Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid: What’s the Difference?

Quick view: What is the difference between Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid and how you can get your hormones back into a healthy happy hormonal balance naturally, safely, at-home.

Post in a Snap Shot: Thyroid Problems the Top Most Asked Questions Answered Here

• Which is worse hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism?
• Is hypothyroidism easier to treat than hyperthyroidism?
• Which thyroid causes weight gain?
• How do you tell if your thyroid is overactive or underactive?
• Does hypothyroidism cause belly fat?
• How did I get hypothyroidism?
• How do you fix thyroid weight gain?
• How long after starting thyroid medication will I lose weight?

Which is worse hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism?

Neither Hyperthyroidism nor Hypothyroidism is worse than the other. However, they are both serious autoimmune conditions that must be treated or they could lead to major health implications even death if left untreated. While one is not worse than the other they are opposites of each other. Only about 1% of Americans experience hyperthyroidism and around 5% experience hypothyroidism. 

Hyperthyroidism 

Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive. It is producing too much thyroid hormone and the body is unable to process the excess which leads to:

• Increased metabolism
• Irregular heartbeats
• Weight Loss
• Sweating
• Anxiety

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Graves’ Disease. Graves’ disease is when your body’s antibodies are over-stimulated and cause the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone. Causing heat problems, weight loss, loss of appetite, and sensitivity to heat. 

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is more common and many women experience hypothyroidism after having babies or around age 40 when menopause or premenopause is beginning causing major hormonal fluctuations. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is underactive. Either not producing enough thyroid hormone or the body not receiving or processing it properly leading to a deficiency. 

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Goiter 
• Sensitivity to the cold

Hypothyroidism symptoms are often caused by lead to leaky gut, food sensitivities, environmental toxins, chemicals found in our personal hygiene products or home cleaning products, nutrient deficiencies, infections, hormonal imbalances during high stress, pregnancies, and menopause.  

Top Signs of Hormonal Imbalance 

Fluctuations in hormones in women can cause many frustrating side effects for women and if left untreated can lead to chronic issues that will progressively get worse. The most common hormonal fluctuations in women occur during menstrual cycles, premenopause, menopause, pregnancy, and chronic stress or sleep issues. Leading to inulin resistance and thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary gland disorders. 

Symptoms to look out for are:

• Weight gain, hormonal imbalance weight gain shows up around the belly, thighs, and butt causing the “pair-shaped” body type 
• Hair Loss
• Insulin drops – feeling Hangry 
• Dry Skin
• Irregular menstruation (periods)
• Infertility
• Irregular menstruation (periods)
• Infertility
• Acne and hormonal acne
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disease/disorder
• Obesity 
• Slow heartbeat or rapid heartbeat 
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea or more frequent bowel movements.
• Numbness and tingling in your hands.
• Higher-than-normal blood cholesterol levels.
• Depression or anxiety.
• Unable to tolerate cold temperatures or warm temperatures.
• Dry, coarse skin and hair.
• Thin, warm, and moist skin.
• Irregular body fat distribution.
• Darkened skin in your armpit or the back and sides of your neck.
• Skin tags (small skin growths).
• Extreme thirst and frequent urination.
• Sensitivity to heat or cold
• Trimmers 
• Sweating 
• Goiter 
• Irregular Heartbeats
• Muscle weakness

Is Hypothyroidism Easier to Treat than Hyperthyroidism?

This varies on a case-by-case basis. The treatment for both is similar in the fact that step one is to eliminate foods that are highly inflammatory or known endocrine (hormone) disruptors. Foods such as gluten, dairy, soy, processed foods, and seed oils are the first place to start whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. 

Next, would be to eliminate known endocrine disruptors from your home and personal hygiene products. Ingredients such as dyes, fragrances, sulfates, and parabens are all at the top of the list of endocrine disruptors.

Lastly, would be to add vitamins and supplements to help aid your body while it is healing and resetting your hormonal balance and staying active. Aiming for 15,000 steps a day, getting to bed and waking up at the same time establishing healthy sleep patterns, and light or moderate exercise will all help your body reset to a healthy hormonal balance. 

