Save My Thyroid: Healing Tips for Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's

Sticking to a healthy diet during the holiday season can be challenging. Between cravings to indulge in unhealthy habits and the desire to avoid awkward social situations, it can feel easier to stick to the status quo and eat whatever is served. If you’re dealing with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition, you do need to change your approach.Today, I’m discussing strategies and practical tips for overcoming the common roadblocks to healthy eating and how you can avoid derailing your thyroid healing journey during the holiday season. With the right preparation, you can enjoy the holidays without compromising your health.In this episode, you’ll learn about:- Why it can be difficult to stick to healthy eating during the holiday season- Balancing the desire to indulge with the desire to improve your health- Options for enjoying traditional Thanksgiving foods- The benefits of mental preparation for maintaining dietary goals- Navigating social situations and the importance of communication- How pre-party preparation can help you avoid unhealthy decisionsAs always, I hope you find this episode valuable, and I look forward to catching you in the next episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/healthy-holiday-eating-and-thyroid-health/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Normalizing thyroid antibodies can be challenging, and several factors can cause elevated antibodies. Finding and eliminating food triggers is one such factor that is an essential part of the thyroid healing journey.Certain foods can trigger autoimmunity, causing an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in regulatory T cells. In other cases, specific food proteins can trigger an immune system response due to molecular mimicry.Today, in part two of my series on how to lower and normalize thyroid antibodies, I’m discussing how to lower your thyroid antibodies by addressing food triggers. While all of the episodes in the series will be important, this one might be the most important. I talk about the Triad of Autoimmunity, the role of elimination diets to identify food triggers, testing for food sensitivities, specific food categories and their impact on gut health, common food allergens, the role of iodine, pros and cons of intermittent fasting, and more. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/how-to-lower-thyroid-antibodies-part-2-the-role-of-food-triggers-173/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Aside from antithyroid medication, which is specifically designed to block thyroid hormone, several medications can have an unintended effect on thyroid health. These drugs, often in combination with other underlying imbalances, can potentially trigger hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.Today, I’m sharing the research on five categories of medication that have been shown to affect thyroid function negatively.In this episode, you’ll learn about:- The effect of traditional antiepileptic drugs on thyroid hormone compared to newer drugs- The impact of antipsychotic drugs on thyroid levels in patients with severe mental disorders- Lithium’s potential to lower thyroid hormone levels- Amiodarone's potential ability to cause both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in patients- Anti-estrogens and thyroid function in breast cancer patientsAs always, I hope you find this episode valuable, and I look forward to catching you in the next episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/5-medications-that-can-negatively-affect-your-thyroid/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Many people with hyperthyroidism experience noticeable weight loss. For me, this was the case when I dealt with Graves’ disease. At the same time, for various reasons, it’s not uncommon for people with Graves’ to gain weight instead.In today’s Save My Thyroid audit, I’m chatting with Stacy, who was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and gained over 30 pounds in three months. She’s also experiencing many other symptoms, including fatigue, insomnia, and heart rate fluctuations.In this episode, Stacy and I discuss her diagnosis, the symptoms she continues to deal with, why she opted for a natural treatment approach, her dietary and stress management practices, the need for comprehensive functional testing, and more.While this isn’t the same as my comprehensive consultations with patients, I'm confident you’ll find this conversation valuable. If you would like to apply for an audit with me, you can do so by visiting https://savemythyroid.com/audit. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/stacys-struggles-with-weight-gain-and-insomnia-save-my-thyroid-audit-172/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Elevated thyroid hormone levels are typically a sign of hyperthyroidism, which can be attributed to a number of conditions, including Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, subacute thyroiditis, and Hashitoxicosis.Many factors contribute to the development of these thyroid disorders, and each one requires different treatment approaches. It’s essential to not only get tested and properly diagnosed but also to ensure that you are addressing the underlying factors of your specific condition so that you can have the best outcome for your thyroid healing journey.Today, I’m sharing the causes of elevated thyroid hormone levels, symptoms, diagnostic approaches, the importance of identifying and removing triggers, and why a holistic approach to managing thyroid health is essential. In this episode, you’ll learn about:- Graves' disease as a common cause of elevated thyroid hormone levels- The Triad of Autoimmunity: genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and leaky gut.- The primary triggers for elevated thyroid hormones in Graves’ disease- Toxic multinodular goiter and how it’s diagnosed- Common causes of toxic multinodular goiter- Subacute thyroiditis, how it’s diagnosed, and the typical causes- The importance of optimizing immune system health- Hashitoxicosis and the connection to transient thyroid hormone elevation- Differentiating between thyroid hormone resistance and hyperthyroidism.