Dr. Nikolas Hedberg - Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, DC, DABCI

Histamine is often overlooked as a cause of chronic health problems yet the fix for this issue can be quite straightforward. In this article, I cover the details of histamine and how to follow a low histamine diet.

Histamine intolerance (HIT) affects approximately 1% of the population. Approximately 80% of those affected are middle-aged. Histamine intolerance occurs when an individual has more histamine in their system than they can breakdown.

Excess systemic concentrations of histamine can result from overproduction, overconsumption, and/or having a reduced ability to clear out histamine from the body. For those with HIT, eating a diet that results in increased histamine can contribute to chronic inflammation due to the ongoing exposure to histamine.

This excess histamine often accumulates as a result of decreased diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. The resulting excess histamine contributes to the physical symptoms associated with HIT. Following a low-histamine diet along with supplemental DAO is often recommended to decrease the symptoms associated with HIT.

Eating a low-histamine diet involves more than simply eliminating foods that are high in histamine. This article will help to explain the challenges with following a low histamine diet and will highlight the many ways excess histamine can occur in food and in the body.

Can Birth Control Pills Cause Hypothyroidism?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that five out of every 100 Americans over the age of 12 have hypothyroidism. The prevalence of this disease increases with age.(1) This makes hypothyroidism the most common disease arising from a hormonal insufficiency.(2) Gender is an influencing factor, as women are three to seven times more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men.(1) Known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease include having a family history of hypothyroidism and pregnancy.(1) Recent research by the British Medical Journal (2021) suggests that taking birth control pills, or oral contraceptives (OCs), may also increase the odds of developing hypothyroidism.(3)

Beat Autoimmune Disease with Palmer Kippola

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Palmer Kippola on how to beat autoimmune disease and her new book “Beat Autoimmune: The 6 Keys to Reverse Your Condition and Reclaim Your Health”. We had a great talk walking through her F.I.G.H.T.S. protocol which includes food, infections, gut health, hormones, toxins, and stress.

Our focus in this interview was on practical strategies for those with autoimmune disease to implement right away into their lives. Palmer has dealt with autoimmune disease herself, so she offers a unique perspective.

How to Increase Stomach Acid Naturally

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Functional medicine practitioners often take a “Foods First” approach, recommending dietary modifications to improve health. However, for those with low stomach acid, diet alone may not be enough to ensure adequate nutrition. Low stomach acid can impair digestive ability, causing nutritional deficiencies even in those individuals consuming an optimal diet.

This article will focus on the main digestive chemical associated with the stomach, hydrochloric acid. The causes of low stomach acid and the associated symptoms will be covered. In addition, natural treatment options for low stomach acid, such as betaine HCL and herbal bitters will be discussed.

Are Oxalates Damaging Your Thyroid?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Sally Norton in a discussion about how oxalates affect your thyroid and your health. We covered what oxalates are and how they can damage the body. We also discussed how oxalates affect gut health, liver health, thyroid health as well as all the symptoms and associated conditions connected to oxalates.

If you’re really struggling to get well, but your diet appears to be healthy, oxalates may be the missing link.

Dr. Theodore Belfor on Cranial Facial Development

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Theodore Belfor in a discussion on cranial facial development and airway resistance. If you have read James Nestor’s new book “Breath” then you are aware of Dr. Belfor’s work.

We talked about the causes of abnormal cranial development and how this causes airway resistance and a number of health problems including sleep apnea, insomnia, IBS, bruxism, and more.

Our cranial bones don’t form properly when we aren’t breastfed and eat a modern diet of processed foods. Dr. Belfor’s oral appliances help to correct these abnormal developments to restore proper facial bone structure and improve the airway.

COVID-19 Mental Health Crises

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Ron Parks in a discussion about COVID-19 and the mental health crises. Dr. Parks has written a new book “COVID-19 and Mental Health Crises” which we discuss as well as a variety of other topics that can help those afflicted by this pandemic.

The mental health aspects of COVID-19 are often overlooked with more of a focus on the physical aspects of the illness, medications, vaccines etc. As usual in the United States, mental health is pushed to the back of the bus with little to no dialogue or support for those who need psychological support. Dr. Parks provides a voice for those in need with his excellent new book.

GI-MAP Stool Test Interpretation

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Tom Fabian, PhD in a detailed discussion about the GI-MAP stool test interpretation. We covered virtually every aspect of the GI-MAP stool test including what the test results mean and how to use them in clinical practice.

Dr. Fabian has tremendous knowledge of the gut microbiome and the intricacies of the GI-MAP stool test markers. This is a vital interivew to listen to if you’re utilizing the GI-MAP stool test in your practice.

Sacred Cow with Robb Wolf

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Robb Wolf about his new book and documentary Sacred Cow. We had a great conversation dispelling some of the myths about meat and saturated fat as well as climate change, plant-based diets, sustainable agriculture, veganism, cattle and methane, and the ethics of eating animals.

This was a well-rounded interview packed with information that should help people make better decisions about what they eat but also become educated about the facts around meat. I highly recommend watching the Sacred Cow documentary and reading the book which goes into tremendous detail on these issues.

Limbic System Retraining with Ashok Gupta

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Ashok Gupta about his limbic system retraining program. Trauma of any kind can change the brain and nervous system in a way that prevents one from getting well. Many people never get well because they don’t address the underlying trauma that has triggered or contributed to their health challenges.

If you’ve tried eating right, exercising, sleeping well, taken the best supplements, and managed your stress, but you still aren’t feeling well, your brain and nervous system may be out of balance. The Gupta Program is designed to change the neuroplasticity of your brain and nervous system so you can heal and feel well again.

We discuss a new and exciting published paper that validates this method of limbic system retraining.

Male Sexual Performance with Dr. Deb Matthew

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Deb Matthew about her new book on male sexual health “Why Can’t I Keep Up Anymore?: A Guide to Regaining Energy, Focus, and Peak Physical & Sexual Performance for Men Over 40”. We discussed the causes of male sexual dysfunction, lab testing, causes of low testosterone, stress and cortisol levels, sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone replacement methods, how sleep affects hormones and much more.

This book isn’t just for men. If your male partner is showing signs of low testosterone then this book is a must-read with resources on how to find the right kind of doctor to get well.

Heal Your Oral Microbiome

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview my friend and colleague Cass Nelson-Dooley, M.S. in a discussion on how to heal your oral microbiome. Cass recently published the book “Heal Your Oral Microbiome” and we discussed many important topics about this often overlooked health issue. We discussed what conditions may be connected to a dysbiotic oral microbiome, how oral microbiome dysbiosis affects your health, health sweeteners, strategies to heal the oral microbiome, testing, dental products and more. If you’re struggling with healing your gut or have a health issue that won’t resolve, your oral microbiome may be the missing link.

How to Overcome Mold and Biotoxin Illness

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview dietician Tracey Long in a deep discussion about how to overcome mold and biotoxin illness. Tracey has firsthand experience with mold and biotoxin illness so she brings a unique and valuable perspective to this topic. We discussed Tracey’s personal journey with mold and biotoxin illness, how to test your home for mold, lab testing, associated conditions, symptoms, and management strategies to get well.

Can the Paleo Diet Cause Iodine Deficiency?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The Paleo Diet is a popular diet that can work well for many chronic diseases, especially autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s disease. However, the Paleo Diet can be somewhat restrictive which can result in deficiencies if the dieter doesn’t carefully review their food and micronutrient intake. Iodine is one important micronutrient that may become depleted on a Paleo Diet. The Autoimmune Paleo Diet is an even more restrictive diet so the same deficiency may happen.

Does Adrenal Fatigue Exist?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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“Adrenal Fatigue” is a term used for many years by alternative medicine practitioners but does it exist? This is certainly a term that I have used for some time but not in the way that most practitioners use it. I will use terms at times that are widely searched for on the internet so that I can spread the science behind these terms but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I endorse the term or subscribe to the existence of a condition.

There are a few published papers that tackle this very issue that I’ll cover in this article on “adrenal fatigue”.

How to Overcome Inflammatory Bowel Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview naturopathic physician Dr. Ilana Gurevich on overcoming inflammatory bowel disease. We had a deep discussion about testing and treatment options for inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We covered diagnostic testing, the pros and cons of stool test markers, probiotics, fiber, digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid, gut healing nutrients, diets like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, helminths, and much more. It was a pleasure to have Dr. Gurevich’s expertise on inflammatory bowel disease.

