Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist who has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, fatigue and mystery illnesses after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling patient guide Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the #1 New York Times best-selling protocol-based book Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, Hashimoto's Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol: A 4-Week Plan to Release Stress Symptoms and Go from Surviving to Thriving. Together we discuss the experiences that led her to write about Hashimoto’s and the adrenal protocol. She highlights the importance of shifting the stress response when supporting adrenals, the value of building resilience over avoiding stressors altogether, and the connection between adrenal dysfunction and thyroid health. Dr. Wentz touches on a myriad of details about HPA Axis Dysfunction, including balancing adrenals, testing options, the connection between adrenal dysfunction and thyroid health, and the success rates she has seen as she has dedicated her work to helping patients heal from Hashimoto’s.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Izabella Wentz - https://thyroidpharmacist.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

02:45 Dr. Wentz’s diagnosis with Hashimoto's led her to write books that have helped suffering people around the world.

06:15 The importance of shifting the stress response when supporting adrenals.

08:34 Are patterns of dysfunction unavoidable as life and career stressors mount?

11:02 The value of building resilience over avoiding stressors altogether.

12:09 Adrenal fatigue and HPA Axis Dysfunction terminology has changed over time, but the importance of providing options to patients has remained the same.

14:17 The role of hormones and concerns about their side effects.

17:43 Coffee, wine and sleep may not be the reason a patient is sick, rather they may be self-medicating attempts to balance adrenals.

19:35 Testing options, including the adrenal salivary index and the Dutch test.

21:25 The connection between adrenal dysfunction and thyroid health.

23:25 Key chronic stressors that cause adrenal dysfunction issues.

25:00 Dr. Wentz weighs in on the ABC’s – adaptogens, B vitamins and Vitamin C – as the most important areas to address from the supplement front.

28:49 Dr. Wentz’s typical approach to the Hashimoto’s patient is looking for symptom management versus total reversal.

32:43 How long does it take to get a reduction in thyroid antibodies?

35:12 What does realistic weight loss look like when coupled with Hashimoto’s?

37:40 Exercise recommendations for people with HPA Axis Dysfunction.

40:00 Modalities for improving psychological safety.

42:35 Dr. Wentz shares her personal favorite adaptogens and how they have helped her.

45:20 The autoimmune paleo-protocol is often a temporary elimination rather than a lifelong change.

48:20 Details of the ultimate gut reaction study and Dr. Wentz’s husband’s experience with hemochromatosis.

52:40 Top personal supplements, top health practices, and the idea that Dr. Wentz has changed her mind about over her years of practice.

Dr. Christy Sutton is a chiropractor who focuses on finding and correcting the root cause of their health problem, preventing future health problems, and giving her patients the tools they need to have the healthiest life possible. She uses many tools, including applied kinesiology, nutrition, chiropractic adjustments, exercise programs, lab, and genetic testing, to give her patients a precise and powerful treatment plan that goes beyond what they could find anywhere else. In addition to providing her patients with the highest level of care, she is an author and teacher of epigenetics and using genetic testing with environmental changes to take your health beyond your genes and prevent health problems. Dr. Sutton earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Anatomy, and Health and Wellness from Texas State University and Parker University. She earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker University. She was drawn to health care because of her extensive personal health struggles, which included being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 16.

In the second part of our discussion about iron overload and hemochromatosis, Christy and I discuss strategies for obtaining sufficient protein while maintaining caution about red meat intake, the connection between high iron and low copper, supplements that will reduce iron, and antioxidant recommendations. Christy underscores the importance of iron testing and genetic testing and offers clinical pearls regarding hemochromatosis, anemia, and B12. Our conversation is filled with information that every practitioner needs to know and highlights the easily addressed and corrected concerns that iron overload and hemochromatosis present.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Christy Sutton - https://www.drchristysutton.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:11 Iron saturation is a formula that examines serum iron and TIBC.

02:54 My recent experience with testing my iron ferritin levels before donating blood.

5:21 How often are patients told to take an iron supplement unnecessarily?

9:16 Clinical pearls regarding hemochromatosis, anemia, and B12.

11:46 Managing iron levels is not a trivial issue at any stage of life.

14:05 Difficulty absorbing iron does not directly correlate with ferritin levels.

20:33 Obtaining sufficient protein while maintaining caution about red meat intake.

26:09 Supplements that will reduce iron, and antioxidant recommendations.

35:44 If your patients need increased iron, they should not be afraid to take iron.

39:00 Increasing iron absorption through dietary means and meal preparation.

43:16 The connection between high iron and low copper.

47:58 Christy’s personal supplement preferences, top health preferences, and the genetic ideas that she has changed her mind about in her career.