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

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t HAVE to take your thyroid medication first thing in the morning. In this video, I discuss some newer studies which show that taking thyroid medication in the evening can be just as effective (if not more effective) than taking in the morning. The takeaway here is that it doesn’t really matter when you take your thyroid medication so long as you are taking it on an empty stomach. And to do that, all you need to do is make sure that you take it 2 hours after (or before) a meal. This leaves the stomach with 2 hours to empty which means that food will not interfere with its absorption. There are two ways to transition to taking your thyroid medication in the evening and I call them the non-skip approach and the skip approach. Most people have no problem taking their thyroid medication in the morning and then again in the evening but if you are sensitive then you may want to try the skip dose approach. For more information and research on this topic, check out this

Tired of not having good treatment options available for Hashimoto’s? If so, I have some good news for you. Outside of traditional treatments like thyroid medication, there are some incredibly powerful natural options that have been shown in some research studies to help. One of the most potent is known as nigella sativa. I’m going to use nigella sativa and black seed oil almost interchangeably in this video but here’s the difference: Nigella sativa is the plant that produces black seeds and black seeds can be cold pressed to produce black seed oil. The active ingredients in nigella sativa can be found in both black seeds and black seed oil so it’s very likely that taking any of these 3 may provide benefits. One study that looked at nigella sativa found the following: 1. It had a pro-thyroid benefit and acted to help reduce TSH levels and increase free thyroid hormone levels. 2. It had a thyroid-antibody-reducing benefit and resulted in a decrease in TPO antibodies by almost 50%. 3. It may p

Vitamin B12 is incredibly important and many people simply don’t get enough. And if you don’t get enough then you’ll end up with symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, brain fog, depression, nerve problems, heart palpitations, and anemia. That’s one problem. The other is that the form of B12 that most people use is the wrong one. Let’s talk about the 4 most common forms of vitamin B12, which one(s) you should use, and which one(s) you should avoid: 1. Cyanocobalamin This is probably the worst form of vitamin B12 because it’s synthetic (not natural), it comes attached to cyanide that must be metabolized, and it requires activation by the body before it can be used. 2. Adenosylcobalamin Adenosylcobalamin is one of two active forms of vitamin B12 and it’s found primarily in the mitochondria where it helps create ATP for your cells. 3. Methylcobalamin Methylcobalamin is another active form of B12 which is found in the cytoplasm where it helps eliminate homocysteine. 4. Hydroxycobalamin H

T2 thyroid hormone, also known as 3,5 diiodo-l-thyronine, is gaining a lot of attention among thyroid patients, and for good reason. As far as thyroid hormones are concerned, T2 plays a major role in regulating metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and heat production, making it the ideal treatment if you are suffering from hypothyroid-related weight gain as well as high cholesterol. For this reason, many thyroid patients are wondering if it’s right for them and they’ve been asking a lot of questions: Is T2 thyroid hormone safe? What are the side effects? And should I try it? Well, this video is going to shed light on all of those. First, we have no reason to suspect that T2 thyroid hormone is harmful because thyroid patients have been using it for over 70 years. This is because T2 is found in small amounts in NDT thyroid medications like Armour thyroid. What about side effects? Based on the over 10,000 thyroid patients who have used my T2 supplement, here’s what I’ve found: Roughly 70-75% see som

My wife was able to use a combination of diet and lifestyle changes to get off of her T3 thyroid medication. She suffered from an unusual form of thyroid resistance due to an eating disorder in her teenage years which left her with metabolic damage, treatment-resistant depression, thyroid resistance, and the inability to lose weight. She had a complete resolution in her symptoms with the use of T3 thyroid medication (liothyronine) but didn’t want to stay on her thyroid medication forever. To do this, she changed her lifestyle and her diet and, as a result, she was able to get off of her thyroid medication and remain symptom-free. This is her diet: You can see all the recipes here: https://www.restartmed.com/what-my-wife-eats-in-a-day-to-stay-off-thyroid-medication/ You can see my perfect thyroid diet here: https://www.restartmed.com/perfect-thyroid-diet/ And you can see another video with a list of diets that have worked for other patients here: https://youtu.be/5seJiR5aCAM?si=NlD1RW_DpOhcpW1o Do

