‘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: