"6 Tips for a Thyroid Healthy Winter."

ISSUE 140, 16th November 2023

Welcome to all members of our thyroid family, new and old. It's lovely to have you here and a part of our thyroid family. 🤗

This free email newsletter goes out every two weeks on a Thursday.

I hope you'll find this issue inspiring, reassuring and useful in your own thyroid journey.

My aim is to share the information you need to live well with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's, as well as keep you up-to-date with what I'm doing in the thyroidsphere!

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Thursday Thoughts

As the season changes for those of us in the northern hemisphere, and we enter the coldest months of the year, we are often left thinking "What can I be doing to look after myself?"

So I wanted to give you some tips.
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1️⃣ Some people with hypothyroidism benefit from a slight medication dosage increase in winter (though this should always be done under the supervision of your doctor), as when temperatures around us drop, our thyroid often has to work harder to help maintain a normal body temperature.
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This can mean that when you feel colder, you have an increase in hypothyroidism symptoms, such as aches and pains, brain fog and fatigue.
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Every thyroid patient would benefit from a retesting of a full thyroid panel to reevaluate their thyroid levels at this time of year.
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2️⃣ Although it may seem obvious, remembering to wrap up adequately and wearing thick jumpers, scarves, gloves, hats and of course a substantial coat, will also help you to keep warm, feel well and promote proper immune system function, too.
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3️⃣ Eating and drinking lots of warm food and drinks such as tea, soups and warm lunches are also beneficial. Warm food can be very nutritious, such as homemade soups and broths.
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There are also thermogenic foods that are named as such as they create heat when they’re converted into energy. Common ones include chillies, pepper, mustard, coconut oil and even avocado.
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4️⃣ You’ll also want to think about protecting your immune system over the winter, since many of us with hypothyroidism seem to come down with illness more than others.
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Consider whether the flu vaccine would be useful to you.
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5️⃣ Supplementing Vitamin D, C and B-complex can help support your immune system. No one wants to get sick over the holidays.

​More info on supplements here.
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6️⃣ Keep in mind that adrenal stress can lower your immune system’s ability to fight things off.

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For the number 1 bestselling thyroid book walking you through all of this, check out Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate and join the thousands of other thyroid patients who have reclaimed their health, too.​
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Thursday Health Check-in

I have decided to unfortunately draw back on some of my commitments as a thyroid advocate. I solo parent on most weekdays, to my two little boys (aged 1 and 3), and have only two days a week where they both attend daycare and give me time to work uninterrupted. This isn't much time, so I've been working evenings and weekends in order to try and launch new projects with The Invisible Hypothyroidism, grow certain aspects and take on new opportunities. But the truth is, it's having a negative impact on my health.

I am exhausted almost constantly, having a lot of migraines, flare symptoms and a dip in mental health.

So I have made this change to how much I can offer in this role in order to protect my health. I hope you can all understand.

Some of the projects I have decided to pause for now include the Patreon page (online book club and support group meetings), writing a new book with a solid deadline, recording podcast episodes, launching courses or workshops and hosting LIVE online events with other thyroid experts.

When both children are at daycare on more days, I will be able to gradually increase my workload again. But this isn't expected to be for at least another year, if not longer.

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Outro -

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​This newsletter includes thyroid research, events, news, articles, discounts, tips, advice, and links to popular social media posts from the last fortnight. Enjoy reading!

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- Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

Follow Rachel on: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter​

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Sponsor a future issue of this newsletter and share your services or product with over 7,800 readers. 😊

Interested? Find out more here and email me for more info!

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• My LetsGetChecked discount code has changed to 25INVISIBLE for 25% off.
• My Medichecks discount code is INVISIBLE10 for 10% off.
• I am slowly but surely working on a fourth book... about fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting with thyroid disease. I have no deadline for this, so it could be a long wait. But I am sure it will be worth it.

