T3 induced thermogenesis, with a resulting increase in basal metabolic rate. To
make up for the deficit in ATP production “more” substrates (fat and muscle
protein) are burned for fuel, resulting in weight loss. Muscle glycogen is also more
rapidly depleted, and less efficiently stored during hyperthyroidism, which may
create muscle weakness.
increased lipolysis: The catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine, bind
to the beta 2 adrenergic receptor in fat tissue and activate Hormone Sensitive Lipase
(HSL). T3 results in an increased ability of catecholamines to activate HSL, leading
to increased lipolysis or fat mobilization. Besides increasing beta 2 receptor density
in adipose tissue, T3 upregulates this receptor in human skeletal muscle. Due to
excessive T3 in more catabolic awakenings such as the first one, supplemental
growth hormone might be necessary to avoid loss of fat and muscle.
HYPotHYroiDism
The exhaustion phase of the stress response and kundalini awakenings occurs
when the body’s ability to cope with stress becomes depleted. At this point, adrenal
hormones plummet, from excessively high to excessively low. It is this latter phase
of adrenal exhaustion that sometimes accompanies, or is mistaken for low thyroid.
Some scientists believe that even the entrance of thyroid hormone into our cells
is under the influence of adrenal hormones. Thus, if your adrenals are exhausted,
you might do well to take both adrenal and thyroid hormone together. Where do
low thyroid and adrenal stress intersect? If you find yourself in the alarm phase of
adrenal stress (high levels of ACTH and high levels of cortisol), one result might
be altered conversion of T-4 into T-3, or thyronine. The level of cortisol at the cell
level controls thyroid hormone production. The enzyme that is used to convert
T4 to T3 is inhibited by stress, acute and chronic illness, fasting and the stress
hormone cortisol. Thus a hyper-adrenal situation can reduce the availability of
biologically active thyroid hormone.
When the thyroid hormone is deficient, the body is generally exposed to
increased levels of estrogen. The thyroid hormone is essential for making the
protective hormones progesterone and pregnenolone; so these hormones are
lowered when anything interferes with the function of the thyroid. The thyroid
hormone is required for using and eliminating cholesterol, so cholesterol is likely
to be raised by anything which blocks the thyroid function.
Thyroid disorders are more common in women than men. In women,
adequate binding of T3 is dependent upon sufficient progesterone. A low level
of progesterone is a common experience in both young and older women. When
women stop ovulating (anovulation) this means they are not producing adequate
progesterone each month, leading to progesterone deficiency. This is also a
similar condition that occurs for perimenopausal women. The main causes of
the cessation of ovulation include an poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, skipping
meals, emotional and physical stress, and over-exercising. Thus low progesterone
levels in young women interferes with thyroid efficiency and is also one of the most
frequent causes of infertility. One study showed that 94% of women with PMS