Hypothyroidism and Constipation Symptom

Constipation, one of the many symptoms of Hypothyroidism is never a pleasant topic of conversation but as with the other symptoms of Hypothyroidism and constipation is definitely a necessary topic of discussion.

Before we get into why people who live with Hypothyroidism get constipated we should have a basic idea of how the upper and lower intestines function during the digestive process. This post will focus more on the lower intestines then on the upper intestine because that’s where constipation takes place.

Hypothyroidism and Constipation – Digestion and the Need for Fiber and Water

Both the initial and majority of the break down of the foods that we eat begins in the upper or small intestine. During digestion the upper intestine is responsible for breaking down foods enough to pass through the intestinal track while absorbing nutrients necessary for our bodies to function.

By the time digestions reaches the end of the small intestine, known as the ileum, what remains of the food that we have eaten is sodium and chloride, water and waste (unused portions of food, fiber and dead cells from inside of your stomach) The ileum absorbs water, sodium and chloride back into the body before passing the waste on for elimination.

There are a couple of things to take a look at here if your constipation is a result of having an underactive thyroid.

The first is the importance of high fiber combined with including plenty of water into your diet on a daily basis. This is important for all people and not just people who suffer from hypothyroidism. Although fiber is discarded as waste the reason why fiber and water are important to your digestion is that fiber acts like a sponge and absorbs water.

Sometimes the ileum can absorb too much water from what remains of your food causing your stools to become hard and difficult to pass. The fiber that passes through your digestive track holds on to the water that it absorbs and creates that balance that the body needs that helps to insure softer stools.

Exercise and Constipation

The next is exercise. Digestion requires healthy muscle movement throughout the digestive track. When you suffer from hypothyroidism muscles slow down, everything slows down, your blood pumps slower. The main reason for the need to exercise is for the purpose of keeping your blood pumping and maintaining strong healthy muscles. It’s pretty much common sense. It’s also as easy as getting up and going for a 30-40 minute walk each day especially after dinner. Keep moving no matter how fatigued you are.

Hemorrhoids and Constipation

Another issue is that hemorrhoids could be a result of constipation and in turn causing more constipation. Talk about one hand washing the other. Exercise, fiber and water are key to helping in this area. Softer stools eliminate hemorrhoids and constipation.

Hypothyroidism and Constipation Points to Remember

• Remember always, always make sure that you are properly taking your thyroid medication as directed by your medical professional.
• Make sure that you see your doctor on a regular basis.
• Make sure that you are tracking your symptoms and discussing the things that you notice with your doctor at all appointments especially if your constipation is chronic.
• Treatment may be as simple as temporarily needing a stool softener or a hemorrhoid treatment combined with making simple adjustments to your diet and exercise routine.
• Consult a doctor if you start to become dependent on stool softeners and hemorrhoid treatment.
• If you are doing everything right and still suffer from constipation then it could be something unrelated to your hypothyroidism causing your issue.

Hormonal Changes

One last note or reason for the need to discuss the details of this symptom of hypothyroidism with your doctor is that hormonal changes brought about by an underactive thyroid can cause constipation. Your doctor will check your different thyroid hormone levels to make sure that you have proper T3, T4 and TSH levels in your system.

Remember keeping your digestion process healthy can eliminate unexplained fatigue, and the affect of Hypothyroidism and Constipation.

The Connection Between Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production

In previous posts we talked about how goitrogens affect the iodine and thyroid hormone production in our bodies, now I’m going to talk about iodine intake, how it works with, how it affects the thyroid and whether you should be taking iodine supplements for hypothyroidism.

Iodine and Your Thyroid

You might be asking; what does iodine have to do with hypothyroidism and thyroid dysfunction? Well iodine plays a major role in the overall function of the thyroid and its production of thyroid hormone. It’s for this reason that the bodies iodine intake needs to maintain a healthy balance.

Iodine is the key component in thyroid hormone production. There are two hormones produced by the thyroid gland T3 and T4. The numbers 3 and 4 are the actual number of iodine atoms found in each thyroid hormone molecule.

Just too briefly explain the complex manner of how T3 and T4 hormones are used by our bodies I’ll try to summarize it in laymen’s terms. The cells in our bodies use T3 thyroid hormone for gene control. However the majority of thyroid hormone that the thyroid gland produces is T4. The bulk of the T3 and T4 hormones stick to proteins that are produced by the liver, the remainder of the hormones actually make it into the bodies cells where T4 is converted to T3 by the cells deiodinase enzymes and use it to control the cells genes.

Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production – Iodine deficiency

When there isn’t enough of iodine in a person’s diet the thyroid gland can’t produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s demands. This is when goiter develops because the thyroid gland enlarges as it works harder and harder to try to meet those demands. I’ve seen instances where the recommended daily allowance of iodine intake can range anywhere from 90 on up to 290 micrograms per day depending on age and whether you are pregnant or nursing. Pregnant women require around 220 and nursing women may require around 290 micrograms of iodine per day.

Thyroid dysfunction caused by iodine deficiency in the United States is very rare because in this country our salt as well as many of the foods that we eat contain iodine. The lack of iodine is more common in countries around the world that don’t have iodized table salt or readily available sea food and kelp.

Iodine Supplements for Hypothyroidism – Iodine excess?

More common in the United States are issues where excessive iodine intake is prominent. As I stated above, in the United States there may be more than enough iodine in our daily diets to fulfill the iodine needs of our thyroids. With this being the case in the United States there may be no need for iodine supplements for hypothyroidism treatment. As a matter of fact taking iodine supplements could be detrimental to your thyroid health. If you suspect that you may be have an issue with iodine deficiency you should have blood work done to confirm it.

When there is excessive iodine intake in the human body the thyroid gland starts to overproduce thyroid hormone and when this happens the bodies autoimmune system starts to attack and shut down the thyroid gland to a point where it actually causes hypothyroidism if you have an underlying potential for hypothyroidism such as a family history of this disease. On the other side of the coin if you are pre-disposed to either Grave’s disease of nodular goiter then too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism. A healthy thyroid gland handles excessive iodine intake by controlling how much iodine it takes in and last with Hashimoto’s too much iodine intake will cause your thyroid gland to slow down thyroid hormone production even more than it already is.

So again when you are looking to provide yourself with a healthy hypothyroidism diet much like with goitrogens and everything else that you include in your diet, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of foods that contain iodine. Always consult your doctor to treat your thyroid disease then look into the diet and exercise program that works best for you. If a lack of iodine is discovered through proper testing then you may need an iodine supplement.

None the less, there is an important link between iodine and thyroid hormone production but this is only part of the story.

What does a Hypothyroidism Diet Mean to You?

A hypothyroidism diet can mean many things to a lot of people. Some people might think of it as a means for them to lose weight. Others may think of diet for hypothyroidism as a way to maintain the weight they have and hopefully to not gain any more. While still others don’t even bother maintaining a proper diet thinking that losing weight with hypothyroidism is the holy grail of weight loss and that it doesn’t really exist. I hope this last one doesn’t describe you.

If you’re suffering from low thyroid function this question can mean a lot of things to you. What group do you fall into? What does a diet for hypothyroidism mean to you?

Hopefully you fall somewhere in the middle. It’s a positive goal to want to lose weight. Millions of people everyday work towards this goal. It’s good to want to be healthy and fit. But, when your thyroid is under producing your chances realistically decline. So, is that the end of it?

Absolutely not!

Implementing a Hypothyroidism Diet

First and foremost, you goal should be to become the healthiest you that you can be. Whatever that means to you. It could mean getting into shape so that you reduce your blood pressure, resting heart rate and stress. Or, it could mean getting your triglycerides and cholesterol down. It could even mean getting your muscles stronger so you can enjoy some activity that you like to do. It should at least mean getting your thyroid levels regulated.

But, it doesn’t have to mean that you lose a whole lot of weight. Unless of course you’re so overweight that it is dangerous for your system.

You should keep your goals realistic. You should realize that for you to be able to maintain your weight or sustain any kind of weight loss you must get your hormones regulated. This typically means getting a prescription for a synthetic thyroid hormone.

By getting your thyroid levels regulated you give your body the fighting chance it needs to stay healthy and even possibly lose weight on a hypothyroidism diet. But don’t make this your only priority. Unregulated thyroid levels can reek havoc on the body over the long term.

Next, since you have hypothyroidism, you should be looking at what foods are good for you to eat and which ones to steer clear from. There are also others that you can have in moderation. Essentially you stay away from most foods that are what they call Goitrogens. These are foods that interfere with the body’s absorption of iodine and as a result suppresses how your thyroid functions. These include raw broccoli, anything soy, peanuts, raw spinach and Brussels sprouts. Just to name a few.

So, I’ll ask you again. What does it mean to be on a hypothyroid diet? Hopefully, at least part of the answer is to be a more healthier you. Good luck with your hypothyroidism diet goals!

