Podcasts about armour thyroid

We have a special Deep Dive for you in today's episode, comparing the two main types of hypothyroidism treatment: the most common treatment, levothyroxine, which is a synthetic T4 medication, and natural desiccated thyroid drugs, also known as NDT, with brands including Armour Thyroid and NP Thyroid. We'll explore the history, effectiveness, and potential benefits of NDT for patients who are still symptomatic on levothyroxine. We'll also get into the controversies surrounding NDT, including FDA regulation and prescriber bias, and review the pros and cons of NDT. We'll also cover how to find NDT-friendly doctors, the role of compounded thyroid medications. If you've ever wondered if natural thyroid drugs are for you, stay tuned as we dive into this important topic with expert insights and practical advice from Paloma Health!You can find out more at these in-depth articles at the Paloma Health blog:Is NDT a Better Option to Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism? https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/natural-desiccated-thyroid-alternative-levothyroxine-hypothyroidismLevothyroxine vs. Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medication https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/levothyroxine-vs-desiccated-thyroid Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medication: Fact and Fiction https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/natural-desiccated-thyroid-medication Top Compounding Pharmacies for NDT Prescriptions https://www.palomahealth.com/guides/ndt-compounding-pharmacies What Is Armour® Thyroid Medication? https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/armour-thyroid The Pros and Cons of Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medication for Hypothyroidism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gDz3VZ0x2I About Paloma Health:⁠⁠Paloma Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is an online medical practice focused exclusively on treating hypothyroidism. From online visits with your provider to easy prescription management and lab orders, we create personalized treatment plans for you. Become a member⁠, or try our at-home test kit and experience a whole new level of hypothyroid care. Use code PODCAST to save $30 at checkout.Disclaimer: The $30 discount is only valid for first-time Paloma Health members and test kit users. Coupon must be entered at the time of checkout. Become a Paloma Member:https://www.palomahealth.com/pricing-hypothyroidism Paloma Complete Thyroid Blood Test Kit:https://www.palomahealth.com/home-thyroid-blood-test-kit 

Though I typically prefer a natural treatment route, there are times when thyroid medication is the best option. That said, monitoring thyroid hormone levels is crucial to ensuring that the best treatment choices are made as you progress on your thyroid healing journey.In today's Save My Thyroid Audit, I'm talking to Kim, someone who was experiencing hypothyroid symptoms and is likely dealing with Hashimoto's. After her diagnosis, Kim was taking Armour Thyroid for 15 years, and she started noticing hyperthyroid symptoms. In this episode, Kim and I discuss her journey with various thyroid medications, how dietary changes have impacted her symptoms, the importance of comprehensive and ongoing testing, the role of stress in thyroid health, and more.While this isn't the same as my comprehensive consultations with patients, I'm confident you'll find this conversation valuable. If you would like to apply for an audit with me, you can do so by visiting https://SaveMyThyroid.com/audit. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/taking-too-much-thyroid-hormone-save-my-thyroid-audit-186/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Access hundreds of free articles at www.NaturalEndocrineSolutions.com Visit Dr. Eric's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/NaturalThyroidDoctor/ To work with Dr. Eric, visit https://savemythyroid.com/work-with-dr-eric/

Dr. Mark Sherwood is a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) who operates a full-time wellness-based medical practice in Tulsa, OK called The Functional Medical Institute. Dr. Mark treated 10,000+ patients with Covid with zero deaths! Dr. Mark has completed training and certifications in age management, nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, peptide therapy, hormone therapy, stress management, GI health, and immunology. All products, books, and supplements mentioned are available at https://www.ashleydeeley.com/mark⁠ 17:36: The size of your heart AND the size of your stomach (it may surprise you) 18:25: How many calories do you need? (And why calorie counting is a waste of time) 22:53: What ingredients or food to avoid 24:08: Cholesterol is good 24:35: What is LDL? 25:08: Worst thing to happen to American health 25:52: Statins Statin drugs knock off HMG-COA (study here), 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) (pubmed) 26:30: When you lose hormones, you lose bone density, muscle, immune system resilience, and body fat goes up! 26:42: LDL is NOT bad 27:12: Cholesterol panel (do not focus on AMOUNT) is worthless 27:56: Cholesterol markers to look at: Oxidized LDL Lp-PLA2 (pressurization of vessel wall) Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) (vascular stiffness) Lipoprotein Fractionation 34:52: Medicines don't provide healing; they're designed to manage the disease process 35:04: God did not make us vaccine or medication deficient 36:39: Dr. Mark treated 10,000+ patients with Covid with zero deaths 37:54: Ideas and suppplements for Covid included: Colostrum (link here) Broccoli Sprout Powder (link here) Vitamins A,D,E,K, and C (link here) Omega fatty acids Glutathione (precursor to glutathione is NAC, which I recommended over glutathione as your stomach acid will likely destroy liposomal glutathione. Best to have glutathione administered through IV) 45:25: Diagnosed with an illness or disease...? (Type II Diabetic) Once that diagnostic code is in your chart, it will stay in your health records and follow you forever. It can effect your health insurance and life insurance here and evermore 46:20: Thyroid conditions (Hashimoto's) 47:04: You CAN reverse thyroid disfunction (can take up to six months). Other autoimmune disorders can also be reversed 48:20: Thyroid medications are synthetic. Synthroid and Levothyroxine (T4 only medications) 49:30: Need a full thyroid panel to determine how thyroid is truly functioning: Free T4 Free T3 TPO antibodies (peroxidase) Reverse T3 TSH 51:06: Armour Thyroid and NP Thyroid medications are desiccated thyroid medications and therefore superior to synethic medications 52:17: Iodine (link here) 52:26: Mark recommends: 7.5 milligrams of potassium iodide 5 milligrams of iodine Totaling 12.5 milligrams (good combo for thyroid support) 52:42: Iodine is breast and prostate protective 53:05: Desiccated thyroid as a tool for longevity? 53:27: Inflammation is part of every disease process 54:16: Grass-fed, grass-finished liver (dense with micronutrients) 55:48: Supps: Vitamin D (anything test result less than 50 is not ideal) (link here); 1,000-2,000 IUD daily + MUST BE PAIRED WITH K2 Omega 3 fatty acids 1:02:56: Dr. Nathan Bryan and Nitric Oxide (NO2U) 1:06:10: Osteopenia (and reversing osteoperosis) 1:08:08: Magnesium 1:17:06: Perimenopause (1:28:13: sleep better) 1:20:31: Water supply full of birth control pills & statins (water filter) 1:21:16: Whole house water filter General Ionics (only available in Oklahoma) 1:22:33: Mold free, organic coffee 1:23:30: Theory around 'cheating' 1:25:33: My friend April and her chiropractic husband (Colorado) 1:26:55: Blue blockers, salt lamp 1:33:37: Sleep better Webinar on health & hormones: register here Where to find Dr. Mark: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube Phone: 918-748-3640 Address: 6048 S Sheridan Rd Tulsa, OK 74145 BONUS MATERIAL visit: https://www.ashleydeeley.com/mark

Hypothyroidism is not your garden-variety health issue where you pop a pill and call it a day. Far from it. Low thyroid is often billed as a "silent epidemic," mainly because some of the symptoms get written off as the cost of a hectic lifestyle or simply getting older. You've no doubt heard about the usual low thyroid symptoms—fatigue, weight gain, and cold sensitivity. Those get all the attention, but they're merely the tip of the iceberg. Why does this matter? Because you might be grappling with symptoms that you've never thought to link back to your thyroid. That's a big deal. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment can mean the difference between feeling like a sloth and living your life in the fast lane. And let's be real, who wants to be a sloth when you could be a cheetah? Oh, and just so you know, I'm speaking from experience. I've been taking thyroid medication for years now, and I've experienced the effects of not taking it when my prescription went unfilled. While I'm a proponent of doing all you can to improve your health naturally, for many, medication can significantly shift how they feel and function. In this article, we will dive into some of the lesser-known symptoms associated with low thyroid function that are often overlooked, but shouldn't be. Understanding these could be your ticket to reclaiming your health. Constipation or Bowel Irregularity Recently, a guy I know asked for guidance on how he could improve his regularity. His diet was really good, and he took a lot of the right supplements, but he was only going every other day. My first thought was that it could be a thyroid issue. But that's rarely what people think of when it comes to thyroid. Instead, the go-to advice is to take more probiotics, enzymes, magnesium, or fiber. But none of those solutions work well if someone's hypothyroid. Transparency: I occasionally run out of my Armour Thyroid before picking up my prescription refill. As I'm writing this, I've been out of my prescription for six days. It's had a significant effect on my digestive system, too. Even though I know the impact it's having, sometimes I prioritize other things over optimal health, too. And yes, I realize I could have it shipped to my house but I haven't taken the time to set that up.

Armour thyroid is one of the most popular natural desiccated thyroid medications on the market. For that reason, we are going to be taking a close look at both the inactive and inactive ingredients found inside of this thyroid medication to see what it's actually made of. I plan to do this for all thyroid medications and if you'd like to see my previous video on levothyroxine ingredients you can find that here: When it comes to active ingredients, Armour thyroid contains the following: Standardized doses of T4 and T3 and non-standardized doses of T2, T1 (probably), and calcitonin. These are active hormones found inside of this medication. A non-standardized dose just means that it's probably found in there but they don't ensure any sort of level between lots. The inactive ingredients include calcium stearate, dextrose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, and opadry white. If you are having issues with Armour thyroid it is almost certainly due to the inactive ingredients as opposed to the active ingredients and the problem can usually be solved by simply switching to a different version of NDT. Aside from Armour, you can also look into NP thyroid as well as Adthyza which is a relatively new NDT medication. #hypothyroidism #hypothyroid #thyroid #thyroidtreatment #thyroidmedication Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/ Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function: - Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej - Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto's: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ - Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ - Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here: https://www.restartmed.com/shop/ Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here: https://www.restartmed.com/blog/ Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS Disclaimer: Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/ This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video. #thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto's

In this Q&A Karen answers listeners' questions on all things hormones and weight loss.  maymoon_design When you refer to HRT are these natural or synthetic hormones? I am having a very hard time with hot flushes. janelleminto Can HRT cause/ contribute to a thickening in the lining of the uterus? I recently had surgery to remove this and wondered if the hormones could be a cause. lcavazza66 If I struggle with progesterone replacement, is it ok to just use estrogen and testosterone? I can't sleep, gain weight and struggle with progesterone. I had severe PMDD when I was younger prior to partial hysterectomy. Labs show estrogen dominance but adding progesterone makes me feel worse. Kimdixonwiley How do you know how much HRT to prescribe when Canadian blood work only gives Estrogen and Progesterone not actual numbers? Carol What serology test should I get if I have been in menopause for 2 years. Estrogen will be low but what are the levels we are hoping to achieve for both estrogen and progesterone? If supplementing how often should we check this - serology and with the Dutch? Md say levels will fluctuate so they don't want to do testing - how can we make our case to them to get it done? How do I know a progesterone is bioidentical? Jennifer Hi Karen, I love your podcast as you are so informative! I'm 46 and have been on my current hrt for 6 months. I experienced a lot of side effects at the beginning of my hrt. I had migraines and felt depressed and extremely emotional. This went on for months and was debilitating. So my provider put me on the following treatment to assist with the symptoms stating I was really estrogen dominant and needed more progesterone. I have noticed I feel better when I'm not taking any progesterone during my period. Is it possible to have too much progesterone and then have adverse effects? I don't feel like I'm reaping any of the benefits so many others have with progesterone.  Pam Hi Karen! I'm 59 and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in my early 20s after my 1st child. I'm just wondering if something is off b/c it seems like my hair is really thinning. I'm taking Armour Thyroid 90 mg daily. My doctor says everything is normal. I'm also struggling with weight loss resistance. I know this is a lot but would really appreciate any insight you may have. I love listening to your podcasts, I learn so much! Thanks for all you do and know that you're making a difference in the lives of many!   KK Hi Karen! After listening to your podcast a couple of years ago, I got my hormones checked and found a Functional Practitioner to go over my health - she confirmed I was in Menopause and that my Progesterone was flat-lining, my Testosterone and Estrogen were low.  My question is, Should I be getting better results? I still struggle with quality sleep and maintaining lubrication and holding onto menopausal weight, I have still been having DHEA (50mg per day). My practitioner believes that the DHEA is better to boost than Progesterone or Testosterone. Should I expect better results or am I being ridiculous?   Luhu Hi Karen, Your number one fan here :) Studying with FDN to become a practitioner, very well-versed in gut health, hormones, etc but cannot figure out my own body since menopause! When my estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all went very low—6 for E and T, I gained weight all over and can't lose it. Also developed chronic gut issues in menopause despite no gluten, no dairy, no sugar, (no fun!). SO Q: I started on the estrogen patch applying one half of the .025 dose, next day I added the next half, felt so much more energy and felt like I started losing lbs but quickly developed heartburn/reflux and felt a little overstimulated (maybe an adhesive ingredient in the patch? I'm very sensitive), I also felt some discomfort in my liver/gallbladder area even though I support both. I waited 3 weeks before adding progesterone due to past issues (ok'd by DR), then applied Quicksilver Scientific's topical progesterone 8mg and all hell broke loose. Within 2 days I retained so much water, and looked like I'd gained another 10lbs, belly got so swollen from diaphragm down and I felt weird pinching-like gas pains in ribs under right breast and then it moved to under left breast and the heartburn/reflux got worse. I had to stop both hormones :(. Please help, what do you think is going on with my body? Jean clark I'm almost 54 (bday in May) my local naturopath prescribed bio-identical hormone replacement without having me do a hormone test first. Should I be taking a hormone test before just going ahead with a prescription? It is all so confusing. Thanks!! Anonymous What is your morning routine? What time do you eat breakfast and what do you eat? Do you drink coffee? Could not eating breakfast actually raise your blood sugar? Anonymous Hi Karen, I was wondering how your experience with Fully Vital hair growth system has been? Thank you, Gail Anonymous How does one determine when it's appropriate to use 50/50 Biest or use only estradiol? (I'm referring to your Nov 18/22 podcast with Dr. Felice Gersh.) Thank you! Milly Hi Karen, Thanks for taking my question. I started transdermal testosterone to optimize my levels last November, we're still trying to find that sweet spot as it's still plummeting per my January report where it was at 8.  I'm due to go at the end of February to check on testosterone levels again, I'm sure (I hope) my doctor is going to check my other hormone levels to see where I'm at. Also, per my last lipid panels (Sep 2022) my total cholesterol and LDL levels have gone out of range for the first time. Taking all this into consideration, what would be the best day of the cycle to test ALL my hormones assuming I get my cycle eventually? Thank you, Milly Hi Karen, thanks so much for all the amazing information you share. My question is about heart palpitations. I'm 40 and the last few months they have been getting pretty intense the last half of my cycle so I'm pretty sure they are hormone related. I recently had a Dutch test in December and my estrone and estradiol were above range, estriol was in range. Estrogen is favoring the 2OH pathway but my methylation activity is low. Progesterone was in range. I've been using oral and the bio labs progesterone cream for more than two years now and it has helped with many symptoms, especially sleep. Besides the heart palpitations, I also get irritable around my cycle and again after ovulation. Feel pretty good besides that. Any ideas as to what's causing the sudden increase in heart palpitations? Thanks so much for your help! Gates 44 I guess my question is should mild symptoms be addressed? I have hot flashes that are bad for a few months then subside for a month or two. I have dry skin but I live in Canada so dry harsh winters, have had dry skin for years. I do have a low sex drive, but again I never had a high one either. Yes I do have more trouble sleeping for sure, but not sure that is enough to go on a drug. So please answer me should I do something or not? I am 56 years old and had an ablation done almost 17 years ago, so have not had a period since I was 39. Ira What is the window to start hrt and how long can you stay on hrt to get the full benefits? Do you believe by doing extended fasting (24+hrs) you do lose lean muscle tissue? Kathie Hi Karen, In trying to balance hormones, I've had some occasional bleeding. A recent biopsy was clear of anything being an issue. Is it normal to have a “period” with hrt? My regime has been a .25/1 mg estradiol/testosterone troche in the a.m., and 200mg progesterone in pm for about two months. In that time, I've had a period two times as well. Thank you! Sally I'm 49 years old and recently had a hysterectomy sparing my ovaries. I've suffered from extremely heavy periods for years and even through a year of chemo for brain cancer. My OB/GYN wanted to put me on birth control or the Mirena but I refused as I've attempted BC over the years with poor results. I had a terrible episode of anxiety/depression and cognition issues so she sent me to a psychiatrist and they put me on antidepressants which have helped some. Finally, she ordered a D&C due to the uncontrollable bleeding and precancerous cells were found hence the hysterectomy in late December. I spoke with her about hormone replacement and she said I'd probably be better off without it because my hormones made me so miserable with the fluctuations throughout my lifetime I went to my PCP because I couldn't sleep and she gave me Trazadone and said just wait and my hormones would settle. Then I talked to the Psychiatrist and told her about the temperature irregularities (inability to control my body temperature) and she increased my Effexor saying it had a vasomotor response. I'm a little fed up with all of the women doctors (all in their midlife and my OB is part of NAMS) giving me the runaround. I'm not crazy. I've medically been through a lot but this should be easy. I thought at first that the multiple brain surgeries had messed up my mind but after listening to you I think it's probably just my hormones. Thank you, Karen Anonymous Lots of talk about hormone replacement therapy at the beginning of transferring through perimenopause to menopause. My question to you is, what are the options for an almost 60-year-old who is past 10 years of being in menopause? We are still concerned about the future health of the heart, bones, brain, etc. Also, where can I find published current studies or research proving that bio-identical hormone replacement theory is safe? I would like to present to my doctor as she is a nonbeliever. Thank you!   Beth Hi Karen, I have been on Estrogen replacement since age 36 when I had a total hysterectomy with bilateral ovaries removed due to aggressive endometriosis at the time. I'm now 55, and I've struggled with 15 pounds of too much weight ever since. My libido sucks, Intercourse is painful, I'm a professional insomniac and have been dependent on magnesium supplements and Trazadone to help me sleep for 10 years! and I also have low energy. I'm thinking I need to address my hormone therapy, currently, it's an Estradiol patch of 0.037mg changed every 3 days. I really would love your help. I have been eating a green Mediterranean diet and avoided sweets and processed foods for the last 3 months, cut alcohol 

Laura’s Questions: I am on 25 mcg of Levothyroxine for 6 yrs with hypo symptoms, every one! My endocrinologist just took a panel, and the results are the following: TSH 2.36 uUI/mL Reference Range = 0.45 to 4.5 uUI/mL Free T4 1.1 ng/dL Reference Range = 0.82 to 1.77 […] The post Is Armour Thyroid Better Than Levothyroxine? | PYHP 120 appeared first on .

Laura's Questions: I am on 25 mcg of Levothyroxine for 6 yrs with hypo symptoms, every one! My endocrinologist just took a panel, and the results are the following:  TSH 2.36 uUI/mL        Reference Range = 0.45 to 4.5 uUI/mL  Free T4 1.1 ng/dL         Reference Range = 0.82 to 1.77 ng/dL  Free T3 2.9 pg/mL       Reference Range = 2.0 to 4.4 pg/mL Should we up my dose of Levothyroxine to 50 or should I just switch to Synthroid or Armour? Thanks! Short Answer: We typically don't recommend or prescribe Levothyroxine or Synthroid for our patients. Both of these medications only contain the T4 hormone. This is referred to as T4 Monotherapy. These medications do a good job of lowering the TSH level but do not always help the patient feel better. We like to prescribe thyroid medication that contains both the T4 and T3 hormones. In our experience, our patients tend to feel much better on a combination medication, rather than on a T4-only medication. In our opinion, we feel that sustained-release compounded thyroid medication is the best option most of the time. This type of thyroid medication gives the doctor many dosing options, which is certainly good for the patient and their overall symptom profile. Because this medication is compounded, the T4 and T3 hormones can be changed independently of the other hormone. With a commercial prescription, there are only so many dosing options, and both hormones are affected when raising or lowering the dosage. Also, the sustained-released nature of the medication helps to reduce any unwanted side effects that are common with commercial instant-release thyroid medications. Related Podcast Episode:  PYHP Episode 038 –  Do You Have a Low Free T3 Level?  Check out Dr. Davidson's new book – The Perimenopause Plan Buy the book on Amazon. If you have questions about your thyroid or any other hormone related issue, feel free to contact us. The post Is Armour Thyroid Better Than Levothyroxine? | PYHP 120 appeared first on .

