Fat burning problems often lie in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Find out the relationship between thyroid gland and body fat. If even the most restrictive diets fail to get rid of excess weight, then probably the whole problem lies in the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. This organ is part of the endocrine system and its cells produce several important hormones that affect not only the metabolic rate, but also other functions of the human body. Today we will talk about the relationship of the thyroid gland and problems with gaining and burning fat in bodybuilding.
Thyroid function
The thyroid gland affects various body systems. Cell metabolism, respiratory system, heart and vascular system, sexual function, etc. depend on its functioning. Hormones secreted by an organ can affect metabolism directly or indirectly. When their production is reduced, this process is called hypothyroidism, then the metabolism is sharply reduced. This leads to an increase in body weight, and no diet can help you get rid of it.
What is Thyroid Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when the rate of secretion of hormones by thyroid cells decreases. This disease is more common in women. Only 0.2 percent of men suffer from hypothyroidism, while among women the figure is in the range of 1.5–2 percent. In many ways, the decrease in the rate of synthesis of thyroid hormones is associated with age-related changes. About 10 percent of women over the age of 65 may have some signs of this disease.
Hypothyroidism is also possible in young people, but this happens much less often. Also, some medications can give an impetus to the development of the disease, for example, drugs containing lithium or used to treat the heart. There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism, for example, weight gain, low temperature (hypothermia), early atherosclerosis, etc. Since today we are talking about the relationship of the thyroid gland and problems with gaining and burning fat in bodybuilding, it is important for us to consider the problem of excess weight. It should be said right away that with a thyroid disease, weight gain is not significant. This is due to myxedema edema and not an increase in body fat percentage.
Myxedema edema occurs as a result of the accumulation of mucopolysachorides in many tissues of the body. These substances significantly increase the index of tissue hydrophilicity. All such violations are primarily associated with the effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone, the concentration of which increases. Among other things, myxedema can be characterized by thickening of the skin and puffiness of the face. Of course, fat mass also increases, but not so much. Most often, the development of hypothyroidism is relatively slow and hearing impairment often becomes one of the first symptoms of the disease.
During the treatment of the disease, body weight will decrease, but this process occurs not due to the burning of fat, but due to the removal of excess fluid from the body. In addition to hypothyroidism, there is also hyperthyroidism or an increase in the concentration of thyroid hormones in the body. As you might guess, this leads to a sharp increase in the rate of metabolic processes and leads to a rapid loss of body weight. In addition, other processes are accelerated, for example, quite often hyperthyroidism leads to an increase in heart rate and increased appetite.
Even despite the increased appetite, the patient continues to lose weight, as the body expends a large amount of energy, including maintaining a high body temperature, which is also one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Using thyroid hormones for weight loss
It has long been known about the relationship of hormones secreted by the thyroid gland and body weight. For this reason, exogenous hormones are often used to combat excess weight. Such therapy is carried out even when the human organ is working normally. With the introduction of additional hormones in the body, a state close to hyperthyroidism occurs, which causes weight loss.
At the same time, with a moderate development of hyperthyroidism, fats are burned at a low rate. If you reach a high level of hyperthyroidism, then this can lead to disruptions in the work of other systems.
If thyroid hormones are used for weight loss, then you need to be very careful with their dosages. In addition, weight loss due to the use of exogenous substances is often temporary and after stopping therapy, weight can return. Do not forget about the effect of hormones on all organs and systems of the body. If large dosages are used, this can lead to a restructuring of the functioning of organs and tissues, and also cause a decrease in the sensitivity of the corresponding receptors. In this case, a rollback effect is likely after discontinuation of therapy.
Nutritional program for hypothyroidism
With the development of hypothyroidism, you must adhere to the correct nutrition program. First of all, you should replace all fast carbohydrates with slow ones and eat more vegetables. It is advisable to give up sweet fruits, replacing them with unsweetened ones. Eat more plant fiber and protein-rich foods. The total calorie content of the daily diet should not exceed 1600 calories.
You should also start taking supplements containing zinc, selenium, and iodine. Increase the amount of seafood in your diet, as they are an excellent source of the above micronutrients. If you eat right and play sports, you can lose weight with hypothyroidism.
Learn about effective treatments for hypothyroidism in this video:
