Weight, Obesity and Body Composition
243 associated posts. These are attributed summaries; original text remains at the linked X post and in the local archive.
- @lowmegatron · 2025-10-01 original
The author claims coffee protects muscle and strength. They cite mouse findings of larger hind limbs, better muscle regeneration, more proliferating satellite cells and greater grip strength in aged mice, and call grip strength a predictor of longevity in humans.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-01 own thread gap
lowmegatron claims coffee reduces muscle breakdown by inhibiting 11β-HSD1, which he says increases cortisol locally and breaks down muscle.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-01 own thread gap
lowmegatron reports a study finding that drinking 2 or more cups of coffee per day was associated with a 72% lower risk of low muscle mass. The figures are 38% lower for 1–3 cups/week, 47% for 4–6 cups/week, and 72% for 2 or more cups/day, compared with under one cup/week.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-01 own thread gap
lowmegatron says a study linked coffee, caffeinated coffee and caffeine intake to higher ASMBMI (limb muscle mass adjusted for BMI). He explains the measure and quotes the authors suggesting that higher intake may be advocated for people at high risk of low skeletal muscle mass.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-01 original
The author describes a low-carb pattern of weight loss, then weight gain, more restriction and hypothyroid symptoms. They claim high local cortisol can suppress thyroid hormone action while labs look normal. The quoted account (MojitoSlammer) reports going from 40% to 30% body fat without peptides or strict dieting, crediting Ray Peat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-05 original
Author states that taste and smell disturbances affect about 80% of hypothyroid patients and usually reverse with proper treatment. A long quoted passage from an unnamed clinical paper says taste defects may help explain reduced food intake in hypothyroidism. It also says the disturbances generally improved after thyroid hormone replacement.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-06 original
The author says cocoa supports gut barrier integrity and lowers circulating endotoxin. The author lists conditions attributed to high endotoxin and quotes a finding of a 40% reduction in plasma endotoxin. The author advises choosing cocoa low in heavy metals. A PMCID is cited with a mouse emoji. The embedded post (lowmegatron) says metabolic endotoxemia causes obesity and diabetes in mice and humans.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-07 original
The author answers Ricky Gervais's question about staying fat and exhausted despite daily exercise. They attribute it to over-exercising reducing T3 conversion and raising free fatty acids, which they say lowers metabolic rate and makes weight loss harder.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-08 original
Author reports a Kosovo study in which three weeks of near-infrared light therapy added to selenium/vitamin D was followed by improved thyroid labs and reduced weight and waist measures in Hashimoto's. The post gives the light parameters and says weight fell further at 6 months.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-09 own thread
lowmegatron says light therapy led to weight loss that continued for months without further treatment. He reports weight down 6.8%, waist down 6.9%, hip down 3.0%, and waist/hip ratio down 3.3%.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-11 original
Author quotes a study suggesting part of coffee's anti-diabetic effect is inhibition of 11β-HSD1 glucocorticoid reactivation. The author explains that 11β-HSD1 converts cortisone to cortisol, promoting insulin resistance, glucose production and visceral fat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-16 original
The author states that blocking the glucocorticoid receptor lowers glucose and insulin in obese, diabetic mice, and that receptor activation raises free fatty acids. They list interventions said to help lower cortisol. The embedded lowmegatron post quotes a suggestion that coffee's anti-diabetic effect involves inhibiting 11β-HSD1.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-16 original
The author quotes Ray Peat claiming menopause symptoms are essentially identical to those of excess cortisol or Cushing's syndrome. The symptoms listed include facial hair, loss of head hair, weight gain, raised blood pressure, unstable blood sugar, fragile skin and digestive instability.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-18 original
The author claims hypothyroidism, including 'hidden' hypothyroidism with normal TSH and T4, lowers testosterone and raises prolactin in men. They say underfeeding and overtraining can downregulate T3. They describe mechanisms involving TRH, prolactin, GnRH, LH and STAR protein. The embedded lowmegatron post says stress causes hidden hypothyroidism that blood tests often miss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-18 original
The post lists health outcomes that 'forever chemicals' are said to cause. The embedded lowmegatron post gives the same list and adds that nonstick coating chemicals were subject of a decades-long coverup. It says the official safe daily exposure is around one hundred millionths of an ounce, and that the primary exposure risk is drinking water.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-20 original
The author states that sleep restriction reduces fat loss and increases lean tissue loss during caloric restriction. They quote a study (PMID 20921542) and add that stress generally downregulates metabolism, wastes muscle and promotes fat storage. The embedded quoted post from lowmegatron lists common causes of stress.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-23 original
The posting account says seed oils raise feed efficiency (weight gain) by 20% in rats versus coconut oil. It then quotes Ray Peat, who says coconut oil is anti-obesity in animal studies and that obesity tracked the ratio of unsaturated oil to coconut oil rather than total fat. The embedded quoted post (lowmegatron) gives Peat's view that dietary polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) are anti-thyroid and drive metabolic disease.
Source summary and thread relationship - @nootropicguy · 2025-10-24 original
Author argues BDNF is not the answer for addiction because raising it in the wrong brain regions may worsen cravings and relapse risk, and that GDNF is the real anti-addiction target. The post is shared with a quoted user's question about sourcing a nasal product.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-27 original
The author says that six years after The Biggest Loser, participants' resting metabolic rate was 27% lower. The author argues that extreme dieting and exercise stress lower resting metabolic rate (metabolic adaptation), that chasing lower energy intake or fasting harms health, and that energy is essential for health. The embedded quoted post is an anecdote from TElizabethPhD about intermittent fasting stopping working and eating constantly after following Ray Peat's work.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-10 original
The post cites a prospective cohort study reporting that eating mushrooms more often was associated with a lower risk of subclinical hypothyroidism. It highlights a ~90% lower risk at 4 or more times per week in obese people. The embedded quoted post from lowmegatron separately argues that subclinical hypothyroidism is not harmless and is linked to inflammation, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-13 original
Author says ginger decreases fat cell creation, possibly through anti-serotonin effects, and quotes a review abstract (PMID 29193411) listing possible anti-obesity mechanisms. The embedded lowmegatron post reports ginger in hypothyroidism with lower TSH, body weight, waist circumference and fasting blood sugar, and symptom improvements (PMID 35096113).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-14 original
Post presents a 'Fruit Paradox' quotation: fruit is high in simple sugars, which might be expected to cause obesity, yet epidemiological research consistently shows most fruits have anti-obesity effects.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-17 original
Author shares a Ray Peat quote saying hypothyroid people incompletely oxidize glucose, causing blood glucose fluctuations and increased appetite, and that appropriate thyroid hormone and sometimes pantothenic acid help. The quoted lowmegatron post claims reduced brain glucose oxidation in depression that T3 availability may reverse.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-21 original
The post author explains non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and says metabolic rate and thyroid hormone T3 strongly influence it. They say higher NEAT helps prevent fat gain, and that hyperthyroid rats and humans move more while hypothyroid rats and women move less. The embedded quoted post from lowmegatron argues that low T3 activity is implicated in depression and that standard TSH/T4 testing is inadequate. It adds cautions about thyroid hormone use.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-24 original
The post says hypothyroid people move less, quoting a finding that physical activity duration and steps were significantly lower in a subclinical hypothyroid group. The embedded quoted post (lowmegatron) discusses NEAT, claiming T3 and metabolic rate strongly influence it and citing rat and human findings with PMIDs.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-24 original
The author argues that rising TSH tracks with rising bodyweight because high TSH reflects low thyroid hormone. They say thyroid hormone drives resting metabolic rate and NEAT, so low levels mean lower metabolism and more fat storage. They quote a community-based study (PMID 18362250) reporting a linear association between TSH and weight. The embedded lowmegatron post links NEAT to metabolic rate and T3.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-25 original
The author states that gut serotonin causes obesity and type 2 diabetes, citing a quote from Professor Damien Keating that gut-derived serotonin causes diabetes and obesity and that their findings implicate serotonin as a driver of worsening obesity in humans. The embedded post quotes Ray Peat linking serotonin and torpor-like states to reduced deep sleep and brain stress states.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-25 original
The author asks 'Phthlate gut?' and lists health harms attributed to phthalates, including reduced testosterone, reproductive, neurodevelopmental, metabolic, respiratory and thyroid effects. The post quotes a human correlation finding on abdominal obesity and insulin resistance and a mouse study reporting weight gain and metabolic changes. The embedded post by lowmegatron claims phthalates are detoxed by glucuronidation and lists factors said to help or hinder it.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-26 original
The post author says healthy low-BMI (underweight) people move less but have higher-than-expected resting energy expenditure linked to higher thyroid hormone levels. The author quotes a study of Chinese adults and a researcher (Sumei Hu). The embedded quoted post (lowmegatron) separately discusses NEAT, thyroid hormone T3 and physical activity.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-27 original
