Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed

The Case: Meghan O’Rourke spent years describing her symptoms to her doctor only to be told it was something inconsequential or all in her head.After years of feeling alone and abandoned by the system she started to see a functional medicine practitioner.Finally, she was getting the real answers to what was going on but it took years to undo the damage done by dismissing the issues.She wrote a book about her experience to help others feel less alone. The InvestigationMany people dealing with autoimmune diseases or rare genetic issues find themselves beyond the textbooks of traditional medicine. This can lead to being given false diagnosis (like, dry skin or hormonal shifts due to menses), or being sent off to specialist after specialist without any diagnosis. When you are caught in this loop, it seems like treating the issues is impossible and the journey can be emotionally draining. The most heartbreaking part is that women who find themselves in this situation start to question if there are any answers out there, if maybe it is all in their head, or if they will ever feel well again. This is often when they find me and I’m always so glad when they do and I can help to solve their health mysteries. I feel it’s my purpose to help them get out of despair and on the road to health. The Invisible KingdomMeghan O’Rourke is on the same mission. In her book, The Invisible Kingdom, she shares her own journey and what it took to reclaim her health. She shares this story and everything she learned along the way so that others will know that they are not alone and that there are answers when you know where to look. The book is completely aligned with this podcast, so if you’re a long-time listener, you’ll understand why I had to have her on the show. In this episode, we break from our usual podcast format so that Meghan can share her inspirational story. Meghan’s Personal Health Mystery StoryFor over 10 years, Meghan dealt with health issues that no doctor could explain. It started with neurological symptoms like when she started to feel electrical shock sensations run up her leg. The doctor told her it might be dry skin. Then she started to experience vertigo, fatigue, daily hives, brain fog, joint pain, and excessive night sweats. While certain symptoms were treated others were blamed on stress or she was told not to worry about them. Much like gaslighting, she started to question whether she was actually feeling these things. She started to buy into this message that something was wrong with her mind. She started to blame her diet and that everything she was experiencing was somehow her fault. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. She was also diagnosed with a genetic condition as well as Hashimoto’s. This is when she realized that it wasn’t all in her head and started to understand the scope of suffering by those whose symptoms are dismissed. Shifting Away from Conventional MedicineMeghan’s medical struggles changed course when the sister of a friend (who is a nurse) suggested that she see a functional medicine doctor. The first thing they did was run labs that no conventional doctor had even considered. This was how the thyroid anomaly was found leading to a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease. Even though she was starting to get answers, it was difficult for her to let go of the belief that conventional doctors were the ultimate authority on health. Many people experience this because we are raised to trust traditional medicine and to be skeptical of alternatives.But, the more she started to view her body as a whole system, the more she was able to understand the role the individual symptoms were playing in her overall health picture. She started to figure out the root causes of her symptoms. Lyme Disease DiagnosisLyme disease had been the root cause of several of her symptoms. She’d had a number of strange rashes at different times but they weren't classic bullseye rash known to indicate Lyme. She had dismissed Lyme as a possibility because of the lack of this tell-tale rash. It turns out that many people go undiagnosed for this same reason. The longer you have Lyme without treating it, the more damage it can do. Meghan was hesitant to treat her Lyme disease with antibiotics because she found that certain lifestyle choices significantly helped reduce her symptoms. However, this state of being “almost symptom-free” didn’t always last. Her functional doctor convinced her that the medication was necessary. Many people are surprised by this but the risks of Lyme going untreated are seen as far more harmful than the negative impact on your gut flora from taking antibiotics.It took some time for the medication to work, but once it did, she was able to focus on repairing the damage the antibiotics may have done to her gut health. Fecal Microbiota TransplantFecal Microbiota Transplant is a cutting edge approach used to restore a severely-imbalanced gut. While this is still somewhat experimental, Meghan was wil

The Case: Lynn has Hashimoto’s and experiences fatigue, brain fog and mood swings.She takes thyroid medication and various supplements but still struggles to feel well.She’s frustrated because she eats well and follows a good thyroid protocol without the results. The InvestigationWhen I met Lynn, I saw that her TSH was fluctuating so we needed to stabilize her immune system. She was already following much of my advice with her diet and supplements. There were a few minor improvements we could make but my sense was that something else was playing a role in addition to her biochemistry. What is a Psychoimmunologist?If you’ve never heard the term psychoneuroimmunology (sometimes referred to simply as psychoimmunology) it is the study of how the mind can affect the immune system. Dr. Mario Martinez, a best-selling author is a thought leader in the field of psychoneuroimmunology with his books, “The Mind-Body Code: How the Mind Wounds and Heals the Body” and “The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited” as well as his online courses, groups, and mentorships. He’s been a popular guest on the show before and I knew he was perfect to join us to shed some light on this health mystery. Especially because lately, he’s been working on the role that authenticity plays in our immune health and our thyroid health. What is Authenticity?Dr. Martinez says that there is a tremendous misconception around authenticity and inauthenticity. He explains that many of us were raised in a culture where being authentic simply means to be yourself and be honest. But, he says, that’s not enough. In his research, looking at the origin of the word ‘authenticity’ and how philosophers have pondered it in the past, he feels that being your honest self is only a surface version of yourself. This is because we internalize, morph, and sometimes forget who we are and what we want, in order to fit in with our tribe or cultural expectations. And then, we lose or forget our true self. How Inauthenticity Causes IllnessBehaving outside of our truth creates a stress response that over time, can create a real health issue. Even when we think we are being authentic, we may be fooling ourselves. The more we repeat these false beliefs about ourselves, and the more we speak about them (because language has power), the more concrete these false-perceptions feel. These feelings become our truth, even though they do not represent our true authentic self. And this can subconsciously cause an imbalance in the immune system through the mind-body connection because our language does not match our true authentic self. For example, if you say, “I am a good person”. Your psycho terminology may trigger your mind to look for evidence of whether you're a good person or not. And if you begin to look at when you're not being a good person and that you have a history of not being a good person, you create an incoherence which triggers a stress response. If this continues, then you may find yourself with chronically high levels of cortisol. Which, in turn, can release inflammatory molecules, increasing a propensity for particular illnesses. Dr. Martinez shared another hypothetical example about a little girl who learned to be submission to survive an abusive father. This submissiveness was necessary at the time. However, she may begin to believe that this is part of who she truly is. But, when she carries it forward into parts of her life where it is not necessary for survival, she may struggle to get the things she wants. Her learned truth and her real truth are out of balance. She is so used to being oppressed that she falls into a perceived helplessness. The moment that you feel helpless, like you don't have resources to deal with something overcoming you, your natural killer cells go down, your ideas go down, your inflammation goes up, and your immune system becomes helpless because you have a helpless consciousness. But, when you are an adult and the context is different (you actually do have resources, you’re not in danger of being hurt) and you have this response, there is a disconnect between your behavior and the reality of the situation. Overtime, this can lead to serious health issues. It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean inauthenticity causes illness but it can increase the propensity for it. How Do You Know If You're Being Inauthentic?If being authentic isn’t simply being honest and has so much to do with the subconscious mind, or learned false-beliefs, how can you tell if you are being inauthentic? Dr. Martinez says the answer is in your innate response. When you are behaving in a way that is inauthentic, you can feel it. However, many of us have become desensitized to these physical responses. Awareness and learning to identify that feeling of being inauthentic (for example, saying yes in an effort to people-please) is the first step in moving out of living an inauthentic life. How To Stop Being Inaut

The Case: Amanda is dealing with digestive issues, brain fog, fatigue, and weight gain.She was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but doctors said there was nothing to be done besides get used to it.She tried changing her diet, which helped, but it left her obsessing over food. The InvestigationWhen I met Amanda, I knew there were underlying issues. Her doctors told her it was in her head, and I suspected they were right but not in the way they meant. I wanted to explore the gut-brain connection and find out if it was having an impact on Amanda’s digestive issues. Digestive Health and HypnotherapyMention hypnotherapy and most people will think of the Hollywood version of it where an audience member is hypnotized and made to cluck like a chicken. This is not the practical application of hypnotherapy, as my guest, Angela Privin explains in this episode. Angela had her own journey with IBS in her 20s and 30s. She was able to improve her digestive health naturally, but years later when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, her old symptoms started to return. That’s when she started to look into the brain/gut connection, internalized stress responses, trauma, and how the unconscious mind works on all of these. In doing the mindbody work, she was able to lower her Hashimoto antibodies. This led Angela to explore hypnotherapy and now she uses rapid transformational therapy as part of her digestive health coaching to help her clients let go of the limiting beliefs, past traumas, and stories that may be causing the body to have an inflammatory response. The Role the Autonomic Nervous System PlaysThe autonomic nervous system provides the connection between the brain and the gut. The main nerve providing this connection is the vagus nerve which is attached to the digestive organs and regulates breathing, motility, and blood pressure. This all happens unconsciously - we don’t have to do anything to make it work. However, when the nervous system is dysfunctional, it stops sending the proper messages to the organs and problems arise. This can even be triggered by our subconscious thoughts and our stress. The Conscious and Subconscious MindMost people know that we have conscious thoughts and subconscious thoughts but what most people don’t realize is that our conscious thoughts are not the dominant thoughts. Our conscious thoughts include logic and our ability to analyze but these intentional thoughts that we are very aware of, are only 10-20% of our mind, according to Angela. The subconscious mind is the emotional mind. It is also where we store our memories and experiences. And this subconscious mind is what drives our behavior. The subconscious mind is “running the show” and we aren’t even aware of it. For someone who has a history of illness or of dealing with an issue, this can sometimes lead to that person’s subconscious mind believing that the body is broken or that it will never be well. This subconscious thought triggers a stress response which sends signals to the nervous system and immune system, creating a negative loop that can keep someone in a state of illness. Where do Subconscious Thoughts and Beliefs Come From?There are many ways that beliefs and ideas get locked into the subconscious mind. For many, it comes from a childhood experience. These experiences do not need to be extreme or dramatic for them to lock in for a long time. It could be something as simple as the belief that a certain food or diet is dangerous or unhealthy. The subconscious mind locks that in without the conscious mind realizing it. Unlocking Harmful Subconscious Thoughts Some of these thoughts around food, can have the body believing a fear so deeply that it triggers that immune or nervous system response - which perpetuates the belief. All of this is happening without the brain realizing it. So, how do you get rid of these powerful thoughts or beliefs if you don’t even know you have them? Angela says the first step is to slow down. She recommends meditation or spending time in a meditative state (this is essentially what hypnosis is). She also says that journaling or engaging in free-flow speaking are other ways to get in touch with the subconscious mind. How does Hypnosis Work for Someone with IBS or Digestive Issues?The key is to track down the subconscious thoughts that are triggering the nervous system and rewire those thoughts. Angela does this through hypnosis by helping someone relax to the point where their brainwaves change from beta brainwaves (which we experience in the conscious mind) to alpha or theta brainwaves. You experience this shift naturally when you are, for example, in a flow state or hyper-focused but you may not be aware of it. So, hypnosis guides you into that state. Once in this state, Angela will help you find the triggering thoughts and then create affirmations that counter those thoughts. It’s kind of like a negative belief antidote. She says that her clients then s

The Case: Alexandra’s everyday was determined by the state of her stomachShe was often bloated, gassy, and struggled to keep her weight healthyShe tried restrictive diets, tried over the counter gas remedies, digestive enzymes, and various probiotics but nothing gave her long-term relief The InvestigationIt was clear that there was something going on with her gut and it seemed likely that dysbiosis was at play. I knew her microbiome needed support but, I also suspected that with everything she’d tried, we needed to approach the solution methodically as there was likely more than one thing going on. Gut issues and the state of our microbiome plays a huge role in how we feel physically but it can also seriously impact our mental health, organ health, immune system, and our ability to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Wheat Belly Author’s Latest BookWhen it comes to understanding gut health and addressing Alexandra’s problem, I knew that one of the best people to talk to would be the author of the best selling book, Wheat Belly. Dr. William Davis has a new book out called Super Gut where he addresses exactly what Alexandra is going through. The book also shares a ‘4-week place to reprogram your microbiome, restore health, and lose weight’. Symptoms of a Disrupted Gut MicrobiomeThere are many symptoms that could point to a disruption in the microbiome balance. Most people think of the symptoms that Alexandra was experiencing because they are related to the gut itself (bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, etc) but there are many other issues that can be traced back to microbiome disruption. Dr. Davis points to a myriad of issues including, weight gain, skin rashes and eczema, arthritis, pain, inflammation, wrinkles and healthy skin, and sleep health. He also believes that just about every human disease needs to be reconsidered in light of the microbiome. What Causes the Microbiome to be out of Balance?There are many reasons that the microbiome may be out of balance including use of antibiotics as well as other drugs like stomach acid blocking drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen diclofenac), synthetic sweeteners (Aspartame, sucralose and saccharin), emulsifying agents (Sorbate 80, carboxymethyl, and cellulose), and even something as common as stress can disrupt microbiome. One condition that is directly related to microbiome health is the silent epidemic of SIBO. What is SIBOSIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Dr. Davis says that many people have SIBO but go undiagnosed (which can lead to long-term health issues). There is now a breath test that people can do to better understand SIBO and where the bacteria overgrowth is happening, specifically, in the digestive pathway. Microbes belong in the colon which has a protective barrier against microbes. When there is an imbalance or overgrowth, microbes can end in the small bowel where the mucus barrier is thinner and can be easily damaged by these misplaced microbes. Exposure to antibiotics and emulsifying agents can further erode the lining as well as disrupt the balance of stool microbes like E coli, and citrobacter. These proliferate and offset the balance. And then, these microbes die (within a few hours) and release a lot of byproducts that break down and make it into the bloodstream. This process results in something called endotoxemia which is extremely toxic to humans. With all of this going on internally, it can be difficult to detect but may show up as depression, brain issues, joint swelling or intestinal issues. Dr. Davis estimates that 1 in 3 people are dealing with SIBO which can lead to Endotoxemia when untreated. Testing for SIBOConventional doctors can conduct a test for SIBO but Dr. Davis says the method they use does not identify all forms of SIBO. One of the early signs of SIBO is the presence of hydrogen gas (produced by the bacteria) within 90 minutes of consuming food. The quicker it shows up, the further up the GI tract the imbalance is occurring. Signs we often attribute to food intolerances may in fact be related to SIBO. For example, if you eat black beans and experience bloating, gas, and/or diarrhea in about 30 minutes then it is virtually 100% reliable that you have SIBO. Another sign of SIBO is fat malabsorption. If you look in the toilet, you see fat droplets or staining of the toilet where water meets porcelain, this is a sign that you are not absorbing fat and that SIBO may be present.Dr. Davis says that many diseases can be seen as a symptom of SIBO. For example, he says 84% of people with irritable bowel syndrome have SIBO. People with autoimmune diseases, like Hashimoto's, Crohn’s, UlcerativeColitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as those with neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, cognitive decline, or multiple sclerosis have a high probability of having SIBO. What is SIFOIt is also possible to have small in

The Investigation Thyroid issues are not a one-size-fits-all. If you’ve been listening to my podcast for a while, then you know I talk a lot about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s because I see so many people struggling with these issues. One of the main reasons they struggle is because traditional medicine tends to treat hypothyroidism one way - by measuring TSH and then medicating to get TSH back into range. There is so much more to optimizing the thyroid and the key is to take a more individual approach. The best news is that you can balance your thyroid and your immune system and you CAN feel good again. You can feel like the old you, the pre-war you as I call it, when your body was not battling itself every day. Yes, it is possible to be: Full of energy Reach and maintain your ideal weigh Sleep well every night Have great skin and hair Think clearly (no more brain fog) But this can only happen when you look at your thyroid not from the perspective that it is slow, but more about what type of slow down you have. There are several types of slow downs. I call these “Thyroid Types”. Knowing your Thyroid Type will allow you to properly balance it, not just reverse the speed of it. When you balance your thyroid, you can actually deal with the symptoms that are hanging around even though your doctor says your thyroid tests show the medication is working and you are in range. That’s right, you do not have to put up with those symptoms anymore once you understand your Thyroid Type! This is also true if you have Hashimoto’s but the support needs to be twofold to make sure that you aren’t just addressing the thyroid issue but also balancing the immune system. In order to identify your Thyroid Type you will need to have a full panel of thyroid tests. Having just the TSH is not enough. You also need all the other markers. A full thyroid panel includes TSH, Total T4, Free T4, Total T3, Free T3, Reverse T3, T3 Uptake and TPO and TG Antibodies. Let’s look at these different Thyroid Types. Type 1: High TSH This is what many doctors will diagnose and prescribe medication for (such as Synthroid). The lab range on this is pretty wide, so I like to look at the optimal range which is 1.8 - 3 if you are not on medication and .5-2.5 if you are on medication. The typical lab range is .5-4.5. This High TSH is just one type and most people who have issues that do not seem to be resolved by their initial approach would typically fall into the other types. Type 2: Low T3 This is very common and is easily missed if you are not looking at the full thyroid panel. T3 is converted from T4 and is needed for cellular health but just boosting T4 doesn’t always solve the issue. In this case, it’s important to find out why T3 is not converting. Type 3: Unavailable Hormones Type You are this Type if you have a normal TSH and a normal total T4 and T3. In other words, most doctors would not diagnose you as having a thyroid issue. But, you have symptoms that scream thyroid issue. We determine this Thyroid Type by looking more closely at Free T4 and Free T3 to see that while they may be in the wider range, they are not in optimal range. I call this Unavailable because the hormones are there but they are not available to your cells. There is a specific underlying reason for this and unless that is supported, those hormones will continue to be unavailable and cause symptoms. Type 4: Understimulated Hormone Type This is you if you have a low TSH and a low T4. It can be hard to catch because the TSH is fine so doctors never look deeper but with a low T4, there is not enough stimulation happening. All of these types can come with or without Hashimoto’s. The last Type is for those who have Hashimoto’s Type 5: Normal Type (with Hashimoto’s) This one is when your thyroid is not low - it’s actually in range. But, you do have Hashimoto’s. I’m including it because it can be super deceiving and so often, people are told that nothing can be done and they just have to wait it out. Basically, they are told to wait until their Hashimoto’s destroys the thyroid enough to trigger an elevated TSH to warrant starting on medication. However the symptoms you are experiencing can be there from the inflammation even if thyroid is completely normal. But, you CAN start supporting the immune system to prevent more destruction. Understanding your Thyroid Type is the key to understanding why you still have symptoms even if you are getting good labs or taking your medication. Now that you know your Thyroid Type you can find the right solution for you. For this, I use my Thyroid Trifecta approach. The thyroid trifecta has 3 steps. Identify your Thyroid Type Properly address the underlying cause (why this thyroid type happened) Support the thyroid AND if you have Hashimoto’s, balance the immune system with a comprehensive plan that is specifically for you. This last step is key because a general approach would not typically work because we all have different thyroid types. I have

The InvestigationWomen experience a range of physical and emotional changes when they enter the perimenopause stage. These symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may include: Hot flashesNight sweatsLow libidoIncreased anxietyNot sleeping wellLow energyWeight gainMenstrual cycle irregularitiesCyclical headaches or migrainesMood swingsMemory loss Brain fogVaginal drynessUrinary tract infections Hair thinningFor a lot of women, they hold the false belief that this is something they have to suffer through. There are treatment options out there but with conflicting reports and information, it can be a challenge to figure out the right one. This confusion and fear is another reason that so many women resign themselves to just suffering through this period of their life. In episode 96 of Health Mysteries Solved, we spoke with Dr. Jim Hrncir about this issue. The response I got from that episode was fantastic but I could see that there were more questions too. So, I decided to invite Dr. Hrncir back to dive deeper into these questions around the safety and efficacy of compounding bioidentical hormones for treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. An Advocate and Expert in Compounding Bioidentical HormonesDr. Jim Hrncir is a hormone expert and compounding pharmacist. In fact, he’s one of the pioneers of modern pharmaceutical compounding. Jim is responsible for the formulation of many bioidentical hormones, as well as dermatological, nutritional, and anti-aging compounds available throughout the US. And, he’s one of the driving forces taking on big pharma (and congress) to clear the path for the use of bioidentical hormones in the US. He’s passionate about what bioidentical hormones can do for women’s health; not just in reducing symptoms but in supporting optimal health. The Benefits of Compounded Bioidentical Hormones (Beyond Reducing Menopause Symptoms)While most women turn to bioidentical hormones to help them deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, Jim says that there are additional health benefits to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) that often get overlooked. He claims that his bioidentical hormone replacement therapy patients experience better health as well as a higher quality of life. According to Dr. Hrncir, women who are on bioidentical hormone treatments will have a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke (which, he explains, is the number one killer of women with 400,000 female deaths related to heart attack and stroke each year). He also says that bioidentical hormones help reduce osteoporosis. Breast cancer is often a concern for women and those on bioidentical hormones can see a decreased risk here too, according to Dr. Hrncir.He also says that these hormones can help with anti-aging, colon health, brain health, and sexual health. In this episode, he shared some unbelievable statistics about the degree of risk reduction. Dr. Hrncir says that women who use these hormones “are going to have a 50% decreased risk of heart disease and stroke. A 50% decreased risk of osteoporosis. Twenty percent decreased risk in breast cancer risks… also 78% decreased risk in dementia. And, what about colon cancer? Reduce risk 50%. Longevity and antiaging, you know, none of us want to age faster than we have to. Plus, isn't it nice to know that these hormones, not only are they sex hormones, but they're also anti-inflammatory hormones, which means they're going to be reducing inflammation, not only in your body and your joints and your muscles, but also in your brain, you know brain inflammation leads to all kinds of disturbances including dementia.” When Can Women Start Using Bioidentical Hormone Replacement TherapyDr. Hrncir says that women don’t need to wait to have symptoms of perimenopause before starting on bioidentical hormone therapy since the health benefits are reason enough to start. He feels that even women who are pre-perimenopause and who are post menopause can enjoy the health benefits of hormone therapy. He has his 84-year-old mother on bioidentical hormones. While some feel that they shouldn’t mess with nature because menopause is a natural process, Jim points out that our bodies are still operating on a much shorter life expectancy than we currently have. So, he feels there is no need to suffer through a reduced quality of life and with an increased risk of disease given that we are living much longer these days. Testing hormone levels early on can help to establish a baseline and track how well hormones are balanced. A baseline test might look at estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, adrenals, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, and cortisol. How Long Can Women be on Bioidentical Hormone Replacement TherapyWomen can start thinking about bioidentical hormone therapy when they reach the age of perimenopause and can stay on it for as long as they like, according to Dr. Hrncir. There have been studies that point to the health risks of staying on BHRT for more than five year

