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The Thyroid Connection: Why You Feel Tired, Brain-Fogged, and Overweight -- and How to Get Your Life Back
From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Autoimmune Solution, a comprehensive, accessible overview of thyroid problems that will help you learn to identify the warning signs and finally take back your health.
Are you exhausted all the time, plagued by brain fog, and unable to lose weight? Do you struggle with insomnia, panic attacks, and tremors? But does your doctor insist that your labs are normal, and that you just need to eat less and exercise more? As anyone who has been there knows, nothing is more frustrating, stressful, and emotionally draining than feeling unwell and being told you're fine by the very person who is supposed to heal you.
The truth is, your symptoms could be caused by a thyroid disorder--the hidden cause behind a wide array of health problems that can threaten to ruin your life. Thyroid dysfunctions like Hashimoto's disease, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism affect at least 20 million Americans and yet conventional medicine frequently misses the diagnosis. The scariest part? Most doctors won't even order thyroid tests unless you specifically ask.
Now, in The Thyroid Connection, Dr. Amy Myers teaches you how to take your health into your own hands. Dr. Myers, originally misdiagnosed herself, understands the struggles of thyroid dysfunction firsthand. Fortunately, she also knows how achievable recovery and well-being are, and just how to get you there. In The Thyroid Connection, she explains the science behind thyroid problems, as well as how to work with your doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. Complete with a 28-day action plan tailored to your specific condition, along with advice on diet and nutrition, supplements, exercise, stress relief, and sleep, The Thyroid Connection is the ultimate roadmap back to your happiest, healthiest self.
Are you exhausted all the time, plagued by brain fog, and unable to lose weight? Do you struggle with insomnia, panic attacks, and tremors? But does your doctor insist that your labs are normal, and that you just need to eat less and exercise more? As anyone who has been there knows, nothing is more frustrating, stressful, and emotionally draining than feeling unwell and being told you're fine by the very person who is supposed to heal you.
The truth is, your symptoms could be caused by a thyroid disorder--the hidden cause behind a wide array of health problems that can threaten to ruin your life. Thyroid dysfunctions like Hashimoto's disease, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism affect at least 20 million Americans and yet conventional medicine frequently misses the diagnosis. The scariest part? Most doctors won't even order thyroid tests unless you specifically ask.
Now, in The Thyroid Connection, Dr. Amy Myers teaches you how to take your health into your own hands. Dr. Myers, originally misdiagnosed herself, understands the struggles of thyroid dysfunction firsthand. Fortunately, she also knows how achievable recovery and well-being are, and just how to get you there. In The Thyroid Connection, she explains the science behind thyroid problems, as well as how to work with your doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. Complete with a 28-day action plan tailored to your specific condition, along with advice on diet and nutrition, supplements, exercise, stress relief, and sleep, The Thyroid Connection is the ultimate roadmap back to your happiest, healthiest self.
Audiobook
Published September 27, 2016
530 people are currently reading
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About the author
Amy Myers
44 books74 followersAmy Myers, MD is a renowned leader in Functional Medicine. She has helped tens of thousands around the world recover from chronic illness through her dietary based program, The Myers Way. Dr. Myers has been featured by Dr. Oz, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Women's Health, Yahoo Health, Prevention Magazine, Everyday Health, The New York Post and more.
Dr. Myers is passionate about autoimmune and thyroid dysfunction because of her own journey with Graves' Disease.
Her book first book The Autoimmune Solution is a New York Times Best Seller.
Her website is: www.AmyMyersMD.com
Follow Dr. Myers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @AmyMyersMD
Dr. Myers is passionate about autoimmune and thyroid dysfunction because of her own journey with Graves' Disease.
Her book first book The Autoimmune Solution is a New York Times Best Seller.
Her website is: www.AmyMyersMD.com
Follow Dr. Myers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @AmyMyersMD
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
December 26, 2018
DNF at 30%
I usually don't rate book I haven't finished, but this one is "special." I diligently read 30%, then skimmed the rest and saw no reason to continue.
There's nothing new here except the constant marketing for the author's website and all the supplements she sells from it, and the tone is that psuedo-chirpy, vaguely patronizing one such books seem to think makes them sound "compassionate" or "relatable." It follows the same formula of 99% of its genre:
--"I understand because I had the worst case of X ever"
-- "I'm the only person who really understands this subject and can help you,"
-- Basic information that can be on-line through womenshealth.gov or (in this case) American Thyroid Association
-- Outline of author's "exclusive" plan that sounds reasonable until you realize it is a) impractical to real life, b) going to bankrupt you, c) depends heavily on their branded products available, you guessed it, on their website. This section also usually includes lots of mentions of how research backs them up, but almost never links to specifics. Same here. Lots of studies listed in the back, but not one of them linked to any specific claim the author makes. Validation from listed studies is more implied than demonstrated. Kind of sloppy given how particular most medical journals are about authors citing sources and providing footnoted references. You'd think a doctor would be used to that format, huh?
-- Recipes or some kind of step-by-step walk-through of their plan. In this case, a bunch of recipes that basically are an anti-inflammation elimination diet. I'll save you some time: No tomatoes, eggplant peppers, potatoes, or any other nightshade. No refined foods. No white food. Absolutely no white creamy food. No meat that isn't organic. (Right. Like anyone can afford meat these days.) No sodas, coffee, booze, treated water, and not too much fruit juices -- but stay well hydrated! Finally, if it tastes good, be suspicious. If it tastes really good, spit it out.
Mostly though? I just hated the condescending tone and the marketing. There's probably some decent information in this for the newly diagnosed, but you have to get through the 200+ page advertisement to get to any of it.
I usually don't rate book I haven't finished, but this one is "special." I diligently read 30%, then skimmed the rest and saw no reason to continue.
There's nothing new here except the constant marketing for the author's website and all the supplements she sells from it, and the tone is that psuedo-chirpy, vaguely patronizing one such books seem to think makes them sound "compassionate" or "relatable." It follows the same formula of 99% of its genre:
--"I understand because I had the worst case of X ever"
-- "I'm the only person who really understands this subject and can help you,"
-- Basic information that can be on-line through womenshealth.gov or (in this case) American Thyroid Association
-- Outline of author's "exclusive" plan that sounds reasonable until you realize it is a) impractical to real life, b) going to bankrupt you, c) depends heavily on their branded products available, you guessed it, on their website. This section also usually includes lots of mentions of how research backs them up, but almost never links to specifics. Same here. Lots of studies listed in the back, but not one of them linked to any specific claim the author makes. Validation from listed studies is more implied than demonstrated. Kind of sloppy given how particular most medical journals are about authors citing sources and providing footnoted references. You'd think a doctor would be used to that format, huh?
-- Recipes or some kind of step-by-step walk-through of their plan. In this case, a bunch of recipes that basically are an anti-inflammation elimination diet. I'll save you some time: No tomatoes, eggplant peppers, potatoes, or any other nightshade. No refined foods. No white food. Absolutely no white creamy food. No meat that isn't organic. (Right. Like anyone can afford meat these days.) No sodas, coffee, booze, treated water, and not too much fruit juices -- but stay well hydrated! Finally, if it tastes good, be suspicious. If it tastes really good, spit it out.
Mostly though? I just hated the condescending tone and the marketing. There's probably some decent information in this for the newly diagnosed, but you have to get through the 200+ page advertisement to get to any of it.
Read
January 6, 2021-i appreciated all the explanations of how the thyroid works, and all its various parts and interactions. but i think the 'myers way' diet is ridiculous. you're prohibited everything except some meats, fruits, and veggies. this book also covers hyperthyroid, but as that isnt my problem i skipped that.
--TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): the hormone released by your pituitary to stimulate your thyroid to produce thyroid hormone.
--T4: the storage form of thyroid hormone
--Free T4: the storage form of thyroid left free rather than bound
--T3: the active form of thyroid hormone
--Free T3: the active form of thyroid left free rather than bound
--TBG (thyroxine binding globulin): the protein that binds thyroid hormone so that the hormone can move through your bloodstream
--Reverse T3: a type of thyroid hormone that prevents free T3 from attaching to your cells, thereby blunting or preventing its effects
--Thyroid resistance: a disorder wherein your cells have difficulty receiving free T3, so even when blood levels of free T3 are optimal, not all of the hormone is able to enter your cells
--Thyroid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase [TPOAb] and thyroglobulin antibody [TgAb]): biochemicals produced by your immune system to attack your thyroid.
