How to Burn Fat With Thyroid Disease
Your thyroid gland is an butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the front of your neck. Its functions include controlling the growth and metabolism of the cells and glands in your body and regulating the temperature in your body. Hypothyroidism---the presence of low thyroid levels---is a common thyroid abnormality that causes you to gain weight. This makes it difficult to burn fat. Hypothyroidism is easily diagnosed with standard blood tests that check your thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH). Other symptoms of low thyroid include increased blood cholesterol levels, fluid retention and tiredness. If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, there are methods available to help you effectively burn fat.
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Instructions
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Consult with your doctor about taking Synthroid, a prescription medication that replaces the hormone your body is not effectively making, to help stabilize your weight. Diet and exercise is not enough to help you burn fat and lose weight if you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Read the instructions that come with the drug carefully before taking it, and consult your physician about any potential side effects.
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Drink eight to nine 8 oz. glasses of water daily. Drinking enough water will help boost your metabolism and burn fat. Spread out your water consumption throughout the day. Consuming too much water at one time is not healthy, and can cause your brain to swell, your electrolytes to become unbalanced and other internal problems. Be sure to drink one glass of water every two to three hours.
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Consume two to three servings of foods that are high in fiber every day. Hypothyroidism causes the function of your digestive system to slow down, which causes feces to build up in your intestines and contributes to long-term constipation. Consuming fiber makes your stool bulkier, making it easier for it to travel through your intestines. Fiber also binds with the cholesterol found in digested food, which helps you burn fat and lose weight. Eat fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables, figs, barley, legumes and prunes.
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Drink two to three cups of green tea daily. Tiredness is a common symptom associated with thyroid disease, and green tea contains antioxidants and other potent compounds that give you energy and help you burn fat so you can stay active and get the exercise needed to help lose weight.
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Engage in moderate to vigorous exercise---such as swimming, aerobics, jogging or walking---for at least one hour every day. Lowering your calorie consumption is not enough to help you burn fat and lose weight if you are diagnosed with thyroid disease. You must boost your metabolism through exercise in order to burn fat.
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Tips & Warnings
Talk to your doctor to find out if you have hypothyroidism, before embarking on an exercise program and before starting any kind of self-treatment for hypothyroidism.