The Case: Sarah is struggling to lose weight and has been for yearsEvery year she makes resolutions and goals but she never sticks to themShe wonders if she hasn’t found the right diet protocol or supplementAs the new year dawns, many people will be like Sarah - vowing that this is the year they eat better, get fit, commit to self-care… but then the new year's resolve dissolves before the end of January. The InvestigationTo better understand why our goals and resolutions fail, I invited Tanya Dalton on the show. Tanya is a best-selling author, speaker, and productivity expert. She’s the CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co. They provide tools that work as a catalyst in helping people do less while achieving more. She shared that about 81% of people don't follow through on their New Year's resolutions and 23% drop off in the first week alone. Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?Tanya says that one of the main reasons New Year’s resolutions fail is because we do them in a hurry to meet the deadline of the changing calendar and we don’t spend enough time making sure these goals are aligned with what we want, what we desire in our lives; aligned with your big, bright, beautiful future. Instead, these goals are a knee-jerk reaction to the time of the year and can often be influenced by what other people are suggesting or doing. Additionally, we focus on the numbers instead of what those numbers will lead to. For example, with Sarah, she was focusing on the number on her scale instead of focusing on what a healthy lifestyle will afford her in the future. The numbers on the scale this week start to mean a lot less (and create less stress) when you focus on the long term vision of years and decades to come. Words Matter: Use Empowered LanguageAll too often when someone is trying to create a new habit, they think of the negative impact of that change. And, their language follows suit. This can contribute to the failure. For example, dieters might focus on all the food they can’t eat instead of the good food they can eat. Or, they might say, “I can’t eat that” which makes them feel deprived, restricted, and like they have no choice. They no longer own their decision. If they say “I don’t eat that” instead, it empowers them and keeps things positive. Tanya says that our success rate more than doubles when we make this kind of adjustment to our language. Set Goals with IMPACTYou’ve likely heard of SMART goals. Tanya uses the acronym IMPACT to create powerful goals.InspirationalMeasurablePurpose-drivenAdaptableChallengingTimed InspirationalWrite goals in the positive (as mentioned above). Be sure to ‘order up’ the results you want to get as your goal. When you really start identifying with what it is you want, it builds endorphins which serve to motivate you. And, the positivity you put out, comes back to you. MeasurableEven though Tanya suggests not focusing on the numbers day to day, you do want your goals to be measurable. You can pick whatever measurement you want. It could be something like eating healthy three days out of the week. Or, exercising twice a week. But ,Tanya encourages you to give yourself some grace. Create measurements that allow for an average. This might mean that if you have a goal of drinking 2 liters of water 4 out of seven days of the week. One week you might do it 3 days and the next week it might be 5. Instead of seeing this as having failed one week, see it as being on track for the month, on average. Having measurable goals in this way creates a pattern for yourself and generates a feeling of success. If you’re going to measure your goals, Tanya suggests using a habit tracker app so you can see your progress. Purpose-DrivenThis goes hand in hand with what Tanya shared earlier about aligning your goals to your big, bright, beautiful future. We want our goals to be bigger than just what we're doing here today. For example, if your goal is weight loss. You will measure it with pounds but if it’s purpose driven, you focus more on the new habits that set you up for the future you envisioned. (By the way, if you’re struggling to figure out your purpose, or envisioning your big, bright, beautiful future, have a listen to this episode where Tanya shares her tips on how to tap into this). Adaptable & ChallengingTanya likes to talk about these two things together because as we build new habits, we will face challenges. And these challenges require us to adapt. This removes the black and white nature of goals where you’ve either succeeded or failed. When your goals are challenging but with the room for adaptation, you set yourself up for success because you have the flexibility. Another way to make your goals adaptable but also challenging is to use the MTO methods of setting goals. MTO stands for Minimum, Target, Outrageous. So, when you create your goals, you set the minimum you will accept in executing the goal. And, you also set the target - this is the actual goal - and the outrageous goal wh

The Case: Pam is dealing with brain fog, poor concentration, and fatigue. Tests revealed that she was low in Folate and Vitamin B12. Weeks of taking Vitamin B Complex didn’t help her symptoms at all. A little more research helped Pam understand that not all B vitamins are the same - some are synthetic while other options are natural and in methylated forms. Inspecting the B Complex vitamin she’d been taking, she discovered that the B12 was in the cyanocobalamin form and the folic acid was also synthetic. You might think the mystery was solved at this point, but after finding a methylated B Complex at the local health food store, and taking it for several weeks, her symptoms persisted. She increased her dosage, but after several weeks, she felt even worse. Her labs showed that she was deficient in B vitamins, so why weren’t her supplements working? The Investigation This is something I commonly see and while B vitamins are wonderful, they come in many forms but they are not ‘one size fits all.’ And there is another misconception - people believe that because B vitamins are water soluble, they can’t hurt anyone because the body will expel what it doesn’t use. This isn’t the whole story. How Methylation Works The body has a process called methylation. This is a biochemical process where there is a transfer of four atoms - one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms (CH3) from one substance to another. This process happens all the time, every second. When its optimal it has a significant positive impact on many biochemical reactions in the body that regulate all types of activities. Methylation is needed for neurotransmitter production, detoxification, histamine metabolism, estrogen metabolism, fat metabolism, cellular energy, eye health, and immune balancing. Essentially, if you think of the body as a machine, then methylation (and demethylation) are the gears that trigger the different systems in the body. Two important methyl donors (nutrients that keep methylation moving) are methylated folate (also known as methyltetrahydrofolate or 5 MTHF) and methylcobalamin (methylated B12). It’s worth noting that there is a gene called the MTHFR gene (which we’ve talked about in Episode 34) which makes it harder to convert folic acid from foods or supplements into active form. Understanding the Role of the MTHFR Gene in Methylation The process of methylation is quite complex. We have about 30 enzymes that are part of the methylation cycle pathway. The MTHFR gene is only one piece of the puzzle. And, while the MTHFR being off can cause issues with methylation, those other enzymes can also be a factor (sometimes a major factor). Balancing Methylation You may have heard that methylation is all about taking methyl folate or methyl B12 but there is so much more to it. Think of methylation (and methyl donors, specifically) as a bell shaped curve. You want to be somewhere at the top of the curve to be in balance. If you are lower on the left side of the curve, that is considered less methylation or being an under methylator. If you are lower on the right side of the curve, that would be considered too much methylation or being an over methylator. So many doctors don’t realize this and think more is better. More is not always better, balanced is what you want to aim for. Symptoms of Unbalanced Methylation When you are not in balance (in either over methylation or under methylation) you can experience symptoms. And, taking more B vitamins (especially the wrong kind) may make things worse - even if you’re taking methyl folate and methyl B12 (considered to be the best). There are tons of issues with sub optimal methylation and some can actually be the same when you are an over or an under methylator Anxiety Itchy skin Brain fog Mood changes Fatigue Jitteriness Allergies Immune challenges Environmental sensitivities And many more… How to know if you are an over or an under methylator? Looking at genetics can help but genetics don’t actually show what is expressing and how it's affecting metabolism itself. I like to look at specific biomarkers to see what the body is doing rather than just looking at the genetics which can be a bit deceiving. For example, someone with MTHFR may not actually need more methyl folate. The good news is that there is a simple blood test. It's called the Histamine Determination Whole Blood Test. This lab test can be done at Labcorp. It is really helpful in determining if you are an under or over methylator. If the level is high, you are an under-methylator. If it’s low, you’re an over-methylator. This test is done at many labs but from everything that I have learned about it, it's something that is only accurate at Labcorp and needs to be sent there. As with most tests, there is a lab range and an optimal range.I made a handout on how you can check your methylation status. Please CLICK HERE to access this handout where I give the exact LabCorp test number so you can easily order or ask your doctor to order

The Case: Jenny went on the pill as a teenager to regulate her irregular and heavy periods.After 20 years on the pill, she decided to start a family.Going off the pill led to fatigue, insomnia, hair loss, acne, and when her periods returned after 3 months, they were painful, heavy and irregular.Her symptoms led her to suspect hypothyroidism but her levels came back normal. The InvestigationThe first thing I did when I started working with Jenny was to run a full thyroid panel. While her TSH was normal, as her doctor had said, her free hormones were off. I knew that there had to be a connection between Jenny’s long history with birth control pills, her menstrual issues, and her thyroid but was the thyroid causing the issue or did the pill create a thyroid problem?To discuss this further, I reached out to Emily Sadri. She’s a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and midwife who runs a functional medicine practice for women in Cleveland, Ohio. She specializes in abnormal bleeding, perimenopause, menopause, and fertility so I knew she would be a great resource for this episode. How the Birth Control Pill Became So PopularMost people are familiar with the birth control pill and yet, most of the time this medication is prescribed it is not specifically for family planning as it was designed. Instead, women often turn to the birth control pill to help them deal with other issues. For example, it is common for young women to turn to the birth control pill to lessen heavy and/or painful periods. They may also start taking the pill to help them deal with acne or irregular bleeding. This will often happen soon after a woman starts her menses.Emily says this is a bit of an issue because a woman’s cycle takes time to find it’s rhythm and if a medication is used to regulate that early on, it may never find its own rhythm because the feedback loop between all of the hormones is interrupted. How Menstruation WorksTo fully understand why this is an issue, we needed to go back for an anatomy lesson and reconsider what is going on in a girl’s body as she starts to cycle. The average age of onset of menses is around 11 years old. Prior to that, the young woman's pituitary gland and hypothalamus (in the brain) start to send out little signals to her ovaries. This feedback look is called HPO access or hypothalamic pituitary ovarian access. It's like the feedback loop. So, the hypothalamus talks to the anterior pituitary. The pituitary gland sends out hormones to stimulate the ovaries and release estrogen. That estrogen is released in little bursts over the years leading up to a young girl's first cycle and may still be firing irregularly during the first year or so of menstruation.The estrogen builds up in the uterine lining which starts to thicken the endometrium (lining of the uterus). The hormones from the anterior pituitary stimulate the release of a follicle (aka an egg) from the ovary. That first follicle is released prior to the first bleed. The follicle has a lining around it called the corpus luteum which releases progesterone. The progesterone stabilizes that thickened endometrium. When that egg is not fertilized, the body picks up on that and then the endometrium sheds and that is when you get a menses. All of these hormones have to rise and fall in the cycle and find their rhythm in those first few years of menses.And remember, often at this time in a woman’s life, she is dealing with other things that can impact the release of these hormones including stress and/or not getting enough sleep. How the Birth Control Pill WorksThe birth control pill interrupts the natural feedback loop by introducing hormones that weren’t called for or stimulated by the system. The pituitary hormones, the hypothalamus calibrating hormones, that normally communicate with the ovaries, sense the circulating estrogen and progesterone so there’s no stimulation required. This quiets the whole system and the body either stops producing or produces very little of its own estrogen and the endometrium doesn’t build up as much as it might without the pill. In a traditional birth control pill, there would be 3 weeks of active pills and a week of sugar pills. The absence of the hormones causes a withdrawal bleed. This is different from actually menstruating. This is one of the biggest myths about being on the pill – it does not regulate your period; it eliminates it and triggers a monthly withdrawal bleed. So, any of the problems that existed before going on the pill haven’t been fixed by going on the pill, only paused. Often, women will discover that the pill has only masked the problem. The Menstrual Cycle is Not SteadyIt's also important to note that certain birth control pills deliver consistent levels of hormones each day. This is not how the body naturally produces hormones. Progesterone and estrogen ebb and flow throughout the natural cycle.These natural ups and downs are responsible for creating variety in our mood and feelings.

The InvestigationThyroid issues can be so frustrating because often doctors will say there is nothing to be done other than taking medication.We talk a lot about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease (an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid resulting in not enough thyroid hormone) but there is another side to thyroid issues. It is also possible for there to be too much thyroid hormone being produced. This is called hyperthyroidism and the autoimmune disease that can cause this is Graves' Disease. But it is also possible for those with Hashimoto’s disease to experience periods of hyperthyroidism - which just adds to the thyroid mystery. In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, we’re exploring hyperthyroid symptoms in Graves' as well as in Hashimoto’s. To help with this discussion, I invited fellow clinical nutritionist, Juli Keene, on the show. She’s based in Los Angeles and has been in practice for over 25 years often helping professional athletes and high-functioning folks with complicated health issues. She’s also a real expert on Graves' Disease. What is Graves' Disease?Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid. What’s happening with Graves' is that there is an immune attack and antibodies get created. These antibodies attack the thyroid and stimulate the hormone receptors. This results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones and a hyperactive thyroid.It can be very dangerous to have too much thyroid hormone and needs to be addressed right away. The Difference Between Graves' Disease and Hashimoto’s DiseaseWith Hashimoto’s, the immune system is attacking the thyroid resulting in reduced hormone production (hypothyroidism) and with Graves' it’s the opposite. However, the nuances between the two autoimmune diseases are more complex, especially if you have Hashimoto’s. With Graves', the levels continuously escalate. However, with Hashimoto’s, there can be flare ups that present like Graves' where the thyroid swings from not producing enough to overproducing. So, someone with Hashimoto’s might have a flare up and suddenly have hyperthyroid symptoms.It’s also worth noting that someone with Hashimoto’s can also have Graves' disease too (although it’s not common). It’s all in how and when the immune system produces the different antibodies and how these antibodies succeed in destroying the thyroid. Symptoms of Graves' DiseaseUnlike the symptom of Hashimoto’s where people feel sluggish (when not in a flareup that is), people with Graves' might report feeling great. They have lots of energy, their weight is good, and they are often in a good mood. But soon, this can slide into feelings of anxiety, sometimes a sense of feeling manic, and even experiencing heart palpitations. Soon, they may also swing into weight loss, and brain fog.With Graves', the symptoms can go up and down but generally progress.The most common symptoms include:Irregular & rapid heartbeatHeart palpitationsHand and finger tremorsAnxiety and irritabilityUnexplained weight loss paired with insatiable hungerHeat sensitivity (sweating and hot flashes)Muscle weaknessHair loss.Visibly enlarged thyroid gland (sometimes it can develop into a goiter)Menstrual cycle irregularitiesLow or no sex driveDiarrhea or IBSInsomniaDecreased bone density and low calcium levelsDiagnosing Graves' DiseaseGraves' disease can be diagnosed with a blood test. Generally, this includes a full thyroid panel and TSI Antibodies. If you are talking with a conventional doctor because you have symptoms that might indicate Graves' it’s important to ask for the full thyroid panel and look specifically at the TSI antibodies. Conventional Treatment for Graves' DiseaseGraves' is a dangerous condition. Doctors usually put the patient on thyroid suppressing hormone medication. They may also add a beta blocker to slow down heart palpitations.Many conventional doctors will also recommend a treatment that destroys the thyroid and requires the patient to be on thyroid replacement medication after the procedure to have a better handle on thyroid hormone levels. Contributing Factors to Graves' Disease From An Integrative PerspectiveAs mentioned, Graves' disease or symptoms and labs that suggest Graves' need to be taken seriously. Ideally, you would see an endocrinologist as well as an integrative doctor or nutritionist who understands Graves' and can look at some of the underlying issues that conventional doctors may miss that could be contributing to the severity of your condition.Potential contributing factors could include:Infections or viruses (like H. Pylori or Epstein Barr)Gut pathogens (yeast, SIBO)Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)StressEnvironmental toxin exposure like mold, mercury, glyphosate, and copper.Hormonal shiftsYou may be noticing that many of these potential contributing factors are very similar to the ones we speak about in Hashimoto’s triggers because the issue here is the immune system that is confused. Integrative Support for Grave

The Case: Jessica has Hashimoto’s Disease and can’t seem to balance her thyroidHer doctors say her levels are fine but she’s experiencing bloating, fatigue, hair loss, GI issues, and brain fog.She met with several doctors but none were able to address her concerns. The InvestigationWhen I met Jessica, I knew that we had to go beyond supporting the thyroid, we had to slow or stop the attack on her immune system. There are many triggers and Jessica had already cut out gluten. This was great but that told me we had to dig deeper. I noticed that Jessica came from a family of farmers and had quite a bit of exposure. Figuring out her specific triggers was how we were going to solve her autoimmune mystery. Autoimmune Triggers and GlyphosateI talk a lot about the four most common triggers for autoimmune disease and they are: stress, toxins, infections and foods. There is one thing that intersects with all four of these triggers - glyphosate. To explain it fully, I invited Jeffrey Smith on the show. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and Protect Nature Now. He’s also a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, and an in-demand speaker. I could think of nobody better to explain what’s going on for those with autoimmune disease and even for those who do not have an autoimmune disease. What is Glyphosate?Glyphosate is the main ingredient found in Roundup (a herbicide) created by Monsanto which is now owned by Bayer. This chemical has been found (in a US lawsuit) to have contributed to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and cancer. It has also been linked to more than 30 diseases. It was originally patented as a descaler for industrial builders because it chelates minerals. When it gets into the human body, it also grabs minerals from our system and prevents these minerals from doing their work in keeping us healthy. How are we Exposed to Roundup and Glyphosate?Since the late 1990’s, Roundup has been used on human food including genetically modified crops such as soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa. These GMO crops are engineered to be Roundup-ready which means they can withstand it. Other crops that are often sprayed are oats, wheat, mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, and even orchard fruits and grapes used for wine. It is found throughout the food chain. Effects of Glyphosate ExposureThere are many ways that glyphosate exposure can affect the body, including: Mineral deficiencies (which can cause metabolic pathways to shut down)Acts as an antibiotic that kills off the beneficial bacteria in our microbiome. Can break down the cellular walls of our gut, brain, kidneys, or other organs in the bodyCan damage and mutate the DNA which can lead to cancer. Can damage the mitochondria which has been linked to chronic fatigue, cancer, aging, and several other diseases.Interferes with intercellular communication causing gap junctions (also linked to cancer).Blocks the production of good gut bacteria.Can throw off hormonal balance between estrogen and testosterone. Acts as an endocrine disruptor. Can cause epigenetic changes in gene expression in future generations.Suppresses cellular detoxification pathways and downgrades Nrf2.How Can Glyphosate Trigger Autoimmune Disease?Several of the effects listed above can then contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease. Jeffrey points to GMOs and BT toxin. BT toxin works by creating tiny holes in the insects and that is how it acts as an insecticide. While this can help grow those plans, it can also have the same effect on human cells. This is why he believes that leaky gut can be directly related to BT toxins and that leaky gut can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases because the gut is now allowing bigger proteins that don’t below in the bloodstream, directly into the bloodstream and the immune system starts to see these as an invader and attacks them. The thing is that when the immune system attacks them, it can also by accident attack our other tissues. For example, in the case of Hashimoto’s, the immune system is attacking the thyroid because it’s mistaking it as an intruder.Because the gap junctions are permanently open due to leaky gut, more and more proteins get into the bloodstream and this creates a lot of inflammation. Scientific studies have found that lab animals fed GMOs will develop inflammation and issues with the immune system, leaky gut, and the destruction of the good bacteria in the gut.Diseases That May Be Linked to Glyphosate and GMO FoodsJeffrey shares that correlational charts show a rise of specific diseases in parallel with the increased use of glyphosate on soy and corn in the US as well as the increased prevalence of genetically modified soy and corn. The specific diseases that appear in the correlation include:Inflammatory Bowel Disease Deaths from intestinal infectionLiver diseaseVarious cancers (liver, bile duct, kidney, breast)AutismADHD Deaths from Alzheimer'sDeaths from Senile DementiaDea

The Investigation As we head into cold and flu season during the second year of the pandemic, it’s important to provide support for your immune system - especially if you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, Lupus, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes, Addison’s, Grave’s, and Celiac disease. As someone with Hashimoto’s and who works with a lot of people with Hashimoto’s I’ve created a protocol that I have been updating month after month and here is my latest version. This protocol is great for overall immunity and best of all, it is absolutely safe and recommended if you have an autoimmune disease as well. Herbs & Supplements to Avoid with Autoimmunity I always need to remind those with autoimmunity that the supplements you often hear about for supporting the immune system can do real damage if you have an autoimmune disease. These supplements stimulate the immune system. For those with autoimmunity, an overstimulated immune system can lead to flare ups. Here are the commonly suggested supplements to avoid: Echinacea Astragalus Reishi (or other immune supporting mushrooms) Elderberry My Autoimmune-safe Immune Support Protocol Here are the things that I take to give me the best chance for avoiding the flu, colds and other viruses as well as how I use them to decrease symptoms if I do get sick. These are my go-to recommendations: Vitamin C For general immune support, I usually recommend for an average, 150lb adult, a dosage of 1000 - 2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use C+Biofizz from Designs for Health which you plop in water for a fizzy drink (if you prefer capsules, try their Stellar C). Please note that if you experience loose stools when taking vitamin C, you may want to try liposomal vitamin C because it helps the body absorb through the mucous membranes in your mouth first (just remember to keep it refrigerated.) If you are already sick, vitamin C can be very helpful in decreasing recovery time from infections, cold, flu or other viruses. You can increase your daily dosage but make sure you divide it and take it over the course of the day. That might mean taking 500 to 1000 mg of C (it can be powder, liposomal or capsules) every 30-60 min to bowel-tolerance (until you get diarrhea which is when your body says it's saturated and had enough). You would then restart it later in the day or next day. Do this for a few days when you are sick. There is a ton of research about high dose vitamin C in helping fight infections. Alternatively, you could look at getting a vitamin C infusion through an IV for prevention or treatment. Vitamin D Vitamin D is imperative for many different things but specifically supporting your immune health. Many people have low vitamin D and it tends to decrease during our shorter winter days here in the Northern Hemisphere. You can determine how much vitamin D you need by checking your levels through a blood test. Ideally, you want to be in the range of 50-80 on that test (the lab range is wider, typically 30-100). If you don't know your vitamin D levels (and you're not regularly supplementing) the typically recommended daily dose is 5,000, IU. If you are already sick, you will want to make sure that you are also taking vitamin K with your vitamin D to prevent calcification of tissues and organs. You can either take a vitamin K supplement or a multivitamin with vitamin K. I use Vitamin D Supreme which is a capsule but if you have issues with fat soluble vitamins, you could try a liquid form of vitamin D or, if you also struggle with energy issues, you could try Hi-Po Emulsi D3 from Designs for Health. Zinc & Quercetin There has been a lot of talk about Zinc online and in the media lately as a great way to boost your immune system during the COVID pandemic and into cold and flu season. What many people don’t realize is that Zinc mainly stays outside the cell and you want it inside the cell for optimal immune support. One natural way to do that is by taking it alongside Quercetin. I take Designs for Health’s Quercetin and Nettles blend and I recommend 250 milligrams to about 500 milligrams daily. Quercetin is something that I've added to my protocol a bit more recently because I'm seeing such great results. When combined with zinc, it’s great for both prevention and also healing from infection. Please keep in mind that extended use of zinc can cause a copper deficiency so you want to make sure you are balancing these two minerals. If you are taking zinc for a long time, consider supplementing with copper or a multivitamin that contains copper. To be extra sure that you aren’t deficient in copper (which can have serious health repercussions), a hair analysis will reveal both your copper and zinc levels. If you already have recent hair test results, you would want to look at, not just the individual zinc or the copper level, but actually, the ratio of the two. Ideally, the zinc to copper ratio should be right around 8. If your levels are lower than 8, then