UK Liothyronine Consensus

Last week, ITT (Improve Thyroid Treatment) leaders with other thyroid groups and charities met some members of the British Thyroid Association to discuss their joint consensus statement on liothyronine T3.
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ITT encourages you to advocate for your own care, care of other members and access to good treatment, by supporting each other and sharing your knowledge and experiences.
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Also, we must keep collating people's experiences of being prescribed T3. If you have any difficulties getting T3, even if you reported your story some time ago, our joint thyroid groups want to hear it now. We need to get an up-to-date picture of T3 prescribing.
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The Thyroid Trust’s questionnaire is the best way to collate this, so please send details to them via this link...

​See it here.

Hair Not Retaining Dye. Is It Your Thyroid?

This is one of those questions I am asked surprisingly often, and it’s only gotten more frequently asked in online spaces as time has gone on:

“Is anyone else’s hair not holding on to hair colour (dye) like it used to?!“

Let’s explore this!

​Read this article.​

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How To Solve Acne With Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s

I have recently updated this article.

​Read it now.​

This recent post from The Invisible Hypothyroidism's Instagram page was very popular:

The caption said:

"The only person who can really understand how much your thyroid condition has changed your life, is YOU. Other people also struggling with a thyroid condition, may then come close to understanding.
But your experience is unique – it is yours."

Click here to see the full post.

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🎬 Latest Instagram Reels 🎬

• ​Foot pain with hypo​
• ​Parenting guilt on hard days​
• ​Night sweats​
• ​Waiting to drink after taking meds​
• ​The goitrogen myth​
• ​We don't all get better with thyroid medication​
• ​Why I have to do this​
• ​Hypothyroidism is an invisible illness​
• ​Sleep complaints​
• ​Why we need to confirm Hashimoto's​

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Order Your Own Thyroid Tests

Do you still feel unwell on thyroid medication even though your doctor is insistent that your test results are coming back ‘fine’ or ‘normal’?

Perhaps your doctor isn’t running all the thyroid tests that you need?

Many thyroid patients benefit from being more involved in their thyroid care and treatment, which is where self-testing and the ability to order your own tests can be critical tools for empowering yourself.

More and more thyroid patients are ordering their own tests online, including myself, because they’re wanting to become more involved in their own health and treatment, or to perhaps fill in the blanks where their doctor is letting them down with thyroid issues.

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​Read this article here.​

This is where I share my favourite thyroid health supporting tools and resources each fortnight. 😊

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📖 Book: Let's Talk Thyroid by Annabel Bateman​

I recently read this book and will put a full book review on my website. I appreciated that the author is also a thyroid patient advocate and has a lot to share from her personal journey.

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👂 Podcast Episode: Do This Every Day to Boost Your Energy and Improve Your Sleep - Dr Rangan Chatterjee​

Seeing as so many of us struggle with energy, especially in the morning, this could be helpful.

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🥘 Recipe: Egg Roll in a Bowl​

This easy one-pan meal combines all the delicious flavors of your favorite Chinese appetizer minus the wheat, soy, and inflammatory fryer oils. A few secret spices add aroma and complexity to this otherwise simple dish that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.

You can read more on my approach to diet / dietary changes with thyroid disease here.

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🧪 Test: Vitamin D Blood Test​

Many thyroid patients also have Low Vitamin D yet have no clue. Low Vitamin D can cause fatigue, joint, muscle and bone pain, hair loss, skin complaints and more. I always retest mine in the autumn when daytime sunlight drops. This at-home test is a great option.

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💙 Self-Care Nugget: Baths

I have been prioritising guarding time for a bath in the evening before bed, two times a week. It's important for my mental health, but also my physical health, to set this intentional time aside to unwind.

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🌟 Other things I'm loving at the minute:

• Coconut water for rehydrating.
• ​This gluten-free Xmas Cookbook!​

That's all for this issue of The Thyroid Family Newsletter, but you can find more information and support:

⭐ In my website articles​

⭐ In my books​

⭐ In the 'Thyroid Family' Facebook Support Group​

⭐ On my Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter

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Keep an eye out for the next issue in two weeks' time!

Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

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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. For example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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