is another contributing factor to thyroid issues, by supplementing your diet with selenium, you can help raise these levels.

Heavy Metal Detox

A good heavy metal detox can also help cleanse your thyroid and make it function better.

What to do:

  • Avoid foods that have a higher risk of raising the levels of mercury in your body. Those foods include: seafood at the upper end of the food chain such as shark, swordfish and tuna. Those fish further down the food chain tend to contain less mercury.
  • Keep your zinc level above copper with zinc supplements and magnesium levels higher than calcium.
  • Consume cilantro and chlorella in order to help detoxify your body of heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum.

How it works:
The presence of heavy metals in the liver and kidneys blocks proper filtration in the body, with poor filtration comes the disruption of proper cell communication. That communication disruption reduces the receptor cells in your thyroid and prevents them from receiving hormone signals from the pituitary gland.

One Last Thought

Your health, several different levels, requires proper thyroid function. Regulating the hormones received from the pituitary into the thyroid as well as the hormones that are produced by the thyroid is what keeps your metabolic energy functioning at its optimal rate.

Images from depositphotos.com and pixabay.com.