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 InvestigationI 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 TreatmentI 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 SynthroidSome 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 TreatmentsThe 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 palpitationsNervousness Tachycardia (racing heart)Hot flashesInsomniaBrain fogFeeling 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 OptionCompounding 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 MedicationJim’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 SolvedIt 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. ConclusionWe worked with her doctor to prescribe a synthetic T

The Case: Mara has sleep issues, anxiety and overall malaise.She struggles with vitamins, supplements and detoxes as they leave her feeling worse.Multiple experts tried to tell her it was part of the process, but she never got better. The InvestigationI have many clients who tell me they are very sensitive to supplements and we have to pay close attention to their support but Mara’s case was more extreme. I knew we had to avoid detoxes but still get her results without overtaxing her very sensitive body. I knew just the method to start solving this health mystery -- flower power. Flower Power is Not Just for HippiesKatie Hess is a flower alchemist. She uses flower essences to help people regain their health. She is the author of Flowerevolution and founder of LOTUSWEI, one of the world’s leading floral apothecaries. With her signature elixirs featured in The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and the LA Times, her flower-powered community is thriving today in over 15 countries. Using flower essences for healing is a practice that can be found in different cultures around the globe since well before the development of modern medicine. Present-day shamans and alternative health practitioners still turn to them today. What are Flower Essences? Traditionally, the flower essences were procured by sipping the dew off of a specific flower. Medicine men and women believe that the life force of the flower is captured in this dew. The dew collection process has been modernized over the millenia, and now these essences are captured through solar infusion. Now, significantly more flower essence can be captured and bottled at scale. Drinking a few drops of this essence is essentially, using the life force of plants to harmonize our own body’s energy. Katie explains that it’s kind of like an acupuncture treatment without the needles. How are Flower Essences Different from Essential Oils?Many people have heard of (and used) essential oils so it’s easy to get the two confused. Katie shares that essential oils come from the plant material itself (and one drop requires a lot of plant material). To get essential oil from the plant or flower, you have to squeeze or distill the juice of the plant. Often Essential oils are also highly aromatic and usually need to be diluted to use it.Flower essences used in flower remedies require fewer plants and are much more gentle on the system. This is what makes them very effective for people who are very sensitive including the elderly, pregnant women, and even infants. You are not ingesting any of the chemical plant parts so it’s different from taking an herbal tincture. Selecting the Right Flower EssenceThere are so many different types of flowers and so many issues that people might want to treat, how do you determine which flower will help someone? There is a long history of different plants being used for different purposes so there is much to draw on. Many flower essences and flower essence combinations have been created over the years. When it comes to finding a new treatment, the clues are in the flowers' appearance. Intuition also plays a role for Katie. Katie also uses her group for testing. When she believes that a certain plant will deliver a specific benefit, her group of flower essence enthusiasts will try it out and report back on how it made them feel. She has created a quiz that helps people discover the elixir that is right for them. The Science Behind Flower EssencesI love scientific studies so I had to find out what kind of science backs up this historical evidence. Katie says there have been numerous studies that look at the energy transfer from plants to humans. She points to the practice of Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ in Japan where the government encourages people to spend time immersed in nature because they found those who did experienced a sustained drop in cortisol levels (a decrease in their stress hormones) and an immune boost. There were also studies done in the UK that showed proof that plants emit energy or vibrations as evidenced by how bees find flowers (it’s not the color or the smell!) How Quickly do Flower Essences Work?Katie says that many people can feel the energy from the flower essence right away but as a rule of thumb, she usually tells people that they should feel a difference within 3-5 days if they are taking the flower essences 4-5 times a day. Those who are sensitive or more aware will likely feel a difference within minutes. It’s a bit like taking vitamins, it’s going to take a bit of time for the body to feel the benefits but in some cases, when it’s for a specific symptom, the benefits might be felt quickly. What Can You Support with Flower Essences?Flower essences are used for a variety of issues ranging from digestive issues to fatigue, anxiety, and painful periods. Mindset support and emotional healing are also reasons that people turn to flower essences. For example, they might use certain essences for treating limiting beliefs,

The Case: Eliana is dealing with stubborn weight issues. She’s also experiencing bloating and weight gain around her period.She worked with several dieticians and found that a calorie restricted diet did reduce her weight but it wasn’t sustainable and left her feeling tired. The InvestigationEliana’s challenge is a common one. Many women find that despite eating right and being active, they struggle with unexplained weight gain or an inability to lose weight. There are a lot of things that can cause weight gain or make weight loss very difficult. To find out what was the root of Eliana’s weight loss mystery, we needed to explore the most common causes. Esther Blum is an Integrative Dietitian and High-Performance Coach who has helped thousands of women permanently treat the root cause of their health struggles and find joy in their lives once again. Esther is the bestselling author of Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat as well as The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project. Doing Everything With No Weight LossMillions of people looking to lose weight often find themselves frustrated. So many of them feel like they’re doing everything they can by eating clear, reducing calories, and exercising regularly but they can’t lose weight. In fact, despite their best efforts, some even gain weight. This is because weight loss is more complex than just calories in and calories out. Esther Blum shares the most common 5 culprits when someone can’t lose weight. Estrogen Dominance. Your hormones may be the reason you can’t lose weight, specifically estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance can take place in your body during different times in your life. It happens when your progesterone bottoms out and the estrogen is chronically elevated. Aside from age-related hormone shifts, there are several other potential causes of estrogen dominance: StressGut InflammationPoor Detoxification PathwaysExtra WeightConstipationEstrogen-based Birth Control (NuvaRing or the pill)Xenoestrogen Exposure (through some beauty products, cleaning products, perfumes, and plastics)Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance. Aside from the difficulty to lose weight, there are many symptoms to look for. In men, it might be ‘man boobs’. In women, it could be heavy, painful periods, ,longer cycles, water retention and headaches around the menstrual cycle. Testing for Estrogen Dominance. The most common test for determining estrogen dominance is the DUTCH test. This is a urine test that shows hormone levels and can be used to track progress as you work toward getting out of estrogen dominance. Supporting Estrogen Dominance. The key is to determine the root cause of the dominance and work on that. It might mean hormone replacement therapy, shifting diet and lifestyle, opening up detoxification pathways, and/or taking supplements like DIM (Diindolylmethane). Adrenal Dysfunction. Adrenal dysfunction is often caused by chronically elevated cortisol levels. This can be brought on by chronic stress, poor sleep, low or high blood sugar, and/or environmental toxins.Symptoms of Adrenal Dysfunction:ExhaustionInsomnia or Poor SleepFeeling Frazzled or Burnt OutSkipping or Doing Ineffective WorkoutsSupporting Adrenal Dysfunction. The main way to treat adrenal dysfunction and get the adrenals balanced again is through lifestyle changes and getting stress levels down with self-care and stress releasing practices. There are some supplements and adaptogenic herbs that may help, including: AshwagandhaHoly BasilTulsi TeaPhos SerineIt’s also important to get to the root cause of the stress and address that. Toxins / Low Thyroid.Exposure to certain toxins can cause the thyroid to underperform. When this happens, the metabolism slows down and it can be very difficult to lose weight. Common toxins that can contribute to this include:MoldsHeavy MetalsGoitrogenic Chemicals Diagnosing and Treating Toxin Triggered Low ThyroidThe best way to detect toxins in the system is through a urine metabolite test. Blood tests will provide a picture of the thyroid. Treating the thyroid may require medication however, bringing down toxins like mercury could shift the need for thyroid medication. Detoxing mercury can be done through chelation, glutathione-vitamin C IV therapy, and also through specific detoxification protocols. Infrared saunas and epsom salt baths are also good for the detoxification process. High Stress & InsomniaAn inability to sleep and having high stress can be a bit of a vicious circle when it comes to weight loss. A lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain (and make weight loss difficult) because it affects blood sugar, cortisol levels, and causes the body to store fat while breaking down muscle. The key is to determine the root cause of the insomnia. Common causes include:StressArguments Before BedPoor Sleep HygieneDoing Cardio Too Close to BedtimeEating or Drinking Too Close to BedtimeEating Insufficient Amounts of Dietary Protein Gut Dysfunction and ParasitesYou need a healthy gut to lose

The Wide Range of Hashimoto Symptoms Hashimoto’s is complex and often misunderstood by mainstream medicine. It’s a topic that I have a lot of experience with both personally and professionally and know that so many of you are struggling with its many symptoms. Because of this, I knew that dedicating the 100th episode of this podcast to the topic was exactly how I wanted to celebrate this milestone. One of the most common questions I get about Hashimoto’s is whether a specific symptom is related to Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s has a wide variety of symptoms and it can be difficult to figure out if something is related to Hashimoto’s or if it is a symptom of something else. It’s very frustrating. People ask me about fatigue, anxiety, GI issues, hair loss, fertility challenges, brain fog, rashes, and even eye twitches. How can all of these be symptoms of Hashimoto’s (especially when not everyone with Hashimoto’s has these symptoms? It’s important to remember that Hashimoto’s is not a thyroid disease but an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. And remember, the thyroid may not be the only organ affected by Hashimoto’s. This is why there can be such a wide range of symptoms. The Problem with the Conventional Approach to Hashimoto’s The relationship of these various symptoms to Hashimoto’s is often missed in conventional medicine. As a result the symptoms aren’t supported. Many doctors will focus solely on how the thyroid is affected and simply support thyroid function instead of supporting immune system function. If the thyroid is functioning well, many doctors will tell their patients that there is nothing else they can do about their Hashimoto’s and rather just wait until it destroys the thyroid at which point they will then need medicine. The more integrative approach is to dig into how the immune system got confused in the first place and address each one of those things to help the immune system rebalance while supporting the thyroid. The Biggest Mistakes with Supporting Hashimoto’s Symptoms In this episode, I tackle the biggest mistakes that people with Hashimoto’s can make. This is so that you can be aware of the relationship between the many symptoms and your Hashimoto’s and so you can be a better advocate for your own health. Hashimoto’s Mistake #1 - Only Focusing on Thyroid while Ignoring the Immune System Many people with Hashimoto’s are given thyroid medicine. When thyroid levels are back to normal, the issue is considered in hand without a second thought as to why the immune system got confused and started attacking the thyroid in the first place. This is one of the most common mistakes. In episode 32 (Solving the Autoimmune Mystery), I go into detail about the connection between the immune system, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases. In a functional approach, our goal is to figure out the root cause of the issue. With autoimmunity we look at immune triggers. These can be grouped into four categories: Foods Stress Toxins Infections Understanding these triggers can have a profound effect on how your body deals with your symptoms. Hashimoto’s Mistake # 2 - Supporting the Immune System, Not the Thyroid While I just explained the importance of triggers, some people with Hashimoto’s will work on reducing triggers with the hope that it will fix their thyroid. If the thyroid is already in a hypo state, it may require medication to bring it to a healthy level. Remember, the thyroid interacts with all cells in the body and many organs. When it is not functioning properly, it can have a profound effect on your overall well being. I understand the hesitation to take medication. I will always try to find a natural solution to any issue, but, when it comes to the thyroid, there is a real danger of harm to our body if it is not functioning. Your thyroid plays a key role in: Metabolism Blood Sugar Weight Management Body Temperature Mitochondria Muscle Tone Bone Density Membrain Health (specifically in your brain and gut) Inflammation Management Creation of Antioxidants (that control free radicals) Brain Function Immune System Health You can see how many of these things are connected and how a wide variety of symptoms and new health issues can crop up when your thyroid is not properly supported. It’s critical that you make sure your thyroid is getting enough support. For more on this, please check out this free guide: Why Is Your Doctor Missing Your Thyroid Issue? which explains how the thyroid really works and how to interpret your thyroid markers. Hashimoto’s Mistake #3 - Not Personalizing your Thyroid Support Supporting the thyroid is not a one size fits all approach. Just because something works for someone else, does not mean it will work for you because there are different types of slow thyroid types. If you’ve listened to the show before, you know that I talk a lot about getting the full thyroid panel instead of just testing your TSH levels. This is because your different levels help to identify wh

The Case: Julia is dealing with many different symptoms that none of her doctors can explain or treat.She feels achy, has low energy, deals with anxiety, and has trouble sleepingShe took matters into her own hands but she found herself on a very strict diet, taking a lot of supplements, obsessing over her meals and with limited results. The InvestigationWhen I met Julia it was clear that there was a lot going on. Her symptoms were quite varied and she had already tried a lot of different solutions. On the plus side, she had made a lot of healthy shifts in her diet but ultimately, it had become so strict that it was creating stress. When I found out how much stress she was experiencing at home and work, I started to develop a theory about what was going on with Julia and her persistent symptoms. My suspicions led me to look at the state of the nervous system because an upregulated nervous system can cause all kinds of unexplained symptoms. To discuss this case further, I knew exactly who I wanted to invite on the show - Patrick Lerouge. He has been in the holistic health field for over 20 years as an energy healer, coach, and body worker. He is also the author of the book “The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done, with Energy Left to Spare”. What is an Upregulated Nervous System?The nervous system is programmed to respond to stress. Often, we think of the fight or flight response. This is what we want it to do in order to help us get out of dangerous or threatening situations. But, most of us are experiencing this response even when we are not being threatened. Instead, it’s caused by the busyness and noise in our lives. And then there's the emotional side, where all of your emotions are heightened in such a way that you experience them in the extremes. This can also trigger a response from the nervous system. When you are in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’ you get stuck in an upregulated nervous system response. What Stressors Trigger the Nervous System?When we think of the ‘fight or flight’ response, we go back to the idea of facing down a tiger. But the stress doesn’t have to be that dramatic to trigger the nervous system. It could be something as simple as the light from your computer shining in your face or a dog barking. It could also be triggered by over-thinking. Overthinkers are playing out all of the scenarios in their head; trying to find the best path forward and getting frustrated when it’s not clear. This amount of overthinking is like revving the engine of a car all the time or leaving it running - it’s going to break down or overheat. The same thing happens when we overthink. Emotions can also trigger the nervous system, especially if you have a history of not properly dealing with those emotions. So, the trigger can be physical, mental, and/or emotional. The Dangers of a Long Term Upregulated Nervous SystemIf there are signs of long term upregulation, such as body cues, difficulty focusing, racing mind, and unstable emotional temperament, then this could mean that the nervous system is in an extended upregulation state. This can lead to depression, anxiety, an inability to make decisions, fatigue, inconsistent energy levels, and emotional detachment. Sometimes there are no small symptoms because the body and mind are so busy adapting to the situation that they don’t realize the breaking point. This is important because someone may not ‘feel stressed’ even when they are in a long-term upregulated state. Self-Diagnosing an Upregulated Nervous SystemThere are a few ways to determine if you are in an upregulated state. The first test Patrick suggested is to feel your heart. To take a moment and see if you can connect with your heart and feel it beating in your chest. The second test he calls the ‘stadium test’. Can you sit in a busy, noisy place, even in a crowded stadium, and be quiet; can you have the stadium clear out of your mind? 5 Ways to Downregulate an Elevated Nervous SystemBringing an upregulated nervous system down starts by reconnecting the mind and body. Most people are either a mind person or a body person meaning they either focus on the feelings of the mind or the body. Regulating the nervous system requires the mind and body to work together. Here are five ways to do that:Breathing and Feeling Air Through the Body. Unlike normal breathing exercises, this one focuses on feeling the air enter the body and spread all the way through. Humming can be a powerful way to connect breathwork with feeling the body’s sensation because of the vibrations it creates. TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercise). When we are stressed, our body tenses up. To release that tension, TRE is a series of 5 exercises that fatigue the muscles to trigger an automatic release of tension. This is a practice that should be done with a certified professional. Mind Dumps and Venting. There are three levels of stress, emotional, mental and physical and one each feeds the next. So, to release the emotional

Please be sure to grab my free THYROID GUIDE to make sure your doctor is not missing your thyroid issue The Question I work out and watch what I eat but every year, I gain weight. I can’t get rid of it. Is there anything I can do? Inna’s Response Yes. There is absolutely something that you can do! The first step is to get a clear picture of what’s going on with your thyroid levels. Make sure you get the full thyroid panel including TSH (which is where most tests stop), T 3, free T4, Free T3, and reverse T3. I also recommend testing thyroid antibodies and T3 uptake. For more on these tests and how to understand your results, you can download my FREE THYROID GUIDE This has to do with unexplained weight gain because your levels may not be optimal (even if your doctor doesn’t note it). If you have Hashimoto’s, you may experience thyroid destruction so you need to make sure your levels are optimal To improve weight loss, you will also want to balance inflammation and support your immune system. This could include eating anti-inflammatory foods and balancing blood sugar. Resist the urge to skip meals and avoid carb-loading. If you eat regular, balanced meals and your blood sugar is balanced you will have much more success. The Question Is it true that if you have Hashimoto’s, you can easily develop other autoimmune diseases? Inna’s Response Sadly, this is true. When we have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, the immune system has become confused about what it should be fighting against. In the case of Hashimoto’s the immune system is attacking the thyroid. If the immune system stays confused and nothing is done to help balance and calm the system then it can attack other organs. And there's something called cross-reactivity where antibodies of the thyroid can cross-react with other tissues and potentially cause another autoimmune disease. This is all the more reason to balance inflammation and support the immune system, not just the thyroid with medication. I dive a little deeper into this in this episode but you can also find more information about solving the autoimmune mystery by listening to episode 32 of Health Mysteries Solved. The Question Can I have thyroid symptoms if my TSH is just a little bit outside of the reference range? Inna’s Response The answer is yes, especially if your other thyroid hormones (like T4 and T3) are low. This is why I always say that you have to look at the full thyroid panel because the TSH is not a clear enough indication of what’s really going on with your thyroid. You need thyroid hormone for everything in your body so you can definitely have symptoms if your levels are outside of optimal. If you have Hashimoto’s, some symptoms could be due to the inflammation or your immune systems struggle to regulate. The Question How do you know if Synthroid is working or if you need to switch? Inna’s Response There are two key things you need to look at. The first is to check your thyroid levels. If this is a new medication, you want to check all of your thyroid levels within the first 4-6 weeks to see how it is working. Synthroid isT4 so it does not give you any T3, the active hormone which your body needs so you want to check t3 to make sure you are able to convert it properly. For some people, this conversion is an issue. So, they may be taking Synthroid but the body is not converting it properly and they continue to have symptoms. This is why it’s so important to not rely solely on the TSH levels. The second key thing is how you actually feel. Sometimes the labs are picture perfect but the person still doesn’t feel well. This could be for a couple of different reasons. One is that medications have fillers, excipients or colorings which can cause a reaction. There are other options and brands that are slightly different. For example, one is called Tirosint which is easy to absorb (it’s a gel cap) and it doesn’t contain any excipients or desiccated thyroid which works a little differently in the body and some people feel a difference with those. The Question Why does my thyroid medication stop working after several months? Inna’s Response If you have Hashimoto’s, you can experience flare-ups where the thyroid gland is under attack. Some people have more flare-ups than others. Over time, these flare-ups can destroy the gland itself so that it is less able to produce hormones requiring more medication. So, even if you’ve been on the same dose of medication for a long time, you may suddenly feel like it has stopped working but in actuality, you just need to adjust your dose. There is a second possibility that has to do with absorption. Your body’s ability to absorb the medication can fluctuate depending on inflammation in the body, exposure to toxins especially things like plastics or pesticides. These can block the receptors so that even though the medication is coming in, your cells can’t absorb it. In either of these cases, you will want to pay close attention to triggers. To help

The Case: Amanda has trouble concentrating, staying on task, and remembering everything. Her son, Logan, is also struggling with concentration. He can’t sit still in school or focus on his homework. She’s hesitant to go to a doctor because she doesn’t want to solve this issue with medication.Many people think that ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is something that only affects kids but actually it’s estimated that between 3-6% of American adults suffer from ADD and it's possible that number is way higher as it's not always diagnosed. The InvestigationI suspected right away that the issue for Amanda and her son was related to ADD. I was happy to explore how we can support her and her son without turning to medication. Joining me to talk about Amanda’s case in this episode is Dr. Darin Ingels. He focuses on environmental medicine with special emphasis on Lyme but also MS, autism, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS and PANDAS) and chronic immune dysfunction, including allergies, asthma, recurrent or persistent infections and other genetic or acquired immune problems. If you are a fan of the show, you may recognize his name since he helped us out with a Lyme Disease case (episode 18).Defining ADD (and How it’s Different from ADHD)Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is different from ADHD in that ADHD has a hyperactivity component. What they have in common is that someone with either disorder will find it difficult to focus on a task or have attention to details, they may experience general forgetfulness, struggle to stay organized, and as a result things that others find easy to do feel complicated to someone with ADD. While many people associated ADD and ADHD with children, adults can also experience it (although ADHD is less common in adults). Has ADD Become More Prevalent in Recent Times?This is an ongoing argument and some say that only the diagnosis has become more prevalent. Dr. Ingels doesn’t agree. He feels that there are more kids on the ADD spectrum than a generation ago. And, he points out that ADD is more common in America than in other parts of the world, like Europe. What Causes ADD?There is still research to be done before this question can be fully answered but Dr. Ingels feels that there are many contributing factors in our modern world. This includes items in our diet like corn syrup, food dyes, preservatives, and processed foods. It also includes environmental toxins like pollutants, volatile organic compounds, petrochemicals, household chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. While these may not be directly linked, they can affect the gut and there is a very strong and proven connection between gut health and brain health. He also feels there may be a generational effect where kids are not just dealing with the things they are directly exposed to but the things that their parents and even grandparents were exposed to. This epigenetic impact may simply be a reduced ability to metabolize toxins that has been passed down through the generations. Diagnosing ADDThere are no definitive tests for ADD. Diagnosing ADD or ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on an umbrella of symptoms that place the patient on a spectrum of the disorders. A patient does not need to have every symptom but they are likely to have the ‘hallmark’ symptoms of being easily distracted, difficulty following through on tasks, and forgetfulness. Many doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists will make the diagnosis on these symptoms alone. However, other symptoms may also be present.Once a child or an adult has been diagnosed, it’s time to search out the root cause of the issue. There may be dietary changes that can help either by eliminating foods that may be triggering or by improving gut health and supporting detoxification pathways. Finding the Root Cause or Trigger for ADD (Important Tests for ADD)Reducing ADD and ADHD symptoms may be possible without medication if the root case of the symptoms can be found and countered. There are a few tests that Dr. Ingels uses to get a better picture of what might be exacerbating the symptoms:Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies. One of the key things Dr. Ingels will test for deficiencies in Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. Deficiencies can show up in cognitive function, mood control and behaviour. These deficiencies can be detected with a blood test. Gastrointestinal Health. The gut brain connection plays a big role in understanding ADD. Dr. Ingels will sometimes do a stool test to look at what’s going on with the gut bacterial balance. He’s looking for a potential yeast overgrowth, parasites, microbiome imbalances or inflammatory markers.Metabolic Function. An organic acid test is a urine test that looks at many areas of metabolism, from how we process fats and carbohydrates to the detoxification capacity, neurotransmitter metabolism and antioxidant status. This can help identify the root cause.Food Reactions. Food reactions aren’t always allergic reactions or anaphylactic reactio

