Todd Moody wrote:

> If I understand Ray's theory correctly, it is something like
> this:  When the immune system is in a chronic state of "red
> alert" as a result of the amount of offending protein in the
> diet, metabolism tends to slow down.  I don't know, however, if
> actual studies have produced empirical evidence for this link
> with obesity.

Hmmmm, sounds like the cytokine (interleukin-1) thing to me.
Interleukin-1 can enter the brain which can generate what are called
"sick behaviors" i.e., anorexia, somnolence, and fever.  Interleukin-1
can also cause corticotrophin-releasing hormone release cascading to
adrenocorticotropic hormone release and thus result in a rise in
circulating cortisol(s).

> Another Ray, Ray Peat, also claims that most of the
> polyunsaturated vegetable oils have the effect of inhibiting the
> thyroid, also causing metabolic slowdown and fattening.

The interleukin-1 cascade mentioned above resulting cortisols can also
affect thyroid hormone.  Cortisol can inhibit the conversion of
thyroxine (inactive form) to triiodothyronine (active form) by
inhibiting the halogenases (5'-deiodinase thypes I & II).

Just some thoughts.
Andrew =8-)
--
Andrew S. Bonci, BA, DC, DAAPM
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnosis
Cleveland Chiropractic College
6401 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, Missouri   64131
(816) 333-7436 ex39