- The role of genetic mutations and environmental toxins- Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism and why it can be challenging to reverseAs always, I hope you find this episode valuable, and I look forward to catching you in the next episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/what-causes-elevated-thyroid-hormone-levels/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are Y-shaped molecules that help to protect the body against antigens (foreign substances), including pathogenic bacteria, food, proteins, chemicals, and more. In autoimmunity, autoantibodies are produced against the cells of your own body.Normalizing thyroid antibodies can be very challenging. From finding and removing triggers to healing the gut and removing toxins from the environment, lowering thyroid antibodies is not an easy process for many people. Since I receive so many questions on this topic, I decided to create a series of episodes covering the different factors that can help you lower and eventually normalize your thyroid antibodies.In today’s episode, I’m starting with the basics. I discuss the complexities of thyroid antibodies, including their types and the triad of autoimmunity, the importance of proactive testing, why we need to address underlying causes rather than solely focusing on symptom management, the role of supplements, and more. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/how-to-lower-thyroid-antibodies-part-1-the-basics-171/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Although most of my patients eat animal protein, over the years, I've also worked with many vegans and vegetarians, and the truth is that it can be more challenging to restore your health as a vegetarian or vegan. The good news is that regardless of your reasons for choosing a diet that avoids animal products, you can still save your thyroid if you pay attention to a few key areas.Today, I’m sharing how to overcome the main challenges vegans and vegetarians face in their thyroid healing journeys and my recommendations for supporting your thyroid health with mindful planning.In this episode, you’ll learn about:- The importance of adequate protein intake - Common nutrient deficiencies among vegans and vegetarians- My testing recommendations- Why it’s essential to focus on food quality- How grains and legumes can affect gut health- Iodine concerns for vegans and vegetarians- My dietary recommendations for vegans and vegetariansAs always, I hope you find this episode valuable, and I look forward to catching you in the next episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/can-vegans-and-vegetarians-save-their-thyroid-chat-about-iodine/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

“Stress is a huge factor when it comes to blood sugar regulation.” - Laurie VillarrealAlthough most conversations about blood sugar are focused on diet, it’s important to recognize that stress plays a big role in how your body balances your blood sugar levels. Whether we're talking about physical, mental, emotional, or physiological stressors, they all come together to create stress in our bodies that, if we don’t address it, can eventually wreak havoc on our bodily processes. This is why we can find people who are eating a balanced, whole-food-focused diet still struggling with their glucose levels and symptoms ranging from skin issues to fatigue, sleep disturbances, brain fog, and more.Today, I’m excited to chat with Laurie Villarreal about blood sugar imbalances and how she uses biosensors to help her clients. Laurie helps high-achieving, mission-driven women regain control of their weight, health, and hormones in midlife so they can have more energy to pursue their bold goals and active lifestyles without restrictive diets, stacks of supplements, or overhauling their lives.In this conversation, Laurie and I discuss her thyroid journey, the role of stress in blood sugar regulation, the benefits of using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to track blood sugar levels, how to use heart rate variability (HRV) as a tool for assessing stress, tips for managing blood sugar, and more. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/correcting-blood-sugar-imbalances-with-laurie-villarreal-170/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Bugleweed is a natural treatment option that those with hyperthyroidism can consider taking. In most cases, it’s chosen by people who have had an adverse reaction to antithyroid medication or those who prefer to take a natural treatment approach.When I dealt with Graves’ disease in 2008, I decided to take an herbal approach, avoiding taking medication unless I absolutely needed to. Bugleweed and motherwort were essential to my thyroid healing journey, and listeners often ask me to share more about their use.Today, I’m discussing how bugleweed can help those with hyperthyroidism, dosing considerations, the importance of ongoing testing, and why it’s important to assess each person’s situation individually. In this episode, you'll learn about:- The two main situations where bugleweed is considered- Why you need to consider herb quality and potency- Recommended dosage of bugleweed and factors that influence the dose- Using motherwort for managing cardiac symptoms- Guidance on combining bugleweed and motherwortAs always, I hope you find this episode valuable, and I look forward to catching you in the next episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/how-much-bugleweed-should-i-take/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid condition where patients present with symptoms of hypothyroidism, elevated TSH levels, and elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.In today’s Save My Thyroid audit, I’m chatting with Agnieszka, who has been dealing with Hashimoto's thyroiditis since her diagnosis over four years ago. After doing a decent amount of functional testing and making some dietary and lifestyle changes, Agnieszka’s main health challenges are fatigue, brain fog, and hair loss.In this episode, Agnieszka and I discuss her journey with Hashimoto’s, symptom development, the various tests she has done, the changes she has made since her diagnosis, the main symptoms she’s continuing to experience, her experience with thyroid hormone replacement, my recommendations for dietary adjustments and testing, alternative thyroid treatment options, and more.While this isn’t the same as the comprehensive consultations I do with patients, I'm confident you’ll find this conversation valuable. Enjoy the episode!To learn more, visit the show notes at https://savemythyroid.com/podcast/overcoming-fatigue-and-brain-fog-in-hashimotos-save-my-thyroid-audit-169/. Do You Want Help Saving Your Thyroid? Click Here to access hundreds of free articles and blog posts. Click Here for Dr. Eric’s YouTube channel Click Here to join Dr. Eric’s Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s group Click Here to take the Thyroid Saving Score Quiz Click Here to get all of Dr. Eric’s published booksClick Here to work with Dr. Eric