Always Cold? This Condition Could Be to Blame

If you are constantly cold for no other explainable reason, your thyroid could be to blame.

An underactive thyroid is linked to chronically low body temperature and the inability to feel warm at any given time. According to a new study from Karolinska Institutet, the link between hypothyroidism and low (or high) body temperature is better understood than ever before.

How Hypothyroidism Is Making You Cold

According to the study, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, there is a clear link between thyroid health and the size of a person’s blood vessels. When studying mice with thyroid problems, researchers found that mice with underactive thyroids lost a significant amount of heat through their tails. After further investigation, it was found that the mice could not properly constrict their blood vessels to retain heat.

The researchers concluded that this also is likely to occur in humans, which indicates that a permanent cold feeling could indicate a sluggish thyroid.

Thyroid Temperature Study Details

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study looked at mice previously studied for their defective thyroid hormone receptors. The mice were hypothyroid in a variety of tissues, including the blood vessels. The mice had an overactive metabolism, which causes conflicting results. The overactive metabolism was used to generate heat from brown fat. The overactivity of the metabolism was actually caused by a sluggish thyroid.

Basically, what was happening with the mice was that they were losing a large amount of energy through their tails, which was causing them to retain fat in order to keep their body temperatures high. The researchers found that with this particular defect in thyroid function, the mice were unable to properly constrict the blood vessels to retain heat. The researchers theorized that the same effect happens in people as well as animals who are also suffering from a thyroid that is sluggish in a similar manner.

A 1995 study conducted by McGill University in Canada showed similar results in human subjects. Study Significance What is so significant about this study? One of the main symptoms of a sluggish thyroid is sensitivity to environmental temperature, such as feeling too hot or too cold (an underactive thyroid produces feelings of cold, while an overactive thyroid produces feelings of heat). The thyroid is a necessary component for basal metabolism. The lack of heat-retaining ability caused by a malfunctioning thyroid caused the mice to create heat-generating brown tissue (fat) to control body temperature.

This could also indicate why a sluggish thyroid often leads to weight gain in humans as well. It is possible that by raising the temperature of the body, you can stimulate the thyroid to balance and eliminate excess body weight. According to the leading author of the study, Dr. Amy Warner from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, "Our study shows that the temperature sensitivity experienced by thyroid disorder patients might be due to vascular effects, and this knowledge may help the future treatment of these patients who are particularly affected.” This helps the medical industry find new ways to treat thyroid issues.

Other Temperature Factors

It is possible that your thyroid may not cause all of the cold feeling that you feel on a regular basis. Certain other conditions can also lead to feelings of coldness, like illnesses, chronic health conditions, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, skipping meals, anemia, or exhaustion. If you have another reason for feeling cold all the time, address these issues before moving on to healing your thyroid.

If you believe that a sluggish thyroid is the cause, you can ask your doctor to test your thyroid function. According to Harvard Medical School, up to 30 million people in the United States suffer from this condition, so if you meet two or more of the common symptoms, you may actually have thyroid issues.

Raise Your Body Temperature Naturally

Although the side effects of hypothyroidism reach far beyond simply gaining 20 unwanted pounds, ranging from an increased risk of heart disease to an increased risk for diabetes and much more, just by simply resetting your thyroid and raising your body temperature you can eliminate many of these unwanted and dangerous side effects.

Think about what heat actually is. Heat is simply energy. The more heat you have, the more energy you have. The more energy you have, the more ability you have to function normally and remove any extra weight and restore the proper hormone function in your body from your thyroid to every other part of your endocrine system.

Take a look at some simple ways to raise your body temperature naturally and improve your sluggish thyroid below.

The Thyroid and Your Metabolism

The hormones produced by your thyroid are responsible for regulating many of the body’s systems, including the regulation of minerals in the body and metabolic function. Your thyroid is responsible for creating the energy levels inside your body. It is also responsible for activating other hormones in the body, including sex hormones and growth hormones. The thyroid also controls other areas of the body, and is particularly responsible for maintaining essential bone health.

The main function of the thyroid, however, is energy production. This is done through the metabolism. The thyroid hormones influence at what rate your body converts food into energy and absorbs nutrients in the body. A sluggish thyroid means that you are producing less useable energy and absorbing fewer nutrients. It is easy to see how important the thyroid is when you realize just what the small gland does for the body.

How to Raise Your Body Temperature

Basically, when you raise your body temperature you are improving the metabolic function of the body. Generally, if you are successful at raising your body temperature, your thyroid will also heal and perform better in the body. You will have more energy, stay warm, and absorb more essential nutrients that will keep you healthy. You may also find that your sexual health is improved, as your thyroid can influence the ratio of sex hormones in the body, which can lead to fertility problems if the balance is off.

According to the National Institute of Health, any body temperature under 100.4 is considered the “normal” range. The higher your natural body temperature the better, within the accepted rate, because it means that your body is functioning at a high energy state. A higher temperature is better for fighting off infection, stimulating blood flow, producing hormones, and completing all processes necessary for essential body functioning.