Here is a great step & sleep tracker to monitor your daily activity and the quality of your sleep. Poor quality sleep can lead to obesity, hormonal imbalance, depression, and many other negative health-related problems. Sleep is one of the most overlooked areas, trust me good sleep = restoration and healing in and of itself.

Which thyroid causes weight gain?

The thyroid that causes weight gain is hypothyroid. Hormonal imbalance weight gain can feel next to impossible to lose. Unlike normal weight gain that comes from poor diet or lifestyle choices you cannot lose hormonal weight gain without also fixing the root of the problem, the hormonal imbalance itself. For this reason, calorie restriction and working out more will actually do more harm than good.

After several years of trial and error in my own journey to healing hypothyroidism, I found that a Clean Keto Diet was the most effective eating style to see weight loss quickly as I also was able to continuously reduce the medication until after several years I was able to fully heal my thyroid, lose 50+ pounds, and be off all thyroid medication. 

Medical Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am a normal person just like you who had a hormonal imbalance that I was told was incurable by a medical professional. I refused to believe it and took my health into my own hands. Healing my autoimmune system (hypothyroidism) and weaning off all medication naturally losing over 50 pounds in the process and keeping it off for over 6 years now! The information I share is based on my own journey and is not medical advice, but it is meant to help lead you to find your own answers and solutions in your healing journey. 

The Best Diet to Fix Hormonal Imbalance & Loose Weight

Odds are pretty good that if you have gained weight and not been able to easily lose it, or have been overweight for more than a year then there is a hormonal imbalance involved. Regarding the question of does being overweight or obese causes a hormonal imbalance or does hormonal imbalance causes obesity the simple answer is yes!

It does not really matter which came first if you have one the other is soon to follow. 

The best diet for hormonal weight gain in my own personal experience, and in helping so many heal their hormones as well is hands down the Clean Keto Diet. 

Clean Keto is essentially the keto diet minus dairy and avoiding highly refined processed foods I like to call Frankin’ Foods. Foods that are not real, are cooked up in a lab somewhere using God only knows what, and they are made to last on the shelf for years and be highly addicting so that you buy more. 

When I started Keto almost six years ago now it was the school of hard knocks for me. I spent months researching and meal planning trying to figure it all out myself. Now, I can recommend to you the Custom Keto Meal Planner for weight loss as the big red easy button to start Keto. 

Custom Keto Meal Planner quizzes you on your taste buds and weight loss goals and then formulates the perfect done-for-you meal plan to fit your needs. It even emails you the shopping list every week for less than a dinner out with friends (it’s under $40 per month).

Does hypothyroidism cause belly fat?

Yes, hypothyroidism does cause belly fat, the term for it is hormonal belly fat. One of the top signs of a hormonal imbalance is weight gain around the belly, hips, thighs, and butt area known as the pair-shaped body type. Anyone who has ever tried to lose belly fat knows it is the last place our bodies will release weight. 

So be patient and stay consistent. 

How did I get hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is most common for both men and women when there is a stressful situation or when we reach the age of 40 and our hormones begin to change. Women commonly develop hypothyroidism during or post-pregnancy as well. Hypothyroidism can be caused by toxins in our environment, homes, or personal hygiene products and by the foods that we consume. 

Poor sleep quality over a prolonged period of time can lead to hormonal imbalances and hypothyroidism as well as obesity. Obesity is another common cause of hypothyroidism. Whether obesity lead to hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism leads to obesity if you have one odd are good you have the other. 

How long after starting thyroid medication will I lose weight?

For me personally, and so many I have coached or spoken to is never. I was on thyroid medication for over two years and did not lose a pound. I actually ended up gaining weight despite clean eating and working out. Gaining weight despite being on thyroid medication is more normal than being able to lose weight.

This is the reason that I set off on the natural healing journey myself. After countless doctors and specialist ran hundreds of tests the only answer I was left with was, “sorry K’Lee this is just something you are going to have to deal with and manage for the rest of your life.” 

That was unexceptable. I knew that if I could find at least one other person who had an autoimmune disease and healed themeselves then so could I. Six years later I will say I can be that one person for you! That is why I started this blog to share how I did it so you could too!