Let’s get one thing straight, alcohol does in fact directly affect your thyroid health.
The real questions you should be asking are these…
“How much alcohol is too much?” and “What can you do to help protect yourself?”
We’ll cover the answer to the second question in a minute.
The answer to the first question is a little trickier because like most things, it depends entirely on you.
It’s well known that hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s sufferers oftentimes develop an intolerance to alcohol.
This is because your thyroid health is essential to the health of your liver.
And it’s your liver that has to process and metabolize alcohol.
While small amounts of alcohol have been shown to provide some antioxidant effects, most people over-consume polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) which negate this and instead promote oxidative cell damage.
Yet, it’s the other effects of alcohol that make it far more dangerous to your thyroid.
For example, estrogen is well known for directly suppressing or blocking your thyroid gland.
(Note: We cover how to unblock your thyroid gland in detail in this article on “How We Overcome Hypothyroidism When All Else Fails”.)
And all alcohol is estrogenic including…
- Beer
- Wine
- Liquor
So, while we can’t say for sure how much alcohol you can tolerate without negative effects, we can look at what the available research tells us.
Below is an infographic we put together based on the available research today showing what happens to your thyroid after drinking alcohol…
As you can see, it doesn’t take much alcohol to negatively affect your hormones.
Although alcohol’s ability to significantly increase estrogen plays a big role in suppressing thyroid function, there are many other factors involved as well including alcohol’s ability to:
- Decrease progesterone
- Increased prolactin
- Create a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency
- Disrupts blood sugar handling
However, the effects of alcohol on estrogen dominance are so significant because it increases estrogen levels in three ways.
3 Ways Alcohol Increases Your Estrogen and Suppresses Your Thyroid
1. Alcohol Contains Phyto-estrogens
Studies of rats whose ovaries were removed and produced little to no estrogen showed that simply consuming alcohol raised estrogen levels significantly.
This showed that the estrogenic compounds (phyto-estrogens ) produced in the process of making the alcohol contribute significantly to this rise in estrogen.
2. Alcohol Activates Your Aromatase Enzymes
Studies have also shown that alcohol increases the activity of the aromatase enzyme found in your fat cells.
When activated, this enzyme converts androgens and testosterone into more estrogen.
This is one of the most common causes of low testosterone found today, especially among thyroid sufferers.
3. Alcohol Impairs Your Liver Function
Alcohol further burdens your liver and prevents your liver from detoxifying estrogen.
And if you can’t detoxify estrogen, it builds up within your tissues causing your estrogen levels to rise even further.
All of these factors lead to estrogen dominance.
And estrogen directly suppresses your thyroid gland from releasing thyroid hormone.
As estrogen continues to rise, it also activates your body’s stress response.
This rise in stress hormone also blocks your liver from converting T4 into T3.
(Note: Want to learn how to protect your thyroid and liver? We show you how in this article on “How to Heal Your Thyroid By Healing Your Liver”.)
So, now that we’ve established that alcohol in its entirety is not good for your thyroid, I still get asked by clients all the time…
“If I’m going to have a drink, what’s the safest option?”
The Safest Way to Consume Alcohol
Safe is a relative word when it comes to alcohol.
But there are some things that we can do to help protect us.
The safest alcohol according to Dr. Raymond Peat is a pure colorless (clear) highly distilled alcohol.
And the best way to protect yourself is by giving your liver plenty of fructose.
Research shows that consuming fructose after drinking alcohol can protect your liver by increasing the rate at which your liver metabolizes alcohol by 80%.
That’s significant!
So, mixing your clear highly distilled alcohol with fruit juice would be ideal.
And having extra fruit or fruit juice before and after consuming alcohol would be even better.
So there you have it…
What is your experience with alcohol?
Do you find that your thyroid condition makes it difficult to tolerate?
Or maybe you avoid it all costs?
Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Hi Tom,
I can tolerate alcohol pretty well. You also mention that a lot of thyroid sufferers have low testosteron, but I recently had my testosteron levels tested (after already testing estrogen and progesteron which were actually pretty good, ie high prog. and low estrogen) and my free testosteron and bioavalable testosteron were very high and SHBG were low. I tried to find out why this is and I read in literature that thyroid sufferers often have low SHGB and therefore high testosteron. This completely contradicts your story, so I am confused now….
