Bowel Dysfunction
One difference between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) is that the former tends to cause more frequent bowel movements, and even diarrhea, whereas the latter tends to cause constipation. The reason for this is the fact that the thyroid has an influence on both metabolism and digestion since it controls the release of the hormones that allow the body to efficiently handle nutrients. When too much of one of the hormones mentioned above is produce it leads to a digestive system that eliminates so frequently that it can lead to stomach pain and sensitivity to certain foods. More specifically, if an individual has Grave’s, they are about five times more likely to develop Celiac disease (an intolerance to gluten) than an individual who does not have Grave’s. Therefore, it is suggested that if you feel as though you might have an overactive thyroid that you eliminate gluten, dairy, and processed foods from your diet and carefully monitor how your body reacts once you introduce these things.