How to Choose the Best Diet for Gut Health

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Liz Lipski in a discussion about how to choose the best therapeutic diet for gut health. We discussed the low FODMAP diet, comprehensive elimination diet, Simple Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), GAPS diet, Paleo diet, histamine, pancreatic elastase and low HCL levels. Liz discussed why we would choose each one of these diets for an individual and what each diet entails. I use all of these diets in my practice so it was nice to have an overview of each diet from one of the top experts in gut health.

Can COVID-19 Trigger Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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We have known since the early 1970s that infections can trigger autoimmune diseases and now we have an interesting hypothesis on the potential triggering of Hashimoto’s disease by COVID-19 infection.

A recent case study out of Singapore published in the Singapore Medical Journal entitled, “COVID-19 complicated by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis” presents an individual who developed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis after contracting COVID-19.

COVID-19 can cause a hyperinflammatory state in the body which is a potential recipe for developing autoimmune disease. The authors begin by pointing out the most current literature on COVID-19 connections to the autoimmune diseases antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

What is the Best Diet for Your Gut Microbiome?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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It this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Lucy Mailing in a discussion about the best diet for your gut microbiome. We had a fascinating discussion focused on all of the different diets out there and how they affect the gut microbiome including the ketogenic diet, plant-based diets, high-fat, low FODMAP, and the autoimmune paleo diet.

We also talked about fiber, protein, hydrogen sulfide, resistant starch, butyrate, gluten, lectins, stool testing, and whether or not you should take probiotics after taking antibiotics. I think you’ll find this conversation quite eye-opening about a number of exciting topics related to the gut micobiome.

How to Overcome Trauma with EMDR

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I speak with therapist Martina Barnes about how EMDR can help people overcome trauma. I have personally used EMDR with great success in overcoming trauma and I routinely refer for EMDR to help patients get well. One of the most important aspects of practicing functional medicine is understanding how much trauma can be connected to chronic illness. Many patients won’t get well until they address their past and how it is affecting their current health issues. All the healthy diets, supplements, exercise, sleep, exposure to nature, community etc. won’t be enough if there is underlying trauma history wearing you down.

Mental health professionals are severely underutilized yet they should be the first line of therapy for the majority of patients with chronic illness. Unfortunately, they usually end up being the last. This interview should help shed some light on the benefits of EMDR and how it can help you heal and get well for lasting health and well-being.

Is Genetic Testing Helpful or Harmful?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Tommy Wood on the question of whether commercial genetic testing for SNPs is helpful or harmful. This is a topic I have wanted to cover in detail for a long time so when I read Dr. Wood’s paper and listened to him speak, I knew his expertise would be invaluable to this conversation. It is important that practitioners and patients know the truth about the current state of genetic testing and whether or not it is scientifically valid or invalid.

Dr. Wood has done the necessary research to outline all of the reasons why genetic testing is not a valuable tool in practice and he presents compelling data that it can be more harmful than helpful. As stated in the interview, this is an area that I have never bought into because the science simply doesn’t support genetic testing or interventions to address SNPs in clincial practice. I think you’ll find this interiew invaluable to your understanding of genetic testing.

If you have any published papers to refute any of this information, myself and Dr. Wood would love to read these papers.

The 5 Best Adrenal Adaptogens for Fatigue and Stress

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Adrenal adaptogens are one of the most commonly prescribed supplements by functional medicine practitioners due to the impact of chronic stress on the majority of sick patients. Stress breaks your body down in every way imaginable so mitigating the negative effects of stress is priority number one in most patients.

I’ve been using adrenal adaptogens in my practice for over 15 years now and I’d like to share my favorite adrenal adaptogens that may help you feel better. Adrenal adaptogens can cause negative reactions in some patients so do not take any of these without proper evaluation from a healthcare practitioner to avoid side effects.

Leaky Gut and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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There have never been any studies on leaky gut and Hashimoto’s disease but now we have a new study on this connection. Leaky gut was something rejected by conventional medicine despite the fact that papers on leaky gut date back to the 1970s. For many years functional medicine practitioners have been testing for it and treating it which has helped many patients overcome their chronic illnesses. There are currently over 500 published scientific papers on leaky gut so there is no doubt it exists.

Hashimoto’s Disease Improves by Eradicating Blastocystis Hominis

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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There is a new exciting paper on the connection between eradicating the intestinal parasite Blasctocystis hominis and improving Hashimoto’s disease. I previously reported this infection connection in a case study which revealed an individual with Hashimoto’s disease getting better after eradicating Blastocystis hominis. Case studies aren’t the strongest scientific proof of a particular therapy but now we have an excellent paper with three research groups including a much-needed control group.

How to Overcome Anxiety and IBS with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was very excited to interview therapist Samantha Osborne in a discussion about anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), insomnia and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I had been wanting to interview someone for a long time on CBT because it is so effective for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and IBS. We discussed why we develop the thoughts that we do as well as beliefs and emotions and the many triggers of these conditions. We also covered some excellent CBT strategies to overcoming these conditions that you can do on your own.

Human herpesvirus 6 and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Human herpesvirus 6 or HHV-6, is a herpes virus just like Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus, Chicken pox (varicella zoster), HHV-7, HHV-8 and Herpes simplex 1 and 2. There are two types of this virus including HHV-6A and HHV-6B. 100% of human beings get infected with HHV-6B by the age of three which results in fever, diarrhea and a rash called roseola. In rare cases it can cause seizures and encephalitis. There are many infection connections to autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s disease and in this article I’ll cover the connection between HHV-6 and Hashimoto’s disease.

Iodine and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The connection between iodine and Hashimoto’s disease has been one of the most requested topics that I cover, so I’d like to present the research on this topic, so we can set the record straight. Please be aware that none of this is my opinion but rather a detailed analysis of what the scientific literature currently presents.

Your body has about 15 to 20 mg of iodine and 70 to 80% of it resides in the thyroid gland. Iodine is transported into the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodine symporter or NIS. The thyroid peroxidase enzyme oxidizes iodine which is then integrated into thyroglobulin resulting in the production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates this process.

Your thyroid only needs 150 to 250 micrograms a day of iodine to function properly. Once iodine intake exceeds this range, hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease may occur in some individuals.

The Bi-Phasic SIBO Diet with Dr. Nirala Jacobi

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of the Functional Medicine Research podcast, I interview Dr. Nirala Jacobi in a discussion about the Bi-Phasic SIBO Diet. I have successfully used the Bi-Phasic SIBO Diet with many of my patients so I was excited to cover this topic with Dr. Jacobi. We discussed the specifics of the diet including the various phases, oxalates, salicylates, FODMAPs, vegetarian options, candida, histamine, fermented foods, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth), DAO, hydrogen sulfide, hypnotherapy, DNRS and much more. If you have SIBO or are a practitioner working with SIBO patients, this is one interview you don’t want to miss.

Overcoming PTSD with Dr. Robert Hedaya

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Robert Hedaya about overcoming PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an extremely difficult condition to manage but Dr. Hedaya and I discuss multiple approaches that can help patients with PTSD get well. We discussed how PTSD is defined, how it changes the brain, QEEG guided laser, neurofeedback, loneliness, social isolation, social media and much more. I always love having these kinds of conversations with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals because I believe it is the most overlooked aspect of functional medicine today.

Overcoming PANDAS with Dr. Scott Antoine

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of the Functional Medicine Research podcast, I interview Dr. Scott Antoine in a discussion about overcoming PANDAS. Dr. Antoine shares a personal story about PANDAS and his daughter which sparked a deep interest in this disorder that is misunderstood by conventional medicine. We discuss PANDAS, PANS, IVIG, OCD, and Dr. Antoine’s Fully Functional practice model. You’ll also learn how to find a practitioner who is well-versed in PANDAS and the associated disorders discussed in this interview.

The Methylation Diet with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research I interview Dr. Kara Fitzgerald about her book, “The Methylation Diet” and a preview of her upcoming study on The Methylation Diet. We had a great discussion about topics like methylation and diet, MTHFR, COMT, SAMe, methylated folate and B12, homocysteine, epigenetics and much more.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with Dr. Bruce Hoffman

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of Functional Medicine Research, I interview Dr. Bruce Hoffman, who’s a board certified physician and he has a fellowship in Anti-Aging as well as a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition. He is also a certified functional medicine practitioner. Speaking with Dr. Hoffman was extremely educational, we spoke about mast cell activation syndrome and how exactly the condition is diagnosed. Dr. Hoffman covers how he first got interested in the disease and the progress that he’s made working with several other doctors working to understand the implications of mast cell activation syndrome. Dr. Hoffman explains how some conditions overlap and indicate mast cell activation syndrome; such as fatigue, brain fog, and even GERD. You should come away from this interview with a much better understanding of mast cell activation syndrome, how it’s diagnosed and what lab tests are beneficial in assisting in this diagnosis.

