Friday, January 24, 2014

Thyroid Issues And Weight Loss


If you're eating a healthy diet, cutting out all fake foods, chemicals and additives, but you still are having issues losing weight it is more than likely the problem is your thyroid. Unfortunately, many doctors overlook or completely misdiagnose the issues due to not doing the right tests, or no accurately reading the test results. There are many issues with the thyroid that can occur that impede or even stop weight loss completely no matter how well you eat.

An over active or under-active thyroid, hypothyroidism, can cause many health problems one of which is inability to lose weight. Even if your doctor performs standard thyroid tests which have come back "normal" there are other tests you can do such as the TRH stimulation test which will identify whether or not you have a hypothyroid issue more accurately. Additionally, the problem might be conversion of T4 to T3. T4 is thyroxine and T3 is triiodothyronine which are both produced by the thyroid gland which regulates metabolism.

Some doctors misdiagnose conditions, especially in women, that are really caused by thyroid dysfunction such as depression and fibromyalgia which can actually be the result of thyroid issues. If the underlying issues are treated, the symptoms can be relieved, including the inability to lose weight. If you have a problem with T3 conversion you may be able to exercise daily, and eat a low calorie healthy diet and still be overweight. Conversely someone with an over active thyroid can eat all they want and be very sedentary and lose weight. Either condition is not desirable so if you have any of these issues it is imperative that you seek out a doctor who is familiar with the thyroid and it's relation to metabolism and weight loss or gain.

Getting rid of fake foods that contain additive and dangerous chemicals can actually cause a natural reaction that fixes your thyroid issues. All these fake things we put into our bodies can literally play havoc with natural hormone functions. Foods with gluten, soy and even natural foods that contain Isothiocyanates, such as peanuts, strawberries, and certain raw veggies, can cause problems with your thyroid if eaten in excess. Also, ensuring that you are eating sufficient amounts of iodine is essential to proper thyroid function. Most people get enough iodine today just from the salt we eat due to it usually having iodine added. If you're eating natural salt, or a low sodium diet, you may want to check your diet to be sure that you are including enough natural iodine for proper thyroid function. The recommended daily allowance is 150 mcg daily which is about 1 teaspoon of table salt with iodine.

However, keep in mind if you do have a thyroid issue, it is possible that you will need a doctor's intervention with medications to assist with normalizing the thyroid. But, knowing what foods can contribute to this problem can help you avoid issues if you don't have them yet. You can avoid gluten, eat nuts in moderation, eat only fermented soy, and light cook leafy and cruciferous veggies before eating can help avoid problems.

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