See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ At a get together of friends, I was pulled aside by a good friend who asked me how she could prevent dementia, because the mother she loves is in a memory care facility and she never wants that to be her future!  My answer was brief, but I can now think of so many other things I could have recommended for her, and I thought I would share them with you, and I will give her a copy of the blog that goes along with these suggestions. I read research every day that tells doctors what causes dementia and increases risk of getting dementia at the middle or latter part of life.  When I get to the basis of all the findings in the medical articles, it is detailed as I will discuss, But the basic qualities and problems to treat include INFLAMMATION, ATHEROSCLEROTIC VASCULAR DISEASE, OBESITY, HIGH SUGAR DIET, HIGH BP SMOKING AND ALCOHOL AND POOR DIET. Risk of Dementia Includes the following categories of Modifiable Risk factors:  Low Testosterone and estradiol Chronic inflammation Obesity Diabetes High BP Depression Cigarette/cigar smoking Hearing loss Binge Drinking and excessive alcohol intake Sedentary lifestyle Lack of sunlight High carb diet—sodas, sugar Aging= low sex hormones, poor production of nitric oxide and poor absorption of oral vitamin Bs Chronic injuries and pain that cause chronic inflammation—get that knee or shoulder fixed! Chronic heart disease---arrythmia, atherosclerotic heart disease   Foods to Eat Prevent Dementia Eggs in moderation Cumin Anything with protein Yogurt and other foods (Kambucho) with probiotics and lactobacciluus Clean fresh foods Meats and fish that are fresh or frozen, not preserved, or processed Steamed or fresh vegetables (not canned or processed) Seeds and nuts (raw and roasted without salt preferable) Foods to avoid to prevent dementia: Inflammatory foods and soy products Milk, especially cow's milk. (High carb content) especially skin milk! Soy All phytoestrogens Wheat Food with preservatives (all processed foods have preservatives) Modifiable risk factors        Replace hormones that are missing with bio-identical hormones, non-oral delivery system Estradiol pellets, patches, gels, for women Progesterone for women who miss it or who have a uterus Testosterone pellets, creams, gels Thyroid replacement. Armour Thyroid for women and levothyroxine for men Neurotransmitters by taking probiotics       Suppress LH and FSH –high levels increase risk of dementia and osteoporosis (new study) Take estradiol and testosterone for women—enough to suppress FSH and LH to pre-menopausal levels Replace Testosterone for men Keep Blood Sugar Normal Eat a low sugar and low carb diet— Treat prediabetes with meds Treat diabetes with meds Decease alcohol; intake to 1 4 oz glass of wine a day and < 1.5 oz of alcohol/day Get to ideal weight   Achieve Ideal Weight –Obesity and Overweight Increases Inflammation That Increases Dementia, so Decrease Inflammation             Eat properly--Eat your base caloric intake or less daily Low carb diet Eat ½ X -1 X your body weight in protein daily Drink clear water equivalent to your weight in ounces (you weight 130—drink 130 oz of water a day) No Soda No alcohol until you achieve ideal weight No desserts or baked goods, rice, wheat products until achieve id3al weight Supplements—see below     Exercise Daily Aerobic exercise--for > 40 minutes a day Weight training 3-4 times a week Red Light Therapy especially in the evenings—activate your mitochondria! Directed toward skin for 20 minutes a day Specific red-light therapy –to face or area of pain Natural light in AM Step outside at sunrise or early morning for 15-30 minutes—no sunglasses  Sleep in a dark room with quiet at least 7 hours a night OK to take melatonin at bedtime to sleep      Supplements -Take a multi vitamin every day like Thorne daily Nutrients 2/day + Antioxidants: Vitamins C, A, and E Vitamin D3 Vitamin Bs—Methyl B12, Methyl Folate oral or injections Anti-inflammatory supplements: Aspirin 81 mg/day Milk thistle Curcumin Omega 3 and 6 oils DHA NAC DIM Arteriorisol Minerals: Zinc 30-60/day Magnesium 300-600/day Electrolytes: especially in summer during exercise NUUN supplement Increase Nitric oxide and keep BP less than 140/90 Neo 40 RX Cialis daily 2.5- 5 mg/day Eat beets—lots of them Non-modifiable risk factors: Race (Am Indians and Blacks have a higher risk) Early age of menopause (without hormone replacement) Genetics: HLA-DR15 tissue type, APO-E ¾. And 4/4 Less than high school education Just a word about genetics. We now know that even if you carry genes for dementia, you can modify your genetics…there is hope!  This new concept is called epigenetics, and it shows that the factors we employ above can put certain dementia genes “to sleep” and activate other genes that are going to make you healthier!  We are no longer a puppet of our genes! Genetic Risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), the most prevalent dementia, is partially driven by genetics. To identify LOAD risk loci, we performed a large genome-wide association meta-analysis of clinically diagnosed LOAD (94,437 individuals). We confirm 20 previous LOAD risk loci and identify five new genome-wide loci (IQCK, ACE, ADAM10, ADAMTS1, and WWOX), two of which (ADAM10, ACE) were identified in a recent genome-wide association (GWAS)-by-familial-proxy of Alzheimer's or dementia. Fine-mapping of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region confirms the neurological and immune-mediated disease haplotype HLA-DR15 as a risk factor for LOAD. Pathway analysis implicates immunity, lipid metabolism, tau binding proteins, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism, showing that genetic variants affecting APP and Aβ processing are associated not only with early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease but also with LOAD. Analyses of risk genes and pathways show enrichment for rare variants (P = 1.32 × 10−7), indicating that additional rare variants remain to be identified. We also identify important genetic correlations between LOAD and traits such as family history of dementia and education. If you're a doc you probably understood this abstract from a recent article ..if not.. disregard.

Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode, Chantel got to speak with Lisa Fischer! From an early age at a pre-school in Roselle Park, NJ, to being suspended twice from her high school in southeast Arkansas for various talking infractions, she has always been known for her gift of gab. The serendipitous event of her high school was being named “Most Talkative” which is a title that's since been retired. Well, the school burned down shortly after her younger brother graduated. We are still unsure of any connection. In between cities, she was somehow put into a middle school cafeteria that prohibited talking during the lunch hour. We assume those administrators in Gretna, La., hated children.   Lisa started to realize in college where she emceed the pep rallies at the University of Arkansas and where she was a spokesman for her sorority, the founding chapter of Chi Omega, that her journalism degree could help her use even more words! She graduated with a journalism/public relations/advertising degree, and her goal was to chat it up, whether on TV, radio or in print. For her, she was able to do it all.   Lisa first entered broadcasting as a desk assistant at the ABC affiliate in Little Rock, Ark. That stint lasted less than a year as the station experienced budget cuts, and somehow her merely-more-than-minimum-wage-job was eliminated. That's when a local news/talk radio station asked if she wanted to host her very own radio show. At 23! The answer was yes and hosting an afternoon talk show on an AM station in the 80s when there were no cell phones or internet access which made perfect sense to her to blather about nothing. She also hosted a TV segment on the local NBC affiliate as well as being a part-time entertainment reporter. In the late 80s, she married the love of her life and had three children, and she decided to stay home with her children and leave broadcasting behind (or so she thought) to homeschool her children. That lasted from 1993-2006 when she was asked to fill-in on radio station, B98.5 in Little Rock, for a few days, and she came home with a two-year contract. She retired from morning radio in June 2018.    Lisa is host of the Lisa Fischer Said podcast available wherever you get your podcasts along with a podcast focused on "everything and absolutely nothing at the same time." It's with her longtime friend and designer Larry West Jr. It's called, wait for it, The Lisa and Larry Show. Available where you get your podcasts.   Lisa is in her 36th year as a journalist in Arkansas. She is also a TV pitchman for home improvement clients across the country. She is a book author (more on that another time)/copy editor, a future YouTube sensation and now a certified integrative nutrition health coach as a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Her passion is to help women live healthier lives with fewer medications and more vitality with less body weight, too! She has been successfully intermittent fasting since 2017. Lisa can provide health coaching to you-email healthcoaching@lisafischersaid.com. Plus, you can hire her for any digital project you might have. Drop an email here: lisa@lisafischersaid.com.   Enjoy! 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This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Paleovalley, and InsideTracker.Today, as part of my Masterclass series, I'm answering questions submitted by my community through the new video app, HiHo. I am joined by my good friend and podcast host, Dhru Purohit, to discuss a range of topics including sugar cravings, migraines, acupuncture, chronic pain, and much more. Find a link below to follow me on HiHo and we may select your question for a future episode!Dhru Purohit is a podcast host, serial entrepreneur, and investor in the health and wellness industry. His podcast, The Dhru Purohit Podcast, is a top 50 global health podcast with over 30 million unique downloads. His interviews focus on the inner workings of the brain and the body and feature the brightest minds in wellness, medicine, and mindset.This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Paleovalley, and InsideTracker. Rupa Health is a place where Functional Medicine practitioners can access more than 2,000 specialty lab tests from over 20 labs like DUTCH, Vibrant America, Genova, and Great Plains. You can check out a free, live demo with a Q&A or create an account at RupaHealth.com. Paleovalley is offering my listeners 15% off their entire first order. Just go to paleovalley.com/hyman to check out all their clean Paleo products and take advantage of this deal. InsideTracker is a personalized health and wellness platform like no other. Right now they're offering my community 20% off at insidetracker.com/drhyman. In this episode, we discuss (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):How to tackle candida, mold, and sugar addiction (4:11 / 00:51)Treating migraines and the keto diet (11:33 / 8:16) Which mushrooms to eat and why (18:14 / 14:57) Pea protein powder (21:26 / 18:08) Combining acupuncture and Functional Medicine (28:08 / 22:46) Creating a healthy community (31:16 / 25:54Why doctors don't recommend nutritional solutions (34:19 / 28:58)Armour Thyroid and thyroid health (39:59 / 34:38)Losing those last five pounds (44:39 / 39:18)Living with chronic pain (47:57 / 42:35)Follow me on HiHo here!Mentioned in this episode:The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox DietThe Functional Medicine Approach to Ending MigrainesHow to End Migraines5 Steps to Solve Your MigrainesGalleri Cancer TestThe UltraThyroid Solution See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we review the diagnostic criteria and treatment strategy of hypothyroidism including the controversy surrounding brand versus generic levothyroxine and non-levothyroxine thyroid drugs. Key Concepts The most common cause of hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis - the body attacks the thyroid gland cells. Typically in hypothyroidism, TSH levels will be high and thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) will be normal or low. Levothyroxine is the drug of choice to treat hypothyroidism. Doses should start low (to avoid cardiovascular side effects) and then be titrated up based on TSH levels. All other thyroid hormone formulations (including Thyroid USP, Armour Thyroid, liothyronine, etc.) are NOT recommended for use in hypothyroidism. These are not FDA approved medications and there is no data showing these products are more effective than levothyroxine. Generic formulations of levothyroxine are as effective and safe as brand-name Synthroid®. Although several levothyroxine formulations are AB compatible and can be interchanged by a pharmacist, patients should be maintained on the same formulation whenever possible. References Dong BJ, Hauck WW, Gambertoglio JG, et al. Bioequivalence of generic and brand-name levothyroxine products in the treatment of hypothyroidism. JAMA. 1997;277(15):1205-1213. Rennie D. Thyroid storm. JAMA. 1997;277(15):1238-1243. American Thyroid Association. https://www.thyroid.org/

See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ One of the questions I ask my patients about when they first come in for Estradiol and Testosterone pellet replacement is whether they have trouble remembering names of things and places, or if they have difficulty remembering how to get somewhere or if they are just having difficulty thinking through problems that they haven't had in the past. The reason I ask this to my new patients is primarily to find out if they have symptoms of low testosterone and low estrogen (in women). It is widely known that replacing testosterone in both sexes and replacing T and estradiol in women can improve recall and speed of mental tasks.  If taken in the first 10 years of loss of these two hormones Taking Testosterone plus or minus Estradiol delay the onset of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease.   A new study in Clinical Endocrine News 6/2021 shows that a lack of enough thyroid hormone Can also cause brain fog.  I always treat low thyroid in my patients as well to make sure they become completely hormonally replaced, to improve their symptoms and prevent future disease. Just a little information about the thyroid gland.  The thyroid gland is located in the neck right above the collar bone at the base of the neck. It extends a few inches laterally and is shaped like a butterfly.  When the gland is having difficulty making enough thyroid hormone it enlarges and looks like a thickening of the lower neck or like the neck is getting “fat”.  This is called a “goiter”. The hormones made by the thyroid gland are distributed to every cell in the body and are the primary determinant of how many calories you can burn.  Thyroid hormone stimulates the production of heat in the body and that indicates the burning of calories.  The thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, not only make burning calories and making heat possible, but they also make hair and nails grow, and assist in cell turnover (exchanging new cells for old). Patients with low thyroid may or may not have a goiter, but generally they are very fatigued, and their hair breaks off and falls out, their skin is extremely dry, and they feel cold all the time. The list of all of the symptoms that can occur from low thyroid are below. The following are symptoms of hypothyroidism: Fatigue, loss of energy, lethargy Weight gain Decreased appetite Cold intolerance Dry skin Hair loss Sleepiness Muscle pain, joint pain, weakness in the extremities Depression Emotional lability, mental impairment Forgetfulness, impaired memory, inability to concentrate Constipation Menstrual disturbances, impaired fertility Decreased perspiration Paresthesias = nerve entrapment syndromes Blurred vision Decreased hearing Fullness in the throat, hoarseness Generalized swelling and bloating The treatment for hypothyroidism is relatively easy…patients are given an oral thyroid medicine.  The reason many people are walking around with hypothyroidism is partially the fault of the government and the medical community.  40 years ago, the primary necessary component to make thyroid hormone is Iodine, and we used to supplement our foods like bread with iodine.  This kept many Americans who don't live near the coast (where there is plenty of iodine in the soil and air) supplied with iodine and prevented thyroid disease.  Ever since the government stopped requiring foods to have added iodine, the number of patients with hypothyroidism has rapidly grown and they either don't get treated because the lab numbers are adjusted to cause fewer people get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism even when they need it, or doctors don't follow the method of determining dose of Synthroid. Doctors are trained to give the very lowest dose of thyroid possible and not to check the real thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) but to check the TSH which doesn't tell a doctor the real thyroid hormone level and doesn't parallel the symptoms a patient is experiencing. Back to how thyroid hormones affect the memory and thought process. Many people are evaluated for dementia every day because they have memory problems and difficulty thinking, however their doctors do not evaluate the thyroid hormones when evaluating these patients.  It is well known that low thyroid hormones and low Testosterone can cause problems with mentation, but these hormones are not tested.   The patients who do not have traditional dementia or Alzheimer's disease are told that they don't have those devastating diseases by their neurologist however the cause of the problem is not looked for in the levels of thyroid and testosterone.  Most people live in fear of having Alzheimer's because they can't think anymore but are never treated for the real causes which are hormonal!  Other people are given too little thyroid, which is like not treating them, but doctors act like they are giving a narcotic and must be worried about addiction, when this hormone is necessary for life, and quality of life! One of my hormone patients was the best example of the damage that doctors who are stingy about giving thyroid medication.  Judy, 49-year-old came to me for many symptoms, only a few of which were related to low thyroid, however she was most concerned about her ability to think!  I explained that she had three reasons she couldn't recall names of friends and restaurant or street names. She immediately started to cry, “You mean I'm not crazy and I‘m not imagining my symptoms, and I don't have dementia?”  I have been to 5 doctors asking about my thyroid function because I had a lot of the symptoms and they all told me I was normal, and maybe imagining my symptoms!  My GYN told me he doesn't “believe” in replacing hormones after menopause, so he refused to give me any hormone replacement after my total hysterectomy!  Do you mean I can get better?”   I treated Judy's thyroid deficiency by the weight-based formula= weight in pound/2.2, times 1.75.  That gave me the dose in micrograms of levothyroxine.  Her number was 150 of levothyroxine, however I use Armour Thyroid for women.  The formula to convert the mcgs of levothyroxine to Armour thyroid is 100 mcg= 60 mg of AT.  I wrote her a script for 90 of Armour Thyroid and in 4 weeks her symptoms were gone! This formula is not a secret or hard to find..it is on the insert the pharmacist gives you when you pick up your prescription!  Sadly,most doctors don't know how to prescribe thyroid properly.  The key to adequate thyroid prescribing is when your patient's symptoms are gone, they are usually at the right dose! I also replaced Judy's estradiol and testosterone with pellets which took care of her other menopausal symptoms, and other causes of memory problems.  She is back to normal, thinking clearly, not living in fear of having dementia and happily living her life again. Brain fog can be from any or all of the three hormones estradiol and testosterone in women and testosterone in men, and thyroid in both sexes.  Don't give up.  Find a doctor who will treat your thyroid with enough thyroid and remind them that the dose isn't right if your symptoms of low thyroid aren't gone. There is a multitude of effective and safe treatments that mainstream medicine has not accepted yet, and I hope they change how they view the thyroid and thyroid deficiency. However, our patients are suffering now, and can't wait for mainstream medicine to come to the realization that patients should feel better and have their symptoms treated, it is not just the numbers on a lab sheet that need treatment! It seems to take decades for medical guidelines to catch up with medical research and curative hormone replacement.  “MEDICINE” will not arrive at these answers for years.  Patients can't wait for the leviathan of medical practice figures this out.  Your knowledge should help you negotiate treatment with your doctor, so you can live a full and productive life!

The Case:  Denise has Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism and has been trying to balance her thyroid for years. She tried Synthroid, Levothyoxine and Armour but these left her feeling ‘off'. It seemed impossible to find something that would get her T4, T3 and TSH levels into range and give her ample energy.  I knew that while she was on the right track, we needed a slightly different type of approach to solve her health mystery. When the standard solutions don't work, you might need to go custom.    The Investigation I immediately thought of the work that Jim Hrncir has been doing with compounding thyroid medication. This is something he is incredibly passionate about ever since his own wife had challenges similar to Denise's.  You may recall that Jim was on a previous episode talking about compounding hormones for treating menopause and perimenopause. It's episode 96 if you missed it.    Typical Thyroid Treatment I talk a lot about Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism on this show. When we talk about treating the thyroid, the most common option is Synthroid. Synthroid is levothyroxine sodium which is synthetic levothyroxine. Tirosint is another brand of this same synthetic hormone but with no fillers. Synthroid is mostly prescribed by conventional doctors. While it replaces the T4 that the thyroid is not producing or producing enough of, the body still has to convert that T4 into T3. That's why it's important to test T3 levels to make sure that the T4 you are getting from Synthroid is being converted.  Some people may be under converting which is why they are not getting full resolution of symptoms with T4 only medications.  Going Beyond Synthroid Some patients aren't happy with the synthetic hormone options either because they are looking for a more natural solution or they aren't getting results from the synthetic hormone. This brings them to desiccated thyroid which comes under several brand names including Westhroid, Armour Thyroid, and Nature-Throid. Each option has different additional ingredients beyond the porcine desiccated thyroid and these fillers can sometimes be an issue.  Supply of these options can sometimes be threatened because of supply chain issues and heavy regulations from the FDA.    Sensitivity to Synthroid and other Thyroid Treatments The thyroid plays a very big role in how the body functions so it's important to pay attention to how well it is working by testing all the thyroid hormones - T4 and T3.  It is important to have enough but at the same time, not too much.  Getting too much thyroid hormone poses its own issues which include: Heart palpitations Nervousness  Tachycardia (racing heart) Hot flashes Insomnia Brain fog Feeling wired  Jim points out that before concluding that these issues are related to the thyroid medication, it's important to check thyroid levels and also check for other deficiencies, in particular low iron.    The Compounding Option Compounding thyroid is the practice of combining various thyroid treatments in a custom way. Jim was a pioneer in this field. The process allows for highly customized dosages based on patient and lab test responses to micro-tweaking the dose. This dose then comes in a natural base with no toxic fillers. Also, once the correct custom formula is found, the compound can even be provided in a time release capsule that gives you just the right amount of thyroid, all day long, especially when T3 is involved.    Accessing Compounded Thyroid Medication Jim's pharmacy is in Texas and he only serves his state. There are however 7000+ other compounding pharmacies across the country, but when you look for one in your area,  you want to look for quality. If you are interested in finding a compounding pharmacy that can help you with a custom thyroid solution, Jim suggests you look for a compounding pharmacy that is PCAB (The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board) accredited. Compounding as a practice can have so many advantages as so much customization is available in natural forms. Unfortunately, compounding is under fire right now. Please check out  compounding.com for suggestions on what you can do and how you can support the continued availability of compounded medications.    Mystery Solved It was clear that Denise needed a custom solution to her thyroid issue. Based on the history of her blood work, it seemed that Denise needed both the T4 and T3. It also seemed like she might be reacting to some of the fillers in the commercially available T4. And, the desiccated thyroid she tried left her feeling wired and didn't sufficiently lower her TSH.  When I looked at her labs after she took dessiccated thyroid, I could see that her T3 was high (which would explain the ‘wired' feeling). This made it clear that she needed more T4 and less T3 than the fixed ratio in DTE's and she would benefit from getting the T3 in a time release capsule so that it would be less jarring to her system. For her, compounding was going to be the best option.    Conclusion We worked with her doctor to prescribe a synthetic T3 at a lower dosage and we got it in a time-released form.  She started with 5 mcg which worked well but her T3 was still a bit low. We bumped it up to 10 mcg and that brought her T3 into range and she felt better. Now she was on a combination of Tirosint 75 mcg and 10 mcg of compounded time released synthetic T3 and it is working very well. Happy Ending On a combination of Tirosint 75 mcg and 10 mcg of compounded, time-released synthetic T3 Denise is managing her thyroid levels.  Denise was very happy to have an answer and to be feeling better.  Eliminating Health Mysteries For Denise we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Jim Hrncir. You can learn more about the movement to ensure women continue to have access to compounded bioidentical hormones, visit compounding.com.    Related Podcast Episodes: 096 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Are you Missing this Important Evaluation Method for Thyroid Assessment? Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price of the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. 

