Drinking coffee could help you to lose weight and lower risk of diabetes: Study

 A high blood caffeine level might curb the amount of body fat a person carries and their risk of type 2 diabetes, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

Monday, 20 Mar 2023

In light of their findings, the potential role of calorie-free caffeinated drinks for lowering the risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes is probably now worth exploring, say the researchers.

Previously published research indicates that drinking three to five cups of coffee daily – a rich source of caffeine – is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (heart) disease, note the researchers.

An average cup of coffee contains around 70-150 milligrammes of caffeine.

Stronger scientific evidence has emerged to support the benefits of coffee in helping to reduce weight and the risk of type 2 diabetes. — AFP

But most of the published research to date have been observational studies, which can’t reliably establish causal effects, because of the other potentially-influential factors involved, point out the researchers.

What’s more, it’s difficult to disentangle any specific effects of caffeine from the other compounds included in caffeinated drinks and foods, they add.

To try and overcome these issues, the researchers used Mendelian randomisation to find out what effect higher blood caffeine levels have on body fat and the long-term risks of type 2 diabetes and major cardiovascular diseases.

The latter diseases included coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure and irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).

Mendelian randomisation is a technique that uses genetic variants as proxies for a particular risk factor – in this case, caffeine levels in blood – to obtain genetic evidence in support of a particular outcome.

In this study, those outcomes were weight (as measured through body mass index, or BMI) and type 2 diabetes risk.

The researchers looked at the role of two common genetic variants of the CYP1A2 and AHR genes in nearly 10,000 people of predominantly European ancestry, who were taking part in six long-term studies.

The CYP1A2 and AHR genes are associated with the speed of caffeine metabolism in the body.

People who carry genetic variants associated with slower caffeine metabolism drink, on average, less coffee, yet have higher levels of caffeine in their blood, compared to people who metabolise it quickly.

Do note that your coffee has to be calorie-free, so no added sugar or creamer allowed. — Marco Verch/Flickr

The results of the analysis showed that higher genetically-predicted blood caffeine levels were associated with lower weight (BMI) and body fat.

Higher genetically-predicted blood caffeine levels were also associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers then used Mendelian randomisation to further explore the extent to which any effect of caffeine on type 2 diabetes risk might principally be driven by the concurrent weight loss.

The results showed that weight loss drove nearly half (43%) of the effect of caffeine on type 2 diabetes risk.

No strong associations emerged between genetically-predicted blood caffeine levels and the risk of any of the studied cardiovascular disease outcomes.

The researchers acknowledge various limitations to their findings, including the use of only two genetic variants and the inclusion of only people of European ancestry.

But caffeine is known to boost metabolism, increase fat burning and reduce appetite, they explain.

And a daily intake of 100mg has been estimated to increase energy expenditure by around 100 calories a day, which could consequently lower the risk of developing obesity.

“Our Mendelian randomisation finding suggests that caffeine might, at least in part, explain the inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes,” write the researchers.

“Randomised controlled trials are warranted to assess whether non-caloric, caffeine-containing beverages might play a role in reducing the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes,” they conclude.

Related stories:

Coffee's effects on blood pressure and blood sugar

Drinking coffee could help you live longer, study says

Coffee is fine for those with high blood pressure

Women, eat Mediterranean for your heart

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2023/03/20/could-drinking-coffee-help-dissolve-those-extra-kilos

The One Thing To Boost Your Metabolism

We hear about a lot of ways to boosting your metabolism for weight loss and better health, but what’’s the one thing to do it best?  It’s fasting! Intermittent fasting (IF).

Posted by Elaine Iseri on Mar 8th, 2019 // No Comments

We hear about a lot of ways to boosting your metabolism for weight loss and better health, but what’’s the one thing to do it best?  It’s fasting! Intermittent fasting (IF).

Most people relate fasting to weight loss, internal body cleansing or a religious practice for spiritual enlightenment.  But while our metabolic health does influence our body’s ability to maintain a healthy weight, it’s so much more.

The definition of metabolism, according to Medicine Net, is:  a whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. In other words, metabolism is the mechanism your body uses to convert food to fuel, nutrients to support growth and getting rid of your waste for instance. So ensuring that your metabolism is working as it should is of highest importance in your daily life.

