Hey ladies, it’s Dr. Arianna here, and welcome back to the Stay Juicy Podcast blog! Today, I want to dive deeper into a topic that has become incredibly important in both my practice and my personal journey–the thyroid. It may not have been dear to me initially, but now, helping women understand and manage thyroid health is something I am truly passionate about.

Why the Thyroid Matters

The thyroid holds significant responsibility for many functions in your body—a tiny gland with a big job. It impacts metabolism, mood, energy levels, body temperature, hair quality, and the health of your skin. When it’s not functioning properly, it can affect virtually every aspect of how you feel. Unfortunately, symptoms of thyroid dysfunction often overlap with those of perimenopause, making it challenging to determine the actual cause of symptoms like hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, fatigue, and weight gain.

My Personal Thyroid Journey

I began screening every woman in my practice for thyroid issues after my own experience with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. My symptoms—hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, lack of energy, and more—were initially misattributed to perimenopause. Imagine my frustration when standard thyroid tests indicated everything was “normal.” It wasn’t until I sought the help of a functional medicine practitioner that my life began to change.

Conventional vs. Functional Medicine in Thyroid Testing

In conventional medicine, TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is commonly used as the primary test for thyroid screening. But here’s the key insight: TSH alone is not enough. It’s vital to check free T3 and T4 levels—the actual thyroid hormones—to get a comprehensive picture. Many people walk around with “normal” TSH levels but still suffer from hypothyroidism because their T3 levels are suboptimal.

Functional medicine takes a deeper dive into these tests, aiming to understand not just what the thyroid is doing, but why. We look at factors like stress, gut health, iodine, selenium, and other crucial minerals and vitamins that support thyroid function. My diagnosis and subsequent recovery were made possible by a functional approach that examined my TSH, free T3, and T4 levels, and screened for Hashimoto’s antibodies

How to Get the Right Thyroid Tests and Treatments

I strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor about a comprehensive thyroid panel, including:

  1. TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
  2. Free T3 & Free T4: The active thyroid hormones
  3. Thyroid antibodies: TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and thyroglobulin antibodies for autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s
  4. Reverse T3: Especially if you’re on thyroid medication but still do not feel right.

If your doctor won’t run these tests, you might want to consider finding another provider or a functional medicine practitioner who will.

Lifestyle and Dietary Adjustments

Managing your thyroid health goes beyond just taking medication. Incorporating supplements like selenium, zinc, iodine, vitamin D, and adaptogens like Ashwagandha can significantly support thyroid function. Additionally, an anti-inflammatory diet and gut health maintenance (hello, probiotics!) are crucial.

One significant dietary strategy is the food elimination diet, which can help identify food sensitivities affecting your thyroid. Removing common triggers like gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, and nightshades can result in dramatic improvements in how you feel.

My Recommendations

If you’re navigating thyroid issues or perimenopause, I’ve created a supplement line, Tula MD, to provide targeted support. Tula means “balance” in Sanskrit, and the line includes third-party tested, evidence-based supplements specifically formulated to support thyroid, adrenal health, and hormone balance.

Final Thoughts

Navigating thyroid health can be daunting, especially when symptoms overlap with perimenopause. Remember, you’re not alone, and there is help available. Be proactive—advocate for comprehensive testing and consider lifestyle and dietary changes to support your thyroid. Trust me, as someone who’s been there, identifying and treating thyroid issues can be life-changing.

Stay brilliant, stay beautiful, but most of all, stay juicy!

Book An Appointment At Tula Wellness & Aesthetics!