Swap Carbs For Healthy Fats
Foods that balance hormones include a variety of fat-containing foods that provide short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids. Your body needs various types of fats to create hormones, including saturated fat and cholesterol.
Not only are these essential fats fundamental building blocks for hormone production, but they keep inflammation levels low, boost your metabolism and promote weight loss.
Healthy fats have the opposite effect of refined carbohydrates, which lead to inflammation and can mess with the balance of your hormones.
My four favorite sources of anti-inflammatory, healthy fats include coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter and wild-caught salmon.
- Coconut oil uses are plentiful. For example, coconut oil has natural antibacterial and fat-burning effects.
- Avocado benefits include improving heart health, lowering inflammation, controlling your appetite, and contributing to your daily intake of fiber and nutrients, such as potassium.
- Salmon nutrition is also impressive. Its one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower inflammation and help with cognitive functions. Omega-3 fatty acids are a large component of brain-cell membranes and are important for cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help protect against hippocampal neuronal loss and reduce pro-inflammatory responses.
What Can I Do To Support My Thyroid
Tip #1: Optimize your nutrition
Thyroid supportive foods include foods rich in iodine, zinc, omega-3 fats, selenium, and more. Foods such as roasted seaweed, salted nuts, baked fish, frozen yogurt, and fresh organic eggs are great options Diets that are also free from sugar and gluten may make a difference in the way that you feel!
Tip #2: Minimize stress on the body
Stress causes your hormones to constantly work harder than they need to and prevents weight loss! It also leads to many other hormone imbalances that can mimic some of the same symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Therefore it is very important to incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine.
Tip #3: Add low impact exercise into your daily routine
Exercises including walking, yoga, pilates, and resistance training allow your hormones to be naturally supported. With the thyroid gland specifically, exercise has been shown to boost thyroid function.
Tip #4: Incorporate high-quality supplements
High quality supplements are needed for proper thyroid metabolism and function.
Supplements like vitamin D, zinc, iodine, omega-3 fats, and selenium support your thyroid and adrenal glands.
Tip #5: Utilize heat therapy
Using heat therapy, such as a sauna or even a hot steam shower, has been shown to eliminate toxins which can store up in the body and prevent the thyroid from functioning properly.
Tip #6: Add B vitamins
Tip #7: Include probiotics
Tip #8: Work with your medical provider
Having A Good Thyroid Function Is Essential To Help With Hormone Balance
Lets fact it we all get get tired from time to time, or are you putting on weight and have other symptoms you may have just put down to menopause such brain fog, chills, or hair loss?
Or is the opposite true for you: Are you often revved up, sweaty, or anxious?
Well guess what it might not be just menopause but your thyroid gland could be to blame. It is this great regulator of body and mind but sometimes it can go haywire, leaving you with symptoms not dissimilar to menopause.
What it it?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. It produces hormones that control the speed of your metabolism the system that helps the body use energy.
Thyroid disorders can slow down or rev up metabolism by disrupting the production of thyroid hormones. When hormone levels become too low or too high, you may experience a wide range of symptoms such as these:
Symptom: Weight gain or loss
An unexplained change in weight is one of the most common signs of a thyroid disorder. Weight gain may signal low levels of thyroid hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism.
In contrast, if the thyroid produces more hormones than the body needs, you may lose weight unexpectedly. This is known as hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is far more common.
Symptom: Neck swelling
This is a visible clue that something may be wrong with the thyroid. A goitre may occur with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Symptom: Changes in heart rate
Symptom: Changes in energy or mood
Don’t Miss: How Is The Thyroid Tested
Choose Your Sweets Wisely
Though it may seem tricky to avoid all the sugary treats and sweets during the holiday season, minimizing added sugar in your diet will go a long way in terms of optimizing hormone function and avoiding chronic health risks such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Take advantage of naturally sweet produce that are in season during this time such as carrots, sweet potato, yam, and pumpkin to provide healthy nourishment to your endocrine system while at the same time curbing that sweet tooth.
If you are wanting more of a treat that will satisfy your tastebuds without causing hormonal troubles, there are plenty of alternative baked goods and sweets that you can either make yourself or find at your favourite health food store. Remember this season is all about finding balance, not eliminating your favourite foods!
That being said if you do find yourself being strongly influenced by sugar cravings, it’s time to look at your stress levels and make sure you are including plenty of protein and healthy fats at mealtimes to keep you more satiated and satisfied.
Boost Your Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for thyroid health. It helps to regulate the production of thyroid hormones and plays a role in immune function. Many people are deficient in vitamin D, so its a good idea to get your levels checked by a doctor and take a supplement if necessary.
A natural way to absorb vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight. Just 10 to 15 minutes out in the sun each day can help boost your vitamin D levels. Overall, sun exposure is not only beneficial to your mood, but to your thyroid as well!
Read Also: How Do I Get My Thyroid Tested
Stop Eating The Wrong Foods
Working to repair the small intestine and reverse leaky gut wont get you very far if you dont cut offending foods. As mentioned, dairy and gluten should be first to go. But if you really want to put yourself on a speedy path to thyroid wellness, you need to ditch all grains, as well as legumes , sugar, and refined foods that are filled with empty calories.
