Dr. Westin Childs Podcast: Thyroid | Weight Loss | Hormones

Are you suffering from Hashimoto's related hair loss? If so, you are one of many thyroid patients suffering from the same condition. The good news is that while your thyroid may result in hair loss and hair fall, it doesn't have to forever. We are going to talk about 3 types of hair loss as well as 4 of the most common causes of hair loss in Hashimoto's patients. The 3 main types of hair loss include: Telogen effluvium (diffuse hair loss over entire scalp) Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss overall of the scalp) Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness with thinning at top of the scalp) Four main causes of hair loss in Hashimoto’s patients: #1. Decreased thyroid function → This leads to telogen effluvium and can be treated by taking thyroid medication or improving your thyroid function naturally. As you improve your thyroid function you should see a reduction in hair loss. #2. Autoimmune-related hair loss → This leads to alopecia areata (patchy hair loss). This type of hair loss is mediated through

Many people believe that iodine is dangerous if you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and that it should be avoided? Is this actually true? Not exactly. In this video, I will explain the logic behind why I recommend that every thyroid patient use iodine. For starters, iodine is required for thyroid function. If you don't have enough iodine in your body then you won't be able to produce thyroid hormone. Because thyroid hormone is required for life, not consuming iodine may eventually put you in a life threatening situation. Furthermore, human beings do not have the ability to produce iodine on their own which means that you must consume it from your diet. Having said that, taking iodine may cause problems in some people but it’s not usually the fault of iodine by itself. Instead, it’s that iodine triggers a cascade of events which may lead to cell damage. Iodine may cause issues in those with hashimoto's via the following mechanism: Taking iodine increases how much iodine is being utilized by thyroid pero

Free T3 and free T4 are incredibly important lab tests that all thyroid patients should be aware of. Having said that, is one better than the other? The answer is yes, and it will become obvious as we have this discussion. First: what are free thyroid hormones and why do they matter? Free thyroid hormones differ from other hormones that you can test because they represent the amount of hormone that is free and ready to be used by the body. Because of this, measuring the free concentration of hormones is always the most important and relevant way to measure the activity of any given hormone. Hormones can either transport through your body in the free state or the bound state and, as a thyroid patient, you want to concern yourself with the thyroid hormones which are NOT bound to a protein. Now that you understand the importance of free thyroid hormones, let's talk about free T3 and free T4. What is free T4? Free T4 is the measurement of free and active thyroxine in your bloodstream. Thyroxine, also

When you take your thyroid medication matters quite a bit when it comes to your thyroid lab tests. If you take your medication RIGHT before you get your labs drawn then you risk making your lab tests look more hyperthyroid than they really are. Conversely, you can avoid taking your thyroid medication for a few days prior to when you get your labs drawn to make yourself look more hypothyroid than you really are. This information is very important for ALL thyroid patients. So how should you take your thyroid medication in relation to when you get your labs drawn? For most people, you will want to wait 24 hours BEFORE you get your labs tested. If you take your thyroid medication first thing in the morning then get your labs FIRST and then take your medication. For instance, if you normally take your thyroid medication at 7:00am every morning and you have your labs scheduled at 8:00 am then you will want to get your labs drawn FIRST (before taking your thyroid medication) and then take your thyroid do

Which is the best type of doctor to see if you have a thyroid problem? It's a question that many thyroid patients ask. Why? Because so many thyroid patients don't feel like their regular doctors are either helping them or listening to them when they talk about how they feel. With that in mind, let's talk about the various types of doctors that you CAN see if you have a thyroid problem. You can place them into 2 large groups. Conventional doctors and holistic doctors. As a brief spoiler, it's often the case that thyroid patients will feel much better when seeing holistic doctors over conventional doctors but this isn't always true (for reasons discussed in the video). When looking for a doctor to treat your thyroid, I recommend sticking to MDs and/or DOs or practitioners that prescribe thyroid medication. This will make it easier for you to get what you need. Conventional doctors include: Family practice and PCPs - Family practice doctors can be good but they are often very busy and have a lot to keep

