Thyroid Guide – Hypothyroidism Diet: Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disorder wherein the thyroid gland fails to produce thyroid hormones needed by the body. Thyroid glands produce thyroid hormones used in the metabolism of the body. Hypothyroidism can be prevented if one eats healthy and does some exercise. If an individual suspects to be suffering from hypothyroidism, it would be best to consult a doctor for hypothyroidism to be treated properly.
A hypothyroidism diet may be suggested since it can help the thyroid gland produce enough thyroid hormones. A hypothyroidism diet also includes multivitamins. Vegetables are known to be a healthy food choice. However, for people diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it would be best to not each too much cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Same goes for seafood like fish and other sea vegetables. These are known to have high levels of iodine that makes it unsuitable for a person who is suffering from hypothyroidism. One must also avoid fatty meats.
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Hypothyroidism Diet Plans
If an individual has been diagnosed for hypothyroidism, it would be helpful to have a hypothyroidism diet. This is to make sure that one is not eating something that may complicate or worsen the hypothyroidism disorder. It is also best to have a hypothyroidism diet plan for an individual to follow through the list of food that one may eat to treat the hyperthyroidism disorder.
For breakfast, one can start their day with dry food such as cereals and other fruits to have an energy boosting diet.
As for lunch, since it is considered as one of the important parts of any hypothyroidism diet, a lunch meal should be anything that is rich in protein. This can provide the individual with important growth proteins to enable a higher rate of metabolism. To induce metabolism, an individual should eat poultry and fish products.
Dinner is considered to be the most essential meal of the day. For an individual who is diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a high protein diet will help enable a greater growth rate.
Interesting Questions about Thyroid:
The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone pills. The pills provide the body with the right amount of thyroid hormone when the gland is not able to produce enough by itself. While the symptoms of hypothyroidism are usually corrected within a few months, most patients need to take the pills for the rest of their lives.
The preferred thyroid hormone for treatment is levothyroxine (T4). You should use only the brand-name that your doctor prescribes, since generic brands may not be as reliable. Name brand levothyroxine pills include Levothroid®, Synthroid®, Levoxyl®, and Eltroxin®.
Patients sometimes take more pills than they should, trying to speed up the treatment or lose weight. However, this can lead to hyperthyroidism, a disease in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood, and to long-term complications, such as osteoporosis. You should take the pills as your doctor prescribes.
At different times in your life, you may need to take different amounts of thyroid hormones. Therefore, you should see your doctor once a year to make sure everything is all right.
® Levothroid is a registered trademark of Forest Pharmaceuticals.
® Synthroid is a registered trademark of Knoll Pharmaceuticals.
® Levoxyl is a registered trademark of Jones Medical Industries.
® Eltroxin is a registered trademark of Roberts Pharmaceuticals.
Possible effects of hypothyroidism are:
- slow heart rate (less than 70 beats per minute)
- elevated blood pressure
- feeling slow or tired
- feeling cold
- drowsy during the day, even after sleeping all night
- poor memory
- difficulty concentrating
- muscle cramps, numb arms and legs
- weight gain
- puffy face, especially under the eyes
- husky voice
- thinning hair
- dry, coarse, flaky, yellowish skin
- in children, short height
- constipation
- heavy menstrual flow
- milky discharge from the breasts
- infertility
- goiter (an abnormal swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland).
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also called chronic thyroiditis, is named for the Japanese doctor who discovered it. It affects about 5% of the adult population, increasing particularly in women as they age. Hashimoto’s, the most common form of thyroiditis, is the leading cause of hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis results from problems with the body’s immune system. Normally, the immune system defends against germs and viruses, but in diseases such as Hashimoto’s, the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. In patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune system produce antithyroid antibodies, which damage the gland and keep it from producing enough hormones.
Diseases of the immune system tend to run in families and are about five times more common in women than in men. Hashimoto’s is linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as Graves’ disease, premature gray hair, diabetes mellitus, arthritis and patchy loss of pigment of the skin (vitiligo).
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Hypothyroidism Diet Pills
Individuals that are diagnosed with hypothyroidism suffer from gaining excess weight or having difficulty in losing weight. Thyroid hormones are responsible for the metabolism in one’s body. When the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones, one can suffer from hypothyroidism. Common concerns for hypothyroid patients are rapid weight gain and difficulty in losing weight. One may stick to a strict diet but still gains weight or has difficulty in losing weight. If one suffers from hypothyroidism the body does not respond normally to the calorie intake.
Hypothyroidism makes the body store the fat since it no longer responds to sugar intake from the liver and intestines. One must seek medical help to be able to be provided with a proper treatment. Hypothyroidism may be treated with surgery and other medications. It is best to speak with a doctor first and avoid self medication to make sure that no complication may arise in the future. If one wants to use hypothyroidism diet pills to lose the weight that was gained because of hypothyroidism, it is strongly suggested to check first for any side effects as this may worsen the thyroid disorder and may also cause other complications if overlooked.