Adding in the right foods for thyroid wellness is also essential. Eating plenty of healthy fats , proteins , and vegetables and fruits is going to be a major part of recovering.
The Classical View Of Thyroid Hormones As Modulators Of Energy Balance
Thyroid hormones have been known to regulate basal metabolic rate for more than a century and are now recognized to control a bulk of physiological processes, such as growth, development, and metabolic rate 1, 2, 3, 4. Dysregulation of the thyroid axis leads to marked alterations in energy balance, and its potential as a target in the treatment of obesity has been known for decades but treatment efforts have been hampered by side effects 5, 6, 7, 8.
The homeostatic significance of
Read Also: How To Treatment Thyroid Gland
What Is The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that is normally located in the lower front of the neck. The thyroids job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should.
Are There Any Foods I Can Eat To Help My Hypothyroidism
Most foods in western diets contain iodine, so you do not have to worry about your diet. Iodine is a mineral that helps your thyroid produce hormones. One idea is that if you have low levels of thyroid hormone, eating foods rich in iodine could help increase your hormone levels. The most reliable way to increase your hormone levels is with a prescription medication from your healthcare provider. Do not try any new diets without talking to your provider first. Its important to always have a conversation before starting a new diet, especially if you have a medical condition like hypothyroidism.
Foods that are high in iodine include:
- Edible seaweed.
Work with your healthcare provider or a nutritionist to craft a meal plan. Your food is your fuel. Making sure you are eating foods that will help your body, along with taking your medications as instructed by your healthcare provider, can keep you healthy over time. People with thyroid condition should not consume large amounts of iodine because the effect may be paradoxical .
You May Like: How Do You Check Your Thyroid Function
A Guide: How To Balance Thyroid Hormones
Did you know that an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease? Thyroid problems can cause a wide variety of symptoms that can seriously impact your quality of life. Fortunately, Aqua Vitality has you covered! There are many things you can do to naturally balance your thyroid hormones while also adopting some healthy habits.
Read on to discover how to balance thyroid hormones and better improve your life.
How Are Hormonal Imbalances Diagnosed
Healthcare providers typically order blood tests to check hormone levels since your endocrine glands release hormones directly into your bloodstream.
Certain hormone levels vary drastically throughout the day, so providers may order other tests to measure your levels, such as a glucose tolerance test or insulin tolerance test.
Your provider will also ask you about your medical history and symptoms and perform a physical exam.
Recommended Reading: What Non Hormonal Contraception Should I Use
Don’t Miss: Treatment For Thyroid Cancer That Has Spread To Lungs
Balance Your Blood Sugar
Another essential step to take when working to balance hormones & your thyroid is to balance your blood sugar levels. Since your blood sugar can have a massive impact on both your hormones and thyroid, this strategy is incredibly effective.
Thankfully, your blood sugar levels can largely be controlled by managing your diet. Be sure to avoid foods/beverages that are high in sugar and carbohydrates. This includes limiting most fruits.
As a general guideline, only 10-20% of your total daily calories should be from carbs. Vegetables are king but the vegetables with the highest fiber content are the most important.
Dont Forget Vitamins B And D
Taking a high-quality vitamin B-complex supplement can help when youre in the throes of hormonal ups and downs. This is one group of vitamins that you might want to supplement with in addition to eating foods high in these vitamins. Vitamin B-complex is involved in both the production of testosterone and the regulation of energy production in the body. There are nine B vitamins in total, and certain foods contain specific B vitamins.
For example, wild-caught salmon is an excellent source of many B vitamins. Leafy greens, like spinach, kale, collard greens, and even romaine lettuce contain B9also known as folate. Other foods with notable amounts of B vitamins are eggs, sunflower seeds, milk, yogurt, and animal protein. Vitamin D is essential, too. In fact, numerous studies show its importance for mitigating symptoms of PCOS.
Also Check: Is Melatonin Safe To Take For Sleep
Recommended Reading: Image Of Thyroid Eye Disease
Key Hormones That Affect Fertility
While its true that we have tons of different hormones coursing through our bodies, only a few come into play when were trying to conceive. Below, weve listed some of the key fertility hormones youll want to get familiar with if you suspect a hormone imbalance might be affecting your ability to get pregnant. The good news is, a hormone test will give you insight into these important hormones.
FSH is of the most important hormones for fertility, FSH or follicle-stimulating hormone is responsible for maintaining cycle regularity and producing healthy eggs.
LH or luteinizing hormone, may sound familiar its the hormone thats measured in at-home ovulation predictor kits . LH is the hormone that tells your body to release an egg thats ready to be fertilized.
AMH, also called anti-Mullerian hormone, is responsible for maintaining the immature eggs your body has. If you come across a hormone test that measures your ovarian reserve, or how many eggs you have left, its measuring AMH.
Progesterone is a key player both in preparing the body for pregnancy and for helping a new pregnancy to continue. Often when a woman suffers repeated miscarriages, plummeting progesterone levels are the culprit.
