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

How to diagnose Hashimoto's thyroiditis using lab tests. You will learn how to test for Hashimoto's, the best lab tests for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and how ultrasound and biopsies may be necessary for some people. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the #1 cause of low thyroid in the United States and SO many thyroid patients have this condition without even realizing it. Doctors are trained to check only the TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone. Because of this, they usually don't miss a diagnosis of hypothyroidism but they DO miss a diagnosis of Hashimoto's. Every single patient with low thyroid should be tested for Hashimoto's because it impacts what type of treatments you should be using. It also tells you if you can REVERSE your condition! These are the 4 best tests for diagnosing Hashimoto's thyroiditis: #1. Thyroid antibodies. Including both thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies. These are the EASIEST way to tell if you have Hashimoto's. But note that not everyone with elevated ant

Today I am joined with Dr. Jill Carnahan for a discussion on the gut and the role it plays in autoimmune disease! Dr. Jill Carnahan MD is trained in both Family Medicine as well as Functional Medicine and has been helping patients for over a decade. She is a survivor of both breast cancer and Crohn's disease and is currently in remission from both conditions. She's been through the gauntlet when it comes to treating both autoimmune disease and gut problems and her expertise in this area comes through in this interview. You can learn more about Dr. Jill Carnahan below: - Dr. Jill's Website: https://www.jillcarnahan.com/ - Work with Dr. Jill: https://www.jillcarnahan.com/services... - Dr. Jill's Health store: https://www.drjillhealth.com/ - Coffee enema (discussed in the video): https://www.drjillhealth.com/product/... In this video we discuss: - How genes impact your susceptibility to disease states - Why it's so important to treat the gut if you want to improve your health and immune system - The concept

These signs of hormone imbalance in women mean that you may have a hormone problem. Hormone imbalances are VERY common in women but frequently missed by doctors. Ignore these symptoms at your own peril. Before we start, here are a few things to know: #1. You know your body better than anyone else! Listen to your intuition. If you think you have a hormone problem you probably do. #2. Doctors are not always the best source to treat hormone imbalances. You may think they are but their treatment often only includes birth control pills which only mask the problem. #3. And lastly, there are two major types of hormone imbalances. Those that will not be missed by your doctor and those that probably will be. We are going to discuss the latter because they are often missed! Signs of hormone imbalances include: 1. Weight gain (both fluid shifts + gain of fat mass) and in various areas of the body. Belly fat = insulin Arms = testosterone but/thighs = estrogen/progesterone neck/trunk = cortisol 2. Menstrual irr

Suffering from levothyroxine hair loss? Levothyroxine is KNOWN to cause hair loss in several different ways. If you are taking levothyroxine and suffering from hair fall then this is the video for you. Levothyroxine is the #1 most commonly prescribed thyroid medication for hypothyroidism and low thyroid. But what you may not realize is that it can have many different side effects including hair loss. Figuring out what causes hair loss can be difficult as a thyroid patient because your thyroid can contribute as well as your thyroid medication. Use this guide to help you find the root cause of your hair loss so you can finally regrow your hair. 3 ways levothyroxine causes hair loss: #1. Your levothyroxine dose is too high. What you may not realize is that hyperthyroidism can lead to hair loss and taking TOO much levothyroxine can cause hyperthyroidism. Check your TSH and free T3/Free t4 levels if you think this may be happening to you. If it is, you will see a drop in your TSH, and an elevation in your

A list of lies that doctors tell thyroid patients about their thyroid. You would hope that your doctor is the single BEST person to talk to about your thyroid, right? You would think so but it's often not correct. Unfortunately, doctors are trained in a certain way and even with the best intentions give out false information when it comes to thyroid treatment and management. This video outlines just some of the lies that I've heard from doctors. They are probably not lying on purpose but telling someone something that isn't true is still a problem and only leads to confusion for thyroid patients. If you have experienced any of these lies then let me know in the comment section below! #1. Biotin is harmful to your thyroid and should be avoided. #2. The dose of natural desiccated thyroid fluctuates and is not consistent #3. Taking your thyroid out is an easy solution for fixing thyroid problems #4. Supplements do not help your thyroid and can hurt your thyroid. #5. Free T3 and Free T4 lab tests are

