Early impairment of nerve-related function is a clear risk for developing later-life obesity, so concludes new research published in the British Journal of Medicine.  This finding is significant because it shows that early developmental problems with nerves have a wide-ranging impact on health – and obesity is one clear consequence.  The researchers felt such changes could be caused by social (stress) or environmental factors (exposure to toxins like cigarette smoke).

I would like to point out that other new research has identified that clumsiness is a clear first indicator of poor thyroid function, as brain signals that stimulate the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone also work in other regions of your brain to facilitate coordination.

It is well established in the scientific literature that subclinical hypothyroid as well as frank hypothyroid are associated with increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a). 

Cholesterol is needed by every cell in your body.  In cases of sluggish thyroid function the metabolic pace of your cells is reduced, meaning that less cholesterol is needed.  As your LDL cholesterol (the UPS truck) attempts to make deliveries of cholesterol fragments to cells, there simply isn’t adequate demand because of the slower metabolic rate. 

This is another important angle on how cholesterol can become elevated.  Improving the metabolic rate of cells enables them to use cholesterol at a higher level, thereby lowering this specific cholesterol problem.

Of course, the longer LDL and lipoprotein(a) are elevated the more likely they are to form plaque.

The impact of thyroid function on arterial stiffness and consequent elevation in blood pressure is a new finding helping to explain yet another adverse consequence of poor thyroid function on cardiovascular health.  Researchers showed that correcting sluggish thyroid function (subclinical hypothyroid) enabled a return of better blood pressure function.

Since thyroid hormone governs the rate at which cells use oxygen it appears that as this function becomes sluggish your heart tries to deliver more oxygen to cells by raising blood pressure – a natural form of compensation.  This may be a great “plan B” in times of need, but if this backup system becomes normal day to day operation then your circulatory system and heart will have to work harder and be susceptible to increased wear and tear.

Several studies now point out that sluggish thyroid function (subclinical hypothyroid) is associated with early adverse changes in the electrical function of the heart.  One study shows that these changes disturb the “fitness” of the heart known as heart rate variability.  The newest study shows that sluggish thyroid has a marked change in autonomic electrical regulation of the heart, setting the stage for irregular heart beats and increased risk for sudden death due to poor heart function.

The bottom line is that poor thyroid function, even initial changes away from optimal thyroid health, are directly stressful to your heart via changes that occur in the nerve-heart relationship.  Stress also plays a role in such electrical changes, especially when stress is ongoing for a long period of time and is inducing noticeable wear and tear.  Any person with any form of heart-related symptoms should have adequate nutrition to offset stress and enhance optimal thyroid function – so as to boost cardiovascular fitness.

If you would like to learn more about your heart and its electrical function, including the use of nutrition to maintain optimal health, please consult my Cardiovascular Health Topic section.

Women who have sluggish thyroid function, meaning that they are not hypothyroid by lab test but have many of the symptoms of poorly functioning thyroid and their thyroid scores are close to lower limits of “normal,” have 57% increased risk for developing heart disease.  This relationship does not exist after age 65, which is also an interesting point.

Prior to age 65 the sluggish rate of thyroid function decreases the use of cholesterol by cells everywhere in ones body, with a tendency to leave higher amounts of LDL in the blood longer.  Sluggish thyroid is also associated with increased rates of oxidative stress (free radical damage), meaning that the extra LDL is more likely to be damaged and form arterial plaque.

After age 65 it is likely that one’s metabolism is slowing down intentionally, partly as a defense or “self-preservation” mechanism.  This means that one is likely to live longer, once older, if thyroid slows down a bit, as a faster metabolic pace would cause too much wear and tear and actually speed aging.

Thus, thyroid slowing down a bit in the context of aging is normal and thyroid slowing down before age 65 is abnormal and likely to be associated with increased heart disease.

This study used healthy men and women who did not have clinical thyroid problems at the start of the study.  Thyroid scores were analyzed based on their trend, meaning it flagged individuals with functional thyroid problems.  The study tracked 1864 men and women an average of 12.7 years.  It found that women, but not men, who were in the sluggish thyroid category had more than double the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

This finding is rather significant as it suggests that even a slightly impaired function of thyroid hormone can really take its toll on mental function as the years go buy – speeding the rate of cognitive decline.  More evidence that keeping your thyroid in tip top working order is a really good idea – especially for women.