Past studies have shown that high-intensity interval workouts, drinking a lot of water, getting a good night’s sleep and even eating spicy foods could increase or maintain a healthy metabolism. But the best means to do this is by intermittent fasting (IF).

A study published in the latest issue of Scientific Reports by a combined group of research experts from Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and Kyoto University found a group of metabolic markers that usually decreases with age which influences our general health.  However, the study also showed that IF affects the body’s ability to increase these markers and provide a winning method for long term good health.

The study is pretty complex, but in laymen’s terms it essentially means that when we fast for a period of time, metabolites like butyrates, which have anti-inflammatory effects, are released, along with the chemicals of purine and pyrimidine which are crucial for protein synthesis and gene development, and anti-oxidants which prevent age-related diseases and decline.

iI has long been known that fasting  promotes longer life spans, but now we have a scientific study discovering one of the possible explanations for longevity which is the production of antioxidants during fasting.

As the lead author of the study, Dr. Takayuki Teruya, explained that “These are very important metabolites for maintenance of muscle and antioxidant activity, respectively. This result suggests the possibility of a rejuvenating effect by fasting, which was not known until now.”

So, along with good aerobic exercise, adequate sleep and water intake and a healthy diet, IF is the way to go for good health maintenance and especially for increasing longevity.

mindbodygreen.comhas a beginner’s guide to IF for those who wish to start on a program to better health and increased longevity.

https://www.modernreaders.com/news/2019/03/08/the-one-thing-to-boost-your-metabolism.html

Restricting calories might offer protection against age-related diseases - A scientist who studies aging reveals how

• A scientist who studies aging in monkeys thinks that metabolism is at the center of the aging process.
• In her studies, caloric restriction seemed to protect monkeys against age-related damage and diseases.
• A study on caloric restriction in humans showed parallel effects.

Instead of survival of the fittest, evolution might actually be about survival of the laziest.

That’s according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal The Royal Society. Researchers from the University of Kansas studied fossils of ancient mollusks and gastropods, and found that organisms with higher metabolic rates were more likely to go extinct.

Charlotte Hu, Business Insider US

August 23, 2018

A capuchin monkey in Trujillo, Honduras.

 

US Air Force/Capt. David J. Murphy

Animals that required less energy to power their daily lives and maintain their bodily functions were more likely to win in the long run, the results showed.

While metabolism isn’t the only factor that determines whether a species goes extinct, the researchers suggest that it’s a very important component of long-term survival.

That new finding adds to a growing body of evidence that links lower metabolism with longevity. (Naked mole rats, for example, are the longest living rodentsthanks to a quirk in their metabolism.)

Rozalyn Anderson, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health, told Business Insider that her work in monkeys also suggests metabolism is at the center of the aging process.

“I think it’s all about energy: energy use, energy storage and the type of pathways that are being engaged to derive energy,” she said.

Restricting calories in monkeys

Anderson’s most recent research has been on the impacts of restricting caloric intake in Rhesus monkeys.

In a study of 76 monkeys published in the journal Science in 2009, Anderson and her colleagues found that restricting how many calories the animals consumed by 25% over a span of 20 years made them age differently, compared to a group of control monkeys that ate however much they wanted.

The monkeys who ate less were 2.5 times less likely to have an age-related disease like cancer or heart disease.

“The calorically restricted animals age differently,” Anderson said. “They don’t age slower, they age differently, and the way they age is associated with less disease risk. And that difference is in terms of their metabolism.”

She added that restricting a body’s caloric intake – the fuel it takes in – alters how the body produces and consumes energy, making it more energetically efficient.

Anderson also noted that the monkeys that underwent caloric restriction maintained their level of physical activity as they aged, whereas the control animals’ physical activity levels decreased. She explained at a conference in 2014that for calorically restricted animals, there’s a lower metabolic cost associated with movement – more “bang for your buck” when it comes to trading nutrients for usable energy units.

When humans restrict their calories, researchers have seen similar outcomes. A two-year-long, NIH-supported study published in The Journals of Gerontology in 2015 found that participants who restricted their calories by 12% on average saw decreases in risk factors that contribute to age-related heart disease and diabetes. The experiment did not significantly alter their metabolism, though.

