Save My Thyroid: Healing Tips for Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's

Adequate stomach acid levels are vital for overall health. Stomach acid—released from the parietal cells of the stomach lining—has several essential functions, including protein digestion, nutrient absorption, and helping to keep bacteria in check. Low stomach acid, a condition known as hypochlorhydria, is widespread in those with thyroid conditions. Today, I’m sharing the common causes of low sto...

“Most people with endometriosis have several symptoms, not just painful periods.” - Dr. Jessica Drummond Endometriosis is a structural immune disorder that affects around one in ten women. With this condition, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows anywhere in the body outside the uterus. Each case of endometriosis can present differently, and the condition is often misdiagnosed or undia...

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is a prescription medication that helps to modulate the immune system and can help to treat different types of autoimmune conditions. While I don’t recommend it for all my patients, there are situations where it might be a consideration since Graves’ disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid eye disease are autoimmune thyroid conditions. Today, I’m sharing the si...

“There’s usually something lifestyle-related that we could improve. We don't always need a prescription or a supplement.” - Dr. Bindiya Gandhi Leptin, also known as the satiety hormone, is produced by our fat cells and is one of the main signals that tell our body whether we need to eat more or less. Balanced leptin levels help us maintain a healthy weight because of its impact on metabolism....

Can you take supplements to shrink a thyroid goiter? Will hyperthyroidism progress to hypothyroidism if left untreated or vice versa? Do thyroid nodules cause anxiety and nervousness? Is it safe to take electrolytes when you have a thyroid condition? Today, I’m back with another Q&A episode, answering multiple questions submitted by the Save My Thyroid community. While I can’t get to everyone’...

“It makes people feel so good psychologically to know that this tool exists.” - Debbie Steinbock The elemental diet is a nutrition plan that delivers essential nutrients in their simplest form through shakes. Its goal is to give the gut a rest period to reduce inflammation and start to repair. While most people don't need to follow an elemental diet to achieve optimal health, it can be quite...

Vitamin D deficiency is a common issue worldwide, and most people can benefit from supplementation. That said, there’s some division among practitioners regarding what vitamin D levels patients should aim for. Today, I’m diving into the research to explore what studies show about the safety of vitamin D supplementation at different dosages and periods and whether you should be concerned about deve...

“There’s no line separating good foods and bad foods. All foods lie on a spectrum.” - Dr. Sarah Ballantyne Food is more than energy. From vitamins and minerals to fatty acids and more, nutrients are critical in all the chemical reactions that keep us alive. To keep up with this demand, we must continuously replenish our body’s nutrient stores from our foods. Unfortunately, the nutrient density of...

The main purpose of the AIP diet is to remove common allergens and foods that could negatively affect gut health. As it is a restrictive diet, eventually, the goal is to reintroduce foods. For most people, I recommend following the AIP diet for at least 30 days, but I’m often asked when the right time to start reintroducing foods is. Today, I’m sharing the primary considerations for deciding when...

“We want to make sure to have proper thyroid function to help maintain balanced histamine levels.” - Dr. Meg Mill Anxiety, insomnia, gut issues, and allergies. At first glance, symptoms like these might not seem to have anything in common, but when you look at them through the histamine lens, you can start to connect the dots. By addressing the root cause of histamine tolerance, we often find that...

Compared to other anti-thyroid medications such as methimazole, propylthiouracil (PTU) is not commonly prescribed by endocrinologists. It’s generally only prescribed in specific cases where the methimazole is contraindicated or not well tolerated. It's not uncommon for PTU to cause elevated liver enzymes, and in rare cases, that can lead to liver damage. Thankfully, this is not something I’ve...

“Losing weight can be fun. When I lost 40 pounds, it was the most exciting moment of my life because I was loving what I was eating every day and seeing my waist shrink.” - Nagina Abdullah Many people associate diets and healthy food with restriction, deprivation, and boredom. Luckily, that doesn’t have to be the case. What we eat should be about more than just nutrition. Food can bring excitement...

