Can’t lose weight no matter what? Could the weight loss culprit be something inconspicuous as mercury build-up in your body?
It is widely accepted that metal toxicity can impair neuroendocrine function. This means that with toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, normal thyroid function, can be damaged.
What are Toxic Metals?
Toxic metals are not required or of use to your body’s chemistry. Mercury is the example we are all probably most familiar with. Toxic metals can also be variations of metals for which there is a biological use, but in the wrong form are harmful.
What is the Weight Loss Connection?
For weight loss, or an inability to lose weight no matter what, the effect of toxic metals on thyroid function and estrogen production becomes of particular interest.
Impaired thyroid function, specifically the impairment of T4 to T3 conversion, will act like an invisible force field around your body fat. Therefore, no amount of diet or exercise will be of use for someone with sufficiently impaired thyroid.
There is good scientific evidence that metal toxicity can impair endocrine (thyroid) function.
When we look at the scientific evidence for toxic metals and impaired thyroid function, numerous studies indicate lead, cadmium, and mercury with poor thyroid function.
What we can say for sure is this.
1. Toxic Metals in your body are undesirable
2. Toxic metals may impair thyroid function in specific individuals
3. If you cannot lose weight and have high levels of heavy metals, you may consider a protocol to remove toxic metals.
The Best Test to Objectively Measure Your Level of Heavy Metals
I recommend having your physician order the three or 6-hour urinary heavy metal toxic test using a challenging agent such as DMSA or DMPS.
** I also recommend the QuickSilver Scientific Tri-Mercury/Toxic Metal Testing.
The following test was ordered on a patient who had difficulty losing weight. She was unable to convert T4-T3.
The mercury levels were “significantly” elevated.
Once the patient was treated, and the mercury and lead were reduced and removed, her weight problem was solved. In addition, her T4-T3 conversion issue was again solved.
How Can You Rid Yourself of Toxic Metals?
1: Find a doctor thoroughly trained in the evaluation and treatment of heavy metal detoxification
2: Be sure your phase I and phase II detoxification pathways are functioning optimally
3: Eliminate all heavy metal exposure (we provide guidelines to all of our patients on potential exposure)
4: InfraRed Sauna
5: After carefully evaluating your health professional, they may recommend DMSA, DMPS chelating agent, or the QuickSilver Toxic Metal Protocol.