Are your hormones making you fat?
Are your hormones making you fat? And other signs you have an underactive thyroid…
Do you feel like you’re consistently eating well and exercising, but still can’t lose weight? Are you unable to eat the same amount as you used to, without gaining kilos? You could have a problem with your thyroid.
There are several hormones that play a role in our body composition, including how and where fat is gained. But by far and away the main culprit we see in people who have difficultly losing weight is an underactive thyroid.
Thyroid hormone plays a role in helping to regulate your metabolism, or the rate at which your body produces energy and heat.
If your thyroid hormone levels are low, then your metabolism will not be running at its full potential. This leaves you unable to burn the calories that you could previously consume, resulting in weight gain.
Some other signs your thyroid might be underactive include:
– fatigue
– brain fog – not thinking clearly, can’t focus
– craving carbohydrates and sugars
– relying on caffeine to get through the day
– feel the cold more
– experience gut issues, sluggish, constipated
– lack of strength
Why might your thyroid be under-functioning?
- Adrenal fatigue
When your body is under stress, adrenal hormones stimulate your thyroid and in the short-term actually speed up your metabolism. Remember when you were younger and you went through a stressful period, you might actually lose weight? Unfortunately that doesn’t last. Excessive adrenal activity over time (high levels of stress) eventually leads to the thyroid becoming under-functioning, producing lower levels of thyroid hormones. To read more about adrenal fatigue, see our previous blog.
- Nutritional deficiencies
For the thyroid glad to function optimally, certain essential nutrient levels need to be maintained. These include iodine, zinc, tyrosine (amino acid), selenium, vitamin D and iron. It’s very common to see deficiencies in these nutrients.
- Dietary imbalance
A diet high in carbohydrates results in excess insulin production over time, which can then suppress thyroid function. Protein, on the other hand, can stimulate thyroid function. So getting the correct balance between complex carbohydrates and protein in your diet is essential not only for managing weight but for optimum thyroid function. Contrary to popular belief, don’t cut carbohydrates out all together!
If you suspect you may have an underactive thyroid, call us today on (02) 4961 4075 to find out how we can help you identify and address the underlying causes.
Yours in health,
Peter
Do you want to find out how natural health can help treat your thyroid condition and discover some of the super foods to eat and diet principles to follow to help balance your immune system?
Click here to access our free guide – Natural Remedies for Thyroid Health.
