Hydration may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Hashimoto’s and thyroid health, but having adequate levels of water is absolutely essential for all areas of health — and electrolytes play a crucial role in ensuring we stay hydrated.
Throughout my Hashimoto’s journey, I’ve felt the effects of low electrolytes. It was probably not a coincidence that these symptoms of headaches, feeling dizzy when I stood up, and fatigue, correlated with my autoimmune flares… and seemed to resolve again when I was able to address their root cause.
While I make it a point to regularly consume high electrolyte foods, such as sea salt and bone broth, I do live in a dry climate here in Colorado, and often turn to supplements for extra support — especially after intense exercise, and during periods of higher stress.
We often overlook dehydration as a contributor to symptoms, yet this basic connection can help to lay the foundation for healing. Staying hydrated and replenishing our electrolyte levels can greatly help reduce adrenal fatigue — which most of us with Hashimoto’s experience to one degree or another.
In this article, you will learn:
- Symptoms and causes of electrolyte imbalances
- The electrolyte-Hashimoto’s connection
- The role of the adrenals
- How to know if you need electrolytes
- Food sources and supplements to replenish your electrolyte levels
What Are Electrolytes?
Simply put, electrolytes are minerals that play a critical role in the body. Through a biochemical process, electrolytes become ions (an atom or molecule with an electrical charge) that can conduct electrical signals in the body. These signals create communication and function within nerves and muscles, as the electrolytes move in or out of cells. Electrolytes are important for fluid balance, muscle contraction and blood pressure, and play other roles in the body as well.
Electrolytes include:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Chloride
- Phosphate
- Bicarbonate
Potassium is the main intracellular (inside the cell) ion, and sodium is the main extracellular (outside the cell) one. Potassium and sodium get the most attention for this reason, and are arguably the most important for maintaining good hydration and electrolyte balance within the body. Sodium and potassium function in the body in a very specific balance.
The pituitary gland in the brain helps to manage electrolytes throughout the body. It can be hard to measure true electrolyte status because at times, the body needs to prioritize where electrolytes go. So, it is possible for one’s electrolytes to appear low in one area because they are being used in another area of the body.
Electrolytes and fluid balance play a critical role in cardiovascular health, especially with heartbeat and blood pressure regulation. Potassium is especially important due to its role in heartbeat regulation, and low (or high) potassium can create cardiac abnormalities that can potentially be life threatening.
Historically, electrolytes were solely obtained through food, and these minerals can be found in meat and fish, bone broths, fruits and vegetables, sea salt, sea vegetables, and teas. It wasn’t until the 1920s or 30s that people started consuming supplemental electrolytes, mainly in a medical setting. The famous sports drink, Gatorade, has been around since 1967; and today, electrolyte supplements are quite commonplace — especially for supporting the hydration needs of athletes, patients who may have had vomiting or diarrhea, as well as those with electrolyte imbalances due to specific conditions or lifestyle.
Electrolyte Imbalances
An electrolyte imbalance occurs when levels of one or more electrolyte within the body become too high or too low.
An electrolyte imbalance can be caused by:
- An illness that causes vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Medications such as diuretics, or the overuse of laxatives
- Dehydration from excess sweating, such as from exercise, sauna usage, or living in a hot or dry climate
- Low intake of key electrolyte minerals (low consumption of fruits and vegetables, for example)
- An eating disorder
- Increased need for electrolytes due to a low-carb or ketogenic diet
- Too little or too much water intake
- A decrease in kidney function
- Nutrient deficiencies
- HPA-axis dysfunction or “adrenal fatigue”
- Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s
- Pregnancy
Hyponatremia (or low sodium in the blood) is the most common form of electrolyte imbalance. It is more common in older adults and those with hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease and kidney disease, but can also occur in those with adrenal or thyroid issues. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, fatigue, and fainting. In extreme cases, hyponatremia can cause disorientation, seizures, brain damage, and coma.
Hypernatremia (or high sodium in the blood) is much less common with Hashimoto’s than hyponatremia, but symptoms may include weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle twitching and, more severely, mental confusion, and bleeding in the brain.