The author says people with TSH in the upper half of the normal range are 70% more likely to have metabolic syndrome. The author also says this is a red flag for thyroid hormone metabolism and that TSH itself is inflammatory, quoting a study on high-normal TSH.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-02 own thread
lowmegatron quotes the case continuation: the headaches disturbed the boy's food intake and he lost 8 kg. Indomethacin and zolmitriptan were ineffective, and there were no remission periods.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-04 original
The author reports a new study that describes orange juice's protective mechanisms against cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity. The study found that chronic OJ consumption alters gene expression related to inflammation, blood pressure and metabolism, with effects varying by body weight. The embedded earlier post reports that OJ improved HOMA-IR and gut microbiota in young women.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-04 original
Author claims frequent undereating leads to fat gain even in athletes, via lowered metabolic rate and thyroid hormone changes. Supports this with quoted correlations from a study of elite female gymnasts and runners. The embedded lowmegatron post claims prolonged exercise lowers T3 and raises rT3, and that glucose blunts this.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-05 original
Author says increasing fruit fructose led to 50% greater weight loss in a six-week low-calorie diet trial. Author also says fructose limits muscle wasting and thyroid hormone depletion from dieting, citing an IV fructose protein-sparing study. The embedded lowmegatron post describes fructose infusion during a 10-day fast in obese people.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-05 original
Author reports a small human trial in which T3 gave greater weight loss and lower cholesterol than T4/levothyroxine at doses keeping TSH within 0.5-1.5. The author does not read this as meaning everyone needs T3 alone, saying a combination is best for most people who need thyroid hormones and that others should aim to increase thyroid hormone conversion.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-11 original
Author describes a randomized, double-blind crossover trial of substituting T3 (liothyronine) for T4 (levothyroxine) in hypothyroidism. They report greater weight loss and lower LDL, total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B at equivalent TSH suppression. They add that high cholesterol usually indicates another disease process, here hypothyroidism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 original
Author says choosing the right types of fat is key to getting and staying lean, and points to a thread. The retrieved text does not contain the thread's content.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron claims seed oils increase feed efficiency by 20% in rats compared with coconut oil, with seed-oil-fed rats eating less but gaining more weight. He notes coconut oil is mostly saturated while seed oils are polyunsaturated.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron says women who ate extra virgin olive oil at breakfast lost almost twice as much fat as those who ate the same amount of seed oil. In his opinion, the main effect comes from reducing seed oil, whose linoleic acid he says suppresses metabolism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron says men with fatty liver disease lost more weight using olive pomace oil instead of seed oils, and that more dietary linoleic acid meant less weight loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron cites an analysis of 9 human studies showing reduced body fat percentage and BMI with coconut oil. He quotes Ray Peat: the anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in all animal studies and in friends who eat it regularly.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron claims cacao/cocoa butter increases metabolism via its saturated fatty acid, stearic acid, which he says increases mitochondrial fusion and thereby improves mitochondrial function and energy efficiency.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron claims stearic acid reduces fat and raises lean mass in mice, probably through anti-cortisol and anti-estrogen effects. He reports personally losing fat after replacing some dietary fat with cacao butter (about 30% stearic acid) while keeping his diet otherwise consistent.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 own thread
lowmegatron advises swapping unsaturated fat for saturated fat, stating he eats 15g of fat with each of four meals for maintenance or fat loss, aiming for a higher saturated-to-polyunsaturated ratio.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-12 original
Author asks whether others have had similar effects from cacao butter. Author reports less belly fat, deeper sleep, a cognitive boost, better digestion and fewer panic attacks, and says it increases their metabolism and causes slight weight/fat loss when swapped for other fats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-15 original
The author says obese women on levothyroxine have lower resting metabolic rates than obese women not on levothyroxine with similar TSH. They argue levo-only therapy does not fully correct metabolism and normal TSH is a poor marker of thyroid hormone metabolism. The quoted post (lowmegatron) says caloric restriction, fasting and low-carb diets reduce T3 conversion.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-17 original
The author argues that a 1°C lower core temperature, reflecting low thyroid hormone activity, could add about 120 lb over a decade and that hypothyroidism induces a hibernation-like state. The post describes Broda Barnes's basal temperature test and BMR as thyroid indicators, with cited thresholds. The embedded Ray Peat quote criticizes TSH/T4 reference ranges and the history of the protein-bound iodine test.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-18 original
The post quotes Ray Peat on meal frequency: frequent meals help during hypothyroidism and help prevent obesity, while 2-4 meals suffice once thyroid and liver work well. Small meals raise metabolic rate and single big meals increase fat storage. The embedded quoted post from lowmegatron argues lower core temperature in hypothyroidism promotes weight gain.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-27 original
The author claims ginger reduces lipogenesis, fat mass and waist circumference and shifts metabolism toward fuel burning, and that it improves thyroid markers and lowers serotonin. The post supports this with excerpts from two meta-analysis/clinical papers and one rodent study, plus a quoted post from lowmegatron making similar claims about ginger and fat cells.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-29 original
The author states that people burn fewer calories daily than decades ago, mostly because of lower resting energy use, quoting a paper excerpt that rising obesity was probably not driven by reduced physical activity and that adjusted basal metabolic rate has declined. A quoted post from lowmegatron says thyroid blood tests can be normal despite low-thyroid symptoms because TSH/T4 and even T3 tests are limited.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-29 original
Author claims cell phone radiation increases subsequent food intake, citing a crossover study in 15 young men where 25 min of RF-EMF exposure raised caloric intake by 22–27%, mostly from carbohydrate, with altered brain energy metabolism on scans. The embedded quoted post (lowmegatron) claims heavy phone use is associated with higher TSH and lower thyroid hormones, and recommends distance or hands-free use.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-30 original
Author claims fasting and caloric restriction lower metabolism and thyroid hormone set points, often needing T3 to reset the famine response. A long quote from a paper on TSH and weight-loss hypothyroidism says TSH suppression during thyroid hormone treatment is expected. The embedded post (lowmegatron) claims carbohydrate deprivation cut T3 by 25%.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-30 original
Author presents excerpts from a rat study reporting that hypothyroid rats gained more fat and converted less dietary protein into body protein while eating fewer calories. The author adds that T3 appears important for energy and lipid balance, and that hyperthyroid rats balanced higher energy expenditure with higher intake.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-01 original
The author argues that adequate calcium, especially from dairy, is linked to lower body weight, fat loss, less belly fat, lower metabolic syndrome risk and reduced fatty acid synthase. Quoted study excerpts are used as support. The embedded lowmegatron post recommends eggshell powder as a calcium source for people who cannot tolerate dairy and gives a preparation method.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-01 original
The author claims high-carbohydrate diets lower famine and stress signals and raise thyroid hormone conversion and metabolism, whereas low-carb acts as a famine signal that lowers conversion. Support is a Broda Barnes self-experiment quote saying high protein raises thyroid needs, and a quoted study (PMID 11167929) showing carbohydrate deprivation lowered T3 and raised reverse T3. An embedded MojitoSlammer post is a personal fat-loss anecdote crediting Ray Peat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-04 original
The author argues that levothyroxine (T4) alone does not fully correct slow metabolism or weight gain in hypothyroidism, because T3 drives metabolism. They say high-dose T4 may reduce T3 conversion and release, and that lowering TSH does not necessarily raise T3. They propose improving conversion or adding T3, and say basal body temperature is a better guide than TSH. The archived quoted post from lowmegatron links core temperature to fat gain and describes Broda Barnes's basal temperature test.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-05 original
The author says that warm-blooded animals spend substantial energy maintaining body temperature, that T3 plays the largest role in this, and that when basal temperature or T3 drops, calories are stored as fat instead. They support this with quoted passages from a paper on core temperature and obesity. The embedded quoted post is the lowmegatron levothyroxine/T3 post.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-05 original
The post quotes Ray Peat linking lower parathyroid hormone (via calcium and vitamin D) to reduced obesity and related problems. It adds quoted PMID excerpts associating depression with low vitamin D and high PTH and describing neuropsychiatric symptoms in primary hyperparathyroidism. It lists factors that can raise PTH. An embedded lowmegatron post links PTH and prolactin to men's libido and fertility.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-06 original