Read more: Animals that defy the rules of aging – like naked mole rats – could help scientists unravel the secrets to longevity

Shutterstock

Connecting the dots between factors in the aging process

Anderson said that in her various studies of different facets of aging, she’s most fascinated when her research uncovers pathways that converge and overlap. This is happening more and more in the field of aging, and it’s helping her piece together why caloric restriction seems to alter parts of the aging process.

“I think it’s all completely connected, and these are just different ways of looking at the same phenomenon, which is the things that change with age that makes older people more vulnerable to disease than young people,” Anderson said. “How could you imagine a machine as complicated as a person or a monkey or a mouse, and not have it massively interconnected?”

For example, she found that a specific group of microRNAs – molecules that control gene expression – that she studied in relation to aging a while back plays an active role in the body’s response to caloric restriction. Anderson also found links between caloric restriction and her previous studies on NAD, a molecule that’s tied to energy metabolism and mitochondria. Putting these cellular-level studies into a bigger picture allows Anderson to gauge how all the moving parts come together when calories are limited.

“There’s this idea that the constellation of cells in a tissue are performing different tasks and different ones are creating vulnerability in different ways,” Anderson said. “It’s becoming more nuanced, for sure, it’s becoming more complicated. But it’s also making more sense. Which is why I think it’s kind of cool.”

Aging is inevitable, Anderson said, but her work is suggesting that how you age is flexible and manipulatable.

Understanding the relationship between metabolism and aging will allow scientists to better design studies on longevity. And as more research reveals how and why animals with lower metabolisms live longer and survive better, scientists may be able to figure out ways to mimic those effects in humans.

https://www.businessinsider.my/restricting-calories-could-protect-against-aging-2018-8/

Reduce insulin sensitivity 43%

If you have a tendency toward obesity and diabetes, managing your weight and health is a constant struggle. You have to closely monitor everything you eat and maintain a rigorous exercise schedule just to stay healthy.



Jenny Smiechowski

Not everyone understands just how hard this can be…

Some people can eat anything, barely exercise and still maintain a balanced blood sugar and stay thin (although, thin doesn’t always mean healthy).

So what’s the difference between someone who can eat what they want and someone who has to count every calorie?

Well, it all comes down to metabolic health.

Basically, people who struggle with weight, prediabetes and diabetes have an imbalance in their metabolism. That means that their body doesn’t metabolize food correctly. More specifically, it struggles to extract the glucose that enters their bloodstream from food because their body isn’t producing enough of the hormone insulin.

This can happen for a bunch of reasons, including genetic predisposition. But it can also happen after eating too much unhealthy food for too long. The body’s insulin factory (the pancreas) gets worn out and stops producing it as effectively.

Now, the best natural way to get your metabolic balance back on track is through diet and exercise. But there are also a few metabolic health hacks you can use to reset your metabolism, so staying healthy isn’t such an uphill battle.

In fact, researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands recently found that if you want to improve your metabolic health significantly, all you have to do is reprogram your thermostat…

Master your metabolic health with your thermostat

If you’re like most people, you probably set your thermostat to a stable, comfortable temperature… usually somewhere between 69 and 71 degrees. But this might not be helping your metabolic health.

In fact, Maastricht University researchers found that exposing your body to temperatures outside of this comfort zone could fight serious metabolic diseases like diabetes.

More specifically, they discovered that fluctuating the temperature between comfortable temperatures and slightly chilly temperatures improves glucose metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes…

After just 10 days spent in periods of intermittent cold, study participants with type 2 diabetes were able to improve their insulin sensitivity by 43 percent! That’s just as effective as pharmaceutical options… with a lot less side effects.

Researchers also found that exposing yourself to colder temps converts your body’s unhealthy white fat into healthy brown fat… and you want as much brown fat as you can get because it helps you burn more calories.

Try the temperature sugar trick

So, if you really want to make your metabolic health more manageable, try toying around with your thermostat. In the study, researchers exposed participants to intermittent doses of 59 degree temps for a total of 6 hours per day.

You may be a little uncomfortable at times. But, truth be told, most worthwhile health practices take you out of your comfort zone. Just think about how you feel when you try to eat healthier or start a new exercise routine. It may be hard at first, but you keep doing it because the benefits are worth it. And, in the case of exposing yourself to cooler indoor temps, the benefits are definitely worth it… especially if you have blood sugar issues.

