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

Do supplements help or hurt your thyroid? Many supplements can actually improve your thyroid function but they can also interfere with thyroid medication absorption! If you are taking supplements and if you take thyroid medication then this information is important for you. Certain medications and over the counter supplements can act to block or bind up thyroid medication like Levothyroxine or Synthroid. If you take supplements together with your thyroid medication then you may be limiting how much thyroid medication can actually enter into your body. The most important supplements which inhibit thyroid hormone absorption include: - Iron - Calcium - Cholestyramine - Aluminum - Cimetidine - Sucralfate - Iodine - Selenium - Magnesium - Zinc - Fiber - Caffeine - Antacids If you are taking any of these supplements (or medications) then you need to make sure that you don't take them around the same time as your thyroid medication. In addition, the time of day that you take your medication and whether o

Is using iodine safe for your thyroid? In this video, I discuss all of the potential risks associated with using iodine. Iodine is an essential nutrient required for thyroid function in your body, there's no question about that. But does using high doses of iodine help or hurt you? Will using iodine worsen your thyroid function? It turns out that using high doses of iodine may be associated with an increase in certain conditions. 4 conditions that may result from excessive thyroid dosing include: #1. Thyroid cancer. - Studies have shown that iodine use is associated with a rise in cancer rates. This doesn't mean that iodine causes thyroid cancer but it is worth considering. #2. Autoimmune thyroiditis. - This shouldn't be controversial, but there is emerging evidence that taking iodine can increase your risk of developing autoimmune thyroiditis. #3. Fetal hypothyroidism. - The fetal thyroid is more sensitive to iodine when compared to the thyroid gland of the mother. Using high doses of iodine

What is a normal free T4? If you are looking for a quick answer then somewhere in the top 50% of the reference range is a good starting point but it is much more nuanced than that. Various other conditions, even taking thyroid medication, can impact your free T4 and change up what would be considered normal. In addition, because T4 is a hormone, we also need to establish the difference between a healthy and a normal level. A healthy free T4 is one that would be seen in people who are active, healthy, and have no thyroid problems. But what does your free T4 actually mean? Free t4 is a measure of the number of free T4 which is available in your blood. Free T4 simply means that the T4 hormone we are measuring is not bound up by proteins and is available for your body to use. But, even though it is available for use doesn't mean that it is active. In order to be active, free T4 must be turned into T3. Luckily, we have the ability to check both free T4 and free T3 to evaluate how well this is happening. So

There is a big difference between optimal thyroid lab tests and normal lab tests. The reference range for your lab tests includes both healthy and unhealthy people that you are compared to. By creating a tighter reference range for your lab tests you can ensure that you are being compared to only healthy people. In this video, I go over 2 examples of how to calculate this reference range for both Free T3 and free T4 and show you exactly how to do it. Free T3 example: You generally want your free T3 in the top 30% of the reference range in order to be optimal: Reference range = 1.7 to 3.7 Step #1. Find the spread between the range by subtracting the top end of the range from the bottom end. In this case, it’s 3.7 and 1.7. So, 3.7 minus 1.7 equals 2.0. This number represents the total range between the top and bottom end of the reference range. This range is often very large and so it’s important to find out where you fall within it. Step #2. Multiply the spread by the percentage value that you

Is Synthroid Gluten-free? The answer is yes, based on a recent study which looked at all of the ingredients. But why is this important? It has to do with the fact that most hypothyroid patients suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland. And about 5% of people with Hashimoto's also suffer from Celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease to gluten. That means that roughly 1 in 20 people with Hashimoto's will also not tolerate gluten. This study showed that the concentration of gluten in Synthroid was less than 3 parts per million which are below the acceptable amount of gluten in food products to be labeled as gluten-free. But just because it is gluten-free doesn't mean you won't potentially react when taking it. Synthroid still contains other inactive ingredients including aluminum, lactose, and other dyes and coloring agents which can all cause reactions. The best thing to do if you believe that you are reacting to these ingredients is to switch to