Kind regards,
Jocelyn
Hi Jocelyn, keep in mind that estrogen cannot be measured accurately through blood testing because it tends to accumulate inside the tissue and not in the blood. This is why we look at prolactin and serotonin to provide a more accurate indicator of true estrogen levels. With that being said, SHBG directly affects free testosterone. So the lower it is, the higher free testosterone will appear. Total testosterone would be what you want to look at. Also keep in mind that in the article we are referring to aromatization of testosterone which is not an issue for everyone. So, there’s no contradiction at all.
I find that Alcohol makes me quite tired the next morning and can now understand why. I do drink Vodka with Juices so guess I am doing it the best way! I will think of cutting down now after reading this.
I am diagnosed hypothyroid and hashimotos …. I am physically ill; i.e., heartburn like symtoms with just a small amount of my before favorite wine. My husband thought I was mental! Thanks for sharing this information.
Hey Tom,
I cannot tolerate alcohol in any form. It metabolizes quickly and makes me feel very ill. I also have almost no testosterone and am just starting your program. I am working on your program but I don’t think I will ever enjoy alcohol that much.
Hi Lynn, glad to hear you’re getting started on the Program. Let me know how your progress goes.
Same here! Any amount of alcohol of any kind gives me terrible indigestion/heart burn. Now I know why.
fructose ?? but it would increase your blood sugar, which jus not good at all for those with Hashimoto’s
Hi Nathalie, that’s really the wrong way to look at it. Read this post as it will help make more sense: https://www.forefronthealth.com/hypothyroidism-and-diabetes/
You do not mention how alcohol affects men! Is it the same mechanism?
Hi Chandra, in most ways yes the effects are the same.
Interesting. Thank you. I am unable to tolerate any form of alcohol, except very occasionally (New Years Eve to be precise) a vodka and orange, which only leaves me feeling extra tired in the morning. On the other hand wine makes me physically ill. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and as I am not absorbing Vitamin B12 or Iron am having tests for Hashimotos.
I’ve had hypothyroidism for 3 years now, this last april, my thyroid stopped working all together and I was out of work for a month. It was so bad I had 9 out of 10 symptoms and would do anything to never experience that again. I cannot tolerate any alcohol at all, not even a quarter of a beer. I noticed that alcohol had serious effects on me, I asked my Dr and he said it didn’t matter if I drank or not because alcohol doesn’t affect hypothyroidism. Sorry but it DOES and I’m now seeking another dr.
Dear Tom,
Why distilled alcoholic drinks rather than fermented or macerated?
I’m assuming distilled drinks are things like scotch, rum and rye. Beer and wine are fermented (and beer has Vitamin B in spades, doesn’t it? Wine has some good stuff, too.); absinthe is macerated.
I’ve read elsewhere that the least destructive alcohol is probably a dry wine, as the fructose is least there. The drier the wine, the less fructose. Wrong?
Also puzzled,
Eva
Hi Eva, distilling alcohol is how they remove the impurities that can be dangerous. So, a single distilled alcohol will have more impurities than a triple distilled alcohol.
Hi Tom,
I drink alcohol very rarely, but when I do I feel drunk before ever finishing a drink (6oz of red wine for example). The next day I feel exhausted and so hungry I don’t ever feel full. I feel I try to avoid it due to this reaction. Is this normal for thyroid patients?
Megan
Hi Megan, there are a number of factors involved but yes.
Hi Tom,
I’ve never really been a alcohol drinker. Every now and then…
However, when recently exposed to your method; reading all of the materials you’ve researched and provided,
I’m ever so dedicated to healing my long time hypothyroidism condition.
I want to do as much as I can to simply feel better within time!
Thanks.
Deb-
Tx Tom,
I gave up alcohol a long time ago…. I am getting good results with your “triple-treat” breakfast (after twenty years of no coffee!!) and I daily consume the “estrogen-eating” carrot salad and I notice that I am improving steadily. Touch wood!! And a huge THANK YOU to you!!
