Foods For a Fast Metabolism: Dealing With Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid gland becomes weak and decreases its production of hormones. For this reason, people who suffer from this disease don’t have a fast metabolism.
And of course, a number of different symptoms result from this change in the hormonal activity that’s responsible for regulating your metabolic, neural, and circulatory reactions through the body.
Experts have linked the development of hypothyroidism to having a poor diet, being exposed to toxins, stress, and other bad habits that affect your overall health.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
A person who develops this disease will gradually notice several changes in their body due to the imbalance in hormones.
The most common symptoms are:
- Mood swings
- Sensitivity to cold
- Weight gain or loss
- Depression and anxiety
- Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
- Difficult bowel movements
- Feelings of tiredness or weakness
- Dry skin
- Brittle hair and nails
- Excessive hair loss
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How to deal with hypothyroidism and accelerate your metabolism
One of the key ways to fight hypothyroidism is to ease the symptoms by adopting certain habits that will boost your metabolism.
This set of chemical reactions is responsible for converting the energy from food into the fuel your body needs to survive.
It’s also related to your digestive system function, your cardiovascular health, and many other bodily systems.
The advantage here is that your metabolism can easily change and adapt to your needs when it comes to losing weight and improving your health.
One way to achieve this is by increasing your consumption of healthy foods that are rich in substances that stimulate the function of the thyroid gland.
It’s also important that you get more exercise and that you sleep between seven and eight hours a day without interruption.
Foods to get a fast metabolism
Once you’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you’ll need to make some changes in your diet to avoid excessive weight gain and the many other consequences of decreased thyroid hormone production.
The foods and nutrients we mention below are all effective when it comes to supporting thyroid function and improving this condition.
Foods that are rich in iodine
Iodine is an essential nutrient for the function of your thyroid. An iodine deficiency could easily lead to hypothyroidism.
Consuming iodine helps to control anxiety and digestive problems like parasites, inflammation, and indigestion.
You can obtain this mineral from:
- Marine plantlife
- Blueberries
- Plain yogurt
- White beans
- Organic strawberries
- Himalayan salt
- Dairy products
- Potatoes
- Supplements
Coconut oil
Coconut oil may help to speed up your metabolism and stimulate the production of thyroid hormones.
The antibiotic and anti fungal properties of this oil help fight bacteria like H. pylori and fungi such as candida.
However, it’s important that you buy 100% organic coconut oil that’s free from any processing.
How should you consume it?
Start by taking a teaspoon of coconut oil every day and gradually increase the amount to three tablespoons.
B vitamins
All of the B complex vitamins are essential to keep your thyroid in good condition, but each one plays an important role.
- Thiamine (B1) is helpful if you have an overactive thyroid.
- Riboflavin (B2) is important for the proper production of thyroid hormones.
- Niacin (B3) is needed for efficient function in all the cells and glands of the body.
- Pyridoxine (B6) is required because without it, your thyroid can’t process iodine efficiently.
- Cobalamin (B12) absorption is prevented when you suffer from hypothyroidism. This is a problem because a B12 deficiency increases your risk of neurological disease.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to several autoimmune disorders, including thyroid problems.
You can get vitamin D through supplements or by getting a few minutes of sun every day.
Zinc
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be due to a deficiency of zinc in the body.
This mineral promotes your immune system response and also helps you lose weight.
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Copper
Copper helps balance the thyroid and fight symptoms like decreased red blood cell count, weakening of the skin, and problems with your nails and hair.
A good source of copper is chlorophyll, which is found in algae, green vegetables and supplements.
Fish oil
Fish oil can help you enhance your absorption of thyroid hormones.
It contains omega-3 fatty acids, which also reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health.
Fiber
Foods that are rich in fiber are a great way to avoid excess weight gain and reduce your blood sugar levels.
Fiber consumption improves digestion, helps control the appetite, and regulates high cholesterol levels.
If you suspect you’re suffering from hypothyroidism it’s best to go to the doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
The foods we mentioned above should only complement a healthy diet, and an expert should always supervise your food choices.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Hage MP, et al. (2012). The link between thyroid function and depression. DOI:
dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/590648 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015). Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): Symptoms and causes.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/dxc-20155382 - National Institutes of Health. Iodine. (2020). Recuperado el 18 de mayo de 2020. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-Consumer/
- Cleveland Clinic. Thyroid Issues? What You Should Know About Foods and Supplements to Avoid. (2019). Recuperado el 18 de mayo de 2020. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/thyroid-issues-what-you-need-to-know-about-diet-and-supplements/
- Ventura, M., Melo, M., & Carrilho, F. (2017). Selenium and thyroid disease: From pathophysiology to treatment. In International Journal of Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1297658