-what all these stories have in common: a doctor who is failing to effectively diagnose and treat thyroid dysfunction. how dismissive and unhelpful doctors have been. how they insist the real problem is depression or diminishing sex hormones, or stress, or anxiety, or 'all in your head'. conventional doctors dont run enough tests. they dont interpret the tests properly. they dont offer enough treatment options.
-thyroid is absolutely critical to every single cell in your body. every cell has a receptor for thyroid hormone, which means that no cell can function without it. and its not enough to have 'some' thyroid hormone. every cell needs exactly the right amount. you thought goldilocks was fussy? she's nothing compared to how frantic your cells get without optimal amounts of thyroid hormone.
-not only your thyroid is involved. the thyroid gland is at the center of a complex network of communication that involves your hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and every single one of your cells. this network is called the thyroid signaling system and its detailed and intricate. interacts with all your other hormones.
-"these symptoms are making my life unlivable. i cant perform. i cant cope. i wanted my doctor to work with me and he just brushed me off. as if i was supposed to adjust to fit the treatment instead of him adjusting the treatment to fit me."
-when your body has too much estrogen, it makes more of a protein called thyroxine-binding globulin or TBG. too much TBG means too much of your thyroid hormone is bound, and not enough of it is free to enter your cells.
-the goal is not to eliminate stress, but to RELIEVE it.
- conventional doctors look for 'normal' reference ranges, which are very wide. i look for 'optimal' ranges, which are much narrower.
-"my doctor made me feel like i was just a complaining woman. like i was being fussy or difficult. even though i KNEW something was wrong, he wouldnt listen to me. he just looked at the labs. i'm a competent professional person, but he treated me like some silly schoolgirl who couldnt understand science."
-thyroid dysfunction is seven times more common among women than men. but men do have thyroid dysfunction too.
-check thyroid antibodies (they attack you and your thyroid)- thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). they indicate autoimmune dysfunction.
-thyroid wins 'most important yet most underappreciated award'.
-thyroid produces four types of thyroid hormones, two of which convert into still other types of hormones.
-when the thyroid feels TSH, it pulls iodine and tyrosine (amino acid) from your bloodstream and produces thyroid hormones. it converts the tyrosine into thyroglobulin and then attaches it to either one, two, three, or four iodine atoms creating T1, T2, T3, and T4.
-we dont know what T1 or T2 do.
-T4, thyroglobulin plus four iodine atoms, is the primary output of the thryoid gland. this is the storage form, circulating thru the bloodstream and stored in tissues. T4 doesnt enter your cells.
-T3 is the active form of the hormone. it has two sources. some is created and released by the thyroid itself. some is converted from T4. think of T4 as money in the bank, and T3 as cash in hand. you've always got cash in hand, but never more than you need. all the extra cash is kept in the bank. if you have too little T3, you're hypothyroid. too much T3, hyperthyroid.
-T4 is converted to T3 LOCALLY, by whatever part of the body needs more thyroid: the gut, liver, muscle, brain, and thyroid. your body's need for thyroid hormone is urgent, specific, and ever-changing.
-T4 is converted to T3 by an enzyme called deiodinase. this enzyme needs selenium, zinc, and iron to function properly. it strips one of the outside iodine atoms off the T4, turning it into free T3.
-reverse T3 is made when one of the inside hormone atoms is stripped away from T4 rather than one of the outside iodine atoms. like T4, reverse T3 is inactive. but it attaches to receptors in the cells where free T3 would normally lodge. and if the reverse T3 is taking up a receptor, it leaves less room for free T3. these things stimulate the body to make reverse T3: heavy metals, overexercise, starvation diets or low calorie weight loss plans that make the body think its starving and thus mobilizes all its resources to retain fat and avoid expending energy, and stress (mental, physical, emotional).
-T3 and T4 blood tests dont indicate how much is free and how much is bound and unavailable. TBG binds to T4 and T3, making them unavailable to your cells and tissues. 99% of the thyroid hormone in your bloodstream is bound. when the body makes too much TBG, too much hormone is bound and you get hypothyroid. too little, and and you get hyperthyroid.
-TBG levels are affected by estrogen levels and corticosteroid levels.
--your pituitary can release the wrong amount of TSH
--you can have too much TBG in your bloodstream, so too much T4 and T3 are bound and not enough is free
--your thyroid can release the wrong amount of T3
--your thyroid can release the wrong amount of T4
--your body can have difficulties converting T4 to T3, creating a shortage of active free T3
--your cells can have difficulties receiving T3, so even if they are getting enough hormone, they arent using it properly
--your body might be converting too much T4 into reverse T3, so the excess reverse T3 is blocking the effectiveness of free T3.
-if your stress never goes away and never gets relieved, your adrenals go into overdrive, continuously flooding your body with cortisol until they can no longer keep up with the constant demand. now you're in a state of adrenal dysfunction where your poor overworked adrenals are no longer able to produce enough stress hormones or where they are producing the wrong types of hormones at the wrong time. in a healthy body, you get a burst of cortisol in the morning which wakes you up. then cortisol levels taper off through the day and in the evening are so low you can drift off to sleep. when your adrenals are out of balance, your body suffers, and so does your thyroid.
-when stress levels are too high, the hypothalamus and pituitary slow down to not trigger any more cortisol, and slows down thyroid production.
-stress hormones affect the enzymes that convert T4 to T3, so under stress, more of our thyroid hormone remains in storage and less is available to power our cells.
-when stress is high the body converts more T3 into reverse T3, slowing the metabolism further.
-the stress response triggers inflammatory immune cells called cytokines, which make the thyroid receptors less sensitive to thyroid hormones, meaning you need more thyroid hormone to have the same effect. thyroid resistance. another way that lab results can be tricky to interpret. you can have the right amount of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream, but the cells are still being deprived.
-stress can cause excess estrogen to accumulate. which increases TBG, which attaches to you thyroid hormones and makes them inactive.
-hashimoto's thyroiditis is hypothyroid where the immune system attacks the thyroid. many doctors say the autoimmune factor doesnt matter. but no effort to stop the immune system's attacks on the thyroid means the immune system is left to continue its assault, leaving the thyroid requiring higher and higher levels of synthetic hormone to compensate for an increasingly damaged thyroid.
-to describe chronic inflammation: picture the members of a security squad trying to defend against a host of invaders: infections, toxins, stressors, harmful bacteria, and more. these invaders continue to assault the building the security squad/immune system is defending, so that they never have a moment to take a break, even for a meal or a good nights sleep. at first they're selective about whom they fire at, because the inflammatory response is a powerful one that can destroy good guys as well as bad. but when the threats just keep coming, the poor beleaguered security squad begins to lose control. their carefully targeted shooting becomes random and desperate, destroying bad and good and causing a huge amount of destruction. if the attacks ON your immune system keep coming, the attacks FROM your immune system keep coming as your poor beleaguered immune system begins attacking you.
-80% of your immune system is located in the gut, given that the vast majority of threats to your system come in through what you eat or drink).
-thyroid antibodies (TPO and TgAb) target your thyroid, and there are lab tests for them.
-in molecular mimicry, the autoimmune response confuses the bodys own tissue with some foreign invader. the common thyroid doppelganger is the protein gluten. casein, a protein found in dairy products, occasionally gets mistaken for thyroid as well.
-gluten shows up in a lot of personal care products, so even when you're not eating it, you still may be rubbing it on your skin.
-cortisol weakens your immune system's primary barriers, the blood-brain barrier, lungs, and gut barrier, releasing gluten and casein into the bloodstream.
-many industrial chemicals act just like estrogen, called xenoestrogens. too much exposure to these toxins has the same effect as giving your body a massive overdose of estrogen. excess estrogen promotes TBG which leads to too much BOUND rather than FREE thyroid hormone.
-testing only the TSH tells you ONLY whats going on between the pituitary and the thyroid.
-when doctors and laboratories developed the standard reference ranges for thyroid readings, they used readings taken from people with THYROID DYSFUNCTION! they didnt use healthy people. so right from the start those numbers and ranges were out of whack.
-these standards were updated in 2003 from 0.5 to 5.0 range to 0.3 to 3.0 range. the author considers this range still too wide. [most people with hypothyroid feel best in the 1.0 range, myself included. it makes a HUGE difference, that little bit of number change]. and many doctors still use the old range despite it being 13 years.
