The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast

There is a big difference between optimal thyroid lab tests and normal lab tests. The reference range for your lab tests includes both healthy and unhealthy people that you are compared to. By creating a tighter reference range for your lab tests you can ensure that you are being compared to only healthy people. In this video, I go over 2 examples of how to calculate this reference range for both...

Is Synthroid Gluten-free? The answer is yes, based on a recent study which looked at all of the ingredients. But why is this important? It has to do with the fact that most hypothyroid patients suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland. And about 5% of people with Hashimoto's also suffer from Celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease to gluten. T...

This video is all about why thyroidectomy patients need T3 thyroid medication. Thyroidectomy is a procedure in which your thyroid gland is completely removed. After you undergo this procedure you will be required to take thyroid medication for life. One problem that thyroidectomy patients face is persistent symptoms such as weight gain, brain fog, constipation, and fatigue after their procedure an...

Today is all about the condition known as Thyroid Storm. But what exactly is a thyroid storm? It's best understood as a condition that results from hyperthyroidism but it's unique in that it is considered a medical emergency. A medical emergency is any condition which must be treated as soon as possible or it may lead to death in the person experiencing it. Thyroid storm is most commonly caused by...

In this video, we will discuss the 5 main reasons that you can't lose weight even if you are eating healthy and exercising regularly. It may surprise you that this combination does not work for everyone! In fact, there are many people who will need to do more than just eat healthily and exercise in order to lose weight. The top 5 reasons you can't lose weight: #1. Your metabolism is damaged What d...

What's the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism? These conditions represent polar opposites and it's important to realize this. Hyperthyroidism is a condition which results in too much thyroid hormone while hypothyroidism is a condition which results in too little thyroid hormone. Each medical condition presents differently in both symptoms and lab tests. Learn the difference belo...

This video is all thyroid cancer treatments including what treatments are available if you have thyroid cancer, the consequences of these therapies on your life, and we'll also discuss some important factors which help determine your prognosis. It's important to realize, though, that the majority of thyroid cancer cases are caused by the least aggressive form of thyroid cancer. This, combined with...

This video is all about the benefits of using a botanical known as guggul. Guggul also referred to as guggul extract or guggulsterone, are all variations of the same main ingredient which is guggul. Guggul is acquired from tree sap found in India and commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. The reason I want to focus on guggul today is that it can potentially benefit several important systems in the b...

This video will discuss the side effects of stopping thyroid medication abruptly. Is it safe to stop taking your thyroid medication? The answer is no for several reasons which I will explain here. But first, we need to talk about why you are taking thyroid medication, to begin with. Thyroid medication is prescribed to those people who are deficient in thyroid hormone (meaning their body isn't prod...

Why do menopause and weight gain go hand in hand? On average women entering menopause gain around 15-20 pounds without changing their diet or exercise routine. Why do women gain weight without making any of these changes? The answer has to do with how menopause impacts the body but especially how it impacts your hormone system and how they impact your metabolism and body weight. There are several...

Today we are talking about what to do if you have a low TSH, what it means for your body, what causes it and what to do. There are 3 main causes of a low TSH that you should know about: 1. Thyroid medication (You are taking too much) → Common 2. Hyperthyroidism (Your body is producing too much) → Common 3. Pituitary/Hypothalamic dysfunction (Your body can’t make it) → Not very common We are going...

Today is all about caloric restriction and why this type of dieting doesn't lead to long-lasting weight loss. Calorie restriction causes certain changes in the body which lead to an energy deficit and a reduction in body mass. People generally only think of calorie restriction in this way and they believe that by reducing their calories they will be able to lose weight and keep it off. The problem...

Today is all about Synthroid. If you take this medication then you'll want to learn more about these 10 tips and tricks that you can use to help feel better. Synthroid is one of the most common thyroid medications used to treat hypothyroidism but it's not without problems. These tips are designed to help you find your optimal dose, help you understand if you are absorbing Synthroid, help you figur...

This video is all about selenium deficiency, how it presents, what to do about it and how to know if you are overdosing on selenium supplements. First off: Why is selenium important? Selenium plays an important role in regulating several key enzymes in your body. These enzymes control the production of thyroid hormones, glutathione, and even your metabolism. If you don't have enough selenium in yo...

This video is all about thyroid cancer symptoms and early warning signs you may have cancer. This is a topic worth discussing because many people who believe they have thyroid cancer probably don't. The good news is that even though thyroid cancer is fairly common, it has a great survival rate with a 5-year survival rate of around 98%. So, even if you do have thyroid cancer, it's one of the better...

Today is episode #24 and it's all about bad genes and how they impact your thyroid function. There are certain genetic changes, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP's for short, which can slightly impact certain enzymes in your body. These genes are very important when it comes to your thyroid because they can impact a set of enzymes known as the deiodinases. These deiodinases are respo...

Today is lesson #23 and we are talking about how to boost your thyroid function and what you can do today. Why would you want to boost your thyroid function, to begin with? For starters, your thyroid helps regulate your metabolism, controls your mood and helps regulate other hormones in your body. Those with thyroid issues often suffer from depression, anxiety, weight gain, and so on. The struggle...

Today is episode #22 and it's all about adding T3 to your T4 medication. Most patients take a thyroid medication which contains T4 only thyroid hormone such as Levothyroxine or Synthroid. The problem with these medications is that they contain the inactive thyroid hormone T4 and they are not necessarily active unless your body can activate them. You can add T3 to your current medication to fight t...

Today is episode #21 and it's all about Hcg the hormone and Hcg for weight loss. We will be discussing whether or not it's safe to use Hcg for weight loss and how I generally recommend people use it for best results. First off, what is hcg? Hcg, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone which is predominately secreted during pregnancy to help protect the fetus and help promote pregn...

Today is episode #20 and it's all about supplementing with Selenium and how it may boost your thyroid. Selenium is a nutrient which is involved in several key proteins in your body. As it relates to your thyroid, selenium helps your body produce thyroid hormone and protect it from cell damage. Many people with hypothyroidism may have sub-optimal selenium levels which may impact how they feel and c...

Today is episode #19 and it's all about TRH and TSH and how these two hormones impact thyroid function. You're probably already familiar with TSH which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. TRH stands for thyrotropic releasing hormone and it is secreted by the hypothalamus. The job of TRH is to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce TSH which then acts on your thyroid gland to produce thyroid...

Today is lesson #18 and it's all about L-tyrosine supplementation! Does L-tyrosine help improve your thyroid function? Can taking it improve your adrenal function? Should you actually take it? We are going to explore all of these questions. L-tyrosine is a synthetic version of a protein known as tyrosine which can be taken as a supplement. Tyrosine is a protein in your body, created from phenylala...

Today is lesson #17 and it's all about the best way to take thyroid medication. Should you take your thyroid medication in the morning? Should you take it in the evening? Should you split your dose? Should you take it on an empty stomach? All of these questions and more will be answered. First off... why does it matter when or how you take your thyroid medication? The first thing you should know i...

Today is episode #16 and it's all about salivary cortisol testing! Should you get this test? Should you save your money? Is it actually useful? Let's talk about these questions. The main reason that most people get salivary cortisol testing is that they believe they have a condition known as adrenal fatigue but all other tests have come up as negative (usually serum cortisol). Does that mean that...

Today is all about your thyroid and hair loss. Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism often result in hair loss in many patients which can be a big struggle. Finding the cause of hair loss in your situation is incredibly important and can help you regrow your hair. I've created 4 main categories that lead to hair loss in thyroid patients that need to be evaluated in each case of hair loss: #1. Your thyroi...