Prolactin If youre thinking that this hormone is the one that handles milk production, youre correct! But its also a key player in ensuring your cycle stays regular, which is essential when trying to conceive.
Read Also: Home Remedy For Hormonal Imbalance
What Are Thyroid Hormones
In this article, we are sharing evidence-based tips on how to balance thyroid hormones and live your best life. Your thyroid is a small gland that makes two hormones: thyroxine and triiodothyronine . These hormones control how fast your body uses energy, makes proteins, and control how sensitive your body is to other hormones.
For many people, keeping their thyroid hormones balanced can be a challenge. If your body produces too much of this hormone, youll suffer from an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. When it produces too little of the hormone, youll suffer from an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. There are many possible symptoms of an imbalance, including tiredness, muscle aches and pains, and weight gain or loss.
Also Check: Function Of The Thyroid Gland In The Endocrine System
Test Your Thyroid Regularly
The first step to balancing your hormone levels is knowing if you have a thyroid imbalance in the first place. For that, thereâs the thyroid function test.
Also known as a “thyroid panel,” this blood test measures your T3, T4, and TSH levels. Some thyroid tests also check your thyroid peroxidase antibodies to see if thyroid function is being suppressed.
Traditionally, thyroid function tests were performed in clinics, but at-home thyroid tests are now readily available.
If an initial blood test comes back indicating a hormone imbalance, your healthcare provider may order more tests, including:
- Additional blood tests
- Radioactive iodine uptake test
Once youâre aware of an imbalance, you can take the recommended steps to address your thyroid hormone levels.
Will Balancing My Hormones Help Me Lose Weight
Hormonal balance is key to helping you burn belly fat and look and feel your very best at any age.
Do hormones affect your body weight?
Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate processes in our body. They are one factor in causing obesity. The hormones leptin and insulin, sex hormones and growth hormone influence our appetite, metabolism , and body fat distribution.
How do you fix a hormonal imbalance in weight gain?
To balance estrogen levels naturally and prevent the weight gain that happens with an estrogen imbalance, youll want to do the following:
Recommended Reading: What Are The 5 Thyroid Tests
What Are The Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when too little T3 and T4 hormones are produced, slowing down cell processes. Untreated hypothyroidism can contribute to:
- Cognitive impairment
- Neuromuscular dysfunction
As the body slows, you may notice that you feel colder, fatigue more easily, have drier skin, become forgetful and depressed, or experience constipation. Because the symptoms are so variable and nonspecific, the only way to know for sure whether you have hypothyroidism is with a simple blood test for TSH.
Natural Options For Your Thyroid:
While its true that, at least when it comes to autoimmune conditions, once the genetic switch is activated it doesnt turn off again. However, there is still much you can do to lessen, and even reverse the autoimmune response, dramatically reducing or even eliminating symptoms naturally.
1. Balance your hormones naturally
At BeBalanced we have found historically that when insulin and cortisol levels are balanced by making diet and lifestyle changes, while balancing sex hormones, the thyroid gland becomes much more efficient, lessening and even eliminating the need for medications.
- Eat a hormone-balancing diet Avoid sugar, artificial sugar, and gluten. These tend to be especially inflammatory and immune-provoking for those with many autoimmune conditions. Focus on whole, natural foods concentrated around fresh organic veggies and fruits, high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and fibrous foods.
- Avoid skincare and household products containing harmful toxins Thousands of man-made products contain xenoestrogens, industrial chemicals that mimic the behavior of estrogens and disrupt your hormone balance. Switch out your body care and cleaning products with ones that contain only natural ingredients.
2. Manage stress
Stressful events and chronic stress are often the triggers for autoimmunity.
3. Support your thyroid with vitamins and herbs from their natural source
You May Like: Stage 4 Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Weight Loss With Treatment
There arent many scientific studies regarding how much weight is gained or lost once hypothyroid people are treated with the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine, but the limited evidence that is available indicates that not everyone loses weight with treatment and in the ones who do, its limited.
Once your hormone levels are within the normal range, you may lose a small amount of weight that mainly consists of the extra water and salt your body has built up. However, weight gain has multiple factors and yours is more than likely not all due to your thyroids slowdown. One way to tell is if treatment has helped all of your other thyroid symptoms but not your weight. This indicates that your thyroid very likely isnt the only factor behind your gain.
Also Check: Nugenix Estro-regulator Review
Signs Of Postpartum Hormone Imbalance
Taking a look at what your hormones are doing in the postpartum period as well as some of the signs of hormonal imbalance after giving birth.
Theres nothing quite like the emotional rollercoaster of bringing a new life into the world. But getting to this stage doesnt mean the wild ride is over just yet. Your hormones are still hard at work in the aftermath of birth and they wonât return to your baseline levels for a while yet.
In this article well take a look at what your hormones are doing in the postpartum period, when they will level out and what impact breastfeeding has. Weâll also take a look at some of the signs of hormonal imbalance and give you some suggestions if youâre worried about your postpartum hormonal health.
You May Like: Cvs Minute Clinic Thyroid Test