Hypokalemia (or low potassium in the blood) is another electrolyte imbalance and may present as fatigue, constipation, frequent urination, muscle weakness and, most severely, muscular paralysis and abnormal heart rhythms. Hyperkalemia (or high potassium in the blood) is also associated with abnormal heart rhythms, a slowed heart rate, and weakness.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may want to monitor your electrolyte levels to see if they may be related to severe electrolyte imbalances. (I’ll address how to check your electrolyte levels further on in this article.)
But what if your levels appear to be within “normal” range? As with all things Hashimoto’s, I’m always looking at optimizing our levels, and want to highlight that there is still the possibility that you may have subclinical or subtle electrolyte imbalances. In other words, it is possible to have low electrolytes, or an imbalance of electrolytes, that is less severe, but that can still affect your health (especially thyroid health) and contribute to symptoms. (For example, some of my clients have tested their sodium and potassium levels and were told that their levels were within normal range, yet they benefited from balancing their electrolyte levels.)
Addressing subclinical electrolyte imbalances is especially important for those with Hashimoto’s.
The Electrolyte-Hashimoto’s Connection
Symptoms of both hyponatremia and hyperkalemia, including fatigue, weakness, low blood pressure, and even some GI symptoms, sound a lot like symptoms of hypothyroidism. But did you know that the thyroid and electrolytes are intimately connected?
It has been found that electrolyte imbalances directly correlate with thyroid imbalances. This is partly due to the fact that thyroid abnormalities may lead to changes in renal function, which in turn can lead to electrolyte imbalances. Plus, thyroid hormones are involved in the metabolism of minerals. As such, people with hypothyroidism, especially advanced cases of hypothyroidism, generally experience a slower metabolism, resulting in electrolyte abnormalities. However, the basic mechanisms of how thyroid hormones influence electrolytes are not fully understood.
That said, studies have noted the connection between thyroid hormone levels and electrolyte levels.
In one study, participants with hypothyroidism showed low serum sodium, chloride, and potassium levels. Conversely, those with hyperthyroidism had increased serum potassium levels (2). Another study conducted on 110 clinically known cases of hypothyroidism between the ages 20 and 60, demonstrated similar findings. The hypothyroid patients in their study showed serum electrolyte disturbances, such as low sodium, low potassium, low calcium levels, as well as high magnesium and phosphorus levels.
Yet another study that aimed to find out the effect of hypothyroidism on electrolyte and mineral levels, looked at 140 cases of overt hypothyroidism from whom blood samples were collected. Their T3, T4 and TSH levels were measured. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium levels in the blood were also measured. The researchers concluded that the higher the TSH levels one had, the higher the magnesium and phosphorus levels were in blood, and the lower the values of serum calcium, sodium and potassium levels will be. Thus, they found that the more severe one’s hypothyroidism is, the more severe their electrolyte imbalances may be. In most cases, electrolyte imbalances can be corrected with proper use of thyroid medications to bring thyroid hormones into optimal ranges.
However, researchers have also found that hydration status (due to insufficient electrolyte or water intake or both) can significantly affect thyroid labs.
In one study, TSH levels were 8 percent higher in those who were dehydrated, compared to those with optimal hydration status. The good news is that this can reverse rapidly with hydration (1). If your TSH is a little higher than normal and you’re experiencing thyroid symptoms, part of that could be due to hydration, and increasing your water and/or electrolyte intake will increase the efficiency of your thyroid hormones.
The bottom line is that addressing thyroid hormone imbalances due to hypothyroidism, and paying attention to hydration, plays an important part in addressing electrolyte imbalances and healing with Hashimoto’s.
The Role of the Adrenals
To deepen the connection, dehydration and nutrient deficiencies are common with adrenal issues, and adrenal issues are almost always associated with thyroid issues. Addressing adrenal imbalances can relieve some of the symptoms associated with Hashimoto’s. In fact, addressing thyroid health without addressing the adrenals can often further deplete the adrenals, making Hashimoto’s symptoms worse.
The adrenals play a large role in electrolyte balance. Aldosterone is a hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps to regulate blood volume, blood pressure, and sodium/potassium levels. When the adrenal glands are weakened (in the advanced stages of adrenal fatigue), sodium levels become unregulated and can fall too low, causing an electrolyte imbalance. This is the mechanism behind low blood pressure that often accompanies adrenal and thyroid imbalances.