The author lists health outcomes that citrus fruits are said to be 'shown to' produce, including effects on mood, inflammation, endotoxin, blood pressure, body composition, blood sugar, cognition and asthma. The embedded quoted post from lowmegatron asks Ray Peat about his 'good carbs' list and quotes his list of citrus juices, grape juice, cooked vegetables and non-gluten grains.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-09 original
T3 therapy compared to T4 (levothyroxine) alone leads to weight loss and lower LDL cholesterol. Citation PMID: 24783015 provides evidence. Embedded post from lowmegatron explains differences between T4 and T3, role of T3 in metabolism, and body temperature as metabolic guide.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-10 own thread
lowmegatron claims salicylate, an aspirin metabolite, lowers tissue cortisol regeneration by reducing 11β-HSD1. He quotes research on salsalate/salicylate improving glucose tolerance and reducing adipose 11β-HSD1 in mice and men.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-10 own thread
lowmegatron claims vitamin D appears to lower 11β-HSD1, a cortisol-regenerating enzyme implicated in insulin resistance, obesity, fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. He cites a study where 2,000 IU for 2 weeks reduced cortisol and the cortisol:cortisone ratio versus no change on placebo.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-10 own thread
lowmegatron says drugs that reduce local cortisol via 11β-HSD1 inhibition are being investigated for type 2 diabetes. He quotes a study reporting increased whole-body 11β-HSD1 activity in obese men with T2D, supporting the idea that inhibitors would be most effective in that group.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-10 original
Obesity, especially central obesity, is linked to endocrine abnormalities including thyroid dysfunction. T3 regulates energy metabolism and thermogenesis; both subclinical and overt hypothyroidism correlate with weight gain and reduced metabolic rate. Study of 27,097 individuals shows hypothyroidism linked to higher BMI and obesity prevalence.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-11 original
The cortisol-regenerating enzyme 11β-HSD1 increases local cortisol in liver and adipose tissue without detectable blood elevation and is implicated in insulin resistance, obesity, and fatty liver. Coffee and vitamin D (2,000 IU) inhibit 11β-HSD1 activity and reduce cortisol burden.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-12 original
DHEA improves insulin sensitivity and reduces abdominal fat through decreased local cortisol production via 11β-HSD1 inhibition; coffee, vitamin D, and aspirin share this mechanism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-12 own thread
lowmegatron quotes a randomized trial in which elderly women and men took 50 mg/day DHEA or placebo for 6 months. The quote says DHEA reduced abdominal fat and improved the insulin sensitivity index.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-12 own thread
lowmegatron quotes a paper reporting that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes DHEA downregulated 11β-HSD1 and reduced its oxoreductase activity, comparably to rosiglitazone but not additively. The authors propose that some of DHEA's anti-diabetic effects may come from inhibiting local glucocorticoid amplification in adipose tissue.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-12 own thread
lowmegatron quotes a rat study in which animals fed a high-fat diet plus 0.3% DHEA were largely protected against increased visceral fat. The quote concludes DHEA protects against visceral fat accumulation and muscle insulin resistance in these rats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-13 original
Caloric restriction lowers T3 via decreased T4-to-T3 conversion (not thyroid output); T4 is shunted to reverse T3 instead; TSH suppression during treatment reflects normal adaptation, not overmedication; standard thyroid testing fails to detect this metabolic suppression.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-14 original
Ray Peat quote on innate immune competence for bacterial endotoxin in normal stress, but accumulated unstable polyunsaturated fats increase inflammatory stress from endotoxin exposure. High-PUFA diet increases endotoxin-bacteria; chronic endotoxin infusion in mice increased fasting glucose, insulin, and weight gain.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-14 original
Decaffeinated coffee reduced cholesterol, liver enzymes (ALT), fatty liver, and weight gain in mice fed high-fat/high-PUFA diet. Coffee reduces intestinal permeability and endotoxin; also reduces 11β-HSD1 (cortisol-regenerating enzyme) implicated in insulin resistance, obesity, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-15 original
Parathyroid hormone physiology and regulation: elevated by low dietary calcium, high phosphate, low vitamin D, adrenaline, histamine, low magnesium. Connects PTH elevation to cortisol secretion and obesity-related comorbidities. Includes Ray Peat quote on calcium/vitamin D reducing PTH and associated health problems, plus citations on PTH-cortisol relationships and psychiatric manifestations of hyperparathyroidism. Embedded post on cortisol causation and control strategies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-15 original
Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio importance for weight loss and metabolic health. Ray Peat quote on milk/cheese for weight loss. Studies show dietary calcium augments fat loss during caloric restriction and increases trunk fat loss; dairy products have substantially greater effect. High calcium reduces metabolic syndrome risk by 20%. Calcium inhibits fatty acid synthase in adipocytes. Embedded post by lowmegatron synthesizing calcium effects on weight, body composition, abdominal fat, and metabolic syndrome.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-15 original
TSH and T4 levels predict resting metabolic rate, weight gain, and obesity. Small TSH/T4 variations from levothyroxine dosing changes associate with significantly altered resting energy expenditure in hypothyroid patients. Active T3 hormone primarily responsible for resting energy metabolism. Embedded post by lowmegatron comparing T3 to T4 monotherapy with weight loss and LDL reduction outcomes.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-22 original
Replying via quote to a user asking why they are not losing weight on one meal a day and 10k+ steps, the author claims this signals food scarcity. The author says the body then lowers metabolic rate and stores fat by lowering T3 and raising serotonin.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-22 original
The author claims hypothyroidism generally increases cortisol, with chronic cortisol elevation driving fat gain, high blood sugar and free fatty acid effects. The author says cortisol also lowers TSH and reduces T3 conversion, giving misleading labs. The author speculates that NDT or T4+T3 would have improved the study's results beyond levothyroxine. The embedded lowmegatron post makes related claims citing human and rat studies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-23 original
Thyroid hormone levels correlate with caloric intake; caloric restriction reduces T3 conversion and suppresses thyroid hormone despite normal or low TSH, compromising weight loss effectiveness.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-25 original
Author says BPS, a common substitute in BPA-free products, increases appetite in mice via hypothalamic effects. The post quotes a study abstract suggesting BPS exposure could contribute to obesity and metabolic disorders.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-26 original
Author claims near infrared light doubled fat loss and improved insulin sensitivity in exercising women. The post quotes results from a study of phototherapy plus physical training in obese women, with the treatment protocol.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-27 original
Knowledge claim connecting thyroid hormone suppression in hibernating ground squirrels to hypothyroidism-induced metabolic slowing and obesity, with citations to magnesium paper and basal temperature testing methodology.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-27 original
The author claims dieting and fasting can reset the metabolic set-point downward in some people by lowering T3 and raising reverse T3, hindering weight loss. He says thyroid levels may need correcting and that TSH is a useless marker for dosing, since thyroid replacement during weight loss suppresses TSH. Quotes are from Rowsemitt and Najarian.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-27 original
Knowledge claim that higher sugar intake is associated with lower obesity risk, while higher fat intake (especially PUFA) increases obesity risk via metabolic slowing; distinguishes extrinsic from intrinsic sugars.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread gap
Quotes a passage claiming that, per calorie, sugar is less fattening than starch because it stimulates less insulin and, with a good diet, increases thyroid hormone activity. It lists indicators of metabolic rate: daily temperature cycle, pulse rate, evaporative water loss and Achilles reflex relaxation speed.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 original
Ray Peat quoted on weight loss strategy: eat to increase metabolic rate rather than restrict calories; adequate protein supports muscle gain, which increases basal metabolic requirement. For fat loss, recommends low-fat milk, eggs, orange juice, and carrot (avoiding high-fat whole milk).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Repeats the quoted passage that sugar is less fattening than starch per calorie, citing lower insulin stimulation and increased thyroid hormone activity, and lists metabolic rate indicators such as temperature, pulse and Achilles reflex relaxation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Quotes a claim that the calcium-to-phosphate ratio is important, so milk and cheese help weight loss or prevent gain, and low-fat versions suit less active people.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Quotes a claim that when metabolic rate rises and stress hormones fall, such as after adding two quarts of milk daily, muscle may increase while fat decreases, gradually raising caloric requirements.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Quotes an anecdotal claim that some people lost weight by eating a raw carrot daily, reducing endotoxin stress, and that the liver treats PUFA like toxins but high concentrations poison detoxification.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Quotes a claim that antiseptic fiber such as bamboo shoots or raw carrot aids weight loss by reducing endotoxin and stress hormones and letting the liver metabolize better.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-29 own thread
Quotes claims that stored PUFA released by stress or hunger slows metabolism; niacinamide lowers free fatty acids; small amounts of coconut oil aid fat oxidation; aspirin reduces stress-related free fatty acid rises; thyroid supplements are reasonable until the saturated-to-PUFA ratio is about 2:1. Includes a personal anecdote of losing about two pounds weekly with a tablespoon of coconut oil.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-31 original