Of course, don’t fall into the trap of thinking temperature fluctuation can completely replace a healthy diet and exercise. You still need to eat nutritious foods and keep your body moving. But reprogramming your thermostat is a quick and easy way to make your metabolic health a little better and your life a little easier.

Sources:

1. Study finds major health benefits linked to indoor temperature variation — MedicalXpress. Retrieved April 28, 2017.

2. Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, et al. “Healthy excursions outside the thermal comfort zone.” — Building Research & Information, 2017.

https://easyhealthoptions.com/health-hack-reduces-insulin-sensitivity-43/

Are CHEMICALS found in food packaging making us FAT?

CHEMICALS found in food packaging could contribute to WEIGHT GAIN, a shocking study has revealed.

This post is on Healthwise

By BECKY FLETCHER

PUBLISHED: 15:41, Wed, Jan 20, 2016 | UPDATED: 15:05, Fri, Jan 22, 2016

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http://kvors.com/click/?s=88377&c=89569&subid=21512

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Plasticisers in food packaging may mess with hormones and lead to weight gain

Exposure to chemicals found in food packaging could be messing with hormones and triggering weight problems even in "low concentrations", warn scientists.

Phthalates - chemicals that make plastic more flexible - may get into food and become ingested.

Found in food packaging, they are most commonly transferred from containers of fatty products like cheese and sausages but can also get in to our bodies through the skin.

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Packaging containing fatty foods, like sausages, may be worse type of food container

When such "plasticisers" enter someone’s body, it may have knock on effects for a person’s hormones.

The researchers warned exposure to phthalates - which can also be found in vinyl flooring and tablecloths - may alter metabolic processes.

Metabolic processes affect the rate at which you burn energy, therefore calories - as a consequence any disruption may cause weight gain.

GETTY
Exposure to phthalates may alter metabolic processes

Dr Martin von Bergen, from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany said: “It is evident that phthalates seriously interfere with the hormone balance.

“The give rise to significant changes, e.g. weight gain, even in low concentrations.”

The researchers determined that the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the blood increased and the glucose metabolism was disrupted under the influence of phthalates. 

GETTY

Researchers plan to explore this exciting link even further to establish the full impact

The composition of receptors in the blood also changed. These receptors are important for general metabolism and may cause it to develop.

The study’s authors said as there’s no conclusive clarification on how the chemical impacts metabolism and encourages weight gain, they will continue to research the link and evaluate findings.

A spokesperson for European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates said: "There is no evidence that exposure to phthalates contributes to obesity – claiming that one single substance is making people fat is simply scaremongering and far from reality. Lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption are major factors in determining the health of human populations."

The research was published in the PLOS one journal.

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/636478/chemicals-found-food-packaging-making-fat

Go to Healthwise for more articles

Detoxing heavy metals

Posted on 25 November 2013 - 07:23pm

Steve Yap

IT IS ESTIMATED that from birth till age 50, we would have ‘consumed’ up to two tons of toxic wastes from our food, water, beverages, medications, and environmental pollution.

Since we’re constantly being exposed to toxic metals and chemicals, we may never be able to remove all toxins from our blood, brain or body tissues.

Being bio-accumulative, these metals present in blood of an expecting mother could be passed on to her foetus through its placenta.

Consequently, heavy metal toxicity has been linked to higher incidence of autism, attention deficit disorder, and mental retardation in children.

► Role of liver

Oil-based toxins may be processed for removal by our liver. Phase I detoxification requires nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, vitamins Bs, ascorbic acid, niacin, and folate.

Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions involving energy metabolism, protein and nucleic acid synthesis.

Excess calcium intake or consuming black tea, soft drinks, salt, or alcohol lowers this mineral in our body. Zinc is required for some 300 catalytic functions in various bodily enzymes whereas niacin is used in more than 200 co-enzymes.

Nutrients for the complex 6 sub-phases of Phase II include taurine, sulphoraphane, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, magnesium, vitamins B1, B5 and B6, molybdenum, curcumin, glucoronic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, N-acetyl-cysteine, and other sulphur-based amino acids.

If there’s more rapid clearance of toxins during Phase 1 compared to Phase 2, the accumulation of toxic load can worse your liver functions. Fat cells can store more than a hundred times more chemical toxins than in other tissues.

Toxins can travel to vital organs such as the brain, heart, endocrine glands, as well as to joints and tissues throughout the body triggering pain, discomfort, and bodily dysfunction.