The Case: Jill is suffering from hormone imbalances which her doctors chalk up to perimenopauseShe was experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, PMS, dry skin, mood swings, and extreme brain fogShe wasn’t sure if these were all connected but she knew she didn’t like the doctor’s advice of waiting it out. Every woman experiences perimenopause and menopause differently. There are some common symptoms like hot flashes and irregular menstrual cycles, and some symptoms attributed to this hormonal shift that may or may not be related, like brain fog and dry skin. Jill and I both agreed that we needed to find out the root of her issues The InvestigationWhen Jill came to see me, I took a look at her history and labs. I saw her declining hormones, so I knew that at least some of the issues could be because of this. I also know that as hormones decline, they affect our organs (including the thyroid) and can be triggers for autoimmunity like Hashimoto’s.I knew some of the symptoms could be thyroid related (dry skin and mood swings) but was the thyroid the root cause or simply being affected by the hormone shifts of perimenopause? It was important to find this out before deciding on her treatment. Solving Hormone Imbalance MysteriesWhen it comes to female hormones, there are so many angles, confusion, and misinformation because the story is quite complex. No wonder Jill was struggling to figure out what was going on. I knew just who to turn to for help with Jill’s case. Jim Hrncir is one of the pioneers of modern pharmaceutical compounding. Jim is responsible for the formulation of many bioidentical hormones, as well as dermatological, nutritional, and anti-aging compounds widely used throughout the U.S. Compounded Bioidentical Hormones vs. Hormones The main difference between hormones that a traditional doctor might prescribe (that you would get at a regular pharmacy) and compounded bioidentical hormones is that synthetic hormones first and foremost synthetic and foreign to the body and are one size fits all while compounded hormones are identical to our own hormones and customized to the specific need of the patient. Bioidentical hormones are just as the name suggests, they are exactly the same structure as the hormones that your body has been making your whole life.The second consideration when looking at synthetic hormones vs. bioidentical hormones is the detoxification process. We produce hormones, typically every day and the body has to metabolize and detoxify them. And so, whether it's our own hormones or other hormones, we have to make sure that they're leaving the body properly. The difference is that synthetic hormones take 21 days to be metabolized compared to the mere hours it takes for bioidentical hormones to move through the system. Risk Factors and Misinformation about Bioidentical HormonesIt’s a common misconception that bioidentical hormones increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, dementia, and colon cancer - especially for those using these hormones for more than 5 years. Dr. Hrncir says this bad information comes from a study that was done in 2002. While it was a large study, the data was miscommunicated to the media and it stuck. Other researchers have tried to correct the damage of this study but many people still believe that hormones pose a risk. Dr. Hrncir believes that bioidentical hormones, because they are a match to what the body is already producing, are much safer than synthetic hormones that are created from non-human sources. For example, he explains, Premarin is created using the urine of a pregnant mare (horse). The second piece of false information to come out of that study, according to Dr. Hrncir, is that women should not be on bioidentical hormones for more than 5 years and this does not seem to hold true. Testing and Managing a Hormone ImbalanceContinuing to monitor hormone levels is an important part of the process. The DUTCH Test (a urine test) looks at the metabolites to gauge how well the bioidentical hormones are being metabolized. This is especially important for anyone with the MTHFR defect because the methylation pathways are necessary to detoxify the hormones. Thankfully the methylation pathways can be supported and there is alot you can do to help. To learn more about the MTHFR and ways to understand and support it, please check out Episode 34. Blood tests and saliva tests may also be used and additionally Dr. Hrncir always has patients do a lifestyle questionnaire because test levels alone don’t tell the whole story. Treatment of a Hormone Imbalance with Compounded Bioidentical HormonesAs mentioned, this hormone therapy is customized to meet the patients needs and their hormone signature. Different hormones will be administered in different ways. Dr. Hrncir prefers to deliver estrogen transdermally. He encourages his patients to move the cream application site around the body so one area doesn’t get a build up. In some cases, patients will ap

The Investigation In a previous episode, I revealed what I eat on a regular basis to stay healthy and I was thrilled to get so much positive feedback about it. So, I thought I would pull the curtain back a little further and share what I feed my kids to keep them healthy now and to help them develop a good relationship with nutritious food. In this episode, I walk you through what my 5 year-old son and 9-month old baby daughter eat now and what they ate getting to this age. I know that kids are not easy when it comes to food. I hear, ‘my child is a picky eater!’ all the time and mine are too. It can be tough, but remember, that even if they don’t like something, it does not mean they won’t like it forever. In fact, studies show that kids have to try a food over and over again before they learn to like it so don’t give up after one or even a few tries. Introducing Healthy Foods Early You can expand a child’s palate and willingness to try new things by introducing healthy foods and supplements at an early age. For example, I started giving Jake, my 5-year-old, liquid fish oil (Omega Marine Liquid) at such a young age, that he is totally used to the taste. He will even remind me when I’ve forgotten to give it to him. And the baby gets excited now whenever I pull that fish oil bottle out of the fridge. I also introduced Jake to probiotics at an early age by opening up the capsule and sprinkling it into his food. Sometimes you have to get creative! It’s worth it because the more you introduce to them early on, the more they will get used to these foods and it will be easier later. When to Start Babies on Solid Food There’s always been debate over exactly when babies should start eating solid foods. These days, pediatricians recommend introducing solid food between 4 and 6 months (it used to be 6 months). The thinking is that introducing solid food earlier (including potential allergens) may decrease the chances of the child developing food allergies to things like peanuts, dairy, egg etc. I think there are a few sides to this story though. First, some kids are just not ready for solids so pushing those too early may be stressful for both you and the child. Second, while I understand introducing small amounts of allergens early is sort of like doing allergy shots, you have to remember that babies are born with essentially a leaky gut. It takes time for that to fill in. In my opinion, it’s better to wait especially if there’s a family history of autoimmune disease. In my case, I have Hashimoto’s and I have the DQ8 gene for gluten so I knew that my kids would be at risk of also having this gene. In fact, I had my kids tested to determine if they inherited this gene (there’s no such thing as too early for genetics) and I discovered that they actually had both the DQ2 and DQ8. As a result, I have never given them gluten. For dairy, I waited until Jake was a year old. If you have a dairy intolerance, be sure to listen to the full episode because I explain how introducing dairy too early could result in cross-reactivity or molecular mimicry with dairy and the islet cells on the pancreas which can lead to an autoimmune reaction for type 1 diabetes. Of course there are many other factors involved but I just personally felt that dairy was not necessary for us and waited till a year after which this may be less likely to happen. How to Start Babies on Solid Food If you were to follow the conventional recommendations for slowly adding in solid foods, pediatricians suggest putting rice cereal in the breast milk or formula. After that, introducing rice or oats and soft foods like bananas and other fruits. My recommendations are a bit different. If they are getting enough calories from breast milk or formula, there is really no need for grains or fruit so early on. Instead of helping them develop a taste for sweet food, encourage them to experience veggies instead. With both Jake and Juliette (the baby), I started with zucchini that I steamed and pureed. I added a bit of breast milk but you could also just add a little water too. Pureeing Your Own Veggies for Babies I know there are a lot of healthier options for buying pureed baby food but I prefer to make my own because, as I said, I want to avoid the sweeter fruits and veggies early on so I can help the kids develop a palate for things other than sweet. I started with zucchini (which I peel to avoid too many lectins), avocado, green beans, bok choy, and cauliflower. As the babies got a little older, I added in kale, broccoli, butternut squash, and swiss chard. Next, I started to integrate sweet potato and beans. The next addition was pureed meat, egg, and nuts. All of this was before I introduced fruit around the 8-9 month mark. Are Puffs Really Good for Babies? Anyone who’s had a baby in the last few years knows what puffs are - they’re everywhere. The idea is that they help babies develop because they have to pinch them to pick them up s its good for their fine motor skil

The Case: Annabelle often feels anxious, overwhelmed and unsettled.She was experiencing weird body sensations, panic attacks and unexplained mood swings.She visited GPs, psychiatrists, therapists and a rheumatologist but their medications and an autoimmune diagnosis didn’t help solve her problem. The InvestigationOne of the biggest issues for Annabelle was that she felt like nobody was really hearing her or worse, dismissing her concerns as being all in her head. I’m so glad that she reached out to me because I knew there had to be an underlying issue. After our initial 2-hour consultation, I was convinced that her issues weren’t just internal and we had to look at external triggers to get to the root cause. Some of her symptoms reminded me of a conversation I had with Stephanie Roman (episode 21) so I knew talking to her would be the first step in solving this health mystery. Stephanie helps empaths understand their gifts and also manage them. What is an Empath?An empath is someone who feels the vibrational energy around them emotionally and/or physically. An empath will often feel and mirror the emotion, feelings, and energy they encounter.Many empaths don’t know they’re empaths because they’ve always been sensitive to others emotions and energy so they don’t realize that others don’t have this experience. Scientifically, empaths are often referred to as ‘highly sensitive’ which is essentially the same thing.Empaths can be on a sliding scale meaning some will have minor sensations or emotional responses while others will have significant reactions to external energy.Most empaths are born empaths but learn to suppress their empathic responses but blocking these responses can build up over time and trigger other issues like autoimmune disease. How do you Know if You’re an Empath?Empaths exist on a spectrum so there is a sliding scale of signs that someone might be an empath or have some empathic qualities. Signs to look for include:Anxiety, depression and feelings of isolationAlone time is mandatoryPeople open up to you easily (like telling you their life story out of the blue) or instantly don’t like you (because you’re mirroring them and that makes them uncomfortable)Feeling like your emotions are not in your controlTaking care of others instead of yourself One of the most common traits for empaths is the need to decompress. This might look like needing to be alone after being stimulated by excess electronic frequencies such as emotionally energized circumstances, having their senses overstimulated, or being in a really busy place. Stephanie points out that many people make the mistake of thinking that all empaths are introverted and while it might be more common, extraverts can also be empaths. Common Symptoms of an EmpathEmpaths can accumulate stress in their bodies if they don’t know how to release the energy they absorb from others. This extra stress over time can cause a variety of symptoms which can be difficult to attribute to being an empath. Magnesium Deficiency. Because of the excess stress, highly sensitive individuals can burn their natural magnesium at a much higher rate. This leaves them deficient in magnesium which then lead to symptoms like muscle cramping, charley horses, tingling sensations as well as anxiety, depression, and uncontrolled emotional outburst like suddenly needing to cry for no reason. Anxiety Attacks. Those who are aware that they are an empath will call these Empath Attacks but they feel very similar to anxiety attacks where you feel over stimulated and unable to process your emotions.Autoimmune Diseases. Some autoimmune diseases can be traced to suppressed or repressed empathic responses causing extreme bodily stress. This stress, over time, can put the immune system into overload and trigger an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s, IBS and eczema. Always Feeling Over-stimulated. This symptom can be hard to detect because many empaths have always been over-stimulated so it’s their ‘normal’ or default setting. But they are likely to be further triggered by sensory overload like bright lights, loud noises, or strong scents.Long Recovery. Another symptom of being an empath is that it can take a long time (sometimes a day or more) to get over an overly stimulating situation where others can recover in a minute. Diagnosing EmpathsUnfortunately, there is no designated test or quiz that can identify an empath 100%. Most empaths who become aware of the term can self-diagnose because they feel it in their body. Treatments and Coping Tools for EmpathsStephanie says that dealing with being an empath is a journey. There’s no magic pill and everyone experiences it differently so it’s all about trying different things to find what works. She suggests finding a practice that helps to release the energy. This might include meditation, breath work, grounding, running, getting out in nature -- any kind of intentional action can help release the energy. She will even have her clients shake

The Case: Amanda suffers with frequent colds and sinus infections (especially around her menstrual cycle).Her hands and feet are always cold and she gets tension headaches all the time. Standard blood tests came back normal, leaving the doctors with no answers. The InvestigationI run more comprehensive labs that many traditional doctors I make sure to run them at a specific time in the menstrual cycle. My suspicions were that this was not related to her sex hormones but rather something upstream. I suspected that a combination of hormones were being affected and leading to tension and immune challenges. In other words, I suspected that Amanda had fallen into sympathetic overdrive. One of the top experts in this field is Dr. Amir Rashidian so I was eager to discuss Amanda’s case with him. Dr. Amir Rashidian is the founder of the Mid-Atlantic Chiropractic Center where he focuses on high-tech diagnostics to detect and correct disturbances in the nervous system. Like me, he is a believer in drugless health solutions and eliminating the causes of disease (not suppressing the symptoms). What is Sympathetic Overdrive?We’ve talked a lot on this show about how our nervous system reacts to stress. We have a primitive response to danger that triggers our nervous system to ready the body for fight, flight, or freeze. Dr. Amir explains that this unconscious response to our environment can often go undetected (because we don’t have that obvious ‘sabertooth tiger’ threat). So, it might be traffic, work stress, our boss being demanding, our spouse being upset, or our busy lifestyle that the nervous system is perceiving as danger. And, when you are in this state, day in and day out, your nervous system never gets the chance to calm down. This leads to the sympathetic nervous system moving into overdrive. Chronic Stress vs. Sympathetic OverdriveEveryone handles stress differently so it’s difficult to say at what point chronic stress turns into sympathetic overdrive. The body does have the ability to adapt to stress so in some cases, stress can be present without it triggering sympathetic overdrive. Think of a weightlifter - they stress their muscles and cause them to adapt (by becoming bigger) without any health concerns. Stress is the same, you can become more resilient to stress once you understand your stress threshold. However, it may be difficult to determine how much stress the body can safely handle, so you have to watch out for the symptoms of sympathetic overdrive. Symptoms of Sympathetic OverdriveThere are a variety of symptoms that suggest your nervous system may be in sympathetic overdrive like chronic sinus infections and insomnia. Additionally, someone may experience dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, cold hands, cold feet, constipation and indigestion. However, not everyone will have these symptoms and having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you are in sympathetic overdrive. Three Stages of Sympathetic OverdriveDr. Amir explains that there are three stages of sympathetic overdrive. They are:Stage 1 - Wired. In this stage, you’ve got a lot of energy, your senses are heightened so you might be looking around a lot and feeling hyper-aware of your surroundings. You will likely crave sweets because your body is burning a lot of energy and will feel a need to replace it. Stage 2 - Wired & Tired. In this stage, you are still feeling wired but at the same time, you are tired. You are likely struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep regardless of how tired you feel. You will likely continue to crave sweets but also fatty foods (so, ice cream, donuts, etc) because your body is over producing cholesterol in response. Stage 3 - Exhausted. You can’t seem to stay awake. You fall asleep anywhere regardless of what stimulates (like caffeine or loud music) you have been exposed to. Your adrenal glands are shutting down because they can’t produce any more adrenalin. Your cravings will switch to salty foods because your metabolism is looking for fuel. How Sympathetic Overdrive Affects the Immune SystemIn Amanda’s case, we saw a shift in her symptoms during her menstrual cycle. I asked Dr. Amir about why this was happening. He explained that there is a direct connection with the immune system and sympathetic overdrive because the immune system relies on energy produced by the adrenals. When the body is in sympathetic overdrive, the adrenals can’t produce adequate energy to support other systems in the body like the immune system. Another option is to do a cortisol test to determine autonomic tone. This is a saliva test Diagnosing Sympathetic OverdriveThe first step in diagnosing sympathetic overdrive is to look at the collection of symptoms. To confirm suspicions of sympathetic overdrive, Dr. Amir uses a heart rate variability test. This is a process of determining the heart’s ability to vary its own rate. It’s measured on a scale between zero and 100. If someone scores 100, they are fully capable of handling all of the stress i

The Investigation I’ve been getting so many questions from my clients and listeners about the various COVID vaccines. I know it can feel like a real mystery, especially if you have an autoimmune issue like Hashimoto’s. I am not an MD but I know you look to me for all types of answers because I can address things from a whole body perspective, explain things in a clear way but also can be unbiased. One of the key questions I get is whether or not someone should get the vaccine. Some have even asked if it’s better to contract COVID 19 as a way to build natural immunity. I unfortunately can’t tell you if you should or should not get the vaccine because I think it’s very personal and the decision is yours and only yours. I am not here to tell you what to do, but my hope is that if I answer your questions and clear up some of the confusion and mystery around it, it will hopefully make the decision, whichever decision you make easier for you. Speaking of which, research on the vaccines is ongoing and new information is coming in each week. This episode was recorded in early May 2021 and refers to the most up to date information at that time. Impact of Symptoms There are a variety of possible responses to both contracting COVID and the vaccine. When it comes to contracting the virus, reactions can range from a few mild symptoms to severe (fatigue, neurological symptoms, headaches, cardiovascular issues, blood clots, or death). These are often exacerbated by underlying conditions. However, research has shown that even those who have minimal symptoms can develop ‘long COVID’ or extended symptoms that last a long time. Research suggests that eating healthy, following a healthy lifestyle, and having sufficient levels of zinc and vitamin D can all lower the severity of the infection and possible symptoms. However, the long term effects are what a lot of people are worried about especially because we don’t know the full extent of them at this time so just getting Covid and “getting it over with” so to speak is certainly not that easy because even if your symptoms are mild, there is a chance for these long term issues and that is not something we want to take lightly. COVID Vaccine Options: What’s the Difference? If you choose to get the vaccine, there are a few options to consider, depending on where you are in the world. There are two main differences between the options: mRNA vaccines and Adenovirus DNA vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines. Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and AstraZeneca are DNA vaccines also referred to as adenovirus vector vaccines. COVID Vaccine Options: How do the Vaccines Work? mRNA Vaccines: The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines contain mRNA which code for the spike protein (those are little crowns you can see on the coronavirus when you look at it microscopically). The mRNA itself is very fragile so they have to wrap it in polyethylene glycol which is a lipid nanoparticle. Once that mixture gets into the cells, our cells then read and code it to make the spike protein. Our immune system can then respond by producing B-cells and T-cells. The B-cells produce antibodies so that if we contract COVID, we can fight it off. The T-cells attack and neutralize the virus directly. The difference between the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine is in the dosage. Pfizer has 30 micrograms of mRNA while Moderna has 100 micrograms of mRNA. Adenovirus Vaccines: The Johnson & Johnson and the AstraZeneca vaccine are a bit different but they're actually not that much different. These vaccines use an adenovirus (which, by the way, cannot replicate in your cells or mutate) that has DNA injected that codes for the spike protein. The adenovirus gets into our cells, the gene for the spike protein that was inserted into the adenovirus is then read by the cell and copied to mRNA and then the process is the same as the mRNA vaccine so essentially these vaccines are 1 step before the mRNA vaccines and once it becomes mRNA the immune system takes the same steps to create an immune response. It’s important to note that these vaccines are not live viruses and as such, are incapable of viral shedding (as has been falsely shared on social media and websites). More traditional vaccines, like the chickenpox vaccine, for example, may have viral shedding but these COVID vaccines do not. Vaccine Side Effects mRNA Vaccines: With the mRNA vaccines, there are two shots required and it is not uncommon to have side effects. While nobody likes to feel bad, these side effects are not necessarily a bad thing because your body is creating antibodies. When you get the second shot (or booster shot) your body already has these antibodies and they are responding the way they should which is why those symptoms are there and for many people, symptoms don’t typically last longer than a few days. Remember the Moderna vaccine dosage is three times as much as the Pfizer which may be why we are seeing different reactions to the two diffe

The Case: Laura was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) in her 20s She’s experiencing acne, weight gain, hair loss, and irregular cycles. She took birth control as recommended by her doctor and her symptoms subsided, but within a month of getting off of it, her acne, weight, sleep issues returnedLaura’s period didn’t return after 3 months later of getting off the pill.Frustrated by not getting anywhere with her primary doctor, Laura was ready to just start taking the pill again to make the symptoms go away, but she knew this would only be a band-aid solution, and that’s when she decided to see if I could help. The Investigation Difficult to manage menstrual cycles is an issue I often see, and there are a number of underlying factors that could be at play. With Laura, we did more bloodwork and saw that her DHEA sulfate was elevated and her testosterone was also on the higher side. I wanted to make sure this did not become just another health mystery.Dr. Erin Kinney is a Naturopathic Doctor. In her private practice as well as her workshops and retreats, she helps women rebalance their bodies so they can achieve optimal health and become their best selves. So, I knew she was the perfect person to share Laura’s case with. Getting Your Period Back When the Menstrual Cycle StopsIn a case like Laura’s, the first priority is to have her cycles return because bleeding on a monthly basis is very important so that the lining is able to build up and then properly shed. Conventionally, using 2 weeks of progesterone may do the trick but it does not get to the root of the issue.To help things work from the inside out, it is important to check estrogen and progesterone levels. If progesterone is not rising, its possible there may be too much estrogen and if so, speeding up the estrogen detox is very helpful to bring the body into balance. If estrogen levels are fairly normal but progesterone is low, then Dr. Kinney does not typically recommend too much liver detoxing so that we don’t push out too much of the needed progesterone and instead use things to help naturally boost progesterone. 2 Lab Markers to Explore When Dealing With Irregular PeriodsFollicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. Ideal levels are 5-65Luteal Stimulating Hormone (LH): Luteinising hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and is one of the main hormones that control the reproductive system. Ideal levels are under 12. Hormones, PCOS, and StressHormones are produced on a daily basis and without a way out, they can build up in the body. When we are under stress, it is harder for the body to detox and so high stress levels (which often translates to high cortisol levels) will impact detox and in turn create more hormone imbalances that can lead to PCOS. Natural Ways to Support Your Liver with PCOSThere are a number of natural and healthy ways to help support the liver with its natural detoxification process. For those with PCOS, it’s critical to consider the role the liver plays in wellbeing and recovery.Diindolylmethane (DIM): used for improving estrogen levels, DIM is a compound derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous vegetables.Milk Thistle: one of the best liver cleansing herbs. Since excess estrogen gets filtered out of the body through the liver, this is very important. Cruciferous Vegetables: eat things like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and kale to assist in the liver’s natural detoxification process.N-acetylcysteine (NAC): Helps with Phase 2 liver detox and glutathione production.Inositol: May help with controlling blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity, and may also improve fertility in PCOS cases. What About Elevated DHEA?When DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, also known as androstenolone, an endogenous steroid hormone precursor) is high, cortisol may often be off as well. There is a relationship between high DHEA levels and other hormones like testosterone and it is very helpful to test the full panel to get a clear picture. Listen to Your Body’s Natural Energy CyclesOverall, it is important to pay attention to what Dr. Kinney calls the ‘body benchmarks’. Even though numbers are useful, what’s going on in the body and the physical symptoms are much more important. Breathing, yoga, meditation, and doing less is the best way to reduce stress and lower cortisol.One other way to lower cortisol is to build in rest on Days 18-25 when your body is asking for extra rest. Doing this will help your adrenals build more cortisol in the second half of your cycle.In Laura’s case, she was eating well. But, if blood sugar is a concern then you may want to look into a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, checking Hemoglobin A1C (average fasting blood sugar), or Fasting Insulin levels.Keep in mind that diet changes are best done gradually. If you are stressed out by a new diet or if it feels too drastic, that in itself can raise corti