The adrenal glands also make glucocorticoid hormones (cortisol is an example), and these hormones can suppress the conversion of T4 to T3 by suppressing the 5’deiodinase enzyme (4). It makes sense that the body would suppress the activation of thyroid hormone under conditions of stress. This is one of the body’s innate protective mechanisms used to conserve nutrients and resources so that they can be used to promote healing instead.
The problem today, however, is that in our modern world, we face different and constant stressors (toxins, negative thoughts, balancing work and family, sitting in traffic, etc.) — and these signals can promote some of the unwanted symptoms of Hashimoto’s (including weight gain, depression, and fatigue).
Various states of adrenal fatigue or chronic stress are all too common in our society. Besides the sodium imbalance discussed here, high cortisol can deplete both potassium and magnesium (along with zinc, iron, copper, vitamin C, and B vitamins).
If you feel dizzy upon standing, are prone to fainting, feel dehydrated, and crave salty foods, taking a deeper look at the adrenals (and electrolytes!) is an important root cause approach to healing. One key piece to recovering from adrenal dysfunction is restoring nutrient balance and maintaining good hydration. This can help with thyroid health as well!
How Can I Tell if My Electrolyte Levels are Low?
Electrolytes are often measured as part of routine annual lab work with your primary care provider, but you can certainly request these labs more often. If your blood levels of sodium, potassium, or calcium are out of the normal lab range, this would signal a severe electrolyte imbalance. This is the main way that conventional medicine looks at electrolytes.
That said, as mentioned earlier, some cases of electrolyte imbalances may be “subclinical.” In other words, it is possible to have low levels of certain electrolytes, or an imbalance of electrolytes that is less severe, but still affecting your thyroid health.
After all, the body, which needs pretty tight control of electrolytes in the blood, may prioritize electrolytes and concentrate them in certain areas when there is a deficiency somewhere.
Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance, Hashimoto’s, and adrenal imbalance can all overlap to some degree. Here are some common symptoms to look for:
- Fatigue (even after a good night’s sleep)
- Salt cravings
- Low blood pressure
- Feeling faint with standing
- Brain fog
- Low blood sugar
- Hitting the snooze button
- Feeling “wired, but tired”
- Mild depression
- Decreased resilience to stress
- Headaches
- Muscle aches or cramps
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Frequent urination (including drinking water and feeling the urge to urinate right away)
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Increased thirst
- Anxiety
- Dry skin and lips
If you experience a collection of these symptoms, you may experiment with increasing electrolytes to see if that helps to improve your symptoms. (I’ll discuss ways to increase your levels below!)
How Can I Tell Which Electrolyte I’m Deficient In?
You may need more potassium if you experience:
- Excessive thirst
- Salt cravings
- Water retention
- Cognitive issues
- High blood pressure
- Heartbeat fluctuations
- Nervousness
You may need less potassium if you:
- Have low blood pressure
- Are on a potassium chloride supplement
- Experience GI symptoms such as nausea or vomiting
You may need more sodium if you have:
- Excessive thirst that is not alleviated with drinking plain water
- Excessive fluid loss, such as sweating or urinating
- Recently engaged in high intensity exercise
- Diluted urine
You may need less sodium if you are:
- Someone with high blood pressure
- A sodium-sensitive individual (blood pressure rises with sodium, and lowers when omitting sodium)
- A salt-resistant individual (blood pressure doesn’t change with sodium dosage changes)
Please note that electrolyte imbalances may be compounded by intense exercise, living in a hot or dry climate, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. If any of these are true for you, you may need more water and electrolytes than you think.
Food Sources of Electrolytes
Electrolyte levels can be replenished through food and beverages, through over-the-counter supplementation, or via an IV drip for more serious cases.
It is very safe to consume electrolytes from food, and it is truly a foundational approach to addressing electrolyte imbalance. Most people with Hashimoto’s will need more sodium, potassium, and magnesium, but note that there may be some cases where this doesn’t hold true. For example, in cases where potassium is high relative to sodium, eating high potassium foods may make someone feel worse.
A Standard American Diet full of highly processed foods is associated with high sodium (as well as low potassium and magnesium) intake. If you are eating a whole foods-based, anti-inflammatory diet to address Hashimoto’s – such as what I share in Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health – you may actually need more salt than what you are getting in your food.
