Do you know that frequent, consistent weight gain -in spite of all efforts to keep your weight stable- could be a result of hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a combination of two words: “hypo” meaning “under, reduced, or below normal,” and “thyroid”, which is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that secretes hormones,located just below the Adam’s apple in the front of the neck. Therefore, “hypothyroidism” means the under-functioning of the thyroid gland in the body.
One hormone normally secreted by the thyroid gland is known as thyroxin (also spelled thyroxine.) It is also referred to as T4, indicating that it has four iodine molecules. This hormone is very versatile, and is carried from the thyroid gland throughout the body, ensuring that the cells, tissues, and organs, function correctly. Other hormones secreted by the thyroid are triiodothyronine (T3), diiodothyronine (T2) and monoiodothyronine (T1). They are all important to your health.
Thyroxin aids in the operation of the heart, brain, muscles, and also energy generation. When there isn’t enough thyroxin, the body processes are interfered with. This is the reason people frequently feel tired when they have hypothyroidism. The body’s ability to break down calories and carbohydrates to ensure energy increase, is greatly hampered. This inability to properly break down food components can also result in weight gain, because the individual feels too tired to exercise.
If you notice you are frequently tired and are gaining weight, see a nutritional specialist as soon as possible. If the problem is hypothyroidism, supplements can be taken to nourish the thyroid back to health.