-it takes an average of 18 YEARS for research to make its way into standard medical practice.
--optimal lab values according to the author:
--TSH 1.0 to 2.0 uIU/mL
--FT4 > 1.1 ng/dL
--FT3 > 3.2 pg/mL
--RT3 < than a 10:1 ration of RT3 to FT3
--Thyroid peroxidase antibodies < 9 IU/mL or negative
--Thyroglobulin antibodies < 4 IU/mL or negative.
-additional lab work needed for optimal thyroid function:
--iron/ferritin (serum): normal 12-150 ng/mL; optimal 75-100 ng/mL
--vitamin D (serum): normal 30-100 ng/mL; optimal 50-70 ng/mL
--vitamin A (serum): normal 0.20-1.20 mg/L; optimal 0.8-1 mg/L
--homocysteine (syrum): normal 4-15 mmol/L; optimal 7-8 mmol/L
--selenium (RBC): 120-300 mcg/L; optimal 200-250 mcg/L
--zinc (RBC): normal 790-1500 mcg/dL; optimal 1000-1200 mcg/dL
--magnesium (RBC): normal 1.5-3.1 mmol/L; optimal 2.5-3.0 mmol/L
-syhnthroid is now our countries most prescribed drug, with 21.5 million prescriptions each year.
-"the doctor suggested exercise might help, but how can i exercise if i'm too tired to even move?"
-the authors myers way diet has you avoiding all grains and legumes because they promote leaky gut. the edible portion of these plants is the seed, which contains the embryo. in order to protect this embryo, a plant produces its own natural insecticides to repel pests. the chemicals help the seeds pass undigested through an animals system so that when they are expelled with the animals feces, they remain intact and can produce more plants. the chemicals that enable the see's survival under those circumstances can be very damaging to those of you with an autoimmune disease.
-grains and legumes also contain lectins, plant proteins that bind to carbohydrates. two types of lectins are especially challenging: agglutinins and prolamins.
-agglutinins are another type of natural insecticide that can aggravate autoimmune disease. GMO's have been specially engineered to produce even MOE of their natural insecticides.
-prolamins are hard to digest. gluten is a type of prolamin, and even gluten-free grains contain a prolamin similar in structure to gluten. they can cause an immune response in anyone who is sensitive to gluten.
-grains also contain phyates and phytic acid, which inhibit digestio and bind to zinc, iron, and calcium, preventing their absorption. these minerals are crucial for both thyroid and immune function. GMO grians contain an even greater concentration of phytic acid.
-psuedograins and legumes contain saponins, or glycoalkaloids, another natural insecticide produced by the plants. they can pass into your bloodstream and destroy red blood cells.
-dairy's casein can trigger molecular mimicry and is then highly inflammatory. much dairy also contains antibiotics, bovine growth hormone, and unfriendly bacteria due to the crowded poor conditions in which the animals are raised.
-nightshades are high in lectins.
-the burden of proof on corporations is NOT to show that each new industrial chemical is safe. in order to get the EPA or FDA to issue a regulation on industrial chemicals, someone has to show that a particular chemical is UNSAFE.
-as a way to destress - binaural beats. when your brain receives two different frequencies - one in each ear, it creates a third frequency in an effort to syncronize them. this third frequency can be used to guide your mind into a more relaxed state that helpts you disconnect from anxiety and enables you to relax and feel more positive. many different types of binaural beats albums.
-calcium can interfere with the absorption of supplemental thyroid hormone
-her myers way multivitamin complete, requires three pills with lunch, and three pills with dinner!
-the author incorrectly confuses the fluoride in toothpaste with the fluoride in water. she says there is no benefit to the teeth, no proof of cavity/decay prevention with fluoride. that is incorrect. it is PROVEN with many many studies over many years, that fluoride in toothpaste applied to the teeth and not consumed, absolutely DOES prevent tooth decay and helps tooth enamel. however, fluoride added to the water and consumed, does NOT prevent tooth decay or help tooth enamel. there is a difference. and its why toothpaste for toddlers who might swallow it, is fluoride free. you dont want it in your water. you do want it in your toothpaste.
-she recommends 500-1000 mg a day of magnesium, without warning people that it's a stool softener and in high doses like that can cause diarrhea.
--TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): the hormone released by your pituitary to stimulate your thyroid to produce thyroid hormone.
--T4: the storage form of thyroid hormone
--Free T4: the storage form of thyroid left free rather than bound
--T3: the active form of thyroid hormone
--Free T3: the active form of thyroid left free rather than bound
--TBG (thyroxine binding globulin): the protein that binds thyroid hormone so that the hormone can move through your bloodstream
--Reverse T3: a type of thyroid hormone that prevents free T3 from attaching to your cells, thereby blunting or preventing its effects
--Thyroid resistance: a disorder wherein your cells have difficulty receiving free T3, so even when blood levels of free T3 are optimal, not all of the hormone is able to enter your cells
--Thyroid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase [TPOAb] and thyroglobulin antibody [TgAb]): biochemicals produced by your immune system to attack your thyroid.
-what all these stories have in common: a doctor who is failing to effectively diagnose and treat thyroid dysfunction. how dismissive and unhelpful doctors have been. how they insist the real problem is depression or diminishing sex hormones, or stress, or anxiety, or 'all in your head'. conventional doctors dont run enough tests. they dont interpret the tests properly. they dont offer enough treatment options.
-thyroid is absolutely critical to every single cell in your body. every cell has a receptor for thyroid hormone, which means that no cell can function without it. and its not enough to have 'some' thyroid hormone. every cell needs exactly the right amount. you thought goldilocks was fussy? she's nothing compared to how frantic your cells get without optimal amounts of thyroid hormone.
-not only your thyroid is involved. the thyroid gland is at the center of a complex network of communication that involves your hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and every single one of your cells. this network is called the thyroid signaling system and its detailed and intricate. interacts with all your other hormones.
-"these symptoms are making my life unlivable. i cant perform. i cant cope. i wanted my doctor to work with me and he just brushed me off. as if i was supposed to adjust to fit the treatment instead of him adjusting the treatment to fit me."
-when your body has too much estrogen, it makes more of a protein called thyroxine-binding globulin or TBG. too much TBG means too much of your thyroid hormone is bound, and not enough of it is free to enter your cells.
-the goal is not to eliminate stress, but to RELIEVE it.
- conventional doctors look for 'normal' reference ranges, which are very wide. i look for 'optimal' ranges, which are much narrower.
-"my doctor made me feel like i was just a complaining woman. like i was being fussy or difficult. even though i KNEW something was wrong, he wouldnt listen to me. he just looked at the labs. i'm a competent professional person, but he treated me like some silly schoolgirl who couldnt understand science."
-thyroid dysfunction is seven times more common among women than men. but men do have thyroid dysfunction too.
-check thyroid antibodies (they attack you and your thyroid)- thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). they indicate autoimmune dysfunction.
-thyroid wins 'most important yet most underappreciated award'.
-thyroid produces four types of thyroid hormones, two of which convert into still other types of hormones.
-when the thyroid feels TSH, it pulls iodine and tyrosine (amino acid) from your bloodstream and produces thyroid hormones. it converts the tyrosine into thyroglobulin and then attaches it to either one, two, three, or four iodine atoms creating T1, T2, T3, and T4.
-we dont know what T1 or T2 do.
-T4, thyroglobulin plus four iodine atoms, is the primary output of the thryoid gland. this is the storage form, circulating thru the bloodstream and stored in tissues. T4 doesnt enter your cells.
-T3 is the active form of the hormone. it has two sources. some is created and released by the thyroid itself. some is converted from T4. think of T4 as money in the bank, and T3 as cash in hand. you've always got cash in hand, but never more than you need. all the extra cash is kept in the bank. if you have too little T3, you're hypothyroid. too much T3, hyperthyroid.
-T4 is converted to T3 LOCALLY, by whatever part of the body needs more thyroid: the gut, liver, muscle, brain, and thyroid. your body's need for thyroid hormone is urgent, specific, and ever-changing.
-T4 is converted to T3 by an enzyme called deiodinase. this enzyme needs selenium, zinc, and iron to function properly. it strips one of the outside iodine atoms off the T4, turning it into free T3.
