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

Should you avoid taking supplements before doing thyroid testing? What are the most effective ways to maintain healthy thyroid function? Can Hashimoto’s thyroiditis cause granuloma annulare? How can you regain healthy muscle mass? In this Q&A episode, I’m doing things differently and answering questions from multiple community members. I plan to do similar episodes every couple of months, so p...

“Living well is the best medicine.” - Dr. Deb Matthew Testosterone is crucial in both men and women for physical health, sexual function, mood, motivation, and more. Many people who feel "off" or "not like themselves" may be experiencing a testosterone imbalance but may be misdiagnosed with depression and prescribed medication that does not address the root cause. Today I’m joi...

While the thyroid gland can regenerate, it's a slow process. Part of the problem with thyroid gland regeneration is that, in most cases, people aren’t removing the underlying factor causing the damage. Without addressing these autoimmune issues, significant damage will occur over time. Today I’m sharing what we know about thyroid gland regeneration, including a few journal articles exploring...

Almost all of us are walking around with nutrient shortfalls. In the health and wellness community, we define diets based on what foods they consider good or bad. The problem is that it often leads to an increasingly restrictive approach focused on avoidance and moral judgments instead of nutrition. Recognizing these issues, today’s guest Dr. Sarah Ballantyne decided to create a resource that woul...

Many people with Grave’s disease patients have been told that their thyroid gland will eventually burn out and they’ll become hypothyroid. Although this is a common concern, no quality research supports thyroid burnout. Today I’m sharing common misconceptions about thyroid burnout and the real reasons some people with hyperthyroidism become hypothyroid. In this episode, you’ll learn: - What some w...

Your environment plays a central role in your health, and immune dysfunction is at play alongside many conditions. An allergy is an overreaction of your immune system to something in your environment, and persistent infections like Lyme tend to make your immune system hypersensitive to your world. Unfortunately, we still don’t fully understand what makes some people sensitive to particular allerge...

If you have a child or teenager with hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto’s, there is hope to restore their health. Graves' disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism in children, and as an adult with a thyroid condition, there’s an increased risk that your child will develop a thyroid condition. While it isn’t common, there are unique challenges that we have to consider when it comes to c...

Probiotics are one of the most common supplements I recommend to patients. With their role in improving gut health and suppressing autoimmunity, probiotics can be an important supporting tool for your thyroid healing journey. Although fermented foods are an excellent dietary source of probiotics, most people don’t eat enough to rely on diet alone. That’s where a high-quality probiotic supplement c...

When it comes to diet and autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ and Hashimotos, you hear a lot about avoiding gluten. What surprises many patients is that we also often recommend avoiding dairy. While dairy is associated with certain health benefits, there are also potentially negative consequences on your health. Today I’m sharing the top reasons I recommend avoiding dairy and what resear...

With the wide range of tests available, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the options. Our approach at Natural Endocrine Solutions is to prioritize the tests that best inform our treatment plans. Depending on a patient’s budget, that could look like several baseline and follow-up tests, while others may only choose one or two. Whether we’re doing comprehensive or conservative testing, it’s essent...

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the tissues of the eyes. While supplementation can be very helpful in treating thyroid eye disease, the bigger goal should be to find and remove your triggers. The best results come from supplementation alongside diet and lifestyle changes such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet and reducing stress and your toxic...

There’s an entire constellation of healing opportunities waiting to be addressed once we know where to look. While conventional doctors are often hyper-focused on symptom treatment, functional medicine zooms in on treating the root causes of the symptoms we experience. Similarly, functional testing is about getting information on interconnected body systems that collectively contribute to our symp...

All x-rays emit ionizing radiation, which can cause cell damage and increase your risk of developing cancer.  Dental x-rays are a particular concern for those with thyroid health conditions because of their proximity to the thyroid gland and the frequency at which they are typically done. Today I’m sharing some research studies on the use of thyroid shields, the risks of dental x-rays, and my reco...

