Finding the Root Cause
When it comes to thyroid conditions, our first step is identifying the root cause. Did you know that 90% of hypothyroidism and 100% of hyperthyroidism cases are autoimmune? This leads us to ask, What exactly is autoimmunity? The answer: inflammation and leaky gut.
What is leaky gut?
Leaky gut occurs when the lining of your gut becomes unhealthy, developing tiny cracks or holes. This allows partially digested food and toxins to escape into surrounding tissues, triggering inflammation and contributing to various health problems. Shockingly, leaky gut is linked to a 3,600% increase in autoimmune disease diagnoses. However, the real challenge lies in the fact that it can take up to 9 years of symptoms and dysfunction before most healthcare providers reach a diagnosis.
Why? Current medical practices don’t train healthcare providers to recognize, treat, or educate patients about this condition because no drugs exist to address it directly. But addressing leaky gut is critical to your health.
Here are 8 common triggers of leaky gut:
- Diet
- Medications (PPIs, ABX, Steroids, NSAIDs)
- Infections (#1 root cause)
- Cortisol dysregulation
- Insulin resistance (dysglycemia)
- Low hormones (Thyroid, progesterone, estrogen, D, T)
- Xenobiotics (environmental chemicals linked to lowering beneficial microbes and causing hormone dysregulation)
- Vagal nerve impairment (adverse childhood experiences, TBI, concussions, PTSD)
