Hormones are chemical substances produced in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells and organs. Life would not exist without hormones doing their jobs; they essentially affect every activity of life…digestion, metabolism, reproduction, growth and mood.
Thyroxine, one of two thyroid hormones (the other is triiodothyronine) is incredibly important because it controls the rate at which our cells burn energy…in other words, our metabolic rate.
Thyroxine is also called T4 and is made up of the amino acid tyrosine and 4 iodine atoms. Even though T4 has little effect on our cells, enzymes in the liver and kidneys convert T4 to T3, an active hormone that stimulates our cells and thyroid receptors which in turn affects our metabolism.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body has inadequate levels of thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism is a less common condition in which the body has excess thyroid hormones present.
There are a few issues that come into play when yo-yo dieting and thyroid dysfunction is one of them.
The thyroid is essentially the master regulator for every reaction that takes place in the body and the dictator of your metabolic rate.
Repeated cycle of crash dieting will take its toll on your thyroid gland and can set you up to experience symptoms similar to hypothyroidism and in fact, many people who crash diet time and time again do start to suffer from hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is basically where your body is not producing enough of the thyroid hormones necessary to keep your metabolic rate running optimally which results in a more challenging time maintaining body weight.
The hypothalamus, the “master gland” in the brain consistently measures blood levels of thyroxine, and secretes Thyrotropin Stimulating Hormone (TRH) when the levels of this hormone read low. This affects the pituitary (another gland) which then releases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which in turn ignites the thyroid gland to product thyroxine.
This “feedback” loop ends when a certain level has been achieved and production of TSH ceases. Thyroid hormones affect every cell of the body and because of that symptoms of imbalances affect multiple different body systems.
In order for the body to manufacture thyroid hormones it requires numerous key nutrients:
Vitamin E, A, C, B2, B3, B6 as well as the minerals selenium, iron, and zinc and the amino acid tyrosine (from protein rich foods and iodine). If you experience deviancies in any of these it will have an impact on your thyroid hormone production.
Crash diets, especially the type that involves a significant reduction in calories can actually reduce TSH levels and subsequent T4/T3 production.
Here’s some of the symptoms you might experience with low thyroid function:
- Cold temperature intolerance
- Cold hands and feet
- Constipation
- Decreased sweating
- Dry skin
- Inability to lose weight
- Low libido
- Menstrual irregularities
- Shortness of breath
- Sluggishness
- Weight gain
- Brittle hair and nails
- Depression
- Fatigue
There are issues that can prevent you from losing that excess weight that cannot be fixed by simply dieting or exercising more.
Truth is, most of the difficulty associated in losing weight has physical reasons…not emotional. Research is proving that many hormonal and biochemical factors can stop you from losing weight. Sometimes you have to look beyond the physical to the emotions in order to heal and sometimes…as in the case of your weight loss, it’s just the opposite. You need to focus on the physical biochemical reasons why your body is stubborn about shedding weight at any given time.
If you’re feeling caught in an endless loop of failed dieting attempts don’t get discouraged and give up. You can take off that stubborn weight you just need the right education and help.
“Rebound Free Weight Loss” was created for people who struggle with taking weight off and keeping it off. It’s time to win the weight loss battle once and for all.
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