See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ BioBalance Health®, Dr. Kathy Maupin and Dr. Rachel Sullivan have a combined total of 42 years of successfully treating hypothyroidism in women and in men.  Because we live in an iodine desert in the Midwest (often called the Goiter Belt), we are confronted with a higher-than-average number of hypothyroid patients in our practice.  Both Dr. Sullivan and I have been diagnosed and treated for hypothyroidism since we were young adults (17, and 23 yearn old). We understand the importance of replacing thyroid hormone at optimal doses and not the lowest possible dose that keeps people alive, like current medical practice dictates.    The pieces of the puzzle that explain why hypothyroidism is currently inadequately treated is hidden in traditional medical practice that should have been discarded years ago.  We train young doctors based on how we were trained years ago whether it makes sense based on current research and information. Initial Dosage: MDs refuse to use the information from the pharmaceutical companies, choosing incorrect information they learned 30 years ago.  For example, the Synthroid and levothyroxine insert in each prescription from the pharmaceutical company list three things that MDs ignore: The initial dose should be based on body weight.  The makers of these medications even give us a formula to follow:   Thyroid dose = Weight in pounds/ 2.2. X 1.7= mcg of levothyroxine or Synthroid®.   After the initial dose the following dose can be adjusted based on symptoms and blood work. I rarely see a patient who has been given a proper dose by their MD PCP, yet DO physicians are taught to begin treatment by following this formula. In either case I adjust the dose based on the blood work and symptom relief.  The blood levels can be affected by time the patient takes her last dose, her other medications, her other diseases, level of activity, and liver metabolism (genetics). Another guideline in the medication inserts from the pharmaceutical company making Levothyroxine and Synthroid state that TSH levels should be suppressed to less than 1.0 if the dose of thyroid is correct. When I use this guideline as one of the determinants to guide my dosage of thyroid replacement, the current MD physicians tell my patients that I don't know what I am doing! Inaccurate Reference Ranges by the big labs (Quest and Labcorp) and followed by the smaller labs. It is impossible to follow blood levels that are not healthy and based on a group of people who are not picked for youth, lack of thyroid disease or even other diseases that affect thyroid diseases, or medications that lower or raise the thyroid level..basically young healthy people is the group we study to obtain a reference range, but Quest and Labcorp do not use scientifically obtained reference ranges.  The reference ranges created by Quest and Labcorp have been dropping with the number of sick people that go to these labs, and the labs use sick, old, and hypothyroid patients to achieve their reference ranges.  They use the thyroid tests done in a year and no matter who the patient is and make a bell curve out of it and adjust the reference ranges? If you use bad numbers, you get inaccurate diagnoses, especially if you ignore the symptoms of your patients. Correct “reference range” numbers come from gathering blood levels scientifically. Scientists use a group of normal young healthy people who are without thyroid disease, or any other disease for that matter. By using the thyroid tests from patients who have a medical problem they are being evaluated for at Quest, is not scientific and should not be used to determine the blood level we are using to represent a healthy thyroid. The reference range that should be used is the normal range from 20 years ago when the “normals” were obtained scientifically, by testing young healthy people without disease.   Diagnosis of thyroid disease based on “bad numbers” is inaccurate and many women are going without thyroid replacement because of it.  As accountants say, “Garbage in, Garbage out!”.  The Reference ranges for thyroid disease that doctors follow without thinking are based on blood levels of sick people getting blood tests at Quest or Labcorp over the course of a year, not blood levels of young healthy people. The reference ranges for these tests that doctors go by to represent normal, these have been the same for the last 45 years since I started practicing medicine. Why does the reference range for thyroid blood levels decrease every year, while the ranges of standard tests have been the same for years?   Patients are not directed to take thyroid medication with water only, on an empty stomach, and to wait to eat or drink for 20 minutes after taking Levothyroxine, Synthroid, or Armour Thyroid. Patients are often handed a script without these instructions, so they often take it with their supplements, or other meds and food or coffee which destroys the thyroid medication. All patients should be told these instructions verbally, and it should be written on their script.    Blood tests are often drawn in the morning right after thyroid medication is taken. which makes the blood level l of T4 and T3 look unusually high. Doctors who don't think about the unusually high blood level of hormones several hours after an oral dose, mistakenly drop the thyroid dose, making patients hypothyroid again. In the care of thyroid, which is taken first thing in the morning, a morning blood draw should be taken before the medication is taken.   Symptoms of hypothyroid patients are often not considered when lowering or raising thyroid dosages. Blood tests obviously don't always represent the true blood level of a patient and are not the only factor to consider when increasing and decreasing dosage. Symptoms of hypothyroidism must always be considered when adjusting thyroid dose. We at BioBalance Health® diagnose and treat our patients based on properly obtained lab when a patient is taking her thyroid medication combined with her symptoms of hypothyroidism, and initial thyroid dose should be based on body weight and a trial of thyroid medication. Other diseases can be caused or worsened by hypothyroidism. These conditions and the lab values that indicate worsening of these diseases are listed below.  When thyroid is replaced appropriately these conditions and blood tests normalize. High total and LDL cholesterol High Triglycerides Heart disease Hypotension Slow pulse Lymphadenopathy Full body swelling Fatigue Therefore, when your doctor tells you to decrease your thyroid dose that we have determined is the right dose for you, you have the facts that defend your current thyroid dose.  This handout gives you a written basis for your argument and you can hand him/her a copy.

See all the Healthcasts at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ The most frequent question asked by my patients, both women and men, the first time they see me is, “Why is my belly getting bigger? I never had a big belly before, and I can't get rid of it!”. My answer is individualized to the patient, but there is one change that occurs as the first trigger of aging and ends in a distended and obese abdomen—Low free testosterone, and high estrone blood levels.   The cause is loss of the production of the “all important hormone” testosterone, from the ovary or testes, and the result is a slower metabolism and gain of fat in the abdomen. But why do we crave a thin waistline?  Having a thin waist is indicative of a youthful body, and youth in general.  It is one of the biggest reasons that we crave, desire, even demand that our bodies revert to a thinner waist to bring back our youth! The aging process takes the thin waist away and deposits fat where we once had a narrow middle! When we turn 40-50, our body changes from a highly metabolic body that was fertile, into a lower, more efficient metabolism that is slowed even more by carbohydrates in the diet. We can bring our metabolism back to normal by one medical intervention and a healthy lifestyle specifically created for postmenopausal women and aging men. No one escapes the aging process and the deposition of belly fat, without replacing testosterone in a non-oral and bio-identical manner. I explain this to every patient and since I know each of my patient's medical histories, family histories, medications, diet and exercise programs, I can target my advice to their individual need. At my office at BioBalance Health® we make a plan to get rid of that belly fat for each of our patients and we measure the about of belly fat that they have by measuring their body composition with an INBODY® machine.   What IS Belly Fat, Really? Let me specify exactly what belly fat really is made of: A portion of an individual's belly fat is from the accumulation of fat inside the abdomen around the intestines, in an organ called the omentum.  This belly form of belly fat is called Visceral fat, which increases a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease, and takes a long time to dissolve this form of belly fat, requiring low carb diet and daily aerobic exercise. This is usually a long-term project (a year). The second type of belly fat, subcutaneous fat, is deposited between your skin and your muscles, most often seen in women who have had pregnancies that stretched their skin and caused the collection of fat under their skin. To lose this type of fat, this fat requires specific abdominal exercises, and or radio wave treatment to melt fat and tighten skin, and sometimes surgery to remove excess skin and liposuction of fat deposits. Generally, this type of fat is the first to respond and decrease when testosterone pellets and lifestyle changes are instituted. The last type of” belly fat” is really intestinal distention from gas collection in the intestines or from constipation, food allergies or intolerances,  diseases like intermittent bowel obstruction after abdominal surgery, or a variety of GI diseases that must be diagnosed and treated by a board certified gastroenterologist. Many people confuse abdominal distention with one of the first two types of fat accumulation.  Bowel distension (or abdominal distention sometimes called bloating is generally a GI mobility problem, or an anatomic defect like an abdominal hernia and may require probiotics, fiber, diet changes like avoiding gluten and milk products, getting a low thyroid treated, treating diabetes or prediabetes, or repair of abdominal wall abnormalities surgically. Abdominal distention can also come from very lax abdominal muscles which require dedicated exercises if they are not severe, and sometimes require surgery if they are greatly lengthened and lax. What causes belly fat to occur as we age?  First it is low testosterone that lowers the metabolism in everyone as they age so you burn fewer calories. Second it is lack of exercise and poor diet. You just get more “efficient” and save your calories and make fat out of them instead of energy. Last is the metabolic changes of aging including Insulin resistance or Pre-diabetes that occur at or right before menopause, and the production of more estrone which is made in belly fat from conversion of testosterone into estrone, which both lowers free testosterone levels and makes more belly fat to make more estrone.  A viscous cycle ensues! The triggers that stimulate the production of belly fat: Pick the ones you have working against you and determine your individual issues that make losing belly fat more difficult. Menopause Low T in men and women Aging causing higher estrone levels Inactivity History of multiple pregnancies with excessive weight gain which left extra skin hanging Poor diet Lack of abdominal wall strength No abdominal exercises Lifestyle, Diet and Habits that cause belly fat. You can assess your personal causes of belly fat on your own, but then you should take the initiative to change your lifestyle to decrease belly fat. The following list include the things you can change to lose belly fat.   Diet High in carbs Diet High in Lectin foods which interfere with carbohydrate metabolism Lack of any exercise Lack of daily targeted abdominal exercise Lack of aerobic exercise Poor posture Sitting all day Over-eating poor quality food (junk or fast food) Intestinal issues like constipation, and irritable bowel from lack of good bowel bacteria. Alcohol consumption Smoking Type 2 Diabetes without medication, or following a low carb diet Alcoholism with liver disease Fatty liver Eating foods that are not compatible with your genetics (blood type). To achieve your goal of a narrow waist and a flat belly, look at the list above and eliminate as many bad habits as possible and foods that you can, and begin an exercise program specifically aimed at working out your abdominal muscles, (Pilates?). A word about Lectins are proteins in most foods and some are harmless but others many interfere with your health and are  considered anti-nutrients that bind to carbs in foods which can cause malnutrition, abdominal pain, GI disease, autoimmune disorders and are in every food. We teach our patients to avoid certain foods with lectins by their blood type. Dr Da Damo MD spent his life researching the foods containing lectins and how they genetically affected people in each blood type. In the future we list foods by blood type that should be eaten and those that should not be based on your genetics. We will dedicate an entire Healthcast to the lectins that are dangerous to your health individualized by your blood type, so you will know what to avoid and what is beneficial for you to eat. Luckily, Lectins can be inactivated by cooking the vegetables, fruits, grains that have lectins! To find the Blood type diets for each blood type look in the back of my book, The Secret Female Hormone®. Sometimes my patients adjust everything they can on their own and still need medical help. All of my patients have their testosterone replaced if they are over 40 and if their thyroid is low, I replace their thyroid back to normal levels. Both of these treatments will make getting a younger smaller abdomen possible. The following list will provide the possible medical imbalances that can stimulate belly fat growth, and that can only be treated by a doctor. Factors that can only be treated by your doctor that have a great impact on the loss of belly fat: Low testosterone—replace T with pellets Low thyroid hormone—replace women with Armour Thyroid and men with Levothyroxin High cortisol—suppress with relaxation and or Endodren supplements Low growth hormone –stimulate production with aerobic exercise and weight training exercise, replace testosterone, and or stimulate GH with a peptide. Insulin resistance/ Pre-diabetes-treat with Metformin ER, Victoza, Trulicity, or Ozempic Overall Inflammation throughout the body-Treat with anti-inflammatory drugs Elevated triglycerides—treat with metformin ER Low protein intake and low protein in the blood: increase, meat, cheese, milk products as well as eggs and ultra-filtered whey protein shakes Inadequate vitamin D intake—take 5,000 MIU per day Inadequate vitamin B intake—increase Methyl B12 + Methyl Folate Decrease Intake of lectins that (not eating right for your blood type) For Severe overwhelming hunger-treat with stimulants to suppress hunger   There are some things that will make your journey harder, but we all have genetic challenges. Our past sometimes makes our current work harder such as genetics for adult-onset diabetes, family history of obesity, a history of childhood inactivity and overeating.  Unchangeable things in our past can cause roadblocks to losing belly fat, but you can still succeed. The following are examples of situations that you may have to overcome to lose your belly fat.  It is not a race with other people, it is a race with yourself! An endomorphic body type (pear-shaped build) which is genetic Obesity as a child Lack of exercise as a child Genetically low testosterone Family history of obesity Genetics that cause you to be hungry all the time Genetics that cause you to never feel full no matter how much you eat Bowel disease that must be treated before your nutrition can be made normal Inherently bad gut biome you are born with limited gut bacteria that causes us to gain weight from early on. Lack of a good sleep cycle because of your normal rhythms, or your job or disturbances throughout the night like kids coming in to sleep with you or getting up multiple times because of a very small bladder or a large prostate. If possible, increase your hours of sleep to at the minimum of 7 hours a night. Follow your progress by measuring your waistline once a week with a tape measure to keep track of your progress. By taking care of our patients and eliminating all the high-risk factors, changing lifestyle and bringing all hormones back to normal young healthy levels, we are very successful at helping our patients lose their belly fat.

See all the Healthcast's at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ There are several types of Hypothyroidism, and Hashimoto's Disease is one of the types I see quite often in private practice. Hashimoto's Disease is an autoimmune disease in which your own immune system attacks your thyroid gland.  Initially Hashimoto's Disease causes overactive thyroid hormone production but soon the inflammation caused by the autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland results in an underactive gland as the thyroid is destroyed by white blood cells. The thyroid gland located in the neck right above the collar bone, often swells from the inflammation and causes what is called a “goiter”. There are many symptoms associated with Hashimoto's Disease that are listed below, and many of them are the same symptoms as seen in all forms of hypothyroidism, but several are unique to Hashimoto's Disease. Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease (Those unique to Hashimoto's Disease are starred*) Weight Gain Hair loss Constipation Low body temperature Slow pulse and low blood pressure High cholesterol Brittle nails Enlarged tongue Fatigue Muscle pain * Joint pain and stiffness* Depression Memory sluggishness Abnormal menstrual cycles Generalized swelling or retention of fluid Hoarse voice from thyroid enlargement Trouble swallowing   The initial cause of Hashimoto's disease is unknown but there are several theories about why some people get this disease.  The theories include a bacterial or viral infection that triggers antibodies to kill the virus or bacteria, but the antibodies get “confused” and attack the thyroid gland as well.  This is the most popular belief about the origin of Hashimoto's thyroid disease. There is a consensus that besides the infection that triggers the attack of antibodies, there is a genetic weakness that sets certain people up to be at risk for getting this disease. Patients who get Hashimoto's also are frequently beset with other autoimmune diseases like Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis. The third risk is radiation exposure to the neck and or chest.  Lastly, trauma to the neck can cause thyroid cells to be damaged and “leak” the contents of the gland resulting in an autoimmune reaction that begins a domino effect that attacks all the thyroid cells. What Happens When a Person has untreated Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease? Not all people go to the doctor when they experience symptoms of low thyroid.  Often healthcare is not available, or they are not insured or afraid of doctors. However, it is important to treat Hashimoto's thyroid disease, or it can cause more severe disease than just hypothyroidism.  These diseases include:   Heart disease cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Depression Poor sexual functioning and Low Libido Myxedema—a severe swelling of the body that results in drowsiness, and finally in unconsciousness. How do we Diagnose Hashimoto's Disease? 1. Blood Tests to diagnose any hypothyroid disease, TSH Free T3 and Free T4 2. Blood Test called TPO Antibody test, which is the enzyme that is generally contained inside the thyroid but is released from the thyroid gland when it is damaged by trauma, radiation or attacked by antibodies that are misdirected when killing a virus. The test we do measures the level of Antibodies that attack the Thyroid Peroxidase Enzymes. Blood tests are the way to measure the level of the antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. We test for TPO antibodies as well as the TSH Thyroid Stimulating hormone, Free T4 one of the thyroid hormones, and Free T3.  By measuring these tests as well as the antibody test, we can both diagnose and measure the success of our treatment. TPO antibodies are specific for Hashimoto's Disease and don't disappear with time but generally stay stable if the disease is adequately treated. What is the Treatment for Hashimoto's Disease? The treatment of Hashimoto's Disease is to replace the missing thyroid hormone with oral thyroid medication. At BioBalance we treat Hashimoto's Disease with Armour Thyroid (pig thyroid) the most natural form of thyroid medication. If that is not affective, we adjust the treatment to another type of thyroid medication (NP Thyroid, Levothyroxine, Synthroid or Tirosant) and adjust the dose until the symptoms of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Disease goes away. It is not enough to give a Hashimoto's patient a pill form of thyroid, but it is important to make sure the pill is absorbed in the stomach and intestine, and to ensure that it can be absorbed by cells all over the body to truly treat Hashimoto's.  In general, we follow blood levels of Free T3 and T4, after a patient has been on thyroid for a few months, but that doesn't always tell us if the thyroid medication is attaching to the receptors and stimulating cells to do the job of a person's normal thyroid. We make sure the Thyroid replacement is being taken properly Absorbed through the intestines. To ensure absorption and the activation of receptors we do several things. First, we make sure our patient is taking her thyroid medication on an empty stomach with only water and waiting for 20 minutes, at the minimum, to eat or drink anything.  She can't take other pills or supplements with it either. Insure the absorption of the thyroid medication through the stomach and intestines Some patients take medication to lower stomach acid which prevents them from dissolving and absorbing some of their oral thyroid medication. Patients taking thyroid require normal stomach acid to absorb their thyroid meds, and a proton pump medication for reflux will make it impossible for a patient to get her medication into her bloodstream.  If it is necessary for my patient to take her Protonix or other drug like it, then our patient must wait 1 hours after taking the thyroid before taking any type of acid reducing medications. If my patient has low stomach acid naturally, I can tell because she usually has trouble eating dense proteins like steak, then she may also have trouble absorbing her thyroid medication.  We advise those patients to take digestive enzymes with the thyroid medication to help them absorb their thyroid medications. If the beneficial gut bacteria is insufficient or abnormal from GI disease like Crohn's disease and or Gastric Bypass, then thyroid medication cannot be absorbed.  We treat our thyroid patients who have intestinal disease with probiotics and a few months of prebiotics to assist in the GI absorption. The last step in the effectiveness of thyroid medicine is to make sure once the medication has been absorbed into the blood from the intestines it must penetrate the cells that require thyroid hormone. The cells with receptors for thyroid hormone require Iodine. In my area of the country, the Midwest, we do not have Iodine in the soil or in the water so the lack of Iodine both affects the production of thyroid hormone for which Iodine is required and the receiving and penetration of thyroid hormone by the cells.  I advise my patients to take 12.5 mg of Iodoral daily to make up for the lack of iodine in our environment. Without it thyroid may get all the way to the bloodstream only to be blocked from cell absorption because of lack of Iodine. Iodine is not contraindicated in Hashimoto's disease when it is given in moderate amounts. Dr. Brownstein has written a book called Iodine, which explains the reason we give Iodine to all our hypothyroid patients, even those with Hashimoto's disease. The choice of thyroid medication is critical to treatment goals I always start women on Armour Thyroid or Nature Thyroid because in my experience during the last 40 years of medical practice, women do better on Armour thyroid than a synthetic like levothyroxine, Synthroid.   Armour Thyroid contains combined thyroid hormone, both T3 and T4, and the Endocrinology Society has finally come to that same conclusion.   Without taking combined thyroid the only lab test that doctors are trained to test is TSH, and it will look normal, even when it is not making the patient better. This fact is because most women cannot make T4 (what is in Synthroid and levothyroxine), into T3 the active form of the hormone, and doesn't make patients with Hashimoto's better. When I rarely take care of men for this problem, I start them on Synthroid, and they do very well because men can convert their T4 (what Synthroid contains) into the active form of Thyroid (T3).  Men respond very well to Synthroid and Levothyroxine and therefore are more effectively treated with what most doctors use. Hashimoto's Disease Thyroid Treatment medical maintenance Once you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease you cannot stop taking your thyroid medication. Iodine will always be necessary as well.   My method of following a Hashimoto's patient includes following their Free T3 and Free T4 as well as TSH, and reverse T 3 in certain circumstances and always a yearly TPO antibodies.  Adjustment of the dose occurs if the labs reveal hyper or hypothyroidism, if the antibodies are increasing, and or if the symptoms of low thyroid come back. If you have Hashimoto's disease you may have other autoimmune diseases or symptoms from the Hashimoto's even if it is sufficiently treated. The most common autoimmune effect of Hashimoto's disease is hair loss from the antibodies killing hair follicles.  In this case we ask our patients to see a dermatologist to prevent future hair loss and we optimize the dose of thyroid and Iodoral as well. To our patients: Remember, if your symptoms are not improving on the thyroid medication or dose, you are on for Hashimoto's Disease, you should find a doctor who will manage your thyroid to help you feel normal and ask you if your symptoms are better rather than just looking at the lab values.

