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

“Having a proper lifestyle and diet or supplementation to improve glutathione levels is going to be key in managing any of these conditions.” - Dr. Nayan Patel Glutathione is known as a master antioxidant and is one of the most abundant molecules in the body. It performs the critical functions of neutralizing and scavenging free radicals, detoxifying harmful compounds from the body, and promoting...

Air hunger, also known as dyspnea, refers to shortness of breath or the feeling of not getting enough oxygen. While a thyroid hormone imbalance can be a factor in some cases, there are many other potential causes of dyspnea, including asthma, COPD, congestive heart failure, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, and mental disorders. For those with thyroid conditions, air hunger is more commonly as...

There is no shortage of supplements designed to support the thyroid gland and it's common for people with thyroid conditions to take them. While these supplements sometimes provide good benefits, most of the time they're a complete waste of money. Whether or not you take a thyroid support supplement, it’s essential to address the cause of the problem by focusing on doing things like find...

Does the MTHFR gene mutation cause or predispose someone to thyroid problems? What are the best eating and lifestyle tips for someone recovering from hyperthyroidism? How can someone lower their antibodies? Is it okay to continue using bugleweed once thyroid levels are in the normal range? Today, I’m back with another Q&A episode, answering multiple questions submitted by the Save My Thyroid c...

In late 2007, I found myself a little overweight and set out on a mission to lose weight through dieting and detoxing. The plan seemed to be working, and by 2008, I had lost a lot of weight. One day, while walking around a retail store, I decided to check my blood pressure on one of their automated machines. While my blood pressure was normal, my heart rate was elevated. This was my first clue tha...

What’s the connection between insulin and thyroid disease? Is high cholesterol in any way a result of low thyroid issues? Does 5G radiation affect the thyroid? How do I know if I have any chance to live normally and without the use of thyroid medication? 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 every...

Healing your thyroid when it comes to conditions like Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis starts with finding and removing the autoimmune thyroid triggers that are impacting you. According to the triad of autoimmunity, three components are necessary for autoimmunity to develop: genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and a leaky gut. For most people, a combination of thes...

Although most viruses don’t directly trigger autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s, certain types of viral infections can play a role in developing these conditions. This can happen via a number of different mechanisms, including molecular mimicry and direct bystander activation. In my practice, I’ve seen numerous patients where different viral infections, were a pot...

Today, we’re doing things a little differently. In the very first Save My Thyroid Audit, I’m chatting with Reghan, a college senior recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease, and I’m sharing practical advice to help her improve her health. Reagan's journey with Graves' disease began with a lengthy diagnostic process involving multiple doctors and tests, and she’s currently trying a natural...

Some people with Graves’s disease can experience episodes of intense and sudden episodes of anger, irritability, and emotional instability, known as Graves’ rage. This is mostly due to the excess production of thyroid hormones, which can affect mood, although other factors can also play a role. Today, I’m sharing what exactly causes Graves’ rage, how you can identify it, and what you can do about...

“In general, I see more sicker kids and a lot more autoimmunity than I saw early on.” - Dr. Roy Steinbock Thyroid conditions in children are often missed since getting a diagnosis is much less straightforward than for adults. Unlike adults, where screening follows a much more standard pattern, children don’t typically undergo annual testing, especially not for thyroid hormone levels. They also oft...

According to the Triad of Autoimmunity, three components are necessary for autoimmunity to develop: a genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and a leaky gut. This is why grains such as oats and rice are excluded from an autoimmune paleo and a standard paleo diet. While you don't need to eat grains to get the nutrients that you need, they can be quite tasty. Unfortunately, grains have...

“If you want to change your health radically, you have to radicalize what you’re doing on a day-to-day basis.” - Juanique Grover 70 to 80% of your immune health is your microbiome, and our modern lifestyle does not support gut health very well. In infancy, most American babies' first foods typically consist of some types of cereal or wheat products that inadvertently expose them to herbicides...

Whether you are dealing with Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, there is an autoimmune component that must be addressed to reverse these conditions. When we consider that approximately 70-80% of immune system cells are located in the gut, it becomes clear that a healthy gut is necessary for healing most autoimmune conditions. Today, I’m discussing how to heal the gut and why it’s essentia...

“Thyroid disorders are very prevalent, especially in women.” - Dr. Lorraine Maita What you eat and drink, how much you sleep, how much you exercise, the stress you're under, and the toxins you're exposed to all affect your thyroid and hormones. We often underestimate the impact of our lifestyle on our health, but especially for women, the level of toxin exposure through personal care pro...

A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland commonly caused by issues such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, insulin resistance, problems with estrogen metabolism, and iodine deficiency. While it is possible to shrink a goiter, there are a number of factors to consider. Even though my goal is to save as many thyroid glands as possible, there is a time and place for thyroid surgery. Today, I’...

An essential aspect of the thyroid healing journey is identifying and addressing the root cause of your hyperthyroidism. But while doing that, it’s also necessary to safely manage the associated symptoms, as additional complications can arise when they’re left untreated. From cardiovascular stress to decreased bone density and more, the consequences of unmanaged hyperthyroidism can have a signific...

According to a recent study, about 33% of women over 18 and more than 10% of men over 40 in Europe and the United States dye their hair. Because hair dye is so commonly used, many of my patients have questioned its impact on their health. Even with the increasing availability of plant-based hair dyes and the wide range of dyes - whether permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary - there are some know...

“It's amazing when we get back to the basics, how well our body takes over and knows what to do to heal.” - Heather Gray When it comes to Lyme disease, many people are laser-focused on treatment instead of optimizing the whole person. But if you don't address the foundations, heal the gut, reduce your toxic load, do things to manage stress, and improve your adrenal health, these therapie...

While yeast is a normal part of your gut flora, issues can arise when its population gets too high. I commonly see Candida overgrowth in my patients with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s, with the most well-known species of yeast in the gut being Candida albicans. Research shows that Candida can contribute to an increase in intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut, which is one part of the...

“Focus on what you need to add into the diet rather than what you need to take out.” - Louise Digby Many people focus on diet and exercise when they want to lose weight. However, especially when it comes to stubborn weight, focusing on our health and addressing underlying imbalances gets way better results than eating less and exercising more. Instead of the typical diet approach of cutting out “b...

There are many factors to consider when choosing a natural healthcare practitioner. From their specialization to their credentials and years in practice, there’s a lot to navigate as a patient or client. A practitioner’s experience can significantly affect your health outcome, but the quality of that experience matters. Today, I’m sharing the key factors to consider when evaluating practitioners,...

“There is no survival advantage to screening with mammograms.” - Dr. Jenn Simmons For over 50 years, healthcare providers have told women how important it is to have a mammogram every year after a certain age. With mammograms positioned as the primary screening tool for breast cancer, these annual visits are dutifully maintained for years in the hope that they will act as an early warning system....

Thytrophin PMG is a supplement from Standard Process® that contains bovine thyroid PMG™ extract and a proprietary Protomorphogen™ blend. It’s been around for many years, and it's not uncommon for me to encounter patients who have been supplementing with it. In theory, Thytrophin PMG is supposed to act as a decoy for the immune system to attack the supplement instead of the thyroid gland. Toda...

Thyroid care is complicated, yet we’re often offered a one-size-fits-all approach by conventional medicine. Thyroid medication is one of the most prescribed medications in the US, so many people could benefit from thyroid care done right. Unfortunately, most providers don’t understand how to diagnose thyroid conditions well, how antibodies affect thyroid symptoms, or how to dose the medication pro...