However, many people with sluggish thyroids have body temperatures that fall well below even the “average” temperature of 98.6. It is not uncommon to see men, and women particularly, with body temperatures of 97.8 or lower when the thyroid is not functioning properly. According to thyroid expert Robert Jay Rowen, MD, low body temperature can also lead to an increased risk for many other problems, including strokes and atrial fibrillation (rapid, irregular heartbeat).

So, how do you raise your body temperature? There are five different steps you can take that are effective for raising your basal body temperature.

Food

Food is one of the best ways to raise body temperature. Chronic dieting can place the body into a state of conserving the most energy possible, which lowers the temperature of the body. Removing your body from starvation mode can boost the metabolism and help your thyroid function properly.

Eat a lot: If your body is in starvation mode, you may have to eat more than usual to get your body to recognize that you are no longer starving. Usually, this will result in the gain of some weight, but once your metabolism and thyroid function is restored, the weight will fall back off, along with any excess weight you gained along the way. Eat to fullness, and slightly beyond in this period of recovery. Once you raise your body temperature, you can return to normal portions. 

Eat regularly: If you eat according to a schedule, this can help your body realize that it can move away from starvation mode and actually burn energy. Try to stick to regular mealtimes as much as possible.

Eat the right foods: The more “warming” your food is, the higher your basal body temperature will be. Traditional foods served in winter are quite warming, and are the perfect complement toward raising your temperature and restoring thyroid function. Avoiding cold foods, like cold juices, cereal, salads, and other items served cold can also help. 

Skip low-carb: Carbohydrates have a warming effect on the body. Although eating an excessive amount of carbs can be bad, in the right proportions, carbohydrates help regulate your thyroid and help your body raise its basal temperature. Try adding a small side of carbs to each meal for temperature-raising benefits.

Eat the right fats: Fats are also warming. A 2013 study from Texas Tech University published in The Journal of Lipid Research showed how consuming the right facts can have a positive effect on the body. In the study, mice were genetically modified to create more of an enzyme that is naturally present in obese humans. The enzyme breaks down saturated fat and converts it into energy. In theory, a diet containing more saturated fats could trigger the production of this enzyme. In one study of MCT oil (coconut oil is a natural source of MCT oil), participants taking a daily supplement of coconut oil in addition to calorie restriction were able to lose an average of 4 additional pounds than participants supplementing with another kind of oil. MTC oils are routed to the liver faster than other facts, which makes them ideal for boosting energy and body temperature.

Rest

Sleep is extremely important for healing the body from a variety of chronic conditions. Without rest and sleep, your body is constantly stressed and unable to metabolize food like it should be able to do. Just by adding an extra hour or two of sleep to your regular sleep schedule should help you improve your thyroid functioning.

Remove Stress

Stress can interfere with all functions of the body. If you want to restore your thyroid and eliminate any excess weight, it is essential to remove as much stress from your life as possible. You can try relaxing each night with a relaxing activity like a warm book, gentle exercise, or warm tea. Eliminating the source of stress is also helpful, when possible.

Think Warm Thoughts

One study published in the journal PLOS ONE in 2013 showed that monks were able to raise their body temperature just by thinking about it and using meditative breathing techniques. When the same techniques were taught to study participants, they were able to also raise their body temperature by a degree or two, although the results were not as significant as the monk’s results. The researchers concluded that changes in breathing rhythm and the focused desire to warm the body can actually help you become warmer.

Take Thyroid-Boosting Supplements

Your health starts with diet, and if you are deficient in the following supplements, your thyroid will never improve. The right supplements in addition to an overall healthy diet can help you kickstart your health and warm your body from the inside out. Consider these supplements as the tools that your body can use to restore your body and maintain an even body temperature and avoid losing excess heat caused by thyroid malfunctioning.

Iodine: Iodine deficiency and a sluggish metabolism have been linked directly. Numerous studies have pointed to the link between iodine and an efficient thyroid. A 1998 study conducted by the University of Essen in Germany showed that individuals with thyroid problems who supplemented with iodine were able to boost their thyroid function in a small, but significant way.

Zinc and Copper: Zinc is also a crucial nutrient necessary for thyroid function. A 2010 study conducted by Ufuk University Medical Faculty in Turkey indicated that zinc levels are tied to a person’s thyroid health. Zinc and T3 levels are positively related in individuals with normal thyroid function and negative in individuals with low thyroid function.

Selenium: Selenium is an amino acid necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid. In a 2010 study from the University of Athens, it was shown that supplementing with selenium was effective at boosting thyroid function.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is normally thought of as an immune booster, but in one 2011 study from Sheba Medical Center in Israel indicated that individuals with thyroid disease had lowered vitamin D levels, suggesting that by boosting vitamin D levels, the thyroid could function better.

Magnesium: Several studies have also looked at the link between magnesium and thyroid problems. Studies as far back as the 1930s have looked at how magnesium affects thyroid functioning. Magnesium is essential for effective thyroid function. Many women are chronically deficient in magnesium, and supplementing can help restore the balance of hormones in the body.

Controlling Your Thyroid with Temperature

Heat is energy. Without energy, your thyroid will not function properly and you will not lose weight. Raising your body’s temperature is one simple way to help improve a sluggish thyroid and restore normal thyroid hormone levels in your body. With greater energy in your body, you will see overall improved health, reduce the side effects associated with a sluggish thyroid, and also see those excess pounds slip away.