The Case: Alison has an autoimmune disease and struggles to fight off colds and flusAt the start of the pandemic, she took extra precautions including social distancing and taking extra vitaminsAs things open up, her anxiety is heightened and she wonders if she’ll ever shake the fear of going out again The InvestigationAlison reached out to me for help supporting her immune system so that she can start getting out more without the fear of infection and a flare up of her autoimmune disease. I knew there was a hidden threat to her health beyond being exposed to more people and germs. I knew we had to look at this from all angles to help her enter the post-lockdown COVID world with confidence. To help me explore the emotional impact of quarantine, pandemic fears, and increased anxiety on the immune system, I invited Dr. Don Wood back to the show. You may recall that Dr. Wood joined us on episode 62 when he shared insights into a potential underlying cause of inflammation and autoimmunity. He is the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. His research linked various forms of trauma to subconscious blocks that lead to all types of health issues. The IPI works with people to reboot the mind to release the mind from the impact of these emotional traumas. The Trauma SpectrumWhen we think of trauma, our minds likely go to big traumas, or what is often referred to as Big T trauma like an accident or abuse. But, Dr. Wood notes that less obvious traumas can also have an impact, even if we don’t recognize them as trauma. These smaller traumas can be emotional and can stay with us for a long time without us realizing how they are impacting our physical and mental health Emotional ConcussionDr. Wood coined the term ‘emotional concussion’ to help people understand the impact of emotional experiences. We are familiar with physical concussions (thanks to the research being done on athletes) and we understand that physical concussions can be serious whether they are from one big incident or the culmination of many smaller physical events. Dr. Wood says the same can be said about emotional concussions. We might have a big emotional event that leaves a noticeable impact but we can also feel the impact of multiple smaller emotional events that add up over time. These smaller events over time can be harder to track or attribute a physical response to. This is the risk that some are facing with the Pandemic. The emotional impact of decreased socializing, stress, anxiety, and isolation can compound into an emotional concussion. Physical Effects of Emotional ConcussionsWhen these emotional events start to build-up (like they may be doing with COVID-related stresses), they can activate your nervous system and cause inflammation. This is a normal response to trauma, and under normal circumstances it’s a good thing because it is a protection and repair response. But if it keeps happening for an extended period of time (perhaps because we are reliving the trauma emotionally because we haven’t processed it), we stay in that activated state. This can then cause or trigger autoimmune issues. It can manifest in various different ways. For example, the inflammation could show up in the intestinal area (potentially triggering Crohn’s) or the thyroid (related to Hashimoto’s). It can take time for the physical effects of the emotional concussions to show up - months, years and even decades. The response can also be from traumas that we don’t outwardly track as trauma. But if we have an emotional or physical reaction to the memory, then Dr. Wood says we relive the trauma in our mind. That memory, if it is vibrant enough, can continue to put the nervous system into an activated state. The person may not be aware that their mind is creating this trigger over and over to something that happened in the past because the mind doesn’t actually know it’s in the past - it reacts as if it’s happening now. In the case of COVID, the anxieties being felt now can be re-triggered with memories or as we return to ‘normal’ life including going out without a mask, shaking hands, wondering if it’s safe to hug someone, or being in crowds. How to Reduce the Long-Term Effects of Pandemic AnxietyThe most important process in reducing the long-term impact of anxiety that has surfaced during COVID is to learn how to down-regulate your nervous system. In other words, to calm your nervous system so it doesn’t continue to feel the threats or anxieties of COVID after the threat is actually over. Calming the mind and body are the key to down-regulating your nervous system. Dr. Wood says that even if someone has never meditated before, they can still calm the nervous system with simple breathing exercises. He suggests doing what he calls ‘5-6-7’ breathing. Start by closing your eyes, breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for six seconds, and breathe out for seven seconds. Do this three times and see what yo notice. For most people its enough to see a significant shift in how

The Case: Ava has three different autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto’s A functional medicine doctor put her on a restrictive diet for six months and an extensive supplements regimen Despite these measures, Ava still isn’t feeling better. Ava’s autoimmune struggles have been going on for some time now. She’s put in so much work and has invested in supplements, appointments, and treatments so it’s understandable that she’s frustrated to see no payoff. It’s my impression that the root problem hasn’t been exposed. I knew that was exactly where I wanted to start. The Investigation Autoimmunity is rampant in our society and more people are being diagnosed with all types of autoimmune conditions every day. Many start with conventional medicine like Ava did, then realize it may not hold all the answers for them, and turn to functional (or holistic) medicine. However for some, like in Ava’s case, it may still not be complete. Many practitioners, even more functional and holistic ones, can still be missing the root cause. My guest on this episode is Dr. Connie Jeon, founder of Alkaline Wellness and Lupus Rebel. She helps A-type, ambitious, and committed autoimmune patients reverse their disease holistically so that they can create a successful life without limits. Why Doctors Miss the Real Problem There are many reasons why a functional or holistic medicine doctor might miss the real root cause of the problem. For example: Psychosomatic trauma and stress as the perpetuating factor that didn't get addressed Overly restrictive diet plans that the patient could not follow due to lack of accountability and support Over prescriptions of hormones (often progesterone) before addressing lifestyle issues Lack of rapport with the patient, not knowing more about their life Excessive lab testing and focusing on what’s wrong vs focusing on the solution Emotional metabolism and proper boundary setting is required for successful reversal of issues Self-regard, self-respect, and self-love is lacking Mental health and stress management is not included in the treatment plan Telling clients what to do without accountability and support, instead of showing them Not seeing the big picture and enlisting patients as the primary driver of their health Balancing the Body with Autoimmune Issues The list above shows that many of these issues have to do with lifestyle, thoughts, and taking a bit more time to gather more information. If a practitioner or doctor you’re working with isn’t asking you questions about this then you may be missing some of what’s needed for a truly holistic approach. Balancing our body and getting to the root of health issues, especially as it relates to autoimmunity, is multi-faceted and has to include the inner work too. How Treatment-Stress Can Reverse the Benefits Ava was diligent with her diet and supplements, but being so diligent was also causing her a ton of stress. She would feel anxious if she had to go out to eat or shift anything in her routine. Those anxious feelings would spiral in her head, and affect her sleep and how she showed up in her work and for her family during the day. She often woke up dreading the day because she didn’t feel well and because she felt she had to accomplish so much. So many of us have a lifestyle with high stress. In the work world, we often don’t take time to slow down and analyze how these lifestyle choices might be affecting our health. Interestingly but not surprisingly, Ava didn’t realize this was going on and therefore did not consider that it could be a part of her underlying issues. How To Address Underlying Stressors Affecting Autoimmune Issues Figure out what you enjoy, and make time for it Create a positive relationship with your health team and don’t be afraid to search for options Find a health practitioner who will take time to search out the root cause Identify where you could create better boundaries and reduce stress Try EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Identify any limiting beliefs or thoughts Reduce over-supplementation or excessive prescriptions where possible Keep the focus on the solution Engage in regular stress-relieving activities Don’t discredit the power of your mind and heart as a part of the whole solution Mystery Solved I knew with Ava that there were likely deeper stressors affecting her, and triggering the autoimmune responses she was experiencing. We started by making a list of all the things she enjoyed (which wasn’t as easy as you might think!). The next step was to carve out time in her schedule so she could start spending more time doing the things she loves. She was excited but also found that she felt guilty about taking the “me” time. This is common and we had to address it as a limiting belief. To help with removing this belief, we used the dot exercise. This exercise is based on EMDR principles where I had her follow a moving dot back and forth on the screen with her eyes while saying the belief with the words

The Investigation I hear it all the time. Someone goes on a cleanse to feel better but they end up feeling worse. Detox reactions, die-off reactions, or Herxheimer’s reactions are caused by a variety of factors such as toxin exposure, viruses, bugs, yeasts, and parasites. Cleansing or detoxing can be incredible for our health but some people do experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, gas, bloating, congestion, and flu-like symptoms. Why We Experience Detox Reactions When your body has more toxins or infections present, or if it is a first cleanse, you may experience more physical reactions as there is more to clear out. Secondly, genetics can affect how someone reacts to certain factors involved in a cleanse. The way you detoxify, and how your detoxification pathways work can be related to genetic factors in your metabolic pathways. Thirdly, some people are simply more sensitive. It may be tougher for some people to cleanse, or they may need to take a different approach. Being sensitive to changes in the body and environment can make it hard to tolerate even the milder side effects of a cleanse but there are ways to mitigate it. Overall, it’s still very beneficial to do a cleanse as it assists your wellbeing and thankfully there are things you can do to reduce the potential for detox reactions. The most popular cleanses are a full-body toxin cleanse (liver or gallbladder) or a GI (gastrointestinal tract) cleanse. In this episode, I review each. What is a Liver Cleanse? Liver cleanses usually involve herbs like milk thistle and dandelion as well as nutrients like NAC and glutathione. They work by pulling toxins out of the cells and making them water soluble and then should be binding them up and excreting them. Typically the more toxins you have, the more that needs to come up; and if those toxin pathways are blocked, reactions will happen. Most liver cleanses come with diet instructions but I find that not everyone follows them. It’s super important to listen to the instructions if you want the cleanse to be effective. Steps for a Successful Liver Cleanse: Eat a clean diet (whole foods, avoiding all refined and processed foods for the duration of the cleanse). Make sure your bowels are moving (you might want to try magnesium citrate or Oxi powder if they are not). Be aware of sulfur-based supplements. You can do an organic acid test to see if you are able to handle sulfur well, as many cleanses use sulfur-based supplements like NAC and Glutathione. (If sulfur is an issue, try using molybdenum and doing epsom salt baths, and using herbs instead of sulfur-based supplements). Start slow. Some people like doing a half dose of supplements, then working up to the full dose. Doing a little bit and feeling good is still doing work, rather than doing a lot at once, and feeling unwell and then stopping. Find a cleanse that has a binder or add your own binder. Binders are like sponges, they absorb things by pushing the toxins out and catching them to carry out of the body. You can add charcoal, clay, or fulvic acid - I also like using Ultra binder by Quicksilver or Biotoxin binder by Cell Core. Try taking this first thing in the morning or at bedtime, and away from food as much as you can. Following these steps will ensure you are assisted when doing a full body toxin or liver cleanse, and help make things a lot more tolerable. Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse If you are working on your digestion and have Dysbiosis (an overgrowth of bugs in the gut) you’ll be using anti-microbial things in your cleanse. You’ll need to address the GI (gastrointestinal) Tract in this type of cleanse, compared to the full body (liver/gallbladder) cleanse I just spoke about. To address the dysbiosis, you’ll need anti-microbials (anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal agents). A few examples of those would be (but not limited to): Garlic Oregano Pau d’arco Clove Grapefruit seed extract The goal here is to kill off the bugs in the gut while at the same time rebalancing the microbiome (increasing the good guys). Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse: Get your bowels moving first Make sure your bowels are moving FIRST. This step is crucial, because you don’t want to be killing off bugs unless the digestive system will be able to bring them out! Reduce your sugar Once your bowels are moving regularly, you’ll need to change your diet. Likely, it may feel drastic to completely reduce sugar if you’ve never tried it before, however you can still eat 1-2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of complex carbs (lentils, sweet potato, brown rice) per day so its not about avoiding all carbs. These bugs feed on sugars and so that needs to be reduced and processed carbs turn to sugar which is why those are also avoided. Break up the biofilm Another must is something to break up the biofilm in the gut. The bugs form this biofilm around themselves in order to protect themselves from being destroyed. This is why I’ll often recommend taking a biofilm di

The Case: Emily is dealing with hair loss, sluggishness and constipation.Emily tried changing her diet and taking adrenal supplements but not much changed.Lab results confirm her suspicion that her thyroid is slow (even though the numbers are technically in range). Emily’s numbers come up right on the edge of optimal so I knew that we needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what else was playing a role in her health mystery. The InvestigationEmily went to see her primary care doctor and asked her to run all the thyroid markers. The doctor was actually very open and ran everything she requested including TSH, total and free t4, total and free t3, reverse t3 and thyroid antibodies. Her doctor reported that everything was within range, but as a fan of the show, Emily knew that ‘in range’ doesn’t mean optimal.My first instinct here was to run a hair test, and get to the bottom of the hair loss, sluggishness and constipation. Top Thyroid ExpertI asked my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Biamante to come back on the show to talk about thyroid, since he is the New York City Thyroid Doctor. We have often spoken about the connection between people taking synthetic thyroid supplements and still reporting that they don’t feel quite right. Factors that Affect the ThyroidThere are many things that can affect the performance of your thyroid, and it’s important to consider them all when trying to solve a health mystery involving the thyroid or symptoms likely related to thyroid issues. Here’s a quick reference: Kidneys: Regulate potassium levels in the body.Adrenal Cortex: Produces corticosteroids and glucose, aids in retention of potassium in your cells.Sodium: Low thyroid hormone can cause a low tissue sodium level.Potassium: Facilitates proper nerve and muscle function.Zinc & Magnesium: Both encourage potassium storage in the cells which is important for conversion of T3.Copper: Blocks potassium which can impact T3 conversion. Hair Test for Calcium & PotassiumA hair analysis test allows us to analyze the tissue levels for each of the minerals. By looking at a hair analysis test, we can accurately determine the levels of calcium, potassium and other minerals, as well as how they relate or connect to each other. Why do these mineral levels matter? Guyton’s book on physiology explains that calcium acts as a governor or antagonist to the thyroid hormone, and that potassium is a synergist. This means that if the body is too high in calcium, or too low in potassium, the thyroid will likely be affected. Calcium and potassium serve as thyroid regulators so their levels in the tissues can impact thyroid performance. What is the Ideal Ratio of Calcium to Potassium?4 parts calcium to 1 part potassium is the ideal ratio for the body to have. It’s important to note when looking at any of the minerals, that the relativity and connection between them is key. There’s a lot more to potassium than simply eating a banana, so please make sure you consult your practitioner on this one. Mystery SolvedIf you listen to this show, then you know that thyroid issues can be complex. In Emily’s case, her levels were not out of range enough to warrant medication but were certainly not optimal. In addition to her blood work, I ran a hair test and saw very high calcium levels, low sodium and potassium along with slightly elevated copper paired (unsurprisingly) with low zinc. The high calcium levels with low sodium and potassium are indicative of overall weakened adrenals and thyroid. In Emily’s case, the high amount of copper was antagonizing her zinc which also made sense. Zinc is a needed mineral for converting thyroid hormone T4 into T3. Next StepsIn addition to lifestyle and mindfulness practices as well as a balanced whole food diet, I put Emily on Thyroxal from Apex to help support the thyroid overall. We also added in Betaine HCL as low sodium levels in the hair are often indicative of low stomach acid. We used B Supreme to get her the needed B vitamins. Looking at the high calcium, we saw a very off balanced ratio of calcium to magnesium and based on her results, I put her on 600 mg of Magnesium Glycinate. This is a fairly high dose but her calcium to magnesium ratio was almost at 18 when it should be around 7. Since she had issues with constipation, I knew the magnesium could be very helpful for that as well. Happy EndingAfter 2 months on this protocol, Emily’s bowels were moving and her energy was slightly improved. We added 60 mg of Zinc, which is a higher dose but was only used short term to help push out the excess copper. She also began on Adrenal Cortex to help support her adrenal system. 4 months after beginning the protocol, Emily’s energy was much better, and bowels were moving every day. She even raved about her skin and hair glowing, and she experienced less hair loss. We retested her thyroid blood work, and her levels were now in the optimal ranges! Eliminating Health MysteriesFor Emily, we were able to find that missing p

The Case: Lexi is dealing with constant fatigue and is struggling to stay awake during the day.She’s tried coffee and energy drinks, and was offered Adderall but preferred to seek out natural solutions.Lexi’s husband complains about her snoring, and her little guy wakes her up most nights. Lexi never wakes up feeling rested. The InvestigationEven though Lexi came to find a natural solution to her fatigue and low energy levels, I knew I had to get to the root cause of the problem. The first thing I did was ask about sleep. It may seem surprising, but it’s shocking how many people deal with poor sleep quality, and continue living their lives assuming it’s relatively normal.To chat more about this, I called in Dr. Meghna Dassani. Dr. Dassani is a renowned wellness leader, international speaker, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Expert. She’s the author of Healthy Sleep, Happy Kids, and Sleep. Breath. Dream, both available on Amazon. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is diagnosed in approximately 5.9 million people in the US, and about 23.5 million people are living with undiagnosed cases of OSA. Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, your throat muscles relax and cause obstruction to the airways. There is a lot that people do not understand about sleep apnea. Anybody can have sleep apnea, and present with a variety of different symptoms. Less air while you’re sleeping leads to a less restful sleep, and decreased energy throughout the day. Do You Or Your Children Have Sleep Apnea?Most people dealing with sleep apnea first present with snoring and fatigue. But in the case of children, it can be challenging to spot. Sometimes the most common symptom, (fatigue) is brushed off because so many kids and teens are tired.In addition to fatigue, kids or teens with sleep apnea may also experience these symptoms: Excessive daytime fatigueSnoring (especially loud snoring)Breathing interruptions during sleep (stops breathing for 10 seconds or more)Waking up with sore throat or dry mouthHeadaches in the morningTrouble concentratingWaking up abruptly with a choking sensation(esp. In children) ADD & ADHD signs and symptoms(esp. In children) Bed-wetting(esp. In children) Breathing through the mouth Dr. Dassani recommends parents take children to the hospital for a sleep study to be done. In general, getting a sleep study or sleep lab done will help in understanding the severity of your case. Connection Between Jaw Shape and Sleep ApneaDr. Dassani explained that ‘tongue-tie’ is when your tongue is quite tightly tied to the roof of the mouth. The tongue is meant to be passively resting in the mouth, rather than firmly pressed to the roof. The ‘roof’ of the mouth can also be seen as the ‘floor’ of the nose, and if the tongue is too tight, it may obstruct the airway from the nose during sleep, causing the mouth to open.A narrow jaw shape can increase the risk of sleep apnea because there is less room for the air to pass through the space and the tongue may cause an obstruction.. Extra body weight can also increase the potential for obstructive sleep apnea. Children should be encouraged to breathe through their nose whenever possible. Any child who has a hard time breathing through the nose because of congestion, allergies, or anything else, should deal with these obstructions before mouth breathing becomes a habit. Treating the Jaw for Obstructive Sleep ApneaA CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine is portable, sits on your nightstand and comes with a mask that you put on over your face at night. The CPAP machine is the most commonly encouraged tool for increasing airflow while you sleep. This machine however does not work for everybody. Another option is to have a dentist create an oral appliance to hold the lower jaw forward. This prevents the tongue from falling back, and holds the airway open. This appliance is similar to a mouthguard, but is built differently and is custom made to allow your jaw to be held in the right position while you sleep.In children, growth spurts allow for appliances and expanders to help resolve them before they get older. In general, children have a tough time using a CPAP machine so it’s crucial to pursue natural options sooner rather than later. Osteopaths, craniosacral therapists, and myofunctional therapists can help with connecting the dots and supporting the jaw shape as the child grows to reduce the potential for sleep apnea. Mystery SolvedI worked with Lexi’s doctor and got her into a sleep study. Our suspicions were confirmed - Lexi’s fatigue was due to a lack of restful sleep and more specifically Obstructive Sleep Apnea. She was able to get a dental appliance to combat the sleep apnea. Plus, we looked to her little guy and saw signs like open mouth breathing and congestion that likely explained why he wasn’t sleeping well either (and was constantly waking Lexi up). On a nutrition front, we d

The Case: Linda was having trouble with anxiety and sleep Routine blood work revealed a very high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and she was given a medication to treat hypothyroidism. Linda wondered why she didn’t have many of the typical symptoms for hypothyroidism and worried that going on medication might be the wrong move. Even though Linda was happy to have an answer, something didn’t add up. She was told to get on the medication, regardless of whether she showed typical symptoms or not. Linda wasn’t convinced. That’s when she came to see me. The Investigation Linda was right to question her results and her treatment even though her numbers were very high. I knew I needed to figure out the root cause of her elevated TSH and determine if there might be a way to get her back into optimal range. Normal Range for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) The regular lab range for TSH is between .5 and 4.5, but the more functional range that we want to aim for is really between 1.8 and 3 if not medicated. Linda’s TSH was at 19, which was why her doctor was immediately alarmed. Evaluating Thyroid Markers or Why You Need To Test All Thyroid Markers In order to truly evaluate the thyroid, it is very important to test all of the thyroid markers (as I explained in Episodes 27 & 28). We ran a second blood test with TSH and all the thyroid hormones as well as all 3 antibodies: TPO, thyroglobulin, and TSI antibodies. When the results came back with high TSH (even higher than before!), the interesting thing was that the other actual thyroid hormone markers were completely normal. Linda’s T3 and T4 were at optimal levels. Typically, when those thyroid hormones drop, the body’s signal to correct that would be raising the TSH. We were able to see here that the other hormones had not dropped in the first place, so that was not the reason the TSH was up. High TSH with High Thyroid Antibodies In Linda’s case, she didn’t have typical hypothyroid or slow thyroid symptoms and her thyroid hormones were normal. Her TPO antibodies however were 529, which is quite high. Her thyroglobulin antibodies were also slightly elevated at 42 and her TSI antibodies were negative. TSI antibodies are representatives of Graves disease, so she didn’t have that, but TPO and Thyroglobulin antibodies are representative of Hashimoto’s. Linda’s results were positive for TPO and Thyroglobulin, which showed us that she had Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Inflammation When there is Hashimoto’s there can also be thyroid inflammation. I have found that when the thyroid is inflamed, the TSH can go up without it triggering any low thyroid hormones. This is not what the textbooks say in typical cases, but as we know here at Health Mysteries Solved, many of us are not textbook cases, and issues can be complex! Misdiagnosed Hypothyroidism Our bodies have tons of feedback loops and when all the loops work like they are supposed to, then we can follow a textbook pathway to healing. But, in many cases, there are other issues at play from stress to autoimmunity to toxicity, to the foods that we eat. It’s not uncommon that the feedback loops may not work the way we think they should. In this case, High TSH is showing inflammation of the thyroid rather than an actually slow thyroid. This not only explains why she didn’t have hypothyroidism symptoms, but also that the inflammation could have actually been triggering the anxiety and sleep issues. Medication when Necessary I was so happy that I met Linda so that we could work on the inflammation. In her case, medication was actually not necessary because her thyroid hormones were normal. Even though I am always trying to find natural solutions, I am not anti-medication when truly necessary. Especially when it comes to thyroid medication. As some of you may know, I take a small dose of compounded thyroid medication because I have hypothyroidism. My perspective is that when the thyroid truly is slow, medication is replacing something that the body can’t make but absolutely needs. This is a very important medication for me to have. However using it when you don't need it is a different story. The Link Between Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism? While many people with Hashimoto’s do in fact have hypothyroidism (because of damage to the thyroid), other times, we can catch the Hashimoto’s and the inflammation it may cause early before the thyroid gets damaged. In this case, if we address the inflammation and underlying immune triggers driving the autoimmune response, it is possible to save the thyroid from being destroyed. By the time I found out I had Hashimoto's, my thyroid was already affected but even if that is the case for you, there is still a lot you can do to stop the progression of the attack by addressing the triggers. Next Steps For Linda, we caught the Hashimoto’s early before it actually damaged her thyroid. We worked on lowering inflammation and calming her adrenal glands (the glands that deal with stress),