-reverse T3 is made when one of the inside hormone atoms is stripped away from T4 rather than one of the outside iodine atoms. like T4, reverse T3 is inactive. but it attaches to receptors in the cells where free T3 would normally lodge. and if the reverse T3 is taking up a receptor, it leaves less room for free T3. these things stimulate the body to make reverse T3: heavy metals, overexercise, starvation diets or low calorie weight loss plans that make the body think its starving and thus mobilizes all its resources to retain fat and avoid expending energy, and stress (mental, physical, emotional).
-T3 and T4 blood tests dont indicate how much is free and how much is bound and unavailable. TBG binds to T4 and T3, making them unavailable to your cells and tissues. 99% of the thyroid hormone in your bloodstream is bound. when the body makes too much TBG, too much hormone is bound and you get hypothyroid. too little, and and you get hyperthyroid.
-TBG levels are affected by estrogen levels and corticosteroid levels.
--your pituitary can release the wrong amount of TSH
--you can have too much TBG in your bloodstream, so too much T4 and T3 are bound and not enough is free
--your thyroid can release the wrong amount of T3
--your thyroid can release the wrong amount of T4
--your body can have difficulties converting T4 to T3, creating a shortage of active free T3
--your cells can have difficulties receiving T3, so even if they are getting enough hormone, they arent using it properly
--your body might be converting too much T4 into reverse T3, so the excess reverse T3 is blocking the effectiveness of free T3.
-if your stress never goes away and never gets relieved, your adrenals go into overdrive, continuously flooding your body with cortisol until they can no longer keep up with the constant demand. now you're in a state of adrenal dysfunction where your poor overworked adrenals are no longer able to produce enough stress hormones or where they are producing the wrong types of hormones at the wrong time. in a healthy body, you get a burst of cortisol in the morning which wakes you up. then cortisol levels taper off through the day and in the evening are so low you can drift off to sleep. when your adrenals are out of balance, your body suffers, and so does your thyroid.
-when stress levels are too high, the hypothalamus and pituitary slow down to not trigger any more cortisol, and slows down thyroid production.
-stress hormones affect the enzymes that convert T4 to T3, so under stress, more of our thyroid hormone remains in storage and less is available to power our cells.
-when stress is high the body converts more T3 into reverse T3, slowing the metabolism further.
-the stress response triggers inflammatory immune cells called cytokines, which make the thyroid receptors less sensitive to thyroid hormones, meaning you need more thyroid hormone to have the same effect. thyroid resistance. another way that lab results can be tricky to interpret. you can have the right amount of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream, but the cells are still being deprived.
-stress can cause excess estrogen to accumulate. which increases TBG, which attaches to you thyroid hormones and makes them inactive.
-hashimoto's thyroiditis is hypothyroid where the immune system attacks the thyroid. many doctors say the autoimmune factor doesnt matter. but no effort to stop the immune system's attacks on the thyroid means the immune system is left to continue its assault, leaving the thyroid requiring higher and higher levels of synthetic hormone to compensate for an increasingly damaged thyroid.
-to describe chronic inflammation: picture the members of a security squad trying to defend against a host of invaders: infections, toxins, stressors, harmful bacteria, and more. these invaders continue to assault the building the security squad/immune system is defending, so that they never have a moment to take a break, even for a meal or a good nights sleep. at first they're selective about whom they fire at, because the inflammatory response is a powerful one that can destroy good guys as well as bad. but when the threats just keep coming, the poor beleaguered security squad begins to lose control. their carefully targeted shooting becomes random and desperate, destroying bad and good and causing a huge amount of destruction. if the attacks ON your immune system keep coming, the attacks FROM your immune system keep coming as your poor beleaguered immune system begins attacking you.
-80% of your immune system is located in the gut, given that the vast majority of threats to your system come in through what you eat or drink).
-thyroid antibodies (TPO and TgAb) target your thyroid, and there are lab tests for them.
-in molecular mimicry, the autoimmune response confuses the bodys own tissue with some foreign invader. the common thyroid doppelganger is the protein gluten. casein, a protein found in dairy products, occasionally gets mistaken for thyroid as well.
-gluten shows up in a lot of personal care products, so even when you're not eating it, you still may be rubbing it on your skin.
-cortisol weakens your immune system's primary barriers, the blood-brain barrier, lungs, and gut barrier, releasing gluten and casein into the bloodstream.
-many industrial chemicals act just like estrogen, called xenoestrogens. too much exposure to these toxins has the same effect as giving your body a massive overdose of estrogen. excess estrogen promotes TBG which leads to too much BOUND rather than FREE thyroid hormone.
-testing only the TSH tells you ONLY whats going on between the pituitary and the thyroid.
-when doctors and laboratories developed the standard reference ranges for thyroid readings, they used readings taken from people with THYROID DYSFUNCTION! they didnt use healthy people. so right from the start those numbers and ranges were out of whack.
-these standards were updated in 2003 from 0.5 to 5.0 range to 0.3 to 3.0 range. the author considers this range still too wide. [most people with hypothyroid feel best in the 1.0 range, myself included. it makes a HUGE difference, that little bit of number change]. and many doctors still use the old range despite it being 13 years.
-it takes an average of 18 YEARS for research to make its way into standard medical practice.
--optimal lab values according to the author:
--TSH 1.0 to 2.0 uIU/mL
--FT4 > 1.1 ng/dL
--FT3 > 3.2 pg/mL
--RT3 < than a 10:1 ration of RT3 to FT3
--Thyroid peroxidase antibodies < 9 IU/mL or negative
--Thyroglobulin antibodies < 4 IU/mL or negative.
-additional lab work needed for optimal thyroid function:
--iron/ferritin (serum): normal 12-150 ng/mL; optimal 75-100 ng/mL
--vitamin D (serum): normal 30-100 ng/mL; optimal 50-70 ng/mL
--vitamin A (serum): normal 0.20-1.20 mg/L; optimal 0.8-1 mg/L
--homocysteine (syrum): normal 4-15 mmol/L; optimal 7-8 mmol/L
--selenium (RBC): 120-300 mcg/L; optimal 200-250 mcg/L
--zinc (RBC): normal 790-1500 mcg/dL; optimal 1000-1200 mcg/dL
--magnesium (RBC): normal 1.5-3.1 mmol/L; optimal 2.5-3.0 mmol/L
-syhnthroid is now our countries most prescribed drug, with 21.5 million prescriptions each year.
-"the doctor suggested exercise might help, but how can i exercise if i'm too tired to even move?"
-the authors myers way diet has you avoiding all grains and legumes because they promote leaky gut. the edible portion of these plants is the seed, which contains the embryo. in order to protect this embryo, a plant produces its own natural insecticides to repel pests. the chemicals help the seeds pass undigested through an animals system so that when they are expelled with the animals feces, they remain intact and can produce more plants. the chemicals that enable the see's survival under those circumstances can be very damaging to those of you with an autoimmune disease.
-grains and legumes also contain lectins, plant proteins that bind to carbohydrates. two types of lectins are especially challenging: agglutinins and prolamins.
-agglutinins are another type of natural insecticide that can aggravate autoimmune disease. GMO's have been specially engineered to produce even MOE of their natural insecticides.
-prolamins are hard to digest. gluten is a type of prolamin, and even gluten-free grains contain a prolamin similar in structure to gluten. they can cause an immune response in anyone who is sensitive to gluten.
-grains also contain phyates and phytic acid, which inhibit digestio and bind to zinc, iron, and calcium, preventing their absorption. these minerals are crucial for both thyroid and immune function. GMO grians contain an even greater concentration of phytic acid.
-psuedograins and legumes contain saponins, or glycoalkaloids, another natural insecticide produced by the plants. they can pass into your bloodstream and destroy red blood cells.
-dairy's casein can trigger molecular mimicry and is then highly inflammatory. much dairy also contains antibiotics, bovine growth hormone, and unfriendly bacteria due to the crowded poor conditions in which the animals are raised.
-nightshades are high in lectins.
-the burden of proof on corporations is NOT to show that each new industrial chemical is safe. in order to get the EPA or FDA to issue a regulation on industrial chemicals, someone has to show that a particular chemical is UNSAFE.
-as a way to destress - binaural beats. when your brain receives two different frequencies - one in each ear, it creates a third frequency in an effort to syncronize them. this third frequency can be used to guide your mind into a more relaxed state that helpts you disconnect from anxiety and enables you to relax and feel more positive. many different types of binaural beats albums.
-calcium can interfere with the absorption of supplemental thyroid hormone
-her myers way multivitamin complete, requires three pills with lunch, and three pills with dinner!
