Three ways to improve thyroid function – avoid thyroid toxins, regulate goitrogens and get specific thyroid nutrients. While Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is rampant, it’s not the only cause of poor thyroid function. Many chemicals and toxins prevent manufacture or conversion of T4 to the active hormone T3. Poor adrenal function, illness, injury and stress also play a role in down-regulating the thyroid. Causes of Hypothyroidism and Poor Thyroid Function A short list of causes of hypothyroidism would include: 1). Chemical, hormonal and mineral toxins inhibiting thyroid function 2). Fatigue, illness, injury and low Cortisol 3). Excess or poorly prepared Goitrogenic foods 4). Deficient nutrients Chemical, Hormonal and Mineral Thyroid Toxins The thyroid takes in blood to find Iodine, a member of the Halogen family. What it often finds instead are forms of the toxic halogens Fluorine, Bromine and Chlorine. Many of us bathe, eat, breathe and drink these compounds daily. They are toxic to the whole body and block our ability to absorb Iodine. And without Iodine we can’t make thyroid hormone… Where do we get toxic Halogens? • chlorinated water for bathing and cooking (including steamy showers which liberate chlorine gas) • swimming pools, saunas and spas • fluoride in toothpaste, dental treatments and some city water • bromide in commercial flour-based products, soft drinks, fire retardants, pools/spas, pesticides How to best avoid Halogens? • Find alternative pool and spa systems such as ozone • Use reverse-osmosis filtered water to drink and cook with (install under the kitchen sink) • Add chlorine filters to your shower head and bath faucet • Avoid pools after treatment • Buy organic unprocessed foods and avoid commercial baked goods if they are brominated • Buy safer toothpaste and body care products • Consider a latex mattress which has no flame retardants