How to Improve Digestion Naturally

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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“All disease begins in the gut.” –Hippocrates

Was Hippocrates right over 2,000 years ago? I would have to agree with him a majority of the time when it comes to chronic diseases. A healthy digestive system begins with excellent digestion so let’s go over some tips to help you improve your digestion naturally. Firstly, I’d like to briefly cover the reason why your digestion may be out of balance.

What causes bad digestion?

Eating very quickly while on the run and not completely focusing on your meal will result in poor digestion. You must be in a parasympathetic dominant state which is your “rest and digest” branch of your nervous system. Many people are sympathetic dominant when they eat which is the “fight or flight” branch of your nervous system.

How Inflammation Causes Hypothyroidism

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Inflammation is at the core of most chronic illnesses including hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease. But how exactly does inflammation cause hypothyroidism? Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is the state in which inflammation causes negative changes to thyroid hormone including low T3 and increased reverse T3 (rT3). T3 is the most active form of thyroid hormone and rT3 actually blocks T3 receptors so inflammation can really knock out thyroid function. TSH levels however stay relatively “normal” in NTIS thus leaving many patients with the symptoms of hypothyroidism but no diagnosis since no one is checking their T3 or rT3 levels.

In this article I’ll be referencing a paper entitled, “IL-6 promotes nonthyroidal illness syndrome by blocking thyroxine activation while promoting thyroid hormone inactivation in human cells.”

What are Optimal TSH Levels in Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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There is no single optimal TSH level for everyone with Hashimoto’s disease. A TSH result is most useful when interpreted alongside free T4, thyroid history, symptoms, age, pregnancy status, and whether you take thyroid hormone. A result around 2.5–3.0 mIU/L may warrant a closer look in some situations, but it does not, by itself, diagnose hypothyroidism or mean that thyroid medication is needed.

TSH is the current gold standard for diagnosis of hypothyroidism but are the current TSH levels optimal and how do they relate to Hashimoto’s disease? An excellent paper out of China entitled, “Using Hashimoto thyroiditis as gold standard to determine the upper limit value of thyroid stimulating hormone in a Chinese cohort” has shed some light on this important question which looked at the upper limit of TSH levels in relation to Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism.

The authors begin by stating that subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by “normal” T4, T3, Free T4, and Free T3 with an elevated TSH. And these patients have an increased risk of cholesterol abnormalities, heart disease, mental illness, and pregnancy complications even though their symptoms are relatively mild.

How Your Gut Microbiota Affects Your Thyroid

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Your gut microbiota has an intimate connection with your thyroid including connections with hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease. In this research review I’d like to cover a recent paper entitled, “Microbiota and Thyroid Interaction in Health and Disease” published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism by Eleonare Frohlich and Richard Wahl.

The authors begin by stating that the gut microbiota can act on thyroid function due to the region of where someones lives, their diet including iodine intake, obesity, age, sex hormones, and how autoimmunity can impact the microbiota. I was impressed to see them state that the gut microbiota is linked to autoimmune disease, estrogen, iodine, and obesity. Estrogen can be a key factor in Hashimoto’s disease and a healthy gut is required for optimal estrogen metabolism and excretion through the feces.

They also mention the connection between the gut and the liver in relation to thyroid hormone metabolism in both these organ systems. Your gut is key to properly absorbing and utilizing the thyroid medication that you’re taking and they mention this as well.

Ashwagandha, Hashimoto’s Disease, and Subclinical Hypothyroidism

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Ashwagandha is one of my favorite supplements for Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism and we have some excellent studies to support using it for these conditions.

The main study I’ll cover in this research review is entitled, “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial” published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. We’re already off to a good start just by reading the title which indicates that it is a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study so we know it is of the highest standard.

Autoimmune Paleo Diet and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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We finally have a study specifically looking at the efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet, also known as the Autoimmune Paleo Diet or AIP, and Hashimoto’s disease. The exact title of the paper is, “Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as Part of a Multi-disciplinary, Supported Lifestyle Intervention for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis” by Abbott et al. Published in April of 2019 in the journal Cureus. I break down the study details below so you can better understand if this diet actually works for Hashimoto’s disease.

The Hashimoto’s Disease and SIBO Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Is there a connection among Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth also known as SIBO? Does Hashimoto’s disease cause SIBO or does SIBO cause Hashimoto’s? I’ll answer these questions in my latest research review below.

There isn’t a lot of research, only two papers actually, on the specific connection between Hashimoto’s disease and SIBO which I’ll cover in this article. There are more papers on the connection between hypothyroidism and SIBO without mention of Hashimoto’s and the basic conclusion of those papers is that hypothyroidism is connected to SIBO because gastric motility is decreased in hypothyroidism. Decreased gastric motility basically means the food you eat is moving through the bowels to slowly so bacteria can build-up in the small intestine.

The Truth About Plant-Based Diets and Meat with Diana Rodgers

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview dietitian Diana Rodgers in a discussion about plant-based diets, meat, and her upcoming documentary and book project Sacred Cow. Speaking to Diana was a breathe of fresh air among all the misinformation out there about plant-based diets and meat. We discussed the potential pitfalls of plant-based diets including protein and micronutrient deficiencies. Diana covered important information about the true environmental impact of meat and how important grazing cows are to the environment. You should come away from this interview with a better understanding of plant-based diets, meat, and it’s environmental and socioeconomic impact. I urge you to support Diana’s Sacred Cow project and to look out for the upcoming documentary.

Can Blastocystis Hominis Cause Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Our discussion today revolves around a microscopic parasite called Blastocystis hominis, a case of hives and Hashimoto’s disease!

The case report was published in 2015 in The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. The report was entitled, “Eradication of Blastocystis hominis prevents the development of symptomatic Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: a case report. The case involved a singular subject who was suffering from chronic urticaria (hives), angioedema (skin swelling) and overly soft stools who also showed signs of Hashimoto’s disease.

But before we delve into more details, let me provide you with some basic background information.

Can Thiamine Improve Hashimoto’s Disease-Related Fatigue?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Are you doing everything right for your Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism but still experiencing fatigue? A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link and the b-vitamin thiamine is an important link in thyroid function and energy production that could improve Hashimoto’s disease-related fatigue. Restrictive diets like the A utoimmune Paleo D iet, gluten-free diet, and ketogenic diet can possibly lead to a thiamine deficiency if there isn’t enough variety in the diet. Once this important vitamin becomes deficient, a number symptoms can appear as well as sluggish thyroid function.

Healing Hashimoto’s Disease with Andrea Nakayama

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed Andrea Nakayama in a discussion about strategies for healing Hashimoto’s disease. We talked about her “3 Tiers to Epigenetic Mastery” and how they relate to Hashimoto’s disease and thyroid health. Within the 3 tiers we discussed stress, gut health, infections, micronutrient deficiencies, adverse childhood experiences, SIBO, reproductive hormones, goitrogens, iodine, and all the various diets that people are following these days.

Andrea is a clinician but also a Hashimoto’s patient so it was a real pleasure to get her insight and expertise on healing Hashimoto’s disease.

The Truth About Fluoride with Melissa Gallico

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Melissa Gallico about fluoride. We talked about where fluoride comes from, why it was added to our water supply, how to know if your water is fluoridated, how to filter fluoride, other sources of fluoride, the fluoride-acne connection, the fluoride-thyroid connection, how to detoxify fluoride with iodine, and how to petition your local legislators to remove fluoride from your water supply. I was not aware of the fluoride-acne connection so this was an enlightening podcast that everyone should listen to who has acne or a thyroid issue.

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology with Dr. Izabella Wentz

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Dr. Izabella Wentz about her new book, “Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology.” We had a great talk about Hashimoto’s disease, Dr. Wentz’s Hashimoto’s healing journey, foods that can help heal Hashimoto’s disease, green smoothies, bone broth, and some recipes that can help heal Hashimoto’s disease.

I highly recommend all of Dr. Wentz’s books and her new book will help you make food easier and healthier so you can heal your Hashimoto’s disease.