Can you be allergic to iodine or is it possible to have an iodine allergy? Not exactly and here's why... I realize that this is going to cause some contention, especially among people who believe that they have an iodine allergy but it's something that should be discussed. Right now, there is a LOT of confusion regarding iodine, whether or not it's safe, how it impacts your thyroid, and whether or not you can be allergic to it. So let's start with the basics: Can you be allergic to iodine? No, not in the way that you are thinking. Having said that, there are people who believe that they are allergic to iodine because they've had a bad reaction while taking it. These two things are NOT the same and can be explained. Why am I so confident that iodine allergy doesn't exist? For several reasons: #1. Iodine is not complex enough to trigger antigenicity by the immune system. Iodine is just an element and as such does not have sufficient complexity to trigger an immune response. This response is saved for

This is how Hashimoto's antibodies progress and fluctuate over time. Your antibodies WILL not stay static and they WILL change. Hashimoto's will eventually result in complete destruction of the thyroid gland IF you do not take steps to address the immune aspect of this disease. By immune aspect I am referring to your thyroid antibodies. If you have antibodies to your thyroid floating around in your body they will eventually cause damage and inflammation to your gland. The more antibodies you have the more damage that will occur (to an extent). Your thyroid antibodies, specifically thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibody, fluctuate over time and through the course of your disease. Certain things cause your antibodies to rise and some things may actually help them fall. In this video, you will learn how these antibodies rise and fall over time and how certain treatments you do can influence your antibody levels. This information is important for EVERYONE with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or eleva

Is it possible to be both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid at the same time? Well, not exactly. But it is definitely possible for SOME tissues to have too much thyroid hormone while others do not have enough. This is a pretty confusing topic but it's something that all thyroid patients should be aware of. To start, you should be aware that a single tissue or cell cannot be both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid at the same time. The way that thyroid hormone works is in the nucleus of the cell via a nuclear receptor. The way that the thyroid receptors work is such that a cell can either be stimulated or not. The same cell cannot be both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid at the same time. Having said that, why do some people experience symptoms of both thyroid conditions? That is possible in a couple of different ways. The first is through thyroid conditions which cause ALTERNATING thyroid function. These conditions may cause low thyroid one day and then high thyroid the next. Conditions in this group include: -

If you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis then these 10 foods should be avoided. Did you know that the foods that you put into your mouth impact the course of Hashimoto's? It's true, foods can either positively impact or negatively impact thyroid function and that includes people who have autoimmune thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is both an autoimmune disease as well as a thyroid condition and both must be addressed if you want to see improvement. The good news is that by changing your diet, it is possible to see an improvement in both immune function and thyroid function and potentially even reverse or halt the damage your immune system is doing to your thyroid gland. This list of foods is notable for patients who have Hashimoto's because these food groups cause problems with either your immune system OR with thyroid function OR both. If you have Hahsimoto's, make sure you are AVOIDING these foods. Did any of these foods surprise you? Are you already avoiding them? Let me know below! Download m

Why Tirosint beats levothyroxine for treating low thyroid in hypothyroid and low thyroid patients. Levothyroxine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat low thyroid conditions in the United States and around the world. Unfortunately, it isn't the best medication for the job! In fact, if you are reading this then you probably know what I am talking about. Are you taking levothyroxine and still dealing with issues such as brain fog, weight gain, constipation, hair loss, etc.? If so, you may be one of the many thyroid patients out there who simply don't respond well to levothyroxine. Does this mean hope is lost? No! This is where Tirosint steps in. Tirosint is VERY similar to levothyroxine in that it contains the same ACTIVE ingredients but it differs in its inactive ingredients. This small distinction makes a huge difference in how it can make you feel. Let's talk about 3 reasons why I think that Tirosint is far superior to levothyroxine: #1. It's cleaner Tirosint only has 3

