Most people with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis wonder how their condition developed. Some people assume that genetic factors are the primary cause of their autoimmune thyroid disorder. As I’ve mentioned in the past, genetics definitely plays a role, but just because someone has a genetic marker for a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition doesn’t mean they will develop Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Usually it’s other factors which will trigger the genetic component.
I’ve also spoken a great deal about how lifestyle factors can and usually do lead to an autoimmune thyroid condition. So eating a lot of refined foods and sugars, getting insufficient sleep, and doing a poor job of managing your stress can also lead to the development of an autoimmune thyroid disorder. In fact, these lifestyle factors are probably the main reason why people develop Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I personally think that these lifestyle factors, especially stress, were responsible for the development of my autoimmune thyroid condition.
With that being said, one can’t overlook the impact that environmental toxins can have with regards to the development of an autoimmune thyroid condition. It’s just amazing how many new chemicals are manufactured each year, as tens of thousands of chemicals have been manufactured over the last few decades. And what’s scary is that because many of these chemicals are new, we really have no clue what the long term health risks are.
The book “The Autoimmune Epidemic” talks about how certain environmental toxins have been shown to increase the risk of people developing autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. While there are chemicals which have been proven to cause autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other conditions, there are also thousands of chemicals which have not been proven (at least not yet) to cause any health issues. But it wouldn’t be shocking if down the road, many of these newer chemicals were banned due to certain health conditions they can cause.
Because of this, it’s important that you do everything you can to minimize your exposure to these environmental toxins. Some people might wonder that since they already have developed Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then why they should bother trying to avoid these toxins? For those looking to restore their health back to normal using natural treatment methods the answer should be obvious. On the other hand, even those people who choose to use conventional medical treatment methods should try to avoid these toxins as much as they can. Just because you currently have an autoimmune thyroid disorder doesn’t mean you can’t develop other conditions in the future.
In fact, people with one autoimmune condition are more likely to develop another one in the future. So even if you have Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and aren’t looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, it still will benefit your health to minimize your exposure to these environmental toxins. This means you should still be careful about the foods you eat, as well as the household products you buy. And even if you’re not concerned about your own health, if other people live in your home then can take the necessary steps to minimize their exposure to such toxins.
The point I’m trying to make is whether your autoimmune thyroid disorder was caused by environmental toxins doesn’t really make a difference. Truth to be told, there really isn’t a surefire way to know what exactly caused your condition to develop. But whether you are looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, or are looking to use conventional treatment methods, it still will benefit your health to do what you can to minimize your exposure to these toxins. Most people don’t think much of them, and figure that since there isn’t a way to completely avoid them then why should they bother to minimize their exposure to them? And I can understand this point of view, as just because you minimize your exposure to these toxins doesn’t mean you won’t develop any health issues in the future. But doing so can dramatically reduce your chances of developing numerous health issues.
I find this process to be much easier than changing some of the other lifestyle factors which can also affect your health. Buying certain foods, cosmetics, household cleaners, and other natural products is as easy as visiting your local health food store or Trader Joes and simply making healthier buying decisions. Sure, it’s costlier to do this, but as you know, you can’t put a price on your health. And since most of the toxins we’re exposed to are in our very own homes, taking this approach is the very best way to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.