‘My thyroid is making me put on weight!,’ that’s the common refrain I hear at my clinic.
Now, thyroid glands are a part of our endocrine system. Located at the base of our neck, their prime function is to pick up Iodine from our diet and produce hormones, Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones control the conversion of food to energy – so when the glands produce insufficient hormones (Hypothyroidism) it commonly leads to low energy levels and slow metabolic processes.
In India, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Iodine deficiency – something that affects women more than men.
Other than weight gain, patients are also at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
So the advice (apart from medication) is always about good food, exercise and adequate rest. A ‘thyroid diet’ of sorts, therefore, might be in order here:
The Cereal Way
Pick Your Protein Right
Colour Me Red, Orange, Green and Yellow
Nuts for an Evening Snack
The Right Kind of Oil
Your Salty Treats
The Cauliflower Family
So eat healthy and stay positive – and you WILL overcome this hurdle with a little discipline and dedication.
(Rupali Datta is a clinical nutritionist who has led teams in corporate hospitals. She has an in-depth knowledge of health care, food and nutrition – both in wellness and diseases. She has appeared as a food and health expert on various TV shows on BBC, NDTV, CNN IBN , AAJ TAK, DD, etc. She has also been associated with e-commerce food websites for which she has created health and nutrition content.)
(Have you subscribed to FIT’s newsletter yet? Click here and get health updates directly in your inbox.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)