This video is all about why thyroidectomy patients need T3 thyroid medication. Thyroidectomy is a procedure in which your thyroid gland is completely removed. After you undergo this procedure you will be required to take thyroid medication for life. One problem that thyroidectomy patients face is persistent symptoms such as weight gain, brain fog, constipation, and fatigue after their procedure and even after taking thyroid medication. In this video, I highlight the importance of taking thyroid medication in this subgroup of patients and why the standard approach of using levothyroxine is not sufficient. There are new studies which show that approximately up to 20% of patients who don't have their thyroid is not able to achieve normal free T3 or free T4 levels by taking thyroid medication alone. And this makes sense considering that we know the thyroid produces both T4 and T3 when it is working. So why then do we only provide the body with T4 medication after it has been removed? Doctors believe

Today is all about the condition known as Thyroid Storm. But what exactly is a thyroid storm? It's best understood as a condition that results from hyperthyroidism but it's unique in that it is considered a medical emergency. A medical emergency is any condition which must be treated as soon as possible or it may lead to death in the person experiencing it. Thyroid storm is most commonly caused by the same conditions that cause hyperthyroidism, the most common being Graves' disease. But, it can also arise spontaneously in patients who have hyperthyroidism but also experience a dramatic illness or condition. Conditions such as having a heart attack, going into DKA, or becoming pregnant have all been known to trigger thyroid storm. The symptoms of thyroid storm include: - Fever (or thermoregulatory dysfunction) - Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) - The rapid development of heart conditions such as heart failure, heart attack or atrial fibrillation - Swelling or edema of the extremities - Neurological dysfunc

In this video, we will discuss the 5 main reasons that you can't lose weight even if you are eating healthy and exercising regularly. It may surprise you that this combination does not work for everyone! In fact, there are many people who will need to do more than just eat healthily and exercise in order to lose weight. The top 5 reasons you can't lose weight: #1. Your metabolism is damaged What do I mean? Your metabolism is best understood as the total amount of calories that you burn every day, but what you may not realize is that this value can change. Certain things that you can do can impact your metabolism: - How much food you eat - How much you exercise - Your muscle mass - Your hormones - Dieting damages your metabolism If your metabolism is damaged then you will burn fewer calories and it won't matter how much you exercise. #2. Your thyroid Low thyroid function is linked to weight loss resistance in two important ways. As thyroid function decreases you may start to gain weight but also once

What's the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism? These conditions represent polar opposites and it's important to realize this. Hyperthyroidism is a condition which results in too much thyroid hormone while hypothyroidism is a condition which results in too little thyroid hormone. Each medical condition presents differently in both symptoms and lab tests. Learn the difference below: Lab tests in hypothyroid patients: - TSH - The TSH is usually high in hypothyroidism. - Free T3 - Free T3 is usually low. - Free T4 - Free T4 is usually low. - Thyroid antibodies - Not always positive but Anti TPO antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies may be positive. Symptoms of hypothyroidism: - Weight gain - Fatigue - Constipation - Cold intolerance - Low body temperature - Chronic pain or joint pain - Depression Conditions that cause hypothyroidism: - Hashimoto's thyroiditis - Thyroidectomy - Radioactive iodine ablation - Pituitary damage or tumors - Congenital problems - Pregnancy Lab tests

This video is all thyroid cancer treatments including what treatments are available if you have thyroid cancer, the consequences of these therapies on your life, and we'll also discuss some important factors which help determine your prognosis. It's important to realize, though, that the majority of thyroid cancer cases are caused by the least aggressive form of thyroid cancer. This, combined with the fact that the most common therapy to treat thyroid cancer is the removal of the thyroid gland has helped increase the 5-year survival rate of thyroid cancer to around 97 to 98%. When it comes to thyroid cancer you may not have a choice as to which therapy is ideal for you, but it still helps to understand each treatment and how it impacts your body. Treatment options available for thyroid cancer include: #1. Surgery: - By surgery, I am referring to a procedure known as a complete thyroidectomy. This surgery results in the entire removal of your thyroid gland (well close to the entire amount) and it is the