One sign that you need more salt is having salt cravings, since those with adrenal issues have subclinical electrolyte imbalances caused by adrenal dysfunction. My best tip is to eat more salt, but the right kind of salt! Iodized salt is partially responsible for the Hashimoto’s epidemic (read my article to find out why!), so it is important to choose non-iodized varieties. I like to use Celtic sea salt or Himalayan pink salt.
Besides liberally salting food, salted bone broth is a great option for hydration. In the 2015 survey I conducted in people with Hashimoto’s, participants reported that homemade broth helped with energy, mood, weight, pain, hair, skin, and thyroid labs!
To increase electrolytes through food, here are some of the best sources for sodium and potassium, as well as magnesium (which many people with Hashimoto’s are also deficient in):
High Sodium Foods
- Sea salt (be sure to choose non-iodized varieties)
- Bone broth
- Celery
- Pickles, sauerkraut and other fermented foods
- Seafood
High Potassium Foods
- Bananas
- Sweet potatoes
- Potatoes
- Coconut water
- Avocados
- Winter squash
- Beans
- Dried apricots
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Yogurt
- Spinach
- Artichoke
- Beet greens
High Magnesium Foods
- Kale, spinach, and other dark leafy greens
- Almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, and other nuts
- Avocados
- Dark chocolate
- Black beans, and other beans
- Pumpkin, flax, and chia seeds
How Much Water Should I Drink?
It is important to also focus on drinking enough water as you work on balancing your electrolytes. You may need 8-10 glasses per day, and more with exercise or caffeinated beverages.
To determine the precise amount of water your body needs, there is a simple calculation that you can do:
You should aim for half your body weight (pounds) in ounces. For example, a 150 pound person would aim to drink 75 ounces of water per day.
You may need to help keep yourself on track with water intake. I recommend either writing a daily water goal in your journal, or drawing the amount of glasses you need, and filling them in daily. You can also use a free water counting app on your smartphone (like Waterlogged) to track your daily water intake.
If you’re at home, my personal favorite is to make a pitcher of spa water each morning, adding cut up cucumbers, strawberries, lemons and/or limes to a pitcher of purified water and sipping on it throughout the day.
However, while it’s unlikely that most people will do so, I do want to mention that it’s possible to drink too much water. Water intake can contribute to electrolyte imbalance. Feeling weak, having headaches, and experiencing vomiting and nausea, are the most common signs of water overconsumption. Symptomatic water intoxication has been observed when someone drinks about three to four liters (.75 – 1 gallon) of water at one time, which can be avoided by spacing your water consumption out throughout the course of the day.
Electrolyte Drinks and Supplements
A great way to replete electrolytes in a relatively short time is by using electrolyte supplements. A word of caution, however, is that a lot of electrolyte products, including sports drinks such as Gatorade, are not necessarily healthy options because of their high levels of sugar, dyes, and flavorings. However, a little bit of natural sugar in an electrolyte supplement is okay, since glucose helps the body to absorb the electrolyte minerals.
You can make your own electrolyte drinks, and depending on if you need more or less potassium, I recommend two hydration blends that are easily made at home.
Potassium
Potassium is important for keeping fluids balanced in the body, lowering blood pressure, and addressing water retention — which in turn, lowers the internal stress response.
How do you know if you need more or less potassium?
As mentioned earlier, you may need more potassium if you experience:
- Excessive thirst
- Salt cravings
- Water retention
- Cognitive issues
- High blood pressure
- Heartbeat fluctuations
- Nervousness
You may need less potassium if you:
- Have low blood pressure
- Are on a potassium chloride supplement
- Experience GI symptoms such as nausea or vomiting
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, I recommend that you consult with your practitioner to test your potassium levels via a blood test, to see if either of these hydration blends are optimal for you.
More Potassium Blend:
- 1 quart coconut water
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon sea salt (gray or pink)
Less Potassium Blend:
- 1 quart filtered water
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (gray or pink)
Sodium
Sodium has gotten a bad rap in the medical industry. However, it is crucial for regulating fluids in the body. As mentioned above, I recommend using sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, as opposed to table salt or iodized salt.
