Hypothyroidism affects 3% to 5% of all people with women more at risk than men.  It results in a number of medical conditions, including unexplained weight gain.  A common question I often hear is “I am gaining weight but normal weight loss programs are not helping”.  Obviously not everyone experiencing weight gain will be a result of hypothyroidism but it is a possibility to discuss with your medical adviser.  So what does this long and nasty sounding word hypothyroidism mean.  In simple terms it means a person has a thyroid which has a lower function than it should.

What does it mean that I have low thyroid function?

The thyroid gland controls metabolism in the body so if it is not working properly it will throw your body’s metabolism out.  The usual cause of this is that the body is not producing enough hormones to enable your thyroid to function normally.  Once your body’s metabolism is not functioning properly it is very hard to control your weight and is the reason why normal weight loss programs do not help reduce or control you weight gain.

What are the signs of low thyroid function?

As mentioned oreviously, unexplained weight gain is one of the main signs of an underactive thyroid but is by no means the only one.  Unfortunately there are a number of other possible debalitating conditions including fatigue and exhaustion which can lead to depression; constipation; dry flaky skin; weak and easily damaged nails; mood swings and generally not feeling yourself.

What can I do to improve the way I feel?

The good news is there are a number of possible remedies available to you ranging from prescription drugs to more natural remedies.  Most importantly I recommend that you speak to your medical adviser.  A simple blood test can show whether your thyroid is functioning as it should.  Often for those people first diagnosed with hypothyroidism your doctor will proscribe hormone treatment to increase your hormone level.  However these days people are demanding more natural remedies rather than drug based remedies and there are a number of options available to be discussed with your medical adviser.  Some simple remedies that also promote overall health and wellbeing include:

• exercising for 30 minutes to 60 minutes per day.

• engage in meditation or deep breathing exercises to help yourself relax.

• ensure your diet includes sufficient nutrients to promote thyroid function.  Not all foods will achieve this and can even make it worse so you need to educate yourself on this issue.  I have found the information provided in “The Hypothyroidism Solution” (link attached below) to be very helpful and it comes with a 60 day guarantee so you have nothing to lose.

• make sure you do not skip meals and eat breakfast soon after you get up.  Diets rich in protein and fiber are important while eliminating sugar, gluten and unhealthy foods is beneficial.

Drugs, supplements or natural remedies?

Drugs, supplements and natural remedies all have their place and often it will come down to personal preference.  The trend is increasingly to try more natural remedies first but this should always be discussed with your medical adviser and performed under strict supervision to ensure your condition is not getting any worse.  I always used to be suspicious of natural remedies until I tried taking a juice drink each day of apple, carrot and beetroot recommended by a colleague at work who was advised by his doctor.  My colleague had very high cholestorel and by taking this drink and reducing his sugar intake, his cholestorel is now down to normal levels.  The doctor was going to provide him with drugs so this is an example of when natural remedies worked.

This site is dedicated to assisting people identify hypothyroidism, providing discussion on the potential treatments available to improving their life and options available to losing thyroid weight gain and also weight loss in general.  if you have your own story you would like to share we would love to hear it.