Maja from down-under (Adelaide)
Hi Maja, that’s great to hear and keep up the good work.
Ahah, I knew there was a link between my tolerance of alcohol and my health at the time of drinking! Unfortunately, I might add, since I love a good glass of organic/preservative-free red wine :-(. However, I find I can only tolerate when I’m consistently getting a good night’s sleep and generally feeling ‘well’. At the moment with two young children this is almost impossible and I’m finding even a small amount of wine will make me feel wired and fatigued at the same time and definitely anxious!! It takes me awhile to sleep afterwards (adrenaline) and I definitely don’t feel good the next morning either – fatigued and ‘wired’. So I assume that a good night’s sleep plays a large role in regulating hormones?
Hi Sharene, yes sleep is essential to regulating hormones.
Although I enjoy a cocktail or a craft beer now and again, I’ve been instinctively avoiding alcohol for quite a while now. My skin flares up after even a sip or two, and I don’t like the sensation of being drunk. Also, on an emotional level, it magnifies my mood, so unless I’m “chilled-out happy” and with long-term friends I trust 100%, I don’t like how it leaves me feeling. I lost my mother to alcoholism in 2009, so being around people who are drinking heavily can make me anxious and depressed – another reason why I avoid booze. But it’s interesting to know there’s a physiological reason too.
Hi Gwen, sorry to hear about your mother and that alone is a good reason to avoid it.
So that explains why Tito’s Vodka, (10 times distilled) and grapefruit juice became my drink of choice. Great, informative article!
Hi Kathy, I wouldn’t use grapefruit as it’s estrogenic by itself.
This is me! I am definitely affected by wine. Is there anyway I can access more information about your plan in the UK. I want to check how easy the 60 day plan would be to follow. I can only find US purchasing sites?
Hi Wendy, our HR program is only available through our website.
I noticed this post mentioned a lot about post-menopausal women.
I’m 21 and have thyroid issues (hypo, but antibodies are negative and ultrasound was clear), but have never drank.
I’m not really overly interested in drinking, but it sounds like just one more thing I’m restricted from… which is a bummer.
Are there any studies on this that can be applied to younger women?
Thanks.
Hi Liberty, the studies included in this article looked at both pre-menopausal women and post-menopausal women. So it applies to both. However there is much more post-menopausal research so I specifically noted those points where I did not have an equivalent pre-menopausal study.
Everything we discuss here on this website applies to all women as well.
Hi Tom,
What happens when you’ve had your thyroid removed? I feel like my ability to tolerate alcohol fluctuates, sometimes I can have a couple drinks and feel fine the next day other times I’ll have one and feel awful. Thank you.
Hi Patty, having RAI or thyroidectomy wouldn’t change the effects. Estrogen affects far more than your thyroid gland. I’ve also written more about RAI and thyroidectomy here: https://www.forefronthealth.com/rai-and-thyroidectomy/
Thank you and thank you for sharing all your research! I’m really hoping it’s a life changer for me!
Zero alcohol. A half of a drink and I saw double images. Hands swelled. Now I .Only drink water. One coffee. One milk per day. Eat clean. No gluten. Losing weight and on my way to a better life
Alcohol makes my heart race, since I became hypo.
Mine has as well… do I wake in the middle of the night with fast heart rate mine has been up to 160… do scary wish I had more information on what to do
Hmm, made me think of bring on the chocolate covered strawberries as I enjoy a fine wine. Actually, my preference is a cold beer end of a hot day…watermelon anyone? …Actually I rarely rarely drink at all, and then it is a single serving nursed through a social setting. I value my liver way too much to abuse the alcohol. It just not worth it.
I have had a problem with alcohol of all kinds…..I can’t drink hardly any and will feel tipsy!! I have been Hypothyroid for many years. Thanks for sharing WHY I have a Problem.
Thank you for this Rachel! I thought I was the only one. I’ve had Hypothyroidism for many years and for some reason within the last few years I’ve noticed that it affects me very negatively. Like you said, I feel tipsy after just one glass of wine! I was so embarrassed!