New imaging technology is enabling researchers to understand the relationship of thyroid function and just how well your brain works.  It has long been known that poor thyroid function is associated with depression.  The new research shows that it is optimal thyroid function that must be maintained in order to have a sustainable positive mood and proper cognitive function.  This research shows that common thyroid tests oftentimes do not detect the adverse beginnings of thyroid-related changes in mood and mental function.

This means that a sluggish or heavy head, an increase in irritability, and a lack of a positive outlook may be some of the first signs of a functional thyroid problem.  The moral of this story is rather simple – nip the problem in the bud.  Use enough thyroid-related nutritional support to help keep your mood and mind in good working condition.

The combination of a lack of sun and cold weather invariably strains your mood as well as your metabolism.  It is an energy-depleting form of stress that is similar to having a daily argument with someone.  If your energy systems are already borderline or your plate is full with things to do, the addition of this weather stress can be significant. 

This year’s early deep freeze in northern climates sets the stage for a long and potentially difficult winter.  On the eating side, the cold triggers “hibernation metabolism” and the desire to eat more sweet food.  This urge is helped along by the holiday season.  Invariably, the lower your energy the more you will crave.

The combination of cold and longer periods of dark causes the body’s internal clock to stress out – otherwise known as the winter blues.  Melatonin is the primary hormone that governs your body’s clock.  Melatonin does its work at night, synchronizing repair and getting you ready for the next day.  During winter months peak levels of melatonin are not produced at the right time of night.  Instead, your body can try to keep making more melatonin even after you’ve woken up – all in an effort to reach the “proper level.” This can make your daytime feel like nighttime.  It can get so bad it feels like you are dragging a 100 pound lead ball around with you.  This is a distinctly different kind of low energy feeling – you just feel as if you are dragging and can’t get in gear.  You will crave sugar to spark your energy to go (a genetic urge), but eating some produces only short term benefit before you return to the state of sluggishness (along with weight gain).

Supplemental melatonin can markedly improve this problem.  I recommend melatonin in 0.5 mg capsules, as this way you can easily control for the exact amount you need.  3 mg capsules are far too large a dose to properly modulate melatonin levels and do not work very well for most people (unless it’s the dose you actually need).

Some people take melatonin all year long (usually 0.5 to 1.5 mg per day), as the proper levels of melatonin decline with age.  Many individuals past age 40 are lacking around 0.5 mg of melatonin and notice they sleep much better when taking some before bed, even in the summer.  Many other people only need melatonin when it is darker and colder.  In general, the colder and darker it is the higher the dose that is needed.  The right dose of melatonin helps you to go to sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed – as well as not having that dragging feeling during the day.  A dose that is too high gives a mild headache or groggy feeling – more or less producing the symptoms that it is supposed to be getting rid of.

Melatonin is normally taken before bed (1-6 capsules of the 0.5 mg amount).  Start out with 1 and work your way up as needed until you find the right number.  The number may change if the temperature drops 20-30 degrees and stays there for a while.  A small percentage of people have the symptoms of needing melatonin but it either doesn’t seem to help or doesn’t seem to feel right on any dose.  These people should try taking melatonin first thing in the morning.  Doing so may signal to the brain that levels are now adequate; the brain stops trying to make more – thus the “sleep hormone” will no longer be produced in the day. 

The energy of the sun is poorly understood by modern science and Western medicine.  In fact, the industry of surgery-promoting cosmetic specialists wants you to think that being in the sun will kill you unless you have their toxic sunscreens on.  The sun’s interaction with you skin produces vitamin D, a nutrient woefully lacking in the winter in northern climates.  Vitamin D is vital to calcium metabolism, proper immunity, good mood, and breast or prostate health.  During the winter at least 2,000 IU of vitamin D should be consumed in the form of dietary supplements.  This level can be reached by taking our common levels of bone support nutrition (5 Daily Bone Xcel and 3 Bone Helper per day).

Additionally, the sun also produces photon energy which is stored in cell membranes.  Your ability to do so is based on the amount of omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.  For example, along the equator there is plenty of sun and very little omega 3 fatty acids in the food.  There are no winter blues.  In the north, the traditional Eskimo diet was very high in omega 3 oils all year long (whale blubber and other deep sea fatty fish).  There were no winter blues until Eskimos started eating the omega 3-lacking Western diet.  In the traditional Eskimo diet the high concentration of omega 3 oils in summer months would store up photon energy of the sun adequately to get them through the winter months.  This is of course why every person likes a winter vacation in the sun – to get some photon energy back into the brain.

