Thursday, July 16, 2020 - Episode 006
By: Carol "Rosey" Rowsemitt, PhD, RN, FNP
What the famine response is and why it is not detected by the usual thyroid tests
- The two sides to the famine response are: First, you have increased interest in food. And the second is decreased metabolism.
- With decreased metabolism, you turn down your body’s thermostat so that you burn fewer calories at rest.
- This decreases the active hormone T3, which prevents weight loss, and may cause other symptoms of low thyroid.
- Most physicians and other providers are only taught to test just the hormone TSH, instead of measuring T3.
- Evaluating and treating thyroid with an understanding of the famine response can help level the playing field so that you can lose weight.
- If you hit a plateau and you don’t understand why, start listening to your body for symptoms of low thyroid.