In this episode, Dr. Abby breaks down the gap between traditional thyroid screening and functional thyroid screening. Learn why checking just TSH if not the best approach, the reality behind common thyroid conditions, and the exact nutrients your body needs to thrive.

Key Takeaways & Clinical Pearls

1. The Essential 5-Part Thyroid Lab Panel

Checking only TSH doesn't show the full picture. Dr. Abby recommends requesting these five:

• TSH: The brain's signal to the thyroid.
• Free T4: Your inactive storage hormone (cash in the bank).
• Free T3: Your active metabolic hormone (cash in your pocket).
• Reverse T3: The body's emergency brake, triggered by high stress or gut issues.
• Thyroid Antibodies (TPO & TgAb): Markers showing if the immune system is attacking your thyroid.

2. Thyroid Conditions Explained

• Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid function causing low energy, constipation, and a sluggish metabolism.
• Hyperthyroidism: Overactive thyroid function causing anxiety, a racing heart, and heat intolerance.
• Hashimoto’s: An autoimmune condition that targets the thyroid. Because it is heavily tied to gut health and systemic inflammation, you cannot fully heal it without addressing the gut-immune connection.

3. Nutrients to Build & Convert Hormones

• Selenium: The ultimate converter. Eating 2 Brazil nuts a day provides a clinical dose to help convert T4 into active T3 and calm antibody flares.
• Zinc: Crucial for TSH production and tissue absorption (always balance with copper).
• Tyrosine & Iodine: The physical building blocks of thyroid hormone, best sourced from clean fish and sea vegetables.
• Adrenals / Nervous System: Chronic stress stops active T3 conversion, making stress management foundational for thyroid healing.

Connect with Dr. Abby

Dr. Abby is accepting new functional health patients for extensive lab reviews, hormone mapping, and lifestyle consulting at Thrive Medical WNY (available in-person and virtually).

• Practice: Thrive Medical WNY
• Booking Link: Booking Link Here]
• Instagram: @dr.abbyborkowski

In this episode of The Functional Alignment Podcast, Dr. Abby Borkowski pulls back the curtain on the hormone everyone is talking about: GLP-1. Dr. Abby explains how your body is actually its own "GLP-1 factory" and how you can optimize this natural satiety signal through intentional nutrition and lifestyle shifts. You'll learn the four primary jobs of GLP-1—from silencing "food noise" in the brain to slowing digestion in the gut—and walk away with three actionable strategies to boost your levels naturally. Whether you're looking to support metabolic health or simply align your habits with your biology, this episode provides the blueprint for mastering your body’s internal "fullness" signals.

Work 1:1 with Dr. Borkowski at Thrive Medical

In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, Dr. Abby Borkowski pulls questions from her Instagram followers to discuss trending wellness topics, from morning rituals to clinical testing.

Dr. Abby answers top questions from her community regarding common health trends.

• Daily Rituals: High-quality extra virgin olive oil shots provide anti-microbial benefits for the gut microbiome.
• Thyroid Health: A comprehensive panel—including TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and antibodies—is necessary for an accurate health picture.
• Luteal Phase Support: Counteract insulin resistance during the second half of your cycle by pairing "naked carbs" with protein or fiber.
• Cortisol Awareness: Chronic high stress eventually leads to "empty tank" low cortisol; both can cause 2:00 AM–4:00 AM wake-ups.
• Recommended Staples: Dr. Abby favors Equip Foods beef protein and DIY electrolytes made from high-quality sea salt and citrus.
  • EQUIP Foods - code THRIVEMEDICAL

Working with Dr. Abby

Initial consultations last one hour and focus on connecting the dots between your history and current symptoms. Dr. Abby emphasizes that patients must be ready to do the work, as lifestyle implementation is more powerful than any supplement list.

Follow Dr. Abby: @dr.abbyborkowski.

Acne is rarely a "topical deficiency"; it is typically an external sign of internal imbalances in the gut, immune system, and nervous system. Dr. Abby emphasizes that treatments like birth control or creams often mask symptoms rather than curing the imbalance.

Clinical Case Findings (please note - this is a specific case and not generalized advice)

• Gut Issues: Testing revealed "leaky gut," dysbiosis (overgrowth), and a high sensitivity to gluten.
• Hormonal Imbalance: High DHEA-S indicated adrenal overdrive, while testosterone was being metabolized into a more potent form (DHT), driving cystic breakouts.
• Immune State: The patient was in a state of chronic immune activation, partly triggered by gluten.

Treatment Strategy

1. Nervous System Reset: Prioritize sleep and vagus nerve work to move the body into a "rest and digest" state.
2. Dietary Shift: Eliminate gluten and processed foods in favor of nutrient-dense, warming whole foods.
3. Digestive Support: Use bitter-rich foods (arugula, artichoke) to optimize enzyme function.
4. Targeted Support: Once the system calmed, specific supplements were used.

Next Step: Dr. Abby is accepting new patients for virtual or in-person consultations. Visit her Instagram @dr.abbyborkowski for more info or use the booking link here.