Salt nourishes the adrenals and provides the minerals, such as potassium and magnesium, that our body needs. It offers us hydration when we are in a dehydrated state by keeping fluid in the body (also known as water retention).
How do you know if you need more sodium? You will want to see if you have:
- Excessive thirst that is not alleviated with drinking plain water
- Excessive fluid loss, such as sweating or urinating
- Recently engaged in high intensity exercise
- Diluted urine
How do you know if you need less sodium? You may be:
- Someone with high blood pressure
- A sodium sensitive individual (blood pressure rises with sodium, and lowers when omitting sodium)
- A salt resistant individual (blood pressure doesn’t change with sodium dose change)
I’ve created a recipe for “Sole,” a high concentration mixture of Himalayan sea salt and filtered water. This salt mixture can be taken once per day, up to 1 teaspoon at a time, on an empty stomach.
Supplement Options
You can also supplement with an electrolyte blend.
I developed Rootcology Electrolyte Blend as a complete and balanced formula, specifically to support people with Hashimoto’s. This formula contains the electrolytes sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium, along with additional thyroid supporting ingredients, including:
- Vitamin C – An important antioxidant to support the adrenals, mitochondria, thyroid hormone and collagen production. Researchers are also finding that vitamin C may have antiviral properties and may be helpful in recovering from viral infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus.
- D-ribose – A natural sugar that supports the health of our mitochondria, energy production, exercise recovery, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Quercetin/rutin/citrus bioflavonoids – These work synergistically with vitamin C and reduce inflammation. They also have antihistamine and antiviral properties.
- Taurine – An amino acid that supports the gallbladder (which may be affected in about 30-50 percent of people with Hashimoto’s in my estimates), helps remove fluoride from the body, aids digestion, helps with allergies, and supports healthy blood pressure through electrolyte regulation in the cells.
This blend may be helpful for supporting cardiovascular health, blood pressure and fluid balance, recovering from a cold or flu, replenishing electrolytes during and after sweating, supporting the adrenals, and mitigating symptoms of dehydration. (I usually recommend 2 teaspoons of Rootcology Electrolyte Blend in 10-12 ounces of water each day, or as directed by your personal provider. As always, please consult with your practitioner to ensure this supplement is right for your needs.)
It is also useful to have on hand when enjoying an occasional glass of wine, or two. 🙂 When drinking alcohol, have 1 scoop in a glass of water along with each drink. You may want to have an additional scoop the next morning as well! This is very helpful for preventing the symptoms of a hangover, by keeping you hydrated.
You can also mix Rootcology Electrolyte Blend into smoothies, or use the blend to make popsicles, which are great for a hot day or when you’re down with the flu. I also like to have a scoop after a yoga class or hike, especially if I worked up a sweat.
Potential Interactions
Electrolyte supplements may not be recommended for those with sodium-sensitive hypertension, those with a pacemaker, and those with high sodium or potassium levels. If you take medications or have a medical condition, please check with your doctor before changing your supplement routine.
Next Steps
While balancing electrolytes isn’t a cure for Hashimoto’s, it can be one piece of your root cause puzzle, since everything in the body is connected. Dehydration and an increased need for electrolytes is quite common with thyroid issues, especially since adrenal issues are typically also involved, and there is a studied correlation between thyroid hormone and electrolyte levels.
Electrolytes may be helpful in reversing some of the symptoms of dehydration that overlap with symptoms of Hashimoto’s or adrenal dysfunction — and, for some, electrolytes may even help to improve thyroid labs. The electrolyte minerals, specifically sodium, potassium, and magnesium, are generally very nourishing for the thyroid!
I always believe in a food-first and food-as-medicine approach. In this case, including a lot of mineral-rich whole foods, non-iodized sea salt, and bone broths are foundational. Since electrolyte supplements, like Rootcology Electrolyte Blend, are safe for most people and are also an effective way to address dehydration, that may be another area to experiment with, to provide the body with some foundational support.
Now I want to hear from you, how have you used electrolytes in your healing journey?
PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter for free by signing up for our newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways, and helpful information.
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References
- Ybarra J, Fernandez S. Rapid and reversible alterations in thyroid function tests in dehydrated patients. Nurs Clin North Am. 2007;42(1):127-34.