Today I am joined by Dr. Anshul Gupta for a great discussion on reversing Hashimoto's, what triggers Hashimoto's, natural treatments for Hashimoto's, and much more. Dr. Anshul Gupta is a best-selling author, speaker, researcher, and expert in Hashimoto’s disease. He is board-certified in family medicine with training in functional medicine, integrative medicine, and peptide therapy. He previously worked at the Cleveland Clinic Department of functional medicine alongside Dr. Mark Hyman and has most recently published a book called Reversing Hashimoto’s. You can learn more about Dr. Gupta here: - Get a free consultation with Dr. Gupta: https://www.anshulguptamd.com/ - Learn more about his book Reversing Hashimoto's: https://amzn.to/3qO3ARG Topics discussed today include: - How conventional doctors view Hashimoto's versus the functional medicine approach to Hashimoto's - Whether or not Hashimoto's is reversible - Tracking antibody levels to determine the severity of your disease - Why Hashimoto's is both a

Today I have Dr. Amie Hornaman on my podcast for a follow up Q & A based on our previous podcast! Dr. Amie is known as the thyroid fixer and both her and I share a similar philosophy when it comes to treating and managing hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's, and thyroidectomy patients. Our conversation today focuses mostly on T3 thyroid medication, how to use it, who should use it, its safety, how it impacts thyroid lab tests, and much more. We also talk a lot about weight loss and common pitfalls that thyroid patients face when they try to lose weight. You can learn more about Dr. Amie Hornaman here: - Her Podcast the Thyroid Fixer: https://dramiehornaman.com/podcasts/ - Her Website: https://dramiehornaman.com/meet-amie/ If you have any additional questions please be sure to leave them below so we can do yet another follow-up Q and A. Topics and questions discussed in this video include: - Do we all need T3? - Using T3 if you have a thyroidectomy, is 5mcg a good starting dose, and should I worry about lowe

Are these 6 healthy habits accidentally hurting your thyroid? It can be tough figuring out what works for you as a thyroid patient, especially when some healthy habits may actually have a negative impact on your thyroid. Certain foods, including gluten-free foods, may actually block the uptake of iodine into your thyroid gland! Before we jump in, don't let this information confuse you. Healthy habits are still great for your thyroid but these are things you should be aware of. See this list of healthy habits that may have detrimental effects on thyroid function: 1. Using Himalayan pink salt and Celtic sea salt These types of salt are great to use but they do not contain iodine. It's not a problem if you use them but just make sure that you are also getting enough iodine in for your thyroid gland from other sources. 2. Eating too many green vegetables (without complementary iodine intake) Green vegetables are great for your overall health but they do have a goitrogenic impact on your thyroid. You can

There is a big connection between your skin and thyroid diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Your skin can be considered an outward manifestation of your inward health. In other words, if there is a problem with your skin it usually indicates some problem inside of your body! For many patients with Hashimoto's, this usually means something is wrong with their thyroid but it can also be their immune system. Here are 15 skin conditions associated with Hashimoto's either directly caused by low thyroid function, immune dysfunction, or indirectly related to the thyroid: #1. Dry skin - seen in up to 65% of thyroid patients. Also known as xerosis. #2. Thickening of the skin. Also referred to as hyperkeratosis. #3. Hives, also referred to as urticaria, seen in 6% of patients with Hashimoto's. #4. Large or thickened tongue. More rare than other conditions but does occur. #5. Acne. Hashimoto's can either cause deep cystic acne or hormonal related acne on the jawline. #6. Hair loss. This occurs in up to 70%

The 6 most common causes of hyperthyroidism and high thyroid function. People often ask me why I don't spend as much time talking about hyperthyroidism as I do hypothyroidism. The reason is simple! Hyperthyroidism is far less common than hypothyroidism and MOST people who have hyperthyroidism end up with hypothyroidism. Only about 1-3% of the population suffers from hyperthyroidism and these people ultimately end up with low thyroid because of the treatment they receive (thyroidectomy and RAI). For the record, if you are someone who has had their thyroid removed or ablated from RAI you are now considered LOW thyroid and all of the information I have on that topic applies to you. Back to hyperthyroidism, though. Even though being hyperthyroid is less common it still DOES happen and these are the most common causes: #1. Graves' disease. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune disease Graves'. In this condition, your own body attacks itself and forces out extra thyroid hormone. Thi