-the author incorrectly confuses the fluoride in toothpaste with the fluoride in water. she says there is no benefit to the teeth, no proof of cavity/decay prevention with fluoride. that is incorrect. it is PROVEN with many many studies over many years, that fluoride in toothpaste applied to the teeth and not consumed, absolutely DOES prevent tooth decay and helps tooth enamel. however, fluoride added to the water and consumed, does NOT prevent tooth decay or help tooth enamel. there is a difference. and its why toothpaste for toddlers who might swallow it, is fluoride free. you dont want it in your water. you do want it in your toothpaste.
-she recommends 500-1000 mg a day of magnesium, without warning people that it's a stool softener and in high doses like that can cause diarrhea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2016
As someone recently diagnosed with thyroid problems, I really wanted to add this book to my reference library. Instead, I found only self promotion for the author's "treatment."
Amy Myers writes in a nice, conversational tone, but there's too much preaching and not enough message.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Amy Myers writes in a nice, conversational tone, but there's too much preaching and not enough message.
ARC provided by NetGalley
June 6, 2017
I wanted to believe this book with all my heart out of desperate hope for curing my Hashimoto's Disease, but it keeps repeating "Myer's way this and that" almost every other sentence and "you can buy supplemental vitamins from my website" keeps resurfacing. It conspicuously discredits conventional medicinal practices and promotes alternative approaches, all-organic way, taking vitamin supplements, acupuncture, chelation, etc. Raises my skeptic flags enough. And her supplement vitamins and stuff are soooo expensive! Last, it lacks clear scientific evidence and is mostly expanded on her success stories with patients. I wonder why she hasn't mentioned any failure in treating her patients. Has each and every single one of them been cured? Not a single person who hasn't responded to her Myers Way? If that's the case, she should win a big medical award and I should follow her methods!
October 11, 2016
I was looking forward to reading this book, unfortunately the long technical discuss only lead to the promotion of the doctor's own method of addressing thyroid issues - a rather difficult and expensive method at that.
February 4, 2017
The good thing about this book is that it's written in plain language, and so is easy to understand. That being said, when I read non fiction, there are a few things I look for. First, especially in a book like this, it should be well-referenced. This book is not. There are a ton of studies listed at the ned of the book, but the author does not make clear exactly which study she is referencing most of the time, and sometimes it is not clear whether she has a study to back up what she is saying or if she is simply asserting something herself. There are also a couple places in the book where she contradicts herself, and some spots where she supports only part of her statement. There were some good things in the books and things I know to be true. But, as I was reading this, I felt like I would have to do all the research again to really know whether I agree with her conclusions or not.
August 30, 2017
I noticed that people criticized the book for being self-promoting. While there is truth to that , all I can say is that I followed some of her advice concerning foods and my numbers improved and stabilized. I have not tried her supplements yet nor could I afford to do the whole program but I may try to incorporate some of the suggestions into my life plan
January 12, 2018
As a huge fan of Dr. Myers' work in the field of functional medicine, and someone going through the difficult, often frustrating journey of trying to heal her thyroid through elimination diets and lifestyle changes, I was unbelievably disappointed in this book. Every chapter was a redundant exercise in repetition - I felt like the publisher just tried to make a best-selling book out of what could have been edited succinctly down to a pamphlet or journal size guide, choosing rather to take about 20 salient points and repeat them ad nauseam to fill pages. Instead of feeling inspired with new tools to improve my health and avoid taking thyroid medication, I felt swindled and like I had completely wasted $20 on a hardcover that I had preordered because I was so excited about it. Not to mention the fact that buying the book automatically signed me up for Dr. Myers' emails, which now barrage my inbox sometimes twice daily, every single day of the week. Unsubscribe, do not buy.
March 14, 2017
This is probably a good resource if you've just been diagnosed and don't know anything about hypo/hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto's. If you're like me and have been dealing with it for years and thought this book could offer some new information or something that you haven't already tried, think again. Could have done with a few less anecdotal stories of other people's experiences, after the fifth or six one I just started skipping over them. It also got old with her plugging her own supplements and protein powder Every. Single. Chapter.
June 16, 2017
This book was very helpful in improving my health. I always thought eating salads, vegetables and beans was healthy, but this book shows how some of the "good" foods can be a bad match for you. Thyroid problems are apparently under-diagnosed, with people suffering from symptoms such as constant tiredness, bloating, and digestive discomfort without knowing why, and with standard blood tests showing nothing. I adopted some of the dietary suggestions and found myself feeling a lot better. I hope this will continue. At the very least this book gives good insights about proper eating. Highly recommended.
life-is-too-short
August 4, 2023This is on me, apparently when I checked this out, I didn't see the Dr. Oz bit... It took me a solid 3 min to realize this was woo, a little additional research to confirm that there's no science-based resource out there to help with the difficulties in managing thyroid dysfunction.
March 27, 2018
There are some really good health tips in this book. However, I feel the author expects far too much from "real people with real lives".
It's just not possible.
The plan requires a person to do sleep for 7.5 too 9 hours, get up early enough (1 hour) before needing to leave for work, prep food and supplements, get meditation time in morning and night, have a relaxing bath, spend 30 minutes exercising, and 30 minutes doing something that's fun, and find time for a message or accupuncture once a week.
I am sorry I have added this all up and essentially the 30 minutes fun time is all the time you can give your kids. If you work 8 hours and it takes you 30 minutes to get there and back plus 30 minutes for lunch and the sleep and all the prep work and all the meditations, there simply isn't even enough time to sign the release form for your kid to go to the school outing, or to shop for all this organic food or to mail order your supplements or to go to the organic butcher and sea-mongerer.
There just aren't enough hours in the day. And you have to go to bed at like 7pm in order to get those 9 hours sleep.
The plan is for rich people who have "Gofers" whom they can send to procure all this stuff and then have someone cook all this stuff, because don't go to bed before putting your bone broth in the slow cooker. Ridiculous. Yes, you will probably reduce your Thyroid condition, but you will not have time to have sex, nor will your kids find their school uniforms ironed, nor will you have time to attend a PTA meeting or go to the little league game or take your kid to football practice. All you do is become useless and use up all the money you ever saved in buying shampoo that is organic and not use any deodorant or drink water for fear of getting the plan wrong.
Also you won't get to eat any food. The plan is to restrictive. no nightshades, no dairy, no eggs, no pulses, no gluten. That means some vegetables, some organic meats/fish and fruit. There won't be any bread, pasta, beans, rice, grains of any kind, potatoes other than sweet potatoes. Not sure how to get filled up at all.
I couldn't follow this plan for two days.
It's just not possible.
The plan requires a person to do sleep for 7.5 too 9 hours, get up early enough (1 hour) before needing to leave for work, prep food and supplements, get meditation time in morning and night, have a relaxing bath, spend 30 minutes exercising, and 30 minutes doing something that's fun, and find time for a message or accupuncture once a week.
I am sorry I have added this all up and essentially the 30 minutes fun time is all the time you can give your kids. If you work 8 hours and it takes you 30 minutes to get there and back plus 30 minutes for lunch and the sleep and all the prep work and all the meditations, there simply isn't even enough time to sign the release form for your kid to go to the school outing, or to shop for all this organic food or to mail order your supplements or to go to the organic butcher and sea-mongerer.
There just aren't enough hours in the day. And you have to go to bed at like 7pm in order to get those 9 hours sleep.
The plan is for rich people who have "Gofers" whom they can send to procure all this stuff and then have someone cook all this stuff, because don't go to bed before putting your bone broth in the slow cooker. Ridiculous. Yes, you will probably reduce your Thyroid condition, but you will not have time to have sex, nor will your kids find their school uniforms ironed, nor will you have time to attend a PTA meeting or go to the little league game or take your kid to football practice. All you do is become useless and use up all the money you ever saved in buying shampoo that is organic and not use any deodorant or drink water for fear of getting the plan wrong.
Also you won't get to eat any food. The plan is to restrictive. no nightshades, no dairy, no eggs, no pulses, no gluten. That means some vegetables, some organic meats/fish and fruit. There won't be any bread, pasta, beans, rice, grains of any kind, potatoes other than sweet potatoes. Not sure how to get filled up at all.
I couldn't follow this plan for two days.
