The role of salt and water in Hypothyroidism

One of our main goals in this series is to show you how to trust your own intuition when it comes to your body, and part of that is intuitive eating and thirst.

Some of what I’m about to share will go against everything you have ever heard! You ready?!

Let’s start with something as simple as water.

How many of you have heard this… you MUST drink *at least* 8-10 glasses per day?

Or better yet, half your body weight in oz?

The truth is that the amount of water a person needs varies greatly! It depends on metabolic rate, activity, and even the temperature and humidity of the air. Many hypothyroid people are overweight because of water retention and slow metabolism.

When your cells do not get adequate thyroid hormone, they become weak and unstable. This allows water to easily enter your cells and because your cells cannot function properly when overfilled with water, it is detrimental to your health! In hypothyroidism, your metabolism is low and your cells are already in a weakened state. So by over-consuming water, you’re pushing more water to your cells, making you even more susceptible to water retention. The more water your cells retain, the more weakened they become which prevents them from using thyroid hormone, and further suppresses your metabolism! THIRST is truly the best guide to how much water is needed!

The avoidance of salt is another HUGE mistake when it comes to thyroid and metabolism! Especially if you’re already over-consuming water. This can be made even worse if you’re drinking the wrong kind of water. Earlier this week we talked about all of the terrible chemicals in water and how they are harmful to thyroid function. And even if you’re drinking clean water, (like RO!) if you’re not replenishing it with minerals, you’ll end up stripping your own body of minerals. Water loves minerals, so if your water doesn’t have any, it will leach them from your body as you drink. If you’re over-consuming, you’re going to end up LESS hydrated than you were BEFORE you drank! This viscous cycle continues......and add to it the terrible advice of avoiding salt .........and you are going to be even worse off!

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism causes sodium loss through your urine. It is CRUCIAL to replace salt in your diet if you have thyroid issues! Heart/blood pressure patients have been told for years that low salt/sodium diet is what is recommended. Why is that?

The reason for this is because salt lowers your blood volume. So initially you might be happy because now your blood pressure measures in the normal range. However, decreased blood volume delivers fewer nutrients to your cells! This puts you at a greater risk for not only to hypothyroidism but so many other diseases! Yet another example of the medical industry that cares more about lab work and reference ranges than they do about actual health and getting to the root cause.

Congestive heart failure has increased so much that it is now an epidemic. Hyponatremia (too little salt, or too much water) is a recognized "risk factor" for congestive heart failure. In the failing heart, the muscle cells are swollen, causing the heart wall to stiffen, weakening its ability to pump.

Ray Peat shares,

The swollen heart, like any muscle, loses the ability to quickly and completely relax, and so it doesn't fill adequately between contractions. Elastic tissues, such as arteries and lungs, stiffen when they are over-hydrated, losing their normal functions. When extra water consumption is combined with a low salt diet--as physicians have so often recommended — a healthy person can adapt easily, but for a hypothyroid person it can have disastrous effects.

Here is a small list of what sodium restriction is known to cause:

  • Hypothyroidism and Slower Metabolism

  • Increased Fat Content and Fat-Storage Enzyme

  • Water Retention and Edema

  • Hypertension

  • Kidney Disease

  • Heart Failure and Fibrosis of the Heart

  • Preeclampsia, Toxemia, and Hypertension during Pregnancy

  • Increase in Stress-Hormone Production

Salt is essential for regulating stress hormones, most notably the adrenaline that is a major cause of sleep issues. Simply increasing salt intake can improve sleep quality.

My personal favorite salt is Icelandic sea salt. It is the most sustainable and nutrient dense salt in the world, and is an excellent source of electrolytes and minerals. Here’s a link to Nordur Arctic Sea Salt Flakes.



Is your mind blown? Is this info new to you?

Share in the comments if you plan on changing some things in your routine!

Thyroid Seriesrikki jameshypothyroidism, Thyroid Function1 Comment