How to Heal Multiple Sclerosis with Dr. Terry Wahls

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Dr. Terry Wahls in a discussion about how to heal Multiple Sclerosis. We had an excellent discussion about how she overcame Multiple Sclerosis, her research into MS, The Wahls Protocol Diet, the causes of MS, how the gut and the microbiome influences autoimmune disease, the Paleo diet compared to the Wahls Protocol and much more.

If you have MS or know someone who does, please share this episode and transcript of the interview below. It may be the turning point for you or a loved one by following The Wahls Protocol.

How to Overcome Fibromyalgia with Dr. David Brady

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Dr. David Brady about how to overcome Fibromyalgia and his new book The Fibro Fix. We talked about the history of fibromyalgia diagnosis, the causes of fibromyalgia, the difference between “Classic” Fibromyalgia and “Pseudo” Fibromyalgia, treatment strategies, supplements for Fibromyalgia, and much more. If you have Fibromyalgia or know someone who does, this is one interview you definitely don’t want to miss.

Should You Avoid Dairy if You Have Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In the last several months, we’ve examined how certain supplements such as vitamin D, genistein, cordyceps and inositol impact Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Today, we’re going to investigate how dairy—in the form of lactose—affects Hashimoto’s disease. Specifically, I’m going to be addressing these two points:

1. How avoiding dairy helps Hashimoto’s disease

2. How dairy affects the absorption of thyroid medication

Healing Adverse Childhood Experiences with Niki Gratrix

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Niki Gratrix in a discussion about adverse childhood experiences, overcoming trauma, PTSD, EMDR, somatic experiencing, relational trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional freedom technique, ADHD, chronic fatigue, and psychedelics. Niki speaks with great passion about her work which is why I wanted to interview her.

Dr. Hedberg: Well, welcome everyone to the Dr. Hedberg show, this is Dr. Hedberg. I’m very excited today to have Niki Gratrix on the show. I heard her on the 15-Minute Matrix with Andrea Nakayama and just really enjoyed that interview. So, I wanted to have her around today. So, Niki, she’s actually an award-winning nutritional therapist, bioenergetic practitioner, and transformational coach. She helps people to optimize energy. And in 2005, she co-founded one of the largest mind-body clinics in integrative medicine in the UK. The results with patients at the clinic were published as a preliminary study in 2012 in the British Medical Journal open. In August 2015, she hosted the largest ever online health summit on overcoming fatigue, interviewing 29 world leading experts on optimizing energy with over 30,000 attendees. So, Niki, welcome to the show.

Ferritin and Hypothyroidism

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about ferritin and hypothyroidism. The ferritin test is a simple blood test, and it is one of the most important tests you should have if you have Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, and hypothyroidism. Ferritin is a storage form of iron, and the ferritin level test can tell you if your iron stores are low and need to be increased. The ferritin test is rarely ordered by conventional doctors, so many patients are left with the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism when it is actually their low ferritin levels that are causing their health problems. The first issue with iron is that iron deficiency may be quite severe, but blood markers such as hemoglobin and the red blood cell count may be normal. This leaves many patients, especially women, misdiagnosed as not having anemia.

Inositol and Selenium Improve Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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One of the main priorities in my practice is to stay on top of the latest cutting-edge research in Hashimoto’s disease and thyroid disorders. My latest round of research reviews involved six clinical studies that examined inositol and selenium and how they conferred major benefits in those with Hashimoto’s disease and subclinical hypothyroidism. The highlights of each study are summarized in a table at the end of this article for ease of reference.

Hormone Balancing and Testing with Dr. Carrie Jones

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show I interview Dr. Carrie Jones of Precision Analytical on hormone balancing and testing. We cover a lot of detail about reproductive and adrenal hormones including testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA and more. Dr. Jones explains the causes of elevated and decreased hormone levels and some strategies on balancing these issues. We also discuss the best way to test hormones including the DUTCH test which is my favorite hormone test offered by Precision Analytical.

Dr. Carrie Jones, ND, MPH is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and educator on the topic of women’s health and hormones. She graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), School of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon where she also completed her 2-year residency in women’s health, hormones and endocrinology. Later she graduated from Grand Canyon University’s Master of Public Health program with a goal of doing more international education. She was adjunct faculty for many years teaching gynecology and advanced endocrinology/fertility and has been the Medical Director for 2 large integrative clinics in Portland. She is the Medical Director for Precision Analytical, Inc, creators of the DUTCH hormone test.

The Health Benefits of Yoga with Sara Lewis

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Sara Lewis in a discussion about the health benefits of yoga.

If you struggle with pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, gut issues, or have adverse childhood experiences, this is one episode you should really listen to.

Sara spent 25 years providing program management expertise to international public health projects in South America, Eastern Europe, Africa and South Asia. The work included directing, managing and planning projects in maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition. After her career in public health, Sara began a second career as a Holistic Health Coach and Yoga Instructor. As a Health Coach, she helps clients discover the benefits of using food as medicine and making small lifestyle changes that have big impacts. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and teaching since 2014. Her passion for cooking and food led her to yoga when she began studying the connection between mindfulness and stress eating. Sara teaches both vinyasa flow and yin/restorative classes. Her yin classes include pranayama (breath work) and deep relaxation. When she’s not on the mat or working with clients, Sara can be found in the kitchen fermenting foods, experimenting with locally sourced ingredients from the farmers market or out exploring the hills of Western NC on a bicycle.

Cordyceps and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

The Therapeutic Effect of Cordyceps on Hashimoto’s Disease and Graves’ Disease

In 2016, a clinical trial was conducted in China that aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of cordyceps on Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.

The research paper was entitled, “Dual-Directional Effects of Corbrin Capsule on Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases” and was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Let’s find out what this research paper showed if cordyceps could help Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.

Genistein and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Can Genistein Help Heal Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism?

In the fall of 2016, a study was conducted in China and published in the medical journal Immunobiology. The researchers looked at the compound genistein and Hashimoto’s disease to see if it affected thyroid function in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The research paper was entitled, “Genistein improves thyroid function in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients through regulating Th1 cytokines.” To clarify, “Th1 cytokines” refer to a type of thyroid-helper cells that indicate how much inflammation there might be in the thyroid gland. In other words, they are markers of inflammation.

The results of this study were very exciting so you might want to pay close attention.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Natural Treatment

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

In this article I cover Hashimoto’s thyroiditis natural treatment including some basic supplements that can help heal Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism as well as some dietary strategies.

The thyroid gland, like any gland in your body, requires a number of basic nutrients to function properly. Every day your thyroid gland produces a certain amount of thyroid hormone that requires specific building blocks. If any of those building blocks are missing, your thyroid may not make enough thyroid hormone and you may suffer from common symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism such as:

Fatigue
Weight Gain
Depression
Constipation
Hair Loss
Cold hands and feet
Brain fog
Dry brittle nails and hair
Muscle pain

Let’s talk about each nutrient that your thyroid needs and how to find out if you are deficient. It may be that you would benefit from some simple supplements for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.

Best Diet for Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

…

Does Vitamin D Supplementation Help Heal Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Is There a Connection Between Vitamin D and Hashimoto’s Disease? Does Vitamin D Supplementation Help Heal Hashimoto’s Disease?

Vitamin D has long been established in literature as a highly essential nutrient with benefit to the musculoskeletal system and bone density. It also functions in the body as an immunomodulator, facilitating normal immune system function and improving resistance against certain diseases.

Given this background, one has to wonder if a deficiency in vitamin D would be prevalent among individuals with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and if so, would supplementation with vitamin D help patients manage the disease or perhaps even prevent it?

Do Food Intolerances Affect Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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We have never had any good studies looking at how food allergies, or more specifically food intolerances, affect Hashimoto’s disease. A recent paper, however, did show that people following a gluten-free diet can help heal Hashimoto’s disease. In this article, Dr. Hedberg answers the question if food intolerances affect Hashimoto’s disease?

I was excited to find a new paper just published last month that looked specifically at food intolerances and Hashimoto’s disease. The paper was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and it was entitled, “Evaluation of Correlations Between Food-Specific Antibodies and Clinical Aspects of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.”

How to Heal Adverse Childhood Experiences

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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If you’re reading this then you’ve probably taken the ACE Survey. If you even just scored a 1 on the ACE Survey then this article is definitely for you. The higher your ACE score the more likely you are to have health problems as an adult due to what you went through as a child. Additionally, if you feel like you’ve been doing everything right with your diet, exercise, sleep, managing stress levels etc. but you just can’t get well, then you probably haven’t addressed your ACE’s. This article will give you the tools you need and cover how to heal adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Recently I have been researching the fascinating field of childhood trauma and uncovered an interesting link between adverse childhood experiences and Hashimoto’s disease.

