Is your thyroid medication actually working for you?

Do you take Synthroid or levothyroxine but continue to have symptoms of hypothyroidism?

One of the most common reasons that many people don’t feel great on T4 only medications (such as Synthroid or levothyroxine) is that their body is doing a poor job turning their medication (T4) in the active thyroid hormone T3. In order to feel energized, maintain your weight, and feel your best, you need high levels of T3 hormone which is the active thyroid hormone.

You can take medications which make your TSH and even T4 levels “normal” but if no one is testing your Free T3 levels you have no idea if your body is actually converting your medication into the active hormone.

Why do so many women struggle to convert their medication to T3? Well, there are several factors which can quickly derail conversion of T4 to T3.

Here are the most common factors that reduce conversion of T4 to T3:

  • Deficiencies of selenium, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamins B2, B6 & B12
  • Increased stress and high cortisol
  • High levels of cadmium, mercury, lead and fluoride
  • Starvation or very restrictive eating patterns
  • High carb/low protein diet OR very low carb diets
  • Chronic illness
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Certain medications: beta blockers, birth control pills, estrogen

Wondering if you’re having a problem converting your medications properly? Find a practitioner who will test your Free T3 and Reverse T3 levels. Click here to read by article about my 5 Essential Thyroid Tests.

Want to learn more about my approach to thyroid health?

Book your FREE, no obligation, 15-minute Meet & Greet consultation with me.

Is Stress Shutting Down Your Sex Drive?

One of the most frequent complaints that I hear from women in my office is that they have no sex drive. Like zero. Nada. Nothing. It’s as if that part of their brain has turned off and doesn’t seem to want to turn back on anytime soon.

There are many reasons why women experience a low sex drive including side effects from birth control pills, low estrogen and low testosterone. But, in my experience, the number one cause of low libido is STRESS.

The reality is that our sex drive is turned down as a PROTECTIVE MECHANISM. What you need to understand is that stress shuts down our sex drive for good reason.

When the body is under stress, it activates the sympathetic nervous system which is also known as our “fight or flight” response. When this response is activated, our body engages in a variety of activities that help us to survive and cope with that stress. We send lots of blood to our brain (so we can respond quickly and appropriately) and lungs and muscles (so we can run away). We may not be fighting off saber tooth tigers anymore but our body still responds in the same way. And let’s face it ladies, between family, work, and social obligations, we’re under low-grade stress all the time.

Another side-effect of this stress response is a reduction of blood flow to your reproductive organs and putting a major damper on your sex drive. WHY? The last thing your body needs when it’s under stress is another human being to take care off (aka a baby). You see, when you are under stress, your body shuts down your sex drive to limit the chances you’ll become pregnant in an effort to try to help you.

Even if you’re post-menopausal or on birth control and technically can’t get pregnant, your body will still shut down your libido because it doesn’t know any better. It’s a automatic response that is hard wired into us that actually helped keep our ancestors alive.

So, if you want that part of your brain to wake up and re-activate, you need to practice getting out of that sympathetic “fight or flight” response and start hanging out in a more relaxed parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. This is when the body is relaxed, feels safe and can start to warm that fire in your loins. (PS. men also need to be in this state to achieve and maintain an erection).

My best strategies for tapping into “rest and digest”:

  • Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night (this is the ultimate relaxed state)
  • Take 10 deep abdominal breaths before each meal
  • Learn to say “no” (and not feel guilty about it!)
  • Start a daily meditation practice such as the HeadSpace App (and come try our new service: MUSE Biofeedback Meditation)
  • Cultivate mindfulness (try to enjoy the present moment.) Start with simple activities such as mindfully brushing your teeth. Keep your mind focused by paying attention to the smell and taste of your toothpaste, the feeling of the brush against your teeth, the sounds it’s making. It’s simple but it works!

Wondering if stress is really affecting your sex drive and overall health?

Get your stress hormone levels test with our Adrenal Function Panel. It’s a simple at home saliva test that maps out your cortisol and DHEAS. You can learn more about it here. Test Cost = $220.

7 Common Causes of Fatigue


Persistent exhaustion, however, is prolonged, profound, and is not relieved by rest alone. Described as a near-constant state of weariness, fatigue develops over time and diminishes energy levels, motivation, and concentration, while also impacting emotional and psychological well-being.

Below are some of the top causes of fatigue and their symptoms.

1. Low Protein Intake:

Protein is an essential building block of the human body. Vital organs, muscles, tissues, and even some hormones are made of protein. Proteins are involved in nearly every bodily function from regulating blood sugar levels to healing wounds and fighting infection. Because they are used to develop, grow, and maintain nearly every part of the body – from skin and hair, to digestive enzymes and antibodies – they are constantly being broken down and must be replaced through diet. While each person is unique in terms of their specific protein needs (based on body weight, gender, age, and activity level), on average, the recommended daily minimum intake of protein for men is 56 grams, and 46 grams for women. Symptoms of low protein intake include: low energy/fatigue, sluggish metabolism, poor concentration, moodiness, difficulty losing weight, muscle, bone and joint pain, blood sugar changes, slow wound healing, low immunity. Vegetarians and vegans, as well as those on weight loss diets, are among the groups that may be at risk of protein deficiency.

