Over 40 and can’t lose weight? Have you tried every diet and exercise plan in the book, and you still can’t seem to lose those extra pounds? The problem might not be what you’re eating or that you’re not exercising hard enough. It may just be that your thyroid is out of whack.
My Thyroid? Affecting My Weight? How?Your thyroid is a gland inside your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. You probably can’t feel it unless it is swollen. Your thyroid gland produces hormones that affect your metabolism, amongst other things. If your thyroid becomes overactive, it can produce too much of a hormone that causes your metabolism to work overtime, causing you to lose weight. However, if your thyroid stops producing enough hormones, your metabolism will get sluggish, causing you to gain weight.
However, your thyroid gland does not work independently. Your thyroid gland has no way of knowing how well your body is responding to how much (or how little) hormone it secretes. That job is performed by your pituitary gland, which works in conjunction with your thyroid gland to regulate metabolism. Essentially, as we get older, the messages between the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland can get mixed up, causing either an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Signs of Hypothyroidism
Many of the signs of hypothyroidism can look like signs of aging. You may think that your metabolism is slowing because you’re getting older. You may assume the weight gain is inevitable. However, a simple test and resulting prescription can get your thyroid performing optimally again, reversing weight gain.
The following are common symptoms that you have an underactive thyroid:
• Unexplained weight gain
• Feeling cold, having trouble staying warm or getting warmed up
• High cholesterol
• Exhaustion, feel like you never get enough rest
• Feeling blue for no reason
• Slow heart rate
• Feeling sluggish, like it’s hard to do every day tasks
• Thinning hair
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Foggy memory, difficulty focusing
All of these signs point to an underactive thyroid.
Foods to Avoid If You Have Hypothyroidism
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will want to avoid the following foods, all of which can inhibit proper thyroid function:
Soy Soy, in all its forms, contains isoflavones (also called genistein). Isoflavones interfere with thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme needed to help your body use iodine and the hormones your thyroid produces.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Believe it or not, broccoli is not good for your thyroid. This is because cruciferous vegetables like contain isothiocyanates, which stops the thyroid from producing peroxidase. Cooked cruciferous veggies change the form of isothiocyanates, so that the body cannot use them as easily, so you can eat a sprinkling of broccoli cooked in a casserole, for example, but no more chowing down on raw cauliflower, cabbage, turnips or kohlrabi. Limit your crudités to small amounts, and make sure they are cooked.
Protein Injected with Hormones
Most farmers inject animals with hormones in efforts to produce bigger, fatter, disease-resistant livestock. The hormones injected into the livestock affects how much estrogen you ingest when you eat eggs, dairy or meat that comes from animals injected with hormones. Estrogen dominance is believed to inhibit thyroid function. You’ll want to eat only hormone-free eggs, dairy products and meat.
The Quick Weight Loss Fix: Check Your Thyroid
If you’ve gained weight recently or feel chilled most of the time, it’s time to see the doctor about your thyroid. A simple blood draw will allow the doctor to determine if you need medication. It’s recommended twice every decade after you hit age 50 anyway. Schedule this test for your next physical, just to make sure you are working hard to lose weight while your thyroid is working hard to make sure you keep that weight on!
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