Hi Tom! I was diagnosed with Hashimotos 4 years ago and just recently have been having trouble when consuming alcohol. I have episodes where I get extremely nauseous and vomit when I lay down for bed after a night out and consuming a few drinks. I thought this might be a gastro problem but after reading your article I am now wondering if this could be related to my thyroid? It doesn’t happen every time and it does seem like sugary drinks tend to make it worse.
I have a question . I have been on your diet for 14 weeks feeling better but my pulse is still 52 to 56 how can I get it to increase?
Hi Kathy, I’m happy to hear that you’re feeling better. Pulse generally takes much longer to come up than temperature. However, I cover this in more detail in this training: https://www.forefronthealth.com/lp/ultimate-thyroid-testing-protocol/
I’ve always believed that alcohol in moderation was okay, but never overdoing it. I’ve avoided having any when I’m around people who can’t have (or shouldn’t have) any. I’ve enjoyed wine and a few other types of drinks at times without any problems. But a couple of months ago I was at a birthday party of an older friend and I wound up getting dizzy and suddenly having a very upset stomach and felt in danger of passing out and had to lie down. It didn’t even seem like being drunk, but it make me sick. I think also sharing some cake and sandwiches with the people prior to that also probably upset the balance that I was starting to have using your program. And chances are just not really monitoring it exactly over the evening had something to do with it. It was quite disappointing to have to acknowledge having another thing to be so careful about, but at least it’s important to know why this happened..
In addition, at another birthday event recently (the mate of the previous person), I did a small amount of wine tasting with the group that didn’t seem to have the negative effects of the previous time. So I think just making sure to monitor other conditions and having whatever I have slowly made all the difference. But I realized that I definitely couldn’t just do as I had been able to in previous years. It just goes to show that everybody is different, and also different at different times.
I have Hashimotos ( 15+years) and never had a problem with alcohol until recently. After consuming even 1 glass of wine I feel as though my thyroid is swelling. Is this common?
I don’t usually drink, but recently have been enjoying less than once a week a Mojito, or a glass of Sangria, or a little Kahlua … AND coincidentally have been wondering about a number of hypothyroid symptoms that have “appeared”. I used to get pvc (premature ventricular contraction) palpitations a lot when I was on Synthroid and especially when it was time for my period. Since I am post menopausal for some years now, I’ve been a bit concerned with the return of having palpitations that come with different emotions. I thought it was simply a reaction to my mom’s death the week before mothers’ day because she had I LOT of heart symptoms, especially tachycardia. But HMMM sounds like this SMALL amount of drinking alcoholic beverages is the connection :-/
Hi Tom,
As we say in the UK, one sniff of the barmaid’s apron and I’m merry!
My tolerance for alcohol is so low that one sip of wine (or whatever) and I’m already on the way to getting drunk. I used to drink vodka and cranberry juice which is a very nice, long drink, so from your post it seems my best bet if I’m going to have a drink.
(I have Hashimoto’s and two days ago started on your Triple Thyroid Diet Protocol. I’m sleeping better and have a lot more energy already.
Does it have the effect of releasing gall/liver stones like the Liver and Gall-bladder Flush? I ask because after the first day on the diet I passed a stone!)
Hi Jane, great to hear that you’re doing well. As for a gall-bladder flush, it doesn’t promote it itself, but we do a lot to help support the liver/gallbladder.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the link to this article.
I notice that when I drink even one glass of wine that I am very tired the next day and have difficulty focusing.
That’s why in the past, I only drank one glass of wine per week. After reading this, I’m going to stick to orange juice. I don’t like orange juice by itself, but I do find that I like it 50/50 water to juice with a small amount of salt.
It reminds me of eating an orange or lemon with saladito (salted dried prune). I used to eat those a lot growing up.
I am an alcoholic and haven’t had a drink since 1990. Yippie for me. Because I have Hashimotos plus other autoimmune disorders one of them causing extreme pain, I take Morphine for my pain medication. I am not worried about drinking because of the pain medication plus I became epileptic at 30 so taking 3 anticonvulsants I think even 1 drink would kill me. I am not ready to die yet. ?
Reading your article you say fructose is good for those of us with Hashimotos. But I just read a different articlel that said it is very bad for us. So I am confused with that one.
