Hypothyroid Illustration example with uniform weight gain, cellulite and other physical characteristics.

Better Understand Your Thyroid Symptoms

Uniform weight gain (or loss) is the hallmark of thyroid stress. This is because the thyroid regulates metabolism and when it slows, your body will slowly gain weight all over the place. When it is fast, then decreasing muscle mass is witnessed. Individuals with thyroid stress are more apt to have evenly distributed adipose (fat) storage, rather than the concentrated fat deposition patterns reminiscent of liver, adrenal, or gonadal stressed individuals.

When muscle mass is depleted, then cellulite on the arms, buttocks and legs is reported. This is even more advanced with individuals with low protein diets and must be corrected with diet and supplements that increase hydrochloric acid HCL levels in the stomach. HCL prevents smelly gas and bloating once protein is restored in the diet.

Most Common Thyroid Symptoms

• ❏ Bulging Eyes
• ❏ Cellulite
• ❏ Chocolate Cravings
• ❏ Cold or Heat Intolerance
• ❏ Constipation
• ❏ Decreased Libido
• ❏ Depression
• ❏ Double Lines on Neck
• ❏ Dry Spots on Face
• ❏ Hair Loss
• ❏ Heartburn
• ❏ Loose Stool
• ❏ Puffy Face
• ❏ Muscle and Joint Pain
• ❏ Smelly Intestinal Gas (like rotten eggs)
• ❏ Sugar Cravings
• ❏ Low to No Energy

Look for double lines in the neck with a goiter at the base of the neck

Bulging eyes, thin eyebrows and dry spots along the temples

Brittle and thin hair along with poor nail quality (including ridges)

Poor Muscle Tone

Connecting the Dots: Hidden Clues to Thyroid Gland Function

Hair Loss (or Thinning), Dry Skin and Brittle Nails

The outer third of your eyebrow may be missing, your hair may be thinning. The skin, hair, and nails are all made up of essential amino acids from protein food sources, Hair loss and thinning hair are common thyroid symptoms from a slow metabolism and raw protein deficiency.

The combination of protein deficiency with mineral imbalances can cause the soft tissue of the nail and hair to become brittle. It is common to see vertical ridges on the finger nails.Its interactions with the pituitary and kidneys can result in hair loss (outer third of the eyebrows) and brittle, dry hair and skin.

You may notice the following symptoms due to an under or overactive thyroid gland: 

Poor Sex Drive and Hormone Balancing Issues

Your thyroid gland has a strong relationship with your ovaries or testes, that when is disrupted, can lead to a loss of sex drive and a fluctuation of hormone levels. 

Slow (of Fast) Memory

Thyroid stress may induce cogitation difficulty, or slowed mental capabilities, due to the strong relationship with the liver and iodine’s role in brain function, as well as when metabolism has been intentionally slowed by the body. Feelings of lethargy and depression are also common with extended thyroid stress.

Unable to Regulate Body Temperature

You may be either too hot or too cold. You can’t seem to regulate your body temperature. The thyroid gland controls metabolism and body temperature. The accepted range of normal is between 97F to 99F. It is common to see early morning temperatures go well below 96F in thyroid sufferers causing them to wear socks, even in moderate temperatures. 

Cravings for Carbohydrates (or anything that gives a boost of energy)

You may crave chocolate, sugar, bread. The thyroid gland runs on iodine. When it is running sub-optimal it needs more iodine. In bread, chlorine and bromine are present. Because these halogens are in the same row on the periodic table of elements, the body will crave bread trying to get iodine, but instead get these other elements that compete for the same receptor sites as iodine. Because the body is running slower, it craves a quick shot of energy, as in carbohydrate cravings.