Knowing this information, I routinely tell my clients who I know are prone to the winter blues to increase their essential fatty acid intake during the fall, so as to prepare for the winter.  This would mean taking 6 of our DHA capsules a day or 3 Leptinal capsules per day.  Boosting up these essential fatty acids in the winter is also a good idea and will generally help boost mood.

The fastest way to get photon energy back into the brain in the winter months is with an oil called squalene.  Squalene is an ideal winter-time supplement.  It is the very best product for reducing dry or cracking skin.  A dose for this purpose is 3-6 per day.  It is very undesirable to have cracking skin in the winter as germs can simply march right on into one’s body.  Squalene is also one of the best supplements to help a person warm up, especially in the extremities.  A person whose hands are always cold or whose extremities react poorly when exposed to cold typically notices dramatic improvement on 3-6 squalene per day.

The unique structure of squalene enables it to hold and deliver oxygen and photon energy.  Like an essential fatty acid, squalene has many unsaturated bonds.  However, unlike an essential fatty acid, these unsaturated bonds form 6 stable rings that are not prone to oxidation.  This means that squalene can carry oxygen and photon energy without being damaged.  This unique “transporter property” of squalene enables it to deliver lacking nutrients vital to brain function.  Not only does squalene help skin and circulation but I have seen it routinely boost mood in the winter months.  The common dose is 3-6 per day.

Many nutrients help your body make energy and any of these can be boosted up in the winter, as needed, to support a better energy level.  A better energy level will invariably produce a better mood, since your brain uses energy as a communication molecule to produce neurotransmitters.  The above energetic suggestions are based on the unique stress that colder and darker days pose to your mood and metabolism.  Enjoy the winter!

It’s now been a few days since the official Thanksgiving feast.  If you are lucky you are only one or two pounds up.  If you aren’t doing so well you are five or more pounds heavier.  Even worse, you have likely entered into an eating pattern where you are wanting more and more food, especially snacks and sweets – something you may have had under control before the holidays set in.  This is not a good situation to be in for the month of December.  This sneaky, somewhat compulsive desire to eat more food is a leptin problem raising its ugly head.  Since you already know what you are supposed to be doing - but aren’t – WHAT CAN YOU DO?

When I feel this way I do a 3-7 day protein and fiber fast.  This gets my metabolism back on track in a hurry, shrinks my stomach back to a normal size, and most importantly – IT GETS MY URGE TO EAT BACK UNDER CONTROL BEFORE REAL DAMAGE IS DONE.

The program I follow is very simple.  I have three protein drinks a day.  I use 1 ½ scoops of Daily Protein Plus and I mix in 1 heaping tablespoon of Fiber Helper.  I mix this in 2% milk, though you can use rice milk, almond milk, or 50% fruit juice and 50% water (stay away from soy milk as it slows down metabolism).  The extra fiber is really important otherwise bowels will slow down.

I have two pieces of fruit per day, but I always have them at meal times and never as a snack.  My wife likes to blend the fruit into her protein drinks; I mix mine with a spoon and eat the fruit.  I usually have a banana for breakfast and some other fruit at lunch or dinner.  I have a cup or two of coffee for breakfast and sometimes at lunch, with 1 tbl of cream added (real cream).  I never add sweetener to anything. 

I take a Daily Super Pack and Leptin Control Pack twice a day on this program, usually at breakfast and lunch.  I love the new Pine Nut Oil and take 2-3 in the afternoon.  It really keeps my head awake and appetite under control.

Once every three – four days I have an average size meal with no dessert.  Sometimes I do this program for three days, sometimes for seven, and sometimes for several weeks.  The program will typically remove any recent weight gain and always brings appetite and eating patterns back into balance.  Usually after two days any cravings are gone.  I keep doing it until I get off the number of pounds I want off.

During the holidays I know some people who eat this way Monday-Thursday and then go to all the various parties over the weekend.

It’s human nature to eat more food during the holiday season.  Certainly you should be able to enjoy holiday social gatherings without paying a price.  It’s all the extra eating during the day and not at parties that really causes the problems.  Don’t wait until January to do something about it.  If you manage leptin through the holidays and you can have more fun, indulge every now and then, and enter the New Year in relatively good shape.

