The Science of Burning Fat with a Sluggish Thyroid
Are you constantly battling weight gain despite your best efforts? If you're dealing with a thyroid imbalance, you might find shedding those extra pounds more challenging than expected. Let's dive deep into the intricate science of burning fat, exploring why a sluggish thyroid makes weight loss such a Herculean task.
Understanding Fat Metabolism: To comprehend why thyroid-related weight issues persist, we need to understand the science of fat metabolism. Our bodies store fat in the form of triglycerides within adipose tissue, and breaking down these triglycerides is crucial for effective weight loss. This is where the biochemical and physiological processes come into play.
1. Triglyceride Breakdown: When your body needs energy, it initiates the breakdown of stored triglycerides in adipose tissue. These triglycerides consist of three fatty acid molecules bound to a glycerol backbone. If you have lowered thyroid function (meaning that the thyroid hormone levels may be lowered or they are not being utilized correctly within the cells), it can lead to a reduction in our metabolism, so we burn less calories over the day. This means that it is harder for our body to even begin to breakdown the stored triglycerides as our consumption of daily calories from foods needs to be extremely low. The knock-on effect even if we try to significantly reduce calories is nutrient deficiencies, and an even slower metabolic function over time. It is a vicious cycle!
2. Mobilisation: Hormones signal the release of stored triglycerides into the bloodstream. These released fatty acids circulate in the blood, becoming available as potential fuel. Lowered thyroid function plays a role in many hormones in the body (not just thyroid hormones) that allow the release and/or storage of triglycerides, including cortisol, estrogen, leptin and insulin. All of these hormones need to be taken into account when looking to lose weight with a thyroid imbalance, otherwise it can feel like an uphill battle
The Role of Mitochondria: Once the triglycerides as released, these free fatty acids to be converted into usable energy, they must enter the mitochondria – the cell's energy powerhouse. It is in the cells and specifically in the mitochondria that the body creates the metabolic energy of the body. Whilst the role of the thyroid hormones is still a bit unclear there is significant reason to believe that the mitochondria reply heavily on the active thyroid hormone T3 to both rev up basal metabolic rate (how many calories we burn in a day even whilst at rest) as well as creating ATP, also known as our bodies energy. This would make so much sense as the most common symptoms of low T3 hormones is difficulty losing weight and high levels of fatigue.1
Carnitine's Crucial Role: Carnitine is a naturally occurring compound produced primarily in the liver and kidneys. It acts as a carrier molecule, shuttling fatty acids into the mitochondria. However, there's a catch – Carnitine's availability can determine how efficiently fatty acids are transported into the mitochondria.
The Carnitine Conundrum: In individuals with hypothyroidism, the production and availability of Carnitine may be compromised. This can become a limiting factor in the fat-burning process, hindering the efficient transportation of fatty acids into the mitochondria. Research has shown that supplementing with L-Carnitine can provide some relief in the fatigue experienced by hypothyroid sufferers and that it may assist with improving fat burning.2
What are some strategies to assist fat burning with low thyroid symptoms:
· Balance cortisol with morning sun and stress reduction techniques
· Balance insulin with a blood sugar supporting diet- reduce foods high in sugars and processed carbs (but not no carb!)
· Balanced sex hormones- estrogen and progesterone
· Balanced Leptin (the satiety hormone) with increased fibre and protein.
· Improve nutritional deficiencies such as zinc, iron and B vitamins and support mitochondrial health with L-Carnitine and CoQ10.
A sluggish thyroid can disrupt this intricate process of fat metabolism. Understanding the role of all hormones and energy production sheds light on why individuals with thyroid imbalances might experience stubborn weight issues. To delve deeper into this complex interplay and discover strategies for effective weight management, join our upcoming webinar on Monday, October 30th, at 12:30 PM AEST. It's time to unlock the science behind rebalancing your thyroid health, losing weight and regaining your energy.
Register here for the upcoming webinar. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jmDsG70eTeaUuhFDqZxhtA
References
1. F. Cioffi, R. Senese. (2013)Thyroid hormones and mitochondria: With a brief look at derivatives and analogues. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. Volume 379, Issues 1–2, 15 October 2013, Pages 51-61
2. Jee Hyun An, et al (2016). L-carnitine supplementation for the management of fatigue in patients with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine treatment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Endocr J. 2016 Oct 29;63(10):885-895. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ16-0109. Epub 2016 Jul 16.