FitSugar

Does Thy Know About Her Thyroid?

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:30:00 PDT

Recently a few of the girls over here at Sugar HQ and I were talking about our thyroids and how we've all had to have them checked out at some point or another. Luckily none of us were found to have anything serious but there are a few things we should all be aware of so we know when to take potential risks to a doctor - after all Oprah's wake up call came from her thyroid. Take this little quiz to see how much you know.

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Oprah's Health Wake Up Call Came from Her Thyroid

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Did you know that millions of women suffer from thyroid conditions? In the most recent issue of O Magazine, Oprah shares the tale of her wild health ride with thyroid issues.

She was plagued first by hyperthyroidism, which sped up her metabolism and prevented sleep. Oprah eventually "blew out" her thyroid and experienced classic symptoms of hypothyroidism: Her metabolism slowed and she felt sluggish and tired.

After discovering the cause of her health problems, Oprah decided this was a wake up call. She was determined, not only to get back in balance, but to highlight this particular women's health issue. According to The Wisdom of Menopause author Dr. Christiane Northrup, 25 percent of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience some kind of issue with their thyroid at some time, and most women don't know the cause of their deteriorating health.

I, for one, hope that with Oprah highlighting this issue that it receives more attention, both in research and educational outreach. You know Oprah knows how to stir things up! You can read much of the article, which explores the "break down to break through" moments of personal health, online at Oprah.com – hopefully it will help you learn to listen to your body.

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You Asked: Thyroid Problems and Weight Gain

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 03:00:00 PDT

While weight gain can most often be attributed to eating more calories than you are expending, there can also be some kind of hormonal imbalance at play. Recently a reader asked if thyroid problems can cause weight gain, and while the short answer is yes I have done a bit of research to provide a little more information on a rather complicated system (human biology is pretty amazing!!!).

Hormones produced by the thyroid influence how quickly or slowly you burn energy, aka your metabolism. If you don't produce enough hormones you have what is known as hypothyroidism and your metabolism slows way down. This condition can also cause lethargy, reduced appetite and brittle nails. While hypothyroidism is rarely the only culprit in weight gain it can be a contributing factor.

Having your thyroid hormone levels checked is relatively easy and merely requires a blood test - and you don't even need to fast before having your blood drawn. The test measures the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in your blood. If the level is above 5 IU/liter, your body is trying to stimulate an under-performing thyroid.

If you think you are experiencing thyroid problems make an appointment to discuss the issue with your primary care physician.

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Argentina's First Elected Woman President Has Cancer

Annie Scudder — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:45:46 PST

Argentina's first elected female leader, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has announced that she has thyroid cancer. She became president in 2007 immediately succeeding her husband, former president Nestor Kirchner, but she will hand over power to her vice president on Jan. 4 for 20 days so she can undergo surgery. Fernandez, who has been compared to Argentina's icon Evita, is extremely popular and just won a second term in a landslide victory this past Fall. Her husband died suddenly in October 2010 from a heart attack, but a spokesperson said her diagnosis is good.

From 2003 to 2007 Fernandez, 58, was the country's first lady, although she's always been a politician herself, elected repeatedly to Argentina's National Congress. After her husband declined to run for a second term, she was nominated for the presidency and won. Although she's the first woman to be elected president in Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner isn't the first woman to serve in that role, nor the first former first lady to. Isabel Martínez de Perón was vice president to her husband, then President Juan Perón, and she assumed the presidency when he died in 1974, becoming the first non-royal woman head of state in the Western Hemisphere.

Take a look at President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner through the years now.

Nutrition Myths That Can Cause Weight Gain

Shape — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:23 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight
"While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found that subjects who consumed four ounces or more of red meat weekly were 30 percent more likely to die of any cause than those who ate less), these numbers may be misleading," says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a certified nutritionist and owner of Essential Nutrition for You.

Going vegan solely for weight loss can backfire, big time. If you aren’t vigilant with a vegan diet, it’s easy to lack in vital nutrients, vitamins, and proteins, which give you energy and help keep your metabolism stoked. Many first-time vegans may also find themselves reaching for more processed foods like vegan cookies, chips, or even ‘ice cream’ more often with such a restricted diet, and many end up packing on the pounds instead.