Iosol Iodine is a proprietary iodine formulation that has been in widespread use for the past fifty years.  I am often asked what the difference is between this iodine supplement and others, and many have asked what the source of the iodine is that is used in Iosol.

Iosol Iodine is in my opinion the premier iodine supplement on the market today.  This is because of the superior water solubility of the iodine.  This feature makes free iodide readily available for your body to use.

There are two sources of iodine in the Iosol formulation.  One is from kelp.  Iodine in kelp is naturally in the form of potassium iodide.  However, potassium iodine is not very soluble in water and may be difficult for your body to easily use.  For example, if you get liquid potassium iodide on your clothes it causes a permanent stain of red.  If you get Iosol on your clothes the red will evaporate out in a few minutes or readily come out with washing.  In fact, potassium iodide has been shown to congest the thyroid gland when taken in high doses – which is how Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was first discovered (Japanese citizens consuming too many sea vegetables).  This is why I don’t use potassium iodide in any supplement I produce.

During the production of Iosol, iodine is extracted from kelp and made into pure iodine crystals.  This is not potassium iodide, rather it is an unbound form of iodine.

The second form of iodine used is ammonium iodide, a form that readily dissolves in water.  These two forms of iodine are combined in a proprietary manner in a base of vegetable glycerin. 

Ammonium iodide is a combination of the mineral iodine and ammonium (NH4).  This is a synthesized compound, not derived from a food source.  It has superior bioavailability as the iodine readily disassociates from the ammonium upon exposure to water, producing a free iodide ion – exactly what your body would like to use in metabolism. 

Some people think that ammonium (NH4) sounds like some sort of toxin, compared to potassium or sodium iodide.  This is far from the case.  As different from ammonium, ammonia (NH3) is an irritant gas with a pungent odor.  Anhydrous ammonia (meaning no water in the ammonia) is the third most synthesized chemical in the U.S., with one-third of it used by the farming industry as fertilizer and animal feed.  The ability to fix nitrogen in some type of compound is vital to the growth of plants and crops.  Many household cleaning products use ammonia in the form of NH3 plus water. 

Ammonium is a primary source of nitrogen for humans. It is involved in many cellular chemistry reactions necessary for health.  As dietary protein is metabolized ammonium is produced.  The liver converts any extra ammonium to urea, which is easily cleared through the urea cycle.  The amount of ammonium in Iosol can act as a nutrient in normal cell metabolism or it can readily be cleared by the liver.  The amount of ammonium in a dose of Iosol is trivial compared to the amount of ammonium produced in routine protein metabolism.

Ammonium toxicity in humans occurs from excess consumption of protein or from liver disease wherein the urea cycle does not function well.  If you experience headaches or excess irritability following a high protein meal or while on a high protein diet you may have too much protein in your diet (resulting in too much ammonium).

The bottom line is that Iosol Iodine is a very safe and effective form of iodine to use as a dietary supplement.  In my experience over the past twenty years it has routinely produced outstanding results.

What is the dose of Iosol?

The most commonly used dose of Iosol is 1 drop of the preparation in a few ounces of water, taken once a day.  Each drop has 1.8 mg of iodine or 1200% of the government’s recommended daily value.  If you would like to get only 100% of the daily value then take 1 tsp of a mixture of 1 drop of Iosol in 2 ounces of water; however, most people like taking more than this. 

Adequate iodine tends to keep your head more awake during the day, helps support your energy level, and helps you warm up (if you are cold).* Many people take 1-5 drops of Iosol per day, using enough to feel warmer and more energetic.  While this can be taken all at once in the morning, some like to split the dose and take some in the afternoon as well.

Some people find that taking iodine every day really helps to support metabolism.  Others find that they only need to take it once or twice a week.  Regardless of the dose used or frequency of the dose, the goal is to notice energy support.  And if you are too cold, another goal is to warm up.  Iosol Iodine is one of the best nutrients for natural thyroid support.*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease.

The nutritional requirements to support the healthy function of thyroid hormone are poorly understood.  A main reason why you may have the symptoms of poor thyroid function is a lack of nutrients that are vital for the normal function of thyroid hormone.  Nutrient deficiencies place a major stress on the thyroid gland itself, helping to lock in sluggish and inefficient metabolism of calories.