Why You Should Never Give up on Your Hypothyroid Diet

Have you been dieting and exercising but the weight isn’t coming off? Have you been faithful to your hypothyroid diet but nothing is working? Are you thinking of giving up?

Before you quit read this post.

When this article was written, the Today Show had Mom, CEO and super model Kathy Ireland talking about her new book “Real Solutions for Busy Moms”. During the segment it came up that Kathy had gained 25 pounds over the course of time because of being too busy to take care of herself the right way.

Now, she didn’t go into detail as to how she lost the weight, nor do I think she suffers from an underactive thyroid, but something she said did resonate with me and it should be a good message for you to get. Especially if you’re thinking of quitting your hypothyroid diet plan or worse you stop taking your thyroid hormones.

What she said is that besides the way she looked, it had occurred to her, “What she was doing to herself on the inside?” What were her protein and triglyceride levels in her system? What was she doing to her body by not taking care of it?

You should be asking yourself not “is this worth it, I’m not losing any weight on my hypothyroid diet, why bother” but what the cost of not eating healthy and exercising is doing to your system on the inside. First of all, you can lose the weight. In all likelihood it’s just going to take you longer to achieve your goals. But, in addition to this, the goal for your hypothyroid diet should also be to maintain a healthy system by keeping your triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the normal ranges, building muscle that’s going to burn fat and most of all by maintaining your thyroid hormone levels.

To Lose Weight on a Hypothyroid Diet Should Not be Your Only Concern

Please don’t let hypothyroidism become a springboard for other diseases and conditions. Heart disease, various kinds of cancers and diabetes become real possibilities if you don’t take care of yourself. This is even more true if you lose your enthusiasm for being healthy because of hypothyroid symptoms.

The problem stems from a society that promotes beauty in unhealthy way by rewarding us for when we look like or strive to look like super models and condemning us when we don’t. My sister-in-law knows about this first hand. She is overweight and she has heart trouble. She was the victim of depression eating but she’s on the mend both mentally and physically.

The reason I mention her is that just a week or so ago when she was in the supermarket parking lot, she had used one of the motorized baskets to get her goods to the car. While she was packing her stuff into her car some “lovely human being” commented in a not too nice a fashion that “if she wasn’t so fat she wouldn’t need to use the cart to carry her groceries to the car”. Oh my God! I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. I couldn’t believe that there are such uncaring and insensitive people out there and who are brazen enough to act like this guy did. But they are out there. She took it in stride so don’t worry about her.

The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t worry about what society thinks about you or how you look. You should only be concerned about how you feel and how healthy you are. Your goal should be not only to lose some of the unwanted weight but also to become the healthiest person that you can be. The message that I’m trying to send is that you shouldn’t give up on your hypothyroid diet and more importantly don’t give up on yourself.

The Reality of Hypothyroidism Weight Loss

If you’re suffering from hypothyroidism and are struggling to lose weight I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind as to whether or not you can succeed while on a hypothyroidism weight loss diet.

I’ve seen many questions come up in forums where men and women are concerned that they can’t lose weight since they are hypothyroid. They’ve tried a number of ways for a short amount of time but didn’t see any improvement in their weight so they get disgusted and quit trying. When suffering from an underactive thyroid it’s not uncommon to feel this way. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are many and varied but weight gain and fatigue are among the most frustrating.

First, let me say that it is possible to lose weight even if you are suffering from a low thyroid. But, let’s discuss what it means to be hypothyroid for a moment. When suffering from hypothyroidism one of the unfortunate symptoms is that of weight gain or trouble losing the weight you already have. Why is this? Well, it’s due to the fact that when your thyroid gland isn’t producing the proper amount of hormones your metabolism starts to slow down considerably. You begin to feel fatigued all of the time even after sleeping all night but, you also begin to have weight issues.

“But, I already know this. How does this relate to me? What do I do to succeed with my hypothyroidism diet?”

Ok, fair enough question. Here is the short answer: To be able to control your weight you need to get control over your metabolism. One of the first ways is to get on hormone replacement therapy prescribed by your doctor or endocrinologist. One of the drugs commonly used for this is called Synthroid or a generic substitute. The most important thing is to get your thyroid hormone levels under control and managed.

Another way would be to try a thyroid health supplement such as Thyromine. But always consult with you Doctor before using supplements. There are certain foods that also promote healthy thyroid function. Eating healthy is always a good choice in general.

The point of this boils down to one common denominator increasing your metabolism. By boosting your metabolism through various techniques and strategies you improve your chances of losing weight.