Did you know that acid blockers can be harmful to your thyroid gland? Acid blockers are commonly used to treat conditions like acid reflux which thyroid patients are prone to experience! Acid blockers, such as proton pump inhibitors and h2 blockers, cause several issues for thyroid patients. What are acid blockers? Acid blockers work by blocking the production of acid in the stomach. They are used to treat many diseases but most frequently for acid reflux. It may not sound like a problem to block acid but it can be. It turns out your body needs the acid your stomach produces to do several different things and if you can't produce it then you may start to experience certain issues. In addition, acid blockers were never designed for long-term use and yet that's how many people use them. Acid blockers were designed to be used for no more than 2 weeks at any given time and yet many people are using them for years and years without any breaks. How do you know if you are taking an acid blocker? Check out this

These foods should be AVOIDED if you have Graves' disease. These foods have the potential to cause problems due to how your body processes them in the hyperthyroid state. How do you know if you should avoid them? Well, here I'm talking to people who have ACTIVE graves' disease. Active Graves' disease means that you are taking thyroid-blocking medication like methimazole or if you are currently hyperthyroid. If you've had your thyroid removed or ablated with radioactive iodine then this information doesn't apply. If, however, you have active hyperthyroidism then watch on! #1. Gluten We know that the symptoms of graves' may improve when gluten is removed. Gluten causes inflammation and increases intestinal permeability. #2. Common food allergens (more histamine in your body means a higher chance of reactivity) Graves' results in more histamine production in the body which means you may be more REACTIVE to foods. Foods in this category include: Milk, eggs, peanut, soy, wheat, tree nut (brazil nuts, almon

This is a list of signs of thyroid problems in women! If you are not feeling like yourself and experiencing symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, or hair loss then it may be your thyroid! Low thyroid function impacts up to 20% of the population (or more). Find out how thyroid problems manifest in women here. Both men and women can get thyroid problems, that much is true but the way that thyroid problems impact men and women is slightly different. This has to do with how the thyroid regulates certain hormones, especially sex hormones. In women, this often manifests as changes to their menstrual cycle as well as their ability to get pregnant (fertility). The most common symptoms of low thyroid problems in women include: 1. Menstrual changes + Infertility 2. Weight gain & inability to lose weight 3. Hair loss (hair falling out, hair growth is slow) 4. Cold intolerance 5. Mood changes (depression, brain fog, anxiety, or irritability) 6. Fatigue 7. Constipation and bloating 8. Muscle pain or joint pain

Should soy be avoided if you have a thyroid problem? The answer is not as clear as you might think. Soy is actually somewhat controversial because there are many studies which show that it is helpful and others that suggest it may be harmful to thyroid patients. I'm speaking specifically to thyroid patients when I talk about soy! It may be the case that soy is beneficial but I want to make the case that MOST thyroid patients should avoid soy for 3 main reasons: #1. Soy has an estrogenic effect. There is no question that soy can stimulate estrogen receptors in the body. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. In some cases, stimulating soy may prevent against heart disease and other factors. But in others, especially those who are overweight, soy can exacerbate other problems. Since many thyroid patients suffer from being overweight, avoiding soy is usually a good idea. #2. Soy can act as a goitrogen. This isn't necessarily an issue by itself but it can become a big issue when you consider that

Want to know which thyroid medication is best for weight loss? The short answer is pretty much anything that contains T3 thyroid hormone but some of my favorites include cytomel and liothyronine. Other thyroid medications that contain T4 thyroid hormone can be used but they rarely ever help with weight loss. Here's why: Thyroid patients struggle with losing weight, there's no disputing this. If you are listening to this right now let me know if weight is one of your primary issues. The question is: how can thyroid patients lose weight? One answer is through their medication. Some thyroid medications are just flat out better than others at helping with weight loss and you want to make sure you are using the RIGHT one if that is important for you. Any thyroid medication that contains T3 thyroid hormone is typically going to be better at helping with weight loss and we have studies that prove it. Some of my favorite T3 medications include: Cytomel, liothyronine, and SR T3. Other medications contain T3

