The thyroid gland is a tiny gland located in front of the neck. It secrets hormones that play an essential role innormal functioning of the body’s processes.These hormones are named as Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxin (T4) which help to regulate your metabolism, growth and maturation of your body.
Hypothyroidism occurs whenthe thyroid is unable to produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones.Thyroid hormone supplements are needed to be taken to regularize the hormone levels.
However, thyroid hormone production can be normalized with natural measures like exercise and diet as well.
- Countering the symptoms: Research has shown that regular exercise helps to ward off negative symptoms of hypothyroidism and helps normalize thyroid gland function.
- Normal production of hormones: Hypothyroidism leads to low thyroid hormone production. Exercise increases the secretion of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) hormone, which in turn helps in production of T3 and T4 hormones.
- Improves metabolism: Hypothyroidism slows down the rate of metabolism. Exercise helps to boost your metabolism by burning your calories and by increasing your muscle mass.
- Improves energy: Low thyroid levels cause fatigue and lethargy. Exercising regularly improves your energy levels by making your body use more oxygen.
- Helps lose weight: Low metabolism causes weight gain due to excess salt and water retention. Exercising helps in keeping this weight under control.
Do any kind of exercise which you like, daily. Walking is easy and it is free. Go for a morning walk. Start slowly and increase gradually. Begin with 10 minutes if you haven’t exercised before and increase to half an hour. It will work wonders.
Swimming is the best exercise. It exercises your body and improves the metabolism. Have you ever felt that hunger after swimming? It gives you a well-sculpted body as a bonus.
Dance your way to health on the count of aerobics. Aerobics improves the oxygen supply to entire body including the thyroid gland thus improving and normalizing its function to greater extent.
Yoga improves the mental health, stabilizes the mood swings and irritability, relieves stress and thus improves thyroid function. Try some of the Asanas (yoga poses) whichstretch, improve blood supply and stimulate your thyroid gland like Sarvangasana, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Ushtarasana, and Simhasana.
