Unbalanced Thyroid Conditions that May Cause Lifestyle Changes in Lafayette LA

Lately, it seems a number of patients at Modern Chiropractic in Lafayette LA have been inquiring about "unexplained belly fat" or "feeling so stressed they can't relax" or even "feeling foggy." If you're feeling fatigued, foggy and fat and you can't figure out why, you may have a hidden hormone problem. The thyroid, a small gland in your neck, helps your body balance hormone production and is largely responsible for regulating your metabolism. Even if your doctor says your numbers are in the "normal" range, a slightly sluggish thyroid could still leave you feeling lethargic & a slightly over-excited thyroid could throw your whole body out of whack!

Let's go through a quick checklist to see if your thyroid could be the cause of your problems:

Weight Gain: Still packing on pounds even though you've been eating well and exercising? Because the thyroid controls metabolism, weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of low thyroid function. If you've gained 10 or more pounds over three months without an obvious explanation, consider getting your thyroid function checked.

Brain Fog: If you feel like you're walking around in a haze, your thyroid could be to blame. Feeling unusually forgetful and confused and having trouble concentrating are also symptoms of a slow thyroid. We all feel this way now and then (especially if we aren't getting enough sleep), but if you feel this way consistently for three months or more, talk to your doctor.

Fatigue: Do you consistently feel like you have half the energy you normally should? Feeling tired or just plain exhausted all the time is another sign of a hormone problem.

Cold: Feeling cold all the time could point to a thyroid problem. Try checking your body temperature with an axillary thermometer (one that goes under the armpit) for a week right before you get out of bed. If your temperature is under 98° F for at least five days, consider getting your thyroid checked.

Now…. If you've gotten your thyroid checked and you are slightly within hypo/hyper active range, you might want to consider alternative courses of action rather than traditional pharmaceuticals. In some cases, medication is essential to lower or raise thyroid levels to avoid serious health risks, but for more than 50% of the population who fall within the "slightly hypo/hyper" thyroid range a few dietary/lifestyle modifications should be considered and implemented to achieve homeostasis (that's the fancy word for "balance").

For people with thyroid disease - whether hypothyroid (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid), and in hereditary and auto-immune cases such as "Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease," there are some important things to know about foods and drinks, and their interaction with your health and medications:

1. Coconut Oil
You may hear coconut oil recommended for thyroid patients, and while it can be a healthful option, it's not a cure-all or treatment for thyroid disease. It's just a thyroid-friendly option to replace other fats and oils in your diet. I love coconut oil in homemade brownies and cakes instead of canola or safflower oil - it lends a delicious "background" flavor! I also love using coconut oil in morning smoothie. Just a tablespoon gives me the right amount of good/healthy fat to get my day going!

2. Soy = Problem
Soy both acts as a goitrogen, and inhibits thyroid hormone absorption. Whether your thyroid is hyper/hypo active - it's my recommendation to NOT over consume soy. Too many products containing soy come from genetically modified beans and we all know that GMOs do not belong inside our bodies! And for goodness sakes please do not utilize soy as a primary source of protein which you'll find in shakes, bars and supplements. You are better off AVOIDING these processed versions of soy because they are genetically modified high-phytoestrogens and they wreak havoc on your thyroid - which sends other body systems into a tizzy. Save the soy sauce for the occasional stir-fry dinner at home or hibachi date night!

3. Coffee and Your Thyroid
Coffee hijacks your thyroid! Thyroid hormone" in your body consists of two main players: T4 and T3. T4 is the lame duck storage hormone, which you make into T3 to see some action. T3 is the biological go-getter and boosts metabolism, keeps your weight on the easeful side of town, and keeps your mood in the "joy" position. High cortisol produced from caffeine consumption (and even a plain old stressed out life!) blocks production of T3. What happens when the production of T3 is blocked? (You may be asking yourself…) You end up with a slower metabolism, unwanted belly fat and very little motivation. The bottom line is that you should not take coffee until an hour after you've taken your thyroid hormone replacement medication. Otherwise, the coffee can affect absorption (due to cortisol production) and make your thyroid medication less effective.

4. Calcium-Fortified Orange Juice and Your Thyroid Medication
You should not take calcium-fortified orange juice with your thyroid medication. Wait at least three to four hours after taking your thyroid medication before taking calcium-fortified juice, calcium supplements, or iron supplements, as they can interfere with your absorption of thyroid medication.

5. High-Fiber Foods
Many thyroid patients struggle with constipation, and extra weight. One of the key tactics that can help is increasing fiber intake, particularly from foods such as: Organic bran cereals, whole sprouted grain bread, beans, lentils, lima beans, almonds, walnuts & cashews.

6. Water, water, water
One of the most powerful things you can do to help your health and metabolism is to drink enough water. Water helps your metabolism function more efficiently, and can help reduce your appetite, get rid of water retention and bloating, improve your digestion and elimination, and combat constipation. We say the best formula to use is: divide your body weight in half & then drink that number in ounces of water per day. For example: a person who weighs 100 pounds should drink 50 ounces of water per day to ward symptoms of dehydration.