Suffering from Hypothyroidism…Try Eating More
By the Vteam, Kamau Austin Publisher
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not function properly. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone that circulates through the bloodstream. However, in the case of hypothyroidism, the thyroid is under-active and does not produce enough of the hormone. This is significant because an insufficient amount of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream can result in symptoms such as a slow heartbeat, the inability to tolerate cold temperatures, constipation, physical and mental fatigue and small weight gains. This article will discuss the process of being tested for hypothyroidism, explain why drastically cutting calories is not an effective way to lose weight and will describe a plan for eating right when you are suffering from hypothyroidism. If you suspect hypothyroidism is affecting your weight and plan to begin a diet and exercise plan that includes the use of supplements to combat the effects of hypothyroidism, you should first consult with your doctor to obtain his opinion on your condition and on your proposed diet and exercise plan.
Get Tested for Hypothyroidism
If you gain weight easily or seem to have a great deal of difficulty losing weight, you might want to consider having your thyroid function tested. Testing for hypothyroidism is a rather simple process that involves an evaluation of your medical history, a physical examination and a blood test. The physical evaluation will involve an examination of your cardiovascular system, skin, hair, eyes, reflexes and body temperature. Additionally, your doctor will also feel your thyroid gland to determine if the gland feels enlarged.
The physical examination may lead your doctor to believe you are affected by hypothyroidism, but most doctors will require a blood test to confirm the results. The blood test will involve taking a small sample of blood for laboratory testing. If unnaturally low amounts of the thyroid hormone are detected in the blood, it is an indication that the thyroid gland is not functioning properly and is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. The levels of T4 and T3 hormone are of particular interest to your doctor as well as the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Low levels of T4 and T3 indicate the presence of hypothyroidism while the levels of TSH can provide insight into the cause of the condition. High levels of TSH indicate that hypothyroidism is a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland. If the TSH level is high but the thyroid is not producing enough hormones, it indicates that the thyroid is not responding properly to the body's requirements. However, if the TSH levels are low, it indicates the pituitary gland is not functioning properly. This is because the pituitary gland is responsible for producing the hormone which stimulates the thyroid to produce T4 and T3.
Why Drastically Cutting Calories Compounds the Problem
If you are like many women, you may believe drastically cutting your caloric intake is the best way to lose weight. Unfortunately, this is not true and cutting calories by too much can result in a great deal of difficulty in losing weight. This is especially true for women who are suffering from hypothyroidism. Eating too few calories per day can result in the metabolism slowing down even further as the body believes it is being starved and makes an effort to store food in the form of fat in case it needs energy in the future. Diets that require you to severely limit your calorie intake to 1200 or fewer calories per day are likely to cause this slowing of the metabolism.
Eat Right to Counteract Hypothyroidism
If you are suffering from hypothyroidism, it is important for you to eat properly in addition to seeking medical attention. If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe a medication such as a thyroid replacement hormone. This will help to stabilize the hormone levels in your bloodstream and will likely result in a small weight loss. You can compound the weight loss effects by ensuring you are eating enough to keep your metabolism high but are not eating so much that you are gaining weight. How many calories your body requires is a function of your current weight. To determine how many calories your body requires to maintain your weight, convert your weight in pounds to kilograms by dividing your weight by 2.2. Next multiply your weight in kilograms by 30 because your body requires 30 calories per kilogram of weight to function. This will result in the amount of calories you will require to maintain your weight if your thyroid was functioning properly. However, to account for the poor function of the thyroid in those with hypothyroidism, subtract 200 calories from this total. The formula for the number of calories you require looks like this:
Number of Calories Required to Maintain Weight = ((Weight in pounds/2.2) * 30) - 200
If you want to lose weight, you should use a formula similar to the one above. The only difference is you would now multiply your weight in kilograms by 25. This difference allows for only 25 calories per kilogram of weight instead of 30. This is not enough to maintain the weight and will result in a gradual weight loss. The formula for weight loss looks like this:
Number of Calories Required to Lose Weight = ((Weight in pounds/2.2) * 25) - 200
Consider Taking Supplements
A poorly functioning thyroid can be a problem for many women. If you are having a great deal of difficulty losing weight, you might want to consider trying supplements designed to improve your thyroid's function. Thyvox is one such product you may find helpful. You can learn more about Thyvox from the following web address: www.thyvox.com.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not function properly. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone that circulates through the bloodstream. However, in the case of hypothyroidism, the thyroid is under-active and does not produce enough of the hormone. This is significant because an insufficient amount of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream can result in symptoms such as a slow heartbeat, the inability to tolerate cold temperatures, constipation, physical and mental fatigue and small weight gains. This article will discuss the process of being tested for hypothyroidism, explain why drastically cutting calories is not an effective way to lose weight and will describe a plan for eating right when you are suffering from hypothyroidism. If you suspect hypothyroidism is affecting your weight and plan to begin a diet and exercise plan that includes the use of supplements to combat the effects of hypothyroidism, you should first consult with your doctor to obtain his opinion on your condition and on your proposed diet and exercise plan.
