If you feel tired all the time, experience extreme fatigue, or feel wiped out all the time, you could have an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. The condition causes your metabolism to slow down so you feel like you do not have enough energy to do anything.
You should first go for a checkup to confirm where you have hypothyroidism because there are many other conditions that could make you feel this way. If you are diagnosed with the condition, you can make a difference in how you feel by increasing your energy levels. Use these strategies and tips to manage fatigue and increase your energy levels if you have an underactive thyroid.
Use Thyroid Replacement Medication Consistently
Once diagnosed, a doctor will prescribe thyroid hormone replacement medication that helps alleviate the symptoms of hypothyroidism if taken consistently for about six months. Consistency here means taking it at the same time every day on an empty stomach and thirty minutes before eating.
You can make things much easier on yourself by taking the medication when you first wake up in the morning. Also, talk to your doctor if you use other medications or supplements so they can help you set a timetable for taking all of them to ensure they work as intended and to minimise chances of interactions.
Change Your Diet
Diet is a natural treatment for hypothyroidism, and it plays a crucial role in reversing hypothyroidism and can help eliminate your symptoms. Start by ensuring your diet has essential minerals and vitamins like zinc, selenium, iodine, vitamins A and B12, and macronutrients like fats and carbohydrates.
Quality proteins are also an essential part of treating hypothyroidism. The best proteins in this case are dairy, eggs and organic meats. Meats contain carnitine, an amino acid that is involved in energy production. It is best to get carnitine from food, but you can also get it from high-quality supplements.
You should also include probiotics in your diet. These ensure your gut is healthy enough to synthesise thyroid hormones and are one of the essential natural treatments for hypothyroidism.
Get Enough Sleep
When people talk about the benefits of sleep, they often do not mention that seven to nine hours of high-quality sleep every night can help fight the fatigue and lethargy associated with an underactive thyroid.
Getting the right kind of sleep depends on a few things. First, your environment must be comfortable; think soft lighting, comfortable bedding, and noise reduction. Secondly, you should have a bedtime routine so that you have a set time for going to bed and waking up. Such a schedule supports your circadian rhythm, allowing you to fall asleep faster and have deeper sleep.
Use Exercise to Boost Energy Levels
In most cases, you will feel like hypothyroidism has left you with little to no energy to do something else. However, physical activity can boost your energy levels, so it is worth pushing yourself a little more. Start with moderate-intensity aerobics, and increase the intensity as you get used to exercising. If exercising in the evening makes it harder to fall asleep, consider doing your workouts in the morning.
Having an underactive thyroid can make you feel tired and like you do not have energy for anything. The good news is that you can boost your energy levels and get all the beliefs that come with doing so using a few tips and strategies as outlined above.
