In today's post, we're going to shed light on a battle many women face in their fat loss journey - their own thyroid. This tiny gland located in your neck plays a significant role in regulating your body's metabolism and energy levels. If it's not performing at its best, it can make fat loss very difficult.
We'll be taking a close look at five telltale signs that show your thyroid might be preventing fat loss. Plus we’re going to show you how certain nutrients can help improve your thyroid health and have a surprising impact on weight loss in people with thyroid problems.
The first sign your thyroid is blocking weight loss is inability to lose weight despite maintaining a clean diet and consistently working out. This could be due to a condition called Hypothyroidism. This is a medical condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient hormones. One such hormone is Thyroxine, also known as T4, which has a crucial role in controlling our metabolism - the mechanism by which our bodies transform food into energy. When T4 levels are balanced, our metabolic rate remains stable and we burn calories at a regular pace.
However, if you have hypothyroidism, your body generates less T4 than required. This shortage can drastically slow down your metabolism. Instead of efficiently burning calories for energy, your body begins to store more fat resulting in weight gain.
Another symptom is constant fatigue and lack of energy. This usually originates from deficient levels of a hormone known as Triiodothyronine, or T3 for short.
T3 is one of the two primary hormones generated by your thyroid gland. It also plays an important role in controlling your metabolism. When T3 levels decrease, so does metabolism. Which means even if you're eating the same quantity of food as before, less of it is being transformed into energy and more is being accumulated as fat.
A compelling study conducted on people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) underscores this intricate link between low T3 levels, metabolic inflammation, and chronic fatigue. The study compared the hormonal profiles of CFS patients with healthy individuals. The findings revealed that the CFS group had surprisingly low T3 levels - a condition referred to as Low T3 Syndrome.
These findings carry significant implications for women grappling with fatigue in their weight loss journey. If you're constantly feeling tired despite getting adequate sleep, it might be useful to check your T3 levels.
The third symptom of your thyroid blocking weight loss is if you are unable to tolerate the cold regardless of the number of sweaters worn. This could be attributed to a slower metabolism and less heat production within the body. Imagine it like burning wood in a fireplace; this process generates warmth. But if less fuel - or calories - are burned, there's less heat produced. Hence, people with hypothyroidism often feel as though they're trapped in a perpetual winter chill.
This ties into weight gain as well. A sluggish metabolic rate due to hypothyroidism means not only is there less heat generated but also fewer calories are burned for energy. Instead, these unused calories become fat deposits within the body leading to weight gain.
Constipation is another common symptom of hormonal imbalance and can be a warning sign for those on a fat loss journey. When the thyroid isn't producing enough hormones, gut motility slows down which can lead to constipation resulting in bloating and temporary weight gain.
The final sign your thyroid could be preventing weight loss is mood swings. A feeling of depression and fat loss are all interconnected. As we’ve discovered the thyroid plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism and energy levels, which also affects mood by producing hormones that keep these functions balanced.
These mood changes can lead to overeating as a coping mechanism or a lack of motivation to engage in physical activity both of which can contribute to weight gain.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, getting tested is key, but before you do there are some important considerations.
It's common for standard tests to measure Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or TSH. This hormone is produced by your pituitary gland and signals your thyroid to produce more hormones when needed. However this doesn't paint a full picture of how your thyroid is functioning.
The real stars of the show are Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These are the hormones that directly regulate your metabolism. T3 is like the active player on the field, interacting with cells to ramp up metabolic activity. On the other hand, T4 acts as a reserve, converting into T3 when necessary.
But what if your body isn't converting enough T4 into T3? Or if it's producing too much of another form called “Reverse T3” - an inactive form that interferes with proper functioning of T3. You might still experience symptoms of hypothyroidism like weight gain or difficulty losing weight even if your TSH levels seem normal on a standard test result..
So, it's important that comprehensive thyroid testing includes not just TSH but also Free T4, Free T3 and Reverse T3 levels. This gives you a better understanding of what's happening in your body and helps identify any imbalances. And knowing this can guide suitable treatment strategies to help you on your weight loss journey.
Now let's get to the solutions for balancing your thyroid hormones.
Firstly, let's talk about diet changes. The thyroid gland needs certain nutrients to function optimally, and three most important are iodine, selenium, and zinc.
Iodine is needed because it's a key component of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Without enough iodine, your body can't produce enough of these hormones, leading to an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. This can slow down your metabolism and lead to weight gain.
However too much, especially for Hashimoto’s (an auto-immune condition that affects the thyroid), can worsen inflammation. Aim for a moderate intake from natural sources and possibly from a standard multivitamin.
And if you are taking iodine ensure you are having plenty of selenium.
This helps convert T4 into the more active form of thyroid hormone, T3. If you're deficient in selenium, this conversion process can be hindered leading to symptoms like fatigue and weight gain.
Our thyroid gland contains more selenium than any other part of our body! This becomes incredibly significant when we talk about underactive thyroid conditions and obesity.
A 2002 study showed promising results in selenium supplementation, especially for those dealing with autoimmune thyroid diseases. The participants exhibited a reduction in antithyroid peroxidase titer, meaning the negative antibodies attacking the thyroid decreased. However, the effectiveness of selenium varies depending on factors like how long someone has had the disease and their initial antibody levels. So, maintaining optimal selenium levels is not just important for thyroid health; it's a game changer for overall wellness.
Zinc also plays a significant role in regulating TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which signals your thyroid gland to produce more hormones when needed. A deficiency in zinc can disrupt this signaling process and result in an imbalance of thyroid hormones.
In addition to incorporating foods rich in these nutrients - such as seaweed for iodine, Brazil nuts for selenium, and oysters for zinc - it's also important to maintain a balanced diet overall. This includes eating plenty of fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant properties which help protect the thyroid gland from damage.
However, certain foods should be avoided or limited because of their potential negative impact on thyroid health. These include soy products which contain isoflavones that may interfere with thyroid function; gluten which can trigger an autoimmune response in some people with Hashimoto's disease; and processed foods high in unhealthy fats that can contribute to inflammation.
Let's move on to exercise - regular physical activity boosts metabolism and promotes healthy thyroid function by increasing tissue sensitivity to the thyroid hormone. Exercises such as walking, Pilates, and resistance training are particularly useful as they help improve metabolism, increase muscle mass, and reduce stress levels.
Lastly - stress management. Chronic stress can exacerbate thyroid imbalance by increasing the production of cortisol, a hormone that can interfere with thyroid function. High cortisol levels can inhibit the conversion of T4 to T3 and lead to weight gain. Therefore, it's essential to incorporate stress management techniques into your routine.
That about wraps it up, if you’re struggling to reach your ideal body weight it might be your hormones, so make sure you click the link below this video to take our hormonal balance quiz and get a personalized hormonal report tailored to your hormone type also if you found this video helpful please subscribe and leave a comment below