“There’s no pill, potion, or powder that’s going to replace positive lifestyle changes.” - Dr. Stephanie Gray Dr. Stephanie Gray is a functional medicine provider who helps men and women build sustainable and optimal health and longevity so that they can focus on what matters most to them. While going through a health crisis of her own, Dr. Stephanie recognized how overwhelming the options availab...

Although I didn’t take antithyroid medication when I dealt with Graves disease, some people with hyperthyroidism need them. And while my goal is to help people restore their health so that they no longer need medication, not everyone with hyperthyroidism chooses to or can take a solely natural treatment approach. Unfortunately, many endocrinologists tell hyperthyroidism patients that they can only...

“Most people don’t eat near enough protein.” - Dr. Sabrina Solt Although I don’t commonly recommend the carnivore diet to my patients, I've heard several success stories regarding autoimmunity. To help us explore this topic, I’m joined by Dr. Sabrina Solt, a naturopathic doctor and follower of the carnivore diet. With her naturopathic background, it was hard for Dr. Sabrina to accept that pla...

There are several health benefits associated with soy, especially in its fermented form. At the same time, we’ve all heard about the risks associated with phytoestrogens, goitrogenic properties, and more. So, should everyone with a thyroid condition avoid soy? Today I’m sharing my soy recommendations for people with thyroid health conditions and why I take a different approach depending on whether...

“Your options for treating hyperthyroidism are medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery.” That’s just one of the many myths patients with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease hear from endocrinologists daily. Medication and surgery have their place, but there’s much more to consider before leaping down that path. Today I’m sharing the top five myths patients with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disea...

Iron is one of the most commonly deficient minerals. That’s why I recommend a full iron panel to my patients. Although iron deficiency is commonly associated with anemia, it’s important to note that you could have anemia without being iron deficient. Similarly, you can have an iron deficiency without being anemic. We also have to consider iron toxicity, which can be a problem for people with very...

“If you have thyroid health issues and you’re only taking medication, you’re cheating yourself out of feeling much better than you do.” -  Annabel Bateman The best thing you can do for your health is to take a holistic approach. Optimizing your diet and lifestyle and taking medication where necessary allows you to succeed on your thyroid healing journey. Annabel Bateman is a Hashimoto’s patient, a...

Several foods are known to be potential triggers of autoimmunity. Others can cause leaky gut, which in turn can lead to autoimmunity.  Plus, if you’re eating inflammatory foods, regardless of whether they're triggers, it will be difficult to heal. Changing your diet may reverse the autoimmune component, but it’s important to remember that there could be other triggers. Today I’m sharing why w...

EMF exposure has a cumulative effect. Just because you’re okay today doesn’t mean you’ll be okay tomorrow. Now is the time to start taking small actions to minimize your exposure. But taking the first steps with EMF protection can feel overwhelming, so how can you get started without feeling overwhelmed? In this second part of my interview with Lloyd, he shares how you can use his U.M.M. framework...

When considering getting a biopsy, the main concern is that a thyroid nodule could be cancerous. But while many people have thyroid nodules, most are benign. So, how can you assess whether a thyroid biopsy is necessary? As with any other surgical procedure, the decision comes down to weighing risks versus benefits. Today I’m sharing my opinion on when a thyroid nodule biopsy is necessary, as well...

All living things are electromagnetic. That means electromagnetic fields (EMFs) affect everybody, even if you don’t feel them. At a fundamental level, our cells communicate via electrical charges, which can be disturbed by manmade EMFs, a significant proportion of which are from cell phones. The fact is that cell phones have become an integral part of our world, and they’re here to stay.  What we...

In past episodes, I’ve discussed the impact of viruses such as Epstein-Barr on the immune system. The same viruses can also impact the thyroid gland, both directly and indirectly. As usual, I dove into research around this, and today I’m sharing three research studies, breaking down how they were designed and exploring the results they found. In this episode, you’ll learn what research shows about...