Although many people do not realize it, hypothyroidism weight gain is the reason why many people pack on unexplained extra pounds.
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces decreased levels of thyroid hormones.
This condition is usually caused by an abnormal thyroid gland, or in some cases, an abnormal hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
Hypothyroidism and weight gain go hand in hand...
The thyroid hormone is responsible for maintaining the metabolism rate of your body.
In simple terms, metabolism is the process of breaking down food into energy.
This means that with decreased thyroid hormone production, your metabolism rate decreases too causing hypothyroidism weight gain.
Even if you are already under hypothyroidism treatment, it could be difficult for you to reverse the effects of hypothyroidism weight gain.
This is because treatment does not guarantee the increase in your metabolic rate.
Losing weight with hypothyroidism is a complex task that should not be taken lightly.
Increasing your calorie intake can make you gain more weight in a short period of time.
On the other hand, following a diet that has an extremely low calorie intake can lead to undesirable results as your metabolic rate may decrease even further.
What you should do about hypothyroidism weight gain...
First and foremost, you should consult your medical practitioner about your condition.
This allows him or her to give you a thyroid test that will measure your thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH.
What medical personnel usually do after this is advise you to take necessary supplemental nutrients and follow a meal plan or diet that balances your protein to carbohydrate ratio.
They may also recommend a supplement or mineral if they find that your body has more nutritional needs.
These steps will hopefully raise your metabolism and slow down the hypothyroidism weight gain process you have been experiencing.
Follow a healthy diet...
If you want to reverse the effects of your hypothyroidism weight gain, you should improve your diet by making sure you have the recommended daily amount of vitamins and minerals.
Among the most important of these are calcium and iron.
Hypothyroidism affects the body's absorption of these minerals, thereby increasing the chances of getting anemia or osteoporosis.
Another good idea is to increase your consumption of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in protein.
Perfect examples of these foods are carrots, apricots, asparagus, avocado, olive oil, sunflower seeds, bananas, whole grain products, and oily fish.
You should also restrict yourself from consuming too much of certain foods.
Foods like cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohibari, lima beans, mustard, linseed, sweet potato, soy products, and peanuts should be limited because they affect the intake of iodine.
Furthermore, you should also avoid stimulants like cola, coffee, alcohol and smoking because these can crush your chances of successfully losing weight with hypothyroidism.
Reduce stress through daily exercise...
Like all other undesirable conditions, stress plays a big role in hypothyroidism weight gain.
This can easily be solved by following a simple daily exercise program.
Cardio is a good form of exercise that doesn't require a bunch of time or fancy equipment.
Jogging and jumping rope are two simple cardio exercises you can do on daily basis that will not only improve your physical health but also reduce stress.
In closing, it's important that you don't get discouraged when you attempt to lose weight with hypothyroidism.
Although it can take weeks or even months to notice any desirable change, if you stay focused, take in the right supplements and follow your diet plan results can be achieved.