Some common thyroid diseases, includingHashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common cause ofhypothyroidism, andGraves' disease, a common cause of hyperthyroidism, areautoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune conditions occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing dysfunction and damage—in these cases, the immune system attacks thethyroid gland.
Ellen Lindner / Verywell
Management of an autoimmune thyroid condition takes the immune system into account.
Where the Immune System Goes Wrong
In the case of an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks otherwise healthy tissues.
Thyroid autoimmune conditions can cause either:
Strategies for Immunity Maintenance
Most scientists agree it isn’t possible to “boost” the immune system, largely because it has many moving parts that must work together. As a resource from Harvard Medical School explains: “It’s especially complicated because there are so many different kinds of cells in the immune system that respond to so many different microbes in so many ways.“
There are things you can do to help your immune system function at its best. The most important way to keep the immune system strong and balanced is to maintain a healthy lifestyle overall. This is true even for people who are living with a thyroid autoimmune disease.
These strategies can helpsupport your immune system.
Dietary factors can affect your immune system. Your diet can provide you with the nutrients needed to build immune cells and proteins, and your diet can also expose you to harmful chemicals that damage your immune system.
Tips include:
Limit saturated fats and sugars to no more than 10 percent of your total calories each day.
Feed Your Microbiome
Research has found that the billions of healthy bacteria that live in the gut work directly with the immune system to help to support and regulate the immune response.
There’s much to be learned about this complex relationship, particularly as it might apply to preventing and treating specific diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease.
It’s safe to say that including foods that contain healthy bacteria, such as yogurt with live cultures and fermented foods like kombucha and kimchi (Korean pickled vegetables) may be helpful for the immune system.
How to Have Healthier Gut Bacteria
Stay Active
Getting plenty of exercise is essential to overall health and it may help immune system cells move through the body more efficiently.
There has been some concern that too much exercise might interfere with the immune system,but this is not a concern when it comes to moderate amounts of exercise.
Get Enough Sleep
It’s no secret that sleep deprivation can take a toll on a person’s health, including how well the immune system works.
Sleep deprivation is associated with impairment of the immune system, while adequate sleep has been shown to help support immune system functioning.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that most adults under age 65 get between seven and nine hours of good quality sleep each night.
Deal With Stress
While it’s unlikely that the immune system will take a hit after a single anxiety-provoking situation or event, scientists looking at the relationship between stress and immunity note that chronic stress may take a toll on the immune system over time.For this reason, if you’re under ongoing tension, —at work or in your relationships—it may be advisable to find healthy ways to manage it.
What will relieve stress for one person may not do the same for another, but there are many options to explore, including meditation, deep breathing, exercise, and hobbies.
Immune-Enhancing Supplements
There are a variety of supplements and herbal products that claim to support or improve the immune system.
The best-known examples are:
ImportantSome have been shown in studies to alter the immune system, but none have been found to actually improve or boost immunity in ways that prevent illness or infection. In addition, some herbs and supplements may interfere with the medical management of your condition as well as your thyroid function. Do not use them without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Important
Some have been shown in studies to alter the immune system, but none have been found to actually improve or boost immunity in ways that prevent illness or infection. In addition, some herbs and supplements may interfere with the medical management of your condition as well as your thyroid function. Do not use them without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Guide to Dietary Supplements and Thyroid Disease
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2018;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208Seldin MF.The genetics of human autoimmune disease: A perspective on progress in the field and future directions.J Autoimmun. 2015;64:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2015.08.015The Mayo Clinic.Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infectionHarvard Medical School.How to boost your immune system. Last updated on July 16, 2018American Heart Association.Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res.2015;2015:401630. doi: 10.1155/2015/401630Vetvicka V. and Vetvickova J.Immune-enhancing effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Shiitake (Lentinul edodes) extracts.Ann Transl Med. 2014 Feb;2(2):14. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.01.05UC Berkley News.Compound in broccoli has immune boosting properties, finds new study.Yan F, Polk DB.Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27(6):496-501. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4dSellami M, Gasmi M, Denham J, et al.Effects of acute and chronic exercise on immunological parameters in the elderly aged: can physical activity counteract the effects of aging?.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2187. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02187The National Sleep Foundation.How Much Sleep Do Adults Really Need?.Marshall GD.The adverse effects of psychological stress on immunoregulatory balance: applications to human inflammatory diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2011;31(1):133-40. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2010.09.013Additional ReadingBordoni A, Denesi F, Dardevet D, et al.Dairy Products and Inflammation: A Review of the Clinical Evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 57:12, 2497-2525. doi: 10408398.2014.967385Yan F and Polk DB.Probiotics and Immune Health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011 Oct;27(6):496-501. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2018;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208Seldin MF.The genetics of human autoimmune disease: A perspective on progress in the field and future directions.J Autoimmun. 2015;64:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2015.08.015The Mayo Clinic.Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infectionHarvard Medical School.How to boost your immune system. Last updated on July 16, 2018American Heart Association.Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res.2015;2015:401630. doi: 10.1155/2015/401630Vetvicka V. and Vetvickova J.Immune-enhancing effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Shiitake (Lentinul edodes) extracts.Ann Transl Med. 2014 Feb;2(2):14. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.01.05UC Berkley News.Compound in broccoli has immune boosting properties, finds new study.Yan F, Polk DB.Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27(6):496-501. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4dSellami M, Gasmi M, Denham J, et al.Effects of acute and chronic exercise on immunological parameters in the elderly aged: can physical activity counteract the effects of aging?.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2187. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02187The National Sleep Foundation.How Much Sleep Do Adults Really Need?.Marshall GD.The adverse effects of psychological stress on immunoregulatory balance: applications to human inflammatory diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2011;31(1):133-40. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2010.09.013Additional ReadingBordoni A, Denesi F, Dardevet D, et al.Dairy Products and Inflammation: A Review of the Clinical Evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 57:12, 2497-2525. doi: 10408398.2014.967385Yan F and Polk DB.Probiotics and Immune Health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011 Oct;27(6):496-501. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2018;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208Seldin MF.The genetics of human autoimmune disease: A perspective on progress in the field and future directions.J Autoimmun. 2015;64:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2015.08.015The Mayo Clinic.Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infectionHarvard Medical School.How to boost your immune system. Last updated on July 16, 2018American Heart Association.Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res.2015;2015:401630. doi: 10.1155/2015/401630Vetvicka V. and Vetvickova J.Immune-enhancing effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Shiitake (Lentinul edodes) extracts.Ann Transl Med. 2014 Feb;2(2):14. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.01.05UC Berkley News.Compound in broccoli has immune boosting properties, finds new study.Yan F, Polk DB.Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27(6):496-501. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4dSellami M, Gasmi M, Denham J, et al.Effects of acute and chronic exercise on immunological parameters in the elderly aged: can physical activity counteract the effects of aging?.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2187. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02187The National Sleep Foundation.How Much Sleep Do Adults Really Need?.Marshall GD.The adverse effects of psychological stress on immunoregulatory balance: applications to human inflammatory diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2011;31(1):133-40. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2010.09.013
Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2018;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208
Seldin MF.The genetics of human autoimmune disease: A perspective on progress in the field and future directions.J Autoimmun. 2015;64:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2015.08.015
The Mayo Clinic.Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection
Harvard Medical School.How to boost your immune system. Last updated on July 16, 2018
American Heart Association.Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res.2015;2015:401630. doi: 10.1155/2015/401630
Vetvicka V. and Vetvickova J.Immune-enhancing effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Shiitake (Lentinul edodes) extracts.Ann Transl Med. 2014 Feb;2(2):14. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.01.05
UC Berkley News.Compound in broccoli has immune boosting properties, finds new study.
Yan F, Polk DB.Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27(6):496-501. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d
Sellami M, Gasmi M, Denham J, et al.Effects of acute and chronic exercise on immunological parameters in the elderly aged: can physical activity counteract the effects of aging?.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2187. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02187
The National Sleep Foundation.How Much Sleep Do Adults Really Need?.
Marshall GD.The adverse effects of psychological stress on immunoregulatory balance: applications to human inflammatory diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2011;31(1):133-40. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2010.09.013
Bordoni A, Denesi F, Dardevet D, et al.Dairy Products and Inflammation: A Review of the Clinical Evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 57:12, 2497-2525. doi: 10408398.2014.967385Yan F and Polk DB.Probiotics and Immune Health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011 Oct;27(6):496-501. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d.
Bordoni A, Denesi F, Dardevet D, et al.Dairy Products and Inflammation: A Review of the Clinical Evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 57:12, 2497-2525. doi: 10408398.2014.967385
Yan F and Polk DB.Probiotics and Immune Health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011 Oct;27(6):496-501. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