Setting Some Realistic Hypothyroidism Weight Loss Goals

Your primary goal should be to become a healthier individual in general and not to get hung up on being a size 4. Some of us will never get to that size no matter how hard we diet anyway. So it’s best to set realistic goals to become healthy, improve your cardiovascular system, to lose unwanted weight and to eat as healthy as possible. By eating properly and exercising your overall health will improve.

Also, by eating the right foods and exercising regularly you’ll be able to avoid many of the other diseases that accompany weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle. Such as high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels and high cholesterol. All of which contribute to heart disease and can cause heart attacks and strokes.

If you think in these terms you’ll be surprised just how well you succeed at your hypothyroidism weight loss goals.

Beginning a Hypothyroidism Diet with a Diet Detox

It seems all the rage lately, Detox or Cleanse diets. Celebrities ranging from Beyonce to Oprah are doing them. But, are they effective and what does being on a detox diet do to your system? Should you jump start your hypothyroidism diet with a detox diet?

What is a Hypothyroidism Diet Detox or Cleanse?

First, let’s talk about what a detox diet or cleanse diet is. A detox or cleanse diet is a diet where your intent is to rid your body of the toxins that it absorbs via your environment or the foods you eat. The diet can range from various levels of fasting to eating only fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking fresh water for a certain length of time to even taking natural laxatives to help your body to expel the toxins from your digestive system.

What are their effects on the body?

But, you need to be aware that the effects on the body can range from the mild to the severe. Depending on which route you decide to follow you could be in store for some discomfort. For example, if you decide that part of your regime is to cut out caffeine then you can expect headaches as you withdraw from its use. The more intense the detox the more severe the effects on the body and supposedly the more effective the cleanse. But are they safe?

Safety First

First of all, you should only proceed with something like this while under the watchful eye of a doctor. There are serious concerns you need to consider such as protein deprivation and electrolyte imbalances that can harm the body should the Detox be too severe and maintained for too long of time. In extreme circumstances your heart can be affected if you don’t take steps to maintain a proper balance. The average healthy adult can fast for 2 – 3 days usually without any adverse effects. Go beyond that without proper care and planning and your taking your chances. And anytime you take laxatives for any length of time you run the risk of becoming dependent on them.

Hypothyroidism Diet Detox

So the big question is “Should You Detox before starting on a hypothyroidism diet?” Well, the answer is really up to you and to what degree you intend to take it. It may be a good way to jump start your hypothyroid diet regime if done correctly and is not too intense. Since your systems is already out of kilter due to your low thyroid you don’t want to do anything that will upset that delicate balance that you have worked with your doctor to maintain. Provided that you are on hormone therapy. If not, you should get your hormone levels adjusted prior to starting any kind of weight loss program otherwise it might not do any good.

I would think though that since a large part of maintaining any diet is to boost your metabolism that you wouldn’t want to short circuit that process. Maybe by cutting out certain things such as caffeine and by drinking more water it will be enough to begin to slowly clean your system.

You should remember that the body already has a pretty efficient system in place to rid the body of toxins on a daily basis. The liver, kidneys, skin and the colon cleanse the system of any toxins that are breathed in or ingested on a daily basis. So I would think that you would want to only enhance that process and not make it difficult for that process to work.

The bottom line is that you should give careful thought to any hypothyroid diet that includes a detox or cleanse that way you don’t upset your body’s natural processes. As with anything moderation is the key. Detoxing with a gentle detox process may just help to jump-start your hypothyroidism diet.

Avoid These Hypothyroidism Diet Mistakes

Even though there’s a good deal of data out there concerning hypothyroidism diet and weight loss, the same mistakes are being made while on a hypothyroidism diet.

We’re not speaking about little stumbles where you ate a bowl of “Cookie Dough” ice-cream which probably wasn’t on your program, but the big 3 mistakes that lead to being unsuccessful at losing the weight that you want to lose.

Realizing these booby traps can assist you in developing the proper attitude that can lead you to permanent weight loss.

Hypothyroidism Diet Mistake 1. The All or Nothing mental attitude

All or nothing hypothyroid dieters will frequently choose an elaborate diet that is just about impossible for them to maintain. Before starting out, they’ll hunt the kitchen for anything that doesn’t conform to their program and throw it in the garbage. They’re planning to be the perfect dieter, and so they shall be, for a few days or even a few of weeks.

But then, inescapably, something occurs that keeps them from staying on the diet. Right away the whole thing is “done for” in their eyes and the diet is over. They’ll go to the store and re-purchase all the food that went into the garbage just prior to starting the diet and then they begin to gain back all the weight that they initially lost.