- Hemantha Kumara DS, Muralidhara Krishna CS, Vishwanath HL. The electrolytes imbalance between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. International Journal of Current Research. 2016;8(5):31031-31033.
- Schwarz C, Leichtle AB, Arampatzis S, Fiedler GM, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos AK, Lindner G. Thyroid function and serum electrolytes: does an association really exist? Swiss Med Wkly. 2012;142:w13669. Doi: 10.4414/smw.2012.13669
- Tsigos C, Chrousos GP. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroendocrine factors and stress. J Psychosom Res. 2002;53(4):865-71.
- Murgod R, Soans G. Changes in Electrolyte and Lipid Profile in Hypothyroidism. International Journal of Life Sciences & Pharma Research. ISSN 2250-0480 Vol 2. Issue 3. Jul-Sept 2012.
- Kaur J, Ahmad N, Gupta A. Changes in the Electrolyte Profile of Patients having Hypothyroidism. Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research. ISSN (e)-2347-176x Volume 2. Issue 4. Page 633-637. April 2014.
- Abebe N, Kebede T, Wolde M. Assessment of renal function and electrolytes in patients with thyroid dysfunction in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study. Pan Afr Med J. 2016;24:338. Published 2016 Aug 31. doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.24.338.8455
- Mansourian AR. A Literature Review on the Adverse Effects of Hypothyroidism on Kidney Function. Pak J Biol Sci. DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2012.709.719
- Krishna MCS, Kumara HDS, Vishwanath HL, et al. Study on The Electrolytes And Hypothyroidism – A Case Control Study. Biochem Ind J. 208;12(2):131.
- Hemilä H. Vitamin C and SARS coronavirus. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003;52(6):1049–1050. doi:10.1093/jac/dkh002
I leaned a lot from this article, but I have a question about potassium. The article mentions that potassium helps lower blood pressure, but then says someone may need more potassium if they have low blood pressure and conversely may need less potassium if they have high blood pressure. Wouldn’t it be the opposite of potassium lowers blood pressure?
Regina – Thank you so much for pointing this out to me. You were right, it was confusing! To better explain, potassium does help lower blood pressure by balancing out high sodium levels, so someone may need less potassium if they have low blood pressure; and conversely, they may need more potassium if they have high blood pressure. I hope that helps! <3
THANK YOU SO MUCH! This article is right on target for me. I experienced SEVERE heart palps, off & on, for 1.5 yr. I kept asking my Dr. if it was time to decrease my thyroid dose. Finally, last straw was in December 2019, Heart rate & BP were out the roof. GOT home from work & called Dr., demanding we do something. Took me off dessicated thyroid T3/T4, put on Levothyroxine T4 only. 2 weeks later more heart palps. Called compounding pharmacist & Dr. and back on compounded T4 only. However, I did speak to a customer, at my work (she was buying bananas) who had just been hospitalized (by ER visit) for the same symptoms as myself & she told me about electrolytes. She refused to leave the hospital until they ran ALL tests to get to the bottom because she had experienced the same for quite a while. Also warned against beta blockers, which she refused & my Dr had thoughts of at one point. After talking to her, I started drinking the bottled purified water w/electrolytes.
My Dr. is a Natural Health DO. Needless to say I am losing faith because it should not have taken 1.5 yr to get things figured out, which adjusting the thyroid med, I know now, was not the complete answer. Now I may not be getting T3/T4 balance, without T3.
I have to do compounded scripts because with Hashimotos I am also Celiac w/ corn allergy. So, thank you, Dr. Wentz! I intend to print this and present it at my next appointment. I get labs in July & office visit in August.
Dawn – thank you so much for sharing your journey with me! <3 I'm so proud of your for taking charge of your health and I hope you will keep me posted on your progress.
Thank you for this enlightening article. The body certainly is a complex thing and we are all different..so I will be ‘dabbling’ with your recommendations and see what differences I can make! Little by little.
Greetings from Australia.
Linda
LindaB – you are very welcome! <3 I hope you will keep me posted on your progress.
Could you make a supplement without stevia? I have the genetic snip that makes stevia taste bitter and nasty. In fact, my siblings and son have the same reaction to stevia.
