Article written by The guide to healthy living

If you often find yourself telling your partner to increase the heat on your air conditioning or you find yourself wearing a sweater over your office clothes, while everyone else is toasty, it is time to investigate. Here are 3 reasons why you may be feeling cold all the time.

You’re too thin – If your BMI is at 18.5 or under, this can cause you to feel cold for 2 main reasons. Firstly, since you are underweight, you may not have enough fat to keep you warm. Secondly, if you are thin, you also may not be consuming the required calories, which means that your metabolism will slow down, creating less body heat. To increase your calorie intake, consider added more whole foods into your diet. Look at foods rich in protein, fats and complex carbohydrates.

Thyroid imbalances – Always feeling cold is also a sign of hypothyroidism. This happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t release enough of the thyroid hormone. If your thyroid is underperforming, your metabolism will slow down, causing your body to generate less heat. Other signs of an underperforming thyroid are thinning hair, dry skin, and fatigue. Thyroid problems are more common in women and rates are higher if you have recently been pregnant or are over 60 years of age. A simple blood test can diagnose if you have a slow thyroid.

You don’t get enough iron – Iron is needed to carry oxygen and heat throughout your body. Without iron your body is unable to effectively function, causing you to shiver. To rectify this problem, include an iron supplement and eat food rich in iron, such as meat, eggs, spinach, and seafood.