It is estimated that more than 200 million people are suffering from some kind of thyroid issues!
If we ask people how they start their day, their answer is a thyroid pill. People with thyroid are either overweight or underweight. With many other symptoms also. But except weight problems, the other symptoms are not likely related to thyroid. Those are just side effects of the medications, that people take to cure thyroid.
What is thyroid?
It’s just a gland. But, the disorder you may be having, is related to malfunctioning of this gland.
Functions of thyroid gland
- How we digest
- How we burn calories
- Metabolism of fats & carbohydrates
- Our body weight management
Imbalance in any one of the hormone can result in serious consequences.
Now, if we describe thyroid disorder, it has two common types-
- Hypothyroid
- Hyperthyroid
As clear from the names, one is hypo, other is hyper. Hypo means under, hyper means over. So, hypothyroid means when your thyroid gland is under-active. TSH becomes high due to hypothyroid. Hyperthyroid means your thyroid is overactive. TSH is usually low due to hyperthyroid. Thyroid disorders may not always be preventable, but it’s treatable.
Symptoms
If you have an under-active thyroid, you’ll gain too much weight. Hypothyroid makes your metabolism too slow. As a result, most of the food digested is stored as fat. If you have an overactive thyroid, you’ll burn calories too fast. As a result, you will become underweight.
Other symptoms may include hormonal problems, hair fall, migraine etc. Estrogen gets high and progesterone gets low, as a consequence, menses cycle is disturbed. Testosterone levels also get disturbed. See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms.
Talk with your dietitian about making changes in your diet. This helps balance thyroid function. And, will protect your body from effects of thyroid disorder.
Reasons
The main reason of thyroid is stress levels, which increase cortisol levels, which in turn interfere with thyroxine production. Then comes the dietary and lifestyle related habits. Lifestyle includes your sleep, stress, exercise, immunity, water intake.
Refined oils also block thyroxin working, which in turn can make your cholesterol high. Imbalance in thyroid hormones disturbs fats conversion.
Dietary solutions
Complete change in your diet and lifestyle. Also, dietary changes depend on type of disorder.
For hypothyroid
- Have iodine rich diet
- Dairy products
- Complex carbohydrates like sweet potato and whole grains
- Fresh fruits
- Lentils and legumes
- Eggs and meat if you are non vegetarian
- Moderate intake of cruciferous family like cauliflower cabbage etc.
For Hyperthyroid
- Balanced food intake, with low iodine sources
- Always use non-iodized salt
- Egg whites and chicken
- Fresh fruits and veggies
- Nuts and nut butters
- Dairy products
- Whole grains
Lifestyle changes
- Daily exercise with yoga
- Neck and breathing exercises
- Proper sleep to give your body repairing time
- Taking care of stress levels
Add ons
- Soak coriander seeds in water overnight, boil, sieve and drink in the morning
- Raw virgin cold press coconut oil (for salads dressings and cooking)
- For Selenium deficiency, you can take tablets or supplements
- Nuts and seeds can also be helpful.
Conclusion
It’s a mere lifestyle disorder. It can be easily reversed by following a healthy lifestyle & diet. Diet and lifestyle modifications are both necessary, for maintenance of any kind of thyroid disorder.
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Lavleen Kaur
December 9, 2024 
Hi Could you please let me know how long after taking thyroid tablet i can have corinder seeds water. Can i add little honey to it. I have hypothyroid condition
Thanks
30 mins, and avoid honey.
Hi
What flours, grains or seeds can be mixed to make multigrain flour for hypothyroid patients …
Which can be used for everyday chapatis
Thanks
Use 20-30% wheat, rest use Jowar or Ragi. Less intake of flaxseeds, normal intake of other seeds.
Mam I m suffering from thyroid bt I m confused which type of thyroid I have it is hypo or hyper because sometime my tsh level range is less than normal range or sometime more than normal range. I hv loss my weight and full energy and deficiency of calcium, vitamins and multi vitamins. Old help me to find out which lifestyle should I follow hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. Mam old do help. Thanks
Hi i’m suffering from hypothyroid but it has opposite effect on my body like usually ppl put on weight but in my case i’m loosing it. I wanna knw should i proceed the same diet as per u mentioned in ur blog ? If there is anything else plz lemme knw . Thank you
Hi Prabhjot, you can follow same. Just take following precautions – 1) Use rock salt in regular meals and normal salt in pickles and chutneys to maintain iodized and non iodized salt.
My energy levels are low and I don’t sleep well. What should I do?
Low energy levels can have various different reasons ranging from dietary aspects to your physical and mental activity levels. Start by ensuring a balanced diet and get your micronutrients levels checked.
For sleep issues, check this out for tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eoTq2Eq3Q0
Hello, Is it possible at all to cure or reverse Hashimoto thyroiditis with lifestyle changes? The problem with this autoimmune disease is, if Thyroid gland is already destroyed, then its not really possible to reverse or cure.
After delivery I stop taking medicines so my thyroid got increased and I am gaining rapidly weight plz suggest how to loose my weight.
Will daily intake of coconut oil 2-3 spoons not cause weight gain.
Whether or not you will gain weight depends on many factors. Daily average oil consumption for healthy adult is between 25-30 ml. Other factors include your dietary intake, physical activity, sleep quality, stress levels and water intake.