Have you ever wondered why you don’t hear much about thyroid hormone cream? Why is it that all other hormones exist in cream form including progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen? There really isn’t a good reason because the truth is, thyroid hormone cream is probably the single best way to take thyroid medication. It just so happens that not all thyroid hormones are available in cream form... at least not yet. Here are 5 reasons that thyroid hormone creams beat out capsules and tablets: 1. Topical benefits where they are applied. Some studies suggest that topical thyroid hormone application may help regrow hair and help with wound healing. 2. More freedom in when and how you take it. If you take thyroid hormone in cream form then it can be taken at any time of the day and with any type of food. 3. Better bioavailability and absorption. Creams are roughly 2 to 2.5x stronger than oral versions of the exact same hormone. 4. Fewer side effects. Lower doses required mean fewer symptoms, especiall

Using a scale is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a thyroid patient trying to lose weight. Why? Because it doesn’t accurately tell you how much fat you are losing or how much muscle you are gaining. And, for thyroid patients, this is a big problem because you should be trying to preserve muscle mass when you lose weight. How can you accurately measure fat loss? By using these metrics: 1. Body measurements. Because muscle mass is more dense than fat, even if you lose 5 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle, your body will start to shrink (even though the scale will stay the same). 2. Weekly progress pictures (and a mirror). If you are losing weight while preserving muscle, your body will not only look slimmer, you will look healthier! When you are losing both muscle mass and fat mass simultaneously, you may take on a sickly-looking appearance. 3. Caliper testing. Caliper testing gives you an idea of how much fat is on your body but testing your skin thickness. 4. Weekly average

Magnesium is incredibly important for thyroid function and, unfortunately, most thyroid patients aren’t getting enough. This is for 3 main reasons: 1. Thyroid dysfunction increases magnesium breakdown and excretion. In other words, thyroid problems promote the elimination of magnesium from your body. 2. Stress increases magnesium usage. Because thyroid dysfunction makes you more susceptible to stress, thyroid patients have a higher demand for magnesium compared to the average population. 3. Most people aren’t getting enough magnesium from their diet (about 80% or so). This has to do with the fact that magnesium is commonly found in plants and most thyroid patients are eating too much processed food. How can you fix this problem? By getting more magnesium from your diet and by taking additional magnesium supplements as needed. The three best magnesium supplements for hypothyroidism are... 1. Magnesium glycinate. 2. Magnesium citrate. 3. Magnesium l-threonate. Want to learn more about diffe

Over 100 million people will fill a prescription for levothyroxine this year and most of them have no idea how many different things interfere with its function. This includes food, medications, and, yes, even supplements. Which is why I put together a list of supplements that can cause problems with thyroid medication. Are you taking any? 1. Biotin - Biotin interferes with the ACCURACY of thyroid medication and levothyroxine. 2. Caffeine - Caffeine decreases the absorption of your thyroid medication. 3. Iron and calcium - Both iron and calcium bind to and inactivate levothyroxine and other thyroid medications. 4. Glucomannan and other fiber supplements - Glucomannan and fiber supplements delay the absorption of thyroid medication. 5. Estrogen enhancing supplements. - Supplements that increase estrogen increase thyroid binding globulin which decreases how much free thyroid hormone your body can use. See the full list of labs that every thyroid patient should get here: https://youtu.be/xjvdJ95

Millions of prescriptions of thyroid medication will be filled this year and the vast majority of them will be for levothyroxine. Of those millions, only about 10% or so will go to a class of thyroid medication called natural desiccated thyroid. Despite being only 10% of all prescriptions, thyroid patients have a clear preference for it. Not only does it help with weight loss, but it also can help better control thyroid symptoms based on surveys of thyroid patients. There’s only one problem: Doctors don’t like to prescribe it. Unfortunately, they are under the impression that NDT is an inferior medication to levothyroxine which is why today, I’m busting these NDT myths. Here they are, in no particular order: 1. Claim #1: Taking NDT Will Cause Bone Loss & Heart Problems Long-term studies show this isn’t true PROVIDED you are not taking more than you need. 2. Claim #2: Newer Synthetic Medications Are More Effective The idea here is that NDT may cause side effects because of its T3 content. This