The Case: Paulina is dealing with tension and constant pain in her upper back and neck. She’s also experiencing frequent sleep interruptions, headaches and her body is in a constant state of inflammation. Paulina tried adjusting her work set up, saw doctors and a chiropractor, following their advice to take NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory medications but they left her with a sore stomach and still in pain. Natural anti-inflammatories (like fish oil and curcumin) only dulled the pain without decreasing inflammation. When it comes to inflammation and pain, many things are at play and like most things in health, things are interconnected. We often talk about inflammatory cytokines but my instinct was that there really was more going on and we had to dig to find the root cause. The Investigation My instinct was to focus on the endocannabinoid system, which I suspected might assist in understanding and solving Paulina’s case. When I went over the history and looked at all the things that she tried for inflammation, my sense was that she may not be able to process the inflammation properly because another system was dysregulated. Pat Gawrysiak is a formulation scientist and the Founder and CEO of RSPrecision Pharma, a pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding company and President of 7 Leaf Compounds, (a company that grows and manufactures CBD products). I knew he’d be the ideal person to speak with about this. Endocannabinoid System and Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Endocannabinoids are a system of cell receptors. This molecular system balances many body processes, such as immune response, cell communication, appetite, mood, metabolism, memory, and sleep. Phytocannabinoids are plant molecules, such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD-A, CBD-G, and CBD-N. The phytocannabinoids are from plants, and endocannabinoids are from mammals. High quality CBD products are known to activate the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors. Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency is a medical theory which suggests that a deficiency of endocannabinoids is the underlying cause of migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Not all CBD Products are the Same Many people are familiar with CBD but may not really know how or why it works. And, while many may have tried CBD, they may not have gotten the results they were looking for because they were not taking ones that are fully broad spectrum. Or, they may have gotten their dosages wrong for their weight. Anyone taking CBD for inflammation should ensure the product has proper testing (cannabinoid content, metals, pesticides) and is grown organically to get the best results. There can also be different results depending on the person. Treatments can be designed for balancing or acute treatment with doses varying for the desired effectivement. This is why it’s important to consult an expert. The recommended dosage is 50-100 mg for an average adult. Proper Absorption and Bioavailability Proper bioavailability is important and the method of consumption and dosage will impact this. You always want to work with an expert to ensure you are getting the right dosage for your body. CBD is similar to a water soluble vitamin in that there’s only so much that the body can absorb. The rest of the cannabinoid will be rejected by the body if it is not needed. Despite there being little to no risk of overdosing on clean CBD, it’s vital to get the right dosage to avoid feeling unwell. Mystery Solved Because Paulina was so sensitive to anti-inflammatory medications, I knew that we had to look at her gut. However, while we were waiting for those results to come back, I recommended we start with a potent CBD both orally and topically to get the inflammation under control. Paulina had never tried CBD before because she didn’t really know how it worked, but after I explained the pathway, she was excited to try it. She took 50 mg of the Physicians Only CBD twice a day and she applied a little topical cream to her neck 3 times a day. By the 3rd day, she noticed a considerable reduction in her pain -- she reported that it was almost cut in half! She continued on the same dose and the pain stayed at that level for the next 2 weeks. I knew there was more inflammation in her body and so we continued on the same dose. 2 weeks after that, she felt another drop and now the pain was about 75% gone. She was really excited! By then, we had the results of her stool test and saw a few bugs and evidence of leaky gut. We did a GI cleanse with GI Microb-x and FC Cidal, worked on her digestion and her intestinal lining with L-glutamine and zinc carnosine. After the gut protocol, she noticed less bloating, something she didn't even realize she had until it was completely gone! Next Steps Paulina is continuing with the CBD, along with multivitamins and omegas for maintenance, and to keep everything at bay. Happy Ending The CBD helped to reduce the pain she was experiencing by 75%, by also balancing and healing the gut, she is now a

The Investigation Where I live, the pandemic is still very much in full swing with cases continuing to rise. This may not be what we want to hear or think about after the year we’ve just had but I want you to know that all of this can’t take away your power. You still have the power to protect your body and your immune system so that you can best deal with whatever comes at you in the coming months. As we learn more about the virus and as the situation shifts, my immune recommendations have also shifted. There is a lot of information floating around and not all of it is good or relevant to people with certain immune conditions. In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, I want to share my latest updates on immunity. I’m including the best information on how food, nutrients, contraptions and health-hacks can help you stay healthy this winter. Protecting Your Autoimmune Self When you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system is already overactive against your own organs. Many immune formulas (supplements) boost the immune system which, when your immune system is already overactive, is not good. This is why it’s so important that people with autoimmune issues don’t take general immunity advice. Otherwise, you might end up making your immune system even more overactive resulting in your immune system attacking your organs even more. We sure don’t want that! Immune Recommendations to Avoid (for those with Autoimmune Diseases) If you know that you have an autoimmune disease or may suspect one, please be very mindful about immune boosting herbs. Specifically, these ones that are often recommended by health practitioners: Echinacea Astragalus Reishi and other immune supporting mushrooms Green Tea and Elderberry Make sure you read the labels of all supplements being touted as immune boosting because these ingredients may be included. Immune-Boosting Dangers with COVID-19 We’ve learned that when covid goes to the later stages, it can produce something called a cytokine-storm. This is basically an inflammatory cascade that can then affect many other areas of the body. This happens because the immune system is in overdrive trying to fight the virus and not succeeding. Taking immune boosting herbs (like the ones listed above) can make that worse because the immune system is already in a state of disarray. Autoimmune Safe Immune Support Not to worry, there are other nutrients that are not only super-effective but also very safe when it comes to both autoimmunity and preventing immune dysregulation. In this episode, I got into greater detail with each of these but I wanted to provide you with a list of my go-to recommendations for my clients and myself. Here are my top recommendations for autoimmune safe immune-boosting supplements: 1. Vitamin C This is my first go-to, my power tool, and the one that I think many people overlook. My recommendation for general immune support for a typical 150 pound adult is 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use the C+Bio Fizz from Designs for Health (makes a yummy, fizzy drink) but capsules like Stellar C are great. For some, vitamin C can cause loose bowels. If that happens for you, Liposomal Vitamin C is a wonderful solution to this problem as it absorbs through the mucous membranes in your mouth first and is easier to absorb - just remember to refrigerate. Please note that if you are already sick (with COVID or any other virus, respiratory illness, or cold), you will want to shift your Vitamin C protocol. I, along with many of my integrative colleagues, recommend increasing vitamin C significantly for the course of a week or so while not well. Do this in divided doses and more frequently. So, it would look something like taking 500 to 1000 mg of C (it can be powder, liposomal or capsules) every 30-60 min to bowel tolerance (until you get diarrhea which is when your body says it's saturated and had enough). You would then restart it later in the day or next day. Do this for a few days when you are sick. There is a ton of research about high dose vitamin C in helping fight infections. 2. Vitamin D It’s imperative that our vitamin D levels are optimal as we head into winter. The dosage of D is going to vary based on your actual vitamin D status (if you know it). I like to have people somewhere between the 50-80 range on a blood test (lab range is only 30-100). If you don't know your levels but you have not supplemented with vitamin D recently, and especially if you live in the northern hemisphere, 5000 IU of vitamin D would typically be recommended. Vitamin D is huge for balancing the immune system which is why it is so wonderful for illness prevention but also to keep the immune system in a place of homeostasis to help prevent upregulations on your own tissues if, or when an infection strikes. Vitamin D should ideally come with Vitamin K so that we prevent calcification of tissues and organs. I use a Liquid D for those who may have issues with fat soluble vitamins and t

The Investigation Resolutions don’t work. In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, we’re going to explore why and what you should be doing instead. New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work We all make them, and most of us fail at them. Or, we have small successes that don’t last. Why? I think there are a few reasons: Tied to New Years. Most of us only think about resolutions as the calendar rolls over. So, we think about this goal once. And then, we forget it so there’s not much consistency. Obligation. For many of us, we make these resolutions about things we feel like we should be doing. We don’t think about why we want these things, or if we truly want them. Wrong focus. We think about the resolution but don’t always put ourselves in a place where we can really feel it happening. We focus on fixing specific health issues and getting to the root of our ailments but not on what we really want and how we want to feel. We focus on what we don’t want instead of what we do want. The New Year’s Resolutions Replacement I want to share an exercise with you that is much more powerful than the typical New Year’s Resolution practice. This is something I do (and I have my clients do) consistently throughout the year - not just at New Year’s! Do this when you have about 10 minutes in a quiet, comfortable spot where you can focus on your desired future. Make sure nobody will interrupt you. Don’t do this while driving - this is not something you want to be multitasking! Health Visualization Exercise I’ll explain the process but I highly recommend you listen to the podcast so I can walk you through it. Have a seat and close your eyes. Take a breath. Take one more. Think about a few things you are grateful for. Even if you’re struggling, find something to be grateful for. Say ‘thank you’ outloud for each thing you are grateful for. Take your time and allow things to come to the surface. Think of one health goal. Think about WHY you want this goal. Consider the potential hardships you will endure if this doesn’t happen. Visualize your goal as if it's happening right now. Try to really see yourself living in this new state of health. Evoke all the senses in this visualization. Take your time with this - you want to be able to feel this new reality. If negative thoughts arise and you feel like you are questioning this reality, acknowledge them, take a breath, try and feel where in your body you are feeling the resistance and observe it, this will allow the thought to subside so you can return to your full visualization immersion. Write it down. Write down what you said, how you felt, and what you were doing. The key is to write it as you see it, as if it's happening right now, not what you would like someday. Be mindful to not write down what you don’t want, you want it in the present and in the positive. Get motivated. You very likely know exactly what action you need to take, now use the WHY to get motivated to take action. If you’re not sure where to start taking action, write down as many things as you can about all the possible actions and choose one to do. Year-Round Keep visualizing. Remember this isn’t a once a year empty exercise. To help make your visualization a reality as quickly as possible is consistency. Envisioning your dream is something you can do as often as you like, ideally each day. Download and save this episode so you can listen to it and revisit your visualization or do it on your own. Really seeing and feeling what you want will help to bring it closer to you. You my friend, deserve all of the things that you wrote down and I want your dream to become a reality in the coming year. Connect! I would love to hear how this exercise went for you, what you noticed, what happened a few days later and what opportunities come your way. Drop me a line on Instagram or use the contact form on the Health Mysteries Solved website. I love hearing from you! Related Podcast Episodes: Beyond Mysteries: Create Your Best Year of Health Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating 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

The Case: Rachel is dealing with digestion problems, sleep issues, headaches, psoriasis, and rashes. She’s seen a ton of specialists, including a dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, and an endocrinologist She tried steroids, acid lowering medications, and a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) with little improvement. The Investigation This battery of symptoms may seem unrelated but I suspected that they were all connected. My first clue was in her diet - which was not unhealthy but did have one common element that raised my suspicions. It’s found naturally in many foods and many traditional doctors don’t know to look for it - despite the fact that it’s estimated that as much as 17% of the population may have a reaction to it. Dr. Beth O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath and the owner of Mast Cell 360, a Functional practice specializing in root cause approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Histamine Intolerance, and related conditions such as oxalates, mold toxicity, and chemical sensitivities. You may recall that Beth appeared on episode 67 when we discussed a case involving oxalates. This time we’re focusing on mast cell activation syndrome and histamine intolerance, which I suspected in Rachel’s case. What is Histamine Intolerance? Most people think of allergies when they think about histamines because antihistamines are taken to deal with the symptoms. However, histamine has a much bigger role in the body than reacting to allergens. Histamine helps regulate estrogen levels, the sleep-wake cycle, acts as neurotransmitter, activates stomach acid and plays a role in digestion. The body can build up high levels of histamines to a point where the enzymes that break down histamine can’t keep up. At this point, it exceeds the threshold causing a histamine intolerance that leads to many different symptoms. Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance There are a wide range of symptoms and they vary from person to person. Here are the big ones: Skin irritation Rashes or hives Headaches (even migraines) Gastro-intestinal issues Inflammation Causes of Histamine Intolerance There are many things that can push histamine levels over the top including environmental toxins and certain foods. Some of the most common foods that are high in histamines include: Spinach Strawberries Pineapple Fish (especially tinned) Packaged/processed foods Click here for a comprehensive list of high and low histamine foods. In addition to diet and environmental triggers, there are also genetic factors to consider. Specifically the genes that are coded for histamine degrading enzymes like ABP1 and AOC1 that produce diamine oxidase (DAO). Also, Histamine N-Methyltransferase (HNMT) which is another gene with the function of breaking down histamines. Alternatively, a gut issue where the microbiome is impeding the natural creation of DAO can also cause a histamine overload. What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Sometimes a histamine intolerance is caused by mast cell activation. Mast cells are the frontline defenders of the immune system and they produce histamine. These cells are activated when there is a threat like a virus, bacteria, parasites, mold or toxins. When they find this issue, they surround it with inflammation producing molecules and call to other immune cells to come in and do the rest of the clean-up process. This activation can result in an over-production of histamine. If the body is under constant attack (from toxins or stress), then mast cell activation can turn into mast cell activation syndrome. This can manifest in many ways with a variety of symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose. Testing for Histamine Intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Diagnosing mast cell activation syndrome is to see if there are symptoms involving two or more systems of the body. For example, GI issues, headaches, hives or others listed here. One of the first diagnostic tests is to have the patient take an antihistamine to see if the symptoms are related to histamine. However, you have to make sure that the antihistamine does not have mast cell triggers like dyes or titanium dioxide. The final piece of identifying mast cell activation syndrome is a genetic test showing a positive result for one of the mast cell mediators like tryptase, N-methylhistamine, prostaglandins, or cytokines. Treating Histamine Overload or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome The most important step is to reduce histamine intake. This is most commonly managed through a low-histamine diet. It’s important to note that foods that are seen as health-promoting, like fermented foods or spinach smoothies, can in fact be quite high in histamines. Eating organic is also important (to reduce pesticide exposure) as is making sure your protein is clean and fresh. In particular, you want wild caught fish that is frozen at sea. Histamines can be elevated in food over time which is why it’s also important not to eat old leftovers (best to freeze them right away instead of

The Case: Jane has been experiencing dry, irritated eyes for the past 2 years She’s treated them with steroid drops and antihistamines but the problem persists After consulting many doctors and taking tests, there seem to be no answers. Eye irritations can range from dry, itchy eyes to puffiness. Most people reach for over-the-counter eye drops or antihistamines for temporary relief. If it’s caused by the environment or allergies, this might solve the issue but when it persists - there may be a bigger issue at play. The Investigation My sense was that another organ was driving her eye issues. I suspected that it actually wasn’t an eye issue, so to solve this health mystery, we had to look outside the box. And, I knew just who to contact, Dr. Rudrani Banik (Dr. Rani). She’s a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with a functional medicine approach. You may remember her, she was on episode 50. Dr. Rani confirmed that eye issues aren’t always just about the eyes. The Eye Thyroid Connection The thyroid is related to the health of your eyes. The receptors on the thyroid look very similar to the receptors that are found on the connective tissue in the eye socket. When there are issues with the thyroid, specifically autoimmune issues, there is the possibility that the eyes can be affected. There are a lot of different eye issues that are related to either Graves Disease or Hashimoto’s (autoimmune issues related to the thyroid). However, sometimes the eye issues present before the autoimmune issue is detected or diagnosed making the connection difficult to make. Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease The symptoms of thyroid eye issues can start out like many eye issues. For example, you might have dryness, irritation, redness, puffiness or swollen lids. The usual course of action for these symptoms might be to use drops (including over the counter and steroid gel drops), antihistamines or both but if these don’t work, these may be symptoms of thyroid eye disease. Additional characteristics of thyroid eye disease may include the swelling or puffiness of the upper eyelids especially in the morning with the swelling decreasing through the day. Other symptoms may include chronic redness or a shift in the width of the eye socket. The latter may result in the eyes appearing bigger or wider. There may even be some inflammation causing the eyes to protrude or bulge (proptosis). If left undiagnosed and untreated, the muscles behind the eye socket can get involved and cause double vision and even vision loss. Note that this does not happen overnight - it’s a severe advancement of the condition but it’s worth noting what can happen if the situation is not dealt with. Diagnosing Thyroid Eye Disease The most important part of tying an eye issue to the thyroid is to get blood tests. But, it’s not enough to just test the TSH or T3 as many doctors will do as a thyroid test. Dr. Rani says she likes to get the full antibody panel including TPO (thyroid peroxidase), Tg (thyroglobulin antibodies), and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor (which tends to be elevated in thyroid eye disease patients). Dr. Rani also says an eye exam is very important. She measures the lids very carefully to see if they are more open. She also tracks this over time to watch for changes. She’s also looking for congestion in the eye socket, asks about double vision, and checks the ocular motility. Finally she uses an exophthalmometer to determine how the eye rests within the socket. Sometimes a CAT scan or MRI are required. Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease Once the issue has been properly diagnosed, there are several things that can be done to help treat thyroid eye disease including: Eye Lubrication Treating eye redness, dryness, and irritation can be done with topical medications (typically drops or ointments). Sometimes patients require medications (antihistamines or topical steroids but Dr. Rani only uses steroids in extreme cases (when vision is at risk) because there is a risk of side effects like developing glaucoma or herpetic infections. Diet Changes Certain foods may be triggering thyroid issues (for example, gluten, dairy, and goitrogens like cruciferous vegetables). Avoiding these foods may help. Avoid Smoke Dr. Rani says it's really really important to avoid any kind of smoke or fumes. Studies show that people who smoke have a much worse prognosis when it comes to thyroid eye disease, so it’s suggested that they quit smoking and even avoid secondhand smoke. Cooking fumes can even create a problem. Reduce Stress When it comes to managing the thyroid, stress is a major factor. Stressful periods can trigger thyroid issues so ongoing stress-management is important. Selenium A European study found that selenium (a mineral) can reduce the symptoms of thyroid eye disease. In that study, they used a supplement (100 mcg twice per day) but selenium can also be found in Brazil nuts, eggs, beef, chicken, and pork. Selenium can also be

The Case: Lori is 42 and has an autoimmune disease She works in the media and is concerned about her aging skin and wrinkles She’s worked hard to improve her health naturally and doesn’t want to do anything that will trigger her autoimmunity. Lori and I had been working together for months to get her health back on track due to her autoimmune condition. She asked me about how her condition might be affected by potential anti-aging therapies. I’m glad she asked because many doctors or aestheticians who provide anti-aging therapies don’t even think to ask a patient about other health issues. Dr. Raheleh Sarbaziha (aka Dr. Rahi) is not one of those doctors. In her practice, she makes sure to take a full health history before she will recommend potential therapies for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction. Aging is a natural process and part of that is the degradation of collagen which shows up most visibly as wrinkled or sagging skin. Better Skin Through Diet Dr. Rahi believes that great skins starts within. You have to take care of the inside before you can expect great results from any external treatment. Dr. Rahi recommends a mostly plant-based diet. She says it’s important to understand how to read a label and to eat whole food. Supplements for Better Skin Here are the top supplements Dr. Rahi recommends for healthy looking skin: 1. Collagen Since collagen is such an important part of healthy, young looking skin, collagen supplements can help. 2. Magnesium This is one of her top recommendations because it improves the quality of skin but it’s also so important on a cellular level. Most of us are deficient in magnesium so supplementing is valuable inside and out. Magnesium Citrate is a good option. 3. Turmeric This supplement helps decrease inflammation in the body and many skin disorders are a result of inflammation. 4. Fish Oil or Omega-3 A good, clean fish oil can help with healthy looking skin. For anyone who is vega, a good Omega 3 is an option. 5. Prenatal DHA This is something Dr. Rahi takes even though she is not pregnant. Look for brands like Designs for Health or Vibrant Beginning that have 90% triglycerides. 6. Vitamin C Vitamin C is super important in collagen production and it also helps keep your immune balanced. You can take it as a supplement or get it through diet (but likely both). Micro-needling Micro-needling is a process of making many micro-punctures in the skin using a special tool. This brings the blood to the surface which stimulates your immune system and regenerates collagen production. It’s considered a minimally invasive, very safe treatment that generates amazing results. It can be uncomfortable or even painful depending on your pain tolerance and the quality of the numbing cream used. Dr. Rahi also says that patients may be more sensitive during menstruation or if you are tired or stressed. There are a variety of options for increasing the efficacy of the treatment including coating the skin with hyaluronic acid (so that it is injected with each micro-puncture). Other options include adding vitamin C, B Complex or glutathione. Another popular option is the PRP or Platelet-rich Plasma. This is extracted from your own blood using a centrifuge. Using PRP during microneedling increases collagen regeneration and gives the practitioner the option to localize treatment (for example on deep lines or scars). PDO Threads PDO threads are small sutures that are injected under the skin to pull the skin back and make the skin appear tighter. The threads themselves degrade over time and are absorbed by the body. There are many different types of threads (smooth, twisted, and barbed) that serve different ‘lifting’ purposes. As a foreign object under the skin, they also trigger an immune response and stimulate collagen production. This treatment is generally not recommended for those above the age of 65 if they have thinner skin. Dr. Rahi says that it could trigger a response for anyone with an autoimmune disease but she’s never seen a negative reaction. Radio Frequency Radio frequency treatments trigger an immune response when the frequency is emitted through the skin and causes the dermal layer to heat up resulting in a burn, almost. There are two options using radio frequency - a sort of probe onto the skin (kind of like getting an ultrasound) and in combination with microneedling (Morpheus8) . This kind of treatment should be safe for those with autoimmunity because it is simply stimulating collagen production. Fillers There is the potential for immune reactivity with fillers so be sure to select an informed technician or doctor. Dr. Rahi also cautions against irreversible fillers, favoring dissolvable fillers instead. This option allows you to dissolve it if you don’t like it for any reason. Common fillers contain Hyaluronic Acid and BDDE (butanediol diglycidyl ether) as a cross linking agent which can cause an immune reaction. For anyone with autoimmunity, Dr. Rahi cautions against Vol

