Low Thyroid Hormone and Diet

Diseases of Aging, Hormones, menopause

Not only estrogen and progesterone hormones affect your ability to diet and lose weight.  Another hormone, if low, will  also cause unexplained menopause weight gain.  The thyroid hormone, when low activity  is present is known as hypothyroidism.  A healthy diet for hormone balance will also assist in the health of your thyroid. Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) or under active thyroid is a condition where the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone and a simple blood test will result in low levels of T4 and T3. The thyroid hormone is important for the  body’s metabolic functions and its absence can lead to many symptoms. Low thyroid activity is common in women over the age of 45 or those who have had thyroid surgery. In the initial phase, few symptoms are seen but if the condition is neglected it can lead to a variety of symptoms including:

Weight gain
Arthritic pain, joint and muscle pains
Infertility
Dry and itchy skin
Puffy face
Constipation
High cholesterol levels
Increased sensitivity to cold
Hair loss
Extreme fatigue
Irregular menstrual cycles
Depression
Brittle nails
Heart disease
Chronic pain
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling which starts in the face
Thickening of skin beginning in the upper arms
High blood pressure
Sleep apnea
Sensitivity to hot and cold
Missing outer third of eyebrows,
Repeated infections
Low blood pressure,
Cystic breasts/ovaries
Chronic sinusitis
Slow speech
Hoarseness in the voice
TMJ syndrome
Swollen gums
Dental problems
Mitral valve prolapse
Headaches
Increased cholesterol levels
Puffy eyes

In most cases, the thyroid activity is low either because of surgery, radiation therapy, use of medications or some type of thyroid disease which destroys the gland. Very rare causes of low thyroid activity include iodine deficiency and pregnancy. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is relatively simple. There are many blood tests which can rapidly detect low levels of thyroid.

The good news is that low functioning or absent thyroid hormone disorders can be treated. When women experience  weight gain because of  low thyroid, this can be reversed by taking the hormone L-thyroxine. The thyroid hormone should only be taken when a condition of hypothyroidism has been diagnosed. The hormone is only available with a prescription and it does work well. Within one to two  weeks you will definitely see lessening of your fatigue and loss of weight. The weight loss is quite rapid because the thyroid gland burns away the excess fat.

It is important not to take excess thyroid hormone because the hormone does have potent side effect such as increased appetite, insomnia, heart palpitation, tremors, anxiety, high blood pressure and increased sweating

When the prescribed hormone is taken in the doses recommend, there are virtually no side effects. Today, many people have started to use Armour dessicated thyroid a natural form which comes from porcine (pig) thyroid tissues – glandular extracts of thyroid hormone available from compounding pharmacies.  You can also use health supplements which assist the thyroid that are available at your local health store.

To deal with the menopause weight gain that comes with a low thyroid, you need to follow a hormone diet to assist your hormones, take a medications for hypothyroidism, whether Thyroxine or Synthroid or Armour dessicated thyroid.  You should also have your other hormones tested to see if your  hormones (such as estrogen and progesterone) are balanced because this will also add to your problems with a low thyroid.

The thyroid hormone diet does work in relieving the symptoms of lethargy and can also help one reduce weight. However, when taking a hormone diet when should be under the care of a physician to ensure that no untoward side effects or complications are occurring.

If you have weight gain and have low thyroid hormone activity, see a health care professional and get the right medication as well as following a diet for hormone balance. These approved products are safe, are relatively cheap, do work and will help you get rid all your symptoms including weight gain.

admin @ January 1, 2010