One of the studies I discovered came out of a large, important public health study, The ACE Study, but it focused specifically on cumulative childhood stress and autoimmune disease in adults.

What are adverse childhood experiences?

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are experiences that expose individuals under the age of 18 to childhood traumatic stress. These experiences include physical, emotional or sexual abuse; witnessing domestic violence; growing up with household substance abuse, mental illness, parental divorce, and/or the incarceration of a household member.

Can Stress Override a Healthy Diet?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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A fair number of the patients I see are already eating a healthy diet but they’re still not feeling well. Once we delve deep into their history and their lives, it becomes very clear that stress is at the bedrock of their illness. It’s extremely frustrating to be eating well all the time but still experiencing symptoms.

We know that stress shuts down digestion including suppression of stomach acid, bile flow, and pancreatic function. All of these are necessary for healthy digestion but if we’re stressed while we are eating, that healthy food we’re putting into our bodies won’t get digested properly and it may have some more interesting effects on the body.

Dr. Michael Ruscio Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Dr. Michael Ruscio and we discuss non-celiac gluten sensitivity, prebiotics, probiotics, the microbiome, SIBO, FODMAPs and much more. You can read the transcript below.

Michael Ruscio is a doctor, clinical researcher and best-selling author whose practical ideas on healing chronic illness have made him an influential voice in functional and alternative medicine. His work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and he speaks at integrative medical conferences across the globe. Dr. Ruscio also runs an influential website and podcast at DrRuscio.com, in addition to his clinical practice located in northern California.

Black Cumin Seed Oil and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was pleasantly surprised to learn about some recent research on the positive effects of black cumin seed oil and Hashimoto’s disease. I’m always searching for compounds that can help my patients with Hashimoto’s disease and black cumin seed oil looks like a real winner. In this article I break down two promising studies on black cumin seed oil and how it can help autoimmune thyroiditis.

Hashimoto’s Disease: The Infection Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Hashimoto’s disease can have many triggers including iodine, low birth weight, pregnancy, smoking, mercury, drugs, stress, leaky gut, environmental toxins, and of course infections. This article will focus on the connection between infections and Hashimoto’s disease.

The infection connection and Hashimoto’s disease is something I have been investigating since 2005 when I first learned about the connection between Yersinia enterocolitica and Hashimoto’s disease. Since then, I’ve been researching the infection connection to Hashimoto’s disease and science continues to shed more light on this area.

Aloe vera and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Aloe vera is one of the oldest medicinal plants we know of that was used by the ancient Egyptians who called it “the plant of immortality.” And 200 years ago Greek scientists considered Aloe vera a “universal panacea.” Aloe vera is technically named Aloe barbadensis and you most likely have heard of using Aloe topically for burns or internally for soothing an inflamed gut.

I’ve used Aloe vera over the years as one of the compounds in a gut-healing supplement I use for leaky gut, inflammatory bowel, SIBO, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. It works extremely well at reducing inflammation and repairing inflamed and damaged mucus membranes in the gut and the urinary tract. I have also used it quite successfully with the bladder pain caused by interstitial cystitis.

Does the Ketogenic Diet Cause Hypothyroidism?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The ketogenic diet is currently sweeping the internet and the diet book world as the best thing since sliced bread for everything under the sun. Unfortunately, you can’t eat bread on the ketogenic diet and it really can be difficult to follow for some people.

Since I work with many patients who have Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, I wanted to investigate whether the ketogenic diet can cause hypothyroidism or decrease thyroid function. Let’s jump into the research and see what it has to say.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Selenium Supplementation

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Did you know that the thyroid gland has the highest concentration of selenium compared to any organ in your body? Selenium is a powerful and essential trace mineral actually first discovered by the Swedish chemist Berzelius in 1817. Selenium mainly acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and it is involved in the production and activation of thyroid hormone.

Selenium protects the thyroid from oxidative damage but a deficiency can lead to an increase in the weight of your thyroid which can be compounded by an iodine deficiency. When you’re deficient in selenium, you actually lose iodine more quickly so these two substances must work in perfect balance.

Optimal Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Levels

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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One of the most common questions I get is, “What are optimal Hashimoto’s thyroiditis antibody levels?” For years, many patients and clinicians have been chasing thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (TG) antibody levels in an attempt to get them as low as possible or even undectable as a measure of success. This can leave many people frustrated and stressed about their condition. Some individuals feel that these levels should become undetectable in order to consider the condition in complete remission. But is this entirely true or necessary?

What is the Best SIBO Test?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Gary Stapleton of Aerodiagnostics Laboratory answering the question, “What is the best SIBO test?” We covered a lot of ground about the ins and outs of SIBO breath testing including the best methodology, glucose vs. lactulose, how to properly perform the test, proper test interpretation, hydrogen sulfide, when to retest and much more.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and the RDW Test

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Sometimes very simple tests provide a significant amount of valuable information when it comes to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. One simple blood test is the red blood cell distribution width or RDW test which is included in the complete blood count (CBC). A recent study found that patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have higher levels of RDW.

Dr. David Brady Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed Dr. David Brady about the new GI-MAP stool test by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. We discussed many topics including autoimmune disease, stool testing, stealth infections, gut infections, the gut microbiome and much more. This is the stool test I use in my practice to identify bacterial dysbiosis, viruses, parasites, yeast, and overall digestive health.

DUTCH Test Founder Mark Newman Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview DUTCH test founder Mark Newman. We covered a lot of detailed information about hormone testing and why the DUTCH test is superior in many ways to other forms of hormone testing.

Hashimoto’s Disease Interview with Rachel Hill

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed writer and thyroid advocate Rachel Hill of The Invisible Hypothyroidism. We discussed Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, and many connections to these illnesses.

Rachel suffers from thyroid issues herself so we can learn a lot from her about her personal experiences. I urge everyone to listen or read and connect with her through her website and social media which I have linked to at the end of the transcript.

How to Overcome Insomnia

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Approximately 90 million Americans now suffer from some type of sleep disturbance. Rejuvenating sleep is an extremely important and fundamental part of feeling great and healthy. Unfortunately, too many of us are plagued with insomnia and miss out on sleep’s wonderful healing properties. You’ll become more inflamed and more insulin resistant simply by getting 6 hours of sleep or less. Your immune system will also suffer significantly if you don’t get enough sleep making you more prone to colds and the flu. This article will explain what you can do (and what you should avoid) to naturally cure insomnia at home.

Shannon Garrett Hashimoto’s Disease Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview on The Dr. Hedberg Show, I had a great time talking to Shannon Garrett about Hashimoto’s disease.

We started by talking about Shannon’s personal journey with Hashimoto’s disease. And then we got into how stress triggers Hashimoto’s disease as well as emotions and early adverse life events in childhood and how they connect to autoimmune disease as an adult.

Meditation for Anxiety and Depression

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Meditation for anxiety and depression is something I highly recommend for everyone suffering from these symptoms. Sometimes some of the most powerful tools to improve your health are built right into your own body and are absolutely free. Most of you are probably in a state of information overload with your mind racing at night, feeling stressed, out of control and you just can’t seem to calm down your mind to a state of happiness, clarity, and well-being. I’ve been meditating almost every day for the last 14 years with many benefits.

Meditation is one of the most powerful tools you can use to reduce anxiety and depression, sleep better, manage stress, eliminate pain, and get clear on what you love to do on a daily basis. And it doesn’t require any fancy or expensive tools to learn how.

Does the Autoimmune Paleo Diet Work?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The autoimmune paleo diet (AIP) also known as the autoimmune protocol diet is an extremely popular diet these days for autoimmune disease but there has never been any studies done to evaluate if it actually works. Although testimonials should be taken into account, and there are many all over the internet, the ultimate test for validity is a clinical trial.

As of August 29th, 2017, we now have a study that looked at this diet and how effective it was for autoimmune disease. The paper is entitled, “Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Dr. Konijeti is the lead author and it was published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Hepatitis C Virus and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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What is Hepatitis C?

