Diet Plan for Underactive Thyroid - Day 15 to 30

The thyroid plays a vital role in the human body; the hormone that it secretes is principally responsible for regulating heart rate, a massive job in itself. To add to this, it is vital in maintaining healthy skin and metabolism (that is covered in more detail below). When the thyroid gland is sluggish, as it is in the case of hypothyroidism, it can rob the sufferer from energy. More often than not it makes your joints ache, is detrimental to your skin, is a catalyst for depression but most pertinently it causes weight gain.

However, the connection between the two is not set in stone and predominantly hinges on many other factors. Basically, thyroid function in the human body is a very sensitive process; it is primarily connected with calorie consumption. However, the proper functioning of the thyroid is also reliant on many other factors, at the forefront is the sensitive balance between neurotransmitters, your reproductive hormones and adrenaline glands.

Patients suffering from an under-active thyroid have a characteristically low metabolic rate; this in turn paves the way for at times uncontrollable weight gain and difficulty in losing extra weight. At the other side of the spectrum, albeit rare, an overactive thyroid can also result in uncontrolled weight gain and problem in shedding weight. It is however, important to note that a minority of women do not suffer from weight gain as a result of hypothyroidism. This is due to a marked difference in their biochemistry, the quality of calories that they consume and also the way that they use those calories.

Often the metabolic burn continues on its downward spiral even when calorie intake is cut exponentially. This leads to weight gain in women who suffer from hypothyroidism, even when they cut calories or go on stringent diets. Predominantly it is women who are affected by hypothyroidism; furthermore it can be a challenge to even thyroid issues unless a broader pattern of hormonal imbalance develops. This is the prime reason why thyroid issues, weight gain and menopause often occur in tandem.

According to experts one of the prime reasons that women suffer from hypothyroidism is the volatile nature of their food intake. It is said that a vast majority of women Yo-yo between periods of dieting and fasting. This oscillation between the two extremes leads to a decreased metabolism and it fundamentally undermines the whole process of metabolism. Furthermore, women have a tendency to internalize stress, which hampers their brain, adrenaline and thyroid function, this results in increased cravings for sweets and simple carbs to provide instant energy and to fulfil the aim of providing feel good hormones to the body. Lastly women experience monthly hormonal fluctuations which go a long way in putting off their bio-chemistry.

Losing weight while suffering from hypothyroidism can at times prove to be an impossible challenge even for the most resilient. Having regular blood work done coupled with proper medication and controlled exercise is the way that has aided many people in losing weight. However, maintaining your weight is an even bigger challenge, with a very large number of individuals gaining back the weight they worked so hard in dropping.

The potential dangers of hypothyroidism have been very extensively documented; at the forefront of this is the bodies need for thyroid hormones. Due to the fact that hypothyroidism results in low thyroid hormone count and the fact that the body requires these hormones, the pituitary works in overdrive. The pituitary creates thyroid hormones in an attempt itself to entice the thyroid to produce hormones by its own accord. The constant bombardment of these large amounts of thyroid stimulating hormones results in many problems for the body. The large excess of TSH paves the way for goitre, a condition where the thyroid gland is enlarged; this is often termed as a “compensatory goitre”.

People suffering from hypothyroidism exhibit certain symptoms, however there are many documented cases where the symptoms often do not match up. Doctors often prescribe skin management creams, refer you to skin specialists or set you up on anti-depressants. These cases can however be a tell-tale sign of hypothyroidism, meaning that instead of ingesting anti-depressants all a patient needs is to have his or her thyroid checked.

The uncontrolled weight gain and the struggle that scores of people have in shedding the weight they gain due to this disease, results in life threatening diseases. The thyroid hormone, which regulates heart rate, when released in abundance by the body can have detrimental effects. Heart problems are a major bane for sufferers of hypothyroidism with certain cases resulting in comas, and eventually in death. This is especially problematic for people who do not exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism at all or do so subtlety; misdiagnoses have been reported in many cases.

However, such complications are rare and with advice from proper medical professional and routine check-ups, the fear of life threatening ailments can to a noticeable degree be alleviated. Hypothyroidism is detected in most cases through a simple blood test, however if it does not appear on the blood test then a more comprehensive panel is prescribed by doctors, specifically TSH and T4 levels.

The good news is that in a majority of cases it has been showed that hypothyroidism is treatable. All it requires a small medicine a day prescribed by your doctor, regular call ins and check up to adjust your medication is also advisable. However, there are some cases in which the above statement is not applicable; this is because they are not as simplified cases. There are different thyroid hormone preparations and one type of medicine is not effective in all of the cases. Many factors go in the treatment of Hypothyroidism; furthermore the treatment is different for different people.