See all the Healthcast's at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/   I will give your PCP the benefit of the doubt that he or she doesn't know anything about hormones, but that does not excuse him/her from trying to persuade you to stop a treatment that obviously helps you and has brought you back to life! Here are some questions that are brought about by visits to the PCP when they start attempting to scare you into stopping your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with pellets or your natural thyroid medication (Armour Thyroid).   Is my thyroid being over treated? My PCP says my TSH level is too low: No, your thyroid is not overtreated if your free T3 is between. 3.0 and 4.5 and your TSH is between 1-2.5.  Dr. Maupin has had hypothyroidism since she was 22 and she is an expert on thyroid replacement. Her daughter Dr. Sullivan has been on Armour Thyroid since she was 16.  They are treating you with the most bio-identical thyroid possible to normalize your free T3 and Free T4 thyroid hormones.  These two thyroids are the active thyroid hormones that enter your cells and turn on your metabolism.  TSH is just a stimulating hormone from the pituitary that stimulates the thyroid to make T3 and T4.  Looking at these two hormones tells BioBalance doctors and NPs if your body is getting enough thyroid.  Thyroid hormone is vital to life and to have it in the proper range is extremely important! We don't follow your TSH because it is not indicative of the amount of thyroid hormone you have circulating and does not parallel your symptoms.  TSH is only useful for diagnosing hypothyroidism but not for following how successful treatment is.  When you take thyroid successfully your TSH decreases to below 1.0.  That is a sign that you have enough thyroid hormone, the suppression (lowering) of the stimulating hormone TSH. Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Maupin both have been successfully treated for their hypothyroidism and know that resolution of symptoms of low thyroid is as important as the lab numbers.  Ask yourself do you feel better when our doctors and NPs are managing your thyroid or when your PCP is? If we have wiped away your symptoms, and they don't, then which one of us is right? Do I really need all of these supplements? We prescribe supplements for many reasons. Each supplement is prescribed for your individual problem.  We give you a list of the supplements you should take and give you the reason we are prescribing each one.  We often use supplements instead of prescription medications because they have fewer side effects, and they quickly supplement our inadequate diets or give us back what our lifestyle or medications take away. Supplements are prescribed for you to add to the value of the food you eat, to protect you from cancer, treat anxiety, protect you from some medications (Statins use up CoQ 10, and supplementation gives the nutrient COQ 10 back to you to rescue you from abnormal liver function). We only prescribe supplements that treat specific individual deficiencies that you have because of your diet, Medications, genetics and or your medications.  PLEASE TAKE THEM! Other than spironolactone, prostate complex and dermaplane, and laser hair removal... what can I do about my facial hair? The only rule is don't shave!  Shaving makes it worse thicker and creates stubble. White and light hair can't be successfully lasered, but dark hair can be painlessly lasered.  Hair must be darker than your skin for an Alma laser to remove it. It is a painless process.  It must be done every 6 weeks when hair goes into another growth cycle, for 4-6 treatments. For facial hair, waxing, using an epilator and plucking are the most successful hair removal of light hair.  Dark hair is removed best with the hair removal laser—it is NOT painful and is effective. We give spironolactone to every patient to prevent facial hair and acne! These methods are only necessary when a patient can't take spironolactone for some reason or if they have particularly dense hair. Is my hair falling out because my testosterone is too high? That is what my PCP says. The most likely cause of hair loss is low thyroid, followed closely by medications, poor protein intake, familial genetic hair thinning. If hair is thinning only in the frontal area it is due to low estradiol.  If it is thinning all over the head it may be an anesthesia side effect, or high cortisol, low thyroid, lack of protein and vitamins in the diet or a side effect of many medications. Only hair loss restricted to the temples and crown in women can be from high DHT, a byproduct of testosterone. (Please see my book The Secret Female Hormone). Remember to speak up to educate your doctor, and if he or she doesn't listen or back down from dissuading you from taking your pellet hormone therapy, then vote with your feet and find another doctor. Another option is to say, I will continue to be your patient on the agreement that we won't talk about hormones or thyroid again, and you will not order testing of these hormones.  I get tested by my hormone specialist.

See all the Healthcast's at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ I have had hypothyroidism since I was 23, so I have had an interest in the thyroid gland, how it works and what treatments work and which ones don't for my entire adult life.  In medical school in the 70s I was told that the thyroid was easy to diagnose, all you had to do was draw one test, the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and if the TSH was high, the thyroid was underactive, and if it was high the thyroid was overactive. Like many medical myths, this myth has been repeated to all medical students for the last 50 years without question, and subsequently millions of women have been under-treated or left untreated secondary to this Medical Lie repeated in every medical school. The information I reveal in this Healthcast will support the above allegations by way of my 40 years of experience as a physician, 50 years as a hypothyroid patient and the new book Lies My Doctor Told Me, by a physician named Dr. Berry, who uncovers all the outdated and untrue misinformation doctors were taught in medical school and residency.  His book confirms what I have been telling patients, contrary to common medical practice, for over 40 years. He quotes and recommends my book, The Secret Female Hormone, to his readers because my book uncovers the lies about what hormones women need and don't need at menopause.  Today I would like to base our discussion on the information in both of our books and support the true information with my medical experience. I hope you learn several things about one of the most important glands in your body, the Thyroid: Thyroid function is complicated and the most direct blood tests are the free T4 and free T3. These two tests are not infallible, but they generally parallel a patient's symptoms. Free T3 and Free T4 are repeatable which means the test is consistent. However, resolution of hypothyroid symptoms is the best sign that your thyroid is working properly. Following the TSH alone is absolutely the worst way to manage your thyroid! Thyroid disease predominantly attacks women and therefore is not a priority for medical doctors (DO Doctors of Osteopathy are trained with less sexual inequity than MDs) as most women's diseases are considered second class, because MDs still instruct their doctors that women are all crazy and that women are always looking for a way to lose weight without effort. These false negative generalizations remain as an undercurrent in medical education even though women are finally almost 50% of the medical school classes. For example, doctors often tell women they are imagining their symptoms if they are still hypothyroid when the doctor has given them inadequate doses of thyroid replacement medicines. Thyroid replacement must be taken in a specific way to be effective (alone on an empty stomach) and absorption in the intestines require good gut bacteria, adequate iodine, adequate sex hormones and normal cortisol to be completely effective. Endocrinologists are not your best choice in doctors to manage your thyroid. They are the specialty in charge of the thyroid, but their management hasn't changed in 50 years. Endocrine Society does the research that confirms and publishes articles that use multiple tests including free T3 and free T4, plus positive hypothyroid symptoms to diagnose hypothyroidism. Endocrine journals teach the opposite:  they tell their doctors that the non-specialist order too many tests and criticizing the use of Armour Thyroid® the best replacement for women. Endocrinologists dismiss most female patients with true thyroid disease if their TSH is normal.  My advice is to find a doctor who listens to and reviews your hypothyroid symptoms as well as your lab work including free T3 and free T4 tests. The best thyroid replacement is determined by your gender. Women respond better to Armour Thyroid® (pig thyroid) than Synthroid® or levothyroxine (generic Synthroid). Men respond better to the two synthetic thyroids, Synthroid® and levothyroxine better than natural thyroids.   The thyroid gland is located in the lower third of the neck just above the collar bone. It is shaped like a large butterfly. If healthy, it isn't obvious when looking at someone except if it is abnormal and swollen which is what we call a goiter.  The thyroid gland is essential to life and affects every cell in the body regulating cellular and physiologic rate of metabolism and burning of calories. When the thyroid gland is underactive it causes severe fatigue, weight gain, swelling throughout the body, memory loss, hair loss, dry skin, goiter, lack of the outer third of eyebrows, constipation, feels cold all the time when everyone else is comfortable, and memory loss and confusion.  If the thyroid is not working at all it causes a condition called myxedema which results in severe swelling, confusion, and coma.  The thyroid gland is the most important gland to human life.   How the thyroid gland works is complicated.  The pituitary gland in your brain is the quarterback making “calls” to the glands to stimulate all of the endocrine glands in the body.  The pituitary gland produces TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which stimulates the thyroid gland to make T3 and T4.  There are 4 types of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland, but the most important and plentiful are T3 and T4. These hormones produced by the thyroid gland enter the blood stream and travel to every cell, attach to thyroid receptors on cells, and turn the cells on to burn calories and make energy. T3 and T4 are made from one amino acid (a piece of a protein), called Tyrosine, and three or four Iodine molecules, so the intake of iodine is vital to the normal production of thyroid hormone.  Each cell also requires ample iodine to facilitate the cell's receptor sites to bind and accept the thyroid hormone which stimulates the activity of the many types of cells to activate the production of heat and use of glucose.  Deficient iodine in the diet is one of the reasons thyroid's fail.  When the thyroid is deficient, the TSH increases to stimulate the thyroid gland to make more T4 and T3, but the TSH is not a very accurate or specific test to determine the activity of the thyroid gland.  The actual T3 and T4 are much more accurate as long as you test the “free” T3 and T4, which is the active portion of both thyroid hormones. Measuring the free T3 and free T4 are the obvious ways to test the thyroid, I believe it is the initial however 40 years ago it took weeks to get these tests back, and they were very expensive. I believe it was because of the difficulty running the lab tests for free T3 and T4 in the 70s led to the belief that one test was all you need. This made sense then but not now when. I think of ordering TSH like looking in a mirror instead of looking directly at a person.  Now the Free T3 and Free T4 as well as TSH are done by a multi-test machine and are quite affordable.  There is no reason to continue the outdated method of diagnosing and managing thyroid with a mere TSH test anymore. However, endocrinologists (the “kings” of non-sex hormones) still teach this outdated method from the dark ages (the 60s and 70s). They generally don't talk to patients about how they feel and their remaining symptoms because it doesn't change their treatment plan. They draw only a TSH, while ignoring physical signs (dry skin, goiter, brittle nails, hair loss, swelling, loss of outer eyebrows), symptoms of hypothyroidism (fatigue, constipation, brittle nails, hair loss, depression, poor motivation, slow pulse, low blood pressure causing fainting when patients stand up, and many others. The obvious blood tests like free T3, Free T4, as well as high lipids (LDL cholesterol and triglycerides) when you have low hypothyroidism, iodine, and thyroid antibodies which can be elevated in the case of autoimmune hypothyroidism like Grave's disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Dr Berry in his book Lies My Doctor Told Me calls the use of only TSH as the “Lie” in the face of new information, more accurate testing and more complete examination. Primary care doctors should complete a symptom history, as well as take BP, pulse and Temperature, all of which in the case of hypothyroidism are low.  Many research papers have been published since the 70s which tout the benefit of modern testing to diagnose and maintain patients on thyroid supplementation. It doesn't seem to be changing anything in the practice of endocrinology. It almost seems that doctors of endocrinology have closed their minds after medical school and refuse to change how they practice in the face of solid evidence.  They are clearly angry when one of my patients sees them after I have diagnosed and treated them, and they are better!  I have treated hundreds, thousands of women in my years of OBGYN practice and now replacing postmenopausal hormones with estradiol and testosterone pellets along with their thyroids.   Diagnosis and treatment for hypothyroidism for physicians is relatively simple: Take an inventory of a patient's hypothyroidism symptoms, Ask about or test pulse, blood pressure and basal body temperature Draw Blood tests for free T3, free T4, TSH, iodine when necessary, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, Cardiac CRP and fasting lipids to diagnose hypothyroidism and determine the cause (low iodine, autoimmune thyroid disease, trauma, or unknown) and then treat the patient with the most effective thyroid replacement for their gender based on body weight.   To manage established hypothyroid patients who are on thyroid replacement, lab should include free T3, free T4, and TSH.   If blood is drawn in the am, no thyroid should be taken before the blood draw, skewing the results to high levels. When a patient is on thyroid replacement the TSH should be below 1. If it is over 1.0, then the patient isn't taking a high enough thyroid medication dose, or they are failing to absorb the medications. The If a patient's lab looks fairly normal, free T3 (3-4.5). and free T4 (1-2.5) with a TSH below 1, but their symptoms, signs or vital signs are still unchanged or only slightly changed the patient may be resistant to the medication, may be lacking iodine, or may have malabsorption in the intestines.  Endocrinologists stop increasing dosage when the TSH is below 4.5 the normal for patients not on thyroid, no matter how the patient feels.   There is yet another problem with receiving a valid diagnosis of hypothyroidism.  The thyroid lab tests have been lowering ever since the beginning of the last decade.  When I noticed that the range for women's thyroid free hormones free t3 and free t4 were decreasing every year, I talked to two of the large labs in our area, Labcorp and Quest.  They had no answer for me. It wasn't until this year (2021) that I discovered how they determine the reference range, which is the “ideal range” of free T3 and Free T4. The labs have changed from the expensive process of testing young healthy women who have no symptoms of hypothyroidism and normal vital signs, to the short cut of using all the results they obtain from all the patients who get their blood drawn in their lab.  This isn't statistically valid because most of the patients getting thyroids tested are sick or have pre-existing diseases that alter the thyroid level. , That is shocking to me and of course the blood levels of ill patient are lower than they should be because when you are sick your thyroid conserves energy by shutting down and becoming hypothyroid during the illness.  My answer to using this abnormal sample of patients to determine desirable thyroid levels I go by the levels of free T3 and Free T4 that were reported by the labs over a decade ago, those listed three paragraphs above. My patients are so grateful that I have diagnosed and treated their lifelong symptoms and fatigue as well as depression and obesity.  Many had already developed other diseases because of their thyroid not being replaced, and diagnosis delayed, but they are still grateful that I cared enough to ask about their symptoms and vital signs. Medical doctors should make a diagnose based on the interview with the patient and obvious physical signs of disease (LIKE GOITER) 90% of the time, and lab work and physical exam the other 10%. Somewhere in the last 50 years we have lost the art of communication in medicine and most doctors have shut their minds off to new information after they left medical school. I am not proud of the disintegration of my profession, but I do wish we would choose inquisitive and creative people to be doctors with good communication and assessment skills in the future, which would greatly improve the profession. 

Welcome to Regenerate You™, I’m Dr. Nirvana!If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimioto's, then most likely you've been prescribed thyroid medication. The two commonly prescribed versions most people are given is Armour or NP Thyroid. But what's the difference between the two?Armour Thyroid is the brand name for desiccated thyroid extract, made of dried and powdered thyroid glands, usually from pigs. It contains a mix of both T4 (around 80%) and T3 (around 20%). Other brand names include:Nature-ThroidWP Thyroid (previously known as Westhroid-P)NP ThyroidOn this episode I wanted to discuss the specific differences between Armour Thyroid itself and the brand NP Thyroid.If you’re looking for additional advice, feel free to visit my blog here. You can also stay connected with me on my Facebook page @DrNirvanaHeals or on my Instagram @DrNirvana.And remember, when you regenerate, there's a new you every day!

Dr. Ray Peat, Ph.D Renowned Nutritional Counselor “Hello Patrick from Melbourne Australia, Just a quick message to say thank you and to let you know that I enjoyed your show with Dr Ray Peat immensely. He has so much knowledge across a broad spectrum of topics. Thank you so much for bringing him on and for doing what you do!!! I hope to hear more of Dr Peat in your future shows.” “I just want to tell you how much I enjoy your recent interviews with Dr Ray Peat. I am thrilled waiting for the next one. I have known his work for quite some time, but it is so refreshing to listen to your shows. I hope you will carry on with cooperation. Dr Peat has endless knowledge to share and each time I listen to him I find something new and eye-opening. His knowledge and perspective are absolutely unique. In the world of keto, low carb nonsense, sugar hate and corrupted science, he is the last voice of honesty and sanity.” Best regards Ania from Poland Ray Peat acquired his PhD from the University of Oregon with a specialization in physiology. He started his work on hormones in 1968 and wrote his dissertation in 1972 in which he outlined his ideas on progesterone and the hormones closely related to it. His main thesis is that energy and structure are interdependent at every level. Please consider signing up to Dr. Peat’s terrific newsletter. Comes out every other month at an incredibly low cost..email Dr. Peat here Show highlights: Our cells incorporate DNA from the foods we eat What does it really mean to “catch a cold”? Why some faith healers are effective The health benefits of freedom and play How does Dr. Peat feel about supplements made in the lab; Dr. Peat shares a story of vitamin C and poison oak; some lab supplements cause allergic reactions Dr. Peat’s thoughts on Covid and the testing of it Do we have too much iron in our body? Women start accumulating iron after menopause Where do we get all the iron? Too much meat can contribute to high iron Is taking water from a copper vessel beneficial? Question from a listener: My husband’s basal temperature is quite low 96.5 and never gets to normal throughout the day and his heart rate was 57. He is 68 years old. He wants to try one of the thyroid supplements hoping to boost his thyroid. Do you think this could work or should he get on something like Armour Thyroid or something else? Question from a listener: I mix: 1 tsp of potassium chloride 1/2 tsp sodium chloride (Redmond’s salt)1 tsp baking soda 1/2 Epsom salts 1 quart of water I drink this throughout the day and 2 quarts on the days that I fast for weightless and detox. Can Dr. Peat talk about the pros and cons of this concoction? Question from a listener: Dr Peat..could you repeat what you said about HYDROXL please? I was wondering if it’s a by product of vitamin c. You said it is very good for something. I can’t help but notice it is the first part of the anti-malaria drug being touted by many doctors (hydroxychlorine). Question from a listener: I’m enjoying the show. I really appreciate you and your guest. Loss of the sense of taste and smell has come up a lot as a unique symptom that people are experiencing, does Dr Peat have ideas on what could be causing this?

See all the Healthcast at https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ Physical Signs of Hypothyroidism:  What a doctor or YOU can see or feel on your body: Low Pulse and Low Blood pressure Basal Body Temperature below 98 (your oral temperature taken before you get out of bed in the morning). No sweating when you exercise or are in hot weather Swelling all over the body Brittle nails Loss of, or thinning body hair Hair problems: poor quality brittle hair, thinning all over the head, slow hair growth and constant shedding Weight Gain when you eat normally Swelling, and puffiness around the eyes Distended and bloated abdomen Goiter or swelling in the neck Extremely dry skin, may look like cobblestones Loss of the lateral Eyebrows (the outer third of the eyebrows) Heart arrythmias and palpitations Cold hands and feet If you have 3 or more of these signs you should be evaluated for hypothyroidism. There are high risk factors that should alert you and your doctor that you are high risk to get Hypothyroidism: Being female Aging over 50 Living in the Midwest Family history of Hypothyroidism Family history of Hyperthyroidism, Graves Disease and Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Allergy to Iodine Poor diet, lack of vitamin A, vitamin D, Lack of Iodine and Zinc. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease already Diagnosed with Depression Drink fluorinated water  If the patient is a woman, she is eight times more likely to have hypothyroidism than a man, and if she lives in the northern Midwestern US, the Goiter Belt, she has a very high risk of the hypothyroid epidemic that affects most women in that area. This high rate is the result of a lack of iodine in the ground and water sourced in the Midwest that causes hypothyroidism. Overall, hypothyroidism causes the human metabolism to slow to a standstill. And slow the production of energy in the cells, and store that energy as fat. Low thyroid slows growth hormone, which thins the hair and makes it frizzy and fall out in large amounts. Thyroid hormone is meant to keep the body temperature between 98 and 98.6 by stoking the metabolic fire and keeping the body warm enough for enzymes to work, and cells to work as well. We are “warm blooded” for a reason and “warmth” is accomplished by thyroid hormones effect on each cell in our body.   When we have hypothyroidism from inability to  secrete enough thyroid hormone, or if we aren't given enough thyroid replacement our body's enzymes and chemical reactions slow down and stop, causing us to gain weight, feel fatigues and sick. Thyroid is the thermostat and our cells including muscles and other organs make energy out of our food. Thyroid hormones also stimulate the intestines to work  and absorb the food that gives us energy.  Without thyroid our intestines come to a standstill and we are constipated!  I contend that the great number of drugs on the market to help constipation would be unnecessary, if every person had enough thyroid hormone and iodine to make their gut work! Fatigue can take many shapes, but hypothyroidism causes a patient to have the  feeling of exhaustion that stems from malfunction of the smallest cells throughout the body that cannot turn blood sugar into energy.  Lake of thyroid makes organs made of those cells slow down to a virtual stop.  It is in that way that the effect of inadequate  thyroid hormone on the cellular level, makes the whole mechanism of the human body slow to a virtual stop, and we “feel” exhausted.  This is terrible for the human body and we cannot live well  without adequate thyroid hormone. Depressed mood is a very common diagnosis in the US ad often the depressed mood comes from low levels of thyroid, testosterone and or estrogen (in women).  Anti-depressants don't generally completely cure depression in these cases because anti-depressants don't fix low thyroid. Inability to think and concentrate is common in 39% of patients with untreated hypothyroidism.  Before worrying about having a degenerative disease or “getting old” get your thyroid checked and replace the thyroid with an appropriate amount of thyroid hormone. I have treated many infertile patients with thyroid replacement  in my GYN practice for the first 29 years of my medical practice, and it was unbelievably effective!   Normal thyroid is necessary to get pregnant, and infertility doctors rarely look at this very common cause of infertility, when it is very common. The Bottom Line:   If you have 3 or more of the symptoms described above then have your thyroid checked with at least 5 different tests: Free T4, Free T3, TSH, and reverse T 3.  If your Free T4 is less than 1.0, your free T3 is less than or equal to 3,0 and your reverse T3 is greater than 20 then you probably have hypothyroidism. You should first take Iodoral 12.5 mg per day with a pinch of salt and find a doctor who will replace your thyroid and listen to your symptoms.  Once you are treated then you should find a doctor to increase your dose to the point where all of your symptoms are gone, your lab tests are normal and your basal body temperature is 97.9 degrees F, or greater. Type of Thyroid Replacement Medication: Women do much better with a combination of T3 + T4 thyroid replacement called porcine thyroid, or Armour Thyroid, Naturethroid, or WP thyroid.  Men are fine on the synthetic thyroid, Synthroid, or levothyroxine  most of the time Post replacement thyroid testing: After replacement with thyroid, your blood tests should be drawn, on an empty stomach before you take your morning thyroid,  and your TSH should be 1.0 or less, your free T3 should be 3.0 or more, and your Free T4 should be 1-2.0.  If it is lower,  you need more thyroid hormone or a different kind. Dosage Adjustments of Thyroid hormone replacement changes: In winter your need an increase in your dose to keep your warm!  The dosage should decrease when the weather gets warm.  Altitude requires more thyroid hormone replacement, so an increase in dose when you are in the mountains during any season. Supplements that assist your body in metabolizing thyroid hormone: Iodoral: 12.5 mg per am with food and a pinch of salt Magnesium Glycinate 200-400 mg per day to prevent palpitations Vitamin A 20,000 iu/day Vitamin C 500-1000/day Vitamin D 2000-5,000/day Vitamin E 400 mg/day Goal of Therapy: I think that symptoms are the most reliable measure of how adequate your thyroid dose is.  If your symptoms are gone and you have no side effects like anxiety or palpitations, then your dose should not be lowered.  Lack of symptoms is a sign of success, not a reason to decrease your dose and make you sick again!

