Re: Coconut Oil and Hyperthyroidism...

August 11, 2006

--- In , " gdawson6 " <gdawson6@...>

wrote:

>

> I've been experiencing some hyperthyroid symptoms lately...still

> detoxing from mercury and I think it may be related to that.

>

> Not sure exactly what is causing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism

but

> many think it could be not enough magnesium...so I have been

> supplementing with some magnesium malate. Though I have had many

> symptoms of hyperthyroidism a lot of my life (anxiety, sweating,

> rapid heart beat at times, etc...)...but just never as bad

> as it is right now.

>

> Anyway, I know coconut oil boosts thyroid function and I wanted to

> know if I should stop eating it because my thyroid is already very

> active. Any input onto whether I should drop coconut oil out of my

> diet and just eat more raw butter instead?

>

> Any input is really appreciated as I haven't been sleeping well at

all.

>

> -

=====================================

Hi

Coconut oil has been proven to increase metabolism and energy levels

by complementing the function of the thyroid. Therefore, this

would tend to suggest that it would aggravate an existing condition

of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), especially when we take

into account that coconut oil is usually recommended for

hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Reference:-

http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/newsletter/march-01-2004/pdf/TWC-

Thyroid.pdf

(f) Mercury is endocrine system-disrupting chemical(accumulates in

pituitary gland and damages or inhibits pituitary glands hormonal

functions at very low levels (9,19,20,25,85,99,105,273,312,327,

348,369/274), adrenal gland function(84,369,381), thyroid gland

function (50,212,369,382,459,508-511,35), thymus gland function

(513), and disrupts enzyme production processes at very low levels

of exposure (9,13,33,35,56,111,194,258,348,355,410-412)

Reference:-

http://www.flcv.com/amalg6.html

MERCURY

Mercury is a toxic metal with significant effects on the thyroid.

There is ample evidence that mercury leaches from dental amalgam

fillings and contributes to thyroid disease and anemia.

While large doses of mercury can induce hyperthyroidism, smaller

amounts can induce hypothyroidism by interfering with both the

production of thyroxin (T4) and the conversion of T4 to T3.

Reference:-

http://www.ithyroid.com/mercury.htm

Marie

August 11, 2006

wrote:

> > Anyway, I know coconut oil boosts thyroid function and I wanted to

> > know if I should stop eating it because my thyroid is already very

> > active. Any input onto whether I should drop coconut oil out of my

> > diet and just eat more raw butter instead?

I've never seen anyone put forth any substantiated mechanism by which

coconut oil boosts thyroid output or function, so it's hard to say --

it could boost thyroid indiscriminately; it could normalize thyroid

function; I'm not even sure if its relationship to the thyroid is

directly related to output of thyroid hormone.

The only mechanism I've seen put forth is Ray Peat's theory that

polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease thyroid output and interfere with

thyroid hormone's transport in the blood and functioning at the

cellular level. He argues that coconut oil boosts hypothyroid states

by displacing the polyunsaturates that interfere with thyroid

functioning. If this is the case, I see no reason whatsoever to

believe that coconut oil would contribute to hyperthyroidism, except

temporarily during a transition phase before the body adapts.

That said, I haven't gotten the sense that Peat's theory is actually

very well-substantiated.

Marie wrote:

> Coconut oil has been proven to increase metabolism and energy levels

> by complementing the function of the thyroid. Therefore, this

> would tend to suggest that it would aggravate an existing condition

> of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), especially when we take

> into account that coconut oil is usually recommended for

> hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

> Reference:-

> http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/newsletter/march-01-2004/pdf/TWC-

> Thyroid.pdf

Like everything else I've seen on coconut oil and thyroid, there is no

substantiated mechanism here. They don't even give any direct

relation to the thyroid -- they say it boosts metabolism by

" complementing " the thyroid, whatever that means. The indirect

mechanisms they suggest -- being easily absorbed and digested and

putting less stress on digestive and metabolism-regulating organs --

does not suggest a direct increase of thyroid hormone output but

rather an ease of general physiological stress, so I don't see how it

could suggest that coconut oil would lead to hyperthyroid or aggravate

it.

Marie further wrote:

> While large doses of mercury can induce hyperthyroidism, smaller

> amounts can induce hypothyroidism by interfering with both the

> production of thyroxin (T4) and the conversion of T4 to T3.

Someone posted something here not too long ago saying that

mercury-loaded thyroid hormone does not function correctly. If that's

the case, then wouldn't mercury-induced " hyperthyroidism " really be

effectively hypothryoidism masquerading falsely as hyperthyroidism on

the lab tests?

-- although I don't see much of a reason to think coconut oil

would be causing hyperthyroidism, it really couldn't hurt to cut back

or eliminate the coconut oil to see if anything changes. Obviously it

would be best if you did that alone for a few days so you could tell

if it was helping or not. If you experiment, please let us know the

results. I hope you recover quickly and figure it all out.