Higher potassium consumption during dieting leads to greater weight loss; potassium regulates blood sugar and glucose utilization for optimal metabolism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-01-31 own thread
lowmegatron quotes a study (PMID 31159504) saying that increased dietary potassium predicted BMI reduction in a weight-loss intervention in obesity/metabolic syndrome, and was a stronger predictor than reduced sugar or calorie intake.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-05 original
Repost of lowmegatron's analysis of thyroid hormone changes during fasting/dieting, citing a study showing decreased T3/free T3 and increased rT3, with quotes from Rowsemitt & Najarian on metabolic adaptation and TSH management during weight loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-05 original
Microbial transplant study: bacteria from obese humans transferred to mice induced obesity and insulin resistance; endotoxin-producing Enterobacter species linked to obesity phenotype; case of weight loss (51.4 kg) and metabolic recovery after diet and prebiotic intervention.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-06 original
Disputes fact-checker claims about before/after photos, arguing they show 6-week recovery from hypothyroidism, not war-related changes; cites PMID on thyroid function and obesity.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-09 original
The author notes that an 1888 early investigation of myxedema found it more frequent in women. Its listed symptoms include excess fat, hair loss, tooth loss, skin changes, increased body bulk, and affections of speech, movement, sensation, consciousness and intellect.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-12 original
Quoted Ray Peat anecdotal claim that people have lost weight by eating a raw carrot daily, which he attributes to reducing endotoxin stress.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-12 original
Claims that serotonin overproduction in the small intestine is implicated in obesity and metabolic dysfunction; lists mechanisms linking elevated gut serotonin to reduced thermogenesis, energy expenditure, and weight gain; notes serotonin genetic polymorphisms and animal model findings.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-20 original
Animal study showing coconut oil increases thyroid hormone levels and lowers TSH in rats on anti-thyroid medications; Ray Peat quote on coconut oil's pro-thyroid effect and glycogen storage; dietary swap guidance for weight management.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-23 original
Brief statement that T3 increases non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT); embedded quote from BerbarianWizard describing fat loss stall at very low calories resuming after higher-carbohydrate refeeds.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-23 original
Description of supraclavicular fat pad (fatty tissue above collarbone) as visible/palpable sign associated with Cushing's syndrome but also appearing in some hypothyroidism cases; congenital hypothyroidism study showing fat pad among multiple myxedema signs; embedded Ray Peat quote linking 'Cushingoid' fat distribution, hair loss, and hormone imbalance secondary to hypothyroidism with heart disease risk.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-23 original
Levothyroxine shows paradoxical effect in morbidly obese individuals: 600 mcg dose lowered T3 by 7% despite raising it 17% in non-obese controls. Authors hypothesize impaired T4-to-T3 conversion linked to elevated IL-6 in obesity, which blocks conversion and increases inactivation of thyroid hormones. Embedded post notes bacterial endotoxin produces similar thyroid marker derangement.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-24 original
Ray Peat explains levothyroxine monotherapy can worsen thyroid problems by suppressing residual thyroid T3 production. Symptoms result from low T3 availability, not TSH level. Desiccated thyroid products (Armour, Thyrolar, Euthroid, Proloid) containing both T4 and T3 at physiologic ratio more effective. Embedded post details levothyroxine alone fails to correct slow metabolism and weight gain; T3 drives metabolism. High-dose levothyroxine can reduce T3 conversion and suppress gland T3 release despite lowering TSH.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-26 original
Endotoxin may cause low testosterone in obese men through inflammation; men with higher blood endotoxin levels have lower testosterone; endotoxin injection into healthy men lowers testosterone; adiposity correlates with endotoxin and inflammation and inversely with testosterone.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-03 original
Zinc protects against stress-induced decrements in thyroid hormones and testosterone and improves weight loss, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity in obese people in caloric deficit. Two studies quoted on zinc supplementation effects. Embedded quoted post details high-dose zinc effects on T3, reverse T3, and thyroid hormone conversion in zinc-deficient people.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-03 original
Author presents personal anecdotes from two users (husband and wife) reporting dramatic health improvements from switching to T3 thyroid hormone including water weight loss, temperature normalization, resolution of psoriasis, reproductive function recovery, PMDD reversal, mood stabilization, and histamine reduction; pairs with experimental animal data showing hypothyroidism increases mast cells and histamine.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-03 original
Author describes PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as endocrine disruptors interfering with thyroid hormone production, transport, and signaling; notes association with faster weight regain in women; identifies common sources of PFAS exposure.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-07 original
Repost sharing user experiences of T3 thyroid hormone therapy. Two people report multiple improvements including weight loss, temperature normalization, resolution of psoriasis, return of ovulation, reversal of PMDD and emotional symptoms, reversal of Raynaud's, cholesterol normalization, discontinuation of ADHD medication, and resolution of histamine-related symptoms. Study cited showing experimental hypothyroidism increases mast cells and histamine in rats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-09 original
Author explains lactose intolerance is often temporary, caused by lactase enzyme depletion after lactose avoidance; enzyme increases with graduated reintroduction. Cites study of African-American adolescent girls showing lactase adaptation over 21 days. Mentions alternative causes: additives, A1 casein sensitivity, SIBO, hypothyroidism. Embedded post by lowmegatron on calcium-to-phosphate ratio and dairy for weight loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-13 original
Ray Peat quoted on milk and dairy consumption as protective against obesity; multiple cited studies examine calcium and dairy effects on appetite suppression, energy intake, body weight regulation, and fat loss during caloric restriction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-16 original
Author traces historical discovery of thyroid hormone-induced weight loss from 1890s iodothyrin to modern T3 studies, noting iodothyrin as active thyroid gland extract containing T3; embeds lowmegatron post comparing T3 and levothyroxine on weight loss and LDL.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-16 original
lowmegatron argues that hypothyroid dogs have lower energy expenditure and that levothyroxine raised it. He cites a study in which 18 of 20 obese dogs lost weight, lethargy improved in 14 of 15, and 93% of dogs with skin or coat problems improved or resolved. He states that thyroid hormone accounts for about 50% of BMR and that dogs seem to respond better to levothyroxine than people do.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-19 original
Potassium is essential for glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, stroke prevention, blood pressure, vascular calcification prevention, and weight loss. <2% of US adults meet ≥4700 mg/day recommendation. Six mechanisms supported: experimental potassium depletion impairs glucose and insulin; lower intake linked to higher stroke risk in men and women; low potassium associated with metabolic syndrome and vascular calcification; potassium supplementation lowers blood pressure. Food sources: oranges, grapes, milk, coconut water, potatoes.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-21 original
Author identifies basal temperature as a primary biomarker and quotes text on temperature changes and metabolic rate in obesity pathophysiology. Includes embedded quoted post with link (content not transcribed).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-24 original
lowmegatron restates the quoted canine findings: after levothyroxine, lethargy improved in 14 of 15 dogs, 18 of 20 obese dogs lost weight, and 93% of dogs with dermatologic disease, including dry coat or alopecia, improved or resolved.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-27 original
Coffee intake is associated with greater muscle mass and protects against age-related muscle loss through reduction of 11β-HSD1, anti-inflammatory effects, and accelerated muscle regeneration; mechanisms and two cited studies presented.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-30 original
Caffeine at 100 mg every 2 hours increases energy expenditure ~10% with no overnight metabolism change. In obese persons, caffeine enhances diet-induced thermogenesis. Coffee provides greater benefit than other caffeine sources due to gut and cortisol effects, especially with food.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-31 original
Gut microbiota from obese, insulin-resistant humans transferred to mice reproduced obesity and insulin resistance; quoted source reports depression features transferred via gut bacteria to rats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-31 original
Thyroidectomy reduces metabolic rate 45% within weeks; effect corrected by thyroid hormone replacement; thyroid hormone's fundamental function is regulating energy metabolism rate; embedded quote details hypothyroid dogs' weight loss and energy gains on levothyroxine with improved coat health.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-01 original
Link to external URL. Embedded quoted post describes personal dietary approach combining animal-based and Ray Peat-inspired diet with smaller portions, high carbohydrate intake; lists foods including eggs, cottage cheese, ground beef, cheese, pastries, fruit juice, fruit, kefir, ice cream, dairy, fermented foods.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-01 original
Adequate calcium intake essential for metabolic health; correlated with lower body weight and increased fat loss. Dairy calcium shows superior effects on fat loss including abdominal fat reduction. Multiple studies demonstrate calcium effects on body composition, metabolic syndrome risk, and fatty acid synthase expression.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-02 original