Marisa's Question:  Dr. Davidson and Dr. Maki,   I truly appreciate what you are doing to share your information with the public!! You are helping many people learn more about their body!!      I wasn't sure the best place to ask this question or where you may answer it, but I found your podcast after I have been digging into how to repair adrenals.  I was elated once I found your Podcast #69 Adrenals affecting sleep. The Ghost, defined me to a tee and I wanted to learn more on how to get better from my symptoms you so clearly described.   My main concern is that I wake up almost every night at 2:00 – 4:00 am and my neck is tight and my heart is beating a little heavier.  If I focus on breathing, I can go back to bed shortly thereafter, but some nights it does take a little longer.  I may wake up another time or 2 after that as well.  Is this hormonal or adrenals?   All my hormone levels are low, except for progesterone is healthy (169.)  I have taken the ZRT test with almost normal cortisol levels.  TSH is too high at 5.3, free T3 – 3.2, and free T4 – 1.2.  I take Armour Thyroid at 60mg.   Vit D is 60. I am 44 years old female. My blood sugar is typically in the 80's on my morning reading when I check it on a glucometer.   I eat mainly vegetables and focus on all food groups.  I have been focused on adrenals for the past 2 months and have been sleeping at 930pm and sleep for about 8 hours.   I do exercise every other day, but take it easy to not wipe myself out.  Body weights and walking.     Pharma Gaba/L'theanine has helped me get back to sleep, but not from waking up. I also take Ashwaghanda and practice meditation and breathing exercises. Again, any guidance on what to look at is appreciated.  All the tips you mentioned for how to help on the podcast I have alr

Heidi's Question:  Hi, I'm a 48 year old female who has struggled with PCOS my whole life. I've taken 200 milligrams of oral progesterone for several years now. I also take 45 milligrams of Armour Thyroid, and my TSH is 3.87, and my free T3 is 3.22. I've had symptoms of: hair loss, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, very low sex drive, and irritability. I just had a saliva test done which revealed very low estradiol levels, and low DHEA along with borderline low testosterone. The practitioner I have, put me on sublingual drops with a dosage of 80/20 ratio of biased being– which is interesting, .8 milligrams of an 80/20 bias, .8 milligrams of testosterone, 25 milligrams of oral DHEA and kept me on my 200 milligrams of oral progesterone. My question is, is this a safe way to administer my Biest and testosterone? Do you agree with the dosing amounts? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you for your time, Heidi. Short Answer:  We do not like the idea of taking Biest and testosterone orally. Taking BHRT in a sublingual form is ok because the intention is to avoid the digestive tract and liver. However, for Estrogen and Testosterone, we prefer to use a transdermal cream instead. Also, in this case, the dosing is too low. Her Biest needs to be gradually increased, but with caution in order to prevent any bleeding or spotting. PYHP 081 Full Transcript: Download PYHP 081 Transcript Dr. Maki: Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us for another episode of the Progress your Health Podcast, I'm Dr. Maki. Dr. Davidson: I'm Dr. Davidson.  Dr. Maki: So, we're going to dive right back in. We have another listener question. Actually, this is a reader question from a post on our website. What is bias? This is from Heidi. Dr. Davidson, why don't you go ahead and give it a read. Dr. Davidson: Oh, sure. Sure. So, this is from Heidi. “Hi, I'm a 48 year old female who has struggled with PCOS my whole life. I've taken 200 milligrams of oral progesterone for several years now. I also take 45 milligrams of Armour Thyroid, and my TSH is 3.87, and my free T3 is 3.22. I've had symptoms of: hair loss, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, very low sex drive and irritability. I just had a saliva test done which revealed very low estradiol levels, and low DHEA along with borderline low testosterone. The practitioner I have, put me on sublingual drops with a dosage of 80/20 ratio of biased being– which is interesting, .8 milligrams of an 80/20 bias, .8 milligrams of testosterone, 25 milligrams of oral DHEA and kept me on my 200 milligrams of oral progesterone. My question is, is this a safe way to administer my Biest and testosterone? Do you agree with the dosing amounts? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you for your time, Heidi.” Dr. Maki: So, yes, there's a lot to dissect there. This is– and I actually responded to her on the website. I asked her a question, is her progesterone, is it Prometrium or is it bioidentical progesterone? She came back to say that it was actually 200 milligrams of Prometrium. She had asked why we don't– because in my response to h

Heidi’s Question: Hi, I’m a 48 year old female who has struggled with PCOS my whole life. I’ve taken 200 milligrams of oral progesterone for several years now. I also take 45 milligrams of Armour Thyroid, and my TSH is 3.87, and my free T3 is 3.22. I’ve had symptoms of: hair loss, dry eyes, […] The post What is a Usual Dose of Bioidentical Hormones? | PYHP 081 appeared first on Progress Your Health.

Talk to a Dr. Berg Keto Consultant today and get the help you need on your journey (free consultation). Call 1-540-299-1557 with your questions about Keto, Intermittent Fasting or the use of Dr. Berg products. Consultants are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 9 pm EST. Saturday & Sunday 9 am to 5 pm EST. USA Only. Join my FREE 30-Day Low-Carb, No-Cheat Challenge Here! http://bit.ly/30-DayKetoChallenge Take the Free Keto Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/2Cpb03l Download Keto Essentials https://m.me/drericberg?ref=w2128577 Take Dr. Berg's Advanced Evaluation Quiz: http://bit.ly/EvalQuiz Your report will then be sent via email analyzing 104 potential symptoms giving you a much deeper insight into your body issues. It's free and very enlightening. Hypothyroid: http://bit.ly/2VtFo7V Natural Desiccated Thyroid: http://bit.ly/2TfCHUq In this podcast, we're going to talk about Armour Thyroid and Synthroid. What is the main difference between them, and is Armour Thyroid better than Synthroid? Synthroid Synthroid is a synthetic thyroid hormone—T4. T4 has to be converted into T3 to be active. Another name for T4 is levothyroid or levothyroxine. • It takes 4 weeks to start making changes. • If you're not converting T4 to T3, Synthroid is not going to work. Armour Thyroid This is a natural extract from a pig's thyroid. • It contains T4, T3, and calcitonin (an important thyroid hormone). • It takes 2 weeks to start making changes. Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio: Dr. Berg, 51 years of age is a chiropractor who specializes in weight loss through nutritional & natural methods. His private practice is located in Alexandria, Virginia. His clients include senior officials in the U.S. government & the Justice Department, ambassadors, medical doctors, high-level executives of prominent corporations, scientists, engineers, professors, and other clients from all walks of life. He is the author of The 7 Principles of Fat Burning. FACEBOOK: fb.me/DrEricBerg?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Anchor TWITTER: http://twitter.com/DrBergDC?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=Daily%20Post YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/drericberg123?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Anchor DR. BERG'S SHOP: https://shop.drberg.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Anchor MESSENGER: https://www.messenger.com/t/drericberg?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Anchor DR. BERG'S VIDEO BLOG: https://www.drberg.com/blog?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Anchor

In today's podcast Dr.Martin answers the questions that were sent in by our listeners! Today's questions include... What is the best collagen to take? Why can't I lose weight after a hysterectomy? Is honey better than sugar? Can you overdose on B12? Why do I crave carbs? Is taking Armour Thyroid ok? Can phlegm in my throat be Acid Reflux? What can I do for lack of stamina, no motivation and depression? Is it harmful to take too much magnesium? Tune in to hear the answers!

Talk to a Dr. Berg Keto Consultant today and get the help you need on your journey (free consultation). Call 1-540-299-1557 with your questions about Keto, Intermittent Fasting, or the use of Dr. Berg products. Consultants are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 9 pm EST. Saturday & Sunday 9 am to 5 pm EST. USA Only. Take Dr. Berg's Free Keto Mini-Course! Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti... You may also want to research Armour Thyroid. In this podcast, someone had a question related to not having a thyroid and wanted my opinion on if there are long-term thyroidectomy complications. I also go over calcitonin and the importance of this hormone when you have your thyroid removed. Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio: Dr. Berg, 51 years of age is a chiropractor who specializes in weight loss through nutritional & natural methods. His private practice is located in Alexandria, Virginia. His clients include senior officials in the U.S. government & the Justice Department, ambassadors, medical doctors, high-level executives of prominent corporations, scientists, engineers, professors, and other clients from all walks of life. He is the author of The 7 Principles of Fat Burning. FACEBOOK: fb.me/DrEricBerg?utm_source=Podcast TWITTER: http://twitter.com/DrBergDC?utm_source=Podcast YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/drericberg123?utm_source=Podcast DR. BERG'S SHOP: https://shop.drberg.com/?utm_source=Podcast MESSENGER: https://www.messenger.com/t/drericberg?utm_source=Podcast DR. BERG'S VIDEO BLOG: https://www.drberg.com/blog?utm_source=Podcast

Can levothyroxine cause weight gain? The answer may surprise you and it is a definite yes. By the way, this information all applies to SYNTHROID as well. So whether you are taking Synthroid or levothyroxine, both medications can lead to weight gain. How can a medication which is designed to improve thyroid function ultimately lead to weight gain? The answer has to do with how this medication is metabolized and utilized in your body. Levothyroxine and Synthroid contain the hormone known as T4 or thyroxine. Doctors give this medication to replace a sluggish thyroid hormone and assume that it will do this job without any issue. The problem is that T4 is NOT active and in order to be activated must go through a second step known as thyroid conversion. This conversion process produces another hormone known as T3. But the body also has the option of turning T4 into reverse T3 which COMPLETELY blocks the action of T3. Your body can take the T4 which is found within levothyroxine and synthroid and turn it into reverse t3 which blocks the benefical effects of T3. This is how synthroid and levothyroxine can lead to weight gain. You can actually make your thyroid worse if you use the wrong medication. So, what should you do about it? There are 2 main treatment options: #1. Naturally improve T4 to T3 conversion. Using supplements which contain zinc, selenium, and guggul can help FORCE your body to produce more T3. This product contains the ingredients your body needs to produce more T3: https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ #2. Bypass the conversion step by using different thyroid medications. You can completely bypass the conversion process by using medications such as Armour Thyroid and T3 (Cytomel) to give your body T3 directly. You can test to see if this is a problem for you by looking at the following tests: - Reverse T3 - Free T3 Check these tests to see how well your body is converting T4 into T3! Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function: - For thyroid hormone production and conversion: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ - For hair loss: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-hair-regrowth-complex/ - For weight management: https://www.restartmed.com/product/gut-bomb-350-billion/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/functional-fuel-complete/ - For gut health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/ultra-biotic-x100/ - For energy and adrenal health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/power-b-complex/ I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it. If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-westin-childs-podcast-thyroid-weight-loss-hormones/id1141207688?mt=2 This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Whether you are thinking about using Armour thyroid or if you are already using it, you should be aware of these 10 things! These 10 things will help you to understand more about armour thyroid as a thyroid medication and whether or not it is right for you. 10 things you should know about Armour thyroid include: #1. Armour thyroid is not the only formulation of NDT. You should be aware that while armour thyroid is a great thyroid medication it is not the only (or even the best) form of NDT. #2. Armour thyroid is better for weight loss compared to Synthroid and levothyroxine. Studies consistently show that armour thyroid helps with weight loss more than Synthroid/levo. #3. Armour thyroid is the most expensive version of NDT. 1 month supply of Armour thyroid will cost you around $30 while 1 month supply of NP thyroid will run around $7. #4. It contains animal products. All formulations of NDT, including Armour thyroid, contain animal products. #5. It contains both T4 and T3. One of the reasons this medication is so effective is because it contains BOTH T4 and T3. #6. It contains additional ingredients such as calcitonin, T1, and T2. In addition to T4 and T3 Armour also contains other thyroid hormones such as T1 and T2. #7. It is preferred over Synthroid/levothyroxine by thyroid patients. Patients consistently show in medical research that they prefer Armour over Synthroid/levo. #8. It is NOT the generic of NP thyroid. Sometimes a pharmacist will try to switch out Armour for NP thyroid but they are NOT the same thing. #9. Switching from T4 to Armour thyroid can be difficult. If you decide to switch to Armour from Levo/synthroid then you should use a conversion chart to help. #10. Armour thyroid impacts your lab tests different than levothyroxine and Synthroid. Armour tends to impact your TSH, free t3, and free t4 differently from other thyroid medications.

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Cabral HouseCall of the weekend! I’m looking forward to sharing with you some of our community’s questions that have come in over the past few weeks… Let’s get started!    Anonymous: Hi Doc, First thing I’d like to do is thank you. Great podcast, you’re helping a lot of people with all the information shared. Keep it up. I have a mold question in regards to genetics; The most popular mold physician says testing for specific HLA-DR genes is necessary to determine if the body is creating the antibodies to go after the molds in the body. I have what he calls the “dreaded gene” that is found in only 1% of population, meaning multiple sucestibility to mold/lyme/etc as my body apparently doesn’t create the antibodies against them. On top of this, I have a MTHFR mutation. So my question is wether this HLA-DR gene testing matters or not? Do the MTHFR/HLA-DR genetic tests all mean the same thing? There is much debate as to the credibility behind this theory so I was hoping to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks! Jenett: Hi Dr. Cabral, My friend was diagnosed with ocular pressure due to an imbalance of eye fluid production. He as told it can lead to glaucoma and blindness. Is there a way to balance this naturally? Thank you! Jenett Marissa: Dr. Cabral, I really appreciate you and all your time spent on sharing your years of reading and knowledge with our community. I found you by my research on Ayurveda and since finding you have listened to almost every podcast you have done. I feel like I have gotten my own "certification" in wellness by having all of this information you have shared. Thank you!! You have helped me, my friends, and my family live better. I have done a DCD, CBO protocol/finisher, heavy metal detox and use your shake, adrenal soothe, CBD, and other products daily. I am a 40-year-old vata body type and enjoy the gym. I like going in the morning (5am) and usually do it fasted. I don’t want any food, but some days I have a ½ banana for being vata (per your recommendation.) I have noticed over the years that I cannot do cardio to almost any degree without my muscles getting tight after and I used to get sleepy post the workout (approx. 2-3 hours.) I tried electrolytes during the gym, but it doesn’t help. My HTMA markers are normal. I enjoy being active, but have learned to not push it for the past 2 years, thinking that my body is too stressed. I now stick to mainly body weight exercises and no cardio, but I like getting better oxygenation with some increase in heart rate. Also, my morning temperature does not get over 97.6 degrees most days, only on the 2nd half of my cycle. My most recent Dutch hormone test showed my rising morning cortisol had been slightly low and my morning cortisol slightly high, with normal ranges the rest of the day. I test my HRV with my Oura ring and struggle to get that over the 40’s. My TSH in the past was between 5-9 and now is lowered to 2-3 with the help of Armour Thyroid at its lowest dosage. Why can’t my temperature, HRV go up? If you met me you wouldn’t think I had a low energy. I am lean and not overweight. I want to get all metabolism markers higher. Any guidance would help!  Mrs M: Dear Dr Cabral, I have searched but found no results regarding bunions (hallux valgus.) Can you recommend a natural treatment that does not involve surgery? I did a Google search and found all kinds of splints / straps / bandages and toe separators. I would very much appreciate if you could share any ideas on how to remedy this situation. I have only just begun to experience pain, I do not have a large growth and it’s only on my one foot. The big toe only points towards my other toes slightly. My mother and grandmother had it quite badly (my mother had hers removed surgically.) I have large, wide feet (European Size 43) which makes finding comfortable, well-fitting shoes for work (office job) nearly impossible. I’m also a runner but do not yet feel much pain when running (yet?) Would very much like to avoid surgery if possible. Thank you in advance for your help and feedback, it is very much appreciated. Mrs M. Katie: Hi Dr. Cabral, This is the second time I've written in to the Cabral concept and instead of listing symptoms, I'd like to ask you a more over-arching health question. I'm in my late 20s and have been struggling with physical and mental health issues for most of my adult life. As a young woman I made most of my mistakes early on because I was ignorant to the health care system and honestly wasn't a great advocate for myself. I allowed health professionals to diagnose and prescribe medication without questioning any of their methods. I thought doctors were altruists who cared for my well being and ultimately wanted to heal their patients. I was very wrong. I have a deep sense of distrust of doctors and although I see more healing in the natural medicine and holistic industry, I still find myself questioning whether the treatments will work. It's a different business than the traditional health care industry, but a business none the less. How do you, I, or anyone for that matter, sift through all the information out in the world today, and how do we know who to trust? Sometimes I wish life came with an instruction manual. I'm feeling defeated and would love your insight. Thanks for always spreading your knowledge and positivity.   Thank you for tuning into this weekend’s Cabral HouseCalls and be sure to check back tomorrow for our Mindset & Motivation Monday show to get your week started off right! - - - Show Notes & Resources:  http://StephenCabral.com/1213 - - - Dr. Cabral's New Book, The Rain Barrel Effect https://amzn.to/2H0W7Ge - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: http://CabralSupportGroup.com - - -   Dr. Cabral’s Most Popular Supplements: > “The Dr. Cabral Daily Protocol” (This is what Dr. Cabral does every day!) - - - > Dr. Cabral Detox  (The fastest way to get well, lose weight, and feel great!) - - - > Daily Nutritional Support Shake  (#1 “All-in-One recommendation in my practice) - - - > Daily Fruit & Vegetables Blend  (22 organic fruit & vegetables “greens powder”) - - - > CBD Oil  (Full-spectrum, 3rd part-tested & organically grown) - - - > Candida/Bacterial Overgrowth, Leaky Gut, Parasite & Speciality Supplement Packages - - - > See All Supplements: https://equilibriumnutrition.com/collections/supplements  - - -   Dr. Cabral’s Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Organic Acids Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Thyroid + Adrenal + Hormone Test  (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Adrenal + Hormone Test (Run your adrenal & hormone levels) - - - > Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Omega-3 Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - > Stool Test (Use this test to uncover any bacterial, h. Pylori, or parasite overgrowth) - - - > Genetic Test (Use the #1 lab test to unlocking your DNA and what it means in terms of wellness, weight loss & anti-aging) - - - > Dr. Cabral’s “Big 5” Lab Tests (This package includes the 5 labs Dr. Cabral recommends all people run in his private practice) - - - > View all Functional Medicine lab tests (View all Functional Medicine lab tests you can do right at home for you and your family)

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SHOW TOPICS: Cancer patients at home, Healthy gut, TB Vaccine, Water crisis, Armour Thyroid (Air Date 3.28.2016) Dr. Rashid A. Buttar hosts "Advanced Medicine" once a week with Robert Scott Bell on the Robert Scott Bell Show. Dealing with everyday health issues from the Advanced Medicine healthcare perspective, Dr. Buttar and Robert tackle the tough issues and empower you to achieve autonomy and maintain your health freedom.

