I want to start by saying I like wine. At times I have loved wine. The bubbles of a lovely sparkling wine, the dry notes of a delicious pinot, the summery freshness of rosé. Wine is delicious.
But wine, and all alcohols, impact how just about every single cell, tissue, organ, and system in your body functions – and as a seeker of fired up, juicy health, it’s just not right for me.
“Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability”
– Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function – 2013
Alcohol and Your Thyroid
While the liver may take the brunt of damage, the thyroid gland is not safe from the harming effects of alcohol. Alcohol can dramatically alter your thyroid function, blocking its normal healthy activity, and lowering levels of circulating thyroid hormones.
Not only that, but alcohol can actually destroy thyroid cells – leading to the formation of thyroid nodules. Many women come to my practice asking how those thyroid nodules formed, and alcohol is absolutely a contributing factor for many of them.
For people with chronic alcohol consumption, the impact on the thyroid can be even more significant (unsurprisingly, I know, but bear with me.) A condition called euthyroid sick syndrome can result from chronic alcohol intake. In this condition the body converts most of the active T3 into reverse T3 (rT3), making it unavailable for use. People with ESS feel exhausted, depressed, and gain weight – all symptoms of hypothyroidism – even though their TSH is normal.
Wine and Hashimoto’s: Alcohol and the Immune System
It gets worse. Because of the impact alcohol has on our liver, women who drink regularly have higher circulating levels of estrogen. And because estrogen stimulates the immune function, women who drink alcohol are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases – and experience flare ups when they do have alcohol. Not great news for women with Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease, two autoimmune thyroid conditions.
WTF Should We Do Dr. Lisa??
Ok. I’ve talked before about the issues I have with the Mommy Wine culture. I think as women we deserve information so we can make our own informed choices. Drinking alcohol occasionally should not long term impacts on our health – the problem is that for many women they are drinking alcohol daily, or several times per week.
I recommend that women consider having no more than 2-3 alcoholic beverages per week to maintain optimal hormone balance. Take it or leave it, that’s my advice.
And be sure you’re working with a skilled practitioner to help you navigate your thyroid health. The internet is full of advice (see above!) and some of it might be perfect for you, and some might not. Working with an expert can help you to figure out what is most likely to positively impact your health.
Reach out if you’ve got questions or click the link if you’re interested in working together.
Disclaimer
The advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is meant to augment and not replace consultation with a licensed health care provider. Consultation with a Naturopathic Doctor or other primary care provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.
Selected Resources
Balhara YP, Deb KS. Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(4):580-587. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.113724
Benvenga S, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Sturniolo MM, Ferrari SM, Antonelli A, Fallahi P. Endocrine disruptors and thyroid autoimmunity. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jan;34(1):101377. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101377. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32081544.
Finn DA. The Endocrine System and Alcohol Drinking in Females. Alcohol Res. 2020 Jul 23;40(2):02. doi: 10.35946/arcr.v40.2.02. PMID: 32714716; PMCID: PMC7374925.
Rachdaoui N, Sarkar DK. Pathophysiology of the Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Endocrine System. Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):255-276. PMID: 28988577; PMCID: PMC5513689.