I recently opened the door to questions about thyroid conditions and Hashimoto’s on my Instagram page. And, wow, was I flooded with really great questions. In this episode, I answer as many as I can. The Question - How do you Shrink Your Thyroid Nodules? This was the question I got the most from my Instagram followers. Before I answer, I want to clarify a few things. There are many different types of growths on the thyroid. Many people confuse enlargement of the thyroid with nodules or inflammation. If the thyroid is enlarged in one spot, that is a nodule. However, if the whole thyroid is enlarged it’s either a goiter or thyroiditis. A goiter is caused by iodine deficiency (uncommon in the US), consumption of too many goitrogenic foods, or thyroiditis. This swelling is often painless (pain may indicate that inflammation is from a virus). Goiter growth is fed by a high TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and also by high hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is present during and after pregnancy. Eventually the hCG will go back down but if the TSH level is not treated, it can continue to feed the goiter and it will continue to grow. The first step in reducing a swollen thyroid is to get TSH levels in balance and to reduce goitrogenic foods. As for nodules on the thyroid, these could be solid or cysts filled with fluid. About 50% of people have these and many are benign. Someone with Hashimoto’s may experience nodules during a flare up. However, it’s important to have them checked because they could lead to thyroid cancer. The good news is if the nodules are due to Hashimoto’s, addressing the root cause of Hashimoto’s can help shrink the nodules as well. For more on this, refer to past episodes 32 - Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery, and 68 - Ask Inna: Hashimoto’s Questions. The Question - Do people with Hashimoto’s have a compromised immune system? This is a question that has popped up a lot more since the start of the pandemic. People want to know if having Hashimoto’s means your immune system is weakened. Inna’s Response This might seem logical but it’s actually the opposite. Hashimoto’s makes the immune system hyper-vigilant. The problem is that the immune system is confused so it’s extra-active. But this extra activity means that it attacks your own tissue - in this case, your thyroid. So, it’s not weak in that sense but because it’s so hyper-vigilant and attacking your tissue, it can actually weaken its response to bacteria and viruses. The Question - My antibodies are still high. Is there something else I should look at? This question came with quite a bit of backstory. She explained that she had switched from taking just Synthroid (a prescription synthetic thyroid hormone replacement) to adding Cytomel. However her hashimoto antibodies continue to be high despite adhering to the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet (with the exception of eggs). She wondered if the eggs could really cause that much of an issue. An ultrasound also revealed that she has two nodules on her thyroid. So, the real question is, what’s the root cause and what else can she do? Inna’s Response Finding the underlying cause can be tricky. It seems like she’s already looked at the food angle by doing a mostly AIP diet. It is possible that the eggs are a trigger because every person is different but it’s hard to say. A really good food sensitivity test (like the comprehensive panel test done at Vibrant America), and find out conclusively if eggs are an issue for you. After that, you want to make sure you look for other underlying causes like stress, infections, and toxins. Keep in mind that you want to give new medication combinations a couple of months to shift your antibody response. The Question - My TSH levels are very erratic as is my weight gain. What are the best diet plans, supplements and essential tests? Inna’s Response In this case it sounds like it may be Hashimoto’s and the swings are caused by flare ups. TSH can go up and down erratically with Hashimoto’s. For tests, you want to make sure to get a TSH a total T for the total T3 free, a T4, free T3, reverse T3 and (very importantly) both thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto’s - thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase. As for the diet plan, the best one to start with is the AIP plan where you take out grains, dairy, nuts, eggs and processed foods. If this feels too restrictive at first, you can start with removing gluten and dairy. You should also look at underlying causes like infections, toxins and stress. The Question - I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but my tests are now normal and I don’t have any symptoms. Do I still have Hashi’s? This Instagram follower has seen her test results move into normal range lately with TSH at 1.5 and antibodies consistently below the threshold of 35 (from 17 to 34). And, without any mood or energy symptoms it has her feeling like she’s in a gray zone. Inna’s Response The answer here depends on when and how the diagnosis was made. Look back at y

The Investigation Have you ever read a crime novel or a mystery where the main character or detective gets distracted by a random clue only to discover that it had nothing to do with what actually transpired? They spend all kinds of time and energy trying to solve a clue because they can’t let it go? As a health mysteries detective searching for the root cause of an issue, I look at all of the different angles to get to the bottom of it. Sometimes that means chasing a dead-end clue. When it comes to solving our own health mysteries, it’s easy to do this but it is possible to overthink, over-analyze, and over do it. We may even cause more problems trying to find unnecessary answers. In other words, we get in our own way. Common Health Scenario Does this sound familiar? You’re feeling okay and then one day a symptom pops up. Perhaps it’s a new symptom, or it may be a flare up of a symptom that comes and goes. When it happens, your mind turns to curiosity, worry, or even fear. What did I do wrong? What did I eat that I was not supposed to? Where is this coming from? How do I make this go away? What if it never goes away? I’ve been there! More times than I would like to admit. For me, those thoughts and feelings come from the fact that I always like to know (fueled by that universal human need for certainty). For some, the need to know is more pronounced - I’m one of them. I like to know. I want to know what’s happening and what might be coming. Sometimes I can’t help it! I guess one may say I like to control stuff. And while it’s really important to try and figure out which things come from where, there is a fine line and we can all sometimes flop over to the other side. The Dangers of Responding to Every Symptom Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should ignore these symptoms. But, realize that these first thoughts come from fear and anxiety which brings in stress. Stress and anxiety upregulates the nervous system. When the nervous system is elevated it is very hard for the body to have enough energy to do what it actually knows how to do -- HEAL. If we indulge the fear and anxiety, it breeds stress which makes it harder for the body to naturally deal with the issue. In other words, we get our own way of healing! I’m not saying ignore these symptoms but know that there is a fine balance. I’m not saying I don’t try to figure things out but at the same time it’s important to be mindful of the thoughts that you have, where they come from, and when they elevate stress and trigger the nervous system into a response. Mindful Response to Troubling Symptoms If you do start to not feel well or experience symptoms, pay attention to your thoughts in that exact moment. If your first thought is, ‘oh no, what’s happening?’take a breath and just acknowledge where you are in that moment. See if you can feel your body. Rather than question things that you may not have an answer to in that exact moment, acknowledge what is happening in the body. Feeling the body can mean different things for different people. You might get in touch through breathing, feeling energy, or just feeling the feeling of not being well without judging. Doing this simple exercise will calm the nervous system. Once you’re calm, the body is going to have more energy and resources to start to do what it needs to do. By practicing mindfulness, YOU will be able to use your mind and brain to think more clearly and gain answers from a place of calm rather than anxiety. After you feel your body and breathe (preferably through your nose) park the thoughts about where things came from and shift to solution-based questions. What can I do in this moment? What can I be grateful for in this moment? Make Choices that Reduce Stress If you’ve listened to the show, you know how often stress plays a role in resolving a health mystery. Stress affects everything in the body. We often forget that our thoughts and the questions we ask ourselves can trigger a stress response. Sometimes these thoughts are fleeting and we don’t even have time to catch them before they create stress. So, when I talk about getting out of your way in healing, what I mean is, be aware of the questions you ask and catch them in that moment so they don’t create more stress and stop your healing. Shifting Worries to Positive Thoughts I just actually experienced this personally the other week. It is three weeks postpartum and I started to feel feverish. I didn’t have many other symptoms and I’m not used to feeling feverish for no apparent reason - which caused me to question why I was feeling this way. I caught my train of thought - almost right away (I’ll admit to a few alarmist worries!). Once I caught those thoughts, I was able to reverse them and ask myself questions that create more power rather than fear. If you ask yourself questions, your brain will find answers to them (even if they are not true - we’re just wired to find an answer). By changing the questions I was asking (and having them co

The Case: Elody is not feeling well. She has aches and pains as well as digestive issues. She also has dull hair and skin. She read about the benefits of an alkaline diet and started taking baking soda and drinking alkalized water but it made her feel worse. The Investigation There are many studies that support having a more alkaline diet and encourage people to support this diet with sodium bicarbonate. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea. I suspected Elody was on the right track trying to adjust her pH levels but I also knew the mystery ran a bit deeper than that. To fully understand the intricacies of finding the perfect internal pH balance, I’m excited to welcome one of the most respected experts on the topic. Dr. Russell Jaffe has been searching for answers in health care (not sick-care) for the past 30 years. In his global search for insights, he’s developed a deep understanding of the importance of measuring and correcting the body’s pH levels. The Role of pH in Health The body’s pH levels are reflected in the venous and arterial blood, and in the cells themselves. The range of pH is broad (0-12) but the healthy human range is just on the alkaline side of neutral. A chance in pH by as little as 1/100 of a pH unit can have a profound effect on human health. So, even tiny changes in pH can result in significant shifts in how well we feel. Staying inside the healthy pH range is getting harder and harder in our modern culture. Does Taking Baking Soda Help Your pH Levels (by Increasing Alkaline Levels)? Dr. Jaffe says the science makes sense but in practice, this is a silly approach. Taking bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate will disrupt the natural (and necessary) acidity of the stomach. This can lead to serious digestive issues. The Healthy Way to Alkalize the Body Dr. Jaffe explains that the only way to biologically alkalize the body is to: Take in minerals, particularly magnesium and potassium in ways that the body can absorb and retain Reduce the metabolic acid production by reducing toxin exposure, reducing stress (and distress) levels, and improving your nutritional competence. Symptoms of Low pH Levels There are a variety of symptoms that could indicate a low pH (below 6.5) including feeling stressed out, hopeless, or helpless. Fatigue, dehydration, and poor digestion can also be symptoms. Even a desire to drink alcohol can be an indication of a low body pH. Symptoms of High pH Levels Being over-alkaline has negative health effects too. Being in this state for an extended time is called catabolic illness. In this state, the body starts to use amino acids for energy which means the body starters to break down lean muscle to use as fuel. This produces extra ammonia which ends up in the urine. This stress-related disorder is reversible if you are proactive in restoring the neural hormonal immune defence and repair, and digestive competencies that have been eroded. Testing Your pH Levels It can be difficult to tell if you’re pH is out of balance (too acidic or too alkaline) without testing. Testing does not require a lab. Dr. Jaffe suggests doing a daily pH level test first thing in the morning and keeping a log to track your balance. The test is a urine test that can be done at home. Dr. Jaffe recommends testing your first urination of the day by peeing on a pH paper strip or dipping the strip in a clean cup of urine. The strip will change color. If you have an excess of metabolic acids, your pH will be below 6.5 and the strip will turn a sandy-red. If you are in optimal range (6.5-7.5) the strip will turn green. If you are above 7.5 consistently, you may have catabolic illness which should be addressed. Dr. Jaffe recommends using the 5.5-8 range strips because that’s the biological pH paper. Restoring the pH Balance The best way to reset the body’s pH levels is through diet. Here is a chart that identifies foods that can help shift the balance. While alkaline water may seem like an easy and healthy way to increase alkalinity, Dr. Jaffe says that food is a better choice. Select foods that you can digest, assimilate, and eliminate without immune burden. And, support your diet with magnesium. The Role of Magnesium in Balancing Cellular Acidity and Alkalinity Magnesium is a mineral that amplifies hormonal signals. It is required by the body to balance out calcium, maintain healthy alkaline levels, and keep the mitochondria battery charged up (which is necessary for cells to process optimally). Almost all Americans have a relative excess of calcium and an absolute deficiency of magnesium. How Much Magnesium Should You Take? There are a variety of different supplements on the market that all say ‘magnesium’. Some have so little bioavailable magnesium that they are not worth taking. Dr. Jaffe recommends taking a good quality magnesium (225 milligrams) along with a teaspoon (1300 milligrams) of choline citrate 2 - 5 times per day. He doesn’t recommend doubling the dosage an

The Investigation Last week I shared with you what I eat to stay healthy because I get asked the question so often. The other thing people want to know is what I use around the house and my personal care products. With so many things out there, its hard to know what is healthy and what is a fad, I get it! I know that in our quest to find clean beauty products and clean cleaning products, it’s not uncommon to find products that just don’t quite do the job. So, when I find products that are clean AND work, I’m happy to share them. Here’s what I’m using right now. Skincare I struggled with bad skin and acne for such a long time so finding clean beauty products that worked and didn't make me breakout was a challenge. I recently had Dr. Trevor Cates on the show (episode 54). She has a fantastic line of skincare products under her moniker The Spa Dr. that I really love. I use the anti-aging serum, the oil, and the antioxidant moisturizer. If you decide to give her products a try, use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%. Bodycare There are a lot of good, clean options these days. I used to use Suzane Sommers and I found it to be very clean and natural. Recently, the The Spa Dr started making a body wash and body lotion and I loved those so i switched to those as well. Oral Care I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Kourosh Maddahi DDS on the show (episode 71). We talked a lot about oral health and the important microbiome of the mouth. After that show, I started using his line of oral care products called Lumineux Oral Essentials. I use the toothpaste and the mouthwash which do a great job of keeping my mouth clean and fresh without destroying my oral microbiome. If you decide to try his products out, be sure to use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%! Haircare I’ve found a few good products for my hair that are clean and natural. I usually rotate between three different brands. I like Belegenza. I use the Illustrious shampoo and the daily conditioner. I recently also tried the haircare products from Monat (you have to sign up to get them). These products are not organic but are clean and do a great job. The third product I use is by Hairstory. It’s different because it doesn’t lather the way a shampoo does but it is natural and it does help the hair maintain it’s moisture. Sun Screen There are two kinds of sunscreens on the market - synthetic and chemical ones with ingredients like oxy benzene. These absorb into your skin and can cause free radical damage - which is not good. The other kind is a mineral sunscreen which is much safer and the one I recommend. The active ingredient is either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Some people complain because the mineral sunscreens sit on your skin and can appear like a white film but they are much safer. The brand I use is Babo Botanicals. Their spray option is called Sheer Zinc and has an SPF of 30. I find it rubs in pretty well. I use it on my face and body. Deodorant There are two brands of deodorant that I rotate between - Native and Schmidt’s. Both of these are natural and do not contain aluminum or zirconium. Schimdt’s does have a little bit of baking soda which can be an irritant for those with sensitive underarm skin. This is why I rotate but both work really well. Cleaning Products It’s so important that we make sure that the things we use to clean our home are not toxic. Even though we are not putting them on our skin, we are still touching the surfaces and breathing the air. I use an all-purpose cleaner, granite cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and kitchen sink cleaner from Better Life. I first saw this brand when they appeared on Shark Tank about 5 or 6 years ago and I’ve been using them ever since. Unlike some other natural cleaners, Better Life does not leave any residue and I find the scents really nice. Baby Wipes I don’t just use baby wipes for the baby! My favorite ones are Water Wipes because they are mostly water with just a little bit of grapefruit seed extract which is a natural preservative. They don’t feel greasy and they work really well. I know a lot of my patients with digestive issues who have to go to the bathroom a lot (including those with Crohn’s or Colitis) really appreciate that these wipes keep them clean without the irritation toilet paper might cause. Laundry Detergent I use Schmidt’s laundry detergent. I find it works really well, it creates enough suds to get the clothes clean but it’s also natural. And, it has a nice, gentle smell that’s not too overpowering. In the Kitchen I’ve found it’s difficult to find food storage containers that are glass and have glass lids. However, I think the plastic-lidded glass containers are okay because the food doesn’t really touch the plastic. When it comes to cooking, it can be a real challenge to find safe pots and pans. I want to avoid the non-stick pans because they contain the chemicals (like PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that break down and get into the food. These chemicals ca

The Investigation As a clinical nutritionist, many people email me asking me what I eat to stay healthy. They want to know how I stay gluten and dairy-free without falling off the wagon and how I keep things interesting with meal ideas plus all about which supplements I take. I’ve gone through my share of health challenges (and had a health mystery or two as well) and had to get to the root of my problems to regain my health. My diet has been a big part of what put me on the path to where I am today which is being able to thrive after all those struggles. So, in this week’s episode, I’m revealing some of the things I eat as well as some foods and brands I have found that can make eating a clean diet delicious and fun. I guess you could say I’m flipping the investigation around to me. Starting My Day One of the things I try to do each day is a short, intermittent fast. So, I usually don’t have food in the morning until 12 hours has passed since I ate the night before. One of my favorite ways to start my day is a peach smoothie (see recipe below) that includes Whole Body Collagen, and maybe a gluten-free Paleo Waffle from Birch Benders with some almond butter. My son Jake loves oatmeal muffins (see recipe below) in the morning and sometimes I’ll enjoy one or two myself. When I do, I like to add some fat and protein to make sure to balance my blood sugar. This might be a collagen protein drink with flavoured protein by Paleo Pro or Pea protein. On other days, I might make protein pancakes (see recipe below), some eggs with veggies or baked sweet potato slices. Lunch Time (on a Tight Timeline) My lunches tend to be quick. A lot of time I have a salad (I cut up the veggies ahead of time). I usually include a protein like chicken, turkey, shrimp, or salmon (make sure they’re clean and don’t contain nitrates). I also like to include a carb like lentils, black beans or kidney beans that I’ve made in the Instapot ahead of time once a week. You can use canned beans (make sure they are BPA free cans) but the pressure cooker destroys lectins (those can be an issue for those who have autoimmune diseases) so that is why I love using the pressure cooker. If you have to buy canned beans, Eden Foods actually pressure-cooks their beans before canning them so you get the lectin-reduced benefit with them. Sometimes, I’ll do a sweet potato for the carb or I also like the Siete Tortillas which come in a variety of flavors and are actually grain-free. They have ones made with cassava flour, almond flour, cashew flour and chickpeas, very yummy! Simple Kneads Bread is also a very tasty gluten free bread option (they’re also yeast free) that is clean and delicious. It does contain grains but if you are ok with grains, its one of the best gluten free breads that I have found recently. Snack Time I like coconut yogurt because it’s dairy free and I like the So Delicious brand, specifically the unsweetened vanilla which I mix with some Paleonola Granola. Or, I might do fruit and nuts, hummus and veggies, or a protein drink similar to my breakfast smoothie. Dinner I like to balance my plate with a protein, a veggie and a starch. An example is to have baked chicken (I do the whole chicken early in the week so I have chicken for lunch the next day) or add a homemade BBQ sauce (see recipe below). Another favorite in our house is tacos. We saute grass-fed beef or turkey and we love to use the Seite tacos (they have hard and soft shells) because they’re super clean. We load up the tacos with veggies. We also like to grill wild-caught shrimp and put it over zucchini noodles in a vegan pesto sauce from Gotham. Or, we might have beef stew, turkey thighs or burgers with veggies. What I Drink A lot of people want to know about my water. I don’t recommend tap water. We have filtered water but because we are on a well and the house didn’t have good filtration before we moved in, I worry about what is in the pipes and so we actually subscribe to Mountain Valley Springs which is a water service that delivers clean water in glass jugs. Its a great option if you are looking for delivery and trying to avoid plastic bottles which I really recommend. For others, I recommend a 7-stage reverse osmosis water filter if you are able to install it under your sink. If you live in an apartment or are not able to install under the sink, a great counter top option for reverse osmosis is AquaTru. My Supplements Regimen Over the years, I have taken a variety of supplements based on what my tests indicated I needed. My supplement regimen is always changing (and it did while I was pregnant for sure). Most of the time, I take fish oils - specifically, OmegAvail Ultra from Designs for Health and I also take two krill oil gel caps called XanthOmega from Designs for Health. Whenever I do a hair test, I am always low on magnesium so I also take the Magnesium Buffered Chelate from Designs for Health. Lately, I’ve also been taking a lot of extra vitamin C and I rotate between

The Case: Melissa is 40 and has been dealing with brain fog for over 5 years. Everything seemed fuzzy, she forgot words or where she’d put things. She tried working with her conventional doctor, but got nowhere. The Investigation When she came to see me, I noted that she was also experiencing periods of stress, trouble sleeping, feeling down, fatigue, and even weight gain. I suspected that her brain fog was related to these other symptoms. Dr. Rodger Murphree sees many patients dealing with brain fog and knows that there can be many different underlying causes. Often, his patients come in and explain away the brain fog as ‘just getting older’ or joking about having ‘a senior moment’. This is frustrating because often, that is not the case and this loss of mental clarity is treatable, if you can get to the root cause. 6 Common Causes (and Treatments) of Brain Fog Deficient Neurotransmitters One of the most common denominators in brain fog cases is low serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical often referred to as the ‘happy hormone’ because of the role it plays in healthy moods, calming hormones, reducing plain, and regulating bowel movements. Norepinephrine is another neurotransmitter that can be out of balance and cause challenges with mental clarity. Sleep Issues with serotonin can also cause sleep cycle issues, and this can exacerbate the brain fog problem. Sleep is essential for mental clarity because it impacts those brain chemicals. Deep restorative sleep is required to replenish stress coping chemicals, like serotonin and for the mental clarity to return. Stress & Adrenal Fatigue Low cortisol caused by chronic stress can put the body into adrenal fatigue. One of the common symptoms of this depleted adrenal state is brain fog. Proton Pump Inhibitors and other drugs. Many people take proton pump inhibitors (like Nexium and Prilosec) or histamine antagonists like Zantac to treat GERD, acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues. These drugs block stomach acid but that interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and make B12 and B1 (thiamine) both of which are key nutrients needed for thought clarity. Thyroid Brain fog is a common symptom of hypothyroidism however, it is often overlooked especially if traditional (surface level) lab tests don’t reveal that the thyroid is not performing optimally. Food Sensitivities The gut/brain connection is well documented which is why food is one of the first places to look in solving a brain fog mystery. The issue could be caused by a specific food sensitivity or an issue with the gut microbiome. Treating Brain Fog The key to treating brain fog is to determine what the cause of it is. If it is a neurotransmitter issue like low serotonin or norepinephrine, then there are supplements that can help to restore levels but getting enough deep, restorative sleep also has to be a part of the strategy. Sufficient sleep is also required to reset the adrenals and reduce stress-induced brain fog. Dr. Murphree also suggests supplementing with DHEA, Gaba(gamma-aminobutyric acid) L-Theanine, Ashwagandha or valerian root depending on the patient. If stress or adrenal fatigue is the cause of the brain fog, supporting the adrenal glands so they can improve cortisol production is key (as is reducing stress to avoid it happening again). Dr. Murphree explains in this episode why it’s so important to get the right kind of adrenal support supplement - namely the Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular. When the brain fog is a result of prescription drug use, the solution is to find a natural treatment (and in many cases to find the root cause instead of masking the symptoms with medication). If the thyroid is the cause of the brain fog - especially if it is a subclinical case of hypothyroidism, then optimizing the thyroid is the way to regain mental clarity. Determining food sensitivities requires doing either an elimination diet and/or lab tests. Once a sensitivity is detected, removing that food from the diet should result in improved mental clarity. Mystery Solved Considering all of the possible causes, I did a food sensitivity (through vibrant america) on Melissa. The results showed that she was sensitive to eggs so we removed those from her diet. We also did an Adrenal test and discovered her cortisol level was very low. She supplemented with Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular by Klare. Extensive thyroid lab tests revealed that Melissa’s TSH and T4 were both low and a pituitary issue was detected. Plus, Melissa was struggling with sleep, and was experiencing low moods, so this was also part of the puzzle! Happy Ending Melissa supported her thyroid with Thyraxis PT. We got her sleeping better with the help of 100 mg of 5HTP at bedtime. She started sleeping better within 2 weeks and noticed her energy improved in about 4 weeks. At this point she noticed she was in less of a fog and felt sharper. She said it was about 50 percent better. We kept going with the protocol while she continued to avoid

Hey Everyone! I'm so excited to announce that baby girl Juliette has finally arrived! She was born on Sept 2nd weighing in at 8 pounds. It was a bit rough getting her here but she is here safe and sound and we are doing great! I tell you all about it in this short episode. I also shared some pictures on my Instagram, I am @InnaTopiler (https://www.instagram.com/innatopiler/) so be sure to follow me there so we can connect. We are all doing great and spending some quality family time together. I am excited to be back with new episodes starting tomorrow, I have a ton of amazing interviews and content to share so be sure to stay tuned!!