February 19, 2018
I wish I would have read the reviews before I checked this book out from the library! I also have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's and wanted to understand why so many women my age seem to have developed this autoimmune disorder. The narrative was extremely repetitious and referred to "The Myers Way" incessantly. Reading this book felt very much like watching a way-too-long-infomercial! Bottom line: in my case, taking daily Synthroid has relieved my symptoms of hypothyroidism without all the expensive lab tests and drastic diet changes!
February 4, 2017
Easy to read and accessible, thoroughly explains the hormones and processes involved in regulating thyroid function.
Information regarding exposure to environmental toxins and non-organic foods was insightful but not new to me.
Recommended supplements may be the one thing I add as I attempt to correct my health.
Diet plan is simply an elimination diet with option to reintroduce offending foods once you complete the 28 day plan.
Recommend to anyone struggling with thyroid issues.
Information regarding exposure to environmental toxins and non-organic foods was insightful but not new to me.
Recommended supplements may be the one thing I add as I attempt to correct my health.
Diet plan is simply an elimination diet with option to reintroduce offending foods once you complete the 28 day plan.
Recommend to anyone struggling with thyroid issues.
July 26, 2017
Stopped reading this one. She doesn't incorporate the bibliography into the book, so you have no idea if what she's saying is based on research or not. Essentially, to "cure" your thyroid issues, you should live a healthy lifestyle (no brainer) and purchase her supplements.
October 16, 2016
Bunch of useful information. The beginning of the book was a little repetitive and I couldn't wait to get to the core of the thyroid functioning.
January 22, 2018
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. As someone who has a thyroid imbalance that hasn't really been addressed by medication, it's awesome to know there might be a solution. But, the "solution" in this book is more than a little overwhelming.
I think it's great to know the optimal test ranges and what a doctor should be testing for. I also know from personal experience that asking a doctor to do a test that he/she doesn't want to do is an uncomfortable situation. Some doctors don't respond well to a challenge to their methods or knowledge. So, while my doctor has tested my thyroid, I don't think she includes every single test that Dr. Myers says is needed; I'm not sure I want to check and have that battle.
The solution's supplement list is huge. Huge. There are mini-quizzes in the book about various issues (adrenals, leaky gut, etc.) that could require even more supplements. So, if you're tired, have allergies, have any skin issues, and/or any joint pain (the tiredness and joint pain should be no surprise, if you're overweight from an under active thyroid), then you pretty much test positive for all of the associated issues and should take even more supplements. Whether you choose a big box, your local granola cooperative, or Dr. Myers' web sites, the high-end supplements come with high-end price tags.
The don't eat list of foods is also pretty significant (for those who are hyper aware of such things, I think it's an AIP Paleo diet). Let's just start with no wheat, no dairy, and no sugar (only three items of many on the do not eat list). Having started to give up these three (not completely successfully!) many months ago, I can attest that giving up those three categories is hard. One of those three items seems to be hiding in every item that comes in a carton, box, bottle or can. Oh, yeah, no preservatives, dyes, GMOs, or nitrites. And no nuts or seeds. What's left is meat and veggies and fruit and a few sources of fat. Oh, but no peppers (hot or sweet), eggplant, tomatoes, or potatoes. Oh, and no pea pods or snow peas. And, no raw cruciferous vegetables. Has anyone ever cooked arugula? Who even knew that was a cruciferous vegetable?
I'm not saying that there aren't reasons for each and every category of food that has to go away, I'm just saying the resulting list of edible food is a small subset of most people's diets. If you feel better after giving up those items, you feel better. But, your universe of edible food will stay small to feel better.
Such a restrictive diet is tough in social situations. You can tell yourself now that you'll stay away from those foods forever in order to feel better, but remember that when Great Aunt Edna offers up her amazing pie with a wheat crust with a cream and sugar filling and then you start rationalizing just this once (or twice or ninetieth time because you don't feel that bad). Ok, maybe you're better at setting boundaries than I am.
For a summary of the book, see my blog at self help book reports . com.
I think it's great to know the optimal test ranges and what a doctor should be testing for. I also know from personal experience that asking a doctor to do a test that he/she doesn't want to do is an uncomfortable situation. Some doctors don't respond well to a challenge to their methods or knowledge. So, while my doctor has tested my thyroid, I don't think she includes every single test that Dr. Myers says is needed; I'm not sure I want to check and have that battle.
The solution's supplement list is huge. Huge. There are mini-quizzes in the book about various issues (adrenals, leaky gut, etc.) that could require even more supplements. So, if you're tired, have allergies, have any skin issues, and/or any joint pain (the tiredness and joint pain should be no surprise, if you're overweight from an under active thyroid), then you pretty much test positive for all of the associated issues and should take even more supplements. Whether you choose a big box, your local granola cooperative, or Dr. Myers' web sites, the high-end supplements come with high-end price tags.
The don't eat list of foods is also pretty significant (for those who are hyper aware of such things, I think it's an AIP Paleo diet). Let's just start with no wheat, no dairy, and no sugar (only three items of many on the do not eat list). Having started to give up these three (not completely successfully!) many months ago, I can attest that giving up those three categories is hard. One of those three items seems to be hiding in every item that comes in a carton, box, bottle or can. Oh, yeah, no preservatives, dyes, GMOs, or nitrites. And no nuts or seeds. What's left is meat and veggies and fruit and a few sources of fat. Oh, but no peppers (hot or sweet), eggplant, tomatoes, or potatoes. Oh, and no pea pods or snow peas. And, no raw cruciferous vegetables. Has anyone ever cooked arugula? Who even knew that was a cruciferous vegetable?
I'm not saying that there aren't reasons for each and every category of food that has to go away, I'm just saying the resulting list of edible food is a small subset of most people's diets. If you feel better after giving up those items, you feel better. But, your universe of edible food will stay small to feel better.
Such a restrictive diet is tough in social situations. You can tell yourself now that you'll stay away from those foods forever in order to feel better, but remember that when Great Aunt Edna offers up her amazing pie with a wheat crust with a cream and sugar filling and then you start rationalizing just this once (or twice or ninetieth time because you don't feel that bad). Ok, maybe you're better at setting boundaries than I am.
For a summary of the book, see my blog at self help book reports . com.
April 13, 2021
Yes, this book is quite promotional, but I also found it quite helpful. It helped me understand why so many health issues I’ve battled happen as they do, and what I can do about them. I cold-turkey followed the 28-day guide here (using my own supplements and buying organic when feasible, not worrying about it if not possible or available) and felt a marked difference in many different areas.
This was the right book at the right time for me. It is so wonderful to feel better!! Following the guide (and having a shopping list) helped me stay on track with the elimination diet since coming up with meals and deciding on recipes absolutely overwhelms me when I’m not feeling well. It was wonderful to have a general outline of the plan for each day. I didn’t make every recipe (I do not like shrimp or scallops or seaweed or kelp) and there were only a handful I really enjoyed (the mango-avocado salsa and the smoothies and the beef and veggie breakfast scramble), but what recipes I did make I ate, what I did learn I applied. For the change and hope this offered, I am grateful it was written.
UPDATE: I added a star. I continue to read more books and try more recipes for eating an autoimmune protocol, but I keep coming back to this book to explain why I am eating this way, and why it is helping, and to make some recipes. While the tastes are different than I have had in the past, I *always* feel nourished after each mea. It’s like the ingredients and spices fill every hole and I am satiated, satisfied, and feel like I can participate in life. After so many years of chronic exhaustion and anxiety, this book has been a positive game-changer for my health.
This was the right book at the right time for me. It is so wonderful to feel better!! Following the guide (and having a shopping list) helped me stay on track with the elimination diet since coming up with meals and deciding on recipes absolutely overwhelms me when I’m not feeling well. It was wonderful to have a general outline of the plan for each day. I didn’t make every recipe (I do not like shrimp or scallops or seaweed or kelp) and there were only a handful I really enjoyed (the mango-avocado salsa and the smoothies and the beef and veggie breakfast scramble), but what recipes I did make I ate, what I did learn I applied. For the change and hope this offered, I am grateful it was written.
UPDATE: I added a star. I continue to read more books and try more recipes for eating an autoimmune protocol, but I keep coming back to this book to explain why I am eating this way, and why it is helping, and to make some recipes. While the tastes are different than I have had in the past, I *always* feel nourished after each mea. It’s like the ingredients and spices fill every hole and I am satiated, satisfied, and feel like I can participate in life. After so many years of chronic exhaustion and anxiety, this book has been a positive game-changer for my health.
