These 7 Things are Killing Your Thyroid

Your thyroid gland may be small, but it is the engine that governs your health. From controlling metabolism and energy levels, to regulating your mood, a healthy thyroid is crucial.

Unfortunately, many everyday habits unknowingly sabotage thyroid health, leaving you fatigued, depressed, and struggling to maintain a healthy weight.

Here are seven common ways you might be damaging your thyroid without even realizing it:

1. Poor Diet or Vegan Lifestyle

Your thyroid requires certain nutrients found predominantly in animal-based foods, such as iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron. Vegan diets often lack these nutrients, putting you at higher risk for hypothyroidism and poor thyroid function. Animal proteins, particularly seafood and grass-fed meats, contain essential thyroid-supportive nutrients, including iron, zinc, selenium, and iodine, that help maintain optimal hormone production.

2. Nutritional Deficiencies

Specific nutrients play vital roles in thyroid function:

• Selenium converts inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to its active form (T3). A selenium deficiency will slow this conversion to a crawl.

• Zinc supports T3 conversion as well, and thyroid hormone production.

• Iron deficiency impairs thyroid hormone synthesis, contributing to sluggishness and fatigue. Iron deficiency also contributes to anemia, which can further impair thyroid function.

• B Vitamins, particularly B2, B3, B6, and B12, are essential for proper thyroid hormone production and regulation. Deficiencies can lead to reduced energy levels and impaired thyroid function.

Ensuring adequate levels through diet or supplementation can vastly improve thyroid function.

3. Estrogen Dominance or Birth Control Pills

High estrogen levels—especially in relation to low progesterone—can directly affect thyroid function. Estrogen, whether from synthetic chemicals, hormone replacement therapy, or oral contraceptives, can seriously interfere with thyroid function. Elevated estrogen increases levels of thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), making thyroid hormones less available for use by your body, causing symptoms of low thyroid function.

4. Progesterone Deficiency in Perimenopause

Women in perimenopause experience sharply declining progesterone levels, which can adversely affect thyroid health. Progesterone facilitates thyroid hormone conversion from T4 to T3, and a decline in progesterone can manifest as thyroid-related fatigue, weight gain, and depression.

Restoring proper progesterone balance can help maintain proper thyroid function and overall hormonal health.

5. Gluten Sensitivity

If you’re gluten-sensitive or have celiac disease, gluten consumption triggers inflammation and autoimmune responses that target the thyroid.

Gluten sensitivity is highly correlated with autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This causes the body to attack the thyroid gland, reducing its ability to function properly. Eliminating all gluten will reduce inflammation and help the body return to optimal thyroid function.

6. Chronic Stress and High Cortisol

Living in a constant state of stress floods the body with cortisol, which can suppress the production and conversion of thyroid hormones.Chronic stress also depletes key nutrients and impairs the adrenal-thyroid axis. Over time, this leads to fatigue, weight gain, depression, and a thyroid that isn’t working. Managing stress through regular exercise, sleep, and relaxation is essential for protecting thyroid function.

7. Wrong Medications: Synthroid, Statins, and PPIs

• Synthroid (T4-only medication)–Many people prescribed Synthroid still feel tired and sluggish because they cannot convert the extra T4 into T3—the active thyroid hormone. Switching to a natural thyroid medication that contains T3 and T4 often dramatically improves symptoms.

• Statins–Cholesterol-lowering medications can interfere with the production of vital hormones, including thyroid hormones, leaving you with symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog.

• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)–Long-term use reduces stomach acid, blocking nutrient absorption critical for thyroid function, such as iron, selenium, iodine, and zinc.

Bonus Thyroid Wrecker: Diet High in Soy, Goitrogens, and Processed Foods

Soy products and certain goitrogenic vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, and cabbage) impair thyroid hormone production, especially if consumed raw or in large quantities.

Additionally, diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and industrial seed oils drive up inflammation, gut damage, and insulin resistance—factors that further impair thyroid function. Avoiding soy and eating a variety of vegetables will better support a healthy thyroid.

The Bottom Line—Optimizing Thyroid Function

Awareness is key. Identifying these common yet overlooked factors for thyroid health can help you reclaim your energy, mood, and metabolism. Getting a full thyroid panel done and consulting a functional healthcare provider will help you pinpoint and address these hidden thyroid wreckers effectively.