Despite what many of you may feel, it’s definitely possible to get to a normal weight if you have a thyroid problem. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it does mean it’s possible. In order to do that, though, you’ll want to avoid these mistakes. Mistake 1. Massive upfront calorie restriction. Calorie restriction in some form will be necessary to get to your ideal weight but many thyroid patients should spend more time focusing on their thyroid function instead of their calories, at least in the beginning. Mistake 2. No weight goal or plan. Thyroid patients who set specific goals are the ones who will reach them. If you don’t have a plan then you won’t obtain your goal. Mistake 3. Overeating healthy foods or "healthy" versions of unhealthy foods. Paleo brownies are still brownies whether they are paleo or not. Are they healthier than box brownies? Sure. But they still shouldn’t be on the menu if you are trying to lose weight. Mistake 4. Not having realistic expectations. As a thyroid patient, your w

There’s a lot of bad advice that gets thrown around out there for people who have Hashimoto’s. And, believe it or not, some of the worst offenders are doctors! If you have Hashimoto’s, make sure you aren’t falling for these lies: 1. Your TSH is "normal". The TSH is an accurate test for diagnosing thyroid disease but it’s not a great test for assessing if you are being adequately treated. 2. Changing your diet won’t help your thyroid. It’s always been the case that changing your diet is an important and necessary treatment for just about any disease state and Hashimoto’s is no different. 3. You’ll have to take thyroid medication forever. Even though you MIGHT have to take thyroid medication forever doesn’t guarantee that you will. New research suggests that there are a lot of patients out there who can get off their meds. 4. The best and only treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine. While levothyroxine works for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone. There are plenty of other options you can lo

Glucomannan is a plant fiber that comes from konjac root and it has some special properties that can help you lose weight. Unlike other plant fibers (which are also healthy) it can absorb up to 100x its weight in water. This holding of water allows it to press against stretch receptors in your stomach which impacts appetite. But this is just one benefit, here are 3 ways that glucomannan can help you lose weight: 1. By helping you to control your appetite. When taken before a meal, and with water, glucomannan absorbs water which pushes against your stomach walls. This then sends signals to the brain that you are full. But, in this case, you are full of plant fiber and not food which means you are hacking your appetite. 2. By delaying the absorption of sugar and carbohydrates. When introduced to water, glucomannan turns into a sticky viscous fiber which delays the absorption of glucose and carbohydrates. This delay means better insulin and blood sugar control which means more weight loss. 3. By po

One easy way to check the status of your overall health and the health of your thyroid is by simply looking at your nails. Because your nails grow slowly, and because they respond to stressors on the inside of your body, they represent a 6 month history of your overall health. It just so happens that they also give you valuable information about your thyroid function as well. In hypothyroidism roughly: 70% of patients experience fragile nails 48% experience slow growth 40% experience thinning And 38% experience onycholysis (which is nail separation at the base) In hyperthyroidism roughly: 100% of patients experience koilonychia (which is depression of the nail in the center with flaring of the nails on the side) 83% experience softening of the nail 29% experience onycholysis (which, again, is nail separation) And 10% experience brittle nails In addition to these problems, those with thyroid problems are also at increased risk for developing: 1. Leukonychia 2. Pits in the nails 3. Brittle nail sy

You can find the links to the products that I use and recommend below (some are affiliate links which means if you make a purchase using my link I will make a small commission): You can also find this information in text form here: https://www.restartmed.com/20-hypothyroid-hashimotos-gift-ideas/ 1. Theragun: https://amzn.to/49E19oX 2. FAR IR Heating pad: https://amzn.to/3R13zH5 3. Dry brush: https://amzn.to/3u8PMoH 4. Vitamin C serum: https://www.skinceuticals.com/skincare/vitamin-c-serums/c-e-ferulic-with-15-l-ascorbic-acid/S17.html Retinol serum: https://amzn.to/3QE8FYj 5. Silk eye mask: https://amzn.to/47jED39 6. Sleeping heating/cooling system: https://amzn.to/3QEnuu2 7. Gua sha: https://amzn.to/49wGzXL 8. Aluminum-free deodorant: https://amzn.to/49G9ecX 9. Apple watch: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch Fit bit: https://amzn.to/3R0slqG 10. Entry level PEMF Mat (I have used both Omi pad and Healthyline and I prefer Healthyline): https://healthyline.com/product/taj-mat-7224-pp-pemf-in

