Hypothyroidism Fast Facts
So what are the facts about hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a common medical condition that occurs when the thyroid gland is unable to produce large enough quantities of thyroid hormones. Typically these include T4 and T3 hormones. There are two thyroid hormones, thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine or T3, that are released into the blood stream. T3 speeds up the body's metabolism. Most of the T3 in the blood is converted from T4. The production of T3 and T4 is regulated by another hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) or thyrotropin. This hormone is produced in the pituitary gland. If TSH is normal, it is a possible indicator that the thyroid is working properly.In response to this the body may produce increasing amounts of TSH or thyroid stimulating hormones in the body.The thyroid hormones regulate the rate at which the metabolism works. When the thyroid gland is under active and does not produce enough of these hormones, the metabolic rate is too slow. This can result in symptoms such as weight gain, dry skin, fatigue and depression.
With time this increase in TSH can cause a lot of harm to your body’s natural processes. Some people have generally well producing thyroid glands that perform sub clinically or sub optimally. These patients may require treatment as well.
How do you lose weight if you fall into one of these categories? Here are some tips.
1. Visit a competent health care professional for a proper work up. You will require blood tests to confirm your condition.
2. Rule out other conditions. You want to be sure the cause for your sluggish condition is hypothyroidism and not some other underlying condition that needs to be treated in another manner.
3. Start a diet as approved by your health care provider that is rich in iodine and selenium, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, seafood, and other foods that improve thyroid health.
4. Eat several small meals per day rather than three larger ones.
5. Make sure you get plenty of rest.
6. Consume no more than main meal containing a source of carbohydrate for the day (e.g. bread, pasta, cereal, potatoes, rice, or any grain)
7. Consume spices such as chilies, ginger and turmeric to naturally increase fat burning
8. Eat a source of protein with each major meal of the day (lean chicken, eggs, and fish)
9. Try to get exercise every day if you can, even if it is a walk around the block. (Some people don’t get as much as this each week!).
10. Remember to keep a positive outlook on life, which goes a long way.
11. Pack smart snacks so you reach for those instead of fast food when you are grabbed by a sudden snack attack.
12. Talk to others about your condition. If you can, join a local support group or online support group for more information and advice about hypothyroidism. It often helps to elicit feedback from others and gain knowledge from others. Keep in mind however, that most of this information is subjective. Any medical recommendations should be verified by your healthcare provider.
The Foods to Avoid to Help You Lose Weight With Hypothyroidism
The foods to be limited on hypothyroid diet where those low in natural goitrogens which can enlarge the thyroid gland. This help lose a ton of weight!
These foods are:
Cabbage
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Peanuts
Peaches
Sweet Potatoes
Spinach
Limiting these foods in hypothyroid diet will help to lose weight but also to combat symptoms which were:
Constantly feeling tired
Mood swings
Muscle aches
Feeling depressed and anxious
Dry skin
Thinning hair
These are very common symptoms in a hypothyroid sufferer and can be helped by the use of various supplements.
Combining this with a calorie controlled diet and foods high in tyrosine has massively reduced symptoms and help to shift the weight.
The draw back here is that you need a complex hypothyroid diet plan to keep these foods limited and control your portions and calories to strip that fat off you.
Keep a food daily journal to keep records of food intake.
Make Healthy Choices.
So what is a good hypothyroidism diet?
Like with any other diet, a hypothyroidism diet is a healthy balance of what the body needs to properly function. As is the case with hypothyroidism it would be the increase of iodine enriched foods coupled with a decreased intake of foods that contain goitrogens that will aid in reducing the symptoms of this particular thyroid condition.
Good foods to include in your diet plans for hypothyroidism are
spinach
strawberries
tomatoes
asparagus
bananas
carrots
eggs
garlic
kelp
mushrooms
onions
potatoes
peas
squash
lima beans
radishes
low fat yogurt and
seafood
because these are foods that can replace the iodine in your body that has been diminished by goitrogens.
You may have noticed that some of these foods, such as spinach, are actually on the list of foods containing goitrogens but the amount of iodine contained in them is enough to counteract the goitrogenic effects. This is especially true if the foods are “ground” grown versus “water” grown. Ground grown foods have higher levels of iodine due to its absorption of it from the soil.
The slower metabolism of a person who has hypothyroidism means that they use up less energy. The energy that is derived from food, but not used by the body will be stored as fat. It is important to limit the calorie intake in order to avoid gaining weight.
Iodine deficiencies are a common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. However, it is very rare for a person to suffer from an iodine deficiency.
where foods such as salt and bread are fortified with iodine. If hypothyroidism is caused by a deficiency of iodine in the diet, then supplements may be required.
