Hypothyroidism and Water Weight...What's the Link?

In my last post about hypothyroidism and water weight, I showed how retaining water can cause health problems. I think that those looking to really understand what is going on with their hypothyroidism want to know "Why?"

In a lot of cases, if you know "Why," then you know how to manage it.

So here we go...

First, people with hypothyroidism have problems polymerizing certain tissue structures into usable glycoproteins.

Translation: Your body makes different types of connective tissue by combining short strands into longer ones. People with hypothyroidism have problems doing this. You end up with more of these smaller strands that aren't linked together.

Theses smaller strands have a greater cumulative hydrophilic (water loving) charge, so they attract more water.

End result is an increase water weight.

Secondly, some people with hypothyroidism have problems with both allergens and toxic metals (which can be the actual reason for the hypothyroidism). These pollutant can really cause havoc in multiple areas in the body, including the thyroid.

Your body can handle a small amount of these toxins, but struggles when the amount gets past its breaking point. Your body needs to do something to defend against these toxins.

Your body's solution to pollution is dilution.

Let's say you had very tart lemonade, what would you do? Add water.

Your body does the same thing, by adding water (retaining water) to try to lower the effects of the toxins (it dilutes it).

End result is an increase in water weight.


So there are 2 reasons for retaining water in people with hypothyroidism. One cause of water weight is due to a shift in elcertochemical charge, and the other is a defense mechanism of the body.

(And yes, both can happen in the same person)

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Retaining Water? Learn Why So Many Can't Drop The Water Weight.

Have you noticed that some people just look puffy? They have puffy eyes, their ankles look swollen, their skin looks stretched...these people are just retaining water, known as water weight.

How does water weight cause problems in those with hypothyroidism?

Cells need to maintain a certain amount of water in order to function. As a matter of fact, cells need enough water inside in order to survive.

Retaining water means that the water is not in the cells where it should be. Something has caused the water to be sucked out of the cell and it's now outside the cell (in the extracellular matrix).

Retaining water weight is a very common occurrence in hypothyroidism. Here are a couple of things you may have noticed due to it:

1. You retain more water, looking puffy or swollen all over


2. You may have some numbness and tingling in your hands and feet as the swollen tissue puts pressure on nerves


3. You have lowered blood pressure, since the water is sucked out from your blood and causes low blood volume


4. You are always cold, since you have a low blood volume


5. You are anemic despite supplementing with iron. This can happen because retaining water creates a lower blood volume, as well as the fact that hypothyroidism causes a lower production of red blood cells due to lower body temperature.


6. You are more prone to Alzheimer's disease and stroke, since you have poor blood supply to the brain.
   

Just like thinning hair, cold hands and stubborn weight loss, water weight is a sign of hypothyroidism.

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