Watch Your Weight & Your Thyroid

Are you trying hard to lose weight but are unsuccessful? Or is it that you want to put on a few kilos but cannot, even after munching on a lot of calories? Then it’s time you check your thyroid hormones. Your weight issues can be linked to abnormal levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Besides being underweight or overweight, these abnormal hormone levels can also make you lethargic or hyperactive, dull or anxious depending on whether the hormone levels are high or low.

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland situated in front of your neck. It secretes thyroxin, an important hormone which has an effect on most of the organs of the body. When the thyroid gland produces thyroxin in excess or in small amounts, it affects the normal functions of the body. When thyroxin is produced in excess it causes hyperthyroidism and when it is less it results in hypothyroidism.

About two percent of the general population is hypothyroid, where the basic metabolic rate (BMR) decreases. Factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, and stress can increase the risk of hypothyroidism. The symptoms a hypothyroid patient will exhibit include gaining weight, fatigue, drowsiness, swelling of legs and ankles, pain in joints, constipation, feeling chilled, dryness of skin, menstrual problems leading to infertility, and muscular cramps.

Here are some dietary tips to combat hypothyroidism:

• Uncooked cabbage, soybean, cauliflower, radish leaves, mustard, broccoli, legumes, bajra, peanut, lentils are considered goitrogenic (goiter causing), and hence, need to be avoided, or consumed in limited amounts

• It is important to look for options when you go out to eat since cauliflower and broccolis are frequently used in salads; mustard is used in East Indian dishes, and peanut in most of Maharashtrian dishes

• It is very important, therefore, either to avoid these items or eat them in moderation, say, once a fortnight or so

Hyperthyroidism is a disturbance of the thyroid gland in which there is an excessive secretion of thyroxin with a consequent increase in the metabolic rate. Exophthalmia goitre or toxic goitre or thyrotoxicosis and Grave’s disease are all different manifestations of hyperthyroidism. A patient with hyperthyroidism will experience signs and symptoms like weight loss, palpitation, restlessness, irritability, hyperactivity, lack of sleep, tremors, intolerance to heat, muscular weakness, menstrual disturbance, puffiness around the eyes, swelling over the neck, diarrhea and increased body temperature.

Here are some dietary tips to combat hyperthyroidism

• A liberal diet providing adequate amount of calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals is indicated because patients have severe malnutrition as the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is increased, thus, increasing the calorie requirement

• A diet rich in vitami
A, B complex and C should be increased to twice the daily requirements. Pulse and wheat sprout combination will enhance the B complex and C vitamins

• Carotene-rich foods like papaya, mango and fenugreek leaves will ensure the vitami
A supplement. Carotene will be converted to vitami
A in the body

• Calcium and phosphorous excretion is greatly increased in the urine. So liberal calcium and phosphorus-rich food like milk and milk products, dark green leafy vegetables and ragi must be part of your daily diet

• Giving up smoking, moderating one’s consumption of alcohol, limiting caffeine found in tea, coffee, cola and chocolate may lower intensity of the symptoms as these habits can increase the metabolic rate

Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising several times a week, and getting fresh air and relaxation are all activities that will help you feel your best. Healthy living is an important part of recovery from thyroid conditions. These suggestions will also help to prevent future problems. Watch your weight as well as your thyroid!