Various nutrients are needed to form thyroid hormone, activate thyroid hormone, and protect the thyroid and liver during this process.

I have tried to make this easy for people by designing nutritional products that provide the most needed nutrients.  Thyroid Helper is a mix of tyrosine, selenium, manganese, guggul, and Ashwaganda, our top product for thyroid support.  Iosol Iodine is the best iodine supplement you can find.  Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin features high levels of co-enzyme B12, folic acid, and B6, along with important krebs cycle bionutrients and magnesium.  This type of quality is seldom found in a multiple vitamin.  These products form core nutritional support for thyroid function.

Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid that converts to dopamine and norepinephrine with the help of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.  Norepinephrine is a sympathetic nerve neurotransmitter that is the stimulus for your subconscious brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) to activate the production of thyroid hormone in the first place (TRH and TSH). 

Brain levels of leptin act as a traffic cop, regulating the amount of norepinephrine allowed to stimulate the production of thyroid (leptin bases this on the adequacy of stored fat – a perception that is often faulty).  Norepinephrine-transmitting nerves are also wired directly to the thyroid gland, which act as a catalyst to get the thyroid moving. 

Supplemental tyrosine is well known to promote brain activation, mental clarity, and better mood.  Tyrosine is also the central molecule of thyroid hormone (four iodine molecules are attached to one tyrosine to make thyroxine, T4).

Iodine

Iodine is absolutely vital for the formation of thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland.  Adequate iodine is also needed to block various compounds from binding to the thyroid (fluoride, perchlorate, goitrogens in food).  Iodine is also needed to assist the metabolism of estrogen in a healthy way (high estrogen blocks thyroid function) and iodine is needed to assist various hormone receptors throughout the body to work properly.  Iodine is essential for brain function and intelligence.

I rely on a product called Iosol Iodine for needed iodine supplementation.  I like it because ammonium iodine rapidly dissociates and forms free iodide, the exact form your body needs (1.8 mg a drop).  By comparison, Lugols and Iodoral contain the potassium salt of iodine which I don’t feel is as efficiently metabolized.  Many people use up to 5 drops of Iosol per day (if it can be observed that it helps the person warm up and sustain energy), I would never recommend 25 – 50 mg of a potassium iodide containing supplement. 

In fact, I won’t put potassium iodide in any supplement I design.  One cause of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is excessive potassium iodine from sea vegetables like kelp, which is how the problem was first discovered.  This means that potassium iodine has been shown to clog the thyroid gland and shut it down on too much intake.  I have never seen such a problem from Iosol in two decades of use.

Thyroid hormone (T4) is composed of four molecules of iodine attached to one molecule of tyrosine.  A lack of either nutrient makes it difficult to form thyroid hormone.

Most people do not realize that the natural process of making and activating thyroid hormone is highly oxidative, meaning a lot of free radicals are made even when the thyroid is running normally.  Once the thyroid starts to struggle the increase in free radicals and related inflammatory signals (like TNFa and IL6) is significant.

Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants.  Once your antioxidant reserves are depleted your thyroid function must slow down otherwise there will be too much metabolic friction and health-deteriorating inflammation.  Unfortunately, the modern diet is lacking in antioxidants and other nutrients needed to support thyroid health.  Factors like stress, pollution, and obesity further deplete antioxidant reserves, invariably setting the stage for the wear and tear that falls into a pattern of sluggish thyroid symptoms.

Selenium

Selenium is highly concentrated in the thyroid gland, more so than in any other organ in the human body, indicating its vital need in normal thyroid function.  It acts as an antioxidant that protects the thyroid gland, a cofactor nutrient that facilitates the production of thyroid hormone, and as a nutrient that is required to facilitate the conversion of T4 to T3 (triiodothyronine, active thyroid hormone that works inside cells to set the pace of metabolism).

Selenium combines with the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine to make a special protein known as selenocysteine, a selenoprotein. There are 30 selenoproteins that are currently identified, mostly involving the antioxidant defense system and thyroid function.

The selenium-containing antioxidant enzymes are known as glutathione peroxidases (GSH).  Six different GSH enzymes have now been identified; helping to protect the inside of cells, the GI tract, the reproductive system, and operating in fluids between cells.  GSH enzymes are vital to maintaining normal health.  They are now proven to protect the thyroid gland during thyroid hormone formation.