Author claims fat storage occurs due to low basal temperature controlled by T3 thyroid hormone. States T3 burns large calories at rest. Cites research showing 2/3 of resting metabolic rate is spent maintaining body temperature (~37°C), meaning 50% of total energy in sedentary humans and 37% in active humans goes to temperature maintenance. Embedded quote references related study.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-03 original
Author makes accusatory comment about 'fake natty pregnenolone abuser' in response to embedded quote from timpjohansson reporting facial changes from 350g daily sugar intake and Mediterranean diet move. No substantive health claim.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-04 original
Author presents mouse study comparing protein sources (chicken, cod, crab, scallop) with varying taurine content. Scallop-fed mice resisted obesity on high-fat/high-sugar diet with reduced body/fat mass, liver mass, lipemia, and free fatty acids. Author infers taurine and glycine are primary active compounds and suggests supplementation as practical alternative to expensive scallops.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-06 original
Ray Peat quotation on liver detoxification improvement through limiting cysteine-containing proteins, adding glycine or gelatin, increasing sugar, and optimizing thyroid. Research shows obesity-associated glycine deficiency impairs glycine conjugation pathway for metabolite elimination; restoration after bariatric surgery restores function. Glycine supplementation proposed as potential treatment.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-08 original
BPA, a plasticizer in food containers, blocks thyroid hormone-triggered gene expression and causes fat gain even at low doses; recommendations include using glass/stainless steel and avoiding plastic heating.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-13 original
Explains how weight loss from extreme caloric restriction reduces active thyroid hormone T3 and increases muscle energy efficiency, lowering resting metabolic rate. Discusses adaptive thermogenesis mechanisms and evidence that T3 repletion reverses these adaptations. Presents three takeaways on metabolic-protective weight loss approaches.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-14 original
Crash dieting reduces active thyroid hormone T3, increases muscle energy efficiency, and decreases resting metabolic rate; T3 supplementation reverses these metabolic adaptations.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-14 original
Multiple expert and research sources explain that blood sugar fasting triggers liver suppression of T3 thyroid hormone to preserve tissue, and that dietary carbohydrate is essential for T3 production; thyroid hormone supplementation corrects metabolic downregulation in weight loss without accelerating metabolism above normal.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-14 original
Daily thiamine HCl supplementation (10 mg) in healthy older women at risk for marginal thiamine deficiency significantly improved appetite, reduced fatigue, and increased well-being within study period; 88% reported feeling brighter and cheerier.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-14 original
B1 (thiamine) deficiency can cause brain fog; 10 mg supplementation improved fatigue, well-being and appetite in elderly women at risk for marginal thiamine deficiency.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-16 original
Before-and-after case report: 6 weeks of NDT USP treatment normalized basal metabolic rate (was 38% below normal), improved energy production, reduced facial edema, and resulted in 10 lbs weight loss. Author notes NDT contains both T4 and T3, differs from levothyroxine monotherapy, and acknowledges individual variation in response.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-18 original
Ray Peat claim that vitamin A deficiency causes hypoglycemia and increased hunger through blood sugar mechanism. Author cites two studies: animal study showing hypoglycemia in vitamin A-deprived young animals, and pediatric sepsis study showing vitamin A deficiency correlates with hypoglycemia and severe illness. Embedded post from @lowmegatron discusses hypothyroidism as cause of hypoglycemia with multiple cited studies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-19 original
Ray Peat claim that people at high altitude show elevated T3 and T4 (4.5x and 3x higher respectively) and reduced TSH (>25% lower). Author attributes these findings to support for high metabolic rate correlating with longevity and better health. Embedded post from @Metabolicmonstr on weight loss at high altitude without exercise or dietary restriction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-20 original
Higher metabolic rate correlates with longevity in mice and between-individual variation. Author presents evidence refuting 'wear-and-tear' and 'rate of living' theories, arguing intensified mitochondrial respiration decreases damage and supports longer lifespan. Includes Ray Peat commentary on metabolic intensity and caloric restriction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-20 original
24-week randomized controlled trial in 60 vulnerable older women found creatine monohydrate combined with resistance training improved upper body strength, lower body strength, and lean muscle mass more than training or creatine alone.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-20 original
Ray Peat discusses phosphate health effects and calcium:phosphorus ratio importance. Excess phosphate linked to inflammation, tissue atrophy, vascular calcification, cancer, dementia and aging. Milk and cheese valuable for weight management; high-ratio foods identified.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-20 original
Study of obese subjects at altitude (400m to 2,000m) found increased basal metabolic rate, weight loss, reduced food intake, and improved blood pressure. Mechanism involves increased thyroid hormones T3 and T4 with reduced TSH. Multiple studies show higher thyroid hormone levels at altitude.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-21 original
Presents substantive mechanistic claims about coffee's antidepressant effects via protective effects on gut integrity, tight junction proteins, intestinal permeability, and reduced endotoxin-mediated inflammation. Includes multiple study citations addressing coffee, caffeine, depression, gut permeability, and liver protection in type 2 diabetes.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-22 original
Ray Peat quotation on parathyroid hormone reduction through calcium and vitamin D supplementation linked to obesity reduction and prevention of hypertension, insulin resistance, arrhythmias, depression, and inflammation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-23 original
Calcium deficiency may drive overeating; dairy/calcium supplementation reduces appetite, increases satiety, promotes weight loss and fat oxidation in obese individuals. Embedded quoted post from lowmegatron on calcium-to-phosphate ratio, dairy benefits, and metabolic syndrome risk reduction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-23 original
Walking improves metabolic function, insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure by reducing free fatty acids. Study in obese older women shows 7,000 steps/day for 5 days/week significantly reduced free fatty acids, insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-24 original
Salt restriction increases serotonin and noradrenaline; lists multiple negative effects of elevated serotonin on thyroid, thermogenesis, weight, blood sugar, and brain function. Study shows low-salt diet increases 24-hour urinary serotonin by 42% and noradrenaline by 77%.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-25 original
Ray Peat quote on sodium's importance in sparing magnesium loss during stress and hypothyroidism, suggesting eating salty foods when craved aids magnesium retention. Embedded post on magnesium's stress-induced insulin resistance effects, reporting randomized trial of IV magnesium sulfate (7.5 g over 8 hrs) vs placebo in ICU patients with stress hyperglycemia, showing magnesium improved HOMA-IR insulin resistance, blood glucose, serum/intracellular magnesium, and adiponectin by day 3.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-28 original
Free fatty acids drive insulin resistance via the Randle cycle; bariatric surgery reducing fat absorption reverses insulin resistance before weight loss; links elevated free fatty acids to hypothyroidism and stress hormones.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-28 original
lowmegatron claims he can tell estrogen:progesterone and serotonin:DHT balance from text alone. The quoted post claims that fat distribution reflects hormones, and that claim belongs to the quoted author, not to lowmegatron.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-29 original
Free fatty acids are key biomarkers predicting metabolic disease; elevated in obesity and type 2 diabetes; drive insulin resistance through multiple mechanisms. Unsaturated fatty acids predict diabetes recurrence after weight loss surgery.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-29 original
Historical shift in American metabolism from 1940s-50s: elevated free fatty acids now interfere with glucose oxidation, creating insulin resistance and elevated adrenaline even at normal blood glucose levels. Embedded post details how blocking fat absorption reverses insulin resistance before weight loss via Randle cycle mechanism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-04 own thread
lowmegatron lists claimed stress markers: higher cortisol, glucagon, adrenaline, prolactin, serotonin, growth hormone, free fatty acids, reverse T3 and fat gain, and lower muscle.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-06 original
Explains hypothyroidism mechanism for skinny-fat phenotype using rodent experiments; describes suppressed metabolism, preferential fat storage, and concurrent muscle loss via cortisol.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-07 original
Author synthesizes research showing endotoxin causes multiple health conditions and vitamin A reduces endotoxin half-life and pathophysiological effects in animal studies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-11 original
Synthesis of hypothyroidism effects on glucose oxidation and CO2 production, linking to depression, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome; embedded quoted account on depression and thyroid.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-12 original
Author reports consuming cacao butter for mitochondrial benefits of stearic acid, which promotes mitochondrial fusion, improving efficiency and energy production under stress. Cites mechanistic evidence for stearic acid benefits and reports personal dietary substitution and weight change.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-19 original
Levothyroxine normalizes TSH but does not fully correct metabolic rate reduction in obese hypothyroid women; desiccated thyroid and T3 replacement show greater weight loss; metabolic effect depends on T4-to-T3 conversion capacity.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-19 original
Rat study showing CO2 gas applied through skin for 20 minutes daily prevented muscle atrophy during fracture recovery; muscle mass 11-15% heavier, cross-sectional area up to 133% larger, with increased blood vessels and anabolic gene signaling.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-22 original
