New Delhi, December 19 (IANS). Thyroid problems are becoming very common in today’s fast-paced life. Earlier this disease was less common among the youth, but now people of all ages, from children to the elderly, are being affected by it. The biggest reasons for this are changing lifestyle, wrong eating habits, stress and lack of physical activities.
Both Ayurveda and science believe that thyroid is not a disease that can be cured only by medicines, but it is a problem related to the complete balance of the body. If hormones are to be kept healthy, it is very important to improve food and habits.
According to Ayurveda, thyroid problems are mainly associated with the imbalance of Agni (digestive power) and Kapha dosha. When digestion is weak, toxic elements start accumulating in the body, which disturbs the hormonal balance. Science also says that metabolism slows down in thyroid patients. In such a situation, excessive consumption of some things can worsen the situation. Especially sugar, caffeine and alcohol are such things which are very important to limit.
In Ayurveda, excessively sweet taste is considered to increase phlegm. Consuming too much sugar makes the body heavy, laziness increases and fat gets accumulated rapidly. According to science, excess sugar spoils insulin, which leads to weight gain and inflammation in the body. Thyroid patients already have the problem of weight gain, in such a situation sweets increase this problem manifold. Reducing sugar not only keeps the thyroid balanced, but also reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart diseases.
At the same time, in Ayurveda, caffeine is considered to be a stimulant to the body, which tires the nervous system and glands in the long run. Scientific research shows that caffeine can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland and can also reduce the effectiveness of medicines. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning suddenly increases the hormones, which increases restlessness and fatigue. Cutting down on coffee provides relief from thyroid as well as sleep, anxiety and blood pressure problems.
Apart from this, in Ayurveda, alcohol is described as a poison for the body, which weakens Agni. According to science, alcohol has a direct effect on the liver. Our liver itself converts thyroid hormone into active hormone. When the liver becomes weak due to alcohol, this process does not occur properly and hormonal imbalance increases. Quitting alcohol improves thyroid as well as fatty liver, acidity and mental stress.
To get relief from thyroid, Ayurveda recommends eating simple food. Homemade food, timely meals, light exercise, and adequate sleep help keep hormones balanced. Science also believes that when the body gets proper nutrition and rest, it starts healing itself.
–IANS
PK/ABM