New research has revealed that an under active thyroid might be the number one cause of weight problems, especially among women, not only here but nowadays in all industrialized countries around the world.
What is causing the obesity epidemic?
It is generally accepted that diet plays a major role in thyroid health. For decades we have been told that low iodine intake leads to low thyroid function and eventually to goiter. Iodized salt was intended to solve this problem, but it has not been the answer.
Dr. Mary Enig, anutritionist/biochemist of international renown, investigated
the nutritional aspects of fats and oils. In fact her research has taken her into a different direction from mainstream nutritional thinking which makes more sense. She has published together with Sally Fallon overwhelming evidence that the rise in refined polyunsaturated vegetable oil consumption since the
turn of the previous century has led to all kinds of degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Refined dietary oils can negatively affect thyroid health. We cook with them almost every day and they are plentiful in commercially prepared foods, in bottled salad dressings and mayonnaise, baked goods, packaged convenience foods and margarine, especially in the ‘fast food-industry’. Most oils sold in supermarkets are expeller pressed or solvent-cted, requiring refining to at least be edible. These ‘dead’ oils became a major part of the North American diet in the last century. They are among the worst offenders when it comes to thyroid health. One must never forget that these epidemic conditions didn’t exist just two or three generations ago.
I consider Dr. Johanna Budwig the greatest authority on fats and oils that ever walked this earth. Her insights were years ahead of any other researchers. She discovered that only living oils, freshly pressed, unheated and untreated, are able to carry out the metabolic functions they were meant to do by our creator. This is especially true for raw Virgin Coconut oil and other seed oils.
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Where is the connection to weight loss?
A low functioning thyroid is the main cause for the rise of obesity, agrees Ray Peat PhD, a physiologist who has worked with progesterone and other female related hormones since 1968. He observed that the introduction of polyunsaturated oils into the food chain about 60 to 70 years ago has caused many changes in hormones. He writes: “The best understood effect of polyunsaturated oils is their interference with the function of the thyroid gland. These oils block thyroid hormone secretion. When the thyroid hormone is deficient, cholesterol is likely to be raised”, and likewise the body’s weight.
According to Dr. Ray Peat, the fattening effect of polyunsaturated oils, primarily soy and corn (which are refined)*, is due to the presence of long-chain fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids (altered into trans fats)*, which have an anti-thyroid effect. The consequences of an under active thyroid is improper fat metabolism resulting in weight gain.
Coconut Oil: A Healthy Choice for the Thyroid Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a saturated fat made up primarily of medium-chain fatty acids. Also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Medium-chain fatty acids behave much differently in the body increasing metabolism and promoting weight loss. Coconut oil can also raise basal body temperatures while increasing metabolism. Virgin Coconut Oil offers great hope for those suffering from hypothyroidism, a low functioning thyroid.
The most often question I have been asked is: “How much do I need to
take to lose weight?” This of course cannot be answered universally. First of all, one needs to determine if overweight is the result of hypothyroidism, or if it is simply because of a too high caloric intake.
Dr. Bruce Fife and many others, recommend three tablespoons of raw Virgin Coconut oil each day.
Good results have been achieved when coconut oil is taken before each meal.
This addition gives a feeling of satisfaction and curbs appetite. Since coconut oil provides lots of energy, it is advisable not to take coconut oil late in the evening. Details about the coconut diet can be found in Dr. Fife’s book Eat Fat – Look Thin.
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