| Proper nutrition is so important for living a healthy life. | | | | nut or olive oil. |
| Eating right can ward off many of today's most | | | | The Zone Diet acts to bring your metabolism back to |
| debilitating diseases. "You are what you eat," is more | | | | normal by keeping insulin and cortisol levels steady |
| than just an old saying. It is the basic truth behind health | | | | throughout the day and eliminating spikes which |
| and nutrition. | | | | normally occur when a person with a malfunctioning |
| A diet high in sugar and refined foods will eventually | | | | thyroid eats a meal. |
| come back to haunt you in some way. To have a | | | | Even if you have a very slow metabolism due to |
| healthy body and to support your thyroid and your | | | | hypothyroidism, by closely following the Zone Diet, you |
| emotional state, you need to eat a healthy diet. | | | | may find that you can finally begin to shed those |
| These foods are thought to be bad for thyroid health: | | | | unwanted pounds. You don't have to worry about the |
| cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, kale, soy and broccoli. So | | | | Zone Diet being an unhealthy fad diet either since it |
| it may be wise to avoid them if you have thyroid | | | | allows you to eat a healthy diet and consume it in |
| disease. In addition, these foods should be avoided or | | | | quantities that satisfy your hunger. This way of eating |
| used in moderation: sugar, refined food, wheat, alcohol, | | | | is more about maintaining healthy hormone levels |
| caffeine, and dairy products. | | | | rather than controlling calories. |
| If you have hypothyroidism, your body may respond | | | | The Zone Diet does limit your carbohydrates, at least |
| much better if you consume small meals several times | | | | from refined foods. The reason this is effective for |
| a day instead of three large meals. Try limiting your | | | | people with thyroid disease is because your body is |
| meals to around 300 calories each and eating six to | | | | pretty sluggish when it comes to processing |
| seven times a day. | | | | carbohydrates which is why they get stored on your |
| In developed countries it is unusual for lack of iodine to | | | | body as fat. By keeping your insulin levels steady |
| be a cause of hypothyroidism or too much iodine to be | | | | throughout the day, this allows your body to go to |
| the cause of hyperthyroidism. However, sometimes it | | | | work and break down the complex carbohydrates |
| is recommended to include seaweed, particularly | | | | that you are allowed to eat which prevents those |
| bladderwrack, in your diet in order to increase natural | | | | from being stored as fat also. |
| iodine. | | | | Thyroid disease also places a lot of mental and |
| Try to consume a diet that is filled with plenty of high | | | | physical stress on your body which causes your |
| fiber foods that are low in calories. Select foods that | | | | cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol has an effect upon insulin |
| are low on the glycemic index. Eat healthy foods | | | | which further effects your weight and metabolism. The |
| which will provide you with plenty of energy and avoid | | | | Zone Diet works to keep your cortisol levels steady |
| empty calories. Coincidentally, the Zone Diet by Dr. | | | | which can alleviate some of the physical stress on |
| Barry Sears advocates following these dietary | | | | your system. When your insulin levels are chronically |
| principals as well. The Zone Diet was not developed to | | | | out of range, your body becomes insulin resistant. |
| treat hypothyroidism but it appears as if it might be | | | | Insulin resistance and too much cortisol in your body |
| helpful. | | | | set the stage for chronic health conditions like Type II |
| The Zone Diet author advises people to eat a | | | | diabetes and thyroid disease. |
| balanced meal each time food is consumed, even if it | | | | Begin to view your food as medicine instead of |
| is a snack. The meal should contain protein, | | | | something you eat for pleasure or to quiet your hunger. |
| carbohydrates and a healthy fat. An easy way to | | | | Consider what effect the food will have on your body. |
| follow the zone diet is to divide your plate into thirds. | | | | Avoid anything that will give you a sugar rush and |
| One third of your plate is reserved for lean protein in | | | | signal your pancreas for a corresponding spike of |
| the form of meat or fish. The portion size should equal | | | | insulin. Eat healthy whole foods that will nourish your |
| the size of the palm of your hand. The other two thirds | | | | body and not put more stress upon your overworked |
| of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. | | | | system. emotional well being. |
| Include a dash of healthy fats such as a macadamia | | | | |