Whether you have newly been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, whether you have had an underlying issue for many years now or whether you it due to complications from surgery, there are a vast number of things that you can do to start feeling better.

The first step is to procure a blood test, in most cases hypothyroidism is diagnosed through a simple blood test while in others a more comprehensive blood panel might be recommended by your healthcare professional. In any case it is imperative that you understand the kind of tests that are carried out on you; let’s take the example of a simple blood test. When a doctor assures you that the result of your blood test is ‘normal’, you are not entirely out of the woods yet. It is advisable for you to ascertain the level of normal that your doctor speaks about; this lays the foundation for future care. Without getting exact numerical values or black and white explanations, you are not fully acquired with the tools necessary to tackle hypothyroidism in your ever day life.

Secondly, it is required for you to know the TSH level that makes you feel well; this does not necessarily have to fall under the normal TSH range. This is because some individuals feel the best at level 1, others feel more at ease in the middle TSH range while there are also a few who thrive on high normal levels. Therefore, finding your TSH level is extremely necessary because it can accurately gauge where you feel at ease.

Furthermore, finding out your T3 levels are just as important as your TSH levels, because at times the TSH levels may not paint the right picture. Even if your result shows that you have a normal TSH level and you’re on Synthroid, you may still suffer from hypothyroidism. It is then best to check your T3 levels; this is because if you have low T3 levels then you would still be suffering from hypothyroidism, or in the least its symptoms.

A key component with living with hypothyroidism to the best of your ability rests on the shoulders of your healthcare professional. That is precisely why it is vital for you to feel completely comfortable and at ease with your doctor. Firstly, you need to ascertain the kind of doctor that you require, many variable options will pop into your mind. Do I need an endocrinologist? Or would a holistic or alternative doctor be more suitable for me? Once you have determined the route you take, you then need to decide who the best doctors in the particular field that you have chosen. This point is very crucial because finding the most caring, skilled and compatible doctor for you goes a long way in making your life easier. For the sake of your health this aspect needs to be deliberated earnestly because finding the best doctor for you could change everything.

The mistake that scores of people make is the assumption that they are the singular patient of hypothyroidism. They feel that they are alone in the world with this disease; this thinking sets in motion a negative cycle which can be lethal to the patient. You need to understand that there are countless other individuals who suffer from hypothyroidism, and reaching out to them and sharing your struggle for them is a key tool in order to feel better. By joining a support group you can understand your symptoms to a much higher degree of refinement, you can socialize with other people who are undertaking a similar struggle to yours. Support groups enable individuals to acquire better ideas on how to proceed forward while living with hypothyroidism; furthermore they also provide you with inspirational stories that help you immensely.

In today’s fast paced world, the doctors door is perpetually revolving, patients every day venture into the doctor’s room day and night. Hence, for your own betterment it is essential for you to keep a track of all your hospital records, these include your lab reports, blood tests, thyroid results and notes from your doctor. With an ever growing population there is an increased chance of misplacement of health records, with many clinics and hospitals still not fully computerized. This just adds to the reason why you should always keep a structured record of your results, adopting this practice is critical to your health.

This is an extension to the point of joining a support group-For you to hold your head up high in the days when the toll your disease takes you is too great, read inspirational stories. You can look up online countless tales of people who have battled hypothyroidism, by recounting their experiences you get a sense of empowerment. You can also mimic the regiment that they adopted; maybe you can find someone who found the perfect doctor near your area. This is especially important in the days of gloom, when your disease is seemingly the only part about your life, reading these success stories have proven to alleviate that feeling in many people.

You should also have a firm understanding of the ways in which you take the thyroid drugs assigned to you by your doctors. Do you know why you shouldn’t take your thyroid medicine with calcium fortified orange juice? Knowledge like this is crucial to avoid any sort of complications that may arise in the future. Reading on the internet about different thyroid drugs is advised, and staunchly following the guidelines laid down is vital, as they say ‘Knowledge is Power’.

Practicing activities like Yoga and Tai Chi can prove to be very beneficial for those suffering from hypothyroidism. Many experts have cited that performing these two exercises help the body to relieve stress hormones, this in turn helps with hypothyroidism.

Lastly, living with hypothyroidism can be made abundantly easier when you stay up to date with the latest in thyroid news. Every day there are numerous reports which highlight the progress made in hormonal health, thyroid issues, weight loss, nutrition and other things that you may need to live with hypothyroidism.