Post shares link (URL not resolved) and embedded quote from LiveAncestral arguing carbohydrates are not essential macronutrients; gluconeogenesis provides glucose from fat and protein. Post discusses historical dietary guidelines (1977: 6-11 grain servings) as serving food industry interests rather than health, and personal carb restriction experience.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-22 original
DHEA increases 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity, which locally inactivates cortisol to cortisone at the tissue level, independent of blood cortisol levels. This reduces cortisol's receptor activation in tissues. Elevated tissue-level cortisol, even with normal blood levels, contributes to insulin resistance, visceral fat, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety, sleep impairment, immune suppression, poor wound healing, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, hormone dysregulation, and skin deterioration. Optimal DHEA dosing is 3-5 mg, 1-3 times daily. Higher doses become estrogenic; topical application combined with pregnenolone maximizes anti-cortisol effects while minimizing estrogen conversion. Coffee, aspirin, and vitamin D reduce activity of the related 11β-HSD1 enzyme.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-25 original
Evidence that serotonin deletion or receptor blocking reduces fat gain in mice, with human correlate that obese people have 40% higher gut serotonin-producing enzyme. Cites mouse studies showing serotonin drives adipogenesis and reduces thermogenesis, with TPH1 inhibition and HTRA receptor antagonism as potential obesity treatment, distinguishing periphery (TPH1) from brain serotonin (TPH2).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-29 original
Post claims standard diets suppress resting metabolic rate and interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism, and that most weight loss interventions worsen long-term metabolism. Cites research showing declining basal energy expenditure is a factor in obesity increase, not reduced physical activity. Embedded post notes severe hypothyroidism can reduce basal metabolism by 40% via T3 reduction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-01 own thread
lowmegatron claims peripheral (non-brain) serotonin promotes energy absorption and storage, meaning weight and fat gain. He quotes text saying serotonin primes the body for energy storage and that disturbed serotonin signaling is associated with obesity.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-01 own thread
lowmegatron claims serotonin inhibits uncoupling, turning down metabolism and body temperature, whereas uncoupling makes one leaner and warmer by turning stored fat and sugar into heat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-01 own thread
lowmegatron says TPH1 creates gut serotonin, which he states is 40% higher in obese people. He quotes text saying obesity involves a greater capacity to produce and release serotonin from the proximal small intestine and that serotonin is likely a driver of human obesity and dysglycemia.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-01 own thread
lowmegatron claims polyunsaturated fatty acids increase gut serotonin in hibernating animals, slowing metabolic rate and favoring fat accumulation. He adds that fasting also increases gut serotonin to slow metabolism and prevent starvation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-02 original
Low-fat, high-carbohydrate ad libitum diets produce weight loss and fat loss in multiple studies; embedded post from lowmegatron explains carbohydrates are needed for thyroid hormone T3 conversion with Ray Peat quote on metabolic regulation by glucose.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-03 original
Ray Peat anecdote and named historical study on extremely low-fat diet producing weight loss, normalized blood pressure, eliminated headaches/migraines, and elevated respiratory quotient; embedded post from lowmegatron on ad libitum low-fat high-carb diets producing weight loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-10 original
Author argues against T3-lowering diets for weight loss, citing associations between elevated cortisol and reduced T3 in cardiovascular disease patients. References Broda Barnes' 1970s research showing 94% reduction in heart disease with natural desiccated thyroid treatment; embedded quote on hypothyroidism increasing blood pressure.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-06-10 original
Author's personal narrative of 4-month transformation through cold exposure and breathing protocol: weight loss, improved appearance, energy and mood. Describes routine of wim hof-style breathing before 34-degree ice bath immersion, with mechanistic explanations of norepinephrine, brown fat activation, and metabolic effects; spouse joins practice.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-10 original
lowmegatron claims that fasting causes hair loss by increasing fat burning. He cites rodent research in which fasting raises stress hormones and lipolysis, and free fatty acids cause hair follicle stem cell apoptosis, which topical vitamin E prevented in mice. He also cites human follicle explant results and notes that dramatic weight loss is linked to telogen effluvium.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-10 own thread
lowmegatron describes a human RCT of 49 people, with time-restricted eating (18-hour fasts), calorie restriction and normal eating groups. He reports hair regrowth was 18% slower with fasting, with shorter and thinner hairs. He presents increased fat oxidation and oxidative stress as the cause of hair stem cell death, which topical vitamin E mitigated in mice.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-18 original
Comprehensive explanation of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) interference with thyroid function and metabolic rate, with evidence from weight-loss trials and animal studies; includes exposure sources and reduction strategies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-19 original
Personal experience with potassium intake reduction (5g to 2.5g) causing energy, mood, sleep, and workout performance decline. Claims potassium essential for blood glucose, insulin resistance, weight loss. States >98% of US adults below adequate intake. Lists food sources and cites prevalence statistics. Embedded post by lowmegatron extensively references potassium research with multiple specific studies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-06-22 original
Author explains berberine's biochemical mechanism paralleling metformin, comparing effects on blood sugar control, AMPK activation, and metabolic markers; recommends 500mg 2-3 times daily with meals and critiques pharmaceutical pricing.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-23 original
A 1.8°F drop in body temperature correlates with ~12 lbs of fat gained yearly; thyroid hormone regulates basal body temperature and metabolic rate. The post cites a thermogenic handicap of 100-130 kcal/day from 1°C temperature reduction and discusses Broda Barnes' basal temperature test as an indicator of thyroid status.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-23 original
lowmegatron says levothyroxine raised resting energy expenditure in hypothyroid dogs by about 24% on average. It also reports weight loss in most obese dogs, improved lethargy, and improvement of dermatologic signs including dry coat and alopecia.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-23 original
Analysis of resting energy expenditure (REE) in thyroid cancer patients across five time points: normal thyroid, post-thyroid removal (hypothyroid at 3 weeks), after levothyroxine monotherapy, after dose increase, and 12 months follow-up. Shows 24% REE swing. Compares levothyroxine monotherapy to NDT and liothyronine (T3) replacement, noting weight loss differences and conversion efficiency implications.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-24 original
Minimal original text; share of quoted post claiming obesity epidemic coincided with low-fat diet recommendation era and increased processed carbohydrate/sugar consumption, arguing carbohydrates rather than fat are the primary driver of fat storage.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-29 original
Peripheral serotonin increases fat synthesis and storage through multiple mechanisms; inhibiting serotonin signaling may treat obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD. Post includes embedded quote from lowmegatron on serotonin-induced hypoglycemia and thyroid effects.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-01 original
Author explains hypothyroidism-induced insulin resistance via lower T3 and higher TSH, cites study showing insulin sensitivity restoration with thyroid hormone replacement, and details multiple mechanistic pathways (postreceptor signaling defects, GLUT4 translocation, glycogen synthesis, mitochondrial oxidative metabolism). Embedded post by lowmegatron discusses TSH-induced insulin resistance via inflammatory pathways and cites human population studies.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-02 original
Ray Peat quote on hypothyroid symptoms (water retention, sodium loss) and treatment via calcium supplementation and dietary recommendations; embedded post by lowmegatron on thyroid hormone's role in energy metabolism and tissue swelling, with cited research on metabolic effects.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-02 original
Author presents research summary on calcium intake and body weight/fat loss, with specific data on dairy calcium efficacy, belly fat reduction, metabolic syndrome risk, and fatty acid synthase inhibition.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 original
Carboxytherapy (CO2 injections) reduces cellulite, causing reduction from degree III to degree II; characterized as effective spot reduction in fat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron begins describing a rodent study testing whether CO2 treatment might help obesity. Mice were made obese with a 60% fat diet and randomly split into two groups.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron explains that gases were injected into the mice's inguinal fat pads, and that "iWAT" in the images means inguinal white adipose tissue.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron describes the protocol: one group got air in both pads, the other got air in one pad and CO2 in the other. Injections were 1cc per pad, every other day for 14 days.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron reports that CO2-treated mice had lower body weight and blood glucose, mostly from fat loss, with shrunken fat pads and fat cells. FASN, a fat-synthesis gene he says is linked to cancer, was reduced.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron says CO2 decreased FABP4, a gene involved in fat and triglyceride formation, and upregulated UCP1, an uncoupling gene he says contributes to increased energy expenditure and fat loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron quotes research interest in raising UCP1 by gene transfer or other upregulation methods for obesity. He opines that "Upping your own CO2 production is probably a better option."
