With my clientele thyroid dysfunction is a major issue.
Roughly one in three individuals I work with arrive with thyroid problems (mostly hypothyroidism).
The thyroid, which is considered a “master gland” produces crucial hormones that control nutrient usage, energy and metabolism.
Thyroid dysfunction is common, especially for women.
Because a healthy thyroid is essential to our overall health, people with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism need to make sure this metabolism-setter is in tip-top shape.
The gland produces hormones that regulate every aspect of metabolism, including the use of nutrients and heart rate control.
The two main hormones produced by the thyroid gland are thyroxine (called T4) and triiodothyronine (called T3). These hormones affect every cell in the body.
They go through the bloodstream and help cells get energy from foods, controlling metabolism at a cellular level.
Thyroid health can play a role and impact thyroid hormone levels, energy levels, metabolism, body temperature regulation, digestion, and overall outlook.
Talk to your doctor if you think underactive thyroid gland or overactive thyroid gland may put you in the category of thyroid patient.
As mentioned the thyroid can affect nearly every part of the body, which is because the gland plays such an important role in metabolism, and thyroid hormones reach receptors throughout the entire body.
There are two well-known and researched thyroid impacts, but the key to supporting a healthy thyroid is supporting its balance.
The thyroid can be further impacted by poor diet, lack of exercise, high levels of stress, and more.
1. Limit Carbs
Sugar and processed foods can lead to increased inflammation in the body. They can affect your blood sugar and thyroid, plus more.
Inflammation can slow down the conversion of T4 to triiodothyronine, or T3, another thyroid hormone.
This can make your symptoms and thyroid disease worsen.
2. Eliminate Your Soy Intake
Soy may hinder the absorption of thyroid hormones.
If you eat or drink soy products, you may not be able to properly absorb your medication. Maintaining a balanced diet is important.
Soy will also increase estrogen levels and body fat in both men and women. This will have a negative effect on thyroid production.
Soy is found in:
3. Drop Body Fat
Weight gain and body fat can increase the resistance of all hormones traveling throughout the body.
As body fat increases, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) will increase in an effort to work harder.
This usually will result in a decrease in thyroid conversion of T4 to T3.
According to the American Thyroid Association: Blood TSH levels are higher in patients with fat accumulation compared to patients without fat accumulation in their thyroid, suggesting that fat accumulation may impair the thyroid function.
4. Fish Oil
Cold-Processed Molecularly Distilled Fish Oil (Omega-3) can help thyroid dysfunction in many ways, including body fat reduction, increased natural hormone production, and decreased inflammation.
According to Science Direct:
5. Exercise
According to the Archives of Medicine and Sports Sciences: thyroid functions improve in hypothyroid patients doing regular physical exercise, as TSH levels decreased, and T3 and T4 increased in the regular exercise groups.
Exercising increases metabolic activity, which helps burn more calories and helps keep weight down.
I have seen many clients reduce or eliminate thyroid medications by exercising regularly, dropping body fat, and eating the right diet.
You can too!
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