Calling all athletes, bodybuilders, and newbies to exercise alike. Time to learn about your thyroid and how it affects everything you want to do. Your thyroid function impacts a lot more than you think. So, if you are an athlete or you want to start bodybuilding, you will want to ensure your thyroid is healthy for optimal performance and functioning. In fact, your thyroid health directly influences your weight and the performance of your hormones. So, if your thyroid levels are not balanced, your weight is more likely to fluctuate. As a result, it can make it very difficult to lose weight.
First, it is important to understand what your thyroid does and the role it plays in your body. Especially for those who struggle to gain muscle or lose weight, no matter what diet and exercise plan you follow. This may be a sign that your thyroid health has a direct relation as to why you are not seeing any results. Let’s dive a little deeper into thyroid health and what it means for your athletic body.
Thyroid Function & Facts
The thyroid is located inside the front neck area, also known as the throat. It is a small gland that has a big impact. Many people do not know that thyroid issues are quite common. This small gland produces hormones necessary for regulating weight, menstrual cycles, muscle strength and more. When you go to the doctor for your annual physical, part of your exam involves the doctor feeling your neck to determine your thyroid size. Since it is a small gland, a larger thyroid can indicate abnormal function right off the bat. However, for some people, thyroid issues are not that obvious and even the size cannot determine improper thyroid health function.
So, what other factors can help you determine issues? Bloodwork and even biopsies are very important when it comes to diagnosing a thyroid problem. However, there are many things you can you do to protect and support your thyroid health function.
Maintain Good Thyroid Health Function
One of the best ways to maintain good thyroid health is by eating a healthy diet and exercising. However, if your issues are more serious, your doctor may prescribe thyroid medication. The medication will help your thyroid function and sometimes it can be stopped once levels are balanced. This all depends on how your body receives the therapy and how it improves the thyroid issues.
Diet and nutrition play a big role, so by maintaining a healthy lifestyle you can support good thyroid health.
Here are some examples of what can impact a healthy thyroid:
- Avoid environmental toxins
- Get enough vitamin D
- Ensure you get enough sleep and drink enough water
- Consider iodine supplements
- Limit processed foods
- Eat thyroid superfoods!
- Fish
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Seaweed
Thyroid Function & Hypothyroidism
Knowing how to achieve good thyroid health overall is important, but what about if you already have thyroid issues?
Hypothyroidism, for example, is a common thyroid health condition. This condition means the thyroid is underactive and does not produce enough hormones. It often goes undetected, because its symptoms develop slowly over time and can be confused as general problems.
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Puffy or dry skin
- Depression
- Hair loss or thinning
- Muscle weakness or aches
- Enlarged thyroid
Some of these side effects are probably obvious, but hopefully you can see how the thyroid and hormone production can directly interfere with your body’s normal processes. Experiencing some or all of these over a long period of time might be a reason for concern. So, it’s a good idea for you to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Thyroid issues are becoming very common, and it can be easy to diagnose thyroid issues. An ultrasound and blood work are a good way to find out if a thyroid problem exists.
If you have hypothyroidism, here are some things you can do to ensure your symptoms do not get worse over time.
It is important to:
- see a doctor for support.
- eat anti-inflammatory foods.
- reduce carb and sugar intake.
- avoid overeating.
Just as with any weight loss plan, monitoring the number of calories you eat will help you lose more weight in general. If you are aware of thyroid issues, then it is especially important to keep a healthy weight. Because extra calories sitting in your body will do just that, it will be stored and turn into extra pounds.
Hyperthyroidism & Thyroid Function
Another thyroid problem is the opposite of hypothyroidism: it is called hyperthyroidism. This condition is when your thyroid is overactive and produces too many hormones.
Signs and symptoms of an overactive thyroid include:
- Unintentional weight or muscle loss
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Increased appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Thinning skin or hair
- Fatigue
- Enlarged thyroid
It is good to be aware of what could happen to your body if the health and function of your thyroid is not balanced. The more you know, the better it can help you maintain a healthy functioning thyroid.
Good Thyroid Health is Important for Athletes
The important thing to know is that the health of your thyroid could be the reason why you are struggling to gain or lose weight. It may also interfere with the ability to build lean muscle mass. These negative impacts also slow down your metabolism meaning your body cannot use the energy you give it properly for your physical training. Now is the time to restore your thyroid function and Elite Health Online has your back.
Get the Best Thyroid Solution with Elite Thyroid Health
Ready to get your health back on track and treat your thyroid issues? Look no further than Elite Health Online. Our metabolism peptides and health solutions can help you succeed in achieving all of your health and athletic goals. After establishing the baseline of where you are at in comparison to where you want to be, we will create a journey of solution-driven methods to get you there. We will be with you every step of the way!
Contact us today to get started!
