9 Habits You Did Not Knew Are Affecting Your Thyroid

6. You consume too many products that contain caffeine

While it is fine to start your day with a cup of coffee, it isn’t a good idea to drink coffee too often as the caffeine increases the amount of cortisol in the body. Consequently, the stress hormone affects the thyroid, making our metabolism worse. Nevertheless, scientists still argue about the amount of coffee that won’t have an impact on your health – as it varies between 2 to 6 cups a day. 5fl oz of grain coffee contains 110-160mg of caffeine (depending on the type of coffee). Bear in mind that products like chocolate, coca cola, and energy drinks contain caffeine too.

7. You eat high glycemic index foods

The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrate foods based on their immediate effect on blood sugar levels. If you have a high glycemic index, it means that the process of breakdown is too quick. It is therefore important to pay attention to what you eat and keep your thyroid healthy. Products that contain high glycemic index include sweets, pastries, pasta, and white rice. These foods contain a huge amount of carbohydrates and they affect the process of iodine absorption. The iodine deficiency leads to thyroid issues. Of course, it is practically impossible to stop eating high glycemic index products, however, you can reduce the amount of them in your diet.

8. You consume butter and margarine

Butter is listed as a high-cholesterol food which affects the lipid balance and thus the thyroid. Despite this fact, it is not recommended that you stop eating animal fats. Butter is still a good source of selenium and vitamin D. It is better to control the amount of butter you eat. Margarine, on the other hand, is best avoided as it is made from trans fats which damage our endocrine and cardiovascular system, leading to obesity.

9. Alcohol abuse

Alcohol can increase or decrease the pancreatic secretions. Both may affect the body. Women start to experience menstrual problems, while men start suffering from low libido. Thyroid issues also have a negative impact on the vegetative nervous system, which may lead to tremors, tachycardia, bowel disorders, mood swings, and other unpleasant symptoms. If your thyroid doesn’t work properly and produces excess hormones, the process of dehydrogenase synthesis slows down. Consequently, the impact of alcohol on the body increases.