How is Your Thyroid Gland and Weight Gain Linked?
Are you and older woman and gaining weight for no apparent reason? Did you know you could be the victim of a malfunctioning thyroid gland? So, just how is your thyroid gland and weight gain linked? The answers to these questions are not too hard to understand if you learn how your thyroid gland functions.
Actually, about 59 million Americans suffer from some type of thyroid problem and a lot of them may not even realize it. They think they are just overworked and gaining weight because of stress or some other reason that they come up with. A little known fact is that our modern American diets may be playing a big role in the ever increasing number of individuals who are hypothyroid or a low functioning thyroid and reaching body fat levels into obesity.
So how is your thyroid gland and weight gain linked?
Many Americans have bought into the notion that eating more soy products is good for them. It may be good for some people, but if you have a thyroid problem it is harmful to your thyroid gland. Even if you are not purposely cooking with soy products, you may be getting them any way in packaged food items. Some ways they are included in packaged items fall under the term of soy flour, hydrolyzed soy protein, soy oil and more. A damaged thyroid gland can be directly linked with unexplained weight gain. It is better to avoid soy products if you are an individual who is sensitive to soy.
What does your Thyroid do?
This butterfly shaped gland located at the bottom of your throat is responsible for controlling your body temperature and metabolism rate. Connecting it to weight gain is not a far stretch if you realize that an under active thyroid gland may be what is causing your weight gain because your metabolism is not up to par. If you have cold hands and feet, depression, anxiety, constipation, easy bruising, insomnia, dry skin, unhealthy and, allergies and asthma, migraines, acne, hair loss and low sex drive, brittle nails along with weight gain, you more than likely have a sluggish thyroid, if not diseased.
According to Kenneth Blanchard, M.D., in his book “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism,” states that you may not know you have a problem with this gland if your test come back normal. This is because the hormone level is measured in the blood instead of in body tissue. If your blood tests come back normal, ask your doctor for more extensive testing. Let the doctor know you are concerned that your thyroid gland and weight gain are linked. This may get the attention you need to get the correct diagnosis.
