Discussing Thyroid Physiology with Dr. Eric Balcavage

EPISODE 108

We all have stress in our lives, whether physical, chemical, emotional, or microbial, and how we deal with that stress makes a huge difference in how our bodies respond. A lot of what we see with thyroid physiology is an adaptive response to some type of excessive stress response.

Getting well is not about how many supplements you take; it’s about finding a balanced approach to diet, nutrition, sleep, respiration, and exercise. We can support thyroid recovery by identifying and reducing the underlying stressors and addressing the foundational elements of good health.

Today, I’m excited to discuss thyroid physiology with Dr. Eric Balcavage. Dr. Eric Balcavage is the owner and founder of Rejuvagen, a functional medicine clinic in Chadds Ford, PA, and a nationally recognized speaker and educator on various health-related topics, including thyroid physiology, bile physiology, detoxification, oxidative stress, methylation, and chronic illness.

In this conversation, Dr. Eric and I discuss his journey into functional medicine, his perspective on thyroid health, the importance of identifying and addressing underlying stressors, limitations of the allopathic approach to treating thyroid disorders, Dr. Eric’s approach to thyroid hormone testing, the role of breathing and carbon dioxide in oxygenation, why we must look at lab markers in a bigger context, and more. Enjoy the episode!

About Dr. Eric Balcavage

Dr. Eric Balcavage is the owner and founder of Rejuvagen, a functional medicine clinic in Chadds Ford, PA. He is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on various health-related topics, including thyroid physiology, bile physiology, detoxification, oxidative stress, methylation, and chronic illness. Dr. Balcavage is a Functional Medicine Practitioner and a licensed Chiropractor in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Balcavage is the host of the Thyroid Answers Podcast. The podcast focuses on answering the pressing questions those suffering with chronic hypothyroid symptoms can’t get answered elsewhere. You can find his educational Thyroid Thursday videos on Instagram and YouTube.
Dr. Balcavage has made it his mission to change the way medicine looks at hypothyroidism. He is the co-author of the book, The Thyroid Debacle. The book, co-written by Dr. Kelly Halderman, addresses the problems with current allopathic and functional medicine approaches to hypothyroidism as well as the solutions to restoring thyroid physiology.

During this episode, you’ll learn about:

How Dr. Eric got into functional medicine and his initial skepticism
The idea that thyroid dysfunction is often an adaptive response
Why we need to consider the immune-driven processes involved in most thyroid disorders
The limitations of relying solely on monitoring TSH levels
Identifying and addressing underlying stressors
The role of the cell danger response in thyroid physiology and the regulation of T4 to T3 conversion
How your cellular oxygen levels impact your bodily processes
Mouth breathing and how carbon dioxide levels can contribute to hypoxia
Looking at the thyroid panel in the right context
The significance of reverse T3 in determining thyroid hormone conversion
How underlying stressors can lead to a downregulation of the thyroid gland
The potential relationship between reverse T3 levels and the dosage of thyroid medication
Interpreting lab values and optimal ranges and the need to consider symptoms
Why Dr. Eric looks at both the total and free hormone levels
Inflammatory markers and how they should be interpreted
Challenging the traditional understanding of vitamin D testing
The need for a more comprehensive assessment of vitamin D metabolism and activation
Why Dr. Eric advocates for a healthy, whole food, in-season diet rather than a specific type of diet
Fitness factors and why movement has to be considered alongside recovery time
My approach to testing for thyroid hormones and vitamin D
The relationship between ferritin levels and inflammation
Why I don’t test for reverse T3 in hyperthyroidism cases

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Episode - Discussing Thyroid Physiology with Dr. Eric Balcavage