Get Tested for Hypothyroidism
If you gain weight easily or seem to have a great deal of difficulty losing weight, you might want to consider having your thyroid function tested. Testing for hypothyroidism is a rather simple process that involves an evaluation of your medical history, a physical examination and a blood test. The physical evaluation will involve an examination of your cardiovascular system, skin, hair, eyes, reflexes and body temperature. Additionally, your doctor will also feel your thyroid gland to determine if the gland feels enlarged.
The physical examination may lead your doctor to believe you are affected by hypothyroidism, but most doctors will require a blood test to confirm the results. The blood test will involve taking a small sample of blood for laboratory testing. If unnaturally low amounts of the thyroid hormone are detected in the blood, it is an indication that the thyroid gland is not functioning properly and is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. The levels of T4 and T3 hormone are of particular interest to your doctor as well as the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Low levels of T4 and T3 indicate the presence of hypothyroidism while the levels of TSH can provide insight into the cause of the condition. High levels of TSH indicate that hypothyroidism is a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland. If the TSH level is high but the thyroid is not producing enough hormones, it indicates that the thyroid is not responding properly to the body's requirements. However, if the TSH levels are low, it indicates the pituitary gland is not functioning properly. This is because the pituitary gland is responsible for producing the hormone which stimulates the thyroid to produce T4 and T3.
Why Drastically Cutting Calories Compounds the Problem
If you are like many women, you may believe drastically cutting your caloric intake is the best way to lose weight. Unfortunately, this is not true and cutting calories by too much can result in a great deal of difficulty in losing weight. This is especially true for women who are suffering from hypothyroidism. Eating too few calories per day can result in the metabolism slowing down even further as the body believes it is being starved and makes an effort to store food in the form of fat in case it needs energy in the future. Diets that require you to severely limit your calorie intake to 1200 or fewer calories per day are likely to cause this slowing of the metabolism.
Eat Right to Counteract Hypothyroidism
If you are suffering from hypothyroidism, it is important for you to eat properly in addition to seeking medical attention. If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe a medication such as a thyroid replacement hormone. This will help to stabilize the hormone levels in your bloodstream and will likely result in a small weight loss. You can compound the weight loss effects by ensuring you are eating enough to keep your metabolism high but are not eating so much that you are gaining weight. How many calories your body requires is a function of your current weight. To determine how many calories your body requires to maintain your weight, convert your weight in pounds to kilograms by dividing your weight by 2.2. Next multiply your weight in kilograms by 30 because your body requires 30 calories per kilogram of weight to function. This will result in the amount of calories you will require to maintain your weight if your thyroid was functioning properly. However, to account for the poor function of the thyroid in those with hypothyroidism, subtract 200 calories from this total. The formula for the number of calories you require looks like this:
Number of Calories Required to Maintain Weight = ((Weight in pounds/2.2) * 30) - 200
If you want to lose weight, you should use a formula similar to the one above. The only difference is you would now multiply your weight in kilograms by 25. This difference allows for only 25 calories per kilogram of weight instead of 30. This is not enough to maintain the weight and will result in a gradual weight loss. The formula for weight loss looks like this:
Number of Calories Required to Lose Weight = ((Weight in pounds/2.2) * 25) - 200
Consider Taking Supplements
A poorly functioning thyroid can be a problem for many women. If you are having a great deal of difficulty losing weight, you might want to consider trying supplements designed to improve your thyroid's function. Thyvox is one such product you may find helpful. You can learn more about Thyvox from the following web address: www.thyvox.com.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home