Thyroid is an important hormone which helps stimulate cellular energy production and other crucial hormones that in turn support the development and growth of the body. It is made by the pituitary glands which produce the thyroid stimulating hormone. Living with low thyroid levels in the body has proved challenging and difficult for affected persons. Low thyroid levels in the body affect overall health by slowing down the metabolism process and affecting energy production in the body. This alone greatly affects individuals who are thus unable to carry out their normal day-to-day activities due to feelings of exhaustion and weakness.
Low levels of the hormone affects a great deal of body functions thus exhibiting various telltale symptoms like unexplained weight gain, faint or irregular heartbeat, fatigue, variations in body temperature, dry skin, low or high blood pressure, weak muscles, constipation, chronic pain, sleep apnea, joint pain, head congestion, brittle nails, hoarseness and frequent infections. Low levels of thyroid are also associated with an increased risk of fatal heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Most sufferers constantly suffer colds or constipation, or gain considerable weight without increasing the amount of food they eat. Now a days people are very concerned about their health.
Hypothyroidism is a condition that is caused by low thyroid levels in the body and it mostly affects women of age 50 or above. Most symptoms may go undetected for years. The main problem experienced in detecting the condition is that most of the symptoms are commonplace e.g. fatigue and low energy levels and people may dismiss these as being harmless or normal. If not taken care of however these normal symptoms can proceed to cause other fatal problems. The only way to make sure that your thyroid levels are safe is to have a complete thyroid check and blood work done at least once per year. So try this really good for health.
For those with the condition, replacement therapies are available to augment the low levels of thyroid hormone. These come in the form of natural supplements or medications which are administered by professional medics; these medications are usually very sensitive and have to be taken as per instructions. There are various natural supplements available in the market and these products can be purchased online at affordable prices. The internet has a wide range of products to choose from and it also offers you a chance to compare different prices.
What Does Cause Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone levels can be caused or aggravated by a number of things both nutritional and environmental. For my patients who have lower than optimal testosterone levels, here are some other things I tell them to pay attention to in their diet and lifestyle:
- Xenoestrogens – in food and water supplies. These are “environmental estrogens” from soy products and plastics that get into our food and can decrease testosterone levels. Stay away from foods containing soy, most notably protein bars and soymilk how to remove heavy metals from the body naturally. If you buy frozen foods, transfer them from their plastic container into a glass dish before heating.
- Lack of Protein – men need between 0.5 to 1 gram of high quality protein per pound of body weight per day to both build muscle strength and testosterone. Sources include pork, beef, and chicken, which also have higher levels of zinc, which is testosterone friendly.
- Lack of Cholesterol – many men over 40 are watching cholesterol intake for the sake of their arteries, but too little cholesterol will stop testosterone production. Aim for about 30% fat, mostly monounsaturated (nuts, olive oil) and some saturated (red meat, eggs) to build testosterone. Go very light, or leave out, polyunsaturated fats (fish, vegetable oils) as studies have shown they can decrease testosterone perhaps because they may contain xenoestrogens.
- Lack of Nutrition – zinc is a major building mineral for testosterone. The B vitamins, especially B1, B6, and B12 are helpful in keeping testosterone levels healthy. Be sure that your vitamin/mineral supplement includes these.
- Too Much Alcohol – alcohol increases blood sugar levels, which decreases testosterone. Limit to a few drinks per week.
- Lack of Sleep – as mentioned earlier, less than 6 hours of sleep a night can seriously rob your body of its repairing mechanisms and this includes the re-manufacturing of hormones like testosterone. See that you get at least 6-8 hours of sleep at night, more if you have been ill or under a lot of stress. Try some natural sleep aids like Valerian, calcium/magnesium supplements with some warm milk before bed. Cut back caffeine to not past 4 pm, and limit heavy meals to 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Researchers may finally decide which comes first; low testosterone then poor sleep, or poor sleep then low testosterone. In the meantime, I’m going to continue to counsel my patients that adequate sleep is at least a significant factor in low testosterone levels. However, before you start thinking dangerous steroids or prescription testosterone replacements, try the natural suggestions offered here. I believe your T-levels will be up to optimal levels and your sex drive and pleasant mood back on track in no time!