Your thyroid needs these 3 vitamins in order to create thyroid hormone. If you have a deficiency in ANY of these nutrients then your body will not be able to produce thyroid hormone and you may feel the symptoms of low thyroid. The good news is that you can take this information and use it to potentially help you feel better if you have low levels of any of these nutrients. The 3 main vitamins needed to create thyroid hormone include: #1. Tyrosine. Tyrosine is a protein or amino acid and it is REQUIRED to produce thyroid hormone. This is because tyrosine forms the backbone of thyroid hormone. If you don't have enough tyrosine in your body then you won't be able to put thyroid hormone together. In addition, tyrosine also combines with itself to create something called thyroglobulin. Thyroglobulin helps to smash two half of thyroid hormone together in order to complete the finished thyroid hormone. Tyrosine can become depleted because it is also used as a building block for other hormones including

The 5 most common causes of a low TSH. TSH is often used to diagnose thyroid problems in both men and women but it isn't always perfect. In this video, I explain the various triggers of a LOW tsh and what they meant for your body. First, let's talk about what the TSH is. TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone and it is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain. TSH then goes into your bloodstream where it stimulates your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone. TSH is either stimulating your thyroid gland because it's high or it's not because it's low. As thyroid hormone levels increase in your blood it will cause your TSH to DROP or reduce. This is why most doctors and patients associate a low TSH with a HIGH thyroid (or hyperthyroidism). But that isn't always the case... 5 common causes of a Low TSH include: #1. Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism definitely can lead to a low TSH because your own body is producing too much thyroid hormone. This is often caused by the autoimmune disease Graves'.

Are you currently taking thyroid medication? Have you ever wondered about trying to get off of your thyroid medication? You were probably told that you have to take it for the rest of your life, right? What if I told you that that may not be the case? Well, it's true. There are a lot of thyroid patients who are taking prescription thyroid medications who ultimately want to stop taking them if at all possible. And it turns out that there may be a path for certain people. But please read this disclaimer before you attempt it: Do NOT attempt to get off of your thyroid medication without physician supervision. There are some conditions which make getting off of thyroid medication impossible. These conditions include complete removal of the thyroid gland, complete destruction of the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine, and complete destruction of the thyroid gland from end-stage Hashimoto's thyroiditis. If you have any of these conditions then you MUST take thyroid medication forever. But what about other

Are you feeling worse on your thyroid medication? If so, you are not alone. Many thyroid patients feel this exact same way! But how can the very medication that is supposed to help you feel better make you feel worse? It's actually not that complicated but in order to understand what is happening, you have to understand some basic thyroid physiology. Here are the top 3 reasons people feel WORSE when taking thyroid medications such as levothyroxine and Synthroid: #1. Your thyroid medication is SUPPRESSING your T3. In the normal and healthy state, your thyroid produces BOTH T4 thyroid hormone and T3 thyroid hormone. The ratio is about 80% T4 to 20% T3. But when you take thyroid medication it completely shuts down how much T3 your body can produce naturally. When this happens you substitute out 20% T3 that your body produces naturally for 100% T4. And if you aren't able to convert that T4 into T3 then you will feel poorly! This is how thyroid medication makes most people feel worse, by reducing how

The list of warning signs and symptoms of selenium toxicity. Are you taking too much selenium? Here's how to find out: Selenium is a very important micronutrient for your body. It is included in certain proteins, called selenoproteins, that enable your cells to function properly, reduce inflammation, and produce antioxidants. Many people suffer from selenium deficiency which leads them to use selenium supplements. That's all good but what happens when they take too much? They may end up with minor signs of selenium toxicity. True selenium toxicity is rare, but a slight amount of selenium toxicity isn't uncommon and can occur if you accidentally take too much selenium in your supplements! This is often a problem for patients with thyroid disease because they know that using selenium can help reduce thyroid gland inflammation. Minor symptoms of selenium toxicity include: - Hair loss - Brittle nails - Fatigue - GI problems - Joint pain - Nausea These are more common than the serious symptoms but let's

Want some free thyroid therapies that work? These 5 treatments can help improve your thyroid function and, best of all, they don't require any money. They can also be combined and used with other therapies such as thyroid medication, thyroid supplements, diet, exercise, and more. I mentioned several links in the video and you can find them below: I have a lot of people who tell me that they can't afford my thyroid supplements which can make them feel frustrated. Thyroid supplements are great and if you can afford them then I would recommend that you try them but even if you can't there are still things that you can do! Check out this list of 5 free thyroid therapies: #1. Fasting Fasting is both cheap and highly effective. It doesn't cost any money because you don't need to spend money on any expensive diets, organic foods, or anything like that! Fasting helps reduce inflammation, can help balance immune function, and may help with weight loss. #2. Cold therapy Next up is cold therapy or cold showers.

These are the most common causes of a Hashimoto's flare up. What is a Hashimoto's flare up? Flare ups are defined as an abrupt worsening in your thyroid or Hashimoto's symptoms. These flare ups are triggered by certain factors which can be managed. If you can find the source of your flare up then you can identify and target your treatment. When we talk about flare ups and Hashimoto's we are mostly focusing on the impact that these triggers have on your immune system. Hashimoto's is both a thyroid condition as well as an immune condition and an imbalance in immune function is what usually leads to a flare up. Having said that it's also important to understand that flare ups often can and do impact thyroid function. When your thyroid gland is inflamed from your immune system it will almost always have some impact on how well your thyroid gland can produce thyroid hormone. If your thyroid gland doesn't product enough thyroid hormone during your flare then you may experience hypothyroid symptoms. If you

Are veggies safe to eat if you have a thyroid problem? The answer for most people is YES. Certain vegetables do contain a potentially harmful ingredient known as a goitrogen. Vegetables that are high in goitrogens can theoretically exacerbate thyroid problems because of how they interfere with the thyroid gland. Goitrogens are substances that block the uptake of iodine into your thyroid gland. If you block iodine uptake into the thyroid gland then you may have issues in producing or creating thyroid hormone. If you don't produce enough thyroid hormone then you may experience low thyroid symptoms as well as a feedback loop that causes thyroid gland enlargement (thus where the name goitrogenic compound comes from). But even though certain vegetables contain these compounds, they often do not contain enough to cause any sort of real issue. Furthermore, you can reduce the content of goitrogens in vegetables by simply preparing them correctly. Boiling or steaming your vegetables will reduce the goitrogen

Are you taking your thyroid medication correctly? If not, it may not be doing its job. This video will walk you through how you should be taking your thyroid medication for the best results. Including how to take levothyroxine, how to take Synthroid, and how to take other forms of thyroid medications such as natural desiccated thyroid. Before you blame your symptoms on your thyroid make sure you are following these guidelines: - Take your thyroid medication either first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed - Take your thyroid medication at least 30-60 minutes AWAY from food (either before or after) - Do NOT take supplements at the same time as your thyroid medication, take them at least 30-60 minutes away from whenever you take your thyroid meds - If you are taking a dedicated calcium or iron supplement then make sure to take your thyroid medication 4 hours away from whenever you take these supplements - Do NOT take your thyroid medication with coffee or caffeine - Remember that NOT all thy

Today I am joined by Dr. Alan Christianson. Dr. Alan Christianson is a Board Certified Naturopathic Endocrinologist who focuses on Thyroid care. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose recent titles include The Thyroid Reset Diet and the Metabolism Reset Diet. You can learn more about Dr. Christianson here: - His latest book: https://www.drchristianson.com/thyroi... - His website: https://www.drchristianson.com/ In this podcast episode, we discuss the following topics: - What got Dr. Christianson interested in medicine and in the thyroid - Why so many thyroid patients are struggling to feel better despite taking thyroid medication and doing what's "right" - The 3 main issues that keep thyroid patients from feeling better - Why there is so much controversy surrounding iodine in the setting of thyroid disease - The difference between the RDA requirement for iodine and iodine tolerance - What causes the difference in tolerance of iodine between thyroid patients and what that means for iodine dosing -