• Shop For Gift Certificates
  • Book Now
  • Call Us: 123-123-1234
Call Us1300 THYROID (1300 849 764)
HealthHub Login
Free Consult
Call Us1300 THYROID (1300 849 764)
The Lucy Rose Clinic The Lucy Rose Clinic
  • Home
  • Our Approach
    • FAQ
    • Thyroid Practitioners
    • Discover the Thyroid Gland
    • Testing
    • Locations
  • Reviews
  • Conditions
    • Thyroid Nodules
    • Graves’ Disease
    • Hashimoto’s Disease
    • Thyroid and Fertility
    • Thyroid Cancer
    • Thyroid Testing
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Contact Us

The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection to Weight Gain

You are here: Home / Hormones / The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection to Weight Gain

The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection to Weight Gain

August 31, 2020January 19, 2022by Lucy Rose Clinicin Hormones, Stress hormones, Thyroid, Thyroid Conditions, Weight LossTags thyroid, weight loss

Many of our patients with thyroid dysfunction experience weight gain, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

However, these are also classic symptoms of adrenal fatigue…. In fact, it is almost impossible to treat a thyroid imbalance without simultaneously treating the adrenals.

Many of patients with persistent weight gain, will not lose weight until they really start to reduce their stress levels….. Today I will explain why!

Lets start by explaining what the adrenal glands do… 

The adrenal glands are small glands that sit above each kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones including cortisol, adrenaline and sex hormones. Cortisol is what people generally refer to as the “stress hormone”. 

The purpose of cortisol is to allow our bodies to respond to stress – this could be physical, emotional, hormonal or mental stress. Cortisol is really beneficial for us in small amounts, over short periods of time – it gives us bursts of energy, focus and strength. 

However – too much cortisol negatively affects our blood sugar levels, disrupts our sleep and leads to feelings of anxiety and depression. 

What happens when we produce too much cortisol? 

The body is only designed to handle stressful situations for short periods of time. However, our lives are becoming more and more stressful! This means that cortisol is constantly being released. If you are in a chronic state of stress, your adrenal glands will be working in overdrive– flooding your body with cortisol. There reaches a point where the adrenal glands cannot keep up with the constant demand for stress hormones – leaving you in a state of adrenal fatigue. 

Symptoms: 

  • Increased insulin levels (causing you to store fat – particularly around the belly) 
  • Increased appetite (leading you to eat too much) 
  • Increased cravings for sweet, high fat and salty foods (leading you to eat higher calorie foods) 

!!! This is why weight loss is very difficult without first addressing the adrenal glands – and balancing cortisol levels.

How are adrenal hormones linked to thyroid functioning? 

On top of the direct effect of cortisol in leading to weight gain, high levels of cortisol also reduce thyroid functioning, which will reduce your metabolism (making it more difficult to shift excess weight). 

There are two main reasons for this: 

  1.  Cortisol signals to the pituitary gland to slow down its production of hormones (including thyroid stimulating hormone). This means that as cortisol levels rise, the rate of thyroid hormone production slows down. 
  2. High levels of cortisol will also slow down the conversion of T4 into T3 (active thyroid hormone). This means under periods of continued stress, where cortisol levels are continually high, the levels of active thyroid hormone will drop. 

How you can improve your adrenal functioning… 

For most of us, there is no way to avoid stress, however, it is really important that we learn to manage and reduce our stress levels to avoid a state of adrenal fatigue. Below are some tips to reduce your overall stress levels. This will help you to improve both your adrenal and thyroid functioning and assist with weight loss as a result! 

  • Eat well: A healthy, balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits and good quality protein is vital to ensure optimal adrenal and thyroid health. Reducing alcohol, caffeine and sugar in your diet will also help. It is also really important to eliminate any foods that are causing inflammation in your body – we recommend food intolerance testing to determine exactly what foods will be beneficial for you, and which ones are causing inflammation. 
  • Ensure adequate vitamin/ mineral intake: you may want to consider adding some vitamins/ minerals to support your thyroid and adrenal functioning. Essential vitamins and minerals to consider are iodine, selenium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins. We always recommend working with a professional to determine which supplements will be most beneficial for you. 
  • Sleep well: it is really important to get a good quality sleep, as well as getting enough sleep each night. This is when your body has the chance to heal and repair itself. There are lots of ways we can help you to improve your sleep hygiene as well as to provide supplements to help promote good quality sleep. 
  • Take time out to relax – this can include things like mediation, yoga, deep breathing and walking outside in nature. All these things help to reduce stress levels and balance your overall health.

