We asked Nuria Weaver of the 10 Day Easy Diet if she could give us a tip to help our weight loss efforts. She very kindly obliged, and provided us with a rather unusual tip on how to look for and correct Signs of Underactive Thyroid- a common cause of weight gain. 

 

Nuria is primarily a reflexologist, she has a successful reflexology practice in the North of Spain. her practise has been open for the last 25 years, long before Reflexology became mainstream.

 

She became interested in weight loss and in finding solutions when she herself began putting on weight after giving birth to her two children. She also became aware that around 70% of her clients were suffering from some degree of weight problems, and many of their other ailments were caused by the extra weight they carried around.

 

Nuria explained there is one very easy thing we can do everyday, that will only take 30 seconds.

 

Nuria said "Hypothyroidism is the disease state in humans and animals caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. One of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid is weight gain, but hypothyroidism often goes undetected and sufferers put their symptoms including the weight gain down to other causes such as getting older, or lack of exercise due to low energy levels.

 

Rather than arrive at the point where you may be worried that you have an under active thyroid gland that may have gone undetected, there is a simple reflexology exercise that you can do every day to keep the thyroid in tip-top condition.

 

 

If the thyroids are not working properly, your heartbeat will lower and your breathing becomes laboured. Apart from putting on weight, sufferers also find they feel the cold more intensely, as their circulation is poor, and their skin may become dry and scaly.

 

To avoid these ills, you can work gently but firmly over the thyroid glands to ensure their optimal function.

 

The thyroids are situated on either side of the windpipe. use you middle fingers to gently massage the thyroids by moving inwards and upwards in circular motions.

 

 

Use the middle fingers to massage up and down the indicated lines in circular motions

 

You should not apply too much pressure, however you should apply enough that you can feel the muscles and tissue under the skin. This can be done for about 30 seconds daily, or four times up and down the indicated lines.

 

 

You can also at intervals, maybe three times a week massage the fleshy part underneath you thumbs, on both hands, for a few minutes at a time for a fit thyroid!

 

 

 

Massage the indicated spot firmly for a few minutes at a time, several times per week on each hand

 

 

After massaging if possible drink a glass of water to help rinse out any toxins that have been released.

 

Don't wait until you have an underactive thyroid before you begin massaging, reflexology is not only a useful cure, but also effective prevention."

 

Other common symptoms caused by an underactive thyroid include:

 

• Slowed speech and a hoarse voice
• Impaired memory
• Brain Fog
• Hives
• Migraines
• Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
• A slow heart rate with ECG changes including low voltage signals. Diminished cardiac output and decreased contractility.
• Pericardial effusions may occur.
• Sluggish reflexes
• Dry puffy skin, especially on the face, and hair loss, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows
• Depression (especially in the elderly)
• Mild weight gain
• Anemia caused by impaired hemoglobin synthesis (decreased EPO levels), impaired intestinal iron and folate absorption or B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia
• Slower metabolism
• Constipation
• Fatigue (physical)
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Choking sensation or difficulty swallowing
• Shortness of breath with a shallow and slow respiratory pattern.
• Impaired ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia.
• Increased need for sleep
• Muscle cramps or painful joints
• Brittle fingernails
• Osteopenia or Osteoporosis
• Paleness
• Irritability
• Yellowing of skin due to impaired conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Impaired renal function with decreased GFR.
• Thin, fragile or absent cuticles
• Infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant
• Elevated serum cholesterol
• Mood instability
• Acute psychosis is a rare symptom of hypothyroidism
• Poor muscle tone
• Decreased libido

 

 

Nuria is the author of the bestselling 10 Day Easy Diet.

 

Related Pages 

Signs of Underactive Thyroid   

 Diabetic Diet    High Fiber Diet