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-06 own thread
lowmegatron lists four carboxytherapy sources on fat loss, localized adiposity, skin irregularity and cellulite. The thread also quotes a related post on stretchmarks improving after carboxytherapy.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-07 original
Nuclear measurement study of 15 hypothyroid patients showed extracellular water hyperhydration with liquid accumulation in interstitial space. Water retention severity correlates with age and disease gravity but not duration. Mechanism involves low cellular T3 limiting ATP and CO2 production, reducing sodium/potassium regulation; mucopolysaccharide gel buildup and stress-hormone-induced capillary leakiness.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-08 original
Author promotes tongkat ali supplement as testosterone booster with specific clinical evidence. Claims it increases free testosterone 37% in 4 weeks via SHBG reduction without suppressing natural production. Provides mechanism, cites one human study, lists effects on cortisol, sperm quality, and lean mass. Recommends 200mg daily standardized extract (2% eurycomanone, LJ100 brand), cycling protocol.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-10 original
Berberine matches metformin's glucose-lowering effects in head-to-head clinical trials through AMPK activation. Reduces LDL, triglycerides, and visceral fat; shows antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. Author notes pharmaceutical industry has no incentive to promote berberine.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-14 original
250 ml carbonated water increases satiety and reduces hunger through CO2-induced oral stimulation, affecting gastric motility rhythms. Embedded quoted post discusses calcium deficiency as potential driver of overeating and calcium supplementation effects on appetite control during weight loss.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-15 original
Iodine insufficiency in 74% of population causes metabolic slowdown, fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain by preventing thyroid hormone production. Explains iodine structure in T3/T4, dietary sources and modern deficiency, brain and tissue effects, and recommends 150-500 mcg daily with selenium.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-20 original
Tongkat ali herbal supplement has multiple human clinical trials showing simultaneous increases in testosterone (37% in 4 weeks), reduction in cortisol (16%), and improved body composition without diet/exercise changes. Mechanism attributed to HPG axis support via eurypeptides enhancing Leydig cell function. Contains dosing recommendation and price estimate.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-21 original
Cites research on ginger supplementation improving fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin resistance, ALT levels in NAFLD/MASLD, and metabolic markers in diabetic hemodialysis patients; references four systematic reviews and meta-analyses; embeds lowmegatron post on ginger's lipogenesis inhibition and weight loss effects.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-22 original
Thyroid hormone T3 is critical for energy production and metabolism; ~50% of basal metabolic rate depends on thyroid hormone; author cautions T3 is for correcting deficiency, not universal fat-loss supplement; includes historical citation and mechanistic explanation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-23 original
Author presents berberine as a natural compound with clinical data matching metformin efficacy for blood sugar control; describes AMPK activation mechanism, cardiovascular and microbiome benefits, dosing, and cost comparison.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-23 original
Author states potassium supports weight loss, obesity and metabolic syndrome through insulin-like glucose tolerance effects; cites dietary recommendation deficit and lists food sources and one study reference.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-23 original
lowmegatron argues that extreme caloric restriction and intermittent fasting cause hair loss. In his account, stress hormones raise lipolysis, and free fatty acids and fat oxidation kill hair follicle stem cells. Topical vitamin E prevented this in fasted mice. He cites an 18% slower hair growth in a human trial of 18-hour fasting.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-23 original
Low thyroid hormone T3 is part of metabolic slowdown during undernutrition. Restoring T3 raises resting energy expenditure. In anorexia nervosa patients, 32% increase in T3 associated with 13% increase in resting energy expenditure independent of fat-free mass.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-23 original
Levothyroxine (T4) normalizes TSH but does not correct low metabolic rate in obese hypothyroid women. Poor T4-to-T3 conversion limits efficacy. Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) and T3 supplementation produce superior weight loss outcomes compared to levothyroxine alone, even at equivalent TSH ranges. Multiple studies demonstrate preference for T3-containing regimens.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-24 original
Magnesium supplementation significantly improves insulin resistance in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with low baseline magnesium levels. Four-month supplementation reduced insulin resistance scores roughly in half. Multiple trials reviewed with different formulations and patient populations (obese, pre-diabetic, chronic kidney disease).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-26 original
lowmegatron quotes a patient's notes describing improvement after switching from levothyroxine to NDT, including clearing eczema and no longer losing hair. He explains that levothyroxine (T4) must be converted to T3 and claims NDT's added T3 accounts for the improvements. Levothyroxine is described as a storage form, and the post refers to an image showing physical changes in hypothyroidism and recovery.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-27 original
Low potassium intake associated with stroke and hypertension; cited study on animal models shows low potassium promotes atherosclerotic calcification while high potassium attenuates it; epidemiological evidence links low serum potassium to cardiovascular mortality and disease. Embedded post by lowmegatron describes personal dietary potassium reduction and resulting effects on energy, mood, sleep, and workout performance; discusses potassium's role in glucose metabolism and prevalence of inadequate intake.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-07-28 original
Cold water exposure (2-3 minute cold shower) produces sustained 250% dopamine elevation for 3+ hours via sympathetic nervous system activation; review of neurochemical effects, fat metabolism, metabolic health, and vagal tone benefits. Contrasts research evidence with commercial cold plunge marketing and provides accessible implementation guidance.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-01 original
Research on negative social relationships ('hasslers') and aging: frequent negative relationships are associated with faster aging, increased anxiety, depression, BMI, and worse health across physical and mental domains. Negative social ties function as chronic stressors accelerating biological aging through multiple pathways.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-01 original
Berberine activates AMPK enzyme (metabolic master switch) through identical mechanism as metformin prescription medication. Clinical evidence shows comparable glucose-lowering, cholesterol improvement, anti-inflammatory, visceral fat reduction, and emerging anti-cancer effects. Author argues pharmaceutical gatekeeping prevents public awareness of equivalent supplement alternative. Dosing and administration guidance provided.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-01 original
TSH elevation and low T3 shift metabolism toward insulin resistance; T4-only thyroid therapy may worsen this; T3 improves insulin markers in rodent studies. Author explains ten mechanisms by which hypothyroidism causes insulin resistance via postreceptor signaling, glucose transport, mitochondrial function, and leptin/adipokine dysregulation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-02 original
Author claims tongkat ali is the only natural supplement with repeated clinical proof of raising testosterone in healthy men, not merely supporting levels. Cites mechanism (reduced SHBG and cortisol via hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis) and six documented effects including 37% testosterone increase in 4 weeks at 200mg. Contrasts with multi-ingredient proprietary blends lacking clinical validation. Recommends 200-400mg standardized extract daily with breakfast, 100:1 or 200:1 extraction ratio, minimum 2% eurycomanone, cycling 5 days on 2 days off.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-02 original
Author reports anecdotal list of health outcomes observed in some patients using thyroid hormone (T3): weight loss (50 lbs), histamine dysregulation resolution, psoriasis clearance, ovulation restoration, PMDD remission, Raynaud's disappearance, ADHD medication discontinuation, post-nasal drip cessation, calcification/sclerosis reversal, myxedema reversal, and elevated body temperature (2 degrees). No mechanistic explanation provided; framed as variable individual responses.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-03 original
Author argues linoleic acid from seed oils drives chronic inflammation; claims accumulation in fat cells, omega-6 overload, and correlation with obesity epidemic since 1960s; recommends replacement with saturated and monounsaturated fats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-04 original
Study showing hypothyroid rats burned less energy and stored more fat; describes inverse relationship between T3 thyroid hormone and leptin; shares embedded post on T3's role in energy production and metabolic rate.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-08 original
Ray Peat anecdote on muscle gain inability in hypothyroidism; notes low testosterone and high cortisol shift body composition from muscle to fat; mentions thyroid hormone excess also causes muscle wasting.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-11 original
The Randle Cycle describes glucose-fatty acid competition regulated by hormones and enzymes, not macronutrient timing. Ray Peat recommended mixed meals with saturated fat and lower overall fat intake for fat loss, emphasizing baseline lipolysis control over macronutrient separation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-12 original
High cortisol causally increases risk of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, insomnia, depression, fatty liver, low thyroid hormone T3, and high blood pressure. Post announces tips for cortisol management.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-12 own thread
The author claims salicylate, an aspirin metabolite, lowers tissue cortisol regeneration by reducing 11β-HSD1. Quotes a paper reporting improved glucose tolerance in obese mice, reduced adipose 11β-HSD1 in men given salsalate, and this mechanism contributing to salicylates' metabolic effects.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-13 original
Niacin (vitamin B3) at therapeutic doses (1,500-2,000mg/day) produces four simultaneous cardiovascular benefits: raises HDL 20-35%, lowers LDL 10-20%, lowers triglycerides 20-50%, converts dangerous small LDL to harmless large particles. Statins became preferred due to pharmaceutical market strategy despite niacin's comparable efficacy at $0.05/day vs $5/day drug.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-17 original
Explanation of Akkermansia muciniphila as beneficial bacterium improving gut barrier and blood sugar regulation; describes how pomegranate and grapes increase Akkermansia abundance through polyphenol content, with mechanisms of mucin degradation and goblet cell stimulation. Embedded post attributes grape cure concept to Ray Peat.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-17 original
Author claims zinc supplementation improves insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes, citing systematic review. Embedded quote from lowmegatron discusses high cortisol causally increasing diabetes and obesity risk.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-22 original
Ray Peat quoted on adaptive eating: follow cravings as indicators of nutritional needs; body uses biological mechanisms to correct deficiencies. When sugar metabolism is impaired, carbohydrate craving prevents protein wastage.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-23 original
Ginger and vitamin B1 (thiamine) improve specific hypothyroid symptoms; ginger reduces TSH and improves multiple symptom domains at 500 mg twice daily; thiamine 600 mg daily reduces fatigue in Hashimoto's patients, with treatment claims of partial/complete regression within hours to days.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-28 original
Thyroid hormone, particularly T3, is a primary regulator of blood cholesterol. Elevated cholesterol often indicates hypothyroidism. T3 therapy produces greater cholesterol reduction (13% LDL, 11% total cholesterol, 18% apolipoprotein B) compared to T4 alone at equivalent TSH suppression, and also reduces body weight via increased metabolic rate.