Do you struggle with any of these factors?

We’ve helped thousands of people regain healthy balance, reduce symptoms, lose weight, and get their health back on track.

Contact us to see how we can help you too!

0How a detox can affect your mental healthTips to Detox your HOME

Share this post?

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

About author

Lucy Rose Clinic

Naturopath and writer for The Lucy Rose Clinic.

More posts

  • Related
  • Popular
  • Latest
What Causes Beer Belly?
What Causes Beer Belly?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Thyroid
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Thyroid
Graves Disease in Men
Graves Disease in Men
How To Reduce Stress To Lose Weight
How To Reduce Stress To Lose Weight
Is Iodine the Key to Weight Loss? Pt1 - Iodine & Weight Loss
Is Iodine the Key to Weight Loss? Pt1 - Iodine & Weight Loss
The Root Cause to Autoimmune Thyroiditis
The Root Cause to Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Let’s talk about Hydration and Salt! Why you can’t live without it!
Let’s talk about Hydration and Salt! Why you can’t live without it!
Vaccines and Immunity
Vaccines and Immunity
Endometriosis Treatment – Managing Endometriosis
Endometriosis Treatment – Managing Endometriosis
Prostate Health – Keeping a Healthy Prostate
Prostate Health – Keeping a Healthy Prostate
What Causes Beer Belly?
What Causes Beer Belly?
Healing Sweet Potato Soup
Healing Sweet Potato Soup

Search

Recent Podcast

  • The Thyroid and Menopause Complication
    April 4, 2022 by The Lucy Rose Clinic
  • Belly Fat - The Why and How Behind It
    March 14, 2022 by The Lucy Rose Clinic
  • #5 The Role Of The Liver In Optimal Wellness
    March 7, 2022 by The Lucy Rose Clinic
  • #3 Iodine Dosing misconceptions and safe use for thyroid health
    February 28, 2022 by The Lucy Rose Clinic
  • The REAL Reason You Have Brain Fog
    February 23, 2022 by The Lucy Rose Clinic

Categories

  • Autoimmune
  • Beauty
  • Complementary Practices
  • Conditions
  • Detoxification
  • Diagnosis & Testing
  • Fatigue
  • General Knowledge
  • Gut Health
  • Healing Diet
  • Hormones
  • Libido
  • Lifestyle
  • Liver health
  • Medication
  • Mens Hormone Health
  • Mental Health
  • Mood
  • Nodules & Growths
  • Nutrition
  • Patient Stories
  • Podcast
  • Quizzes & Questionnaires
  • Recipes
  • Sleep
  • Stress hormones
  • Supplements
  • Thyroid
  • Thyroid Conditions
  • Uncategorized
  • Vitality Boosting Programs
  • Vlog
  • Weight Loss

Follow Us

Recent Posts

  • Endometriosis Treatment – Managing Endometriosis
  • Prostate Health – Keeping a Healthy Prostate
  • What Causes Beer Belly?
  • Healing Sweet Potato Soup
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Thyroid
Contact Info
Sydney CBD (Head Office), Suite 13, level 3, 247 Coward St. Mascot NSW 2020
1300 THYROID (1300 849 764)
info@thelucyroseclinic.com.auEmail Us
Contact Us
Open Hours
  • Monday 9am-5pm
  • Tuesday 9am-5pm
  • Wednesday 9am-5pm
  • Thrusday 9am-5pm
  • Friday 9am-5pm
Contact Us
Latest Articles
  • Endometriosis Treatment – Managing Endometriosis
  • Prostate Health – Keeping a Healthy Prostate
  • What Causes Beer Belly?
  • Healing Sweet Potato Soup
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Thyroid
  • The Effect of Iodine on Testosterone in Men
  • 7 Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Symptoms
  • What Causes Bumpy Arm Skin (or Keratosis Pilaris)?
  • Graves Disease in Men
  • Vegan Cheese Sauce
View More
Quick Links
  • Our Approach
  • FAQ
  • About Thyroid
  • Testing
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Contact Us
© 2020 The Lucy Rose Clinic. All Rights Reserved - Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy
The Lucy rose clicnic

Privacy Policy. Visit Our Website.

Talk To Us Today - Click Here To Book An Appointment To Talk To An Experienced Practitioner

The Lucy Rose Clinic - Sydney CBD (Head Office), Suite 13, Level 1, 110 Sussex St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 - 1300 849 764

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT