Tough time losing weight It could be due to thyroid problem

“I have a tough time losing weight because of my thyroid.”

You’ve probably heard this complaint time and again from people who have thyroid problem. To the great frustration of 30 percent Indians with thyroid diseases, the gland has a profound impact on their metabolism. Unwanted weight gain and weight loss issues are common, and both can be a challenge to rectify that they’re happening due to thyroid disease or lifestyle issues.

Let us find out the connection between Weight Gain and Thyroid Disease

The tiny butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is responsible to regulate a lot of functions in your body. It can have a huge effect on nearly every aspect of your health, from weight changes to mood swings to heart rate and your energy levels.

Weight gain is one of the common side-effects associated with hypothyroidism. So, what actually happens in hypothyroidism that makes your body gain excess weight?

When your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows down. Metabolism is determined by measuring the amount of oxygen used by the body over a specific amount of time. If the measurement is made at rest, it is known as Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

According to studies, it has been found that individuals with underactive thyroid gland have low BMR’s and those with overactive thyroid glands have high BMR.

However, the cause of the weight gain in hypothyroidism individuals is not always related to excess fat accumulation. Most of the extra weight gained in hypothyroidism individuals is due to excess accumulation of salt and water.

In general, 2.5 – 5kg body weight may be attributable to the thyroid disease, depending on the severity of the hypothyroidism. Finally, if weight gain is the only symptom of hypothyroidism that is present, it is less likely that the weight gain is solely due to the thyroid.

Homeopathy can help you reduce weight and balance your thyroid hormone (TSH levels) naturally

Homeopathic medicines for hypothyroidism act on the body at the level of immunity and restore the deviated function. They also help to control the symptoms of hypothyroidism without any side effects. Hypothyroidism treatment in homeopathy also helps in overcoming complications of underactive thyroid, thus helping in illnesses like chronic fatigue, infertility and obesity.

The aim of the thyroid treatment in homeopathy is to regulate your thyroid function naturally thereby reducing the dependency on hormonal supplements. In order to do this, the homeopath takes your individual case history in detail, including your medical history, thyroid symptoms, likes and dislikes, and temperament. He then suggests an individualized treatment plan for your condition, including homeopathic remedies and a few lifestyle tips. For example, homeopathic remedy Calcarea Carbonica is prescribed to hypothyroid individuals who are obese and cannot tolerate cold temperature at all. The person requiring this remedy may exhibit excessive sweating on the head and are extremely sluggish in their work.

Self-help tips

Since your system is already stressed and has lead to an imbalance in the thyroid hormone, it is important to make a few healthy lifestyle changes so that you achieve better treatment results. Here are few tips:

• Get moving: While medication from your doctor is the only way to help your body balance hormonal levels, exercise can help some of the problems that come with hypothyroidism. Working out 3 hours a week for 3 months can boost your mood, help you lose weight, and increase your energy levels considerably.
• Eat right foods: Eating a healthy thyroid diet can support your thyroid function and treatment, help you maintain or lose weight, and may even help reduce some of your thyroid symptoms like fatigue, constipation, and slow metabolism. Iodine deficiencies are strongly linked to thyroid problems. Therefore, include iodine-rich foods like sea foods, shellfish and sea vegetables such as kelp and some dairy products in your diet.
• De-stress: Stress puts a negative impact on your immune system. So, if you’re stressed, it can make the symptoms of hypothyroidism worse. Stress can also lead to emotional eating thereby increasing your weight. Hence, you have more reasons to ‘smile’, and less to ‘worry’. De-stress yourself by doing activities you like – yoga, swimming, drawing, music, playing with pets, etc.