2. Iron Deficiency:

The signs and symptoms of low iron or iron-deficiency vary depending on its severity. Mild to moderate iron deficiency can have little or no symptoms. However, if the body continues to be deficient in iron, it can lead to anemia, and symptoms then intensify. The most common symptom of iron deficiency is extreme fatigue. This is because iron is critical in the production hemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body. Without adequate levels of iron, the body cannot produce hemoglobin, and as a result can leave you feeling fatigued. Iron defieciency is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide.

3. Vitamin B12 Deficiency:

The human body requires B12 to make red blood cells, nerves, DNA, and carry out various functions. Like most vitamins, B12 cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from food and/or supplements. However, many people do not consume enough B12 to meet their needs, due to dietary habits or restrictions (e.g. strict vegetarians) or because they have existing medical conditions that interfere with food absorption (e.g. celiac or Crohn’s disease). As a result, B12 deficiency is relatively common.

4. Vitamin D Deficiency: 

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, and it also appears to play a role in insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and immune function. Canadians are at risk because of our long winters and it is essentially impossible to get sufficient vitamin D from your diet. Those who avoid the sun, have darker skin complexions, are strict vegans, or who are obese, may be at even higher risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency. According to recent research, roughly three-quarters of American adolescents and adults are vitamin D deficient.

5. Hypothyroidism:

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, stems from an underproduction of thyroid hormones. Since the body’s energy production requires certain amounts of thyroid hormones, a drop in hormone production leads to lower energy levels, causing you to feel weak and tired. Approximately 25 million people suffer with hypothyroidism and about half are undiagnosed. Older adults, particularly women, are more likely to develop hypothyroidism.

6. Insomnia/Non-restorative Sleep:

How much sleep a person needs varies but most adults require roughly seven to eight hours each night in order to function optimally. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or cause one to wake up too early and not be able to fall back asleep. Insomnia can be caused by psychiatric and medical conditions, unhealthy sleep habits, specific substances, and/or certain biological factors. Nonrestorative sleep (NRS) is defined as the subjective experience that sleep has not been sufficiently refreshing or restorative. NRS is conventionally recognized as a symptom of insomnia or as a feature of medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. In the case of both insomnia and NRS, you may still feel tired when you wake up, which can impact not only your energy level and mood, but also your health, work performance, and quality of life.

7. Adrenal Fatigue/Burnout:

Adrenal glands play a significant role in stress response, as well as in balancing hormones. Adrenal fatigue is a condition where the body and adrenal glands cannot keep up with the amount of stress that many people experience daily as part of modern life. Acute stress and/or chronic stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet and exercise can cause adrenals glands to become overloaded and ineffective. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

  • Unrelenting tiredness
  • Fatigue despite adequate sleep
  • Body ache, muscle weakness, muscle tension
  • Poor focus, racing thoughts
  • Moodiness, irritability
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dizzyness or feeling unsteady with position changes
  • Difficulty exercising or poor exercise recovery



Adrenal SOS

Your adrenals are two little glands that sit atop your kidneys in your low back. The adrenal glands secrete stress hormones, regulate blood pressure, and produce small amounts of sex hormones. Every time your body perceives stress, your adrenal glands get fired up and secrete stress hormones such as cortisol. Given the innumerable sources of stress that we face every day, most of us have our adrenals working in overdrive on a regular basis. After weeks, months, and even years of chronic stress, our adrenal glands can find it difficult to keep up and eventually become “fatigued”.

Symptoms of “adrenal fatigue” can include:

  • Low energy/fatigue
  • Cold intolerance or feeling chilly
  • Low blood pressure
  • Lightheaded/Dizziness (especially upon standing)
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Poor coping skills
  • Mental fog
  • Salt cravings
  • High (or low) cortisol levels
  • Evening burst of energy

The good news is, there are simple steps that you can take to help nourish and regenerate your adrenal glands!

  1. Get your zzzzzz’s
    Your adrenal glands regenerate at night, especially between 11 pm and 1 am. Make sure to be in bed before 11 pm and get your 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
  2. Curb your coffee intake
    Excess caffeine can add further stress to your adrenal glands. Limit your coffee intake to 2 cups a day, ideally before noon. Try a delicious cup of licorice root tea for a caffeine-free pick-me-up that helps to nourish your adrenal glands.
  3. Breathe Deeply
    Use deep breathing and other stress management techniques to help keep your stress levels under control. Keeping stress under control will reduce the number of times your adrenals have to secrete stress hormones!

Your Naturopathic Doctor can help determine if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue and offer natural therapies to help restore your health.