Poor thyroid function is a common cause of weight problems
and this is only logical given the fact that thyroid
hormone is probably the strongest influence on the body's
metabolism. But the thyroid gland itself is only a small
part of the total thyroid hormone system. To understand
how to get optimal function of thyroid hormones to activate
the metabolism and promote weight loss (or healthy weight
maintenance), it is helpful to look at the overall system
of how thyroid hormones operate.
The stimulation of metabolism actually begins in a part of
the brain called the hypothalamus - the master hormone
controller. The hypothalmus senses the need for more or
less thyroid hormone production and when more is needed, it
signals the pituitary gland to produce a hormone called TSH
(you may have seen this hormone listed on a blood test for
thyroid function). TSH stimulates the Thyroid gland to
produce the inactive form of thyroid hormone, called T4.
As T4 levels rise in the blood, the liver converts the
inactive T4 form of thyroid hormone to the active form,
called T3. The T3 hormone then acts on receptor sites on
the cells of the body and causes the cells to produce more
mitochondria, which can be thought of a microscopic power
plants inside the cells. Mitochondria burn stored fat and
sugar to produce energy for various cellular functions (and
on a larger scale, for the whole body).
When something goes wrong in the thyroid system, the body
does not burn fat and sugar as much, so there is a tendency
for weight gain. Since energy production is down, fatigue
often sets in. And because there is not sufficient energy
for certain cellular functions, healing and tissue
regeneration may be depressed - this is most commonly
noticed as hair loss and brittle nails.
There are several possible reasons why the thyroid system
might not work as well as it should. First, there may not
be sufficient stimulation of the body to cause the
hypothalamus to start the process. The primary stimulator
of the thyroid system is exercise - primarily short bursts
of intense exercise. In other words, for healthy thyroid
function, it is more effective to do interval training in
which you do repetetive bursts of intense activity with
rest in between, than it is to do long periods of
low-intensity exercise, but any form of exercise is helpful.
Another possible problem is that the thyroid gland itself
might be damaged, either by infection, or possibly by
radiation exposure (either accidental exposure or
intentional radiation of the thyroid for cancer treatment).
In the case of actual thyroid damage, some type of thyroid
medication will usually be necessary to compensate.
Yet another possible problem in the thyroid system is poor
conversion of the inactive T4 hormone to the active T3
hormone by the liver. This typically occurs with poor
lifestyle - excessive alcohol and/or drug use, and/or bad
diet (especially a diet high in fats and animal proteins).
In many cases, liver function can be improved with healthy
lifestyle changes, and this will lead to improved thyroid
hormone activation.
Active thyroid hormone may be interfered with at the
cellular receptor sites and may not be able to properly
signal the cells to produce more mitochondria. This is a
common side-effect of estrogen and estrogen-like chemicals.
The most common sources of estrogen interference with
thyroid hormone are birth control medications and estrogen
replacement therapy. If you have experienced weight gain
and other thyroid-related symptoms since starting on birth
control or hormone replacement, you may wish to consult
with your physician about other options.
Finally, the formation of mitochondria can be interfered
with by the presence of certain chemicals. Sodium
benzoate, a preservative found in many processed foods and
beverages (especially soft-drinks) can damage the genetic
material within the cells needed for mitochondrial
formation. Here again, cleaning up the diet can be very
beneficial to overall thyroid hormone function and the
ultimate goal of weight control.
To sum things up, there are steps you can take to maximize
the metabolism-stimulating effects of the thyroid. First,
regular exercise is important, and interval-training is the
most effective for thyroid stimulation. Next, avoid
excessive alcohol consumption, avoid drugs and medications
except for those that are absolutely necessary, and keep
fat and protein intake to a moderate level so as not to
overwork the liver. Next, if you are taking any kind of
estrogen-based birth control or hormone replacement,
consider alternatives with your healthcare provider(s).
Finally, avoid the preservative sodium benzoate in order to
avoid interfering with the production of your cellular
"power plants", the mitochondria. In most cases these
steps will gradually normalize thyroid hormone function and
you will find that weight control becomes much easier. In
a few cases, medical treatment for thyroid damage may be
needed, but simple lifestyle changes are often the most
effective means of improving metabolism.
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. George Best is a holistic healthcare practitioner in
San Antonio Texas. For more information about natural
weight loss, please visit
http://www.TrainYourBrain4WeightLoss.com . Dr. Best can be
reached via email to DrBest@trainyourbrain4weightloss.com.
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