This video is all about the benefits of using a botanical known as guggul. Guggul also referred to as guggul extract or guggulsterone, are all variations of the same main ingredient which is guggul. Guggul is acquired from tree sap found in India and commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. The reason I want to focus on guggul today is that it can potentially benefit several important systems in the body including your thyroid function. Guggul has been shown to impact the following systems in the body: - Liver - Thyroid - Heart - Cholesterol - Intestinal Tract - And many more Guggul has been studied in both humans and in animals but the results look very promising. Usually, when a supplement or nutrient works on several different systems it's because it impacts cellular factors which then have an impact on many different systems in the body. This is probably how guggul works. Today we are going to focus on 5 main benefits: #1. Ability to impact thyroid function. - Guggul seems to have the ability to

This video will discuss the side effects of stopping thyroid medication abruptly. Is it safe to stop taking your thyroid medication? The answer is no for several reasons which I will explain here. But first, we need to talk about why you are taking thyroid medication, to begin with. Thyroid medication is prescribed to those people who are deficient in thyroid hormone (meaning their body isn't producing enough). So if you were to stop taking your thyroid medication then your body would revert back to whatever it was capable of producing before you started taking thyroid medication. This process usually results in certain symptoms including: - Hair loss - Weight gain - Depression - Increased pain - Increased fatigue - And other symptoms of hypothyroidism But why do you experience these symptoms? These 4 reasons will help you understand why you will most likely feel worse if you do: #1. Your body may be reliant upon thyroid medication. If you've had your thyroid removed or if it's been destroyed

Why do menopause and weight gain go hand in hand? On average women entering menopause gain around 15-20 pounds without changing their diet or exercise routine. Why do women gain weight without making any of these changes? The answer has to do with how menopause impacts the body but especially how it impacts your hormone system and how they impact your metabolism and body weight. There are several factors that come together to trigger weight gain in menopause women: #1. Genetic factors. You don't have control over your genetics but you can control your environment which impacts your genetics. #2. Hormone changes. This is perhaps the most important section because your hormones influence your metabolism and other hormone systems such as your thyroid. Menopause is associated with a rapid and abrupt decline in estrogen and progesterone. Testosterone follows closely behind these two hormones as well. It is the change in these hormones which triggers the symptoms associated with menopause and many of t

Today we are talking about what to do if you have a low TSH, what it means for your body, what causes it and what to do. There are 3 main causes of a low TSH that you should know about: 1. Thyroid medication (You are taking too much) → Common 2. Hyperthyroidism (Your body is producing too much) → Common 3. Pituitary/Hypothalamic dysfunction (Your body can’t make it) → Not very common We are going to focus on the first one today, meaning what happens if you have a low TSH due to taking thyroid medication, but you should realize that there are other causes of a low TSH. So, how does the TSH work in your body? TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and its job is to tell your thyroid to produce thyroid hormone. It's called thyroid stimulating hormone for a reason because it stimulates your thyroid gland to produce T4 and T3. A low TSH means that your body is sending the signal to produce less thyroid hormone from your thyroid gland. This can be because you are taking thyroid medication or because yo

Today is all about caloric restriction and why this type of dieting doesn't lead to long-lasting weight loss. Calorie restriction causes certain changes in the body which lead to an energy deficit and a reduction in body mass. People generally only think of calorie restriction in this way and they believe that by reducing their calories they will be able to lose weight and keep it off. The problem and the reason it doesn't work is that you need to be looking beyond these two changes and you need to see how these changes affect other systems in the body. The reduction in body weight and energy deficit from calorie restriction result in a change known as metabolic adaptation. This adaptation is the response your body uses to increase appetite and slow down your metabolism. As your metabolism slows, you gain back the weight you lost and you increase the amount of food that you consume. But the problem is that this damage to your metabolism persists for years, even after you stop your diet. This r

