The Risks of Fasting With Thyroid Disease

• Thyroid Disease

The thyroid gland is responsible for a host of issues but is basically the gland that regulates your metabolism by balancing catabolic processes (those that break down body tissues) and anabolic processes (those that build body tissues.) Together, these two processes combine to form your "metabolism"- the metabolic rate you live with each day. An overactive thyroid gland can lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as anxiety, unexplained weight loss, rapid heartbeat and heat intolerance. An underactive thyroid gland can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, low energy and cold intolerance. Thyroid disease may be complicated by periods of both over-activity and under-activity.

The effects of fasting alter the metabolic rate (shifting the balance towards catabolic processes.) Thus, fasting may conflict with any ongoing treatment that thyroid patients may receive. Anyone with thyroid disease understands the delicate balancing act patients and physicians experience while attempting to find the right dosage of medication to help properly adjust an individual’s metabolism. The metabolic changes that fasting causes may complicate this balancing act even further.

Fasting may also alter the absorption of some thyroid medications. Unless strictly supervised these issues make fasting an extremely risky practice for the patient with thyroid disease. Therefore, if you have thyroid disease you must check with your doctor before engaging in the practice of fasting.

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