If you do decide to adopt a vegan diet, be sure to keep the ‘treats’ to a minimum and plan balanced meals (we love ‘Domestic Vegan’ Diva Jessica Olson’s tips for "going veg"). "Aim to get about 10 to 20 percent of your calories from protein (or about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight), replacing animal protein with healthy plant proteins, like those found in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products," Batayneh says. "And, whether you are vegan or not, eating more green, leafy vegetables is great for your health and your waistline."

See which other diet habits may also being causing weight gain after the break!

DrSugar Answers: Not Treating Hypothyroidism?

DrSugar — Wed, 26 May 2010 08:00:18 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

DrSugar,
I was diagnosed with a hypothyroid a few years back and have just been ignoring it. I am in my early 30s, have a kid with no plans to have another. My only symptoms are memory loss, irritability, a little shaky at times. All of which I can deal with, but I'm wondering, am I hurting my long-term health?
- Endocrine Enigma

I am very glad you asked this question, because hypothyroidism is an important topic. However, I am concerned that you have chosen not to get treatment for this condition. First let's review some of the basics on hypothyroidism and then discuss the serious consequences of untreated hypothyroidism. So keep on reading.

DrSugar Explains Hyperhidrosis, aka Excessive Sweating

DrSugar — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:47:34 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's explaining the condition known as hyperhidrosis, aka excessive sweating.

Even though Summer is winding down, it's still quite warm in many parts of the US, which inspired an explanation on excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis in medical terms. Hyperhidrosis can be a difficult condition to have and for some can be quite embarrassing or cause social anxiety.

The Mayo Clinic defines hyperhidrosis as frequent or constant excessive sweating. Sweating is the body's mechanism for cooling itself down, which is a normal response to an increase in body temperature. However, people with hyperhidrosis sweat in quantities above the amount needed to regulate and cool the body's temperature. According to Medicine Net, an estimated two to three percent of Americans suffer from hyperhidrosis, which typically affects the underarms, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. Underarm hyperhidrosis typically starts in puberty, whereas the hands and feet hyperhidrosis can begin even earlier in life. While some people with excessive sweating can have neurologic, metabolic, or other systemic medical conditions, most people with hyperhidrosis are typically otherwise healthy. To learn more about hyperhidrosis, keep reading!

Melanoma Risk Factors: What You Need to Know

Jaime Richards — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:15:00 PDT

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, and unfortunately, it's a disease that's on the rise. However, melanoma, which can be described as the uncontrolled spread of pigment-producing cells, can be easily cured when detected early enough.

It's National Skin Cancer Awareness month, so for more tips on prevention, stay tuned. But first, discover more about this type of cancer and who has a greater risk for developing it, when you keep reading.

DrSugar Schools Us on High Blood Pressure

DrSugar — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:26:30 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's schooling us on hypertension.

A recent study from the University of North Carolina found that about one in five young adults, between the ages 24 and 32, has high blood pressure, referred to as hypertension in medical terminology. The concerning part about this rise is that many of those at risk are unaware of this health issue, making this statistic extremely scary since hypertension is a medical condition that can have serious consequences. To learn more about hypertension and its medical consequences and how you can prevent hypertension, keep reading!

Why Mushrooms Are Important For a Vegetarian Diet

Leta Shy — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:15:17 PST

It's National Nutrition Month, and while you may be eating all the bright colors of the rainbow, don't overlook that less flashy color - brown. As in, the brown crimini button mushroom, a market and salad bar staple for good reason.

The common mushroom is hiding some important nutrients that vegetarians should make sure they get enough of. One such important nutrient is selenium. While meat, seafood, grains, and nuts have excellent levels of the mineral, mushrooms are the only produce that have high levels of it, so they are especially important to include in your diet if you are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.

Selenium helps produce antioxidants and also keeps your immune and thyroid systems healthy. Studies have even shown that it may reduce LDL cholesterol levels as well as help with inflammatory diseases. Crimini mushrooms are packed with the stuff: five ounces of the mushrooms provide over half of the daily value of selenium.

The benefits don't stop there, however. Mushrooms are also high in other important minerals, including iron, zinc, and potassium, as well as vitamin D.

I love to sauté crimini mushrooms in a little olive oil and seasoning for a quick side dish, but if you're into Meatless Mondays or thinking of giving up meat for Lent, try a mushroom leek tart, a vegan mushroom and garlic bisque, or a hearty broccoli and mushroom quiche for dinner.