Today is all about Synthroid. If you take this medication then you'll want to learn more about these 10 tips and tricks that you can use to help feel better. Synthroid is one of the most common thyroid medications used to treat hypothyroidism but it's not without problems. These tips are designed to help you find your optimal dose, help you understand if you are absorbing Synthroid, help you figure out if you need a new medication and more. 10 Tips to know when taking Synthroid: #1. Peripheral T4 to T3 conversion First off, you need to understand that Synthroid contains the inactive thyroid hormone T4. This means that in order for thyroid hormone to be utilized in your body it must first be activated through peripheral thyroid conversion. Several factors including genetics, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies and so on can impact this process. There are situations in which you may be taking enough Synthroid but your body is not able to activate it. #2. Absorption of Synthroid In order for your body t

This video is all about selenium deficiency, how it presents, what to do about it and how to know if you are overdosing on selenium supplements. First off: Why is selenium important? Selenium plays an important role in regulating several key enzymes in your body. These enzymes control the production of thyroid hormones, glutathione, and even your metabolism. If you don't have enough selenium in your body then these enzymes may not function properly which may cause certain and specific symptoms. The warning signs of selenium deficiency include: 1. Hair loss - Selenium (along with other nutrients) helps your hair grow. A lack of selenium may trigger hair loss or alopecia. Just realize that other nutrients, including iron, are also important for hair growth so not all causes of hair loss are necessarily caused by selenium deficiency. 2. Thyroid dysfunction - Selenium forms the backbone of a group of enzymes known as the deiodinases. These enzymes help to metabolize and either activate or inactive t

This video is all about thyroid cancer symptoms and early warning signs you may have cancer. This is a topic worth discussing because many people who believe they have thyroid cancer probably don't. The good news is that even though thyroid cancer is fairly common, it has a great survival rate with a 5-year survival rate of around 98%. So, even if you do have thyroid cancer, it's one of the better types of cancers to have. An interesting fact about thyroid cancer is that it typically does NOT cause any symptoms. In fact, most people who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer present to their doctor with a normal exam and without any symptoms. In some cases, however, if your cancer is sufficiently large then it may cause problems to nearby structures in your neck. Your neck is a tight place which means that if anything grows in that area it may push on or bump into other structures which may result in symptoms. With that in mind, if your cancer is large enough it may present with the following symptom

Today is episode #24 and it's all about bad genes and how they impact your thyroid function. There are certain genetic changes, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP's for short, which can slightly impact certain enzymes in your body. These genes are very important when it comes to your thyroid because they can impact a set of enzymes known as the deiodinases. These deiodinases are responsible for activating or inactivating thyroid hormone at the cellular level. And they can be impacted by factors such as your genes, medical conditions, medications, and so on. There are 3 major deiodinase enzymes: - D1 - You can consider this an activating enzyme and it is responsible for 30% of T3 in the body. - D2 - You can consider this an activating enzyme and it is responsible for 70% of T3 in the body. - D3 - You can consider this an inactivating enzyme which takes T4 and turns it into reverse T3 or rT3. Certain SNP's impact the function of these enzymes which create conditions in which you may no

Today is lesson #23 and we are talking about how to boost your thyroid function and what you can do today. Why would you want to boost your thyroid function, to begin with? For starters, your thyroid helps regulate your metabolism, controls your mood and helps regulate other hormones in your body. Those with thyroid issues often suffer from depression, anxiety, weight gain, and so on. The struggle, when it comes to your thyroid, is that it can be difficult to get proper treatment, especially when using thyroid medication. But don't worry! You can use some tips to help improve your thyroid. #1. Take your thyroid medication at night - Taking your thyroid medication at night may improve how well your body can absorb your medication and has been shown to increase free T3 levels in some people. This simple change may improve your thyroid! #2. Take thyroid enhancing supplements - Supplements like Zinc and Selenium are required for thyroid function and conversion and many people are deficient. By taking