Source summary and thread relationship - @jamesbondwisdom · 2026-08-29 original
The author claims aggressive caloric restriction causes telogen effluvium 2-4 months later, through drops in leptin, T3 and IGF-1 and inadequate protein. They advise a deficit of no more than 500-700 calories, at least 1.2g/kg protein, weekly refeeds, and iron and zinc supplementation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-03 original
Coffee increases T2 (thyroid hormone metabolite) with pro-metabolic effects. Animal studies show T2 reverses liver damage and insulin resistance. Human study finds T2 levels associated with coffee metabolites, suggesting coffee naturally increases T2. Author cautions that T2 reduces thyroid hormones via pituitary feedback; high doses unclear if safe due to T3 suppression and potential cardiac hypertrophy in animals.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-05 original
Bovine colostrum contains immunoglobulins and growth factors that seal intestinal permeability, enhance immune function, and support muscle gains more effectively than probiotics. Author recommends 5–10g daily and names two product brands with pricing.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-07 original
Weight loss resistance occurs when extreme calorie deficit suppresses thyroid hormone conversion and resting metabolic rate. Low energy availability abruptly reduces T3 and fT3, and increases fT4 and rT3 at specific thresholds. Increasing energy availability restores thyroid function and can reverse athletic amenorrhea without reducing exercise. Embedded post by lowmegatron discusses thyroid hormone's role in insulin sensitivity and depression.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-08 original
Iodine deficiency caused by shift from iodized table salt to sea salt and Himalayan salt; iodine essential for thyroid T3/T4 production and metabolic function; historical public health success of iodization in 1924 reversed by recent salt trends; recommendations for iodized salt or kelp supplementation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-08 original
Caffeine coffee (not decaf) reduces chronic unpredictable stress effects in mice, limiting anxiety, anhedonia, helplessness and weight gain; speculated mechanism via adenosine A2A receptor antagonism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-09 original
Hypothyroidism lowers pregnenolone and downstream steroid hormones (DHEA, testosterone, estrogen) with implications for mood, mental illness, reproduction, libido, dementia risk, substance abuse, aging, appearance, and muscle mass. StAR protein shuttles cholesterol into mitochondria to make pregnenolone; thyroid hormone T3 regulates StAR. Study shows serum ADIOLS, ADIOL, DHEAS, DHEA, and pregnenolone sulfate are decreased in hypothyroidism. Embedded quoted account lists hormones derived from pregnenolone.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-09 original
With hypothyroidism, the 'calories in calories out' model must account for T3 effects on resting metabolism. Lower T3 activity reduces 'calories out' (metabolic rate). Insufficient available calories further reduces T4 to T3 conversion. Before applying CICO model, verify T3 optimization via blood test and confirm T3 reaches cells via basal temperature. Embedded quoted account details how severe caloric restriction causes drops in T3 and metabolic adaptation; T3 repletion reverses hypometabolism and restores metabolic rate.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-10 original
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) declines 2-3% annually starting in late twenties; by 40, individuals have 50% of peak levels; by 70, 10-20%. DHEA is the precursor for testosterone, estrogen, and 50+ other hormones. Decline (adrenopause) causes fatigue, reduced recovery, declining libido, muscle loss, mood changes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology study: DHEA supplementation in adults over 40 improved bone density, skin thickness, sexual function, and wellbeing within 6 months; improvements reversed upon cessation. Recommended dose: 25mg daily for women, 50mg for men, taken in morning. Cost approximately $8 for 3-month supply ($0.09/day).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-11 original
Carbonated water reduces fatigue and increases enjoyment during prolonged esports play. Study found sparkling water suppressed subjective and cognitive fatigue, likely through enhanced prefrontal cortex activity (measured by attenuated pupil diameter reduction). Embedded post notes 250 ml carbonated water increases satiety and reduces hunger through CO2-induced oral stimulation and altered gastric contractions.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-11 own thread
lowmegatron says that in the 1930s G. K. Wharton reported improvements in a long list of symptoms (migraine, menstrual irregularities, dry skin and hair, acne, fatigue, low libido and others) in cases of hypothyroidism that the standards of the day did not recognize. The parent posts discuss Barnes, NDT and basal temperature, but this post does not itself mention them.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-12 original
Valter Longo's Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) provides 800 cal/day for 5 days at specific macronutrient ratios to mimic fasting benefits; clinical trial showed reduced aging biomarkers, diabetes risk, cardiovascular disease risk, and cancer risk while preserving lean mass. Commercial version (ProLon) $250; DIY version ~$25.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-16 original
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) reduces post-meal blood glucose by 34% and improves insulin sensitivity by 19% according to an Arizona State University study. Mechanism is acetic acid inhibiting alpha-amylase enzyme, slowing carbohydrate digestion. Author provides dosing recommendations and product brand suggestion (Bragg's).
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-16 original
Ray Peat and Ivor H. Mills (Professor of Medicine, Cambridge) both documented individuals with metabolic efficiency who maintain body weight on very low calorie intakes (600-700 kcal/day), and conversely some with high metabolic rates who fail to gain weight on 3500 kcal/day. Effect attributed to thyroid hormone influence on metabolism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-16 own thread
lowmegatron quotes Ray Peat saying that doctors followed a textbook claim that anyone loses weight below 1700 calories. Peat says a ward study found some women, especially chronic dieters, maintained weight on 700 calories due to adaptations to poorly balanced dieting.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-18 original
Grass-fed butter provides butyrate and other health compounds (CLA, K2, retinol) that heal gut, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolism; addresses historical demonization of saturated fat; recommends 2-3 tablespoons daily of grass-fed butter, specifically Kerrygold brand.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-22 original
Dietary calcium and dairy support weight loss and prevent obesity via appetite suppression and fat oxidation; Ray Peat's observational perspective on milk/cheese consumption and body composition; multiple cited studies on calcium's role in weight regulation.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-23 original
Nobiletin, a citrus flavonoid present in higher concentration in peel than flesh, prevents obesity, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in high-fat diet mice with potential therapeutic utility for metabolic syndrome.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-09-23 original
Alcohol extract of satsuma citrus peel reduced weight gain, fat mass, blood sugar, fatty liver, inflammation, and triglycerides in obese/diabetic mice; contains compounds found in marmalade and orange products.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-09-29 original
DIM (diindolylmethane) from cruciferous vegetables shifts estrogen metabolism from harmful (16α-hydroxyestrone) to protective (2-hydroxyestrone) pathway; author recommends 100–200mg daily ($0.20/day) as modulation alternative to pharmaceutical aromatase inhibitors.
Source summary and thread relationship