Chris

--

The Truth About Cholesterol

Find Out What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You:

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com

August 11, 2006

> -- although I don't see much of a reason to think coconut oil

>would be causing hyperthyroidism, it really couldn't hurt to cut back

>or eliminate the coconut oil to see if anything changes. Obviously it

>would be best if you did that alone for a few days so you could tell

>if it was helping or not. If you experiment, please let us know the

>results. I hope you recover quickly and figure it all out.

Ya its a tough call. I really need the energy to burn as if I get low

on stores I get real shaky and panicky. I can always eat plenty of

raw butter instead though.

I didn't have this problem until I used an infrared sauna daily for

like 2 weeks, then I have been having it on and off since then (but

didn't stop using the sauna until now, cause I'm hardheaded).

Thanks for your response I always appreciate your thoroughness

and your eagerness to help people out.

I'm hanging in there. I have gotten extremely little sleep this week

but I have been meditating instead and I really don't feel that

tired...but I really miss sleeping because its nice to get a break

from this reality.

-

August 12, 2006

>

> > While large doses of mercury can induce hyperthyroidism, smaller

> > amounts can induce hypothyroidism by interfering with both the

> > production of thyroxin (T4) and the conversion of T4 to T3.

>

> Someone posted something here not too long ago saying that

> mercury-loaded thyroid hormone does not function correctly. If

that's

> the case, then wouldn't mercury-induced " hyperthyroidism " really be

> effectively hypothryoidism masquerading falsely as hyperthyroidism

on

> the lab tests?

>

> -- although I don't see much of a reason to think coconut oil

> would be causing hyperthyroidism, it really couldn't hurt to cut

back

> or eliminate the coconut oil to see if anything changes.

Obviously it

> would be best if you did that alone for a few days so you could

tell

> if it was helping or not. If you experiment, please let us know

the

> results. I hope you recover quickly and figure it all out.

>

> Chris

>

> --

> The Truth About Cholesterol

> Find Out What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You:

> http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com

=======================================

I was not trying to suggest that coconut oil caused hyperthyroid

symptoms. A person's metabolism is increased in hyperthyroidism,

so causing hyperthyroid symptoms, and also it is suggested that

coconut oil, as a separate to the thyroid, increases metabolism

too. Patients with hyperthyroidism usually encounter weight loss,

coconut oil, as separate to the thyroid, is also supposed to help

with weight loss.

If one is prescribed too much Levothyroxine (T4) in hypothyroidism,

then they can begin to experience hyperthyroid symptoms, including

increased metabolism, which could also include sleeping problems,

and/or inability to get to sleep at the appropriate times. For

example, many patients, including myself, find this out by actual

experience. The above T4 is converted into T3 within the body, and

some patients' bodies are unable to convert T4 into the necessary

amounts of T3, whilst others may find that their T4 is converted

into a reverse form of T3, which is said not to fully work.

Therefore, where patients are encountering problems with this

conversion of T4 to T3, they will probably find that being

prescribed say Levothyroxine (T4) on its own will not result in the

expected beneficial effects in taking that particular medication,

and so will continue to have many hypothyroid symptoms.

This is why many patients find that they feel better when they are

prescribed Levothyroxine (T4) together with Liothyronine (T3) in a

synthetic form. There are also many other patients in contrast

who find that they do not appear to do so well on this synthetic

form of T4 and T3, and where some of them have decided to take a

more natural form of it such as in Armour Thyroid. Armour Thyroid

is said to contain:- T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Reference:-

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/natural-thyroid-101/

Hormones fluctuate within the body where through time one can switch

from being say hyperthyroid to hypothyroid, and vice versa. It is

also said that a noteable number of patients can have some of the

symptoms of hyperthyoidism and hypothyroidism at the same time.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are very complex subjects, so it

would be impossible to cover all the relevant points in one post.

If is still detoxing from mercury then I would have thought

that any possible related thyroid problems in relation to mercury

will not become apparent until say after at least six weeks after

that particular detox has been completed. Apparent in the sense

that he will no longer be experiencing them. Six weeks should allow

enough time for those thyroid hormones to have significantly

regulated themselves, and for to determine whether he still is

encountering hyperthyroid symptoms.

Also mentioned that he is aged 20, so the hormonal changes that

took place as he entered manhood could have also affected his

thyroid, and could make an existing condition of hyperthyroid either

worse, or better, depending on the individual case, or make it an

apparent problem for the first time. Thyroid problems can be an

inherited condition, and also they can come to the fore during

hormonal changes within the body. For example in the case of a

woman, this can be at puberty, during menstruation cycles, becoming

pregnant, giving birth ( where in some cases thyroid problems do not

become totally apparent until say after the second or third birth of

a child), and the menopause. Lastly stress, especially consistent

high levels of stress, is said to affect the functioning of the

thyroid in both men and women.

You mentioned:-

" Someone posted something here not too long ago saying that

mercury-loaded thyroid hormone does not function correctly. If

that's the case, then wouldn't mercury-induced " hyperthyroidism "

really be effectively hypothryoidism masquerading falsely as

hyperthyroidism on the lab tests? "

The pituitary, the hypothalamus, and the thyroid gland all play an

individual role in relation to thyroid hormones.

Reference:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid

MERCURY

Mercury is a toxic metal with significant effects on the thyroid.

