Do you wish to know about Hashimoto’s disease? and how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s disease. Let’s understand it from the beginning.
There’s a small butterfly-shaped thing in your neck called the thyroid gland, and its functions include releasing different hormones. Thyroid hormones are important for your body’s metabolism; your body needs these hormones to turn food into energy. When your thyroid gland becomes inactive, this disease is called hypothyroidism. What does it have to do with Hashimoto’s disease?
Named after a Japanese medical expert Hakaru Hashimoto, this autoimmune condition happens when a person’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. The person’s immune system mistakes the gland and its hormones as foreign objects, leading to hypothyroidism. A patient suffering from Hashimoto’s disease will gain weight in the future. So, many people want to know how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s after receiving a diagnosis. Read this blog to learn how to control your weight and stay healthy.
What happens in Hashimoto’s?
Now, you know that Hashimoto’s disease deals with the reduction of thyroid hormones. It happens when your immune system thinks a thyroid gland is a foreign object that needs to be removed. So, a “false-flag operation” like this often causes the gland to swell and turn into a condition called goiter. Its exact causes remain unknown, but scientists think some genetic, biological, or environmental factors are to blame. But what are its symptoms? Researchers determined some symptoms to be:
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Puffy eyes
- Weight gain
The fifth symptom is why people search for how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s. Moreover, people may become depressed, constipated, and of weak memory with this disorder. Its risk increases with age, and Hashimoto’s is prevalent among women (because of pregnancy).
You can observe that this disease can lead to other complications such as goiter, miscarriage, heart issues, and mental health problems. Is there a cure for Hashimoto’s? Read the next subheading to find an adequate response.
How to treat Hashimoto’s disease?
In 1939, Cecil Joll – a thyroid surgeon from Brittania – coined the term “Hashimoto’s disease” for the autoimmune condition described in 1912 by its Japanese namesake. However, scientists have failed to determine a cure for this disease. It’s neither curable nor reversible, but it’s treatable. Therefore, patients can have an average life expectancy if this disease is managed on time, i.e., before it harms other organs. The patient can have dry skin, muscle pain, and trouble tolerating cold. So, many patients look for some treatment. You should consult a healthcare professional to determine which treatment is perfect for you. But here’s a list of some common ways to treat Hashimoto’s:
- T-3 hormone replacement therapy
- T-4 hormone replacement therapy
- Learning how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s
- How to lose weight with Hashimoto’s?
- Eat less sugar
Decreasing your glucose consumption can help you lose some weight easily with Hashimoto’s. Remember that sugar isn’t your friend and makes hypothyroidism worse. It’s also an inflammatory agent, so you should cut back on sugary food and drinks.
Take your meds
Take your meds regularly, as prescribed by your doctor. Taking thyroid medications with plenty of water increases the number of thyroid hormones in your body. That’s how you make yourself healthy and extend your lifespan too now.
Observe more fasts
One way how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s disorder involves you observing intermittent fasting. It means having a gap of 12 hours between two meals. That’s how you can improve your health, lose some weight, and regain your well-being easily.
Avoid harmful food
Include more eggs, beef, and seafood in your diet, along with onions, garlic, and Brussels sprouts. On the other hand, cut down on simple carbs. So, no more stuff like potatoes, tomatoes, and coffee/alcohol for you. That’s how you can lose some fat.
Exercise more often
Like many diseases, exercise helps battle this one too. You can easily work out by adopting an active hobby such as walking, jogging, and gardening. Remember to stay away from a sedentary lifestyle. Reclaim your health by staying active now too.
Try stress-reducing techniques
Control your stress with Hashimoto’s by going outside and loving nature. Sleep punctually, practice meditating, and avoid blue-light-emitting devices. A patient diagnosed with Hashimoto’s may also become a victim of mental health issues.
Consume anti-inflammatory foods
You must consume anti-inflammatory foods, e.g., nuts, fruits, olive oil, fatty fish, and leafy green vegetables. These foods relax your immune system. That’s how you can soothe yourself while suffering from this irreversible syndrome.
Some common FAQs about how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s
Is Hashimoto’s disease fatal?
It’s life-threatening when it goes untreated because you may develop cardiovascular problems. But surprisingly, as per some studies, people with Hashimoto’s live three years longer than normal people.
What’s misdiagnosed as Hashimoto’s?
Some diseases can be misdiagnosed as Hashimoto’s, such as PMS, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Does Hashimoto’s disease attack all organs?
No, it attacks just your thyroid gland. But reduced thyroid hormones affect your other organs.
How would you know if you have Hashimoto’s?
Your doctor would order an antibody test and then evaluate the results to make a diagnosis.
What’s the difference between Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s disease differs from regular hypothyroidism because, in this disorder, the thyroid gland is targeted by your immune system as a foreign object.
Conclusion
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system mistakes your thyroid gland for a virus and attacks it. So, your body gets fewer thyroid glands, and its metabolism slows down. This disorder isn’t curable but treatable. Since its symptoms include weight gain, you can fight the disease by losing weight. So, eat less sugar/carbs, consume anti-inflammatory foods, exercise regularly, and observe intermittent fasts. That’s how to lose weight with Hashimoto’s disease for a healthy life!