The Root Causes of Feeling Cold: Thyroid, Fuel, and Oxygen for Cellular Energy

This podcast episode, hosted by Dr. Sten Ekberg, delves into the fundamental reasons why individuals might consistently feel cold, attributing this sensation primarily to an underlying energy problem at the cellular level. Dr. Ekberg explains that the body's 100 trillion cells require sufficient energy production, which is governed by three main factors: thyroid function, fuel supply, and oxygen availability. He likens the thyroid to the body's thermostat, with thyroid hormone dictating the metabolic rate and activity of every cell, from heart rate and digestion to nerve impulses and healing.

The discussion then moves to the critical role of fuel, derived from food. Dr. Ekberg distinguishes between outright starvation, which prompts the body to conserve energy and slow down metabolism, and hypoglycemia, a common issue in Western diets heavily reliant on carbohydrates and sugar. He describes the "blood sugar roller coaster" where insulin overcompensates for high sugar intake, leading to rapid drops in blood sugar, subsequent cravings for more carbs, and an unstable fuel supply for cells. The third crucial factor is oxygen, which is essential for converting fuel into energy. A deficiency in oxygen transport, often due to low red blood cell count or insufficient hemoglobin (anemia), can severely impair cellular energy production, leaving cells "starving" even if fuel is available.

Dr. Ekberg offers practical insights and recommendations to address these issues. To stabilize fuel supply and avoid hypoglycemia, he advises cutting out junk food, processed food, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. Instead, he advocates for a diet rich in fat and protein, similar to ketogenic or paleo approaches, which promotes stable blood sugar levels. For oxygen deficiency, he highlights the importance of addressing anemia, which can significantly reduce the body's oxygen-carrying capacity. The overarching message is to understand these physiological mechanisms to implement effective, natural solutions.

Broader implications of this analysis emphasize a holistic approach to health, moving away from dependency on drugs and surgery towards understanding and optimizing the body's natural functions. By addressing the root causes of energy imbalance through diet and physiological support, individuals can improve their overall well-being, metabolic health, and maintain optimal body temperature. The episode encourages listeners to seek natural solutions and understand how their bodies truly work to achieve optimal health.

"if you're feeling cold all the time sort of in the whole body then it is a energy problem you're simply put you're not making enough energy"

"your thyroid is like the thermostat for the whole body"

"with more thyroid hormone every cell it's going to make a little more with less thyroid hormone every cell is going to slow down and do less of whatever that cell is doing"

"the cell has two requirements it needs fuel and it needs oxygen"

"the less you eat the more the body tries to conserve and you're kind of caught in a vicious cycle"

"if your metabolism primarily depends on carbohydrates and sugar for fuel like most people in the Western world then what happens is you eat some sugar and carbs and your body has an insulin response and that insulin response is going to suppress the blood sugar"

"the way to get around that is to cut out the junk food cut out the processed food cut out the sugar and the carbs and develop a diet more like a keto or a paleo diet where you rely more heavily on fat and protein"

"if you're really anemic you could lose 20 30 40 percent of your oxygen carrying capacity and now your cells are constantly starving for energy because even if it has fuel available it can't turn the fuel into energy without the oxygen"

"we need to find natural solutions for people's health problems so that we can get off the dependency on drugs and surgery and live the way we're supposed to"