Don’t let the summer sun burn out your Thyroid—Here’s your summer survival guide.
Brutal Indian summers include scorching heat, power cuts, sweat baths, and chilled mango drinks on repeat. But for people with thyroid disorders—be it hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism—summer can pose lots of challenges.
Let’s explore simple, desi, and practical ways to manage your thyroid health during the intense Indian summer.
The tiny thyroid gland in your neck controls big things including metabolism, energy levels, and body temperature. The high temperatures can intensify symptoms like fatigue, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, mood swings, and rapid weight fluctuations.
This is especially challenging if you’re juggling unavoidable traffic jams, 9-to-5 jobs, and family responsibilities. So, what's the solution?
Sweating causes water as well as electrolytes loss—important for thyroid hormone function.
Quick Tip: Begin your day with jeera water or coconut water. Carry a water bottle infused with tulsi, mint, or cucumber to stay cool and energized throughout the day. Buttermilk and herbal tea are good friends of your thyroid glands.
Thyroid health is maintained by minerals like selenium, iodine, and zinc. Indian diets often miss out on these, especially with modern eating habits. So, you must prepare food with iodized salt, consume dahi or yogurt with flax seeds, Rajma-chawal (once a week), and roasted sunflower seeds as snacks.
Vitamin D deficiency is not rare in India—even with the blazing sun! Low levels of Vitamin D can worsen thyroid symptoms.
Pro Hack: Get at least 15-20 minutes of early morning sunlight (before 9 am) regularly. To achieve that, sit on your terrace, go for a walk, or even water your plants—natural and free! Sunlight after 4 pm is also beneficial for your health.
Some Indian veggies including cauliflower, cabbage, and soya often interfere with thyroid hormone production if consumed raw and in large quantities.
Smart Swap: Always steam or cook these veggies. To get more benefits, mix them with turmeric and mustard seeds.
Embrace millets, seasonal fruits, vegetables, curd, dal, and ghee. Balanced desi meals support steady energy and thyroid balance.
Pro Tip: Eat small meals every 3–4 hours. It helps regulate metabolism and avoids summer fatigue.
If you are already using medicines for Thyroid gland, never skip doses. Try to consume the tablet at the same time everyday. Never consume thyroid medication with milk or tea. Consult your doctor if symptoms worsen in summer
Practice sheetali pranayama (cooling breath technique)
Take lukewarm showers to avoid shocking your internal system
Wear cotton clothes that allow your body to breathe
Avoid stress with evening walks or yoga
For people with thyroid medications, excess caffeine may cause interference. To avoid that, limit it and avoid having it within 2 hours of taking your medicine.
Managing thyroid in summers isn’t rocket science—it’s about following routine, maintaining balance, and always being body-aware. These thyroid-friendly lifestyle tips can help you enjoy the season instead of surviving it.
