Want to lower your thyroid antibodies? Here's how
If you have elevated thyroid antibodies, your number one goal is to lower them. But how can you actually make that happen?
While everyone has unique triggers for their autoimmune thyroid cascade, there are steps you can take to take back control. By supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation, you can encourage those antibodies to drop back down – ideally into a normal range.
Here are some areas I look to when supporting clients to lower their thyroid antibodies naturally.
How to lower thyroid antibodies naturally
Remove gluten (yes, sorry!)
This is often controversial, and is rarely something that the person wants to hear! But in those with autoimmune thyroid issues such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’, gluten can be a major trigger. This is because of a concept called molecular mimicry. Put simply, your immune system can mistake your thyroid cells for gluten fragments and produce antibodies in response to this.
Not everyone with a thyroid condition will need to avoid gluten forever. But if you do have antibodies, it’s worth trialling a gluten-free approach for a few months and see if that can make a difference for your levels.
Nurture your gut
There’s a close connection between the gut and the immune system. So when it comes to autoimmunity and the thyroid, we need to look at the role that the gut is playing.
Different digestive conditions including increased intestinal permeability (commonly known as leaky gut), infections such as H. pylori or parasites, and even a general imbalance in the microbes in your gut can feed into chronic activation of the immune system.
The best way to tackle this is by working with a qualified health practitioner. We can test for underlying gut-related problems, as well as utilising food, herbs and targeted supplements such as specific-strain probiotics. These approaches combined can significantly reduce inflammation and the immune system’s overreaction!
Get your key thyroid nutrients in
Supporting your thyroid with the right nutrients is about more than ticking off the recommended daily intake. We want to make sure those levels are optimal, not just ‘good enough’.
Some of the most important nutrients I look at with clients are:
Selenium
Myo-inositol
Vitamin D
Iron
It’s best to test your levels if you’re unsure, particularly with nutrients such as iron and selenium (with these, too much can be even more dangerous than not enough!)
Bring the stress down
This one isn’t just nice to have for your mind. Stress has a very real impact on the immune system and thyroid function.
Chronic stress can increase cortisol, worsen gut permeability, deplete key nutrients, and push your body into a state of constant ‘fight or flight’. And your thyroid can’t thrive when it’s always running from tigers (even metaphorical ones!)
Whether it’s getting more sleep, setting boundaries, moving your body in a way that feels nourishing, or carving out a few minutes of calm each day – it all adds up. So have a look at what your stress levels are like and how you can reduce them and increase your resilience.
THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
When you receive a thyroid disease diagnosis, there’s a good chance you’ll feel overwhelmed and powerless. It could even be that you’re not clear on what’s driving it or where it came from!
But even if you’re still uncovering the cause, it doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms forever! Your daily habits can make a massive difference – all you need to do is learn about your condition and empower yourself.