I don’t know if Hashimotos runs in families or not. I don’t know of any of my Uncle’s, my one Aunt my Grandparents or anyone else is my family with Hashimotos. But my half sister (her symptoms were sever depression, she couldn’t stop crying. She was normally always happy and laughing.) . Then my daughter was diagnosed, ( our family Dr had no clue what was wrong with her. She sent her to an allergist, he diagnosed her with Angioedema. But he couldn’t prescribe her the medications she needed, one for her allergies one for her stomach plus her thyroid med). I was next my symptoms were totally different. I am still so exhausted, tired just isn’t enough of a word. Plus I would be on my feet less than 2 minutes and clear up t9 my crotch would be swollen. To the point if you knew what Elephantitis is I looked like that on both legs.
Even taking my T4 I am still exhausted, I can sleep 3 or 4 days in a row just getting up to go to the bathroom. Even with that my adult daughter says I don’t really wake up. Other times I can’t sleep no matter how tired I am or my brain is. I will be up for days. And it isn’t like I sleep for 3 days then I can’t sleep for days. It can be a week or two later.
I do know a lady who has Hashimotos, she talks about drinking all the time, and I am almost positive she does drink a lot. I have always thought her drinking can not be good for her Hashimotos. Because she is always saying how bad she feel, and she is so tired but she has to work no matter how tired she is. Plusher job is very stressful she is a CNA. I feel so bad for her. I don’t know how to approach her and tell her she might feel better if she didn’t drink. Sounds silly since I’m around 20 years older then her.
You said the thing about the prolactin levels being low. Mine were when I was going through menopause, and now that I have gone through it drinking doesn’t have a thing to do with my levels being off. I also have other hormones that they say are not in the normal range for a woman who has gone through menopause. When I asked what was going on and why, the Dr said it is probably the Hashimotos, or maybe because that is an autoimmune disorder And when you have 1 you usually have a few more. I actually have 2. So may have a few more just not yet diagnosed. Isn’t One enough?!
A very informative article. Thanks
I have hashimoto’s. I am 31. I think I have had thyroid issues for most of my life but I really wasn’t raised to go to the doctor so I didn’t find out until I was about 21. I went to the gynocologist and the nurse thought that my thyroid looked enlarged so she decided to run some test. I don’t remember which one but she came back and said I was hypothyroid. I knew nothing about the thyroid and when I asked her about it she couldn’t explain it to me. That combined with my distrust of traditional western medicine and the way Dr.’s are taught to Dr. these days by just handing out prescriptions for everything, which usually causes more problems, made me decide not to take the levothyroxine she had the Dr. prescribe me. I also read that once you started taking that medication you’re thryoid just might stop producing T3 and T4 all together so it just seemed shady to me. In my mid 20’s I drank a lot which I think gave or worsened my depression and anxiety but I just kept drinking until I got a DUI a few years ago. I feel so much better now that I don’t drink. My emotions are way easier to control. I also tried to take birth control around that same time that I was drinking a lot and it made me crazy paranoid and anxious so I stopped taking it. I get immediately irritable and fatigued when I drink coffee. I’ve only been taking the levothyroxine now for about a month so I’m not sure if it helps. I haven’t even been able to get a buzz from alcohol in the past few years because before I can get one I either feel sick or anxious but I just look at it as a blessing in disguise because nothing good ever comes from drinking anyway.
Dear Tom, I have been ill since a double ear infection in 2007. I began having a runny nose and nose breathing gave me bronchitis. I had a pain on my breastbone that was diagnosed as costochondritis. I had some BHRT treatment and changed does a few times, then had testing done only to find that blood tests do not measure estrogen levels in the body… so what tests should one do to give approximate sex hormone levels then? I was also tested for thyroid and adrenals and have lower cortisol all day until evening when it goes up. I tried 60 mg NP Thyroid but it caused swelling of my eyelids and made my eyes change size & protrude like hyperthyroidism. I could not feel this but noticed it in the mirror & in pictures. I want to have complete testing done and do not know where the most reliable labs are to do it, along with comprehensive test explanation. I did not think my practitioner took all of the correct tests. My symptoms are easily fatigued, no refreshed sleep if woken early, dark under eyes, thinning hair, weight gain mostly stomach & thighs, low libido made worse taking saw palmetto & fenugreek- now only BHRT helps this. Did I wipe out all of my DHT? Thank you for any help. Where is your practice and do you take new out of town patients?
