Articles

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The release of melatonin follows a circadian pattern, meaning there is an increased rate of release at night compared to day time release. Melatonin helps initiating and maintaining sleep. For this reason, melatonin supplements are used widely in the United States primarily as an aid for falling asleep and not waking up during the night. In addition to being a sleep helper, melatonin supplements seem to improve metabolic syndrome, according to research. Metabolic syndrome is a definite risk factor for cancer, type II diabetes,...

Lactose intolerance is commonly found in people who suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism. Lactose intolerance is to be distinguished from sensitivity to dairy, another very common issue in many thyroid patients. Lactose intolerance (which is the inability to break down lactose in the GI tract because of a deficiency of an enzyme) causes inflammation and an overgrowth of bacteria in the GI tract, resulting in an abnormal intestinal environment. The GI inflammation often results in malabsorption of nutrients and diarrhea. Significant improvement in symptoms of lactose intolerance occurs just 2 to 3 weeks after restricting intake of lactose in...

One of the challenges that patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism face is the persistence of fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and some time many other annoying symptoms, despite achievement of normal thyroid tests with thyroid hormone therapy. These persistent symptoms can significantly alter the quality of life, work performance, and can disturb relationships. When Hashimoto’s patients express their lingering symptoms in the face of normal thyroid tests, doctors oftentimes dismiss these symptoms, and may not believe that the root of the symptoms is the thyroid condition, leaving patients feeling at a loss and frustrated. But these symptoms are real and...

Dyslipidemia is defined as finding abnormal amounts of fats (i.e. cholesterol, triglycerides, etc…) in the blood. There are several causes of dyslipidemia, and one of the causes is hypothyroidism as thyroid hormone levels impact cholesterol metabolism in the body. Often, a lipid panel tested on a hypothyroid patient shows elevated lipid levels. The grade of dyslipidemia found in hypothyroid patients depends on the severity of their hypothyroidism, their age, lifestyle, and genetic makeup. Treating hypothyroidism with a T4 medication only might not be the best choice for those suffering from persistent dyslipidemia. Studies have shown that using a combined treatment...