The formation of thyroid hormone occurs on cell membranes of thyroid cells known as thyrocytes.  This process requires selenium as a cofactor nutrient.  During this process the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO) prepares iodine for attachment to tyrosine to form thyroid hormone.  The normal activity of TPO generates tremendous numbers of free radicals within the thyroid gland in the form of H2O2 and lipid peroxides.  These must be deactivated by GSH enzymes, otherwise the production of thyroid hormone stresses and inflames the thyroid gland.  This can easily result in a reduced rate of thyroid hormone formation.  It’s like trying to run on a sprained ankle, except it is a sprained thyroid. 

Selenoproteins also act in various ways to change T4 into T3 (active thyroid hormone) and reverseT3 (which inactivates T3).  Three main selenoproteins activate and inactivate thyroid hormone, known as D1, D2, and D3. 

D1 is the primary activator of thyroid hormone for your body, working mostly in the liver and to some degree in the kidneys.  D2 is active in the thyroid gland, brain, nerves, and heart.  It plays the primary role in thyroid activation in the brain under normal conditions, and produces thyroid hormone for the rest of the body under stressed conditions.  D3 is mostly a brake on thyroid hormone activity, turning off active hormone.

When the body starts to run low on selenium the activation of thyroid hormone by D1 may drop by 90%.  The body compensates by turning on the back up system, using the D2 enzyme to maintain active thyroid hormone.  The problem with this back up system running for any great length of time is that is causes significantly increased production of free radicals.  Even worse, the lack of selenium already handicapped the primary antioxidant that protects the thyroid gland and liver, GSH.  Thus, selenium deficiency forces the body into a very uncomfortable metabolic coping strategy that eventually leads to slower metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and wear and tear to the thyroid gland and liver. 

Manganese

Manganese has long been known as the anti-pear nutrient, helping to reduce weight gain on the hips and thighs.  New science is showing the vital role of manganese in liver function, fat metabolism, and liver anti-oxidant status.  This relates to thyroid hormone activation, as most activation (conversion of T4 to T3) occurs on cell membranes in the liver.  If the liver is suffering from excessive free radical stress, then cell membranes are not as functional and the activation of thyroid hormone may become distressed.

Manganese is a mineral that is required to form a special antioxidant enzyme called manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD).  It is a key part of the cell engine’s antioxidant defense system that enables cellular engines (mitochondria) to produce energy and heat efficiently.  Poor function of this enzyme reduces the ability of cells to make energy efficiently. 

MnSOD is now found to be a primary protector of thyroid hormone activity in the liver.  This enzyme naturally rises as thyroid hormone activity is increased, acting as a protective buffer to support increased metabolic rate.  If this enzyme, or the selenium-dependent GSH are lacking, then activation of thyroid hormone generates friction and stress in the form of excessive free radicals.  This results in wear and tear to the thyroid gland, liver, and nerves.  A lack of manganese is now clearly associated with reduced function of thyroid hormone in the body.

New science has shown that as free radical stress increases due to lacking GSH and MnSOD activity, fat begins to accumulate in the liver, generating further free radical stress in the form of damaged fats, known as lipid peroxides.  This makes a stressed metabolic situation worse.  Once this happens a person is more likely to gain weight around the midsection. 

Many herbs, vegetables, and fruits have antioxidant capacity and are likely to support healthy thyroid function.  In fact, any food or dietary supplement that reduces inflammation or free radical activity will at least indirectly be helpful to overall thyroid function, including nutrients that protect the liver or assist in the natural detoxification process (Silymarin is one example, Curcumin is another).  Two of my favorite herbs for thyroid support are Commiphora mukul, known as guggul, and another Ayurvedic herb, Ashwaganda. 

The thyroid stimulating properties of guggul have been reported for the past twenty years.  Animal studies show it works partly by stimulating thyroid hormone production and partly by increasing liver antioxidant status. 

The active component in this herb is gugglesterone.  Intense research is now being conducted with gugglesterones as they have been found to naturally regulate a gene receptor called farnesoid X receptor (FSX).  As it turns out, FSX specifically turns on and off fat burning in the liver. 

The rate of bile flow is also regulated by the FSX.  Gugglesterones have been shown to help the FSX receptor pump bile more efficiently, helping to clear LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and toxins. 

Gugglesterones have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India for several thousand years to help weight loss.  Any nutrient that enhances the burning of fat will at least have an indirect benefit to thyroid function, since obesity itself is a major stress to the thyroid gland.