**Show Announcement** As many of you may already know, I'm expecting a baby girl and she is due any day now. I have been super busy trying to get the last of my patients in before my maternity leave starts, cutting it really close here! The show is taking a short break so that I can focus on our growing family. But, don't worry - we'll be back on Sept. 17th, 2020. I've recorded this bonus episode to share a little bit more with you guys. And watch for the next bonus episode when I plan to introduce you to my baby girl. When we return in September, I'm excited to share some really inspiring cases and eye-opening interviews when. We'll be talking about thyroid eye disease, alkalinity from a different perspective, histamines, candida and I will also be sharing some of my products and protocols because so many of you have been asking me what I eat and what I use so I am doing an episode on that as well. In the meantime, this might be a good time for you to catch up on past shows that you may have missed! Listen on your favorite podcast app or at https://healthmysteriessolved.com And remember, when it comes to your health issues, please don't give up! The answers are out there and there is HOPE!

The Investigation Gluten intolerance is an issue for a lot of people. As we explored in episode 066, it can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, bloating, skin irritations, and migraines. For some people, gluten may seem like the root cause, but it could actually be something else. In this episode, we examine a chemical closely tied to wheat that could be the real issue. Root Cause of Gluten Intolerance in America Ever wonder why wheat seems to give people so many issues in this country? While gluten certainly plays a huge role, the question we are often asked is why people who are so sensitive to wheat in the US seem ok with it when traveling to other countries. It has been said that the genetic modification of wheat and hybridization plays a big role and while that is true, the new hybrid wheat has spread all over the world so it’s no longer specifically concentrated here in the US. So what is the issue? There was a wonderful article in The Healthy Economist titled The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic. The article points out that, believe it or not, it is actually a common wheat harvest protocol in the United States to drench the wheat fields with Roundup several days before the combine harvesters work through the fields as the practice allows for an earlier, easier and bigger harvest. “Pre-harvest application of the herbicide Roundup or other herbicides containing the deadly active ingredient glyphosate to wheat and barley as a desiccant was suggested as early as 1980. It has since become routine over the past 15 years and is used as a drying agent 7-10 days before harvest within the conventional farming community.” According to Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT who has studied the issue in depth, desiccating non-organic wheat crops with glyphosate just before harvest came into vogue late in the 90s with the result that most of the non-organic wheat in the United States is now contaminated with it. Seneff explains that when you expose wheat to a toxic chemical like glyphosate, it actually releases more seeds resulting in a slightly greater yield: “It ‘goes to seed’ as it dies. At its last gasp, it releases the seed” says Dr. Seneff.” The article goes on to explain that while the herbicide industry tells us glyphosate is supposedly non toxic, there are multiple studies showing its effects on the cytochrome P450 system (which is the pathway our liver uses to detoxify). Just because it doesn’t kill us instantly, certainly does not mean it's non-toxic and that doesn’t have serious and long term effects. Roundup disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut which then leads to intestinal permeability which is the breeding ground for autoimmunity. In fact, since roundup has been introduced in this practice in the 90’s, the amounts used have skyrocketed. Interestingly, celiac disease has as well. There is a very interesting study from December, 2013 connecting glyphosate in Roundup to many of the things that are thought to be celiac symptoms. Specifically, the abstract of the study (published by Interdisciplinary Toxicology) reads: “Celiac disease is associated with imbalances in gut bacteria that can be fully explained by the known effects of glyphosate on gut bacteria. Characteristics of celiac disease point to impairment in many cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved with detoxifying environmental toxins, activating vitamin D3, catabolizing vitamin A, and maintaining bile acid production and sulfate supplies to the gut. Glyphosate is known to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes. Deficiencies in iron, cobalt, molybdenum, copper and other rare metals associated with celiac disease can be attributed to glyphosate's strong ability to chelate these elements. Deficiencies in tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine associated with celiac disease match glyphosate's known depletion of these amino acids. ” Furthermore, this exposure happens a little at a time over years which slowly damages the cells contributing to high levels of inflammation and inflammation is linked to a myriad of diseases. This can lead to a perfect storm where things are just enough ‘off balance’ that the body is not able to self correct, leading to chronic disease. Banned in Other Countries While Roundup and the use of Glyphosate is legal in the United States, countries around the world are labeling it a toxic chemical that is carcinogenic and banning it. For example, Australia, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, and some cities in Spain have all banned it or are in the process of banning it. This may explain why you can eat wheat in other countries and feel fine but not at home. Eliminating Health Mysteries You don’t have to travel to another country to experiment with glyphosate-free wheat. You can try organic wheat sold in the US to find out if you feel better than eating genetically modified wheat. Imagine if all of the health issues you’ve assumed were related to gluten intolerance were actually related t

In our last episode, we met Emily who was dealing with fatigue, brain fog, dry mouth, bad breath and problems with her gut health. We discovered that the root cause of her health issues was in her mouth - namely that she was suffering from undetected infections and was experiencing Mercury leaching from her silver amalgam fillings. Dealing with this root cause carefully while supporting her immune health resulted in a massive improvement in her day-to-day well-being. Plus, she even reduced her Hashimoto’s antibodies significantly! If you missed that surprising episode - listen to it here. The Investigation Helping me out with the last case was dentist to the stars, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. Our conversation went well beyond the dangers of mercury fillings and hidden dental infections. We also talked in depth about the importance of paying attention to the microbiome of your mouth (yes, your mouth - it’s not just your gut that has a microbiome!) That conversation was so important that I wanted to make sure to share it with you. So, this week, we are continuing our conversation about obtaining optimal dental health to support your overall well-being. How Food Impacts our Dental Health Most of us know that sugar can cause tooth decay, but Dr. Maddahi says that our diet has a bigger impact on our oral health than this. He believes that pesticides we ingest (when we are not eating organic food, for example) can seriously impact our mouth’s natural biome. The Microbiome of the Mouth When people hear ‘microbiome’ chances are their thoughts go to the gut. It’s what we talk about the most! But, your body has other biomes including a delicate one in the mouth. And, like the one in your gut, the mouth needs both good and bad bacteria to balance out to optimal. Dr. Maddahi says that the mouth’s microbiome has been under attack with the increasing focus on eradicating all bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwashes, sprays, toothpastes all promote being anti-bacteria (usually in their promise to get rid of bad breath). However, these products don’t just kill the bad bacteria, they kill the good bacteria too, leaving the cells in the mouth unprotected and the mouth’s microbiome in an unhealthy state. In addition, the body requires certain bacteria to stimulate the creation of certain vitamins. For example, it’s required for the production of Vitamin K. Without proper levels of vitamin K, blood may not coagulate properly. Digestion Starts in the Mouth When we think about digestive issues, we don’t often think about where the process starts. In order to digest our food properly, we have to first chew it properly. We also need a healthy mouth biome for the food to start breaking down. The gut has 144 strains of microbiome and about half of those are also found in the mouth. So, the process of digesting our food really does start in the mouth. Dry Mouth Can Cause Big Problems Saliva is a part of the defense mechanism in the mouth as a natural antibiotic. It plays a role in maintaining a healthy microbiome. However, there are over 450 medications that cause dry mouth. This is more than a discomfort. Dry mouth increases the chances of cavities. Without sufficient saliva, these cavities can develop very quickly - even with good oral hygiene. Maintaining Healthy Microbiome in the Mouth Ninety-eight percent of the bacteria in your mouth is good bacteria. However, that percentage can fluctuate when bad bacteria spikes. These spikes are caused by things like eating sugar, nutrition, not cleaning the mouth regularly and allowing plaque to harden on the teeth. The fear of bad mouth bacteria causes some people to reach for an antiseptic mouthwash. While these products do kill the 2% of bad bacteria, they also kill off the 98% of bacteria that’s good - the bacteria that’s protecting your mouth (and your gut). It’s much better to avoid sugar, toxins, and practice good dental hygiene to control the bad bacteria. Brushing Your Teeth Properly Brushing and flossing regularly is key to removing plaque before it can harden on the teeth. However, Dr. Maddahi says that most people are doing it wrong. In fact, he says improper brushing or use of the wrong kind of toothbrush causes 50% of the recessive gums he sees in his practice. Toothbrushes should have soft bristles otherwise, it will damage the gums. He also says that you should not be scrubbing your teeth or going back and forth with the brush because it can damage the gums and remove important tooth enamel. Instead, he recommends holding the toothbrush at a 45°, starting at the gum level and brushing down (or up for the bottom teeth) followed by a very gentle circular motion to remove plaque. If using an electric toothbrush, don’t use it the same way you would a manual toothbrush; let the mechanics do the work instead. Select a Non-Toxic Toothpaste Dr. Maddahi says that it’s important to select a toothpaste that is not going to disrupt the balance of your mouth’s microbiome and that is not going to intr

The Case: Emily is 45 dealing with fatigue, brain fog and digestive issues as well as dry mouth and bad breath. Her doctor’s diagnosed her with Crohn’s Disease and Hashimoto’s but that alone didn’t help her symptoms. She tried changing her diet, took supplements and brushed her teeth after every meal. The Investigation My investigation started by looking into Emily’s dry mouth and bad breath. Her oral health was quite poor despite frequent brushing and I noted that she’d had several root canals and many silver fillings. I know this was going to be a key piece in solving her health mystery because even though these may not seem related, everything in the body is connected. “Silver fillings” or Amalgam fillings are actually about 54% elemental mercury and mercury can cause all kinds of health issues. On top of that, our oral health can seriously impact our overall health, even when we think we are practicing good oral hygiene. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi is a dentist to the stars, the author of 'Anti-Aging Dentistry' and the founder of the research-based Lumineux Oral Essentials. He joins me in this episode to shed some light on what might be going on with Emily. Your Mouth is a Gateway to Your Body The mouth is the first entry point for the digestive system with regards to disease or infection. The mouth is the most vascular area which means that it is easy for bad bacteria and viruses to be transmitted through the mouth vascularly as well as by swallowing. We know that chronic inflammation is a key component in many diseases and the mouth is also susceptible to inflammation. Gingivitis, for example, is chronic inflammation of the gums. This inflammation can increase the chances of transmitting disease because swollen gums are more likely to have tiny cuts (and bleed) which removes the barrier between bad bacteria or viruses and the bloodstream. Signs of Inflammation in the Mouth The first and most common sign of acute or chronic inflammation is bleeding during or after teeth-brushing. A second sign is if there is discomfort when eating, especially if there is pain when biting or chewing. Pain during eating can be a sign that there is an infection under the tooth, in the gums, or in the bone. Dentists can do X-rays and probe the gums to confirm chronic inflammation and/or a suspected infection. Causes of Inflammation in the Mouth & How to Avoid It Inflammation can happen quickly. For example, Dr. Maddahi says that a build up of hardened plaque causes inflammation and plaque can harden on your teeth within 24 hours. That’s why brushing frequently is so important. He says the simplest way to avoid inflammation is to remove plaque before it can harden - in other words, floss and brush regularly and see your dentist to remove hardened plaque every 6-months. Health Risks from Silver Fillings (Amalgam Fillings) Silver fillings contain mercury which is known to cause health issues. Mercury exists in three forms: solid, liquid, and vapor. The vapor form is the greatest concern in the mouth because it can leach out when we are chewing or drinking hot liquids and enter various tissues and organs. Of particular concern is that mercury vapor can break the blood-brain barrier and the half-life of mercury in the brain is 20-years. As mercury accumulates in organs, it can reach toxic levels. Mercury toxicity can impact the nervous, digestive and immune systems. It can also negatively affect the development of children in utero and in early life. Testing for Mercury Toxicity Common practice is to test your hair and urine to determine mercury levels in the body. However, Dr. Maddahi says this is not a true indication because the mercury could be absorbed in the tissues and organs. Instead, he suggests doing a challenge test. Should You Remove Mercury Fillings? This is a controversial question for a lot of dentists and health experts. While it may seem like an obvious solution, given the leaching of mercury vapors into our system, the drilling and removal of silver amalgam fillings can cause a significant release of vapors - as much as 100 times more than the you might experience by not removing them - during a very short time period. If the patient is healthy and doing the removal as a precaution, then Dr. Maddahi suggests only doing one quadrant at a time. Safety During the Removal of Mercury Fillings Anyone choosing to remove mercury fillings should select a dentist who will take the greatest precautions to reduce the potential exposure to mercury vapors. For example, the patient should be on oxygen so that they are breathing through their nose and not through their mouth during the removal. There should also be a vacuum to capture the filings and aerosol caused by the drilling. And, Dr. Maddahi also gives patients an activated charcoal rinse to coat the gums and stomach which reduces the chances of mercury being absorbed. What is Biocompatibility Dentistry? Biocompatibility Dentistry is the matching of dental products to the

Last week I shared some of the questions you wanted answered about Hashimoto’s. I covered topics like the relationship between heavy metals and Hashimoto’s, the role the adrenals play in Hashimoto’s, the relationship between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Hashimoto’s and how to reduce the risk for kids of people with Hashimoto’s. All of them were very important questions that have a lot to do with the triggers of Hashimoto’s. If you missed it, here is a link to episode 068. In this episode, I answer more of your questions about Hashimoto’s. Question #1: With Hashimoto’s, is TSH a reliable indicator of the body’s thyroid hormone needs? If not, what else can we use to know what the body needs? This can be very confusing for anyone with Hashimoto’s. The short answer is, no. TSH is not a reliable indicator. The ranges for TSH are very broad (typically between about 4.5 - 5 depending on where you live. This range is not really optimal. The optimal range for TSH is between 1.8-3 (if you’re on thyroid medication this shifts a bit). But, TSH is only one indicator and you need to look at the big picture including your total T4, free T4, total T3, free T3, and reverse T3. This is because TSH is not actually created in the thyroid - it's the thyroid stimulating hormone created in the pituitary gland. So, only looking at TSH doesn’t tell us which hormones the thyroid is producing and at which ratio. And, it doesn’t tell us how well the body (primarily the liver and the gut) are converting these hormones or how the hormones are actually utilized. Essentially, TSH shows a very very small part of a much bigger picture and that is why its not nearly complete. With Hashimoto’s you also want to track your antibody levels so that you can determine which triggers (listen to episode 068 for more on the four triggers) are affecting you and your levels. I’ve listed the various tests I recommend to get the whole picture of your thyroid functionality and optimal levels for each in the show notes for episode 027. If you are looking for a lab to do these tests, here is a link to a helpful resource and lab. I’m in the process of creating my thyroid course which is going to get way more in depth about this and how you can figure out your pattern and exactly what to do about it. The course will launch this fall. Add your name to the wait list if you’d like to be personally invited to join. Question #2: Why does someone with Hashimoto's feel tired all day long? How can we help this and what can we do to wake up feeling refreshed and have more energy throughout the day? While Hashimoto’s is an issue, we need to look at the root cause of the fatigue. It’s true that Hashimoto’s causes the immune system to attack the thyroid and often causes hypothyroidism which has a common symptom of fatigue. So, the first step is to make sure that you are supporting thyroid function optimally with what your body needs (foods, supplements or if necessary thyroid medication that is dosed appropriately) and you are also by avoiding Hashimoto triggers (noted in last week’s episode). If you are doing these things and continue to feel tired, then you may want to consider the role your adrenal glands may be playing in your fatigue. The adrenals and the thyroid are very interrelated. Stress is a key trigger for Hashimoto’s and it can also impact adrenal function. Clean eating is also recommended but if you continue to feel tired, you may be having some issues with absorption which could be caused by a gut issue. This could be the real cause of the fatigue as well And finally, check that you are not deficient in nutrients that help us feel more energized like iron, B12 and other B vitamins. As you can see, feeling tired is quite multi faceted so we have to look at it from all angles. Question #3: My diagnosis of Hashimoto's only came after being on thyroid medication for years. Can this medication be contributing to Hashimoto's? In my opinion, I don’t think it did. What often happens is that the Hashimoto’s is undiagnosed for many years. Conventional doctors will often stop looking for answers once they diagnose hypothyroidism. So, the Hashimoto’s may have been there or been developing all along. I don’t think that the medication could cause Hashimoto’s because whether you’re taking a synthetic hormone or a natural, desiccated hormone, you’re just replacing the hormone that the body is failing to produce. One thing that could be setting off the immune system is a sensitivity to corn. Some medications are made with cornstarch so a small amount, everyday could be causing a reaction from the immune system so that is something to look into and perhaps change to a compounded medication with no fillers can help. Question #4: Do you have to eat after taking Levothyroxine? And, can it be taken when doing a water-fast? Levothyroxine or L-thyroxine is a T4 medication prescribed to some people with low thyroid function. It is meant to be taken on an empty stomach and you don’t

I asked what you wanted to know about Hashimoto’s and the questions came flying in! In this episode, I’m going to tackle half of them and tune in next week as well because I’ll answer the rest there! Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Like other autoimmune diseases, what happens is that the immune system gets confused and starts to see the thyroid as a threat. In other autoimmune diseases, the system attacks a different part of the body (the myelin sheath with MS, joints with rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue with lupus). Under this attack, the thyroid can’t perform optimally and the result is often hypothyroidism. Conventional medicine treats Hashimoto’s by only addressing the hypothyroidism if present or waiting for hypothyroidism to begin or suppressing the immune system with medication. The functional medicine approach is to find the root cause of the Hashimoto’s and fix it. I support the functional medicine approach and it starts by understanding what’s going on first. Which is why, I’m so happy to answer your questions! Autoimmune Triggers There are four main triggers that can get the immune system in a tizzy. Here are the key triggers for autoimmune diseases: Food Individuals may have food sensitivities, or lack the proper enzymes or stomach bile to properly digest food. If the food we eat doesn't work for our body its a huge trigger for autoimmunity. Infection There are a variety of infections that can become chronic causing the immune system to malfunction. Toxins Environmental toxins (like those found in some cleaning products and beauty products) as well as heavy metals can serve as a trigger. Stress The immune system handles stress by shutting down other non-essential systems. Over time (especially if it’s chronic), this can be a trigger for autoimmune disease. Question #1: What is the relationship between heavy metals and the root cause of Hashimoto's? Heavy metals are things like aluminum, mercury, arsenic, lead and they can really do a number on our system. Our bodies can handle a little bit of heavy metals but when they build up, they become a toxin (which is one of the triggers). Even copper can become a toxin if it gets out of control (usually due to a zinc deficiency). Mercury has an affinity for the thyroid, so this heavy metal (in particular) should be monitored to ensure it hasn’t reached toxic levels in the body. There are lab tests that will determine if heavy metals might be the root cause for you. A standard hair analysis is one test but it doesn’t show both types of mercury. My go-to tests for heavy metal are the Quicksilver Scientific Tests because it includes a full heavy metal panel and looks for mercury levels in the blood, urine, and hair. If heavy metal is a problem, then a detox using binders and herbs like Milk Thistle are often used. However, you’d want to consult with a functional medicine practitioner to make sure you’re doing the right kind of cleanse. Question #2: What is the connection between Hashimoto’s and the adrenal glands? Stress is one of the four triggers. The adrenal glands deal with stress by producing the hormone cortisol. When too much is produced, the immune system takes that to mean that it’s an emergency putting things like thyroid production on the backburner. Cortisol also has a relationship with TSH. When cortisol is off, TSH can be off as well and directly affect thyroid function. There is one other potential connection. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are very similar to the symptoms of adrenal fatigue (weight gain, fatigue, depression, hair loss) and so the symptoms may be misinterpreted. Question #3: What is the true connection to EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus)? This question sparked a secondary question involving the Medical Medium and the things he’s said about EBV being connected to everything, including attacking the thyroid before causing Hashimoto’s. I get asked about this a lot but remember the four triggers - one of them is infection which is exactly what EBV is. There is some research that EBV can get into the thyroid gland (as well as other organs) but I wouldn’t say it’s conclusively linked. However, it is an infection which is a trigger. It’s worth noting that once someone gets EBV it’s always in the system and it can flare up due to stress, toxins, and other infections - it has the same triggers as autoimmune. Question #4: Can you Address Food Sensitivities with Hashimoto’s? Another listener also asked about her experiences with cutting out gluten and dairy and subsequently developed other food sensitivities. (Be sure to check out the episode I did on food sensitivities for more on this) Food is one of our four triggers, so we know there is a connection. Food sensitivities are not typically things are born with, they develop over time. So, I always recommend that you get tested to see what your sensitivities are using a test that will look comprehensively at antibodies and genetics (not just the ge