How Thyroid Health Affects Weight Gain?

Are you shocked to see the weighing machine show you the same weight as before in spite of your efforts to lose weight? Are your efforts in losing weight going in vain? Then, the problem might be just more than your diet and exercise. One of the chief determining factors, which plays an important role in your body weight is your thyroid health.  Two of the most important signs of hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism are having difficulty losing weight and experiencing unexpected weight gain. Thyroid’s impaired ability to produce hormones may lead to reduced thyroid function. Even if the body faces difficulty using the thyroid hormones, the thyroid function may get affected.  In every way, difficulty in functioning of your thyroid hormones may cause the rate at which you use nutrients or your metabolic rate to slow down.

Looking at the symptoms can help you diagnose any condition that is not congenial to your health. A closer look at the symptoms of hypothyroidism will help you find relief before it gets too late. Sometimes symptoms of thyroid problems may get mistaken for the symptoms of sex hormone imbalance.

Women with mild symptoms may suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism which implies that while experiencing symptoms, the test results may show “normal” range. It is very important to recognize the symptoms of thyroid as thyroid problems are more common in women.  Appropriate changes in lifestyle and diet can help you get some relief.

Clinical Features Of Hypothyroidism:

1. Appearance of a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid that is externally visible
2. Severe fatigue
3. Loss of energy
4. Slowness or slurring of speech
5. Weight gain
6. Difficulty losing weight
7. Depressed mood
8. Joint and muscle pain
9. Headaches
10. Dry skin, brittle nails
11. Brittle hair, itchy scalp, hair loss
12. Irregular periods, PMS symptoms
13. Breast milk formation
14. Calcium metabolism difficulties
15. Difficulty tolerating cold and lower body temperature
16. Constipation
17. Sleeping more than average
18. Diminished sex drive
19. Puffiness in face and extremities
20. Hoarseness
21. Bruising/clotting problems
22. Elevated levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and heightened risk of heart disease
23. Allergies that suddenly appear or get worse
24. Persistent cold sores, boils, or breakouts
25. Tingling sensation in wrists and hands that mimics carpal tunnel syndrome
26. Memory loss, fuzzy thinking, difficulty following conversation or train of thought
27. By understanding the symptoms of hypothyroidism, women may identify issues earlier and find relief. If left untreated, symptoms may worsen over time.

Other Thyroid Problems:
Apart from hypothyroidism, thyroid complications include Hashimoto’s disease.  When the body forms antibodies that combat its own thyroid gland cells, it results in permanent low thyroid function. Another condition is hyperthyroidism, which implies an overactive thyroid.

If you get affected from several or more of the above symptoms and are anxious that you could have a thyroid problem, the next best thing to do would be to visit your healthcare provider to discuss your fears and doubts.

What Steps Can You Take For Addressing Thyroid Issues and Weight Gain?
Embracing a lifestyle that includes good nutrition and supplementation on a consistent basis is the basic step that you can take to support your thyroid health. It is important that you make consistent efforts to stick to such a lifestyle. Many women most of the time end up in a yo-yo cycle of feasting or fasting.

This is one reason how we may be responsible for the decrease in our rate of metabolism owing to the stress faced by the other hormone systems. This in turn results in weight gain.

What To Eat To Support Thyroid Health:

1. As a general principle, avoid refined foods, refined sugar, wheat, caffeine and alcohol.
2. The main food sources of essential fatty acids are fish and shellfish, Soya oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, chia (Salvia hispanica) seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed (linseed), leafy vegetables, and walnuts also help in supporting thyroid health.
3. Consume brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kale, mustard greens, spinach, peaches and pears in moderation to promote thyroid health.
4. Do not consume golden seal for long period. Do not avoid it completely in case abdominal pain is present.
5. Checked inclusion of coconut oil into your diet is thought to support thyroid health and helps sufferers of hypothyroidism to lose weight.
6. Shellfish, like sea vegetables, are naturally rich in iodine. Iodine is one nutrient that is critically essential to thyroid function as iodine molecules are used in the production of thyroid hormones.
7. Omega-3 are the essential fats, found in fish or fish oil and also play an important role in thyroid function
8. Foods which contain thyroid-suppressing compounds are known as “goitrogens” — including cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.  Always steam or cook these vegetables to eliminate the goitrogens contained in them.
9. Support your thyroid with a phytotherapeutic product

You can also read this article on http://www.healthsuperstore.com/health/v-how-thyroid-health-affects-weight-gain.htm

Content Reference: http://www.womentowomen.com