How Alcohol Affects Your Thyroid

As a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition specializing in reducing alcohol use and aiding recovery from long-term consumption, I often observe a significant connection between alcohol use and thyroid imbalances.

Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, is particularly common among women and can manifest with symptoms such as weight gain (or difficulty losing weight), anxiety, depression, cold intolerance, constipation, and fatigue. A diagnosis is typically made through blood tests assessing thyroid hormones, including TSH, T3, and T4.

Traditionally, an underactive thyroid is managed with medications like levothyroxine or Synthroid to normalize hormone levels. However, how does alcohol affect thyroid health, and how can nutrition provide support?

How Alcohol Affects the Thyroid

Alcohol use can suppress thyroid function and disrupt the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates hormonal functions throughout the body, including the thyroid. This suppression may reduce the sensitivity of thyroid hormones, meaning that even if the body produces sufficient hormones, they may not work effectively.

A small study from 2015 highlighted a relationship between thyroid hormone imbalances and increased alcohol cravings, contributing to the vicious cycle of alcohol use and addiction.

Thyroid Autoimmunity

Many clients I see test positive for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune hypothyroid disorder, often after a long history of alcohol consumption. While alcohol is not the sole cause of Hashimoto’s, research suggests a connection between the two.

Alcohol can damage the intestinal lining, leading to a condition commonly referred to as "leaky gut." This damage can contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders. The good news is that nutrition and a focus on functional sobriety can address the root causes of thyroid disorders and help manage and alleviate symptoms.

How to Heal the Thyroid

By utilizing nutrition and supplements, we can:

• Improve thyroid hormone production
• Support gut health
• Enhance immune system recovery

Simply removing alcohol from your life can significantly contribute to balancing thyroid hormones and reversing the effects of long-term alcohol use.

At our practice, we implement my Functional Sobriety method to counteract the damage inflicted by alcohol, helping to rebalance the thyroid and hormonal systems through nutrition, food, and holistic wellness practices. Let’s work together to uncover the root causes preventing you from achieving your health goals.