Have you heard of electrosmog?

You can’t see it, or smell it. You can’t even feel electrosmog.

Electrosmog is apt: it’s everywhere, and it can have a serious impact on your health – particularly if you have an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s.

But what is electrosmog, and how can your technology have such a huge role in your poor health?

What Is Electrosmog?

Electrosmog is a term used for electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution, a growing concern in developed countries, including the US. Though the existence of EMF pollution is called into question a surprising amount, I honestly think we’re in denial, in the same way it took time for society to realize the adverse effects of tobacco, or the heavy-duty pesticides used by the farming industry in the ‘60s and ’70s. Electrosmog is real, and it’s not going away – in fact, many countries and organisations are already taking action with legislation and guidelines. And there are plenty of studies to back up the dangers of electrosmog.

I don’t want to frighten you, but here’s the truth: EMFs are harmful – and they’re everywhere. They could be contributing to your autoimmunity or hypothyroidism.

But wait – before you throw your phone in the nearest lake and decide to live in a cave, learn a little more about the risks and realities of EMF and autoimmune disease. Firstly, electromagnetic fields in themselves are part of the natural world and universe – your body creates small electromagnetic fields, and the electromagnetic field around the earth actually protects us from radiation! But each electronic device emits this combination of electrical and magnetic energy as “run-off electricity” – and being surrounded by electronics at home, at work, and even just carrying your cellphone in your pocket can subject your body to a bombardment of electrosmog.

Devices that emit electromagnetic fields include:

  • Cellphones
  • Laptops and desktops
  • Tablets
  • Cordless phones
  • WiFi routers, and any device that needs WiFi to run.
  • Smart speakers
  • Video game consoles
  • Home appliances
  • Smart home systems
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Radios and stereos

…Unfortunately, the list goes on and on. The downside of living in a modern, more connected world! While there are health risks for everyone exposed to these devices, you may be one of the unlucky people struggling with electromagnetic sensitivity – and autoimmunity symptoms to boot.

Do Electromagnetic Fields Cause Autoimmune Disease?

EMFs have been linked with certain cancers, depression, high blood pressure, ALS, and Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s has been linked with inflammation suggesting an autoimmune element). Electromagnetic fields have also been linked to complications in diabetes and thyroid disorders. But how can an electromagnetic field have such a major effect on the body?

What Is Electromagnetic Sensitivity?

Electromagnetic sensitivity happens when you develop physical symptoms relating to long-term exposure to EMFs. Studies suggest that EMFs have adverse effects on your body at a cellular level, often affecting communication between cells, and how well they hold energy. EMFs can often affect your cellular proteins, affecting the structure of your tissues and organs.

If that’s not bad enough, EMFs can trigger the production of nasty free radicals, causing oxidative stress. Electrosmog can also have an effect on inflammation by either suppressing it or promoting the inflammation. Finally, EMFs can have an effect on your epigenetics – the way your genes are expressed!

So, there are many ways EMFs can cause issues for your health – and these are just the ones we know of.

What Are the Symptoms of EMF Exposure?

Electromagnetic sensitivity can be sneaky – as there is unfortunately a lot of scepticism about the condition, it’s often misdiagnosed. But some people are more sensitized to electromagnetic fields – and if anything, they are the canaries in the coalmine, letting us know that something’s wrong.

Do you:

  • Struggle with insomnia?
  • Have constant headaches or migraines?
  • Feel not just tired, but fatigued?
  • Have constant brain fog with limited concentration and memory?
  • Feel low, stressed or depressed?
  • Often feel nauseous?
  • Frequently deal with gastrointestinal issues?
  • Feel achy or frequently feel tingling or burning sensations?

If these symptoms sound familiar, you may be dealing with electromagnetic sensitivity.

What’s the Link Between Electromagnetic Sensitivity and Autoimmunity?

There’s a complicated relationship between electrosmog and autoimmune disease. As above, there are several complex mechanisms at play when EMFs enter the body, and it can be like the chicken and egg conundrum – is your autoimmune disease caused by electromagnetic sensitivity, or is your electromagnetic sensitivity caused by your autoimmune disease?

I would argue that it’s not clear cut, because bodies don’t work that way. Everything is connected, and a little oxidative stress here, or a little inflammation there, can have a knock-on effect for the entire body.

If you have one or more of the following:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Lupus
  • Lyme disease
  • Hashimoto’s, or another form of hypothroidism
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

…the risks of electromagnetic sensitivity are higher – or it could already be contributing to your condition.

What Is the Effect of EMF on the Thyroid?

So, given the effect of electrosmog on autoimmunity, what does it mean for your thyroid?

As not enough attention is being paid to the problem of EMFs, this means that at the time of writing I can mostly point you in the direction of animal studies. In one rat study, exposure to power-frequency electromagnetic fields lead to increased levels of mast cells in the thyroid. Mast cells are an intrinsic part of your immune system – when they sense a threat, they spill their contents, including histamine, creating inflammation and signaling white blood cells to attack. Mast cells can also create and store Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and T3, meaning that they can modulate your thyroid function – and high levels of histamine are an early indicator of thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid.

Another rat study shows the connection between cell phone signals and apoptosis – cell death – in the thyroid. Increased cell death in the thyroid messes with healthy function, and because your immune system assists with processing dead cells, can trigger thyroiditis. In humans, excessive cell phone use has been linked with changes in thyroid hormone levels.

Electromagnetic fields are no joke when it comes to problems with the thyroid, and they certainly make a contribution to hypothyroidism. But there’s no need to move off-grid completely.

What Can I Do About Electrosmog and My Thyroid?

Preventing further damage to your thyroid and autoimmune system doesn’t mean you have to go live in the wilderness – though if you need the excuse, go for it! In the meantime, there are a few different strategies you can use to look after your thyroid.

Reduce your exposure to EMFs by:

  1. Turning off wifi at night, and banning all electronics and chargers from your bedroom. Think about it – on a good night, you may sleep eight hours – a third of the day. If you lower your exposure to EMFs during that time, you’re allowing your body a chance to repair, and giving you the chance for a digital detox and get some restorative sleep.
  2. Use a wired headset with your cell phone. Okay, you might get the occasional odd look, but bluetooth contributes to EMFs, and holding your phone to your ear is even worse for your health and thyroid. Making a simple change like this can help limit your exposure – as can turning your cellphone off completely. I know it may seem inconceivable, but you don’t need to be available every hour of the day!
  3. Don’t turn your home into a tech cave! As tempting as it may be to install smart meters, smart assistant, and an air conditioning system you can access remotely – all of this contributes heavily to the amount of EMFs in your home. Don’t do it!
  4. Reduce your sensitivity to chemicals, electrosmog, and Heavy Metals with the following supplements:

Glutathione is the strongest anti-oxidant that your body normally produces and is depleted with exposure to toxins,stress, auto immune issues.  Foods rich in glutathione are garlic, onions, kale, cabbage, walnuts, and lamb.

You can boost your glutathione orally from alpha lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine, and liquid liposomal glutathione,  or S-acetyl glutathione a precursor to glutathione.

Curcumin and Resveratrol will dampen inflammation in your body.

Milk Thistle or  Cordyceps  any liver support compounds , supporting the liver, reducing the  toxic burden.

If you’re struggling with symptoms of EMF exposure and have a Hashimoto’s diagnosis, or feel that something is up with your thyroid, why not check out our Thyroid M.V.P. Program – Measurable, Verifiable, Progress™ our all-inclusive program, that includes lab work performed at a LabCorp lab in your hometown, so you can get to the root cause of your concerns. Book your free 30 minute consultation call today – because you owe it to yourself to get back on top!