Dr. Abby Borkowski answers top health questions from her Instagram community, focusing on nervous system regulation, gut health, and circadian rhythm optimization.

Key Highlights

The Nervous System & Gut Health

• The Stress Link: Stress triggers a "fight or flight" (sympathetic) state, which halts proper digestion.
• Root Cause: Most GI symptoms are manifestations of nervous system dysregulation.
• Lactose Intolerance: While Lactaid pills provide a temporary enzyme fix, the goal is healing the gut lining with L-glutamine, aloe vera, or bone broth.

Functional Testing Recommendations

• Hormones: The DUTCH Test is the gold standard for hormone metabolism and liver detox.
• Microbiome: A GI Map or stool test is best for autoimmune and digestive concerns.

Sleep & Stress Hacks

• Light Exposure: View sunlight within one hour of waking to set a strong cortisol awakening response; this directly dictates your melatonin levels at night.
• Environment: Keep your room at 65°F or lower and swap LED bulbs for incandescent light at night.
• Movement Snacks: Take 5-minute movement breaks every two hours to flush stress during the workday.

Targeted Health Tips

• Hashimoto’s: A gluten-free diet is a primary recommendation for managing this autoimmune condition.
• Estrogen Dominance: Symptoms like breast tenderness and heavy periods require liver and gut support to metabolize hormones properly.

Working with Dr. Abby

Initial consultations last one hour and focus on connecting the dots between your history and current symptoms. Dr. Abby emphasizes that patients must be ready to do the work, as lifestyle implementation is more powerful than any supplement list.

Follow Dr. Abby: @dr.abbyborkowski.

Dr. Abby Borkowski returns to discuss gut health, focusing on lifestyle-driven "clinical pearls" to reduce bloating by improving the body's relationship with food.

3 Tips to Reduce Bloating

• Support the Nervous System: Shift from "fight or flight" (sympathetic) to "rest and digest" (parasympathetic) by taking five deep belly breaths before eating.
• Practice Presence: Remove technology and blue light (phones, TV) during meals to better recognize hunger and satiation signals.
• Train the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC): Allow 3.5 to 4 hours between meals without snacking to let the gut's "cleaning cycle" fully clear the digestive tract.

Clinical Approach

Dr. Abby Borkowski prioritizes nervous system balance and chiropractic care before moving to advanced testing like GI maps, food sensitivity screens, or hormone panels.

Next Steps: Dr. Abby is accepting new patients at Thrive Medical WNY for in-person or virtual visits. Booking link is here!

Supporting Metabolism: Fueling Your Body for Better Health

In this episode of the Functional Alignment Podcast, your host, Dr. Abby Borkowski (Functional Health Practitioner and Chiropractor), discusses a common theme she sees in her practice: the habit of eating very little during the day and making dinner the largest meal. Dr. Borkowski challenges this societal norm, suggesting that we should be eating the most food earlier in the day and the least at night.

🔑 Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

• The Problem with Late, Large Meals: Eating the majority of your calories later in the evening is not supportive of your body's natural rhythms.
  • It can throw off digestion and sleep.
  • It leads to blood sugar imbalances overnight
  • It places extra stress on your adrenals, contributing to a cycle of poor sleep and chronic stress.
• Shift Your Eating Rhythm: Supporting your body by eating earlier in the day is highly beneficial.
  • Metabolic Tone: Good foundational sleep sets your metabolic tone for the next day, and eating earlier helps set the tone for better sleep.
  • Safety Signal: Food tells the body it is safe, and eating at specific, appropriate times (when the sun is up) makes it feel even safer.
  • Metabolic Flexibility: Our metabolism is working its best and is most "metabolically flexible" when we are active (typically earlier in the day), resulting in less blood sugar dysregulation.
• Addressing the "No Appetite" Complaint: Many people are not hungry in the morning, which Dr. Borkowskyisuggests is a sign the body is in a chronically stressed-out state.
  • Start Small: If you have low appetite, it’s like training a muscle. Start with something small and gentle on your system, such as a handful of nuts or a protein shake.
  • Support Cortisol: Incorporating nourishing food early helps fix chronic stress and replenishes your adrenals. You want cortisol to be highest in the morning after waking and then slowly decrease throughout the day.
• Building a Better Breakfast: The goal is to work up to a substantial, nourishing breakfast.
  • Protein Goal: Aim for 20 grams of protein at least with your first meal. (E.g., one egg has only 6 grams of protein, meaning you'd need 3-4 eggs to hit this goal).
  • Ideal Example: A good breakfast includes protein (like 3-4 eggs), healthy fats (like butter or grass-fed cheese), and fiber (like raspberries).

🔗 Links and Resources

• Work with Dr. Abby at Thrive Medical WNY (Telehealth/Virtual or In-Person).: Click on the link below for more information, or book a free 15-minute discovery call to see if working together is a good fit.
• Equip Beef Protein Powder: Link to be provided here, 15% off discount code = THRIVEMEDICAL

This episode is a Q/A episode where you get to ask the question and I rapid fire answer it! Every week on my Instagram @dr.abbyborkowski I post a question box and you can ask any question you want!