Hi Kim, this can help regarding estrogen testing: https://www.forefronthealth.com/test-for-estrogen-dominance/
I’m in Boulder, CO but work with clients all over, here in the US and internationally.
Although I’ve been hypothyroid for a while now I’ve been living a Ray Peat lifestyle for about a year now. I don’t find alcohol effects me significantly lately but I sure used to. I used to have hangovers from hell – 3 glasses of wine and I would feel like I drank 3 bottles the next day. Not to mention if I had wine from anywhere other than France or Italy, hours later my heart would race, I had insomnia and my adrenaline would spike (that still happens). All in all, I’ve cut down on alcohol significantly and done it happily :)
I notice that if I drink wine or whiskey, it really messes with me. Once it hits me, it hits me and I forget things. My muscles also ache the next day. I took more pills tonight because of my aching. I need to know when to say when….
I noticed that my alcohol tolerance changed before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism.I would be very tipsy after just two glasses of wine never had this before. After diagnosis just one glass of wine leaves me feeling very unwell for up to 2 days.I feel sick, indigestion and intestinal cramps generally feel out of sorts. This then disappears and I feel fine again.I have tested this several times definitely alcohol related. No more alcohol for me.
How this this apply to someone who has had a total thyroidectomy?
It still applies 100%. Estrogen interferes with thyroid function on many levels, not just the thyroid gland.
Hi Tom,
Interesting information, very thorough. I’ve had Hashimoto’s for 15+ years, but just developed what feels like an allergy to wine. Lately, I start sneezing like crazy after drinking about half a glass, and my nose eventually closes up (not very conducive to tasting the wine!). I chalked it up to other things, like the dog, pollen, etc, but it’s happened the exact same way several times now, so it must be the wine! I even took Benadryl before a wine tasting, which seemed to lessen the response, but it did still happen. I’d like to explore your program further… Is your 7 day diet vegetarian/vegan friendly?
Hi, can I please get some information about the program that everyone is referring to? Thanks!
Hi Jaime, you can find our programs here: https://www.forefronthealth.com/programs
I find vodka to be the only alcohol that doesnt make my heart thump. U said grapefruit is estrogenic. Why is that? I read it helps eliminate estrogen.
By the way, ur B vitamins have really helped me.
4th of July weekend I had one shot of Hennessy. I woke up feeling terrible the next day and my blood levels had increased, my body was producing 3,000 more then it was supposed to. I was sent to the ER by my PCP, no one knew why my levels were so high.. They couldn’t find an “infection” in my body. After doing some of my own research I now know liquor is harmful to my thyroid. I’ll stay away from the dark liquor. But I’m also scared to experiment with the “clear” liquor. I’m learning to take better care of myself, but being in my mid 20’s is love to have a drink occasionally, but I’m too scared!
I immediately have a pounding heart when I drink… lasts for hours
Im have hypothyroidsm over 20 years and on 125mg drinking doesnt tend to make me feel ill at all in fact i seem to be able to drink for ever(upto 10 pints possibly more though that is a rare occasion) and i thought that was because i have a slowed metabolism…..it just eventually makes me fall asleep! Though i do still fatigued on most days, and i am wondering as it’s T4-only medication and from your article it says that alcohol can affect t4 converting to t3………there could lay my problem!
Not everyone feels immediate negative effects. But alcohol also depleted Vitamin B1 (thiamine) which is necessary for the proper use of thyroid hormone and healthy oxidative metabolism.
Hi Tom!
I Noticed that after one drink (of any kind) I wake up with my heart racing and it’s very scary! Spending lots of money on dr visits and having no explanation makes me feel it is hormone related! WHat test should I get confirm thyroid function?
Thanks for any help!
Hi Ashley, here’s the test we use with our clients to assess thyroid function: https://www.forefronthealth.com/lp/ultimate-thyroid-testing-protocol/