Anemias I’ve mentioned that the number-one cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune thyroid, but the question I get is, “What if the patient isn’t autoimmune?” Since there are a small percentage of patients who are not autoimmune, what else could be causing the problem? Anemia is the answer! Anemia in and of itself is a deal-breaker for nutritional support of…

Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG) When thyroid hormones are secreted from your thyroid gland, they are bound to a carrier, a protein. This protein is called “thyroxine-binding globulin” or TBG. So TBG is similar to a taxicab, and your thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, get into the cab, and they are transported to the liver, where they’re converted. And then they jump…

Blood Sugar/Blood Glucose From a medical standpoint, normal blood glucose levels have a broad range of 70 to 105, while functional or optimal blood glucose level ranges are 85 to 99. According to the American Diabetic Association, a blood sugar level reading of 106 to 126 is termed “insulin resistance” or “pre-diabetes,” and anything above a reading of 127 is…

Brain Function Brain function is extremely important in treating the thyroid, as I’ve mentioned previously in other secrets. The brain controls every bodily function. Your pituitary drives the thyroid gland. It releases TSH. The part of your brain called the hypothalamus drives the pituitary. Our brain needs two things to survive: fuel and activation. Fuel is glucose and oxygen, which…

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.…