Ashwagandha has also been used for thousands of years to boost stress tolerance and generally rejuvenate the body.  Animal studies have shown it to enhance thyroid hormone levels by directly working as an antioxidant that reduces the amount of lipid peroxides forming in the liver, a key problem for any person that is over weight.  Other animal studies show that Ashwagandha can maintain normal antioxidant function even during intentionally induced stress trauma, not only boosting antioxidant protection but also reducing the amount of cortisol that is released in response to stress.  When excess cortisol is combined with poor thyroid function, it is a recipe for weight gain – especially around the abdominal area.

Ashwagandha supports normal antioxidant enzymes, such as GSH, so they don’t have to work so hard.  This has a sparing effect on selenium, which indirectly supports healthy thyroid function.

Thyroid hormone is a manager, it is not a worker.  Cells do the work and they must have adequate nutrition to comply efficiently with directions.  Thyroid hormone (T3) delivers its message to the DNA of cells which in turn tells the mitochondria of cells how fast to produce energy. 

If cells lack B vitamins they cannot efficiently implement thyroid hormone directions, even if the hormone is working perfectly fine.  Along with B vitamins nutrients such as krebs cycle intermediates, Q10, and magnesium assist cells to make energy.  Any or all of these nutrients may be important in an individual with fatigue and a collection of sluggish thyroid symptoms. 

This all falls under the category of adequate nutrition to carry out the instructions of thyroid hormones.  A lack of nutrients to produce cellular energy always disturbs optimal thyroid function and can cause any of the symptoms of a poorly performing thyroid.

B vitamins are also important to keep the nerves healthy that are giving directions to the thyroid gland in the first place.  A recent study of patients with thyroid autoimmune disease found that 28% were deficient in B12.  Elevated homocysteine is now well associated with poor thyroid function.  Elevated homocysteine is due to a lack of folic acid, B12, and/or B6.  B12, folic acid, and B6 are required for optimal nerve transmission, which is involved with the initial formation of thyroid hormone. 

Zinc

It is well established that a lack of zinc in blood cells is a common finding in those with poor thyroid function.  Zinc is involved in hundreds of enzymes throughout the body, many of which relate to energy production, including those that produce thyroid hormone.  Zinc deficiency is associated with lower body temperature and reduced resting metabolic rate.  Zinc is an important nutrient that enables active thyroid hormone (T3) to bind to the DNA of a cell (on the zinc fingers), thereby initiating the cellular response to thyroid hormone.  A recent case report of two young zinc-deficient women showed that 25 mg of zinc per day significantly improved thyroid function.

While a basic need for zinc is 15 mg a day, various factors may induce zinc loss such as sweating (exercise), stress, and pollution.  Some individuals need 25 – 50 mg of zinc per day (zinc picolinate and citrate are the best forms).  White spots on the fingernails are a classic zinc deficiency symptom, as is weak immunity.  Those who are dieting and cutting back on calories will lose energy very fast if they are zinc deficient, causing metabolism to slow down to a hibernation rate and making it quite a struggle to make any progress.  This means that a zinc need may not show up until a person actually tries to lose weight.  Strengthener Plus is a good choice as it provides both zinc picolinate and zinc citrate, the two most biologically active forms of zinc. 

Iron

Iron has recently been identified as a key nutrient in cells that enables thyroid-driven gene signals to function in metabolic pathways.  A lack of iron inside cells may reduce up to 80 different gene signals that would otherwise be following “thyroid instructions,” resulting in handicapped metabolism and fatigue.  This is different than anemia from a lack of iron and may be occurring even when red blood cells and hemoglobin levels are normal.  Certainly if a person has iron deficiency anemia it is a major problem for cellular thyroid function.  Individuals with a history of anemia and borderline hemoglobin status are often lacking enough iron for proper thyroid function within cells.

Iron is also involved with muscle fatigue, as a lack of iron reduces the oxygen capacity of muscles by lowering the function of myoglobulin (an iron-containing compound).
Since thyroid hormone governs the rate of oxygen use in the human body, a lack of iron can slow down metabolism.  Iron forms the hemoglobin in red blood cells that transports oxygen to cells to use in metabolism.  A lack of iron causes poor oxygen transport, and thus reduced oxygen supply to cells.  This helps explain why shortness of breath is a classic symptom of iron deficiency.  Some individuals even hold their breath in an effort to get more oxygen to their head (a sign of iron deficiency).

