subject: One Of The Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism Can Be Weight Gain - Get Help With Iodine [print this page] Get your thyroid checked out if you have been diligently making an effort to lose weight without success.
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the body lacks enough of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4.This can result in many symptoms including fatigue, dry hair, memory loss, irritability, depression and weight gain. Medication may be needed or an increase in your iodine consumption.
The thyroid is a gland that produces metabolism regulating hormones. Located in your throat it requires iodine for effective hormone production. Your thyroid will not function properly if you don't get enough iodine in your diet. You may need to increase the amount in your diet if this is the case.
The medical condition, hypothyroidism, however is where the thyroid gland makes insufficient quantities of the essential hormones which can result in weight and metabolism problems. Your first step should be to check with your doctor. Hypothyroidism can be quickly identified by a blood test and the appropriate medication prescribed.
If you find that you are merely getting inadequate quantities of iodine from your diet, some simple changes can make a big difference. Here are a few ideas. Salt water seafood including fish shellfish and seaweed as used in sushi are all good iodine sources. Dairy products and eggs also contain iodine. You can also replace your usual salt with iodized salt. It is an easy way to increase your iodine intake with very little taste difference.
Ensure you don't make the mistake of increasing your salt intake though as this can cause other health problems such as high blood pressure or fluid retention. Your doctor will be able to give you more hints and ideas about how to increase iodine in your diet.
Once you have identified whether you have a thyroid problem and taken steps to address it you can follow a sensible weight loss program confident that you will be rewarded for your efforts.
Do remember some easily overlooked things that can cause you to fail in your efforts. Portion control is one of the main culprits. You may be eating all of the right foods but in portions too large for your dietary needs.
Remember to eat slowly. Not only do you feel like you are eating more, it gives your body time to send the message to your brain that you have eaten enough.
Also, look at what you are drinking. Fruit juice, although full of vitamins, is loaded with sugar and should be limited. Alcohol has been known to derail many weight loss efforts. Apart from the fact that it is loaded with empty kilojoules it only takes a couple of drinks to make you lose your resolve and eat everything in sight.
Don't forget to review the amount of exercise that you are doing. You don't have to go to a gym. Ensure you go for a good walk most days or do some exercises at home.
To stabilize your weight and lose those extra pounds you should follow these simple changes to your habits.