The Hepatitis C Virus infects the liver and it can spread to other body tissues such as the thyroid gland. Once inside the thyroid gland, it multiplies and may cause Hashimoto’s disease. Hepatitis C has also been found to trigger arthritis, diabetes, autoimmunity to the liver, Sjogren’s syndrome, and autoimmunity to the kidney. Chronic infection of the liver causes liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

Dr. Izabella Wentz Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this exciting interview on The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed Dr. Izabella Wentz about everything Hashimoto’s disease. We had a great conversation and covered some very practical information that everyone can use right away.

Epstein Barr Virus and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

…

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Helicobacter Pylori

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Discovered in 1982 in those with gastritis and ulcers, Helicobacter pylori or “H. pylori” is one of the most common infections connected to Hashimoto’s disease and also Graves’ disease for that matter. Like Yersinia enterocolitica and Epstein-Barr Virus infections, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can be triggered by H. pylori through a process called molecular mimicry which basically means that the infection looks similar to your thyroid tissue so the immune system attacks the infection and the thyroid gland.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Yersinia Enterocolitica Infection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Yersinia enterocolitica is one of the most common infections I see in my patients who have Hashimoto’s disease. Let us explore some basic information about Yersinia so you can understand it better and how it relates to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Stacey Robbins Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show I interview Stacey Robbins! This was a very unique interview because we didn’t focus on biochemistry, but rather how Hashimoto’s can affect your life and your relationships.

Stacey Robbins (Certified Health Coach and Certified Yoga Instructor RYT200)
is an award-winning Author, Speaker, and Integrated Wellness Coach.

Hypothyroid Mom – Dana Trentini Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this podcast episode I interview Dana Trentini, the founder of the well-known Hypothyroid Mom blog. I really enjoyed our talk, in particular discussing thyroid issues with someone who is so passionate about thyroid health.

Dana Trentini created the thyroid advocacy blog Hypothyroid Mom. Dana launched her blog on October 1st, 2012, in memory of the unborn baby she lost due to hypothyroidism. She set out on a mission to learn all she could about hypothyroidism and to share her discoveries with people around the globe. Dana has since been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic.

The Thyroid and Thyroid Hormones

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The thyroid is a small gland that lies in the neck about the level of the Adam’s apple and weighs approximately one ounce. It produces thyroid hormone and calcitonin. The parathyroid glands are very small and lie on the outside portion of the thyroid gland and secrete parathyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone ignites your metabolism so you can burn fat and produce energy. We will be focusing on thyroid hormone.

The thyroid gland is stimulated to make thyroid hormone by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which is produced in the pituitary gland located in the brain. The pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain which monitors the amount of circulating thyroid hormone. Iodine must enter the thyroid gland through a transport system that is repaired with the intake of vitamin C. There is usually about 20-30 mg of iodine in the body and 75 percent of it is stored in the thyroid. In addition to iodine, iron, tyrosine, selenium, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6 are required for thyroid hormone production.

The Gut Thyroid Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The gut-thyroid connection is one of the most important and overlooked aspects of healthy thyroid function. Did you know that many diseases can be traced to a breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract? 70 percent of your immune system resides in this area – your gut, and the GI tract has many important functions for your health including digestion, nutrient absorption, elimination, detoxification, hormone metabolism and energy production. 99% of the neurotransmitters in your body are actually created in the intestine (part of your GI tract), and every brain chemical known as a neurotransmitter is found there. This means the GI tract, or gut, plays a very important role in achieving optimal thyroid health.

The Ferritin Level Test

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The ferritin test may be the most important blood test you ever get, especially if you have a thyroid problem.

When I began my training in the diagnosis and management of internal disorders immediately after graduation, one of the first things we studied heavily was blood chemistry analysis. My teachers always stressed the importance of taking a careful look at iron levels in the blood and a rare test known as the ferritin test.

What is ferritin?

Ferritin is an iron-containing protein and is the primary form of iron stored inside your cells. Even though there is a small amount of ferritin released into your bloodstream, it is an accurate marker of how much iron is actually stored in your body. Iron is primarily stored in your liver, muscles, spleen and bone marrow but if you have too much it can accumulate in your organs and the brain.

The Thyroid Adrenal Pancreas Axis

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

The thyroid-adrenal-pancreas axis is one of the most important connections in understanding and healing your thyroid. In addition to gastrointestinal and blood sugar disorders, adrenal gland dysfunction is one of the most commonly seen imbalance in today’s society. Adrenal gland imbalances are also one of the major factors that cause thyroid hormone imbalance. Stress from work, relationships, electronics, poor diet choices such as consumption of refined carbohydrates and trans fats, infections, and environmental toxins all contribute to adrenal disorders. Let’s discuss the thyroid-adrenal-pancreas axis in detail so you can understand this complex connection

Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Understanding the importance of gluten and Hashimoto’s disease may be the key factor in healing your thyroid.

The Link Between Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

Has your doctor talked to you about the link between gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease? Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune condition that causes 90% of all cases of hypothyroidism. Gluten is a combination of proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt and many others. Ongoing scientific research indicates that there is a dangerous link between eating foods that contain gluten and Hashimoto’s disease.

The hard truth is that gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease are a destructive combination. If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you need to completely avoid gluten to avoid triggering autoimmune attacks on your thyroid gland. However, you may not have to avoid gluten forever but this depend on a number of factors.

Thyroid Symptoms in Women

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Low Thyroid Symptoms in Women are Widespread

Thyroid symptoms in women are sadly prevalent today. In general, women are more vulnerable to thyroid disorders than men for a variety of reasons. It is estimated that as many as ten percent of women suffer harmful effects from underactive thyroid, a condition also known as hypothyroidism.

Thyroid symptoms in women are more frequently caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Up to ninety percent of all cases of hypothyroidism are caused by Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that is about seven times more likely to affect women than men.

Three Things You Can Do For Anxiety

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this podcast, I chat with Michael Diettrich-Chastain about three things you can do for anxiety.

We discussed the importance of having a daily routine that you sustain for a long time in order to get the best results. The following can be extremely helpful for anxiety that you can implement into your daily routine:

Meditation
Journaling
Some type of movement such as exercise or just a walk in nature
Spending more time with people and removing yourself from isolation
Taking a break from technology and social media

Is Facebook Making You Sick?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Is Facebook making you sick? Many have the false belief that Facebook was created for the benefit of people to stay in touch and see what their “friends” are up to. In actuality, Facebook was created strictly to gather as much data as possible about its users for the single purpose of making a profit.

Health Benefits of Sardines

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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One of my all-time favorite healthy foods is definitely sardines. This was certainly an acquired taste and I had to learn the hard way that some brands are absolutely disgusting and others taste great. The picture above shows the three brands of sardines I eat the most.

Why are sardines so great?

Sardines are nutritional powerhouses containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, high-quality protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B5, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, choline, CoQ10, zinc and iron. They’re really stacked to the gills!

Sardines are also extremely low in mercury so you don’t have to worry about toxic metals like from other types of fish.

Sardines are perfect if you are following a ketogenic diet, paleo diet, low carb diet, modified vegetarian diet or just want to add a lot of nutrition to your diet. If you are following a ketogenic diet then go for the sardines packed in olive oil for extra fat.

How to Beat Depression Naturally

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In order to understand how to beat depression naturally, we must understand what causes depression.

Inflammation and depression

For many years there has been a generally accepted cause of depression with the treatment revolving around neurotransmitter manipulation through antidepressant medications. It has become quite clear however that inflammation is at the core of depression, anxiety, insomnia and other mood disorders in many people. And, you can beat depression naturally!

Antidepressants have helped many people and are definitely required for certain individuals in order to function. These medications manipulate neurotransmitter levels but they also have anti-inflammatory properties which can additionally explain why they help people.

Studies are showing that patients with increased levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha suffer from depression and other mood disorders.

Osteoporosis: Is the key to building bone building muscle?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The rate of osteoporosis continues to increase despite new drugs and an increase in vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Could it be that the focus on building bone has been going down the wrong path of drugs, supplements and hormone replacement? Although all of these can potentially help build bone, the key really lies in building lean muscle mass.

As we age, we also lose muscle mass (known as sarcopenia) which results in the following health problems:

Frequent falls resulting in bone fracture
Depression
Increased inflammation
Increased mortality (dying earlier than you should)
Physical disability
Nursing home admissions earlier than necessary
Increased hospitalizations
Obesity
Loss of cartilage
Slow gait speed (walking slowly)

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Have you ever wondered what causes hypothyroidism?

Are you suffering from any of the following symptoms?