Many unresolving low thyroid symptoms, including low body temperature and fatigue, can be corrected with iron supplementation.  The best form of iron supplementation is the true protein chelate, iron bisglycinate.  When needed, iron is a significant metabolic booster.  Our Blood Builder is a great way to go.  It provides iron in the safe form known as iron bisglycinate, along with B12, folic acid, B6, and C. 

There is a wide array of nutrients that may be quite helpful in supporting thyroid function.  Nutrients will not solve a poor diet, a stressful lifestyle, and a lack of exercise.  Those truly interested in optimizing the function of their thyroid must have a comprehensive plan.  This includes eating properly (the Leptin Diet), getting enough sleep (at least 7 hours per night), stress management skills, and consistent and refreshing exercise.  Along with these basics, dietary supplements are great tools to assist metabolism.

A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan shows that children who get less than 9 ¾ hours sleep in the third grade are 40 percent more likely to be fat in the sixth grade (whether they were already fat or not in the third grade).  It was found that the longer the kids slept, the less the chance for obesity.  It is already known that adults lacking sleep (less then 7 hours) are at increased risk for weight gain.  The researchers believe this problem is caused by disruption of healthy leptin function, as well as disruption of one of leptin’s companions, ghrelin (pronounced grel-an).

Leptin is involved in synchronizing hormone function in a variety of ways.  One example is leptin’s orchestration of insulin in response to a meal, wherein leptin produces a full signal and turns off insulin production by the pancreas.  This process malfunctions in a person with leptin resistance, in turn causing insulin resistance as well as a faulty full signal (a person has to eat too much to feel full). 

Another of leptin’s patterns is the 24 hour rhythm that synchronizes the timing of all hormone function during sleep (melatonin, growth hormone, thyroid hormone, testosterone, immune system repair activities, etc.).  In order to do this leptin levels are naturally highest around midnight, in terms of a 24-hour pattern.  When metabolism is working properly these higher levels of leptin not only naturally suppress appetite in the evening, they set the stage for a good night’s sleep and proper fat burning during sleep.  This process is disrupted by eating within three hours of bed.

When you go to sleep, assuming you haven’t eaten before bed, you are generally burning 60% of your calories from sugar and 40% from fatty acids.  About 6 – 7 hours following the completion of dinner, or about 2 – 3 hours into sleep, under the influence of leptin and glucagon, this ratio changes and you will now burn 40% of your calories from sugar and 60% from fatty acids – which continues until you wake up.  This process is orchestrated by your liver.  The longer you sleep the more fat you burn.  This means that sleep is a prime time for metabolic fat burning.

The reason children need to sleep longer than adults is because they are also growing their bodies, which requires additional time during sleep.  This new study is interesting as it shows that simply shorting sleep, in essence disrupting this leptin-controlled prime fat burning time, is sufficient to increase the risk for obesity.  This prime fat burning time is also disturbed by eating before bed, as the time in the 60% fat burning mode is either reduced or blocked entirely.

As a person gains weight around the midsection the liver also becomes clogged with fat.  This reduces the physical ability of the liver to burn fat properly during sleep.  This shows up as elevated blood sugar in the morning.  Morning fasting blood sugar should not be above 90, when it is it means the person could not get into fatty acid burning correctly during sleep and so the liver made sugar instead (or it means the person ate too much close to bed).  Of course, once the number rises too high a person is diabetic.  As a person eats according to the Five Rules of the Leptin Diet this problem of a clogged liver is gradually undone and the liver can potentially return to much more normal function, including nighttime fat burning.

The researchers also found that by disturbing leptin function, ghrelin levels were too high during the day.  Ghrelin is made in the stomach and acts as an appetite stimulant, especially for the intake of carbohydrates.  Healthy ghrelin function is absolutely vital for having a normal appetite as well as for the release of growth hormone.  However, when the hormone is too high during the day it leads to excess carbo ingestion, in turn fueling leptin resistance, insulin resistance, and weight gain.  This is easy to see – any time you short yourself on sleep you will notice you want more carbos the next day.

The moral of the story is do what you can to get a good night’s sleep and ensure your children are getting adequate sleep.  Children not only need sleep to maximize their genetic potential and growth, they need it to help maintain a healthy metabolism over the course of a lifetime.