
Hypothyroidism is a common disease that causes a lot of discomfort and pain. If it is untreated, hypothyroidism could lead to several chronic diseases like obesity, joint pain, heart disease, and problems in your digestive system.
If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it is important to know that it can be easily treated with a range of options. Although the symptoms can be severe in some cases, it is possible to recover from it with the help of natural and synthetic medicine.
What is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small gland that is positioned at the front of your neck. Its job is to produce hormones that regulate and control the use of energy in your body. The thyroid is in charge of ensuring all the organs of your body receive energy to carry out their functions. The butterfly-shaped gland does this by releasing hormones that help the body to use and regulate the available energy.
If the thyroid gland doesn’t produce an adequate amount of hormones, your body starts slowing down its functions. This decreased production of thyroid hormones is called hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid.
Whom does it affect?
It must be made clear that hypothyroidism can affect anyone regardless of any factors. But even though anyone could have the disease, some people are more likely to be afflicted by it than others. Children below the age of 14 rarely have this disease, and teenagers, till they are 18, are more likely than children to have it but it is still rare. Hypothyroidism is common in young adults and adults until the age of 60. After the age of 60, it is very common and a lot of people are at risk of hypothyroidism. Typically, women above the age of 60 are most likely to get hypothyroidism, in comparison to men and people of any other age group.
How do I know if I have hypothyroidism?
Underactive Thyroid has a lot of tell-tale signs and symptoms that are recognizable. Some of these symptoms include:
- Weight-gain
- Decreased sweating
- Slow metabolism
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Muscle weakness
- Slower heart rate
- Thinning hair
- Menstrual changes
- Increase in blood cholesterol While these are all common symptoms of hypothyroidism, a lot of these symptoms show up with age as well. So if you think you might have any combination of these symptoms, it is advised to see a doctor. Hypothyroidism can be determined with a blood test. Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain Since hypothyroidism is a disease that slows down the functions of your body, it is natural to witness a certain amount of weight gain. The severity of the weight gain can depend on the nature of your hypothyroidism. While fighting the disease itself is the primary objective and the best solution, it is also possible to address the weight gain caused by an underactive thyroid. One way to go about it is to find natural ways to increase your metabolism, which can then help you shed weight along with your weight-loss plan. Increasing your Metabolism Rate
Metabolism rate is the amount of energy your body needs to conduct its natural processes. Breathing, controlling your heart rate, and digestion, all these processes need a lot of energy. This constant burning of energy is called metabolism. If your metabolism is high, your body will naturally burn more calories, thereby helping you along in the process of weight loss.
- Some ways to increase metabolism are Increase protein intake If your body has a lot of muscle mass, it takes up more energy to sustain the muscle mass. Therefore increasing your lean muscle can be a great strategy to improve your metabolism. Proteins are the best foods to eat when it comes to building muscle. Apart from this, protein also takes a long while to digest which means it takes more energy to digest protein. This is another way in which protein can help increase metabolism.Weight Training
Since increasing muscle will be effective in increasing the metabolism rate, we need to explore different ways to increase your body’s muscle mass. Along with eating more proteins, lifting weights and doing resistance training has an amazing effect on increasing lean muscle. This can be a wholesome method to increase your metabolism.
Keeping Yourself Hydrated
One important element of metabolism is water since water is essential for burning calories. If you are dehydrated your body will not be able to generate enough energy. So keeping yourself hydrated by drinking enough water can be a huge step toward increasing metabolism.
Increasing Caffeine Intake
Like protein, caffeine has also been found to increase your metabolic rate in the short term. This means that a cup of coffee can play a role in helping you lose weight. Caffeine also helps you feel less tired, so your endurance to exercise also has a positive effect due to coffee.