► Bile flow obstruction

Dehydration or consuming excessive amount of refined starch/sugar leading to elevated blood triglyceride levels can slow bile flow.

Fruit sugar and alcoholic beverages promote fatty liver. Bile acid can harden to form ‘gallstones’ that obstruct bile flow.

Under no circumstance should a detox programme be initiated if there’s evidence of bile flow obstruction. Most gallstones may be safely ‘softened’ and emptied into intestines.

► Mercury and other chemicals

The principal sources of this highly toxic metal can come from dental amalgam (silver fillings) and seafood.

It is also found in soil and drinking water in many countries.

According to Edlich et al. 2007, amalgam restorative material contains 50% mercury, which emits toxic vapor during food chewing, teeth brushing, or drinking hot beverages.

US-FDA (2013) listed several medicines as containing mercury ingredients.

Almost all salt-water fish contain some methyl-mercury, which is highly damaging to human. Bigger fish that are higher in the food chain have the highest levels of mercury in their flesh.

Smaller items of seafood tend to have lower toxicity levels and these include ikan bilis, angels, snapper, sotong, octopus, prawn, sardine, trout, clams, and shellfish.

According to WHO (2013), exposure to mercury can cause serious health problems such as dysfunction to our nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.

Complementary medicine uses nutraceuticals to promote its elimination from the body.

Lead toxicity can come from batteries, home renovations, auto repair centres, lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust in older buildings, as well as from contaminated air, water and soil.

According to the Mayo Clinic (2013), signs and symptoms in adults may include hypertension, headache, memory loss, mood disorders, weak mental functioning, abdominal pain, numbness or tingling in arms and legs, muscular weakness, low sperm count, infertility, miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women.

Organic arsenic found in fish, prawn, clams, and other seafood are generally non-toxic.

Most insecticides, herbicides, or rodenticides used in farming contain the highly toxic inorganic arsenic which can be carried into our drinking water and food chain.

Farmed poultry may contain the highest levels of arsenic, due to the chicken feed containing various types of antibiotics.

Symptoms after exposure include blood disorders, drowsiness, headaches, and confusion.

Cadmium toxicity can come from cigarette smoke, dry batteries, industrial wastes, fungicides sprayed on food, and even drinking water.

It is being linked to breast cancer, kidney damage and osteoporosis or skeletal damage.

It damages our nervous and enzyme activities, while impairing metabolism of important minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and sodium.

Symptoms of elevated cadmium may include high blood pressure, poor appetite, dry scaly skin, hair loss, lowered immunity, and loss of sense of smell.

Aluminum exposure comes primarily from our diet such as acidic or spicy foods cooked with aluminum foil or in aluminum cookware, water boiled using aluminum container, coffee/tea beverages brewed/stored in aluminum containers, sliced/processed cheeses, cake mixes, self-rising flour, chocolate mixes, non-dairy creamers used in coffee/tea mixes, canned soft drinks/beverages, toothpaste, shampoos, anti-perspirants, antacids and pain-relieving medications.

Its toxicity may result in higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, poor memory, learning/ behavioural disorders as well as fatigue, infertility, liver and skin diseases, and gastrointestinal problems.

Don’t self-detox, seek guidance from a registered complementary medicine practitioner.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/889597

The Most Harmful Body Fat

Carl Lowe | Sep 12, 2013

Many experts have believed that body fat stored in the thighs and lower body is less dangerous to your heart health than fat that that hangs over the belt. But researchers at Washington State University in St. Louis think they have identified the most dangerous body fat of all.

The real danger, say these scientists, is excess liver fat. That is the key to insulin resistance, cholesterol abnormalities and other conditions that make you prone to diabetes and heart disease. When you possess too much fat stored in your liver, you may have what is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

“Since obesity is so much more common now, both in adults and in children, we are seeing a corresponding increase in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” says researcher Samuel Klein, M.D. “That can lead to serious liver disorders such as cirrhosis in extreme cases, but more often it tends to have metabolic consequences.”

Klein’s research shows that kids with fatty liver disease also have problems with glucose and fat metabolism. They have less HDL (good) cholesterol. Those without a fatty liver do not have markers of metabolic problems. Whether their bodies were shaped like pears or apples, it was fat in the liver that influenced metabolic risk.