Fatigue
Weight Gain and difficulty losing weight
Hair Loss
Depression
Cold Hands & Feet
Constipation
Insomnia
Dry Brittle Nails
Lack of Motivation
Muscle pain

Your thyroid could be a major contributing factor to these symptoms. Your thyroid may have been checked by your physician, but were you evaluated for autoimmune thyroid disease? What causes hypothyroidism? The number one cause of hypothyroidism in the world is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is a condition in which the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. This results in slow destruction of the thyroid gland leading to hypothyroidism.

Ketogenic Diet Benefits

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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When I was bodybuilding in the 1990’s, we used to use the ketogenic diet to burn off that extra bit of stubborn fat. We would only do it for about 3-4 days however and would then cycle the diet for 2-3 weeks maximum.

The ketogenic diet works well to burn fat while preserving muscle mass which is extremely important when you are dieting because lean muscle mass is vital for good health.

What is ketosis?

The ketogenic diet converts the body into a fat-burning metabolism known as ketosis which basically means that your body is producing energy from ketones rather than glucose. Ketones are made from fat and your body has no problem running on ketones instead of glucose.

Ketosis is not to be confused with the serious condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis which occurs in type 1 diabetes and is a life-threatening condition. Sometimes nurses and doctors confuse these two which are completely separate physiological states.

The Low FODMAP Diet

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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What are FODMAPs and how do I follow a low FODMAP diet?

FODMAPs or Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols are a specific type of carbohydrate found in certain foods that you must avoid if you are following a low FODMAP diet. The family of FODMAPs include:

Lactose from dairy products.
Fructans: garlic, onions, wheat etc.
Galactans: legumes such as lentils, beans, soybeans etc.
Fructose: honey, certain fruits, high fructose corn syrup etc.
Polyols: stone fruits such as avocados, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, nectarines etc. and sweeteners such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol.

Curcumin Benefits

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant derived from turmeric root used heavily in traditional Indian cuisine. Turmeric is a close relative of ginger which I use quite a bit to improve digestion and reduce inflammation.

Curcumin was first used about 4,000 years ago in Chinese and Ayruvedic medicine.

Curcumin has a tremendous amount of research behind it and it is one of my favorite natural anti-inflammatories. But it’s powers don’t end with inflammation. Research has shown that curcumin has the following benefits:

How to Prevent Kidney Stones

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

It is said that men can never understand the extreme amount of pain a woman suffers while giving birth but it is also said that if a man has ever passed a kidney stone he can relate. As someone who has passed kidney stone I could not possibly imagine pain more severe than what I experienced.

One of the most common techniques of drug addicts is to fake a kidney stone in the emergency room because they know that medicine views this as the most painful experience a human being can encounter so highly addictive opioid pain meds are usually dispensed to reduce pain.

I battled a kidney stone after eating large amounts of kale and probably too many raw nuts over a 3-month period which I’ll get into later as to why this set me up for the torture I never expected. Let’s begin discussing how to prevent kidney stones naturally.

Health Benefits of Zinc

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

We all have favorites and my favorite mineral may very well be the mighty Zinc. Sometimes I go back and forth between magnesium and zinc but I always tend to lean towards “Heavy-Z”.

It is estimated that zinc is involved in 300 enzymatic reactions in the body most of which involve the immune system and repair of body tissues. In order to simply burn fat, carbohydrates and metabolize protein you need healthy zinc levels. Zinc is important for chemical detoxification, growth, development, immune function and sexual function. Healing cannot take place without adequate zinc. Having problems with brain function such as memory and learning? Well zinc is involved in every enzymatic reaction in the brain. Zinc is found in it’s highest concentrations in the ear and the eye so any problems with vision or hearing can be a zinc deficiency.

Berberine benefits

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease Thyroid Nation Radio Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was recently interviewed by Diana Bowman on Thyroid Nation in a discussion about Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism

Diana : Hi everybody! Welcome to the third week, episode three, of Thyroid Nation Radio Talk Show Live and Podcast. I’m Diana Bowman, founder of thyroidnation.com.

Tiffany: And I’m Tiffany Mladinich [SP] of gratefulgarden.biz.

Diana: Also known as Diana and Tiffany, bringing you the voices of thyroid advocates, clinicians, bloggers and thyroid thrivers everywhere. In just a few minutes, we’ll be talking live with Dr. Nikolas Hedberg [SP]. I know that, I for one, am really excited. We’ve had kind of a working relationship, Dr. Hedberg and I, over the last, I don’t know, seven or eight months. I have lots of articles of his on my site, which are fabulous. Tiffany, I’m excited. Are you excited?

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy For Women

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

You can read the video transcript below from the video Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy For Women:

Welcome, everyone. This is Dr. Nikolas Hedberg and today I’m going to be talking about natural hormone replacement for women. I’m a board certified naturopathic physician. I’m also board certified in nutrition. I work with many women with hormone imbalances, thyroid problems, adrenal gland imbalances, and what we would call sex or reproductive hormone imbalances. Before we begin, let’s talk about a little research and a little bit of history around hormone replacement therapy. This is a really big topic, a popular topic. Bio identical hormones have been very very popular for years now. Various movie stars and celebrities have made it fairly popular and many women are using it successfully to manage their symptoms as they transition into menopause and beyond. So I wanted to create a nice overview to give you a really good understanding of hormones and the symptoms of hormone imbalances, what you can do about it, and see if it’s something that’s right for you. The Women’s Health Initiative, this was a study designed to provide information, really about the risks versus the benefits of conventional hormone replacement.

Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism Radio Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was recently interviewed by The Natural Nurse – Dr. Ellen Kamhi discussing Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism on the Progressive Radio Network. This was one of my favorite interviews and I really enjoyed talking to Dr. Kamhi.

Here is a list of the topics we discussed during the interview:

What got you started in working with patients who have thyroid disorders?
Why do so many people suffer from a thyroid problem?
What are the most common causes of thyroid disorders?
What tests should patients ask for from their doctors to uncover the underlying causes of their thyroid problem?
There are many types of thyroid medication, what are the best choices available today?
Is iodine a safe and effective supplement for those with Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism?
When is a gluten-free diet the best option for someone with a thyroid problem?
Can you tell us why vitamin D may not be the best option?
If you have an underlying infection that is driving your Hashimoto’s disease, what are the best treatment options?
What is the best diet for someone with a thyroid disorder?
Do people need to worry about goitrogens in foods?
Please tell us more about leaky gut syndrome and some strategies to heal the digestive system.
How does hormone replacement affect thyroid function?
How does stress and the adrenal glands affect thyroid function?
What are some of the most effective supplements for someone with Hashimoto’s disease?

Epstein-Barr Virus and Autoimmune Diseases

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview I discuss the connection between Epstein-Barr Virus and Autoimmune Disease

You can listen to the interview above or read the transcript below:

Dr. Brady: Dr. Hedberg lectures all over the place, a lot of integrative medicine conferences. He’s published in many journals. He teaches advanced functional medicine courses with Functional Medicine Town, professional co-op and as adjunct faculty with Hawthorn University. Dr. Hedberg has found that many chronic diseases are a result of stealth infections and that’s what we’re going to focus on tonight. Basically, he’s also formed a website and a community known as “The Infection Connection” and I’ll have him tell you a little bit more about that later in the call. You can learn more at infectionconnection.net.

Autoimmune Disease: The Infection Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview I discuss the connection between infections and autoimmune disease which I call the Infection Connection.

That being said, let’s get on with it. Let me introduce our speaker for tonight. Dr. Nikolas Hedberg is a good friend of mine. I’ve known Nik for, I think somewhere around 10 years now, we both went to one of the same schools in our careers, not at the same time, but we, I guess, met at a, I think, an internal disorder conference in New Orleans, I think was the first time about 10 years ago. I’ve followed Nik’s work and his career and he’s done some outstanding work. Nik is a board certified Chiropractic Internist by the American Board of Chiropractic Internists, he received his bachelor training in Exercise Science from the University of Florida, received his Doctor of Chiropractic from the Texas Chiropractic College in Houston. He currently practices in Asheville, North Carolina and focuses on Lyme disease, thyroid disorders and autoimmune disease. He’s the author of the book “The Complete Thyroid Health and Diet Guide“, which is a comprehensive guide to diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders. He lectures at a lot of integrated medicine conferences, and he’s published in a lot of journals. He teaches Functional Medicine concepts through many forms including Functional Medicine Town, Professional Co-op, and with Hawthorn University. His particular interests lately is the role of stealth infections in chronic disease and in that effort to get this message out, he’s created a program called “The Infection Connection” and does some online training in these concepts, and he’ll tell you more about that as the night goes on. Little known to everyone in the professional world but known to me, Nik is an accomplished opera singer actually, so you’ll hear that when you hear him talk, you can hear that come through in his voice. Anyway, Nik thank you for being on. I know you’ve been on Clinical Rounds before and thanks for coming back and being a guest again.