Is metformin really as dangerous as it's been made out to be? What are the best peptides to use for muscle gain, fat loss and cognition? How can you get started with testosterone optimization therapy? I answer all these questions and many more in this podcast with Jay Campbell, a Champion Men’s Physique Competitor and the best selling author of the and of ... As a 17 year TRT patient, Jay is a master at manipulating and tweaking the human endocrine system to optimize performance and health. He has experience working with thousands of men and women in optimizing their nutrition, exercise, fitness and fat loss. Jay makes it his personal mission to affect positive and rapid change in each and every client who enters the mastermind program. During our absolutely epic discussion, you'll discover: -Jay's daily routine and why he eats only 3 days per week... Metformin Armour Desiccated Thyroid Lion's Mane Curcumin, turmeric, Protein powder, MCT oil Practice intermittent fasting if you're not fast-adapted or want to lose weight The cold-filtration whey isolate Jay recommends... 70% of people have some sort of response (allergic or otherwise) to whey protein True Nutrition  Ben has used Mt. Capra  Cold filtration similar to micro-filtration for wine Thorne Mediclear  -Jay's response to ... Mitochondrial dysfunction 2 studies by Dr. Chandler Mars Morbidly obese diabetics using a disproportionate amount of Metformin "Life extension dose" varies due to body size, ancestry, etc. Jay has used Metformin for 17 years Lactic Acidosis: studies done on samples not representative of the population Gastric issues are a result of Metformin cleaning up microbiota Subsides as the biome becomes used to Metformin Metformin protects the brain and cleans vascular pathways -How to go about getting Metformin... Tell your doctor you want it because it's cardio-protective, prevents cancer and is believed to stop the progress of neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers It's also very affordable -Whether Berberine should be used, and if so, as an alternative or a supplement to Metformin... Berberine is similar to Metformin, but isn't as regulated and is much more expensive Berberine doesn't have a good reputation among people in the know Metformin is the most studied drug in the world (because of diabetes) -Jay's favorite peptides and what to look for when choosing a peptide for yourself... Peptides are a great option for an aging man or woman to slow down aging process, increase sleep, etc. Ipamorelin (GHRP) Highest efficacy if combined with a growth hormone Best peptide for women by far Neanderthal genes Quercetin Tesamorelin FDA approved; created by Merck Created for HIV positive men for lipo dystrophy Extremely expensive Highly effective in eliminating body fat Sermorelin is useless as a nootropic BP 157 Jay doesn't like: Ibutamoren GHRP 2 or 6 -Why Jay is taking Armour Thyroid... Thyroid synergistic with hormones and testosterone Desiccated Thyroid: Combo of T3 and T4 -Rapid fire questions on testosterone... Is there a risk of cardio vascular health if one supplements their testosterone? If a man is a "metabolic emergency," potential for an incident; because of that person's compromised health Testosterone is cardio protective; beneficial for the heart for someone in good health TRT as a nootropic Testosterone increases dopamine signaling Feeling of "well-being" Improves working memory Once you start using it, do you have to be on it for life? Yes, but the individual's environment is vital What's the best delivery mechanism? Transscrotal application (absorbed 8x better in the scrotum skin) What are you taking with testosterone to mitigate the downstream side effects? World Link Medical You need testosterone to aromatize into estrogen to confer the protective effects to your biological system You'd never want to take an aromatase inhibitor What should you be looking for in reference ranges, and what should you be monitoring when you're on testosterone? -And much more! Resources from this episode: - - -Jay's book: "" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -T.S. Wiley's book: - -2020 A4M in Vegas -Ben's peptide article:  - -Ben's article "" - - - - - -Amazon version of the - - - - -Zach Bush's Other notes from Jay: -Metformin Study:   -This was on a thoroughly compromised patient population group of Morbidly Obese Diabetics who were using anywhere from 6-9 grams of Metformin per day. If you do further searches, it’s actually the opposite. . There are many, many others. -Metformin Study: Lactic Acidosis - The fear of this condition happening was based on a study from the 40s (still attempting to find it) also in a massively compromised patient cohort. These patients were in end-stage renal failure and also obese and diabetic. We must be mindful that correlation does not equate to causation. All of these linked studies show that Lactic Acidosis rarely happens if ever in normal patients population groups. Check them , and .  Elevated plasma metformin concentrations (as occur in individuals with renal impairment) and a secondary event or condition that further disrupts lactate production or clearance (e.g., cirrhosis, sepsis, or hypoperfusion), are typically necessary to cause metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA). As these secondary events may be unpredictable and the mortality rate for MALA approaches 50%, metformin has been contraindicated in moderate and severe renal impairment since its FDA approval in patients with normal renal function or mild renal insufficiency to minimize the potential for toxic metformin levels and MALA. However, the reported incidence of lactic acidosis in clinical practice has proved to be very low (

NP Thyroid is a form of natural desiccated thyroid hormone which is similar but different than Armour thyroid. Both medications contain the same active ingredients but they differ in the inactive ingredients. This small difference can greatly impact how you feel when you use or take these medications. Armour thyroid contains the following ingredients: Triiodothyronine (active ingredient) Thyroxine (active ingredient) Calcium stearate Dextrose Microcrystalline cellulose (May cause reactions in some people Sodium starch glycolate Opadry white Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins NP thyroid contains the following ingredients: Triiodothyronine (active ingredient) Thyroxine (active ingredient) Calcium stearate Dextrose monohydrate Maltodextrin Mineral oil Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins You can see from the list that NP thyroid has slightly fewer ingredients and may be better tolerated for some people. In addition, NP thyroid is also cheaper when compared to Armour thyroid. Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function: - For thyroid hormone production and conversion: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ - For hair loss: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-hair-regrowth-complex/ - For weight management: https://www.restartmed.com/product/gut-bomb-350-billion/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/functional-fuel-complete/ - For gut health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/ultra-biotic-x100/ - For energy and adrenal health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/ + https://www.restartmed.com/product/power-b-complex/ I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it. If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-westin-childs-podcast-thyroid-weight-loss-hormones/id1141207688?mt=2 This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Welcome back to our weekend Cabral HouseCall shows! This is where we answer our community's wellness, weight loss, and anti-aging questions to help people get back on track! Check out today's questions: Anonymous: I listened to episode 760 on how to destroy viruses. I finished the CBO protocol a couple weeks ago and I've moved on to the finisher supplements. I eat so well. I have even eliminated alcohol over the years. (I do have one cup of decaf coffee some mornings and I've cut down dark chocolate to a couple times a week.) I also abide by your Cabral Daily Protocol. I am still getting outbreaks of HSVII every 3 months. Im fortunate because they aren't very painful and heal within 4-5 days. However, it makes me a paranoid mess - am I cleaning the bathroom enough, etc... how contagious is it? What about when my toddler starts potty training and we share toilets? My intimate life with my husband is almost nonexistent for my developed fear around the virus, mainly because of asymptomatic shedding - the virus being present with no signs. How would you help a client get past these paranoias - especially if we want to have another child? Also, if outbreaks are still every 3 months - what is next the OAT, even though I just completed the CBO? In absolute gratitude for your work, ALWAYS!! Anonymous Amanda: Hi doctor Cabral! Thanks for your amazing podcast! Motivation Mondays are my favorites :) I was wondering if you could clear something up for me? I keep reading conflicting articles about intermittent fasting. The main concern I have is that it could throw the female hormone balance out of whack. What are your thoughts about it? Thank you! Amanda Sean:  Hi, I listened to the podcast on the health benefits of a 24 hour fast. Dr. Cabral said herbal teas were fine to drink during the fast. My question is: Can you use stevia with the tea during the fast or should you stay away from that as well? Thanks!  Linda: Thank you I'm a 69 year old 135 lb woman in great health until I found out in January that I have Hashimoto's. Been fasting 18/6 since Dec. Can that hinder the healing of my thyroid. I'm also following a ketogenic lifestyle and taking Armour Thyroid. Also I cycle and weight train 3 x per week. I've heard conflicting points of view regarding fasting and/or gym time while healing thyroid/autoimmune. Respect your work so much. Thank you in advance. Linda Erika: Can I take they candida and gut protocol if I’m breastfeeding? Jessica: Hi - I’m wondering if you know if certain insurance providers will reimburse for the lab tests. Also, how do your lab tests and prices compare to those I’d get from my primary care doctor? Lastly, if I could only purchase two lab tests which would you recommend? Thanks! Chelsey: Hi Dr Cabral! I have become addicted to your podcast and want to thank you for educating us all to become the best, healthiest versions of ourselves. I recently made some huge life changes, moving across the country (Boston to CA) and have really been inspired to get my lifestyle on track. For years I struggled with binge eating, sugar addictions, and pressure to drink on the weekends. My anxiety was high, my stress at work was AWFUL with a 2 hour commute each way. Safe to say, after listening, I believe I have major gut/thyroid/adrenal issues. I also believe I have over production of yeast- frequent infections and tinea versicolor on the skin. Since being here (a few months) I have nixed sugar in the butt, stay away from processed foods (clean ingredients only) and continue to enjoy exercise 5 days a week and be sure to get outside and live a balanced lifestyle. My question to you is, are there withdrawals In going through this process? I have frequent headaches and moodiness, sometimes low motivation. I feel the healthiest I have ever been, but at night I get pain in my neck and brain fog during the day. Does this relate to food intolerance now that my system is cleaning out? How long does it typically take to get these sort of Issues under control? Thank you in advance! Susanne: Hi! I would love to take several of the tests you offer, but I live in Spain? Do you ship to Spain? Or when do you think you will start to ship to Spain? In advance, thank you for your reply :) Kind regards, Susanne  William: Hi. I don't like/eat fruits and/or vegetables. Would the fruit and vegetable supplement work as a replacement for fruits and vegetables for me. Thanks, Bill Thank you for tuning into today's Cabral HouseCall and be sure to check back tomorrow where we answer more of our community’s questions! - - - Specific Show Notes & Resources: http://StephenCabral.com/925 - - - Dr. Cabral's New Book, The Rain Barrel Effect https://amzn.to/2H0W7Ge - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: http://CabralSupportGroup.com - - -   Dr. Cabral’s Most Popular Supplements: > “The Dr. Cabral Daily Protocol” (This is what Dr. Cabral does every day!) - - - > Dr. Cabral Detox  (The fastest way to get well, lose weight, and feel great!) - - - > Daily Nutritional Support Shake  (#1 “All-in-One recommendation in my practice) - - - > Daily Fruit & Vegetables Blend  (22 organic fruit & vegetables “greens powder”) - - - > CBD Oil  (Full-spectrum, 3rd part-tested & organically grown) - - - > Candida/Bacterial Overgrowth, Leaky Gut, Parasite & Speciality Supplement Packages - - - > See All Supplements: https://equilibriumnutrition.com/collections/supplements  - - -   Dr. Cabral’s Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Organic Acids Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Thyroid + Adrenal + Hormone Test  (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Adrenal + Hormone Test (Run your adrenal & hormone levels) - - - > Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Omega-3 Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - > Stool Test (Use this test to uncover any bacterial, h. Pylori, or parasite overgrowth) - - - > Genetic Test (Use the #1 lab test to unlocking your DNA and what it means in terms of wellness, weight loss & anti-aging) - - - > Dr. Cabral’s “Big 5” Lab Tests (This package includes the 5 labs Dr. Cabral recommends all people run in his private practice) - - - > View all Functional Medicine lab tests (View all Functional Medicine lab tests you can do right at home for you and your family!)  

This is video #1 in my thyroid beginner series. This series includes videos which are only 5-10 minutes in length and designed to get you up to date on thyroid basics. Video #1 in this series focuses on what your thyroid does and the basics of how it actually works. Your thyroid is influenced by signals from the brain which tell your body to produce thyroid hormone which then acts on your cells. Anything which interferes with this process will results in decreased thyroid hormone and symptoms that you will experience! Thyroid beginner series includes: 1. What Does your thyroid do & Why is it so important? 2. Why is there so much controversy about thyroid treatment? 3. T4 (Thyroxine) Basics 4. T3 (Triiodothyronine) Basics 5. T4 to T3 conversion and why it’s important 6. The thyroid obesity myth 7. Reverse T3 Basics 8. Levothyroxine, Synthroid & Tirosint 9. NDT (Nature Throid, WP Thyroid & Armour Thyroid) 10. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis 11. Causes of Thyroid Disease 12. Hypothyroidism vs hyperthyroidism Hey guys! I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it. I take a personalized/functional medicine approach to management of conditions. I'm not accepting patients but you can learn more and get plenty of information on my blog! You can learn more about high-quality supplements that I create (and personally use) here: https://www.restartmed.com/shop/ You can find more general information on my site here: https://www.restartmed.com/ If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d... This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care. Do you have any topics or video ideas? Please say so in the comments below!

On Today's Episode of Waist Away: The Intermittent Fasting Podcast, Chantel Talks to Author and Coach Elle Russ about Thyroid. Learn what she did to overcome her thyroid issues and some of the practices she talks about in her book. No thyroid question will go unanswered....ENJOY THE SHOW!  Question 1- 10:38 You touched a bit on the differences in T3, T4, and TSH last week, but I just got my bloodwork back and I really want to make sure I understand them. Can you talk a little more about this? I also wanted to see if you could go a little more in depth on Armour Thyroid because it sounds like it may be a good alternative to Synthroid from what you were saying last week! Also, I really want to monitor my thyroid on my own to avoid going to the Doctor- is the thermometer method accurate? -Angela in Tampa Question 2- 28:21 All this thyroid talk has made me want to go to the Doctor and get updated blood work- I have been doing Intermittent Fasting for about 3 months with 90/10 Paleo and am really hoping to see an improvement! I was wondering if I should take my Thyroid medicine in the morning before I get my bloodwork done? -Alicia in GA Question 3 and 4: We are lumping the next two questions together because they are similar: Q3- 36:21I decided to lower my dosage of Synthroid from 150 to 75 because I have been hardcore Paleo for about 5 months now. I still feel kind of out of whack, and I am wondering if I decreased my dosage too much too soon. I should have asked this before, but now I am wondering how you can tell when it is time to decrease your dosage, and also, how can I tell if I decreased it too soon? -Jeanna in Chesapeake Q4- 39:37I just started taking a low dosage of 30mg Armour Thyroid. How long should I wait to get my bloodwork checked to see if it’s improved? And how can I tell if I am taking too much or too little? -Denise in New Jersey Question 5- 39:37 I started off my journey at 200 pounds and am now at 150! I am proud of my progress, but I still want to lose atleast 15 more pounds, and right now I am stalled. I have been trying to stick to a Paleo diet but it’s really hard to be diligent with that. Do you have any advice to break this plateau? -Judi Question 6- 46:20 Chantel, you talk about the Paleo diet as it relates to healing your thyroid, and I have been trying to stick to a 90/10 Paleo lifestyle. My question for you is about cheese, some people tell me that it’s paleo and some people say it isn’t. Some people say you can eat things like goat cheese or cottage cheese since they don’t have the same affect as cow’s dairy. What do you think? Another one is quinoa, do you think this fits in the 90 of my 90/10? I have heard that it’s such a great grain. -Vicki in Delaware   Question 7- 51:05 I have been trying to do longer fasts like 48 hours, but when I take my thyroid meds on these days it makes me feel jittery and TERRIBLE! Should I not take my thyroid meds on these days, or should I take a smaller dose? -Patty in Staunton Question 8- 54:24 I am tired all the time! I thought your podcast episode about Thyroid issues was interesting, especially as it pertains to being tired all the time- but my Thyroid levels are fine! What are some other reasons I could be tired? -Alice in Winston-Salem Question 9- 57:21 I have enjoyed your past few episodes since I have thyroid issues and have been working hard to stick to a Paleo diet until I get things under control. I also struggle with psoriasis and excema, and have been reading a lot online that they are related to the thyroid. Is this true, and can I expect them to clear up as I continue with my Paleo journey? -Sandy in Bluefield Question 10- 58:14 My Doctor says that I am in the high range of Thyroid, he said that my TSH should be somewhere between .1 and 4.53. I am currently at 4. He said that I am currently within the range of normal, even though it’s high. Should I go to find another doctor, or do you know of any natural supplements I can try before I take this measure? What are some of the questions I should ask a new doctor about my thyroid, or do you know of any resources to help me find a good thyroid doctor? -Deborah in New Jersey Question 11- 1:05:58 My thyroid levels are off, and one funny thing I’ve noticed is my areolas are a lot lighter than usual. This isn’t something I’ve heard you talk about in the podcast before as a side effect of thyroid issues, is this normal, and can I expect them to ever go back to their usual color? -Sierra in Jacksonvill Question 12- 1:08:01 What is your opinion on Alcohol and Paleo? I have given up dairy and grains, and just don’t want to give up my booze too! What is the best Paleo option for alcohol? -Mary in Columbia ------------------------ To learn more about the principles of intermittent fasting, purchase Chantel's book, Waist Away: The Chantel Ray Way NOW by visiting http://amzn.to/2CVmTgs YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCteFjiVaY6n0SOAixcyZbWA Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheChantelRayWay     Chris in action: https://chantelrayway.com/chrissykes  Things we love: https://chantelrayway.com/things-i-love-2/  Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheChantelRayWay   ***As always, this podcast is not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any condition and is for information purposes only. Please consult with your health care professional before making any changes to your current lifestyle.***

 You can reach Dr. Scott at: 757-363-8571 drmscott43@gmail.com http://thyroidvirginiabeach.com Welcome back to another Episode of Waist Away: The Intermittent Fasting Podcast! Today, Chantel is joined by Dr. Mark A. Scott! He has been in private practice here in Virginia Beach, VA since 1996. Chantel and Mark dive into 10 listener submitted questions in this thyroid information filled episode! Sit back, take some notes, and enjoy this Episode of the Intermittent Fasting Podcast! TIMECODES: Question 1- 3:22 Q: It seems like “Gluten-Free” is a big buzz word right now! A lot of my friends eat Gluten Free, and the other day my girl friend told me I should consider eating this way because of my thyroid issues. Could you explain how glutten affects your thyroid? Beth in Virginia Beach A: There is definitely a buzz going around about going gluten free these days! I tell people all the time that no foods should be off limits, UNLESS they negatively affect my body. As for me, I know that when I am only eating gluten in the 20 of my 80/20, my thyroid is going to trying to heal my thyroid, I cut gluten out completely, and went 100% Paleo. Is this sustainable? No, but I recommend people with Thyroid issues doing this for a limited time until they see improvement. Again, I eat gluten now, but it will be included in the 20% of my diet that I am not eating clean. Because of my thyroid issues, I feel better when I’ve cut out gluten, but I know that is not sustainable for the rest of my life, and I don’t like to ever feel deprived. Most doctors would agree that it is good for people with thyroid issues to eliminate or cut back on gluten. Although there are many factors involved in Hashimoto’s (which I was diagnosed with) and other autoimmune and thyroid-related conditions, going gluten-free can provide a huge benefit. Unfortunately, the evidence that those with Hashimoto’s benefit from a gluten-free diet is, so far, anecdotal. That doesn’t mean that it’s not true, just that it hasn’t yet been confirmed with science, or atleast any studies that I can find. My advice would be to try cutting it out for a short amount of time, and see how you feel! I am all about listening to your body! Question 2- 7:03 Q: My online research leads me to believe that I have thyroid issues, but I haven’t been to the doctor yet. Can you do an overview of the symptoms I should be keeping an eye on, and is there a way I can verify without going to the Doctor? Sarah in Arizona A: I compiled my top 10 Symptoms that I have noticed in myself and in others that I talk to. TIRED ALL THE TIME, even if you slept all night. Mood swings, depression or anxiety. Pain in the muscles and joints Being cold ALL the time, esp in your feet and hands. Weight gain, or being unable to lose weight. General hormonal issues- irregular periods, TERRIBLE PMS, low sex drive, and sadly, sometimes infertility Dry skin and hair, brittle nails Swelling in the neck Forgetfulness, haziness, or general brain fog 10.Constipation Those are the big things to look out for, but a lot of these symptoms can be the sign of something else as well, so I think it’s a great idea to check your thyroid at home. I recently purchased a Basal Body Temperature Thermometer. A lot of women use these when they are trying to get pregnant and are tracking their ovulation. They are more sensitive than a regular thermometer and allow you to track more closely.   Question 3- 13:50 Q: I’ve been taking Synthroid for almost a year now. Recently, I have read terrible things online about it. Should I try something more natural like Armor Thyroid? -Erin in Lynchburg A: A lot of people have complained of things like anxiety and irregular heart rate while on Synthroid. Some people also claim that Synthroid may actually worsen your condition, as the synthetic T4 may compete with your body's natural T4 for cellular receptor sites. I personally HATE taking medication of any kind, and hated that every time I went to the Doctor, he was upping my dose of Synthroid. I love that you are looking into a healthy alternatives, just like I was! In a previous podcast, I went deep on how I got myself off of Synthroid using Intermittent Fasting and a paleo diet. As for Armour Thyroid, I haven’t used this personally, but from what I understand, It is a natural product made from animal thyroid glands (usually a pig's). It replaces or provides more T3 and T4 hormones. When I did some research online, I found a lot of people still complaining of negative side effects still relating to their heartbeat, anxiety, periods, etc. Even though it is more natural than Synthroid and is natural, it is still a drug and in my opinion is still going to have some sort of side effect. I would recommend you give the Paleo diet a try if you are looking for the most natural way to get off those drugs, and definitely check out the podcast I did about this!   Question 4- 21:25 Q: What is the difference between T3, T4 and TSH? I’ve been trying to do some reading online all about thyroid and I am not understanding the difference between T3 T4 versus TSH. Can you explain these in an easy fashion where I can understand? -Angela in Pennsylvania A: So you’re your thyroid produces T3 and T4…a lot of people think that the TSH is a thyroid hormone, but it is ACTUALLY a pituitary hormone. TSH is your body’s gauge, or thermometer for the amount of thyroid hormones you have.  A lot of people also assume when their T3 and T4 are low that their TSH is also low, but the OPPOSITE is actually true. There is actually an INVERSE relationship between T3, T4, and TSH. So If your T3 and T4 are high, TSH will go down. And if your TSH is high, T3 and T4 will go down.  So if your pituitary gland senses that your Thyroid Hormones are low or high, it will send out TSH to help regulate it.   It’s actually pretty cool how these two types or hormones work together! Question 5- 27:29 Q: I am having trouble pooping since I’ve been doing intermittent fasting. I’ve always been a terrible pooper, and my thyroid is acting up. Do you think me not pooping has anything to do with my thyroid? Anonymous A: Yes, this absolutely has to do with your thyroid, because your thyroid issues will make you constipated! This is one of my least favorite symptoms of my thyroid issues! Constipation is a classic sign of hypothyroidism. Without enough thyroid hormone, many of the body’s functions slow down, and your digestive track is one of them, as it can weaken the contraction of the muscles lining the tract. Sometimes when I am really struggling and need to go, I will take a fiber drink like Metamucil which helps me. Coffee with coconut oil also helps me get moving, and of course, you will want to make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Question 6- 33:37 Q: I got some blood work done on my liver, and my doctor said that my liver is not in good shape. Do you think that has anything to do with my thyroid ? -Tracy in Chesapeake A: This is such a great question! There are so many people walking around with a thyroid problem but its secondary, or caused by  something else. The liver and thyroid work closely together since the liver converts thyroid hormones. 80% of thyroid functions actually occur through your liver. T4, one of the thyroid hormones we talked about earlier, is actually INACTIVE until the liver activates it to become T-3. So without a liver you cannot convert and make your thyroid work. If  your liver is damaged, chances are that is the source of your thyroid problem. If you have constipation that blocks your liver, that can also be a source of thyroid problems. It’s so amazing the way each part of our body is designed to work closely together. Question 7- 36:24 Q: I’ve noticed lately that my nails are super brittle and they have these little lines on them..I started doing some research online and it seems it could be thyroid related? I read that thyroid issues can also make your skin and hair dry- which mine are! Am I overanalyzing this too much…do I just need some lotion and a manicure! LOL Or do you think this is truly thyroid related? -Ashlyn in North Carolina A: Absolutely this is thyroid related. If there is a problem with a low thyroid, 1,000 enzymes will be blocked. That’s why you don’t have proteins to make healthy hair, you get vertical ridges on your nails, you get cold feet, you have problems with depression, you are tired, have decreased libido, digestive problems, constipation, you crave carbs! All of the symptoms we have previously discussed in this podcast.  So yes, some lotion and a manicure would help but you should definitely take a look at the deeper issue and look at naturally curing your thyroid. Question 8- 38:41 Q: How do I know when I started in a fat burning state? -Tara in Charleston A:  There is no scientific or precise way to figure this out, but what I recommend is to listen for your stomach growling because that’s when you know that your body is emptied out. The reason your stomach growls is because it’s your signal saying  HEY MY STOMACH IS EMPTY! The growling noise is your stomach contracting as it tries to find any food to eat that it may have missed earlier! This process cleans up any food that was missed earlier. When these muscle contractions get going again and your stomach is empty, those gas and air pockets make a lot more noise that you hear as stomach growling. I recommend waiting about two hours after your stomach growls to eat! It  s a great way to burn fat because during that two hours your body  diving into your fat cells and eating your fat for fuel! It is important that you are able to differentiate the sound of your body digesting food right after you ate, versus the empty, hollow sound of a true stomach growl. Question 9- 44:49 Q: Hey guys, I’m so thankful to have your show during my morning commute. Maybe it’s a synchronicity, but most of the questions I have about IF always seem to be answered in your podcast.  I’ve been doing IF for about 3 weeks now, and it’s definitely working for me. I’ve found that I have more energy and I am SOO much less crabby and cranky throughout the day.  I know you’ve mentioned PCOS in previous podcasts, and the advice was super helpful. I’ve recently starting feeling some changes in the way my body feels that I relate to my cycle: tender bosom (I love using that word whenever I get the chance lol), slight cramping, and other PMS-like symptoms (mood and cravings). I had my cycle just before starting IF, so experiencing these symptoms this “soon” is a bit out of character for my body. I have extremely irregular periods and I’m curious to know what about IF contributes to managing PCOS, if anything at all. I also was curious to know if you have ever heard of taking Metformin for PCOS (I’m not a diabetic, nor do I have any other ailments, outside of PCOS.) My midwife/nurse practitioner (I’m not pregnant, just prefer a midwife over doc for womanly care) suggests I should take Metformin to help regulate my periods, as an option outside of BC. I’m a little unsure if I want to go this route as I am usually hesitant to take medications “unnecessarily.” I’m not severely afflicted w/ PCOS, but it definitely causes me to be very irregular in my cycle. Do you think this could interfere with my IF journey, or do you think it could be an assistant to the benefits of IF? Any advice/info/opinions you have would be awesome! Jazzmin - MiamiA: Congratulations on 3 weeks of IF! I am so happy to hear that you are seeing great results. Keep up the great work! So PCOS is something that I have struggled with, and we discuss it in good detail in a previous podcast, which Jazzmin is referring to. If you missed that one, definitely go back and listen! The first part of the question, you’re talking about how you feel as if you are starting your period a little early, since you had one right before starting IF and have been doing it for 3 weeks. Most people will find that anytime you dramatically change your eating habits, IE going full Paleo, or cutting out carbs, etc, or change your eating patterns, IE Intermittent Fasting, you will see a little shift in your period. When I first started IF I noticed my period was irregular for a few months until it finally balanced out, it has been super regular ever since! The reason for this is really simple and actually good! Fat stores estrogen, so any time you start disrupting your fat stores, you are likely to have some cycle disruption as well. So while an early period may stink, it means that your body is eating it’s fat stores! Stick it out, and you will find that it regulates soon. As for Metformin, I have heard of people taking this as an alternative to birth control. It has not been approved by the FDA for treatment of PCOS, but many doctors are prescribing it for PCOS treatment because women with PCOS often have elevated insulin levels and are more likely to develop diabetes. SO…it will definitely help! But You will not enjoy some of the other “benefits” of Birth Control such as…..birth control LOL obviously, it won’t prevent pregnancy, and also it won’t help you with the excess facial hair that many women with PCOS experience. But you also won’t have to worry about the negative effects of birth control that some people complain about such as  weight gain, and more dangerous, blood clots. As Metformin relates to IF, I can’t find any research that leads me to believe that it would interfere with IF in a negative way. But, I do recommend taking it with your first meal of the day, and not on an empty stomach. Like I mentioned in the podcast where we talked about  PCOS, and as my doctor told me, if you struggle with PCOS the absolute best thing you can do for your body is to be at your ideal “healthy” weight and I am not sure where you are weight wise, but I know that since you started your IF journey three weeks ago, you are well on your way if not there already.  Question 10- 51:07 Q: I have noticed I am staying up a lot later at night not sure if it is from the IF?  Perhaps I have more energy or something and sometimes it is hard to wind down.  Right now it is after 1 am and a few nights I was up to after 3 and could not fall asleep until around 4 or 5.  I already have to take 50 mg of lorazepam most nights to stop me from thinking so I can sleep.  It would be great if I could get off of that also.  I have only had to take it for the last several years, I am 61.  Before that I slept just fine.  I don't drink much coffee maybe half a cup twice a day especially on the days I did not get enough sleep.  I also try to do 1 cup of decaf green tea and sometimes one of the sleepy time teas later in the evening.  I can go several days with no coffee so not sure why I am wound up longer at night?  Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks again so much!  Have a blessed weekend! Jean A: Well Jean, you are a lot like me!!! As I say over and over again, I hate taking drugs unnecessarily too, and I can relate to you wanting to get off that Lorazepam. You didn’t mention in the question how long you have been Intermittent Fasting, but if you are newer to the Intermittent Fasting lifestyle, unfortunately this can be normal while your body gets adjusted. I’ve heard several reasons for this, one is that when you are fasting your body is hyped up on adrenaline. You didn’t mention what exactly your eating window is, but if you are eating your last meal 4-5 hours before bedtime, you could try bumping your eating window up an hour or so later and seeing if this helps. Another reason is increased caffeine intake- a lot of people will drink extra caffeine when they are fasting, but it sounds like this is not the issue for you, you’ve really cut back on your caffeine intake, it sounds. The only thing I would say in that department is maybe stick to strictly sleepy time tea in the evening, as sometimes even in Decaf Green Tea there will be traces of caffeine. You didn’t mention in your question if you work out or not, but if you are working out in the second half of the day, you may find that this is making it difficult for you to wind down. I recommend working out in the morning if your schedule allows..I start my day with a workout at 5:45 every day and for this reason, I NEVER have an issue falling asleep at night! Overall, I think that as your body becomes more accustomed to the Intermittent Fasting lifestyle, you will find yourself sliding back into your old sleeping patterns. In the meantime, you could also take something natural like Melatonin, or try something I LOVE to do at night, and that is to diffuse Lavender essential oils by my bed.  

