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

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...

“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...