Dr. Sarah Myhill on Stubborn Fat, Thyroid Health, and Metabolism

Understanding Stubborn Fat and Weight Gain

• 💡 Stubborn fat and weight gain are often linked to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.
• 🎯 To effectively mobilize fat for energy, adequate thyroid hormones are essential.
• ⚠️ Without sufficient thyroid hormones, the body mobilizes fat using adrenaline, leading to a 'wired but tired' feeling, a common symptom of underactive thyroid.

Assessing Thyroid Health

• 📉 Individuals with an underactive thyroid tend to gain weight, while those with an overactive thyroid may experience rapid weight loss.
• 🔬 Blood tests for thyroid function are not always definitive; they indicate biochemical scope for a trial of thyroid hormones rather than an individual's personal reference range.
• 🩺 Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include a slow pulse (below 70-75 bpm at rest), low core temperature, fatigue, brain fog, edema, voice changes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and poor hair quality.

Strategies for Kickstarting Metabolism

• 💊 A trial of food-grade thyroid glandulars at a low dose can help improve thyroid function and kickstart fat burning.
• ⏳ Longer fasts, such as 36-hour or 48-hour fasts, can significantly boost metabolism and encourage fat-burning mode.
• 🍎 Fermenting gut issues and excessive fructose intake can hinder fat burning and ketosis, promoting weight gain.

Fat Intake and Energy

• ⚡ MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) is a useful tool for weight loss as it's absorbed directly by the liver to generate ketones without requiring digestion.
• 🚀 Ketones from MCT oil stimulate mitochondria, the 'engines' of our cells, to work faster and promote the growth of more mitochondria, thus increasing energy output.
• 🔑 For insulin to function effectively, it requires co-factors like chromium, carnitine, vitamin B3, and vitamin B1.