April 23, 2017
Healing thyroid disfunction from the perspective of functional medicine.
What I liked: There is a TON of information in this book, everything from how your thyroid works, to recipes, to how to talk to your doctor. For anyone whose doctor told them you are just getting old, you don't have a thyroid problem—vindication is in this book! This is the DEFINITIVE book on ways to heal your thyroid issues, whether you have an autoimmune condition or not and whether your thyroid is overactive or underactive. I have read dozens of books on all things thyroid, this is the one I constantly use as a reference.
What I didn't like: I didn't like the constant references to her first book peppered throughout this one, however, since this book is such a gem, her first one may be worth a read too.
I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating.
What I liked: There is a TON of information in this book, everything from how your thyroid works, to recipes, to how to talk to your doctor. For anyone whose doctor told them you are just getting old, you don't have a thyroid problem—vindication is in this book! This is the DEFINITIVE book on ways to heal your thyroid issues, whether you have an autoimmune condition or not and whether your thyroid is overactive or underactive. I have read dozens of books on all things thyroid, this is the one I constantly use as a reference.
What I didn't like: I didn't like the constant references to her first book peppered throughout this one, however, since this book is such a gem, her first one may be worth a read too.
I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating.
August 6, 2019
One star because I didn’t finish reading this. It was too crunchy for me. I didn’t appreciate 1) the grandiose claims to heal all wounds with dietary changes or 2) the insistence that even if one has symptoms of thyroid problems but their bloodwork indicates they’re fine, they probably still have a thyroid problem. I’m willing to grant that this may be true for many, but for those whom it isn’t, it only serves to further confuse and mislead. Stress also causes a lot of these symptoms. And there is no such thing as a cure for autoimmune disease.
April 18, 2021
Although I feel that Amy Myers often slides into the rut of being over-critical of established medicine and a little too enthused with her own brand of healing I still appreciated this book as a helpful tool in my nutrition journey. I had a close friend walking through thyroid failure and it is in my family health history as well so it seemed relevant to self-educate about the issue for preventative reasons.
January 4, 2020
La verdad es que el libro me resultó interesante, pero tedioso, largo y repetitivo. En algunas partes muy técnico. De todas formas me resultó interesante en algunos conceptos.
March 6, 2020
I rarely DNF a book, but this one was so blatantly just the author trying to sell her brand of supplements I couldn't continue after about 25%.
October 2, 2024
Lol just wanted credit for reading this long book😭 just girly thyroid cancer problems
June 30, 2025
A wealth of overwhelming information that took me nearly a year to accept… beginning the plan on 7/22/25
July 13, 2018
Note - I listened to the audiobook, so my impressions are different than I may have had if my library had a physical copy for reference, the meal plan, recipes, etc.
This is an excellent book to read if you're concerned about thyroid, gut, or autoimmune disorders and you're seeing a conventional medical doctor. It's helpful to know more about how these body systems are interlinked, how they respond to stress, infection, or factors that contribute to poor functioning. It helps to know what sort of blood or thyroid tests a conventional doctor may order, and why a functional medicine doctor may order more tests, and why. The author's perspective on symptoms and way of presenting information provided validation for me in ways my conventional doctor has never done! I was referred to a functional medicine doctor from my own conventional doctor, and this book held a lot of information that was immensely helpful for my first intake within a functional medical practice, so I was a more prepared patient with clear logs of my symptoms, when my diet, sleep, and exercise habits were like, and what observations I had about my body.
I did not follow the Myers Way Plan as Dr. Myers presents in this book, since I was following advice of my own medical team, but even so, knowing about the plan and reasons behind it was an integral part of my five star rating. This book makes it easy to develop starting points in your wellness, from diet, supplements, exercise, relaxation, and asking your doctor about tests or possible thyroid/gut/adrenal systems. This book's descriptions of how different foods, environmental substances, and body function support or detract from nutrition, mood, weight, energy, and digestive systems were clear and easy to customize for my own needs. While I already knew about research around endocrine disruption from plastics, for example, I hadn't known about how different substances mimic or hijack thyroid cells, and can contribute to autoimmune disorders. I was able to take this book's information and start on some action items to reduce plastic use in my home even further - knowledge is power!
One note to be aware of - if your medical care experiences have been with "conventional" or, as I assumed earlier in my life, "real" doctors, this book will have a bit of "woo-woo" or "not science-based" aspects in it - probably because there are things mentioned in the book that you've never had a doctor mention to you as an option for care. For example, if you've never had a doctor talk with you about how you practice relaxation (Dr. Myers offers LOTS of options that were new to me, like float tanks or infrared saunas), I'd like to challenge you like I challenged myself: instead of dismissing it upon first reaction as "woo-woo" or not medically sound, consider that it's just not something my doctor has ever expressed interest in while caring for my well-being and health. It might just be new, instead of wrong, unfounded, or snake oil. I have to remember too that if your doctor offers a solution you aren't comfortable with taking up, from a pill to a diet change to an isolation float tank in salt water for an hour, *you don't have to do it.* When I asked my doctor questions, or admitted I was surprised about a treatment option, the doctor knew I'd need more information, another option, or time to consider it.
That being said, Google the things you disagree with and learn a bit more about these things before you set your opinion - functional medicine practitioners *are* real doctors, and approach medicine and care with science-based research and the perspective that your health is impacted tremendously by things typically, but not always, ignored by conventional doctors - diet, activity levels, hygiene habits, social habits, mental outlook, and more.
I looked into multiple aspects covered in this book and every single thing came back as well-researched, even if it wasn't currently the "normal" in my medical experience.
This is an excellent book to read if you're concerned about thyroid, gut, or autoimmune disorders and you're seeing a conventional medical doctor. It's helpful to know more about how these body systems are interlinked, how they respond to stress, infection, or factors that contribute to poor functioning. It helps to know what sort of blood or thyroid tests a conventional doctor may order, and why a functional medicine doctor may order more tests, and why. The author's perspective on symptoms and way of presenting information provided validation for me in ways my conventional doctor has never done! I was referred to a functional medicine doctor from my own conventional doctor, and this book held a lot of information that was immensely helpful for my first intake within a functional medical practice, so I was a more prepared patient with clear logs of my symptoms, when my diet, sleep, and exercise habits were like, and what observations I had about my body.
I did not follow the Myers Way Plan as Dr. Myers presents in this book, since I was following advice of my own medical team, but even so, knowing about the plan and reasons behind it was an integral part of my five star rating. This book makes it easy to develop starting points in your wellness, from diet, supplements, exercise, relaxation, and asking your doctor about tests or possible thyroid/gut/adrenal systems. This book's descriptions of how different foods, environmental substances, and body function support or detract from nutrition, mood, weight, energy, and digestive systems were clear and easy to customize for my own needs. While I already knew about research around endocrine disruption from plastics, for example, I hadn't known about how different substances mimic or hijack thyroid cells, and can contribute to autoimmune disorders. I was able to take this book's information and start on some action items to reduce plastic use in my home even further - knowledge is power!
One note to be aware of - if your medical care experiences have been with "conventional" or, as I assumed earlier in my life, "real" doctors, this book will have a bit of "woo-woo" or "not science-based" aspects in it - probably because there are things mentioned in the book that you've never had a doctor mention to you as an option for care. For example, if you've never had a doctor talk with you about how you practice relaxation (Dr. Myers offers LOTS of options that were new to me, like float tanks or infrared saunas), I'd like to challenge you like I challenged myself: instead of dismissing it upon first reaction as "woo-woo" or not medically sound, consider that it's just not something my doctor has ever expressed interest in while caring for my well-being and health. It might just be new, instead of wrong, unfounded, or snake oil. I have to remember too that if your doctor offers a solution you aren't comfortable with taking up, from a pill to a diet change to an isolation float tank in salt water for an hour, *you don't have to do it.* When I asked my doctor questions, or admitted I was surprised about a treatment option, the doctor knew I'd need more information, another option, or time to consider it.
That being said, Google the things you disagree with and learn a bit more about these things before you set your opinion - functional medicine practitioners *are* real doctors, and approach medicine and care with science-based research and the perspective that your health is impacted tremendously by things typically, but not always, ignored by conventional doctors - diet, activity levels, hygiene habits, social habits, mental outlook, and more.
I looked into multiple aspects covered in this book and every single thing came back as well-researched, even if it wasn't currently the "normal" in my medical experience.
