{"id":7966,"date":"2020-01-13T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7966"},"modified":"2026-02-19T19:13:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T00:13:53","slug":"hypothyroidism-and-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hypothyroidism-and-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"Can working out help an underactive thyroid?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have hypothyroidism, heading to the gym is probably the last thing you feel like doing. When that little butterfly-shaped gland in your neck malfunctions, it makes you feel tired, causes joint aches, and affects your muscles. It\u2019s not exactly a recipe for crushing your fitness goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

On top of all that, an underactive thyroid slows your body\u2019s metabolism, which means it\u2019s likely you\u2019re gaining weight, but just don\u2019t have the energy to work out. In short: hypothyroidism and exercise don\u2019t seem like a natural combination. But, when your condition is well-controlled with medication, exercise <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> help you feel better.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can exercise cure hypothyroidism?<\/span><\/h2>\n

No, exercise won\u2019t make your thyroid produce more thyroid hormone, or reverse the condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing one\u2019s exercise plan or diet won\u2019t affect the course of an autoimmune disease, says Marie Bellantoni, MD, who specializes in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. She\u2019s quick to tell her patients, \u201cIf someone knew what caused an autoimmune disease or how to selectively control the immune system, that person would be collecting their Nobel Prize in medicine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED<\/b>: <\/span>Hypothyroidism treatment<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Treating hypothyroidism with medication<\/span><\/h3>\n

The appropriate treatment is the medication that replaces the hormone your body doesn\u2019t produce.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe treat hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone medication,\u201d says David Bleich, MD, professor and chief of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey. \u201cIt\u2019s simple, safe, and effective and you need to work with your doctor to find the right dose.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When treated properly, medication can improve symptoms of hypothyroidism, including: low energy, fatigue, dry skin, thinning hair, weight gain, elevated cholesterol, depression or mood changes, aches and stiffness in joints, muscle weakness, irregular or heavier than normal periods, infertility, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, slowed heart rate, impaired memory, hoarseness, or having an enlarged thyroid gland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foods to avoid with thyroid medication<\/span><\/h3>\n

People with hypothyroidism usually take thyroid hormone replacement medications daily for the rest of their lives.<\/span> It\u2019s best to take the pill on an empty stomach. <\/span>Dr. Bellantoni recommends 30 minutes before or four hours after a meal and at least two to four hours apart from any iron or calcium containing supplements. \u201cThat way your body will be better able to absorb the medication,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s because some foods can interfere with the absorption of your thyroid medication. The two that people commonly avoid are soy and iodine-rich foods.<\/span> A study<\/span><\/a>, however, shows either no adverse effects or only very modest changes in effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing bad will happen to you if you forget and take your meds and supplements at the same time,\u201d explains Dr. Bellantoni. \u201cBut that day you may only absorb between 60% and 70% of the levothyroxine pill.\u201d This explains why people will have lower thyroid levels despite taking their thyroid medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>5 things that can mess with thyroid medication<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Hypothyroidism and exercise<\/span><\/h2>\n

Daily medication is the only way to return your thyroid levels to normal. Yet, exercise can have beneficial effects for people with hypothyroidism\u2014and help fight negative effects of certain symptoms, such as weight gain, depression, stiffness, joint aches, and muscle weakness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing that one can do for hypothyroidism is to follow-up with your doctor and make sure that you\u2019re placed on the right dose of thyroid medication, but the next step on your list of things to do should be exercise,\u201d says <\/span>Yasmin Akhunji, MD<\/span><\/a>, a thyroid specialist with Paloma Health. \u201cRegular exercise is a vital part in managing hypothyroid symptoms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When you have an underactive thyroid, committing to an exercise routine can help to:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Improve energy levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the first symptoms people notice about hypothyroidism is tiredness, or low energy. The condition can make you feel sluggish. Medication can help alleviate that. In addition, <\/span>some research<\/span><\/a> shows that low impact exercise can reduce fatigue. Just be sure not to push yourself too hard. It\u2019s important to start slow, and gradually increase your activity levels so you don\u2019t overdo it and end up exhausted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t