| The Fat-Burning Gland. The Metabolism Gland. | | | | converted to T3, especially in areas like the liver and |
| Whatever you call the thyroid gland, there's no denying | | | | the kidney. |
| it. This small organ plays a large role in how your body | | | | Any free T3 then works its ways into the cells to |
| deals with its fat burning issues. | | | | exert a metabolic effect. |
| If your thyroid isn't working properly, then it could be | | | | Now that you know that the thyroid hormones are |
| sabotaging your fat-burning, muscle building efforts. | | | | rather complicated. You'll better appreciate the four |
| How? Seven issues can develop which can spell | | | | major issues which can go wrong with this whole |
| disaster for your weight loss plans. You could ask your | | | | process -- and which can keep you from losing your |
| doctor what these are, but unfortunately, most | | | | desired weight. |
| personal health care providers aren't aware of the | | | | What exactly are these? |
| extent of these problems in the population today. | | | | Thyroid Issue #1: The Pituitary Gland |
| Before we talk about the issues, let's learn a little about | | | | Since this is where it all starts, so to speak, you can |
| how the thyroid itself functions. And yes, I've already | | | | understand how a malfunctioning pituitary gland may |
| described this butterfly-shaped gland, which rests in | | | | not set the whole process in motion properly. If it |
| your neck as a fat-burning machine. And, indeed, it is. | | | | doesn't produce enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid, |
| But it's also a lot more than this. | | | | your fat-burning potential may be compromised. More |
| Consider the fact that your thyroid affects every cell in | | | | often than not the underlying problem here is the |
| your body. How? Each cell contains receptors for the | | | | presence of an excess of cortisol, which suppresses |
| hormones your thyroid secretes. | | | | the production of the pituitary gland. |
| If your thyroid is low, odds are this condition will | | | | Thyroid Issue #2: The Thyroid Gland Itself |
| eventually lead to elevated levels of cholesterol and | | | | It's true. Medically speaking, it's called hypothyroidism. |
| triglycerides. And you're more likely than the average | | | | This is about the only dysfunction that your doctor will |
| person to develop gall stones. | | | | probably expressly look for. But even with this, his |
| A lack of thyroid hormone in your system can lead to | | | | search may yield nothing he considers out of the |
| digestion problems including constipation. | | | | ordinary. Why? Because the medical reference range |
| Not only can a sluggish thyroid cause all this, but it can | | | | for TSH production is wide -- and many with a true |
| also affect the production of other important | | | | problem will be shunted aside. |
| hormones as well. The thyroid hormone for example | | | | Thyroid Issue #3: Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) |
| actually makes progesterone receptors more sensitive. | | | | Even if your thyroid is functioning perfectly, if there is |
| This means that a woman's thyroid gland may actually | | | | an excess of thyroid binding globulin -- TBG -- present, |
| be the root cause of her monthly hormonal problems. | | | | the hormone would be, well, bound. Practically speaking, |
| And if all this weren't enough, low thyroid hormone can | | | | this means it can't get into the cells to do the work it |
| also adversely affect neurotransmitters by causing | | | | needs to. More often than not, this problem is caused |
| low levels of dopamine, which eventually lead to | | | | by higher than normal levels of estrogen. (Yes, in both |
| motivation and will power. (And how far can you get in | | | | women and men, by the way!). |
| pursuing any goal if you aren't motivated and you don't | | | | Thyroid Issue #5: Conversion |
| have will power!) | | | | What do I mean by that? You'll recall that T4 must be |
| Now, let's take a quick look at how your thyroid gland | | | | converted into T3, otherwise there just won't be |
| is supposed to work. I promise this will be quick and | | | | enough active thyroid hormone for your cells. There |
| easy to understand. But what's even better is that | | | | are any number of reasons why the conversion may |
| once you understand this, you'll understand why and | | | | fail to take place. One of the major reasons is mineral |
| how your thyroid is working against your well-intended | | | | deficiency. For example, this conversion fails if you |
| weight loss plans. | | | | don't have enough selenium. Too much cortisol or too |
| To truly understand this small gland, we have to first | | | | much oxidative stress can trigger this problem as well. |
| talk about another gland. One called the hypothalamus. | | | | Thyroid Issue #6: Bacterial Imbalance |
| This particular gland releases thyrotropin releasing | | | | No doubt you've read about the potential for a |
| hormone, better known by its initials TRH. This | | | | bacterial imbalance in your system in regards to other |
| hormone instructs the pituitary gland to produce thyroid | | | | health issues. But don't discount its impact here too. It |
| stimulating hormones also known as TSH. These | | | | can very easily trigger a thyroid issue. This is because |
| hormones, in turn nudge the thyroid gland into producing | | | | nearly 20 percent of your thyroid hormone is |
| the proper amount of its hormones. | | | | converted to active T3. You may, indeed, experience |
| And for a small gland, the thyroid is in charge of | | | | low thyroid symptoms, if you have a lack of healthy |
| several hormones, the major one called thyroxine. | | | | gut bacteria. |
| You'll see this more often than not referred to as T4. | | | | Thyroid Issue #7: Thyroid Receptor |
| In fact, more than 90 percent of the hormone | | | | All along we've referred to it. But we've never |
| production of your thyroid gland consists of T4. | | | | addressed it directly. And that's the fact that the |
| Technically speaking, T4 is known as a "prohormone" | | | | hormone must actually get into every cell of your |
| since it has little impact on your metabolism. T3, also | | | | body. Even though you're creating enough hormone, if |
| called Triiodothyronine is actually the active thyroid | | | | it's not being transported to you're going to experience |
| hormone. But, believe it or not, only about seven | | | | symptoms of a sluggish hormone. What would cause |
| percent of the hormonal secretion of your thyroid | | | | this problem? Sometimes it's elevated levels of cortisol. |
| consists of this. That means that the rest has to be | | | | In other instance it may be a deficiency in vitamin A. |
| converted from your T4 output. | | | | While the "excuse" my thyroid is sluggish can be just |
| In addition to this, you also need to know that in order | | | | that -- an excuse -- it can also be an undetected, |
| to travel anywhere, the majority of the thyroids | | | | insidious problem that causes a stalling in your weight |
| produced by your hormones are then bound to a | | | | loss program. But perhaps the worse part of all of this, |
| protein -- called the thyroid-binding globulin. As T4 | | | | is that many times doctors don't detect the problems. |
| travels throughout your body it eventually gets | | | | |