This show is looking at thyroid medications such as levothyroxine or Synthroid, Nature Throid, and Armour Thyroid. We discuss the benefits and risks of these medications and the testing necessary to properly prescribe the medication.

Welcome back to our weekend Cabral HouseCall shows! This is where we answer our community's wellness, weight loss, and anti-aging questions to help people get back on track! Check out today's questions: Kim: Hi Dr. Cabral - I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at the age of 47, and have been taking Armour Thyroid medication for approximately 10 years. My levels go up and down and are checked every 6 months. My latest blood work showed: T4=1,0, T3=2.6, TSH =2.45. I have recently started listening to your podcasts (thankfully a friend told me about you)! I'm wondering what your opinion is about Hypothyroidism? It seems that every female I know around my age is diagnosed with it and put on medication! My hair has become so thin...it is scary! If my thyroid levels are "normal" while taking the Armour Thyroid medication, I'm wondering if the hair loss could be caused from the medication itself? I would love to be able to stop taking the medication, but do not know where to go from here and I"m hoping you can help point me in the right direction. My husband and I are using your Daily Nutritional Support powder , greens powder and Probiotic and love it! Thank you so much!!! Joan: My daughter has been very unwell for over 2 years with IBD and a strange symptom of an inability to warm herself, and consequently goes through a nightly routine of freezing and overheating. Blood tests are normal. I thought it could be Wilson's Temperature Syndrome but it can't be tested. Is this something you are familiar with? Do you think you could help her with this?  Cara: Hi Dr. Cabral, As always, thank you for providing this House Call service. I share it with everyone! This question is for my husband. -At his annual physical/blood work his cholesterol went up 30 points. -His LDL is 130! His HDL is 73, Total is 276 and his Homocysteine level is 9.6 Note: we are having his blood work re-ran to make sure there wasn't an error because the lab didn't run his Thyroid panel or a couple of other panels the doctor had ordered. -We eat super clean - organic/farmers markets/lots of vegetables/pastured meats/maybe 6 beers a year/no processed sugars/low sugar in general -The only thing that has changed is that we switched out smoothies in the morning after having eggs every morning for probably a year. -We do saute our veggies in ghee or coconut oil which I always thought was healthy until you mentioned you prefer cooking in water and adding olive oil after. -My husband is 45 and does have the MTHFR gene mutation, I think it's homozygous. He has not been tested for COMT. -Doctor thinks this is genetic and provided a food list (although those foods are exactly what we eat). He recommended RYR Synergy to lower LDL - a red rice yeast and COQ10 mixture as well as Berberine Synergy. -My husband has never been one for cardio or weights, but he does go to an hour long yoga class 3 times a week. Some weeks only 1 time a week. I'm wondering if he needs to be incorporating weights and cardio. -He also did your 2 week detox before this blood work I'm thankful the doctor is functional medicine minded and did not recommend a statin, because no way would we go that route. SO, Dr. Cabral, what do we need to do here? In gratitude for your work every day!   Tina: Dear Dr. Cabral: Thanks for your podcast! My friend and I love to listen and then get together to talk about your advice. You recently answered her question and we were so thrilled!!! I'd love to give you a little run down of my symptoms/ health history and see if you have any advice about which tests/ supplements you might recommend. I'm not sure how successful I will be in making this a "little" run down. I am a 30 year old female, 5'8'', 150 lbs, athletic build. I have weighed about the same for the past 10 years, though I have had varying degrees of fitness. When I was young, I had a history of stomach aches and stomach cramping that would come and go. I ate a poor diet high in refined sugars and processed foods. I was a very nervous, incredibly shy, excessively perfectionist, high strung kid. Starting in 7th grade, I experienced the beginnings of hyperhydrosis. I had extremely sweaty underarms.... I could easily sweat through two shirts and a sweatshirt, and nerves and social anxiety made this cycle worse. Also starting in 7th grade, I was highly active with swimming, dance, and tumbling. In high school, these continued, but as school got more difficult, I was perpetually sleep deprived.... going to bed around 11 and getting up around 5:00 to go to morning practices. In 7th grade, I experienced my first bout of extreme stomach flu.... which included vomiting over 100 times and ending up in the hospital for fluids and anti-vomiting medication. This extreme-stomach response was repeated in high school and in college. To this day, if I get a stomach flu or food poisoning, I vomit far more than the average person, though not as much as I used to. Toward the end of high school, my body sort of shut down on me and I experienced fatigue and incredibly poor performance in my sport. I didn't really do anything about it because I did not have any adults who were particularly aware of my condition, and health wasn't foremost on my mind. In college, the sleep deprivation and over-exerting continued as I was a D1 college swimmer. I was running my body into the ground and it wasn't until junior year that I had the courage to quit my sport and focus on health and things I loved. By this point, I had developed quite a bit of joint pain... in my low back and shoulders, which was continuously diagnosed as "tendonitis", but my body couldn't seem to heal itself properly, even with adequate rest. In college, I transitioned to healthier eating habits until after college when I went gluten-free and learned each year how to cook and eat better real foods. Post-college, I had surgery for endometriosis and I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (for which I have a sleep appliance). To this day, when get sick, I tend to get sicker than those around me, particularly in regard to stomach illnesses. Injuries - especially joint injuries - tend to not heal properly. For example, I fell off my bike three years ago and my thumb has never been the same. I have knee pain from 6 years ago. My injuries all tend to be rather "vague" joint injuries which do not seem to be helped much by physical therapy or anti-inflammatories. My biggest concern is my constant fatigue and brain fog issues. Last week I was just officially diagnosed with estrogen dominance after doing a dutch hormone test. I don't know what the treatment plan is yet for estrogen dominance. My progesterone and testosterone levels are good, but my estrogen levels are high. I experience so many PMS symptoms, including but certainly not limited to bloating (up to 10 lbs a month), bad body odor - even immediately following a shower, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, etc. I have a left lazy -eye (strabismus) which contributes to fatigue and focus difficulties. For the past 5 years I have eaten a very clean diet - paleo style, I exercise regularly with mild-moderate effort/moderate length workouts (walking, running, intervals, body strength exercises). These workouts are nothing like the grueling workouts of my past. I have a low tolerance for high-fiber foods like oatmeal and broccoli and quinoa. These create excessive bloating and gas. For the past 5 years I regularly get ~7 hrs of a sleep a night and for the past 6 months I get about 8 hours of sleep a night. I no longer have a stressful job. I have a good prayer life and I am have decreased so many stressors in my life. It seems as though my energy levels and immune system are just not quite balanced. I am a highly sensitive type - and I tend to be very aware of my body and I react strongly to medicines/stimulants/caffeine/etc. I still experience sweaty underarms, clammy hands, and social anxiety. I would love to simply get to my "core" health issue, assuming there is a single issue. I am SO determined to regain my health. I am motivated and I would follow instructions to do whatever it takes to help my body find homeostasis again. It can be so overwhelming to even know where to go next. My body just doesn't "feel" right, my energy doesn't "feel" right, my mind doesn't "feel" right, but I don't know how to go about pinpointing the issue. Maybe it really just is the estrogen levels, but shouldn't there be something that made the estrogen levels too high in the first place? As an interesting side note, I did a 7 day bone broth and coconut water fast last year, and during that time I had no pain in my body, I slept well, and I had insanely high energy levels. This is largely how I know for sure that my not "Feeling" right is a true assessment and there is a better , healthier, happier way to live! Once I started eating again, all the typical symptoms came back. Another side note, I've had bags under my eyes for as long as I can remember! Pictures show they've been there at least since 7th grade. Alas, I have failed to make this question short for you! I apologize! And I thank you for everything you do to educate your listeners on healing! God bless you! Tina Donna: Thank You Dr. Cabral for sharing your knowledge & research with everyone! I have a brown looking age spot/liver spot/ sun spot just a bit smaller than a dime on my cheek-bone and a few smaller ones on my face. I eat free range chicken/eggs, grassfed beef, ground turkey,occasional good sourced pork, organic fruit/vegetables, kerry gold butter, xtra virgin unrefined coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, nuts (NO peanuts) and seeds and lots of greens. I'm 5'6", weighing 128#'s, I work out, and am 51. This year I have done your 7 day detox, the 90 day candida gut cleanse, a liver cleanse, and an ionic foot cleanse. What else can I do? I also have puffiness/bags under my eyes and dry hard skin at both corners of all my fingernails, the skin at the outside of pinky toes, and skin in front of all toes. I take pharmaceutical grade fish oil, vit. D, calm magnesium, your B complex, probiotic, your ascorbic acid, Great Lakes Gelatin/collagen, Dream Protein, drink at least 64 0z. of water daily with bragg vinegar, or essential oils in it and one-two small cups of organic coffee. Looking forward to new ideas to try! Thank You!!! Donna Thank you for tuning into today's Cabral HouseCall and be sure to check back tomorrow where we answer more of our community’s questions! - - - Show Notes & Resources: http://StephenCabral.com/687 - - - Get Your Question Answered: http://StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - -

Dr. Susanne Breen is a board certified naturopathic physician. She completed her medical training at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) after initial medical studies at the Oregon Health Sciences University in conventional medicine.  Healing, she discovered, required more than medication or even natural remedies. Her inspiration came from her advanced studies at NUNM in gastroenterology, including Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), where she learned about the root causes of her personal health challenges. She read Breaking the Vicious Cycle, changed her diet, found direction from practitioners and started her path to health. She brings her personal experience and training to help others do the same. Dr. Breen completed a residency with Dr. Gary Weiner at Pearl Natural Health and continues to see patients at this location.  Her training and expertise in the areas of IBD/IBS, thyroid health, bio-identical hormones, gynecology, IV therapy, herbal, nutritional and lifestyle changes offers people a holistic, integrative and comprehensive model of care. Dr. Breen is a wife and mother of two children.  She enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest where she hikes, snow skis, and gardens.  She has a special love for animals, including her two cats, fermented foods and Tabata workouts. In this episode, the following topics are discussed: Fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, anxiety, and depression. Sub-clinical hypothyroidism Standard range for TSH has changed over the years, .5 - 1.5 TSH is optimal Armour Thyroid vs Levothyroxine If antibodies are involved than it is most likely related to the gut Getting off thyroid medication Testing: TSH, free T3 T4, TPO antibodies, reverse T3 Getting motivated and inspired by fixing thyroid Selenium Iodine Thyroid supplements Treating fertility Hair loss and levothyoxine Joint pain and levothyroxine  Nature vs Armour Magnesium interfering with T4 Analysis of gut and assessment: bad breath, burping, etc. Stool testing for SIBO Progesterone and testosterone Testing for adrenal fatigue through saliva throughout the day Cortisol secretion related to grief or stress Desiccated bovine adrenal Graves’ disease and testosterone fix Breath tests and pathogens Microflora Digestive and thyroid health are connected Bowel movement frequency and constipation Whole foods and unprocessed foods Sugar, inflammation, and heart disease Homemade yogurt and cow’s milk and removing lactose, fixing bloating Food allergy testing Achy joints, painful feet, anemia, cramping, testosterone and estrogen, neuro-therapy, ozone therapy, acupuncture, blood flow, dizziness, hydration, lyme disease, and muscle spasms. NOTES: Mysymotoms.com Susanne Breen, N.D.

The number of people I work with on Cura Romana who report that they have long been suffering from a thyroid condition never ceases to amaze me. Almost none of them are aware that low thyroid function is treatable by using well-prescribed bio-available hormones. Your thyroid is responsible for so many functions in the body that are absolutely critical to wellbeing. Even a minor deficiency in the thyroid gland’s ability to produce adequate levels of thyroid hormone can not only disrupt the body’s entire hormonal symphony but also tremendously impact your health. Your thyroid—the butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower part of your neck—is a primary hormone-producing gland that regulates body metabolism and is directly responsible for the production of energy. When the thyroid is not working properly this can lead to any number of other hormonal imbalances in the pituitary, the adrenals, and other hormone-producing glands in your body. When attempting to diagnose hypothyroidism it is not enough just to carry out blood tests and a physical examination. The trained practitioner will also want to listen carefully to your own description of symptoms. It is equally essential to measure your basal body temperature. This was something devised by Broda O Barnes MD, who many years ago carried out exhaustive research, leading him to report that at the time some 40% of the population was likely to be suffering from hypothyroidism. I highly recommend Dr. Barnes’ excellent book Hypothyroidism: The Unexpected Illness to anyone who is keen to promote high-level health. You see, hypothyroidism can reduce the strength of every cell in your body, including those responsible for maintaining your immune system. More about this in a moment. The symptoms of low thyroid function can be many. These include cold hands and feet, dry skin, recurring infections, menstrual disorders, PMS, infertility, obesity, thinning hair and eyebrows, poor memory, depression, headaches and migraines, and general weakness in the body as a whole. Your thyroid should be functioning properly. When it is not, your body can seem to pick up every viral illness that's going around. You may find it difficult to recover from infections. And, amazing as it may seem, when your thyroid is not functioning well, one of the common issues, which is rarely associated with this, is infertility—often a woman cannot conceive. So much for the bad news. The good news is that many men and women respond well when treated with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Conventional medicine has little understanding of glandular imbalances and of the most effective treatments for thyroid disorders. This is why, synthetic thyroid preparations like Synthroid or Levothyroxine—both relatively inactive forms of thyroid treatment—are commonly prescribed. These drugs contain T4 thyroid hormone, which must be converted into the more active form of T3 in the body for it to be effective. In fact, a great number of people simply do not respond at all to synthetic thyroid drug treatments because the human body cannot adequately convert T4 into its active form of T3. As a result, people get a poor response to conventional medical treatments. This is similar to the way a body does not respond adequately to being given synthetic HRT. So what is the answer? There is desiccated thyroid, a porcine preparation that contains both T4 and T3 in proportions close to your body’s natural thyroid production. The most commonly used natural thyroid hormone presently available is Armour Thyroid. The thyroid, like every other gland in the body, depends on adequate levels of the body’s natural hormones to support your health and energy. As a result of aging, poor diet, pollution in the environment, or ongoing stress, your glands are unable to supply your body with the level of hormones it needs for optimal health. It can be wise to turn towards bio-identical hormones prescribed by a skilled practitioner well versed in these procedures since bio-identical hormones are as close as possible to the natural hormones made by glands in your own body. And how does one find out if there is a thyroid hormone deficiency? Blood tests on their own are not enough. Thyroid hormones influence your body at a cellular level—the deepest level possible. Lab tests on their own are not capable of identifying a hypothyroid state. Its important that you form a close cooperation with a practitioner well versed in bio-identical treatments who will listen carefully to your perceptions of how you feel and what you sense you may be struggling with. He or she will want to correlate blood or saliva lab tests with a clinical examination, health history, and serial monitoring of your basal temperature. This can be carried out at home following Broda O Barnes’ method for measuring your basal body temperature. Briefly, here’s how it works: Before bed, shake down a basal thermometer and place it on a table at the side of your bed. When you awaken in the morning, tuck the thermometer snugly into your armpit. Leave it there for 10 minutes while you stay quietly in bed. Then record your temperature on paper. Repeat this for five days in row. If you happen to be menstruating it's best to take your temperature on the second day of menstruation and then for the following four days in order to get an accurate basal temperature. If the function of your thyroid is normal your temperature should be within the range of 97.8–98.2°F. If your temperature turns out to be lower than this range this often points to a hypothyroid condition in need of treatment. People who are hypothyroid frequently report that their capacity to remember, to understand, and to stay alert can be very challenged. In the past six or seven years I have worked with many women on Cura Romana’s Inner Circle program who, had spent a small fortune on infertility drugs and treatments while attempting to become pregnant, all to no avail until they discovered the power of bio-identical hormones and the way these can be used to restore healthy thyroid functioning. Some of these women reported that this was literally life changing. A practitioner competent in the use of bio-identicals in addition to analyzing and handling any other glands in your body that also need attention is likely to prescribe a low dose of say, Armour Thyroid. He or she then titrates up the amount until he or she discovers what the optimum levels of natural hormones in your body are. This is important because best results from the use of bio-identicals take place when one bio-identical is used together with other bio-identicals carefully chosen to work with it such as natural progesterone, pregnenalone, DHEA or others It is most important that you have proper nutritional support for your thyroid gland while this is happening. Drink good quantities of pure water every day and eat foods high in iodine like seafood, all of which can be helpful in restoring high-level health to your body. Many practitioners also insist on checking to make sure you have adequate iron stores and that you do not have anemia before they begin hormone replacement therapy. Its important that you remember this: it is virtually impossible to balance your endocrine system without taking into consideration the interrelationships of thyroid hormone with other natural hormones in your body. This is perhaps the most important secret of successful hormonal treatment for your glands, which produce hormones that have a powerful synergistic effect with one another. This makes it important for you to identify a brilliant practitioner who knows his or her stuff. The average GP has no training in the use of bio-identical hormones, he has been trained to use drugs. Next week we will look into important questions such as how to learn more, where to find the right practitioner, and where you can get bio-identical hormones.