There are at least 6 different ways that you can test your iodine levels and we are going to be talking about each one! Testing your iodine can be important for some people but it's not always necessary. In fact, because iodine testing can be so inaccurate, getting information about your iodine level can cause confusion and may lead to worse outcomes. This is why even though there are many ways to check your iodine, I typically don't recommend iodine testing. Before we talk about that, though, let's talk about some important iodine facts: 1. ALL humans need it (we can’t create it). 2. Iodine is stored predominately in the thyroid gland. 3. Other tissues also need iodine outside of the thyroid (but less). 4. Iodine has the potential to be harmful if taken in excessive doses 5. Standard testing is typically not very accurate. 6. Individual iodine intake varies dramatically so standard advice is difficult to make. These facts are important because they build the framework for our discussion around iodin

Every wonder what causes thyroid weight gain? This video explains why low thyroid causes weight gain and how to fix it for long lasting weight loss. Everyone knows that low thyroid leads to weight gain. After all, it's just normal physiology. As thyroid function decreases one of the first symptoms you will experience is weight gain. And weight gain is something that pretty much every thyroid patient struggles with. Unfortunately, many thyroid patients try to lose weight by cutting their calories which typically causes FURTHER damage and harm to their thyroid. The key to preventing this issue from occurring is by looking at what actually causes weight gain in thyroid patients. As you understand this you will better be able to fix the underlying issue and lose weight. So let's talk about that: The first thing you should understand is that weight gain from low thyroid occurs because of its impact on your metabolism. As T3 levels fall your metabolism will drop in lockstep. As your metabolism drops you

Losing weight on levothyroxine, is it possible? You bet. Here's why your levothyroxine is not helping with weight loss and how to fix it. Levothyroxine is the most commonly prescribed medication for treating low thyroid or hypothyroidism. One of the most common symptoms associated with low thyroid function is WEIGHT GAIN. You might think that treating your thyroid using thyroid medication would cause you to lose weight but that isn't always the case and this video explains why that is. It makes sense that increasing your thyroid hormone should cause weight loss, especially if the opposite leads to weight gain. So if levothyroxine isn't helping you with weight loss the question is why not? Here are a few reasons why this may be the case: #1. Is it the right medication for you? There are many different thyroid medications available on the market and they are not all created equal. Levothyroxine may simply not be the best medication for your body. #2. Have you waited long enough? Even if levothyroxi

Want to get rid of inflammation the natural way? Check out these supplements. These 6 anti inflammatory supplements can help cool off inflammation in the body and help you feel better. Why is inflammation a problem? It is well known that inflammation can result in weight gain, arthritis, joint pain, hormone imbalances, sleep disturbances, immune system dysfunction, fatigue, poor cholesterol, and much more. Managing inflammation, if done correctly, may help SOLVE these problems. What is inflammation? Inflammation is a good thing and is part of the HEALING process and is perfectly NORMAL in the short term. But when it becomes chronic, it becomes an issue. Chronic inflammation can be triggered by autoimmune disease, gut issues, lingering infections, and constant exposure to allergens or irritants. Want to get rid of inflammation? Check out these 7 supplements (+ some honorable mentions): 1. Alpha-lipoic acid (a powerful antioxidant compound found in plants including broccoli, spinach, red meat, Brussel

Add these 7 thyroid superfoods to your diet to naturally support thyroid function. What is a thyroid superfood? Well, a superfood is just a food that has more nutrients per unit compared to other foods. There's nothing magical about these superfoods except that they provide more of the nutrients that your thyroid needs compared to other choices. This means that by changing up the foods you put into your body you can ensure that you are giving your thyroid the best shot it has to function at optimal levels. Please note that these foods will not magically heal or fix your thyroid, though! But, all things being equal, it would be better to consume these foods because of the nutrients and benefits that they provide to your thyroid compared to others. 7 Thyroid Superfoods include: #1. Blueberries Blueberries are low in sugar and high in phytonutrients (plant compounds). Antioxidants in the form of anthocyanin and polyphenols help fight free radicals in your cells and prevent cellular damage. 1 cup of bl