Do You Have The "Fat Gene?"
Is There Really Such A Thing As a “Fat Gene”?
I grew up thinking there was a nasty, evil bug implanted in certain ‘unlucky’ women that made them fat.
Women in my family told me that we had the ‘fat gene’.
As you can imagine, I felt doomed and it marred my childhood… and many of my early adult years.
I was filled with fear and hopelessness; and as a little girl I assumed that I, too, had the “fat gene”.
No matter how many sports I did or how healthily I ate; I would get fat and feel miserable, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I was dead wrong.
What was this ‘fat gene, and why did I fear it for so long?
There’s No Such Thing As A “Fat Gene”…
When my family told me that we had the fat gene, what they were referring to was the simple fact that they weren’t built like 6 foot tall members of the Swedish Bikini Team.
We’re all generally short, curvy, and we most certainly don’t have the luxury of eating whatever we want without gaining weight.
But in some cases, women in my family did discover that they did, in fact, have one specific disorder: hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid.
The thyroid is a real gland that has real effects on women, and occasionally on men, too.
Hypothyroidism does NOT mean you’re doomed to be fat.
…But it does mean that there are specific things you can do to keep your body in it’s best possible shape.
First, it’s education.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland in your neck that produces a hormone which regulates body temperature, metabolism and heartbeat.
In the absence of sound knowledge, my family called it our ‘fat gene’ and used it as an excuse for why everybody seemed to be overweight.
What I found, however, was that scientists believe that in women over 35, chances of thyroid disorder are extremely high – even up to 30% or more!
And sadly, women suffer thyroid problems about 10 times as much as men.
Perhaps this is why people lied to me as a little girl and said that the women in my family had a ‘fat gene’.
What Happens When You Have A Thyroid Disorder…
If you have a sluggish thyroid, the little butterfly-shaped gene in the back of your neck doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.
If you have hyperthyroidism (vs. hypo), well as you can imagine, this means you produce too much thyroid hormone.
While thyroid imbalance is linked to genetics, it can also go haywire due to an autoimmune attack, pregnancy, stress, nutritional deficiencies, or even toxins in your environment.
A few things that happen to your body as a result of imbalanced thyroid are:
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Fatigue…
Fatigue is most commonly found in hypothyroidism.
I used to wake up tired after 9 hours of sleep. That’s when I knew I might have a thyroid problem…
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Depression…
If you’re feeling particularly blue, you may have hypothyroidism.
That’s because hypothyroidism actually impacts your brain’s ‘happy’ chemical, Serotonin.
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Anxiety…
Hyperthyroidism is likely to make you feel anxious.
Your whole body is flooded with too much thyroid hormone, which makes you feel ‘hyper’. It also causes your metabolism to work out of control.
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Increase or Decrease of Appetite…
Hyperthyroidism can cause you to feel hungry all the time, probably because your metabolism is revving as fast as a racecar.
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, may alter with your sense of taste and smell.
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Mental Fog…
When you’re suffering from a thyroid imbalance, you may feel a bit fuzzy in the brain.
That’s because too much thyroid hormone and make it hard to concentrate; you’re feeling hyper.
Hypothyroidism causes the opposite; lethargy, fatigue, forgetfulness, and fogginess.
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Constipation
You’ve tried laxatives, herbs, hot water, prunes… but you’re bloated and constipated all the time.
This may be a symptom of hypothyroidism because your slow thyroid also slows down digestion.
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High Blood Pressure…
My mother found out about her hypothyroidism when she learned her blood pressure was through the roof.
Hypo and hyperthyroidism can manifest high blood pressure.
In fact, those with hypothyroidism are three times more likely to develop hypertension!
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Neck Pain…
Sore neck? It may not be due to all that time you’re playing Angry Birds on your phone.
Rather, it may be thyroid swelling.
Look in a hand-mirror and drink a gulp of water.
If you see bulges or protrusions in the thyroid area, just below your Adam’s apple, it may be best to go see a doctor.
