Nicholas Stiles - Control Your Thyroid Now: The Ultimate Diet And Lifestyle Guide Book To Help You Better Manage Living With A Thyroid Disorder

Publishers Notes

Disclaimer

This publication is intended to provide helpful and informative material. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem or condition, nor is intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this book. Always consult your physician or qualified health-care professional on any matters regarding your health and before adopting any suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use or application of any contents of this book.

Any and all product names referenced within this book are the trademarks of their respective owners. None of these owners have sponsored, authorized, endorsed, or approved this book.

Always read all information provided by the manufacturers product labels before using their products. The author and publisher are not responsible for claims made by manufacturers.

Copyright Page

Control Your Thyroid Now, Copyright 2013 by Nicos Stylianou

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

FIRST PUBLISHED BY SPEEDY PUBLISHING LLC 2013

Print ISBN: 9781628840445

E-ISBN: 9781628840452

For corrections, book orders, bulk discounts, author appearances, inquiries or interviews, contact publisher by email or regular mail at:

Speedy Publishing, LLC

40 E. Main St., #1156

Newark, DE 19711

http://www.speedypublishing.co

Manufactured in the United States.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife and my two boys who inspire me to stay healthy.

Table of Contents

Introduction

If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem or you suspect that your hormonal balance is incorrect, you may feel like drugs and surgery are your only options. After all, thyroid problems can have a detrimental effect on your quality of life, and theyre hard to correct on your own. While conventional therapies have their place, however, there are also a few things you can do to make living with thyroid disease easier. These include lifestyle changes, careful monitoring of your symptoms, and eating a healthy diet designed to keep your hormones under control.

The exact choices youll need to make will depend on the nature of your thyroid problem. For instance, while hypothyroidism results in a sluggish metabolism that benefits from foods that speed it up, hyperthyroidism can actually cause your metabolism to run out of control. You may need to choose foods that slow things down to help bring balance to your life.

These techniques can be used on their own or along with conventional thyroid treatments, but its important not to make lifestyle and diet changes a complete substitute for qualified medical help. If you suspect that you may have a thyroid problem, have your condition confirmed by a doctor. Then use the techniques described in this book to help improve your situation and promote balance throughout your entire life. Even relatively minor changes to your lifestyle could make an enormous difference.

This book will help you understand the thyroid and its role in your health while providing information that can make living with a thyroid problem much simpler. Youll also get information on common thyroid symptoms and the processes of getting diagnosed and treated. Without this knowledge, it can be easy to end up with the wrong treatment or an incorrect diagnosis. From there, youll learn the best foods to eat for your thyroid disorder, as well as foods to avoid if you want to be able to control your weight and your metabolism. When combined with basic healthy lifestyle choices and a good tracking program, these techniques can help you take control of your life and overcome the havoc a thyroid problem can wreak on your system.

If youre ready to stop feeling helpless in the face of your bodys hormonal imbalance, this book is the perfect choice. It will give you the keys to a better, healthier life for many years to come.

Chapter 1- Understanding Your Thyroid Gland Myths And Truths

What Is A Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid gland doesnt get as much attention as other parts of the endocrine system, such as the ovaries. This part of the body plays a surprisingly important role, however. It is a relatively small organ located in the neck underneath the Adams apple. The gland itself is shaped like a butterfly and is covered by a thin protective sheath. It is among the largest endocrine glands in your body, but it is capable of changing significantly in size and shape based on environmental factors.

The Role of Your Thyroid

This gland actually affects almost every system in your body. Thats because the hormones it produces are responsible for regulating your bodys ability to make proteins, use energy, and even process other hormones. Thyroid hormones also control the growth of various tissues and can affect your height, weight and overall growth rate.

Even the way your body processes minerals like calcium can be affected by your thyroid function. Thats why its so important to make sure that this gland stays in optimal health. If it begins to over or under produce hormones, every aspect of your life could suffer.

Who Is Most at Risk for Thyroid Problems?

While its possible for any person to develop thyroid issues at just about any age, some people are more likely to have trouble than others. About 20 million people in the United States alone suffer from a thyroid condition of some kind (American Thyroid Association, 2013). Thats equivalent to about 12 percent of the population.

Around two thirds of these people dont know they have a problem, however. In fact, the vast majority of thyroid issues go undiagnosed. Most people simply assume that their metabolisms have slowed down with age or that they suffer from ordinary anxiety when the truth is very different.

Women are much more likely to develop this disorder than men, with about 1/8th of the female population developing a problem over the course of their lives. The risk increases for anyone who has a close relative who suffers from a thyroid problem, since most are transmitted genetically.

When untreated, these conditions put patients at risk for a wide range of other conditions, including infertility, bone loss, heart disease and many other problems. Because the majority of thyroid conditions cannot be cured, its vital for anyone who suspects that he or she might have an issue to start treatment early.

Types of Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid problems fall into three major categories: over activity, under activity and cancer. Each has its own set of causes and symptoms, which can be hard to distinguish from other problems in many cases. Thats why its very important to get a blood test and have your symptoms reviewed by a qualified doctor if you think you might have trouble with your thyroid gland. In the absence of reliable medical testing, knowing what to expect can help you make intelligent choices.

1. Hyperthyroidism

This condition involves an overactive thyroid. It can be caused by several inherited conditions including Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the bodys natural defenses attack the thyroid and cause it to secrete too many hormones. Hyperthyroidism can also occur in the beginning stages of Hashimotos disease or as part of thyroiditis, an inflammation of the gland.