6 Toxins That Destroy Thyroid Health

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Feeling sluggish, foggy, anxious, and unable to lose weight? Chances are, there are a few things going wrong in your body, one of them being a compromised thyroid gland.

Unfortunately, over our lifetimes we have unwittingly assaulted our thyroid, and continue to do the same today. This makes recovery from a thyroid issue nearly impossible, and to top it off most people are put on prescriptions that do very little to address the problem, and only make matters worse.

If you want any hope to get over the symptoms related to a thyroid disorder, you must consider the following 6 factors that can destroy thyroid health.

Fluoride

Fluoride was universally placed in water supplies and dental cleaning products to help prevent tooth decay. However, what few people know is that fluoride has also been prescribed as a drug to reduce the activity of the thyroid gland.  Up through the 1950’s, doctors in Europe and South America prescribed fluoride to lower function in patients with over active thyroids (hyperthyroidism).

Doctors selected fluoride as a thyroid suppressant based on studies linking thyroid to goitre, and as expected, fluoride therapy did reduce thyroid activity in treated patients. According to clinical research the amount required was very low – just 2 to 5 mg per day for several months. This is well within the range individuals are expected to receive in fluoridated communities on a regular basis (1.6 to 6.6 mg/day).

To stop the influx of fluoride, use a proper water filtration device as suggested in this guide to water, and avoid fluoride in dental procedures.

Radiation/EMF’s

Since the radioactive fall out of Fukushima, millions of people have been “sucking up” radioactive iodine into their iodine deficient thyroid glands, causing destruction of this precious gland.

In addition to that, and more concerning across the board, is electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) which are being blasted into our environment through power lines, cell phone towers, satellite TV, cell phones, TV’s, computers, airplanes, vehicles, and more.

Low levels of EMF’s can slow thyroid function, and a study in the Journal of Experimental Biology shows that EMF exposure impacts both the structure and function of the thyroid. As an example, animals exposed to cell phone radiation produce lower levels of thyroid hormone, a precursor to hypothyroidism.

To discharge EMFs, you need to get grounded.

Gluten

In auto-immune thyroid disease (AITD) individuals (90% of hypothyroidism diagnosed patients have an autoimmune disease), there has been a strong link with gluten intolerance. Apparently, the protein portion of gluten (gliadin) closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. When this protein breaches the protective barrier of the gut and enters the bloodstream, the immune system identifies it for destruction. These antibodies also cause the body to attack thyroid tissue, so if you have AITD and you eat foods containing gluten, your immune system will attack your thyroid.

Even worse, this immune response can last up to 6 months every time you eat it, which means it becomes critical to avoid gluten at all costs if you have AITD. This means complete, NOT partial, removal of this protein from your diet.

Heavy Metals

There are many heavy metals we have been forced to deal with, and that includes mercury, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, and lead. There has been a strong association between high levels of toxic metals and the autoimmune thyroid diseases Hashimoto’s and Graves Disease, due to evidence that mercury accumulates in the thyroid gland.

Therefore, if you have autoimmune thyroid disease, it is quite probable you have higher levels of mercury in your body than the average person.

Common exposure points for mercury accumulation includes seafood, dental amalgams (metal fillings), environmental pollution, and vaccines (the flu shot being the biggest offender).

Learn how to avoid heavy metals and remove them from your body.

Bromines

A common endocrine disruptor, bromide competes for the same receptors that are used in the thyroid gland to capture iodine. This inhibits thyroid hormone production and results in a low thyroid state. Also, when you absorb bromine it displaces iodine, and this can lead to iodine deficiencies in the thyroid gland that can lead to hypothyroidism.

Bromine can be found in pesticides, soft drinks, plastics, medications, fire retardants, and baked goods and flours.

Stress

Due to the intimacy of the relationship between the adrenals and thyroid, when the adrenals become depleted due to inability to manage stress, the thyroid is ultimately affected. Those of us who are always under chronic stress can expect increased adrenaline and cortisol levels, and elevated cortisol levels have a negative impact on thyroid function.

A good way to reduce stress is through adaptogenic herbs, essential oils, magnesium baths, meditation, and gratitude exercises.

Of course, there are also a  number of other factors that affect the thyroid, most notably chemicals in body care and household products, medications, unfermented soy, and iodine deficiencies.

For some advice on how to deal with hypothyroidism, read Heal Hypothyroidism Naturally.

Sources for this article include:

http://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/thyroid/
http://annlouise.com/2013/01/08/is-your-cell-phone-zapping-your-thyroid/
http://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection/
http://www.evenbetterhealth.com/Autoimmune-Thyroid-Disease-and-Heavy-Metal-Poisoning.php
http://www.healingthebody.ca/reverse-low-thyroid-with-these-7-natural-steps/

About the Author:

Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn’t solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he created Healing the Body and became a well revered holistic health coach who now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results.

His Wellness Transformation E-Guide and THRIVE Online Health Program are two essential resources for anyone who wishes to have the intelligence and answers to become truly well.

Derek Henry
Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn't solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he has become a well revered holistic health coach who now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results.

You can find his experience derived and heavily researched articles at his website Healing the Body and his one of a kind holistic health program, THRIVE, here.