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Weight Gain…
Weight gain can be caused from a plethora of things – some good, like putting on muscle, and some bad – like carrying excess water weight.
Weight gain, however, is one of the primary reasons people have their thyroids checked with a doctor.
If you notice that you’re gaining weight without any measurable change to your diet, you may have an underactive thyroid.
If you notice that you’re losing weight without big dietary changes, this may be an overactive thyroid.
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Hair Loss…
One majorly scary symptom of hypothyroidism is a loss of hair.
Your slow system from an under-active thyroid actually puts your hair follicles in ‘resting’ mode, not growing new hair!
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High Cholesterol…
Hypothyroidism can be linked to elevated levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol.
High levels of LDL cholesterol can beget heart problems, and even heart failure.
*Hypothyroid and hyperthyroidism are serious afflictions that you want to be sure to diagnose with your doctor and treat immediately.
What Can You Do If You Think You Have Hypo or Hyperthyroidism?
1. Get Tested
If you believe that you are suffering from an underactive or overactive thyroid, please get tested with your doctor.
You may choose a holistic doctor or a traditional doctor to have your hormone levels tested.
2. Respect Your Natural Energy Levels
In order to really pick up on what your body is throwing down, try to cut caffeine and sugar from your diet.
Instead of a caffeinated beverage, drink Slimming Tea.
Slimming Tea only has about 1/3rd the caffeine as a cup of coffee – which means you can drink Slimming Tea all day long without the jittery, anxiety-producing effect of coffee.
Plus, Slimming Tea gives you a natural energy and productivity boost because of the combination of L-Theanine and caffeine present in just the right amount to keep you alert and productive without the energy crashes!
3. Eat Smarter…
Your body treats carbohydrates like sugar, which can cause you to gain weight, especially if you have an underactive thyroid.
You may try eating more protein because protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues.
You can restore normal thyroid function in many cases by upping your intake of nuts, quinoa, organic meats, and nut butters.
Also try to cut carbs as well as starchy vegetables.
One of the best ways to cut carbs is to drink Slimming Tea 15 minutes before every meal.
It helps boost your metabolism as well as eliminate carb cravings.
4. Drink For Your Blood Pressure…
If you have an overactive thyroid, drinking Slimming Tea after a meal may reduce risk of heart attack because it keeps your blood flowing as well as helps calm you down.
Plus, it improves digestion and helps your body work in synchronicity to stay healthy and properly functioning.
5. Up Your Fat Intake…
Fat is incredibly important to your healthy functioning, as well as weight loss!
For one, fat and cholesterol help your body have normal hormonal functioning.
Eat more olive oil, avocado, flax seeds, chia, fish, nuts, and full-fat dairy.
6. Go Gluten-Free…
Gluten can riase likelihood of an autoimmune attack on your thyroid.
That’s because the molecular makeup of thyroid tissue is very similar to gluten, which confuses your body.
While you may not be gluten-intolerant, you may have other food sensistivities.
If you have a dairy, soy, gluten, or other allergies, these foods cause an inflammatory response in your body.
7. Practice Relaxation…
One of the best ways to fight hormonal imbalance is to find something that calms you, or energizes you when you feel foggy.
Try taking a walk outside, or if you live in an area with trails you can go for a hike.
Get a dog – or a cat. Ride your bike to work. Get a maid for chores that make you angry. Get a different perspective on chores that would normally infuriate you. I’ve begun listening to audio books when I do the dishes, which makes the chore turn into a relaxing, positive experience.
8. Drink Slimming Tea…
Slimming Tea is full of flavonoids; powerful antioxidants that are beneficial to your central nervous system.
One Cambridge study even shows that they may benefit your central nervous system by protecting neurons against stress-induced injury, promoting synaptic plasticity, memory, and cognitive function.
Plus, Slimming Tea has L-Theanine… and amino acid that is able to help you relax, reduce stress, improve cognition, and even enhance your mood.
Read more about this Nature’s most powerful super-drink here.