Oral health has been shown to play a significant role in overall health and thyroid health. Thyroid conditions have also been shown to impact oral health, and in my experience working with people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, I’ve seen an increase in dental cavities, especially among patients with hyperthyroidism. Today, I’m sharing what research shows about how thyroid condition...

“Heart attacks are optional, and strokes are stoppable.” - Dr. Ellie Campbell Thyroid health has a complex relationship with blood pressure. Despite common misconceptions, blood pressure issues can arise in both those with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The good news is that by working on the underlying root causes of thyroid conditions and strengthening the foundation of your health, you wil...

Often, we’ll see an increase in thyroid hormones in those with Graves’ disease. This is due to thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI), a type of TSH receptor antibody that binds to the TSH receptors and causes the thyroid gland to release an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. For some people on the healing journey, TSI and thyroid hormone levels decrease simultaneously. However, this isn’t al...

“Lifestyle should be the first line before you consider anything else.” - Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum With less than 7% of adult Americans considered to be metabolically healthy, people are suffering like never before. Chronic diseases and neurodegenerative conditions are on the rise, and mental health is on the decline. At the same time, there’s a significant shortage of providers equipped to help with...

When hormones are not in their free form, they travel through the bloodstream while bound to a protein. Thyroid binding globulin (TBG) is one such protein. It binds to the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Essentially, TBG ensures that these hormones reach their intended destination. Today, I’m sharing the role of TBG, the various factors that can influence its levels, met...

“Peptides have helped a lot of patients who were feeling stuck to get to that extra 10% of wellness.” - Dr. Jen Pfleghaar Peptides are chains of around four to fifty amino acids that work with your body, turning on and off genes. Our bodies naturally produce several peptides, like insulin and oxytocin, and because of how they work, they are mostly considered to be quite safe. Lately, peptides have...

With the widespread use of mercury amalgam fillings in the past and conventional dentists' use of root canals, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many people have silver fillings, root canals, or both. Our oral health is closely tied to our overall health and mercury fillings and root canals can be potential sources of stress for the immune system. While some patients have improved their heal...

“Most metabolic conditions are centered on hypothalamic dysfunction.” - Deborah Maragopoulos The hypothalamus is an important organ, but it’s difficult to understand. It acts as the central controller that’s often at the root of hormone, neurological, or immune issues, but practitioners often pay little attention to it since there’s no way to measure the hormones it produces. Fortunately, in recen...

While many people with hyperthyroidism take antithyroid medication, others prefer to use natural options for symptom management since the risk of side effects is much lower. When I dealt with Graves’ disease in 2008, I was one of those who chose to take a natural route, and bugleweed was one of the herbs that helped me significantly. Despite the lower risk, some people may still have an adverse re...

“If you know your genetics, you know your ideal.” - Dr. Sam Shay Methylation is an extremely important biochemical process essential for numerous bodily functions. The MTHFR gene was one of the first genes identified and available for testing to the public, so many practitioners and patients have become hyper-focused on methylation when it comes to genetic testing. The truth is, while methylation...

What can you do about hyperthyroidism-induced hair loss? Are skin issues common with Hashimoto’s? Does Graves’ disease affect your teeth? Today, I’m back with another Q&A episode, answering multiple questions submitted by the Save My Thyroid community. While I can’t get to everyone’s questions every time, I love creating these for you, and I’ll do similar episodes every couple of months. Pleas...

Optimized thyroid hormones are a critical component of healthy gut function. They play a crucial role in stomach acid production, bile acid production, and the release of pancreatic enzymes and bile into the GI tract. Bile’s functions extend far beyond digestion. Produced by the liver and concentrated in the gallbladder, bile plays a pivotal role in detoxification, has antimicrobial properties, an...

Many people with hyperthyroidism experience a decrease in muscle mass, primarily as a result of elevated thyroid hormone levels. At the same time, many people with Hashimoto’s can also benefit from increasing muscle mass. Whatever the underlying issue, a combined approach that includes nutrition and lifestyle factors is essential when it comes to building muscle. Today, I’m sharing three specific...