❄️ Top Tips For Navigating Winter With a Thyroid Condition | Issue 171
We feel cold more easily, find that we catch illnesses easily and often struggle with a dip in mood.
Welcome to all members of our Thyroid Tribe, new and old. It is lovely to have you here as a part of our community! 🤗
What must be do to keep our thyroid health in check over winter! I break it down in this issue.
This newsletter goes out on Thursdays and is the best way to keep up to date with all my work in the thyroidsphere and hear directly from me without relying on social media algorithms.
I hope you'll find this issue inspiring, reassuring and practical in your own journey back to good health with Hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto’s.
Each of my newsletters include a blend of thyroid research, events, news, articles, discounts, tips and links to popular social media posts from the last week. Happy reading!
- Rachel 🦋
Social Media Spotlight
My most popular posts online in the last week were:
Follow Rachel on » Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok
Thursday Thoughts
How can we look after ourselves during the colder months?
1. Optimise Thyroid Levels
Did you know that one of the key functions of your thyroid gland is thermoregulate the body’s temperature? Therefore, when temperatures around you drop, your thyroid has to crank it up a notch and work harder to help maintain a normal body temperature.
This would explain why, when you feel colder, you can feel more hypothyroid symptoms such as aches and pains, brain fog and fatigue. Many of us need more thyroid medication in colder months.
Of course, don’t make this adjustment on your own but rather speak to your doctor. You’d likely benefit from a retesting of a full thyroid panel, which is always wise to check when the seasons change.
If your doctor won’t check the full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4) then it’s worth knowing that you can check this yourself with online laboratory testing options. Medichecks are a popular choice in the UK, with LetsGetChecked in the US.
2. Optimise Body Heat
Wrapping up properly, meaning jumpers, scarves, gloves, hats and of course a substantial coat, is important for body heat too, as well as sleeping under a thick duvet and using warm blankets, which can all help to support your thyroid and thermoregulation too.
Eating and drinking lots of warm food and drink such as tea, soups and warm lunches as oppose to salads and sandwiches, may also be beneficial. Nutritious homemade soups, and plenty of protein to keep your body fuelled and blood sugar well-balanced can go along way. Good sources of protein include meats, cheese, eggs, nuts, seeds, yoghurts, beans and legumes.
There are also thermogenic foods which are named as such as they create heat when they’re converted in to energy. These include chillies, pepper, mustard, coconut oil and avocado.
3. Support Your Immune System
We can also think about supporting our immune system in the winter, since many of us also report being more susceptible to catching illnesses and taking longer to recover from them. You may consider whether the flu vaccine is suitable to you.
Raising the amount of Vitamin C and Zinc you supplement, at the first sight of a cold or illness, may help your immune system to recover quicker. Supplementing Vitamin D and B-complex can help support your immune system. Always consult a doctor or pharmacist before supplementing anything, though, as what each individual needs can differ greatly.
I always check my Vitamin D in the winter as it often needs some support. Also keep in mind that adrenal stress can greatly lower your immune system’s ability to fight things off.
What tips do you have for looking after your thyroid health in the winter? Let me know in the comments.
And don’t forget that you can find my bestselling thyroid patient books here! 📚
Personal Health Check-in
I had my first appointment with a new private doctor this past week, who is thankfully happy to prescribe my current thyroid meds at their current dosage (Levothyroxine and Armour Thyroid), as well as go by FT3 and FT4 over TSH alone, and also use Medichecks for testing to keep costs down. I’m so, so relieved. I’ll cover this more in my next General Update article for my website.
Sponsor a future issue of this newsletter and share your message with my readers. 😊
Email me for more info: rachel@theinvisiblehypothyroidism.com
Nicole Goode sent me a copy of her new book last week! Check it out here.
I am now a Certified Patient Leader through the Health Union Patient Leader Certification.
I am currently writing my fourth book, due to be released next year. Make sure to follow me on Instagram for sneak peeks as I write it!
My LetsGetChecked discount code is 25INVISIBLE for 25% off.
My Medichecks discount code is INVISIBLE10 for 10% off.
Alerting readers to ITT's recent work
ITT (Improve Thyroid Treatment), with Thyroid UK, The Thyroid Trust, British Thyroid Foundation and Thyroid Support Group Norfolk, wrote again to NHSE requesting they remove the contradiction in their 2 pieces of 2023 T3 guidance.
Read and comment here. (you’ll need to be a member of the group)
General Update #33
“Wow. My last personal health update blog was posted in February 2023, thats over 18 months ago! As I write this in the autumn of 2024, a lot has changed but mostly for the better…”
Questions To Ask at Your First Endocrinologist Appointment
Your first endocrinologist (often referred to as an ‘endo’) visit can seem daunting, so this information covers what to expect from your first visit and the sorts of questions you may want to ask.
That's all for this issue of The Invisible Hypothyroidism Newsletter, but you can find more information and support by:
⭐ Reading my website articles
⭐ Following my Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Tiktok pages
⭐ Listening to the podcasts I have been on
⭐ Reading my thyroid book reviews
⭐ Checking out my Amazon Storefront
Keep an eye out for the next issue in a weeks time!
Please Note:
None of the statements in this publication should be taken as an official endorsement of any particular product, including any sponsored content.
I strongly suggest consulting your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle or health regimen. The information included in this publication is not meant to substitute the clinical guidance provided by a healthcare professional. Rachel Hill / The Invisible Hypothyroidism is not medically qualified and does not offer medical advice. Read the full disclaimer here. By reading this newsletter, you agree to understanding this information.
This newsletter may also contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission if you purchase through it. This does not change the way I work or the products I link to, and it doesn’t change your user experience. To find out more information, please read my disclosure statement.
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