Hypothyroidism: What It Is, Who’s at Risk, and Why It Matters

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is unable to sufficiently produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones that are needed to regulate different processes within the body. The most famous culprit behind hypothyroidism all over the world is iodine deficiency, which can be preventable through proper supplementation of this vital mineral in the diet. However, the most common causes of an underactive thyroid gland in the United States, as well as most industrialized nations, are autoimmune disorders and treatments of hyperthyroidism.5 
​

Understanding Hypothyroidism

Your thyroid gland plays a vital role in producing hormones that regulate your body’s metabolic rate, energy, growth, and tissue development. To make sure it produces adequate amount of hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine), your hypothalamus regulates the thyroid gland’s activity through releasing thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) which activates thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the pituitary gland to kickstart thyroid hormone production.6 Once sufficient hormone levels are produced, your thyroid gland actually inhibits the production of TRH in the hypothalamus!6 This is one of the wonderful mechanisms present in the body to make sure optimal amounts of hormones are present and prevent excess or deficient hormone levels, which can do more harm than good. In order to create thyroid hormones, your thyroid gland needs tyrosine and iodine. This is precisely why iodine deficiency can also lead to hypothyroidism, since your thyroid gland lacks a vital element it needs to create thyroid hormones. 
​

Types of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs due to different factors and can affect anyone, even newborns! The most common types of hypothyroidism include:

Congenital Hypothyroidism
Newborns and infants are not immune to hypothyroidism, especially when their mothers were previously diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or were able to receive antithyroid medications during pregnancy. Problems with the connection between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis or hormones that are regulated by this pathway can cause hypothyroidism in children. Abnormal development of the thyroid gland while in the mother’s womb or impaired abilities of the baby to synthesize and process thyroid hormones may also lead to hypothyroidism.7 Babies with hypothyroidism may have feeding problems, delayed bone growth and development, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), neurodevelopmental delays, and enlarged tongue.7 Additionally, children with hypothyroidism are at risk of developing heart problems and malformations. This serves as a reminder to women with thyroid problems who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant to take care of their health, regulate their thyroid hormones, and talk to their healthcare providers and naturopathic doctors on the best holistic practices to nurture their health and baby’s well-being.

Autoimmune Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune hypothyroidism has two subtypes: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and atrophic thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the more common type and is typically associated with a goiter (neck mass). Autoimmune hypothyroidism occurs when white blood cells, especially lymphocytes, attack the thyroid gland and destroy thyroid follicles that produce your very own thyroid hormones.5 This eventually leads to the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) and decreased thyroid hormone levels. Take note: this doesn’t happen overnight! Your body has wonderful abilities to fight off this imbalance and attempt to compensate through increasing the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the pituitary gland! To learn more about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, signs and symptoms you should take note of, and the best natural approaches to manage it, we have the perfect blog post for you!

Signs and Symptoms

People with hypothyroidism may experience fatigue, weakness, unintentional weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and intolerance to cold.1 However, symptoms may vary depending on your age, thyroid hormone levels, and sex. In fact, older people with hypothyroidism can have fewer symptoms or experience no symptoms at all!1

​Risk Factors

Stress
Stress triggers the release of noradrenaline and cortisol, which are hormones that help your body cope up with the increasing demand to maintain balance within. Unfortunately, these hormones can suppress the secretion of your TSH, thereby causing dysfunction in the thyroid gland.3

Iodine Deficiency
The food you eat everyday can actually affect your risks of developing hypothyroidism. Particularly, iodine deficiency has been the leading culprit of hypothyroidism worldwide since millions of people do not get sufficient amounts of iodine in the diet.1 As previously mentioned, iodine is an important element in thyroid hormone synthesis. Hence, lack of this essential element disrupts the essential process in creating thyroid hormones.

One important source of dietary iodine is seaweed and seafood. In the U.S., many people became iodine-deficient due to lacking a diverse diet that included these foods. Because of this, our regular table salt is supplemented with iodine. This means that, more than likely, if you are cooking with standard table salt, or eat a lot of restaurant or processed food, you will not need additional iodine. If, however, most of your foods are cooked at home with mineral-rich sea salt or Himalayan salt, and you are not eating seaweed and seafood regularly, you should ask your health team if you need to supplement since iodine is typically not added to these kinds of salt. 

Selenium
Aside from iodine, selenium is another important element that helps convert thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3), which is the active form of thyroid hormone that is used up by your cells.2 Once selenium levels in the body are low, this process cannot be facilitated effectively, and your cells will not be able to receive adequate levels of active thyroid hormones for growth and energy.

One natural source of selenium is the Brazil nut!4 Traditionally, just 3 Brazil nuts per day was sufficient to supplement your needed selenium; however, mono-cropping and other big-food-industry changes have led to the soil being stripped of much of the selenium the tree needs to create selenium-rich nuts. Because of this, your naturopathic doctor may make a recommendation to use a selenium supplement with a standardized dose, rather than relying on Brazil nuts with unstable levels. However, for many people, especially those without autoimmunity, the Brazil nut is still a wonderful source and will typically provide sufficient selenium.
 
Medications
Certain medications can affect your thyroid hormone levels and increase your risks of developing hypothyroidism. Amiodarone, which is a medication used to regulate heart rate in people with cardiac problems, can cause damage to your thyroid gland. This medication can cause iodine overload, which can block the synthesis of your thyroid hormones.1 You might be wondering why this can happen knowing iodine is needed to synthesize thyroid hormones. The answer is: your body also cuts off thyroid hormone production when too much iodine is present to maintain optimal thyroid hormone levels!1 This helps nurture balance within. Additionally, medications used to manage epilepsy, such as carbamazepine and valproate, can decrease thyroid hormone levels and eventually cause hypothyroidism.8 ​
​

The Naturopathic Approach

Regulating your thyroid hormone levels through holistic and multidisciplinary care is important to achieve remission and prevent complications of hypothyroidism. It is important to remember that your body has the natural ability to heal itself and it is your responsibility to help it regain and nurture this ability. At Natural Path to Wellness, we are committed to helping you in your journey to wellness through discovering the best natural solutions for your case and preferences. Talk to us today!
​

become a client

​​This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements. 

​Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.

REFERENCES:

1. Chaker L, Bianco AC, Jonklaas J, Peeters RP. Hypothyroidism. Lancet. 2017;390(10101):1550-1562. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30703-1
2. Wang F, Li C, Li S, Cui L, Zhao J, Liao L. Selenium and thyroid diseases. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1133000. Published 2023 Mar 24. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1133000
3. Singh M, Narayan J, Thakur R, Bhattacharya S, Sonkar SK, Ali W. Association of stress and primary hypothyroidism. J Family Med Prim Care. 2024;13(3):1073-1078. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_845_23
4. ​​Godos J, Giampieri F, Micek A, et al. Effect of Brazil Nuts on Selenium Status, Blood Lipids, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022;11(2):403. Published 2022 Feb 16. doi:10.3390/antiox11020403
5. Kaur J, Jialal I. Hashimoto Thyroiditis. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; February 9, 2025.
6. Shahid MA, Ashraf MA, Sharma S. Physiology, Thyroid Hormone. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; June 5, 2023.
7. Bowden SA, Goldis M. Congenital Hypothyroidism. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; June 5, 2023.
8. Adhimoolam M, Arulmozhi R. Effect of antiepileptic drug therapy on thyroid hormones among adult epileptic patients: An analytical cross-sectional study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2016;5(3):171-174. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.185717