Dr. Jolene Brighten is one of my favorite women’s health experts and her Gut Hormone Connection interview with Summer Bock on the Better Belly Project 2.0: is fascinating. Here are a few snippets for you to enjoy about the connection between your thyroid, digestion and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) specifically:
In the case with hypothyroidism, this is something that’s a really interesting phenomenon. Your thyroid can be functioning perfectly well, but you can still be hypothyroid because it’s not about just the thyroid function but the conversion of T4 to T3. T3 helps your mood, it’s what helps your menstrual cycle, it’s your metabolism. It does so many wonderful things. Every single cell needs that active T3.
Well, your gut and your liver are major sites of activating that T3. If they are unhealthy they’re not going to convert your T4 to T3. Then, you get into a loop because if you don’t have enough T3, now, you don’t stimulate hydrochloric acid. If you don’t stimulate hydrochloric acid production, then, none of the other gastrointestinal organs are going to work as well. Your gallbladder is not going to contract. You’re not going to have pancreatic enzymes, which sets up a perfect environment for SIBO.
She goes on to share how T3 also affects motility, which is a major factor when it comes to SIBO.
Adrenal issues and high cortisol issues are common with the clients I work and Jolene shares more on this topic too, and how this can play a role in anxiety (and insomnia):
If the gut is inflamed, so if you’ve got gut infections going on, then, those adrenal glands are going to kick into hyperdrive. We can see they’ll try to secrete cortisol so that we can drop that inflammation. In addition to that, they’ll start spiking epinephrine and norepinephrine over time, which when those hit the brain, we’re going to feel anxious and panicked.
She also covers orgasms, and so much about birth control pill concerns like the impacts on the microbiome and an increased risk of Crohn’s disease. It’s an interview that is not to be missed!
Summer Bock, one of the leading gut health experts, is interviewing 49 experts who are leaders in the field of digestion, nutrition, and health in this huge, week-long virtual conference called Better Belly Project 2.0: Crushing the Critters, Plugging the Leaks, & Balancing the Biome for Your Best Body Ever
Summer’s goal is to create a great resource with a few different tracks to make it easier for you to navigate the information:
- Gut Health Basics
- Gut-Brain Axis (my interview “Low zinc, social anxiety/pyroluria and the gut” is in this track)
- Wellness Professional
- Fermentation
- Microbiome & Probiotics
This online event will provide exceptional value, knowledge, and truly life-changing insights from authors, professors, scientists, fermented foods experts, and wellness practitioners who have an understanding on how you can improve your digestive health amidst all the processed foods, antibiotics, stress and lack of probiotic-rich foods in the diet.
The dates are December 8-14th and there’s no charge to attend when you register in time for the live event. You can see the event schedule and register here for Better Belly Project 2.0
I hope you enjoy it and get as much out of it as I plan too! I learn new information at all these online events too!
Do you have thyroid issues and digestive symptoms? Feel free to leave your questions and comments below.
Hi Trudy!
I’m wanting to taper off of xanax and while I figure out a taper plan that will work and be least miserable/scary/awful I’m wanting to know whether or not this supplement is both safe to take while gearing up to taper (so while taking xanax) and if the supplement is a good all around to transition to- as it has the components of amino acids, L Theanine and B vitamins. I have read that the St. John’s Wort would make the xanax less or ineffective if taken together but I don’t know how far apart is safe or okay. Anyhow I just really wanted to get your opinion that I hold so high regarding this supplement and encouragement of weaning off as this is a tough and scary road! Thanks for everything you do!
Belle
Each person is different and has their own unique needs before considering a taper. I have my clients work on a functional nutritional approach getting as healthy as possible beforehand – so sorting out the diet to be eating real whole food, no sugar, no gluten, so caffeine, eating to control blood sugar (quality animal protein at breakfast), addressing adrenal, thyroid and gut health (much of what Dr. Jolene Brighten addresses in this interview) etc and using amino acids like GABA and tryptophan as needed.
I’m not sure sure which supplement you are referring to but I like to add one at a time and prefer to use individual amino acids with my clients (at least initially). I am not aware of St.Johns Wort impacting Xanax.
Make sure your doctor is supporting you and you’re using a very slow taper protocol. Working with a support group like benzobuddies.org is often very helpful but be aware they will say no supplements. We disagree on this aspect