What Causes Alopecia Areata and Universalis?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Read the transcript to this video below on what causes Alopecia areata and universalis:

Greetings, friends. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg and today I’m going to be taking about all the possible causes of alopecia areata and alopecia universalis. Autoimmune diseases are significantly on the rise, and alopecia can be a devastating condition, not only personally but also professionally. And there are a lot of holistic options out there for alopecia. And I’ve had some great success over the years identifying the underlying causes of alopecia and helping patients regrow their hair. So I wanted to share some of my knowledge about alopecia and what I’ve found to be, really, the main causes of alopecia. So I’ve created this diagram for you with all of the main potential causes of alopecia.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease Podcast

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview I discuss Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease with Linda Lizotte.

Linda: This Linda Lizotte, I’m the co-founder of Designs for Health, nutritionist and I’m happy to interview Dr. Nikolas Hedberg tonight. Let me tell you a little bit more about his background. Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, he’s a D.C., D.A.B.C.I. He’s a board certified chiropractic internist by the American Board of Chiropractic Internist. His practice is in Asheville, North Carolina where he focuses on autoimmune thyroiditis.

What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

In this video I answer the question, “What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?”

Well, welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and today I’m going to be talking about all the different causes of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. So Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is the most common autoimmune disease in the world. And it’s also the number cause of hypothyroidism in the world. One of the things about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is that conventional medicine doesn’t really recognize Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as a major problem. And what I mean by that is that if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the treatment is going to be the same for you if you just have hypothyroidism and don’t have an autoimmune disease.

Anxiety and Depression Webinar: Holistic Options

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

In this webinar I discuss holistic options for anxiety and depression.

Well, welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight we’re going to be talking about holistic options for depression and anxiety, a huge topic in the United States today. Millions and millions of Americans on antidepressants and medications for anxiety. And tonight we’re going to talk about some alternative options, some supplementation, some herbal medicine, and some other things to think about if you do suffer from depression and anxiety.

What’s the Link Between Thyroid and Hair Loss?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

The connection between the thyroid and hair loss may not be immediately clear. But hair loss, sometimes known as alopecia, is one of the classic symptoms of low thyroid or hypothyroidism, along with fatigue, weight gain, constipation, depression, muscle or joint pain, sensitivity to cold and a number of other problems.

The link between a low functioning thyroid and hair loss, and all the other symptoms named above, is that they are all related to a decrease in energy production or metabolism. The thyroid gland produces hormones that control metabolism. When your thyroid gland is damaged, either by an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s Disease or any of the other many causes of hypothyroidism, it does not produce an adequate supply of the hormones your body needs to produce energy necessary for normal bodily functions.

How to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Leaky Gut Webinar Transcript

Okay, well, I want to welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight we’re talking about how to heal leaky gut syndrome. So, let’s get this started.
I really enjoy doing these webinars, trying to get some good information out there to everyone. And leaky gut, it’s a big issue. Its main connections are going to be with autoimmune diseases and a variety of chronic conditions, which we’ll talk about. I’m just going to cover what it is, what causes leaky gut, and then some of the things that you can do about it, and then how we manage it in the practice if it’s there.

Herbal Medicines for Depression Webinar

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Well, welcome everyone, this is Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, and tonight we’re going to be talking about herbal medicines for depression. A large number of Americans are taking antidepressants or some kind of medication for depression. I believe it’s getting close to about 50 percent of the population. So it’s a big issue, and I just want to shed some light on some of the causes of depression. We’ll talk about some of the herbs that can work well for depression. I’ll have some different nutritional and exercise strategies, so I think you’ll get some good ideas tonight about what’s best if you’re suffering from mild to moderate depression.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Lyme Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Discovering the Connection Between Thyroiditis and Lyme Disease

Greetings friends, I’m Dr. Nik Hedberg, and today’s Hashimoto’s tip of the day relates to Lyme disease. This was a really fascinating discovery that I made years ago! While conducting some research, I discovered that there was a good connection between Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Lyme Disease. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is known as Borrelia burgdorferi, and studies have shown that Borrelia can trigger Hashimoto’s via what we’ve talked about before – a process known as molecular mimicry.

Molecular mimicry is just that fancy term that basically means that your body’s immune system not only attacks the infection, but it also affects self-tissue that looks like the infection. So as a result, you get a Borrelia infection that causes Lyme. The body doesn’t just attack the Borrelia, but it also attacks the thyroid gland as well.

Herbal Medicines for Fatigue

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Herbal Medicines for Fatigue

Okay. Well, I want to welcome everyone to tonight’s webinar. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg and tonight we’re going to be talking about herbal medicines for fatigue. Fatigue is just one of those big issues that so many people suffer with. Tonight I’m hoping I’ll be able to give you some good ideas as far as what herbal medicines you can take that will really help you not only boost your energy but also may significantly help you improve your energy, help your body adapt to stress and things like that. Let’s go ahead and jump right in.

Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Below is a transcript of the video on Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders:

I want to welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nikolas Hedberg and tonight we’re talking about herbal medicines for thyroid disorders. Let’s go ahead and bring out that slide show.

Thank you everyone for coming. We just started doing these webinars a few months ago and I’m going to be doing more and more of them. I think that these are great way to educate everyone on different topics.

How to Overcome Insomnia Naturally

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

This is a webinar I did about how to overcome insomnia naturally.

If you want additional information on how to beat insomnia you can read my detailed article here.

Okay, well, welcome, everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight we’re talking about sleep disorders. And this one of my favorite topics, just because it’s something that I encounter a lot in practice. Many, many people have issues with sleep, many chronically people. And it’s really one of those fundamental things that it’s just very difficult to help someone get healthy when they’re not getting a good night’s sleep.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Webinar

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Okay. Well, welcome, everyone to this Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Webinar. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight we’re talking about Hashimoto’s Thyroid. Like I was saying previously, last year I did a lot of teleconferences, but I wanted to open it up, so you could have some visuals as well so you could see some PowerPoint slides. I’m going to talk a little bit and go through the slides and then we’ll do some questions at the end. You can do that by just typing your questions into the chat window on the little Start Meeting screen that you’ll see on the right, and then I’ll be able to answer your questions that way.

Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Are You Aware of Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals?

With approximately 100,000 chemicals in commercial use today and approximately 4,000-6,000 new chemicals produced each year, it is no wonder we are becoming so sick. Eighty percent of these chemicals have never been tested for human safety or their effects on the unborn. There are many chemicals known as thyroid-disrupting chemicals (TDCs) that can also be classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

These chemicals can affect normal production of thyroid hormone, its circulating levels in the blood and can harm hormone receptors preventing hormones from binding and doing their job. These chemicals have received more press as of late due to their effect on the developing brain leading to impaired cognitive function and behavioral problems. Thyroid hormone directly affects genetic expression requiring proper communication within each cell. It is thus hypothesized that TDCs can alter gene expression.

Investigating the Hormone-Thyroid Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

What’s the connection between your hormones and your thyroid? Learn more about the Hormone-Thyroid connection.

Testosterone

Testosterone is made in the testes and adrenal glands in a male, and in a woman, the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone is very important for metabolism. It has been shown that low thyroid states result in low testosterone levels. When the thyroid gland returns to optimal function in individuals with challenged thyroids, their testosterone levels also return to normal. Testosterone replacement can help many conditions including thyroid and autoimmune diseases but simply giving these patients testosterone without correcting the reason why their testosterone is low in the first place does a great disservice to these patients in the long run.

Does the Liver Affect Thyroid Health?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Does the liver affect thyroid health? I’ll try to answer this question in detail throughout this article. The liver is an extremely complex organ involved in multiple immune and metabolic processes. If the liver is not detoxifying optimally, it will be virtually impossible to have success with any disease including thyroid and hormone imbalances. Unfortunately, many patients are given hormones without a thorough analysis of their liver’s ability to metabolize hormones. This can do more harm than good due to a build-up of unmetabolized hormones or incompletely metabolized hormones circulating in the blood- stream causing abnormal hormone responses. Partially metabolized hormones can bind to hormone receptor sites blocking normal hormones from binding and causing abnormal responses.