If you’re this sort of dieter you have to ask yourself a few difficult questions. Do you truly want to reduce your weight permanently, or only lose a couple of pounds just so that you can put the weight back on again?

You have to remember that you’re fighting with a medical condition that by its very nature can cause you to gain weight without any extra help from you. Don’t adopt this all or nothing strategy.

Hypothyroidism Diet Mistake 2. An Attitude of Sacrifice

Another common mistake is to consider your diet as a period of sacrifice. You don’t permit yourself to eat the foods that you love most while you’re on your way to your goal of a healthy body. You might have a great dieting plan and be very successful in slimming down, but what happens once you accomplish your goal? Will you go back to your old habits?

You’ll have to learn to eat ‘bad foods’ in moderation so as soon as you start your diet, or you’re likely to lose control. It’s always best to include a little of everything in your diet and learn to enjoy them in limited quantities. This is the staple of any good diet. Give yourself a day to “cheat” on your diet.

This doesn’t mean that on that day you eat like crud at every meal but give yourself one meal out of the day to enjoy yourself.

Hypothyroidism Diet Mistake 3. Goal Failure

Setting achievable goals is critical in any weight loss program, especially for the person suffering from hypothyroidism. Goals had better be clear, realistic and whenever possible, set out in writing. While you in all likelihood do have an ideal weight in your mind, unless you’re only very slightly overweight the time frame for achieving this goal probably too far out to be of value. A more effective goal would be to lose two pounds per week for the first few weeks and then one pound per week thereafter, consistently week in and week out.

Some weeks you’ll drop off more weight and some weeks it’ll be less, some weeks you could even gain weight, but if you track your progress on a chart you’ll see that ups and downs are normal and don’t stop you advancing steadily toward your goal.

In closing, if you’ve been making these mistakes, don’t stress about it. It’ll only make things worse. The most significant point in any hypothyroidism diet is, as in so many other things, to move on. Learn by your failures as well as your successes and do not use a slip up as an alibi for giving up.

The only way to accomplish your goal for good is to make a commitment to become an all in all fitter person.

Learn to enjoy food in moderation and you have every chance of avoiding these mistakes and being successful with your hypothyroidism diet.

In Search of Answers, What Is Hypothyroidism?

In this article we’re going to try to answer what is hypothyroidism and what are some of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.

If you’ve been feeling chronically tired for a while or are having difficulty in losing weight then it’s entirely possible that you could be suffering from hypothyroidism. There are many symptoms attributed to hypothyroidism and we’ll address these in a later post.

For now, let’s talk about what hypothyroidism is and then go from there.

Hypothyroidism is the medical condition whereby your thyroid is not producing the levels of the hormone the body needs to maintain a properly balanced metabolism. This is why when suffering from Hypothyroidism many of the complaints people have are also symptomatic of a slow metabolism or chronic fatigue.

What is Hypothyroidism – Various Symptoms of Low Thyroid

Millions of people suffer from hypothyroidism and its various symptoms. In fact, it’s entirely possible that you could have this condition and not even know it. With today’s lifestyle it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to feel run down all the time. But, when it becomes more than just feeling tire because of keeping up with the pace of life today it’s time to start looking for other possibilities.

So, why does this happen? Why does your thyroid just up and quit on you? There are a couple of common reasons why your thyroid’s hormone production reduces or even stops. First, one of the most common causes of this is due to an inflammation of the thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid due your body’s own immune system acting on the gland.

Another common reason of what causes hypothyroidism is through the treatment of other medical conditions. For example, the removal of part or all of the thyroid gland due to cancer.

Removal of part of the gland may not leave enough of the thyroid to produce enough of the hormones that you need.
The treatment for goiters can severely limit the thyroids ability to produce these hormones. The use of radioactive iodine is commonly used to treat goiters or hyperthyroidism (too much hormone production), but this sometimes has the opposite effect thus the patient becomes hypothyroid.

In rare instances another cause can be attributed to the pituitary gland and not associated with the thyroid at all. In fact, the thyroid can be completely healthy but it’s not getting the signal from the pituitary gland to produce the proper levels of thyroid hormones. The mechanism for this is the TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. The pituitary releases this hormone signaling the thyroid to do its thing. So, when a healthy thyroid doesn’t get the message it won’t create its hormones.

Well, I hope I’ve at least answered a couple of questions pertaining to what is hypothyroidism and some of the general causes of this condition and what you need to know prior to starting a hypothyroidism diet.