Atkins Diet and the Thyroid Problem

There have been many questions about what the Atkins diet can do to a person’s body processes. Some say that the low carbohydrate, high protein and high fat diet that can change how some of the body’s functions. Their main concern is especially on how the body tries to get the energy it needs in absence of carbohydrates.

Many experts also say that the Atkins Diet carry with it side effects that may prove harmful later on. But there are also others who believe that the Atkins Diet can be beneficial especially for those people with thyroid problems. The Atkins Diet can be their diet of choice especially for those with an under active thyroid.

The thyroid gland is located just under the Adam's apple in the throat. It secretes a hormone into the bloodstream called thyroxine, which is known to control the metabolism in the body which is the rate at which the body burns its primary fuel source for energy that it uses for its daily functions. It also the hormone that controls the body's use of fat.

Having too little thyroxine secretion in the body can cause excess fat to accumulate which results to weight gain. It can also lead to one having a low level of energy as well as low blood pressure, and a lowered basal body temperature. These conditions can make one feel colder than usual, especially in the hands and feet. This type of condition wherein the thyroid secretes less than normal amounts of thyroxine is called under active thyroid or hypothyroidism.

If the thyroid gets lesser nutrition than it needs, an under active thyroid can be the uneventful result. One of the principal causes of having an under active thyroid is everyone’s common habit of eating nutrient-poor fast and processed foods. People having poor eating habits will eventually lead to problems with the thyroid gland later in life.

Dieting, especially those kinds that depend on starvation and severely restricting caloric intake, is another common cause of having an under active thyroid. Starvation can slow the body's metabolism as the thyroid gland learns to use its available energy more efficiently in order to conserve stored calories left for its use. After a starvation diet, a person has a tendency to gain even more weight than what he lost. He may even discover that it is becoming more difficult for him to lose weight the next time he tries.

A low-calorie diet can have evident effect on thyroid function in less than 24 hours. After going to one to three months of such dieting, there is a rising danger that may lead to permanently inhibiting the thyroid function.

So if you have an under active thyroid but you still want to control weight gain, then you may want to switch following a low carb diet. And one of the popular diet plans that may help an under active thyroid is the grand-daddy of the low-carb plans, the Atkins Diet. This program was created by its namesake, Dr. Robert Atkins. Adherents to the Atkins Diet usually begin with a two-week “induction” period. During this time, the dieter is restricted to eating 20 grams of carbohydrates or less daily. Sugar-free sweeteners are also not allowed since they are carbohydrates too.

The Atkins Diet’s list of restricted foods includes fruit, most grains, starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn and yams and bakery goods. The diet, however, does not restrict protein and fat consumption so one can eat these food groups as much and as often as he wants. That is why butter, cheese and whole cream products are allowed on the Atkins Diet plan.

When one is on the Atkins Diet, one doesn’t count calories. Starvation is not part of the Atkins Diet because it allows the dieter to eat as much and as often as he can to satisfy his hunger as long as he puts his carbohydrate intake to the absolute minimum allowed. Supplements are also taken with the diet to cope up with the nutrients being affected with having a low carb diet like the Atkins. This would be a better diet alternative for a person with a under active thyroid.