June 18, 2024
It actually says what any other book on Hashimotos says. It’s almost a “you’ve read one, you’ve read them all situation.” 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️.
She wastes the entire book in singing her own praises, so…Every two paragraphs she’ll tell you how amazing her protocol is and then proceed to illustrate it with a couple of cases. There’s also the many times she mentions her previous book. The book is repetitive ad nauseam and maybe I wish I hadn’t bought it, but I need to cling on to something to have hope my life will improve. 😥
The only part I found super useful and hadn't found in other similar books is the med analysis. That alone is very useful and for that alone I upgraded the book to 3 stars, though I know there is now at least one new book focuses exclusively on meds.
In a nutshell and as others have said: the protocol consists of a diet, light but constant exercise and expensive supplements and teas that, or course, she sells. The diet is draconian. No gluten, no dairy, eggs, nuts, corn. Not even the trace amounts of gluten found in many supplements. Not even the gluten found in personal care products. Even coconut water and coconut milk are not recommended. To add insult to injury, Chocolate is not allowed either, unless it’s 90% cacao. She allows you to eat carob. She does allow for a little bit of green tea or the tiniest bit of coffee, provided you don’t rely on it to have energy throughout the day. She wants you to eat grass fed meats, organic fruits and veggies, minus the goitrogenic ones. Kudos to you if you can keep it up!!!(I don’t, I half ass it). (Update: I stick to it 90% minus the beans and eggs and ocassional nuts. I’ve survived this far and I’m slowly improving. I was told by an endocrinologist that she knows no one who has stuck to this draconian diet the way I have, herself included, she has Hashis. I now think highly of myself for sticking to the diet!)
The exercise is doable. The supplements are useful, if you can afford the boatload they cost. Or course, she only recommends her own brand of supplements, because that’s what funcional medicine is all about: multiple expensive tests, draconian diets, boatloads of expensive supplements and time consuming R&R routines that are definitely not for anyone who doesn’t belong to the group of people with plenty of disposable income and loads of free time. She even has a day by day plan where she details each meal and supplement and tea you need to take, which is actually useful and I used as a vague suggestion. Non realistic, but interesting. (I see I’m not the only person who finds the plan ridiculous. Seriously, she wants you to work out every day, (which I do), but also and spend half an hour relaxing AND spend your money on a spa day or another form of relaxation therapy, which if we could afford and book would probably mean we would never have gotten sick). As someone else here said, her plan works well if you are a well kept, upper class woman who doesn’t need to commute 4 hours to work and only cares about herself. She does count roughhousing with your kids as exercise so there’s that, if kids actually work as pets that you can turn on and off when you need it…🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭.
Lastly and as I am new to healthy diets what would I know, but a collection of smoothies with frozen ice sounds like a real challenge for you thyroid. You already have a sore throat and crave hot drinks with Hashimotos. Why would you be dropping an ice cold smoothie on your challenged thyroid? Makes no sense. And I know Ayurvedic masters would back me up on this.
She wastes the entire book in singing her own praises, so…Every two paragraphs she’ll tell you how amazing her protocol is and then proceed to illustrate it with a couple of cases. There’s also the many times she mentions her previous book. The book is repetitive ad nauseam and maybe I wish I hadn’t bought it, but I need to cling on to something to have hope my life will improve. 😥
The only part I found super useful and hadn't found in other similar books is the med analysis. That alone is very useful and for that alone I upgraded the book to 3 stars, though I know there is now at least one new book focuses exclusively on meds.
In a nutshell and as others have said: the protocol consists of a diet, light but constant exercise and expensive supplements and teas that, or course, she sells. The diet is draconian. No gluten, no dairy, eggs, nuts, corn. Not even the trace amounts of gluten found in many supplements. Not even the gluten found in personal care products. Even coconut water and coconut milk are not recommended. To add insult to injury, Chocolate is not allowed either, unless it’s 90% cacao. She allows you to eat carob. She does allow for a little bit of green tea or the tiniest bit of coffee, provided you don’t rely on it to have energy throughout the day. She wants you to eat grass fed meats, organic fruits and veggies, minus the goitrogenic ones. Kudos to you if you can keep it up!!!(I don’t, I half ass it). (Update: I stick to it 90% minus the beans and eggs and ocassional nuts. I’ve survived this far and I’m slowly improving. I was told by an endocrinologist that she knows no one who has stuck to this draconian diet the way I have, herself included, she has Hashis. I now think highly of myself for sticking to the diet!)
The exercise is doable. The supplements are useful, if you can afford the boatload they cost. Or course, she only recommends her own brand of supplements, because that’s what funcional medicine is all about: multiple expensive tests, draconian diets, boatloads of expensive supplements and time consuming R&R routines that are definitely not for anyone who doesn’t belong to the group of people with plenty of disposable income and loads of free time. She even has a day by day plan where she details each meal and supplement and tea you need to take, which is actually useful and I used as a vague suggestion. Non realistic, but interesting. (I see I’m not the only person who finds the plan ridiculous. Seriously, she wants you to work out every day, (which I do), but also and spend half an hour relaxing AND spend your money on a spa day or another form of relaxation therapy, which if we could afford and book would probably mean we would never have gotten sick). As someone else here said, her plan works well if you are a well kept, upper class woman who doesn’t need to commute 4 hours to work and only cares about herself. She does count roughhousing with your kids as exercise so there’s that, if kids actually work as pets that you can turn on and off when you need it…🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭.
Lastly and as I am new to healthy diets what would I know, but a collection of smoothies with frozen ice sounds like a real challenge for you thyroid. You already have a sore throat and crave hot drinks with Hashimotos. Why would you be dropping an ice cold smoothie on your challenged thyroid? Makes no sense. And I know Ayurvedic masters would back me up on this.
July 29, 2017
An easy to understand eye-opener that helped me zero in on the 6 essential (& previously never run) tests - despite more than 25 years as a hypothyroidism patient. It's so much easier for mainstream medicine to throw Synthroid at the general public by way of the basic blood labs for TSH, T3 & T4.
Dr Myers armed me with the specific labs that tested for antibodies, therefore providing me the big picture of what type of hypothyroidism I have: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. This is the most common thyroid disease leading to hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid and has helped sell billions of Synthroid or it's generic equivalent, levothyroxine sodium.
After more than 25 years of taking this prescription, I had no relief from bone-chilling cold and the many other unpleasant effects of hypothyroidism. Thanks to this book & others I will review that were similarly life-changing, I received the tools to make positive, impactful changes to my life.
Dr Myers armed me with the specific labs that tested for antibodies, therefore providing me the big picture of what type of hypothyroidism I have: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. This is the most common thyroid disease leading to hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid and has helped sell billions of Synthroid or it's generic equivalent, levothyroxine sodium.
After more than 25 years of taking this prescription, I had no relief from bone-chilling cold and the many other unpleasant effects of hypothyroidism. Thanks to this book & others I will review that were similarly life-changing, I received the tools to make positive, impactful changes to my life.
August 29, 2019
I read this hoping to learn more after having one abnormal thyroid test (no diagnosis). The books is very readable and compelling, but I found myself distrusting the author because of her constant sales pitches for her own products. The lifestyle recommendations are impractical and costly as well. This is for very wealthy people with a lot of time and disposable income. Based on her ranges, ALL of my thyroid #s are out of optimal range, but I just don't feel I can trust this doctor from the information provided—and the fact that you have to pay for every single thing on her website down to the printable resources ($3 for a shopping list?! and the links to the free resources are conveniently broken.) I enjoyed reading this, but I'll look for further reading before implementing any changes in my diet and lifestyle.
February 19, 2019
I have relatives with thyroid problems, so I had more of an interest in this book than the other, for which I had a similar question: why do I need mandatory naptime when no one else here does? I found that there is a natural tendency for the human body to struggle to maintain energy between one and three p.m. depending on when you wake up.
BUT ALSO there is an interesting connection with Graves disease I might want to get checked out soon. I probably am okay, that issue is with my relatives, not with me, but STILL... (there are also others detailed like Hashimoto disease)
I found this book somewhat more compelling of a read, but the terror of "am I defective" made me not give it more than two stars.
BUT ALSO there is an interesting connection with Graves disease I might want to get checked out soon. I probably am okay, that issue is with my relatives, not with me, but STILL... (there are also others detailed like Hashimoto disease)
I found this book somewhat more compelling of a read, but the terror of "am I defective" made me not give it more than two stars.
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