All About the Thyroid, the Body’s ‘Sentinel Gland’

Thyroid disease may be more common than you think. It’s estimated one in eight people have abnormal thyroid function. Dr. Joel Evans of The Center for Functional Medicine joins podcast host Dr. Robert Rountree to discuss thyroid imbalance and what nutrients can support a healthy thyroid. 

During this episode you’ll learn about: 

1. Dr. Joel Evans, founder and director of The Center for Functional Medicine [0:54] 

2. What is the thyroid – the “sentinel gland”? [1:37] 

3. Women’s hormones, estrogen, and the thyroid gland [6:09] 

4. What are thyroid symptoms? How common is abnormal thyroid function? [9:46]  

• Why thyroid problems are more common in women [12:41] 
• Gut health, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and thyroid disease [13:27] 

5. Nutrients that support thyroid function [18:20] 

6. Questions from the community 

• Can symptoms of thyroid disease indicate some other diagnosis? [22:40] 
• If a person has thyroid problems, what foods should be avoided? [26.21] 
• How is thyroid imbalance related to mental health? [28:42] 
• What’s the link between thyroid function and breast cancer? [29:28]
• At what age do thyroid issues typically arise? [30:35] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: 

• Symptoms, Causes, and Consequences of an Overactive Thyroid  
• What Are the Health Effects and Symptoms of Having an Underactive Thyroid? 
• The Thyroid's Role in Regulating Your Sex Drive
• Estrogen Dominance: What it is, how to recognize it, and what you can do about it
• Food Allergy and Intolerance: Making Sense of Food Sensitivities
• Redefining Healthy Aging
• Take the Healthy Aging Quiz 
• Learn more about Dr. Joel Evans at The Center for Functional Medicine and at the Institute for Functional Medicine. You can also follow his work on Facebook. 

Products and nutrients mentioned in this episode: Thyroid Test, Iodine, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Vitamin A, Ashwagandha 

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