There is ample evidence that mercury leaches from dental amalgam

fillings and contributes to thyroid disease and anemia.

While large doses of mercury can induce hyperthyroidism, smaller

amounts can induce hypothyroidism by interfering with both the

production of thyroxin (T4) and the conversion of T4 to T3.

Mercury disturbs the metabolism of copper and zinc which are two

minerals critical to thyroid function. Gray hair can be an

indication of mercury accumulation, more so in females than males.

Mercury causes disruptions to the immune system functioning and

promotes the production of IgG and IgE autoantibodies which also are

involved in autoimmune thyroid disease.

Different forms of mercury, organic or inorganic, have different

effects on the thyroid. Milk and quite likely estrogen cause an

increase in the absorption of mercury.

Mercury has a very long half-life in the body with a duration of

perhaps many years and has been found in cancerous tissues.

Selenium is the key mineral which protects the body from mercury

toxicity. One study showed that cilantro (Chinese parsley) helps

remove mercury from the body and protects the body from pre-

cancerous lesions.

Reference:-

http://www.ithyroid.com/mercury.htm

Here is a weblink titled:-

" Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the TSH Thyroid Test "

Reference:-

http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/257245.htm?nl=1

another weblink:-

What Does the TSH Test Measure?

The TSH test measures the levels of TSH, a hormone that is made and

released by your pituitary gland. Your pituitary can sense whether

there is enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, and it releases

TSH when it detects insufficient thyroid hormone.

The TSH is essentially telling your thyroid to " release more

hormone. " This is why your TSH rises when your thyroid is

underactive. A high TSH means that the pituitary gland is releasing

its hormone to try to get the thyroid to respond and produce more

thyroid hormone.

On the opposite end, when the pituitary senses that there is too

much thyroid hormone circulating, then it slows down or even stops

releasing TSH. The lowering of TSH means that the thyroid is no

longer getting the message to release hormone, and thyroid hormone

production will slow down.

Reference:-

http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/ss/normaltsh_2.htm

Therefore, to conclude on this subject of mercury it would appear to

cause biochemical reactions in relation to the production of thyroid

hormones that include the roles of the pituitary, the hypothalamus

and the thryoid gland, which in turn would tend to suggest it could

give false readings during lab tests. False in the sense that a

lab test results could show that a hypothyroid patient as being

hyperthyroid, and vice versa.

Even casting mercury issues to one side for a moment, thyroid lab

test results is a contentious subject on its own, as even when the

results do come back allegedly 'normal', many patients still have

many disabilitating thyroid symptoms, either hyperthyroid symptoms

and/or hypothyroid symptoms, as indictated in two of the above

weblinks.

Therefore, there are three aspects, one - hyperthyroidism, two -

detox from mercury, and three - the use of coconut oil. If

stops taking that coconut oil for a few days, he may not feel any

noticeable difference if he is still going through this detox from

mercury in terms of biochemical reaction and corresponding

fluctuating levels of thyroid hormones. obviously wants to

try to alleviate some of his existing hyperthyroid symptoms, where

it is a possibility that the coconut oil, as a separate issue, could

be having a slightly negative effect at this particular point in

time despite taking into consideration its beneficial effects,

considering the fact that it is supposed to increase metabolism and

subsequent weight loss, which is why it is usually mentioned in

relation to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). One can only

look at the various feedbacks from patients who actually take

coconut oil, but other than that, I have also not come across

conclusive proof of this one way or the other.

Reference:-

http://www.coconutdiet.com/thyroid_health.htm

Also I suppose it will also depend on how much coconut oil one

actually consumes, as on another forum in relation to coconunt oil

some members who had been taking considerable amounts of coconut

oil were wondering if it had caused their Graves disease.

I am not trying to suggest that this is true, as I think that they

already had this underlying condition of Graves' disease. However,

if those amounts of coconut oil had significantly increased their

metabolism together with that previously separate issue of

undiagnosed condition of Graves' disease, then one possibility is

that in taking that coconut oil it had led to a faster diagnosis of

Graves' disease, as those people knew that something definetly felt

wrong, and so went to see their doctor who arranged for the

necessary thyroid lab tests.

Graves' disease is a thyroid-specific autoimmune disorder in which

the body makes antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone

receptor (TSHR), leading to hyperthyroidism, or an abnormally strong

release of hormones from the thyroid gland. Normally, the release of

thyroid hormones is mediated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a

hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that binds to TSHR to

stimulate the thyroid to release thyroid hormones. This normal cycle

is self-regulating: the hormones secreted by the thyroid keep more

TSH from being produced (Janeway, 2001).

The autoantibodies produced in Graves' disease are not subject to

negative feedback, so they continue to be produced and bind to TSHR

even when thyroid hormone levels rise too high. These antibodies act

as agonists, stimulating more hormones to be released and thus

leading to hyperthyroidism.

Reference:-

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Immunology/Students/Spring2003/Br

eedlove/GravesDisease.html

Marie

August 12, 2006

Dr. Bruce Fife is the one stating it improves thyroid, etc.

Allyn

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Re: Re: Coconut Oil and Hyperthyroidism...