Dr. Mercola is a machine at putting out content. I try to read most of what he puts out. If I had a complaint, he doesn't help you, the reader, understand the priority of any given piece of content.
Today's post is a "fairly" important one because so many people complain of energy issues. I believe (and my testing corroborates this) that infections like chronic epstein barr and others is the major contributor to energy issues.
As Dr. Levy stated: All deterioration is the loss of electrons and all healing is the gain of electrons.
*** Infectious agents live off of YOUR electrons!***
Now for Dr. Mercola's article (summary only with link to full article)
Your endocrine system is a complex network of glands and organs that produce hormones, the chemical messengers vital for regulating numerous bodily functions. Among the many hormones that this system produces, thyroid hormones are perhaps the most important, as they’re key regulators of your metabolism and play an indispensable role in nearly every physiological process within your body.
An imbalance in your thyroid hormones can have far-reaching effects on your health. Thyroid disorders affect approximately 200 million people worldwide,1 with common conditions including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), goiter (enlarged thyroid) and thyroid cancer.2
Given the thyroid's influence on numerous bodily functions, an imbalance can also trigger or exacerbate a wide range of issues in other parts of your body. These may include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, gum disease and various autoimmune disorders, to name a few.
Fortunately, thyroid hormone imbalances are both treatable and preventable. Your diet is crucial for maintaining this gland’s healthy function. Understanding which foods are beneficial for your thyroid and which ones can disrupt its balance is essential for supporting not only your hormonal health but also your overall well-being.
The Basics of Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ located on your neck just under your voice box, produces the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These interact with other hormones, such as insulin, cortisol and sex hormones, as well as various organs, including the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive and reproductive systems, contributing to their proper function.3
The hormone-secretion process begins with the hypothalamus, which releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which then prompts the thyroid gland to release T4. Approximately 90% of the thyroid hormone released is in the inactive form of T4.
Your liver plays a crucial role in converting T4 into T3, the active form, with the help of specific enzymes. T3 is essential for regulating the metabolism of every cell in your body, directly influencing processes such as fat burning and energy production.
When everything is working properly, your body makes just enough T4 to be efficiently converted to T3. However, there are many factors that can inhibit this process, including impaired liver function, stress and excessive levels of cortisol, estrogen, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and endotoxins.
Inefficient conversion of T4 to T3 can lead to hypothyroidism, which affects more people in the U.S. than hyperthyroidism.4 Hypothyroidism is characterized by a slowed metabolism, contributing to symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, dry skin, hair loss, bowel problems, edema, brain fog, anxiety and depression.
How to Assess the Health of Your Thyroid
A simple method to assess your thyroid function is by measuring your body temperature upon waking in the morning. This approach works because higher tissue levels of T3 correlate with a faster metabolic rate, resulting in elevated body temperature and pulse rate.
If your morning body temperature is around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, it means you have a healthy thyroid. By midday, aim for a temperature of approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by a pulse rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute, showing a healthy metabolic response.
Having a consistently low body temperature and pulse rate could mean that you have a sluggish metabolism. If your temperature drops after breakfast, that’s another bad sign indicating reliance on stress hormones, which can be harmful to your health.
If you’re having your doctor assess your thyroid function, a common test they might order is the TSH test, which measures the level of TSH in your blood.5 It's important to note that while a low TSH level is generally desirable, it can sometimes be suppressed by cortisol and adrenaline. Checking your temperature and pulse after meals provides further insights into your thyroid function.
Even with normal lab results, abnormal body temperature and pulse readings can indicate subclinical hypothyroidism. Additionally, a cholesterol test can offer valuable clues. Elevated cholesterol levels (mid- to high-200s) may indicate poor thyroid conversion of cholesterol into steroid hormones. Low cholesterol levels, on the other hand, could signal an underlying infection.
LEWIS: He has this wrong - Low HDL could signal infection and HIGH TOTAL CHOLESTEROL signals infection (chronic). So few doctors, even in the functional world, understand the consequences of chronic infection.
RATHER THAN GUESS ABOUT INFECTION WITH THE LIPID PANEL - TEST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH A CBC WITH DIFFERENTIAL - THEN YOU WILL KNOW - NOT GUESS.
Anyway, we love Joe.
Here is the link to the full article.
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