“Abdominal fat is not the best marker for risk,” says Klein. “It appears liver fat is the real marker. Abdominal fat probably has been cited in the past because it tends to track so closely with liver fat. But if you look at people where the two don’t correspond — with excess fat in the liver but not in the abdomen and vice versa — the only thing that consistently predicts metabolic derangements is fat in the liver.”

Klein also found nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is related to the release of larger amounts of fatty acids into the bloodstream that, in turn, are linked to elevated triglycerides and to insulin resistance, a key precursor to type 2 diabetes.

“Multiple organ systems become resistant to insulin in these adolescent children with fatty liver disease,” Klein says. “The liver becomes resistant to insulin and muscle tissue does, too. This tells us fat in the liver is a marker for metabolic problems throughout the entire system.”

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/the-most-harmful-body-fat/

What is Thyroid-Related Fatigue?

May 06, 2008

Not all fatigue or tiredness is due to thyroid malfunction, so how do you tell the difference?

Thyroid-related fatigue begins to appear when you cannot sustain energy long enough, especially when compared to a past level of fitness or ability. If your thyroid foundation is weak, sustaining energy output is difficult. You will notice you just don’t seem to have the energy to do the things you used to be able to do.

Some of the key symptoms of thyroid fatigue include:

• Feeling like you don’t have the energy to exercise, and typically not exercising on a consistent basis.

• A heavy or tired head, especially in the afternoon, as your head is a very sensitive indicator of thyroid hormone status.

• Falling asleep as soon as you sit down and don’t have to do anything.

If you wake up energized, maintain decent energy throughout the day, are able to maintain mental alertness/sharpness, have energy as needed to meet demands, and your muscles feel fit, you do not have thyroid-related fatigue. However, the more you do not feel like this, the greater chance there is a thyroid-related problem.

Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in your body. Thyroid disease, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, infertility, muscle weakness, osteoporosis and, in extreme cases, coma or death -- yet it’s estimated that half of the cases in the United States remain undiagnosed.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) affects some 80 percent of people with thyroid disease. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, forgetfulness, depression, constipation, and changes in weight and appetite.

How do You Know if Your Thyroid is Not Working Properly?

Your body will likely let you know, and fatigue is the most common sign, followed by depression and muscle weakness. Along with the symptoms above, signs of an underactive thyroid also include:

• Difficulty losing weight despite proper diet and exercise
• Sensitivity to cold
• Dry, rough or scaly skin, and dry, tangled hair
• Hair loss, particularly from the outer part of your eyebrows
• Brittle nails

The most common conventional way physicians diagnose hypothyroidism is with a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test that is elevated beyond the normal reference range.

The range for acceptable thyroid function is between 0.3 and 3.04. In my experience, most adults with levels over 3 have hypothyroidism, and many with levels from 1.5 to 3.0 seem to benefit from thyroid support.

Be Wary of Using Hormones to Treat Hypothyroidism

Nearly every conventional medical doctor will use synthetic thyroid to treat the symptoms of underactive thyroid.

Unfortunately, in my experience, this will not help the bulk of people who are suffering with these symptoms, and to understand why you need to know a bit more about the role of your thyroid and how it functions.

Your thyroid produces several hormones, of which two are key: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make your thyroid the master gland of metabolism.

However, most people can’t effectively convert the pure T4 in the synthetic thyroid preparations to T3. A natural thyroid hormone may be a better bet and I encourage all patients taking synthetic thyroid prescriptions like Synthroid to find a natural medical doctor and switch to Armour thyroid.  Clearly this doesn’t work for everyone, just most in my experience.

But even when using natural thyroid preparations there are concerns.

You see, once you remain on a thyroid hormone for a period of years, your thyroid will tend to become progressively less functional. In time, it will probably stop producing any functional hormones whatsoever, which could condemn you to taking thyroid hormone for the rest of your life.

Natural Methods to Restore Your Thyroid

The first and most basic step you can take is to clean up your diet. This means reducing your intake of processed and refined foods, while following a nutrition plan that is right for your nutritional type.

You can also:

1. Make sure you’re getting enough selenium and iodine, which provide the raw materials for your thyroid gland to work better.

