The evils of GLUTEN! Gluten is one of the biggest culprits in causing an autoimmune thyroid that I see in my office. Therefore, it is EXTREMELY important to be tested properly for gluten sensitivity. In our office, we run a food sensitivity test from a lab called Enterolab. It is a lab test for sensitivity to gluten, milk, soy, egg…

Vitamin D You always seem hear in the news that there’s some new vitamin to consider or new deficiency to consider, but when it comes to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroid – it’s very important that patients are taking Vitamin D to help their immune system. Modern diets are lacking in Vitamin D rich foods. What are Vitamin D rich…

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) Healthy hormone production, including the production of thyroid hormones, depends on Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). You’ve probably heard about these nutrients; fish oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil. In our diets, EFA’s can be found in cold water fish and in many raw, unprocessed nuts and seeds. EFA’s not only contribute nutrients…

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) There have been studies that show that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, can trigger Hashimoto's Disease. PCOS is a common female hormone disorder. It affects 5-10 percent of menstruating women, and it is one of the most common causes of infertility. PCOS symptoms include the inability to lose weight, hair loss, fatigue after meals, hormone imbalances,…

The Adrenal Glands Your adrenal glands make a hormone called “cortisol”. They sit atop your kidneys and they are your stress glands. They make a lot of hormones for your body in addition to cortisol, such as aldosterone and androgens. Your adrenal glands are vital for optimal health. When your adrenal glands are not working, it causes high levels of…

Cytokines Cytokines are the messengers that your immune system uses as part of the inflammatory process. When a patient has an inflammatory condition like arthritis, IBS, asthma or an autoimmune condition like Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, there are usually high levels of cytokines. When cytokines are high, they suppress the circuit in your brain that helps you make thyroid hormones.…

Intestinal Fortitude…LITERALLY! Gut function is extremely important, and can be affected by something called “Leaky Gut Syndrome” (LGS). You may or may not have heard of it. Leaky Gut Syndrome is where the lining of your intestines have become more permeable, so it allows things like food particles and large molecules to permeate your system and create havoc with your…

Don’t fall into the false belief that… “Everything has been done!” Believing that all of the labs that have been done are normal is WRONG! I can't tell you how many times a patient walks in my office and tells me that their medical doctor told them that all their labs are normal. Yes, they may be normal in regards…

Do Not Allow Your Health Condition to be Labeled and Placed in a Nice, Neat Box! Do not accept “hypothyroid” or “Graves' Disease” as a label for all of your symptoms. There’s no simple explanation for why you have a thyroid problem. That’s why ALL of the testing needs to be done. When you were first diagnosed with a thyroid…

Don’t Use Medications as a Crutch! Are you relying solely on medication to treat your symptoms? Ask yourself if you really think all of the medication that you’re taking is actually making your body functional or healthy. Is it really fixing your symptoms? Think about this: If you gave the medication that you’re taking to a healthy person, would they…