A new study shows Hashimoto’s patients with symptomless celiac disease (i.e., no digestive complaints) require 49 percent more T4 to achieve the same TSH levels as non-celiac Hashimoto’s patients. After the patients followed a gluten-free diet for 11 months their TSH levels came down with the same T4 requirement as the non-celiac Hashimoto’s patients. Gluten…
DetailsCompetitive athletes seem unlikely candidates for hypothyroidism, a disease that frequently causes fatigue, depression, and malaise. But some athletes are surprised to learn their dwindling performance and failure to build muscle stems from improperly managed hypothyroidism. The fact that athletes are typically fit and slender makes it easy for doctors to overlook their symptoms. And…
DetailsWith the ongoing nuclear plant issue in Japan many people have been asking about natural strategies to protect themselves against potential exposure.The media has suggested the use of potassium iodide during this crisis. Potassium iodide in radiation emergencies In 1982 the FDA approved potassium iodide to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine in radiation…
DetailsSince the book was published I have received countless emails from women whose thyroid problems began after pregnancy. This is fairly common for a number of reasons: Shifts in immune function during and after pregnancy Shifts in hormone function during and after pregnancy Already existing stressors to the body (blood sugar imbalances, food intolerances, gut…
DetailsAfter a bipolar diagnosis, this patient was prescribed eight different psychotropic medications and received a dozen electroconvulsive treatments. After six months of support for Hashimoto’s, her symptoms resolved and she is now drug-free, with the exception of thyroid hormone medication. Was her bipolar disorder simply misdiagnosed Hashimoto’s? I receive many amazing stories from people around…
Details“My doctor has been treating my hypothyroidism for five years with little to no effect. I really thought that I was meant to be tired, constipated, cold, and overweight for the rest of my life,” wrote one woman. In the year since the thyroid book was published, we have received thousands of emails from hypothyroid…
DetailsWhen you have hypothyroidism it’s easy to get caught up in thyroid lab values and which thyroid meds and supplements work the best. While these are significant factors in improving thyroid health, it’s important to remember gut health is foundational to thyroid health. As long as you struggle with a leaky gut, gut inflammation, gut…
DetailsWhen it comes to addressing hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, certain nutritional and herbal compounds are invaluable. All the supplements in the world, however, will fall short if you fail to make the necessary dietary changes to support your condition. Americans are infatuated with pills, thanks to decades of conditioning from the pharmaceutical industry. It doesn’t matter…
DetailsWhen it comes to thyroid antibodies, those definitive markers for Hashimoto’s, confusion sometimes arises. For instance, do your high antibody counts mean your Hashimoto’s is worse than your friend’s, whose counts are low? Or how come you first presented with negative antibodies, and now that you’re on your practitioner’s protocol and feeling significantly better your…
DetailsAn ancient surgical procedure, called trepanation, consisted of drilling a hole in the head and removing a piece of the skull. It is thought this practice was used to release evil spirits that caused mental illness, migraine headaches and other ills. Nowadays, however, if you went to your naturopath with complaints of headaches and she…
DetailsBone quality, not density, is the issue with hypothyroidism Most hypothyroidism patients are treated with thyroid hormones while the underlying cause, immune dsyregulation or a breakdown in the thyroid hormone pathway, is ignored. As a result they may suffer from the consequences of poor thyroid function, one of the most serious being compromised bone health.…
DetailsA question I frequently get is, “What is the best thyroid hormone?” and the answer is, “It depends!” No one magic thyroid hormone medication exists—instead a variety of factors must be considered. For instance, many people on thyroid hormones have a normal TSH but still suffer from hypothyroid symptoms. Others have a history of trying…
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