2. Get plenty of omega-3 fats from high quality sources like krill oil. A variety of studies and physiological principles suggest that omega-3 fat in doses of 3-5 grams per day would be helpful in restoring thyroid function.

3. Get a sound night’s sleep, in complete darkness.

4. Address your emotional stress. The vast majority of people's thyroid glands become impaired as a result of weak adrenal glands. The thyroid gland tries to compensate for this and eventually just gives up and stops working.

Well, adrenal impairment is frequently due to emotional stress, and unless you have these previous emotional challenges resolved, there is little likelihood of recovering your thyroid function without hormonal replacement.

[-] Sources and References

• The Environmental Illness Resource April 18, 2008

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/06/what-is-thyroid-related-fatigue.aspx

Raise Your Thyroid Hormone With Zinc

Raise Your “Master Hormone” With Zinc

Danica Collins

Did You Know….

  ...  that supplementing with zinc can boost thyroid levels so that you no longer suffer from weight problems, sexual dysfunction and low-to-no energy?

Fifty-nine million Americans suffer from some form of thyroid dysfunction. Symptoms include unexplained weight gain, an increased risk of obesity, depression, anxiety, hair loss, lagging libido, infertility and decreased energy.

It is imperative that abnormal levels of thyroid hormones be stabilized so that thyroid-related health conditions do not become chronic, incurable problems Supplementing with zinc is a safe and natural way to boost thyroid levels and help your form of thyroid dysfunction.

The Master Hormone

Dr. Oz refers to the thyroid as the “Master Hormone” because it controls virtually everything in the body. This 2-inch, butterfly-shaped hormone is located in the front of your neck beneath your voice box.

Small, but mighty, the thyroid regulates metabolism, calcium balance and the reproductive system…and promotes the use of oxygen and the production of protein.

A properly functioning thyroid owes it all to zinc. It starts with the hypothalamus—the part of the brain that produces hormones that control weight and body temperature among many other bodily processes.

The hypothalamus releases what’s called the TRH hypothalamus hormone (a hormone that requires zinc). The TRH hormone stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH. Once the thyroid gets the go ahead from TSH, it releases the hormones T3 and T4, which control a multitude of bodily functions.

Without zinc to trigger the release of TRH, the thyroid remains sluggish, resulting in an under-active thyroid and a condition know has hypothyroidism. When zinc levels are too high, the thyroid becomes over-active, resulting in hyperthyroidism.

The key is to keep those zinc levels in check. 
 

Zinc: An Essential Trace Mineral

After iron, zinc is the most crucial trace mineral in the body. It strengthens the immune system, accelerates wound healing, prevents blood clotting, and regulates reproduction, growth and sense of smell.

Unfortunately, as we age, zinc deficiency and subsequent thyroid dysfunction conditions tend to flare up. Watch out for the following signs that your zinc levels are low:

• Slow wound healing
• Reduced appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• White spots on nails

A 2009 study published in Clinical Nutrition showed just how important zinc is to the thyroid. Zinc is needed to switch inactive T4 hormones into active T3 hormones in the body.

The hypothalamus also depends on zinc in order to trigger thyroid receptors into action.

A University of Pennsylvania study published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism found that physically active females with low zinc levels were able to raise zinc levels dramatically just by supplementing with 26 mg of zinc glutonate for four months.

T3 and T4 hormone levels in the blood shot up and resting metabolic rate (RMR) raised—a sign of increased thyroid activity.

Supplementing Safely with Zinc

Supplementing with zinc

 does come with a word of caution: Studies have indicated that increased zinc levels lead to a drop in serum ferritin concentrations—an indicator of low iron levels. It’s important to monitor your iron intake while supplementing with zinc. 
 
Too much zinc has also been linked to copper deficiency—a condition that leads to health issues such as too much T4 hormone in the blood stream, which then activates an over-stimulated thyroid.

Always consult a healthcare practitioner before adding zinc to your supplement regimen.

The recommended dose is typically 30-50 mg of zinc per day. Keep in mind that supplementing with zinc is not a quick fix, especially if you currently have a compromised immune system. If after a few months symptoms aren’t improving, consult your doctor.

Further Related Reading:

• Fact or Myth: Can You Treat Hypothyroidism Naturally?
• The Connection Between Your Thyroid and Diabetes
• Selenium Benefits Protect Against Cancer

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/treat-with-zinc-thyroid-dysfunction