Stress is something most of us deal with in everyday life. It could be short-term, like the hours before an important exam, or long-lasting, such as caring for a sick family member.
No matter what the reason is, no one enjoys the feeling of stress. But can stress actually affect your thyroid health too?
Yes! In fact, along with causing nausea, unwanted weight gain, and high blood pressure, stress can even weaken your thyroid function. Ayurvedic remedies like Krishna’s Thyro Balance Juice are vital to protect your thyroid gland and balance its hormone production.
This blog offers insight into how thyroid problems and stress are related and how Ayurveda can help minimize the effect.
The Link Between Stress And Your Thyroid Gland
Before we get into the whole process of what happens to your thyroid when your body is under stress, let us explain some of the glands and their functions in your body so that it becomes easier to understand the link between thyroid problems and stress.
Pituitary gland: A pea-sized endocrine gland that sits at the base of your brain. It controls the function of many glands in your endocrine system including the thyroid gland and releases several important hormones.
Adrenal glands: Small, triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit above each of your two kidneys. They produce hormones that regulate metabolism, blood pressure, stress response, and several important bodily functions.
Thyroid gland: This is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits in the front of your neck below the voice box. It produces thyroid hormones (T4, T3) that regulate many vital functions in your body, such as controlling body temperature, heart rate, metabolism, etc.
These three glands are interconnected and work in tandem. When you are stressed, the hypothalamus, a structure deep within your brain, signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol to help your body get a boost of energy and better handle an emergency.
This burst of cortisol is beneficial as it prepares your immune system to deal with all kinds of stress. However, when the stress is prolonged or chronic, it leads to the release of excessive cortisol.
High levels of cortisol affect the function of your pituitary gland, due to which the gland does not produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The TSH tells your thyroid gland to release (thyroxine) T4 and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones. A drop in the TSH slows the function of your thyroid gland, which results in an underactive gland, a condition better known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism happens when T3 and (T4) levels drop significantly and also upregulate the conversion of T4 to rT3.
Another way that stress reduces thyroid function is by affecting your immune system. Excessive stress puts your immune system out of balance causing autoimmune diseases, where the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. When this happens to the thyroid, it can result in conditions such as Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Graves’ disease causes your thyroid to become overactive (hyperthyroidism), while Hashimoto’s thyroiditis leads to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Moreover, when you are stressed, you likely indulge in poor lifestyle practices like engaging in unhealthy coping behaviors, such as drinking alcohol and smoking. Your dietary choices become unhealthy, there is a disrupted sleep pattern, and a lack of exercise, all of which are risk factors for thyroid dysfunction and can indirectly lead to stress-related thyroid concerns.
Stress not only causes thyroid disorders, but it can also make the condition worse.
Read More: The Connection Between Thyroid Health and Mental Well-being
How Ayurveda Can Help in Managing Stress
Stress management is of utmost importance, whether you are dealing with a health condition or just trying to stay in good health. But if you have a thyroid condition, it’s clear that extra attention is needed to reduce stress. Ayurveda offers a holistic strategy that includes Ayurvedic formulations made from potent herbs that naturally help in stress reduction, healthy food, physical activity, sleep, and some stress-relieving methods.
Here are a few ways to reduce stress according to Ayurveda, particularly if you have a thyroid condition:
Take Ayurvedic Herbs
Certain herbs are powerhouses for stress management. The most popular one is Ashwagandha, which has adaptogenic properties. This means the herb helps your body naturally cope with stress. It normalizes your cortisol levels, reduces inflammation in your body as well as in the thyroid gland, and lastly, improves your immune function. For centuries, Ashwagandha has been the main ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines for stress; in fact, people also consume its supplements to ease their condition.
Products to try:
Work it Out
Regular exercise is a great way to increase your feel-good hormones, boost your mood, and protect your body from many side effects of thyroid problems and stress including bad mood, low energy, and weight gain. It can also improve your sleep cycle and have a positive effect on your immune system.
If you’re not active yet, start gradually. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking, swimming, dancing, or gardening) at least five days a week.
Tips for Making Exercise a Habit:
- Start Slowly. If you are a beginner start with 10 to 15 minutes of low-intensity exercise on most days for the first week or two. Gradually work up to 30 minutes a day, which can be broken into shorter sessions.
- Make Every Move Count. You don’t need a gym membership. Walk whenever you can, use the stairs, or do household chores. Any kind of movement adds up.
- Stay Consistent. Even 10 to 20 minutes of exercise a few times a week can help improve your mood and boost energy all day long.
Practice Relaxation
Relaxation is a personal experience, and different activities work for different people. Ayurveda recommends simple methods like meditation and deep breathing exercises. Various meditation techniques can help you manage both short-term and long-term stress. In fact, research has shown that mindfulness meditation can also help reduce anxiety.
Eat Whole Foods
Whole foods, which are as close to their natural form as possible—like fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, eggs, and whole grains—are the most nutritious options for your diet. Eating well can help you build resilience and better manage stress. If you have hypothyroidism, it’s important to include enough iodine in your diet to support your thyroid function.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is one of the most effective stress techniques. You may feel exhausted, even if you’re on medication. However, many people with hypothyroidism don’t get enough sleep, or the actual “quality sleep”.
To help your body rest and recover:
- Aim for eight hours of actual sleep each night, not just time spent in bed. Try to go to bed and get up at around the same time every day.
Having a consistent sleep schedule can make it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Along with all these practices that Ayurveda recommends for stress, make sure you also remove stress when you can. This means removing things that are causing stress. Of course, this can be challenging, especially if your main stressors are your job or a family member. In such situations, seek support, like therapy, to help you deal with your stress.
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