These 3 simple vitamins can help support your thyroid in more ways than one and, based on data from NHANES, most people aren’t getting enough of them from their diet. Here’s how they work and why they are helpful: #1. The Pro-Thyroid Benefits of Vitamin A Vitamin A helps with the production of thyroid hormones, protects your thyroid gland from autoimmune disease, prevents thyroid gland enlargement, and protects against thyroid resistance. Up to 45% of the US population doesn’t meet their vitamin A intake requirements from food so supplement may be a good idea. #2. The Pro-Thyroid Benefits of Vitamin D3 One study showed that hypothyroid patients taking vitamin D saw improvements in TSH levels and calcium regulation. Vitamin D also protects against thyroid cancer and both types of autoimmune thyroid disease (Graves’ and Hashimoto’s). #3. The Thyroid-Symptom Related Benefits of Vitamin K2 Vitamin K2 can help prevent two of the biggest consequences of low thyroid function: osteoporosis and cardiova

All thyroid hormones are important for different reasons but if we are talking about pure power, T3 reigns supreme. Compared to other thyroid hormones, it’s about 100 times more active on the thyroid nuclear receptor which means that it does the majority of the heavy lifting. And because of its power, when T3 levels are low, you will feel T3. By my estimation, low T3 is probably one of the biggest causes of persistent low thyroid symptoms among patients with hypothyroidism and is often missed because most doctors don’t check for it. But if you want to optimize your thyroid, you need to optimize your T3. Here are some of the most common causes of low T3 that you should be aware of: 1. Thyroid gland problems 2. Decreased T4 to T3 conversion 3. Relative t3 deficiency (thyroid hormone resistance) 4. Illness or chronic medical conditions 5. Nutrient deficiencies 6. Prescription medications If you suspect you have low T3 then you’ll want to watch this video which walks you through natural ways to incre

Experiencing symptoms and not sure where they are coming from? It may just be your thyroid. Owing to the fact that just bout every cell in your body has a thyroid hormone receptor, the symptoms of hypothyroidism are vast. And while you may know about the more common symptoms, there are plenty that can easily get mixed if you don’t know what you are looking for. With that in mind, here are some of the most surprising symptoms of hypothyroidism (low thyroid function): 1. High cholesterol Thyroid hormone regulates the elimination of cholesterol. When thyroid hormone is low, cholesterol clearance is decreased which causes a build-up of cholesterol in the body. 2. Menstrual problems Because thyroid hormone impacts both progesterone and estrogen, low thyroid can cause menstrual problems including problems with fertility. 3. Swelling in the legs and in the face Low thyroid function increases mucopolysaccharides in the tissues which pull water along with them. This results in swelling wherever they go.

T2 thyroid hormone is a potent thyroid hormone and the only thyroid hormone available over the counter. For this reason, many thyroid patients have asked me how they can test their T2 level to determine if they would benefit from a T2 supplement. And while commercially available tests are not available for T2 right now, we do have a way to estimate T2 status in the body with the use of proxy measurements. These proxy measurements aren’t perfect, but they do seem to be fairly accurate based on my experience. Here are the measurements that I’m talking about: 1. Resting heart rate. If T2 is low then your resting heart rate will be low (usually in the 50s to 60s range). 2. Metabolism. Feel like your metabolism is sluggish? Low T2 could be to blame. 3. Cholesterol. When T2 is low, cholesterol levels will rise. 4. T3 and T3 levels. T2 is a byproduct of the metabolism of thyroid hormone. If your T4 and/or T3 levels are low then we can assume that T2 will probably also be low. 5. Thyroid symptom

Which is more important for weight loss: hormones or calories? I would say, for most people, its hormones. This is because the majority of people are already pretty good about keeping an eye on their calories. And if calories were the problem, they would already have lost their weight. Both calories are hormones are important for regulating your weight but I’ve found that hormones become more important as you have more weight to lose. And calories become more important the closer you are to your ideal body weight. If you are someone who has more than 15-20 stubborn pounds to lose that aren’t being managed by calories, then it may be time to check out these 4 hormones. These hormones all have the ability to help you lose weight by targeting different functions in the body: *note: these hormones should only be used if you are DEFICIENT or low in them. You wouldn’t want to take them for weight loss if your levels are normal. 1. Testosterone. Testosterone is important for both men and women and it wor