Self medicating one’s thyroid disorder with hypothyroidism diet pills without proper information of the diet pill does not address the problem. One must be cautious enough to seek for medical advice before taking any hypothyroidism diet pills.
Thyroid FAQ & Links to Related Articles
Parathyroid |
There are four parathyroid glands that are normally having the size of a single rice grain. In some normal cases, they can be as big as the size of a pea. |
Hypothyroid |
Also called underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism is a disorder that is characterized by abnormal level of thyroid hormones in the body, which is too low. |
Thyroid Glands |
The thyroid is a butterfly (pear)-shaped gland, it consists of 2 symmetrical lobes joined by a central isthmus that normally covers the 2nd & 3rd tracheal rings. |
Congenital Hypothyroidism |
Congenital hypothyroidism is a thyroid gland disorder that may lead to deafness or mental retardation if left undetected. |
Thyroid Depression |
Hypothyroidism can cause depression. Most people don?t realize that this feeling is depression caused by the thyroid gland not functioning as it should. |
Papillary Thyroid Cancer |
Papillary thyroid cancer is one of the thyroid cancer types. This type of thyroid cancer arises from the follicles in the thyroid gland. |
Thyroid Gland Function |
The thyroid gland is located immediately below the larynx on each side of and anterior to the trachea. It is one of the largest of the endocrine glands |
Thyroid Hormone |
These thyroid hormones are responsible in regulating the body?s metabolism, which is how much food will be broken down into useful energy for consumption. |
Thyroid Levels |
When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, one may suffer from hyperthyroidism. |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
The thyroid stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. The thyroid stimulating hormone promotes the growth of the thyroid gland. |
Thyroid Hormones |
Thyroid hormones are chemical substances produced by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck. |
Supplements for the Thyroid |
Natural thyroid supplements are helpful as a remedy to thyroid disorders. Its natural ingredients assure one of its safeties in taking it. |
Thyroid Symptoms in Women |
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that is the primary responsible in regulating the body?s metabolism. |
Thyroid Surgery |
Thyroid surgery is used to treat people with thyroid problems such as thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and hyperthyroidism. |
Thyroid Test |
Thyroid tests or thyroid function tests are done to check the thyroid function in one?s body. A doctor will be able to determine and diagnose the thyroid disorder. |
Thyroid Treatment |
Treatment for thyroid disorders should be done to prevent unwanted results caused by the severity of the condition. Consult a physician for more of these treatments. |
Thyroidectomy |
Thyroidectomy is a surgical process wherein the whole or a part of the thyroid gland is removed. This surgical process is used to treat thyroid disorders. |
Underactive Thyroid |
Having an underactive thyroid is a minor problem but it seeks proper attention to avoid further health problems. Consult a physician about any thyroid problem. |
Low Thyroid |
Low thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, is a condition where the thyroid gland is under active. |
Underactive Thyroid Diet |
Following a healthy meal plan, exercise and proper medication goes hand in hand to treat hypothyroidism. Consult a physician for a more individualized plan. |
Thyroid Cancer Treatment |
Each thyroid cancer treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer and the extent or stage of the thyroid cancer one is suffering from. |
Parathyroid Hormone Levels |
Parathyroid hormones are considered to be the most important endocrine regulator. It basically regulates the calcium and phosphorus concentration in the body. |
Parathyroid Disease |
Studies show that since 1925, the standard treatment for parathyroid disease is to surgically remove the parathyroid gland(s) which are overproducing parathyroid hormones. |
Parathyroid Adenoma |
Parathyroid adenoma is a small tumor of the parathyroid gland and is known to be the most common disorder of the gland. |
Medullary Thyroid Cancer |
Medullary thyroid cancer is one of the types of thyroid cancer. This type of thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men. |
Overactive Thyroid |
Most people don?t feel any symptoms. Others can just lose weight and just feel depressed for no reason at all. |
Hypothyroidism |
Suppose you go in for a routine checkup and your doctor decides to test your thyroid function. You?ve experienced no thyroid disease symptoms |
Hypothyroidism Symptoms |
Hypothyroidism develops for over a long period of time. It?s normally from several months to even several years. |
Hypothyroidism Natural Treatment |
People who are suffering from hypothyroidism are advised to get plenty of exercise and have a balanced and healthy diet. The diet must be rich in protein and iodine. |
Hypothyroidism Diet |
Self medicating one’s thyroid disorder with hypothyroidism diet pills without proper information of the diet pill does not address the problem. |
Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Treatment |
Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormones more than the body needs. |
Hypothyroidism |
Hypothyroidism is one of the chronic diseases in the world. Hypothyroidism is also known as underactive thyroid; hypo means under or below normal. |
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer |
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer that is rare and aggressive. It affects the thyroid gland and most especially its function. |
Thyroid Disorders |
Problems arise if the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive. There are three common thyroid disorders. These are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and the thyroid nodules. |
Thyroid Hair Loss |
Hair loss may happen for so many reasons but it is commonly associated to thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. |
Thyroid Function Test |
Thyroid Function Tests are the different tests conducted to assess and determine the cause of an individual?s thyroid problems. |