Breaking Free from Hypothyroidism: Heat Up to Slim Down

Part of my wellness journey began when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. In my search for answers, I started listening to podcasts and reading everything available to me. It's a scary thing, knowing you have a health issue but not having clear solutions to address the root cause. My doctor offered me medication, but being a strong believer in solving problems at their source rather than just putting a band-aid on them, I declined and embarked on my personal journey to balance my thyroid hormones naturally.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. Its hormones control your metabolism and body temperature. Hypothyroidism can produce many symptoms, including hair loss, constipation, cold extremities, digestive problems, fatigue, memory loss, and insomnia, among others. (I just listed the symptoms I experienced.) The thyroid gland is very sensitive to stress, which affects it the most. I don’t react well to stress, so learning to manage it daily has been an ongoing battle for me!

After learning about the causes and symptoms of hypothyroidism, I focused on finding solutions. I spent most of my free time determined to find a cure. I began managing my diet to be more thyroid-conscious, incorporating iodine-rich foods like fish, selenium from three Brazil nuts a day, and zinc from lean meats and whole grains. Believe it or not, I also focused on stress control by meditating for at least 20 minutes a day and engaging in low-impact movement daily. Two months later, I returned to get my blood tested, and my thyroid was balanced.

Pro Tip: Incorporate organic coconut oil into your diet.

Organic coconut oil increases body temperature and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that taking a daily dose of this oil has helped many people who previously lost weight very slowly to lose weight at a more satisfactory speed. This is because organic coconut oil contains a type of saturated fat called "medium-chain triglycerides" (MCTs), which significantly increase body temperature and metabolism.

A low body temperature can affect your ability to lose weight because if your body temperature is low, your metabolism will also be slow. Metabolism is all about movement—the movements use energy and produce heat. The more movement there is, the more heat is generated. So, increasing your body temperature also boosts your metabolism, making it easier to lose weight.