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

“When I found out I was pregnant, I thought this child was doomed to the same condition and horrible experiences that I had. But I realize it's not always the case.” - Katy Graves' disease can be a particularly challenging condition to manage during pregnancy. The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can exacerbate symptoms of Graves' disease, such as anxiety, fatigue, and p...

As we approach the end of the year, many people start thinking about cleaning up their diet and improving their health in the new year. For some, that means incorporating a liver detoxification program. We live in a toxic world where we’re constantly exposed to toxins. While it’s impossible to avoid them altogether, a liver detox can help manage our toxic burden by supporting the liver’s natural d...

Environmental toxins (natural) and toxicants (synthetic) are a huge problem in modern living. Every day, we’re bombarded by these external factors, and in most cases, our immune systems can mitigate the toxic burden. For various reasons, many of us lose our chemical tolerance over time, and our bodies can no longer handle the toxin exposure. That’s when environmental toxins may trigger thyroid aut...

You’ve tried it all—traditional psychiatry, medications, even alternative spiritual practices, yet the symptoms seem to intensify. What if your doctor told you to simply cope with your condition for the rest of your life? Would you accept that as your reality? What if the truth about depression is more than a mental health issue? You might be surprised to learn that your eating habits, lifestyle,...

Low white blood cell count, also known as leukopenia, is a common finding in many people, including those with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions. There are five types of white blood cells - neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils - and these markers are part of a complete blood count (CBC) with differential, which I recommend for all my patients. While a low white b...

“Sleep is passive; we can't force it. If the body is safe to relax, it will eventually sleep.” - Annika Carroll Many people experience sleep issues, and there are a number of different factors that contribute to low sleep quality. Then, whether it’s blood sugar dysregulation, gut imbalances, stress, or something else, once we start having a difficult time with our sleep, a lot of us start pan...

The three main types of thyroid antibodies are thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI). Although it’s rarely mentioned, there is a fourth type of antibody known as TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins (TBII). Today, I’m sharing what the research tells us about the role of TBII and whether it’s worth testing as part of your thyro...

Emotional and physical stressors can be contributing factors in the triggering of thyroid autoimmunity in two main ways. First, stress causes an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, which promote inflammation by causing dysregulation of the immune system. Stress also decreases secretory IgA, increasing your risk of developing a leaky gut. That said, it's important to understand that not al...

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect the health of the bones, which is yet another reason why it's crucial to balance the thyroid hormones. While I’m not a big fan of radiation exposure from scanning, there is a time and place where I believe the benefits outweigh the risks. Today, I’m sharing why DEXA scans are done and when I consider them worth it. In this episode, you’ll lea...

Iodine is a critical nutrient for thyroid function, yet there is a lot of controversy around iodine and thyroid health. Unlike other nutrients, iodine is selectively taken up by the parts of the body that use it. This generally means that when it’s in low supply, more is pulled in, and when there’s too much, it’s blocked from coming in. This creates the iodine paradox, where both excessive and ins...

Sticking to a healthy diet during the holiday season can be challenging. Between cravings to indulge in unhealthy habits and the desire to avoid awkward social situations, it can feel easier to stick to the status quo and eat whatever is served. If you’re dealing with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition, you do need to change your approach. Today, I’m discussing strategies and practical tips...

Normalizing thyroid antibodies can be challenging, and several factors can cause elevated antibodies. Finding and eliminating food triggers is one such factor that is an essential part of the thyroid healing journey. Certain foods can trigger autoimmunity, causing an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in regulatory T cells. In other cases, specific food proteins can trigger an i...

Aside from antithyroid medication, which is specifically designed to block thyroid hormone, several medications can have an unintended effect on thyroid health. These drugs, often in combination with other underlying imbalances, can potentially trigger hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Today, I’m sharing the research on five categories of medication that have been shown to affect thyroid function...

Many people with hyperthyroidism experience noticeable weight loss. For me, this was the case when I dealt with Graves’ disease. At the same time, for various reasons, it’s not uncommon for people with Graves’ to gain weight instead. In today’s Save My Thyroid audit, I’m chatting with Stacy, who was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and gained over 30 pounds in three months. She’s also experiencing m...

Elevated thyroid hormone levels are typically a sign of hyperthyroidism, which can be attributed to a number of conditions, including Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, subacute thyroiditis, and Hashitoxicosis. Many factors contribute to the development of these thyroid disorders, and each one requires different treatment approaches. It’s essential to not only get tested and properly diag...

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are Y-shaped molecules that help to protect the body against antigens (foreign substances), including pathogenic bacteria, food, proteins, chemicals, and more. In autoimmunity, autoantibodies are produced against the cells of your own body. Normalizing thyroid antibodies can be very challenging. From finding and removing triggers to healing the gut and re...

Although most of my patients eat animal protein, over the years, I've also worked with many vegans and vegetarians, and the truth is that it can be more challenging to restore your health as a vegetarian or vegan. The good news is that regardless of your reasons for choosing a diet that avoids animal products, you can still save your thyroid if you pay attention to a few key areas. Today, I’m...

“Stress is a huge factor when it comes to blood sugar regulation.” - Laurie Villarreal Although most conversations about blood sugar are focused on diet, it’s important to recognize that stress plays a big role in how your body balances your blood sugar levels. Whether we're talking about physical, mental, emotional, or physiological stressors, they all come together to create stress in our b...

Bugleweed is a natural treatment option that those with hyperthyroidism can consider taking. In most cases, it’s chosen by people who have had an adverse reaction to antithyroid medication or those who prefer to take a natural treatment approach. When I dealt with Graves’ disease in 2008, I decided to take an herbal approach, avoiding taking medication unless I absolutely needed to. Bugleweed and...

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid condition where patients present with symptoms of hypothyroidism, elevated TSH levels, and elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. In today’s Save My Thyroid audit, I’m chatting with Agnieszka, who has been dealing with Hashimoto's thyroiditis since her diagnosis over four years ago. After doing a decen...

Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that is produced naturally in our bodies, and it is often recommended by healthcare practitioners because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Extensive research has been done on the potential health benefits of alpha lipoic acid for various conditions, and the results suggest it could be beneficial for a wide range of people. Today, I’m sharing...

It's hard to believe that it's been 15 years since I won the battle against Graves’ disease. While I’ve had a few scares along the way, I've been able to maintain normal thyroid and antibody levels over the years and maintained a state of wellness since 2009. Since being in remission, I haven’t been perfect with my diet and lifestyle. Still, there have been several elements that I’v...

Turmeric is a herb used for thousands of years to help with different health conditions and is commonly used in cooking. Turmeric’s health benefits have been well-documented, with thousands of research studies showing its positive effects, many of which are attributed to the activity of one specific component called curcumin. Curcumin is what gives turmeric its yellow color, and it has exhibited a...

Toxic multinodular goiter is a type of hyperthyroidism in which a person has a goiter in the presence of multiple thyroid nodules. In today’s Save My Thyroid audit, I’m chatting with Nanette, who has been dealing with toxic multinodular goiter for over 20 years and I’ll be sharing practical advice to help her improve her health. Nanette’s thyroid journey began at age 16 when she had her first thyr...

Many people with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism experience hair loss, and in some cases, this hair loss can be extreme. That said, in my practice, hair loss occurs more commonly with my hyperthyroid patients - whether Graves’ disease, toxic multinational goiter, or subacute thyroiditis - and they also tend to experience more severe cases of hair loss. Today, I’m discussing extreme thyroid-rela...