Can Your Thyroid Make You Fat?

For many people, especially women, the resounding answer to that question is YES! Your thyroid plays an integral role in your metabolism. If your thyroid is not working properly, many of your other bodily functions will be out of whack.

So, what are the warning signs of a low thyroid?
·  Exhaustion and weakness
·  Hair loss
·  Weight gain
·  Insomnia
·  Constipation
·  Swelling around eyes, face, hands, legs or feet
·  Pudginess in the throat area
·  Depression
·  Dry or rough skin
·  Faulty recollection, forgetfulness, dementia
·  Tension and tremors
·  Heavy menstrual periods
·  Low basal temperature (Cold hands and feet and an inability to tolerate the cold)
·  Muscle and joint pain
·  Immune system complications

The Thyroid and Weight Gain
Unfortunately, often times when people go to their physician for help they are told their thyroid exam results were “within the typical range” of customary medical values. Their thyroid may be on the low side of normal, nonetheless not enough to merit action.

And Then Comes Cortisol...
When your body is stressed it produces cortisol (it is your body's stress survival hormone). Cortisol commands your body to keep energy (sugar) circulating in the blood so just in case you unexpectedly need a surge of energy it will be there available to use. (That's part of the flight or fight in a person's makeup.)

High cortisol levels prevent your cells from absorbing insulin and sugar from the blood, but it may also preclude your cells from absorbing the T3 thyroid (triiodothyronine) your body requires to keep operating as it should. That may be why your blood test will show your thyroid is working fine, however you still have all the indicators of low thyroid function.

Elevated cortisol levels not only make your body insulin resistant (think type 2 diabetes) it may similarly make your body resistant to your T3 thyroid hormone. It's a double curse and a brutal cycle. The more your cortisol levels go up, the more resistant you become, and the more resistant you come to be the more stressed your body grows and the more cortisol it will create.

So What Can You Do to Bring Down Your Cortisol and Boost Your Thyroid?
For people with  "normal" thyroid levels and all the signs of hypothyroidism (low thyroid) there are a number of steps you can take to better the quality of your life.

Reduce or avoid stimulants such as chocolate, coffee, tea, or other caffeinated drinks or food. Though you may feel these are necessary just to function, these increase your cortisol levels and make the problem worse. (When reducing your caffeine levels, make gradual reductions to avoid adverse reactions.)

Get plenty of rest. If you are reducing your caffeine levels you may have to increase the amount of sleep you get, but the average adult needs 7 ½ to 8 ½ hours of sleep each night. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces cortisol.

Eat coconut oil (it helps to speed up your metabolism and helps to balance your blood sugar), and supplement your diet with nutrients such as selenium and iodine, along with other vitamins and minerals, to improve the way you feel.

By: B.J. Gordey

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These suggestions should enable your thyroid to function better and will usually help you drop a few pounds. Certainly with any thyroid treatment, the improvement will not be immediate. It will take time, though some symptoms should improve within the first few weeks. For information about best way to lose weight fast, visit www.top10-diets.com/.