If you have been unsuccessful in your attempts at shedding those extra pounds despite best efforts, your thyroid could be the culprit. Since the thyroid produces hormones that manage your metabolism, anything that affects your thyroid will ultimately affect your metabolism. Once you address your thyroid problems, the pounds may melt off easily.
Thyroid problems have skyrocketed in recent times owing to the toxic foods and increasing exposure to pollution, petrochemical and industrial wastes . We now have substantial research to demonstrate that environmental chemicals have a direct impact on the thyroid gland. In fact, there's evidence that the toxins deplete the body of thyroid hormones, leaving the body less efficient in controlling the metabolism and the ability to burn fat.
Body weight, energy, sleep, and how much stamina you have for the day is directly related to your levels of thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland takes iodine and and the amino acid tyrosine to make the thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) and release them into the blood stream. Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for control of their metabolism and the mechanisms relating to how the body burns carbohydrates and fats. In addition to disrupting metabolism, thyroid modulates the levels of leptin, a hormone produced from fat cells that controls hunger. When the thyroid gland does not produce enough of thyroid hormones, resting metabolic rate becomes low, causing weight gain and obesity.
More women than men suffer thyroid problems, especially low thyroid (hypothyroid) function. Thyroid dysfunction symptoms are weight gain, along with fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, palpitations, and fuzzy thinking. Many women experience underactive or hypothyroid issues during perimenopause and pregnancy. These are times of massive hormonal flux, and an imbalance in female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, would strongly impact thyroid function.
Deficiencies in nutrients important to good thyroid function-like selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids. and iodine and tyrosine-can also trigger thyroid problems. Tyrosine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, low blood pressure, chronic fatigue and decreased metabolism.
Dietary tyrosine is present in almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, beans, and seeds. You should include eggs in your diet since it provides high quality protein, vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, iron and omega-3. Similarly, salmon, flax seeds and walnuts are excellent food sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Wholegrains, such as oats, bulgur wheat and brown rice are important sources of selenium.