The number of people I work with on Cura Romana who report that they have long been suffering from a thyroid condition never ceases to amaze me. Almost none of them are aware that low thyroid function is treatable by using well-prescribed bio-available hormones. Your thyroid is responsible for so many functions in the body that are absolutely critical to wellbeing. Even a minor deficiency in the thyroid gland’s ability to produce adequate levels of thyroid hormone can not only disrupt the body’s entire hormonal symphony but also tremendously impact your health. Your thyroid—the butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower part of your neck—is a primary hormone-producing gland that regulates body metabolism and is directly responsible for the production of energy. When the thyroid is not working properly this can lead to any number of other hormonal imbalances in the pituitary, the adrenals, and other hormone-producing glands in your body. When attempting to diagnose hypothyroidism it is not enough just to carry out blood tests and a physical examination. The trained practitioner will also want to listen carefully to your own description of symptoms. It is equally essential to measure your basal body temperature. This was something devised by Broda O Barnes MD, who many years ago carried out exhaustive research, leading him to report that at the time some 40% of the population was likely to be suffering from hypothyroidism. I highly recommend Dr. Barnes’ excellent book Hypothyroidism: The Unexpected Illness to anyone who is keen to promote high-level health. You see, hypothyroidism can reduce the strength of every cell in your body, including those responsible for maintaining your immune system. More about this in a moment. The symptoms of low thyroid function can be many. These include cold hands and feet, dry skin, recurring infections, menstrual disorders, PMS, infertility, obesity, thinning hair and eyebrows, poor memory, depression, headaches and migraines, and general weakness in the body as a whole. Your thyroid should be functioning properly. When it is not, your body can seem to pick up every viral illness that's going around. You may find it difficult to recover from infections. And, amazing as it may seem, when your thyroid is not functioning well, one of the common issues, which is rarely associated with this, is infertility—often a woman cannot conceive. So much for the bad news. The good news is that many men and women respond well when treated with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Conventional medicine has little understanding of glandular imbalances and of the most effective treatments for thyroid disorders. This is why, synthetic thyroid preparations like Synthroid or Levothyroxine—both relatively inactive forms of thyroid treatment—are commonly prescribed. These drugs contain T4 thyroid hormone, which must be converted into the more active form of T3 in the body for it to be effective. In fact, a great number of people simply do not respond at all to synthetic thyroid drug treatments because the human body cannot adequately convert T4 into its active form of T3. As a result, people get a poor response to conventional medical treatments. This is similar to the way a body does not respond adequately to being given synthetic HRT. So what is the answer? There is desiccated thyroid, a porcine preparation that contains both T4 and T3 in proportions close to your body’s natural thyroid production. The most commonly used natural thyroid hormone presently available is Armour Thyroid. The thyroid, like every other gland in the body, depends on adequate levels of the body’s natural hormones to support your health and energy. As a result of aging, poor diet, pollution in the environment, or ongoing stress, your glands are unable to supply your body with the level of hormones it needs for optimal health. It can be wise to turn towards bio-identical hormones prescribed by a skilled practitioner well versed in these procedures since bio-identical hormones are as close as possible to the natural hormones made by glands in your own body. And how does one find out if there is a thyroid hormone deficiency? Blood tests on their own are not enough. Thyroid hormones influence your body at a cellular level—the deepest level possible. Lab tests on their own are not capable of identifying a hypothyroid state. Its important that you form a close cooperation with a practitioner well versed in bio-identical treatments who will listen carefully to your perceptions of how you feel and what you sense you may be struggling with. He or she will want to correlate blood or saliva lab tests with a clinical examination, health history, and serial monitoring of your basal temperature. This can be carried out at home following Broda O Barnes’ method for measuring your basal body temperature. Briefly, here’s how it works: Before bed, shake down a basal thermometer and place it on a table at the side of your bed. When you awaken in the morning, tuck the thermometer snugly into your armpit. Leave it there for 10 minutes while you stay quietly in bed. Then record your temperature on paper. Repeat this for five days in row. If you happen to be menstruating it's best to take your temperature on the second day of menstruation and then for the following four days in order to get an accurate basal temperature. If the function of your thyroid is normal your temperature should be within the range of 97.8–98.2°F. If your temperature turns out to be lower than this range this often points to a hypothyroid condition in need of treatment. People who are hypothyroid frequently report that their capacity to remember, to understand, and to stay alert can be very challenged. In the past six or seven years I have worked with many women on Cura Romana’s Inner Circle program who, had spent a small fortune on infertility drugs and treatments while attempting to become pregnant, all to no avail until they discovered the power of bio-identical hormones and the way these can be used to restore healthy thyroid functioning. Some of these women reported that this was literally life changing. A practitioner competent in the use of bio-identicals in addition to analyzing and handling any other glands in your body that also need attention is likely to prescribe a low dose of say, Armour Thyroid. He or she then titrates up the amount until he or she discovers what the optimum levels of natural hormones in your body are. This is important because best results from the use of bio-identicals take place when one bio-identical is used together with other bio-identicals carefully chosen to work with it such as natural progesterone, pregnenalone, DHEA or others It is most important that you have proper nutritional support for your thyroid gland while this is happening. Drink good quantities of pure water every day and eat foods high in iodine like seafood, all of which can be helpful in restoring high-level health to your body. Many practitioners also insist on checking to make sure you have adequate iron stores and that you do not have anemia before they begin hormone replacement therapy. Its important that you remember this: it is virtually impossible to balance your endocrine system without taking into consideration the interrelationships of thyroid hormone with other natural hormones in your body. This is perhaps the most important secret of successful hormonal treatment for your glands, which produce hormones that have a powerful synergistic effect with one another. This makes it important for you to identify a brilliant practitioner who knows his or her stuff. The average GP has no training in the use of bio-identical hormones, he has been trained to use drugs. Next week we will look into important questions such as how to learn more, where to find the right practitioner, and where you can get bio-identical hormones.

In this video I go over the 5 main reasons that patients who switch from Levothyroxine to Armour thyroid DON'T lose weight. Many patients believe that switching from T4 to NDT will cause immediate weight loss and are disappointed when it doesn't happen. The truth is that Armour thyroid CAN help with weight loss but you need to make sure that these 5 barriers aren't standing in your way: 1. Your dose isn't high enough - Many Doctors under dose patients when converting from T4 medication to NDT by about 50%. Use the chart in this video to make sure your dose is high enough. 2. You need more T3 added to your regimen - Several conditions like euthyroid sick syndrome or tissue level hypothyroidism make it so patients need more T3 than what Armour thyroid provides. So while armour may be a step in the right direction you may need more T3 added to your NDT. 3. You are suffering from Leptin resistance - High leptin levels decrease T4 to T3 conversion and can make weight loss impossible unless it is addressed. Use this video to help you find out if you have leptin resistance and if you need to treat it. 4. You are reacting to fillers in Armour thyroid - Many patients react poorly to the methylcellulose that is used in Armour thyroid. It can reduce the amount of free thyroid hormone that is absorbed when you take this medication. Make sure this isn't limiting the amount of thyroid hormone your body can absorb! 5. Your Reverse T3 is TOO high - High levels of reverse T3 effectively put the brake on your thyroid system and can result in a slow metabolism and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Taking T4 only medications and even sometimes NDT like armour thyroid can cause high levels of reverse T3. Find out how to treat and check for this condition. More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here: http://www.restartmed.com/armour-thyroid-weight-loss/ You can read more on my website here: http://www.restartmed.com/ My office is here: Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234 Phone: (480) 964-5107 Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

AIR DATE: June 13, 2013 at 7PM ETFEATURED EXPERT: FEATURED TOPIC: "All Things Thyroid (Thyroid 201)" The thyroid gland serves one of the most under-appreciated and yet totally misunderstood functions within the human body. If someone is dealing with excessive weight on their body, you might hear them say something along the lines of it being due to having a bad thyroid. But there's got to be more to it than that, right? What is at the root cause of why your thyroid might not be functioning at optimal levels? And what steps can be taken to fix these thyroid issues without resorting to taking potentially harmful prescription medications? That's what we'll be exploring with a Walnut Creek, CA-based functional medicine physician named  (listen to my interview with him in ). Dr. Ruscio specializes in the subject of thyroid health (and has  to tell) which is why he will being joining us to talk about "All Things Thyroid (Thyroid 201)." You might recall we had the great  on to talk about this subject back in  to give a Thyroid 101 introduction to the topic. But Dr. Ruscio will help us dig even deeper into answering YOUR most pressing questions about thyroid health and how it relates to your healthy low-carb, Paleo lifestyle. If you want to get a taste for what his teaching style is like, then be sure to check out  for lots of informative videos on this subject and more. Dr. Ruscio joined us in Episode 39 of "Ask The Low-Carb Experts" to keep the conversation going on the vital importance of attaining and maintaining good thyroid health. Here are just a few of the questions we addressed in this podcast: DANIELLA ASKS: I'm a 36-year old mother who recently started eating a low-carb Paleo lifestyle. I consume 1500-1600 calories most days and take in about 50-60g of carbohydrates daily. My energy is great and I look and feel the best I have ever felt in my life. Sleep and athletic performance are incredible as well and my muscle definition at 5’3” tall and 110 pounds has never been better. My only concern is that I take 60mg Armour thyroid daily and I am concerned that my low-carb diet may interfere with thyroid function. I feel like I eat adequate calories most of the time, but should I be concerned? My last labs showed everything to be good: TSH 0.6, Free T3 at 2.2, free T4 at .8. KATHERINE ASKS: I'm 39 years old and I've been on a low-carb diet (40-70g carb per day) for 22 months in response to pre-diabetic blood sugar levels. Since changing my diet, my T3 has dropped and is now borderline low. Initial thyroid tests 22 months ago were all normal. I've done some casual reading in recent months that a low-carb diet can suppress thyroid function. In other places I've read it can help it. Can you please help clear up this confusing issue? & NANCY ASKS: I have actually been struggling with the low-carb concept out of fear of ruining my thyroid. There is so much conflicting information out there with regards to low-carb being bad or good for thyroid. I’ve heard that women should not be on a low-carb diet for too long or at all because of the risks to their thyroid function. I am already obese at 5'1" and 184 pounds and I feel lost and not sure which nutritional path to take. KEN ASKS: I've been eating Paleo over the last year and recently had an NMR test. My LDL particle count was very high at 1403 with my small LDL coming in at 492. HDL is 62 and triglycerides are 50. I was wondering if you could further explain the role the thyroid plays in the particle count levels and whether those of us eating a low-carb Paleo diet should be worried. It seems many of us eating this way, including Jimmy, have high LDL-P and I’m curious if our way of eating is making this happen. JUNE ASKS: Do you have a preference between Armour vs. Nature Thyroid? RICK ASKS: What are your thoughts on treating thyroid disease with high levels of iodine supplementation? WENDY ASKS: I have been taking 30 mg of Armour Thyroid and have been Paleo/Primal since Jan 2011. I eat fish 2x per week. I avoid raw cruciferous veggies and take a drop or two of a concentrated iodine supplement weekly as I don't want to overdo it. I recently started adding kelp sprinkles daily to my food and would like to stop having to take thyroid medications if at all possible. Is this doable? JACKIE ASKS: I had thyroid cancer in 2008 and had a total thyroidectomy. I'm currently taking 200 mcg of Synthroid daily. Since the thyroid controls metabolism, how do I increase my metabolism to lose weight? I’m 57 years old, 5'2" tall and weigh 260 pounds. DEANNA ASKS: I did the HCG diet over 2 years ago and lost nearly 40 pounds. Since then I have slowly gained almost all of it back. I am having hypothyroid symptoms (hair loss, brittle nails, cold hands and feet) the main one being a total inability to lose weight no matter how hard I try. I eat mostly Paleo. What are your thoughts about the HCG diet and its effect on thyroid function? I have read that it could affect reverse T3 but there are a lot of functional medicine doctors advocating it. PAUL ASKS: What are Dr. Ruscio’s thoughts on the Endocrine Society's updated clinical practice guidelines for the management of thyroid health in pregnancy? They seem to be quite controversial. LINDA ASKS: I read that eating one Brazil nut a day is enough to bring up a low thyroid to normal levels. Is that true? What other foods can help with this? JASON ASKS: Is the excessive fluoride typically added to the drinking water in local municipalities something to be worried about because of iodine absorption issues and by extension be a contributor to hypothyroidism? INGE FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA ASKS: I lost weight after my sister died in 1993 and at the age of 40 I developed a taste for alcohol that killed my thyroid. For 10 years the specialist put me on Thyroxin until my blood pressure became very high due to a lack of T3 stimulation. She then put me on 7 grains of thyroid extract and I started losing weight again. I’m now seeing an integrative doctor who is not happy about this high dosage of thyroid extract. He told me to back off of it and now I’m gaining weight again putting on 8 kg, I sleep 10 hours a night, I retain fluid, I can no longer exercise because I’m so exhausted all the time and I have severe brain fog. Do you have any suggestions for me? MELANIE ASKS: I just got diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue that according to my doctor is causing Functional Hypothyroidism. So my Free T3 and T4 were in the normal range, but at the lower end. I need to fix the adrenal fatigue issue but I also need to be supporting my thyroid so that it doesn’t get any worse. I'm pretty familiar with ways to support the thyroid, but wanted to ask the opinion on taking animal glandulars. I wonder if Dr. Ruscio is familiar with the Xymogen T-150 thyroid support product (a freeze-dried, BSE-free, bovine, multi-glandular, mineral and herbal formula to support healthy thyroid function). Do you have an opinion on it? My doctor wants me taking it. ROGER ASKS: Before I went low-carb Paleo, I knew my thyroid wasn’t functioning well. My Free T3 and T4 levels were horrible and I was feeling sluggish. Is a short-term supplementation of pregnenolone a good way to boost thyroid health and balance other hormones? CATHY ASKS: I started Synthroid for hypothyroidism in January and quickly developed a bad case of acne. Is this just a coincidence or did the medication cause this? AMBERLY ASKS: The thyroid tests done by my doctor were all normal, but then I started going to another doctor who specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement. He said that one of them was low, maybe the Free T3. He put me on Armour thyroid to treat it. When I asked him if this could have any negative effects, he said that it could shut my thyroid down, but that since my thyroid wasn't functioning as well as it needed to on its own. Thus, he convinced me it would make sense to go ahead and start the Armour since it wasn't going to get any better on its own anyway. My Free T3 is now slightly too high. Do you agree with this doctor’s aggressive approach?

Click to Subscribe to All Ben's Fitness & Get A Free Surprise Gift from Ben. Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode Topics discussed in this free September 16, 2009 audio episode: everything you need to know about reducing your heart attack risk, water intake during exercise, protein:carb ratios for fat loss, detox and rashes, thyroid medications, testosterone, doping, drafting, and is too much produce a bad thing? Featured Topic This week's featured topic is an interview with Dr. William Davis, the author of "Track Your Plaque: The only heart disease prevention program that shows how the new CT heart scans can be used to detect, track, and control coronary plaque".  As a practicing cardiologist, Dr. Davis became deeply dissatisfied with the conventional approach to heart disease and created the Track Your Plaque program to help others apply new technology in heart disease prevention. He is the Medical Director of Milwaukee Heart Scan and is a member of the Nutritional Magnesium Association. Dr. Davis is dedicated to promoting early detection and prevention of heart disease and invites you to get more information that will help you avoid the heart health risk factors of magnesium deficiency. During the interview, Dr. Davis and I discuss: -why a special sub-set of elite athletes are actually at a high risk for heart disease -what it means to have a "high heart scan score" -the extreme importance of something called lipoprotein A -one of single most important minerals for heart function that is now removed from the public water supply -how to track your plaque, and exactly where to go and what to do for a heart CT scan -the primary problems with conventional approaches to heart disease -why do healthy people have heart attacks? -and much more! Listener Q&A   Listener Jason asks: "Morning mr greenfield, u said u liked that. Been doing some flying lately and become a fan of listening to your  podcast. I was hopeing you could give me some feedback on an issue I had in my  first tri I competed in a week or so ago. Basically the issue is that on my run I got severe stomach cramps and  suffered from ab muscle pain for a few day after the event. A little bit of background and history is that I am in good shape,  6-1 , 190 pounds, probably about 15 % body fat. I trained for the  event, which was a sprint tri for about 7 weeks and felt good going  into it. Had some cereal and a slice of toast for b- fast. About 16 oz  of water. Then after getting to the course had a clif bar. Just before  the race I had a gu. Did the 300 m swim in 5:47. Then did 15 ml bike  in 47 mins. I also had two bottles of water while doing the bike  portion. Regular bike water bottles. In my transition to the run I had  half of a small bottle of Gatorade. That's where the problems started.  Got out of the t2 area and started getting stomach cramps which hung  around for the entire run which slowed me down to about 28 mins insted  of the 25 I was hoping for. I did the race in 1:24 which was 6 mins faster than I was going for  but am very competitive and want to improve. Any help u could give me would be appreciated. Someone said it was  because I drank to much liquid." Listener Maleah asks: "Doing the Shape21 thing made me start researching raw food diets since it is very similar.  I don't think I told you but in the second week I had a very bad cold.  I took it particularly hard because I had not had a cold in about 4 years.  I was afraid I was doing something wrong with the diet and exercise.  But, in learning about raw food diets, this is a NORMAL occurrence due to detoxification.  I don't remember that being in your materials.  If I missed it, I guess that is par for the course because I missed several other things the first time through but if you did not include it, may I recommend adding it?" Listener Drew asks: "On a somewhat related note to the pollution question, I have a question that also relates to the harmful chemicals of our modern day world.  Let's suppose that an athlete is on a tight budget and honestly cannot afford to buy organic produce.  Let's suppose he/she can only afford non-organic produce.  Do you think it might be better in this case to forgo produce altogether and consume the necessary vitamins and minerals from other sources?  In other words, does ingesting huge amounts of harmful pesticides and/or genetically modified produce outweigh the benefits the produce may provide?  Thanks, Ben!" Listener Pete asks: "Hi Ben, Got a more general question in regards to the IM/ Half IM bike leg. When ever I listen to the pros talking via podcasts, they always mention, "riding with/being dropped from the group". Are they talking about riding together with a 3 bike length gap, or are they just straight out drafting. Also, noticed the the WTC have introduced anti-doping laws across the board for pro and Age group qualifiers. I'd like to know your thoughts on what percent of people are actually cheating, both pro and age grouper. Do we have a big problem in our sport?" Listener Jim asks: "I take the Armour Thyroid, should I consider specific times that I dose in the morning on race days, I currently dose once a day in the AM when I wake. Also I take Adroderm testosterone patches, I also have some gels. I take 3 per day and usually replace them when I go to bed, they are 5 mg per for a total of 15mg per day. I understand you are not a doctor...but I would like to know if the levels of both of these prescriptions affect performance." Do you have a question? Remember, you can now ask your questions via *audio* to me via the free Skype software by simply “Skyping” me at username “pacificfit“. You can also call toll free to 1-877-209-9439 and leave a voicemail for Ben Greenfield. -------------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: 1. Did you see the latest post on carb-free, gluten-free, fat-free, calorie-free Miracle Noodles? Check it out here, or watch the video below! 2. New BenGreenfieldFitness active singlets, hoodies and hat available! Click here to check out the new store.   3. Click here to get the full scoop on the brand new Pacific Elite Fitness Triathlon Training Campin Austin, Texas - including registration details, itinerary, food, training, activities and much more! -------------------------------------------------------- That's all for this week. Check back for upcoming interviews on organic farming methods, women's hormone issues, Ben's follow-up discussion on his blood, saliva and urine testing with Dr. Richard Cohen, and upcoming podcasts from Kona at Ironman Hawaii! Be sure to leave our podcast a rating in iTunes! 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