4 reasons your thyroid is an underperformer 

Read this in Hindi Hypothyroidism or low level of thyroid hormone could be due to a variety of reasons. While one of them is lack of iodine, another reason could be an autoimmune response against the thyroid gland, where the body’s immune system starts to attack it and slows down its functions. However, there are other factors that can make your thyroid underperform. Toxic levels of mercury in your body: You never thought that your cavities can make your thyroid gland suffer. Well, if you had too many cavities and sat through hours of root canals with mercury fillings in your teeth, it can make your thyroid go slow. If dental problems are not a reason, consumption of ocean fish like salmon, tuna could be the culprit. Toxic levels of mercury in such fishes can also inhibit thyroid gland function. However, this depends on the levels of mercury and the time span for which your body has been exposed to the metal. Studies show that mercury inhibits production of thyroid stimulating hormone, thereby making the gland secrete less thyroid hormone [1]. Here are nine food habits that can help fight hypothyroidism. High levels of estrogen: No wonder women on hormone replacement therapy usually suffers from hypothyroidism. High levels of estrogen or even deficiency of progesterone can slow down thyroid function. Menopausal women on medication for hypothyroidism may also need to increase their dosage if they choose to use hormone replacement therapy [2]. Here are 11 symptoms of menopause that you should know about. Chronic stress: The hormone cortisol secreted during stress may interfere with the conversion of thyroid hormone into the active form that closely regulates metabolism. This is one of the reasons for unwanted weight gain with hypothyroidism. Stress affects the immune system either directly or indirectly through the nervous and endocrine systems. For a long time, it was thought that stress is only responsible for making your thyroid over productive and lead to hyperthyroidism. However, some studies have also indicated that stress could lead to Hashimoto’s disease wherein the thyroid gland becomes underactive [3]. Here are seven things you should never do when stressed. Eating too much soy: Sure, they have their own benefits but excess consumption of soy-based foods and beverages may decrease the activity of thyroid hormone in the body, reveal a few studies. One way to ensure that your thyroid functions optimally is to make sure you fulfill your iodine requirement. Nutritional deficiencies: Not just iodine and zinc, lack of selenium in your diet can also hamper thyroid function. In fact, Selenium helps to fight postpartum thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in general [5]. Image source: Shutterstock

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For more articles on diseases & conditions, visit our diseases & conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For health related Q&A, click here! [1] Chen, A., Kim, S. S., Chung, E., & Dietrich, K. N. (2013). Thyroid hormones in relation to lead, mercury, and cadmium exposure in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2008. Environmental health perspectives,121(2), 181. [2] Santin, A. P., & Furlanetto, T. W. (2011). Role of estrogen in thyroid function and growth regulation. Journal of thyroid research, 2011. [3] 1: Mizokami T, Wu Li A, El-Kaissi S, Wall JR. Stress and thyroid autoimmunity. Thyroid. 2004 Dec;14(12):1047-55. Review. PubMed PMID: 15650357. [4] 1:Messina M, Redmond G. Effects of soy protein and soybean isoflavones on thyroid function in healthy adults and hypothyroid patients: a review of the relevant literature. Thyroid. 2006 Mar;16(3):249-58. Review. PubMed PMID:16571087. [5] 1: Drutel A, Archambeaud F, Caron P. Selenium and the thyroid gland: more good news for clinicians. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013 Feb;78(2):155-64. doi:10.1111/cen.12066. Review. PubMed PMID: 23046013.