Hormone replacement is not usually life or death, except in the cases of the thyroid and adrenals.
Thyroid disease has tripled in the last few decades and thyroid medication is consistently among the top three most prescribed medicines in the world. At the same time, many women find themselves with adrenal insufficiency due to a workaholic lifestyle and burnout.
Today, I’m joined by the most prolific writer that I know, naturopathic physician, Dr. Alan Christianson. Dr. Christianson has written a lot of books on hard topics like adrenal glands, thyroid glands, and metabolism and I’ve learned a lot from him and his deep expertise.
In this conversation, we talk about the problem with how most doctors test for thyroid issues, natural versus synthetic thyroid, whether you should supplement with iodine at home, the best way to test cortisol, why your cortisol slope matters, how to keep your blood sugar stable with resistant starches, and a lot more. This was one of my favorite interviews so far and I know you’ll learn a lot from the conversation!
About Dr. Alan Christianson
Dr. Alan Christianson is a New York Times Bestselling Author and a Phoenix, Arizona-based Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) who specializes in natural endocrinology with a focus on thyroid disorders. He is the author of the Adrenal Reset Diet, the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease, and The Metabolism Reset Diet.Dr. Christianson was a member of the premier class of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) graduating in 1996. He has been actively practicing in Scottsdale ever since.
Dr. Christianson is the founding president of the SCNM alumni organization and continues to be an active board member. He is also the founding president and is currently the acting president of the Endocrine Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Highlights of the Episode
-The problem with the standard practice of testing TSH alone
-Thyroid antibodies are the earliest indicators that can show up years before thyroid disease manifests
-Clearing up misconceptions about natural versus synthetic thyroid
-Why recalls happen a lot for thyroid medications
-The relationship between iodine and thyroid disease
-How the Thyroid Reset Diet can help you to reverse thyroid disease
-What is your cortisol slope and why does it matter?
-The best way to test cortisol
-How to get started with burnout recovery
-Why you shouldn’t buy into the “pregnenolone steal” myth
-The higher goal is to keep your blood sugar stable
-How resistant starches work and common examples
-We don’t need to be afraid of white potatoes, rice, and beans
-Dr. Alan Christianson’s Confession
Connect with Dr. Alan Christianson
Dr. Alan Christianson’s Website | DrChristianson.com
Dr. Alan Christianson’s Podcast | Medical Myths, Legends & Fairytales
Dr. Alan Christianson on Instagram | @DrAlanChristianson
Dr. Alan Christianson’s Books
The Thyroid Reset Diet: Reverse Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Symptoms with a Proven Iodine-Balancing Plan
The Adrenal Reset Diet: Strategically Cycle Carbs and Proteins to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, and Move from Stressed to Thriving
The Metabolism Reset Diet: Repair Your Liver, Stop Storing Fat, and Lose Weight Naturally
Mentioned in this episode
Kaiser Permanente Study | Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Stability in Patients Prescribed Synthetic or Desiccated Thyroid Products: A Retrospective Study
ATA Survey of Patients with Hypothyroidism Shows Dissatisfaction With Treatment Options
Resources
Dr. Shawn Tassone’s Practice
Dr. Shawn Tassone’s Book | The Hormone Balance Bible
Dr. Shawn Tassone’s Integrative Hormonal Mapping System | Hormone Archetype Quiz