Wendy – thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback. <3 I'm happy to share and discuss this with my team!
Hello
I’m from Australia n would like to purchase the electrolyte. Do you post out to Australia
Teresia – thank you so much for your interest in my Rootcology products! <3 Unfortunately, we cannot currently sell or ship our Rootcology supplements outside of the United States due to complicated regulations. However, I do have an alternate recommendations for my international customers, please email my team at info@rootcology.com and they will be happy to share with you!
Thank you for your article about electrolytes affecting symptoms of Hashimoto’s. Will your Rootcology Electrolyte Blend balance out all the electrolytes even when I consume foods to obtain certain electrolytes even when some are too high or too low or just right?
Shirley – thank you for reaching out. <3 Rootcology Electrolyte Blend is a complete and balanced electrolyte formula to help promote optimal hydration, especially after excessive sweating. It contains potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium, the main electrolytes found in the body. For any other questions about the supplement please email my team at info@rootcology.com and they will be happy to help.
Hello Dr Wentz,
I have Hashimoto’s disease and was also diagnosed with having stage 2 adrenal fatigue. I have suffered with frequent urination for 8 years now mainly due to a large fibroid resting on my bladder. But I think the frequent urination goes beyond that. Some nights are so bad that as soon as I lay down I have to go again and again…that I just may as well try and sleep on the toilet. It’s terrible and the doctors will not look beyond the fibroid. I noticed it’s worse when I’m anxious or am having stress. I did end up in the hospital in the beginning of the year with irregular heartbeat and sky high blood pressure from a lot of stress in my life. They also found that I was very dehydrated. I did feel much better after they gave me the Iv for hydration. So my question is if I keep my electrolytes up like say with your product…could that possibly help with my frequent urination? If so how much would you suggest for Someone like me with Hashimoto’s, stage 2 adrenal fatigue and I’m also Postmenopausal. I do have excessive thirst at night as well from it. My blood sugar I guess the doctors say is fine. I am so tired of this frequent urination with no help…all the doctors do is keep telling me I need surgery. 🙁 The fibroid did shrink but grew back after I stopped taking natural progesterone cream for a year. So back on that again. I’m so very frustrated and exhausted. 🙁 I would love to try your product for my electrolyte balance. BTW I hardly ever have any color to my urine even when I was dehydrated.
Tammy – thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your journey. <3 I'm so sorry you are struggling with all of this. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide you, that will also listen to you and your concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that you may not fit in with the standard of care. It's a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is you can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. You could also contact your local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point you to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I encourage you to keep looking for the right one for you! Here are some resources you might find helpful.
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/database-recommended-clinicians/
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/database-recommended-compounding-pharmacies/
Have all the above .on Armour Thyroid. All testing show my thyroid s are.balance.I also have Hashimoto’s .No insurance have to go to Health Department for labs Out of work due to the Covid19 .Anxiety out the roof . So no iodine salt . What type of diet for Hashimoto’s is best.
Karen, thank you for reaching out. <3 I always recommend starting with a diet that is gluten, dairy, corn and soy free. Here are some resources you might find helpful.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT DIET AND THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-diet-and-thyroid
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism/
DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
Can you advise on the best place to start? I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2007. I found you 3 years ago, read Hashimotos Protocol and spent a lot of money purchasing supplements. I did that for a while and quit. It is all so overwhelming!
I read your articles and feel like I experience some symptoms of a lot of topics you discuss. Thank you!
Allison – thank you for reaching out. <3 I understand how overwhelming this can be. I believe that most nutrients should come from the diet. This is why I always list food sources in the book and on the blog, for most of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals. and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s. However, some may require or prefer supplements. I recommend getting tested for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm. Here are some article links which might help:
WHICH SUPPLEMENTS ACTUALLY HELP HASHIMOTO'S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-supplements-actually-help-hashimotos/
USING ENZYMES TO OVERCOME HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/using-enzymes-to-overcome-hashimotos/
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-four-best-probiotics-for-hashimotos/
I do have a full supplements chapter in my books. Have you checked them out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and any of these books will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation. Here are the links
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
https://amzn.to/2XXCqcQ
Hashimoto’s Protocol
https://amzn.to/3cJ89T4
Can you please advise which electrolyte(s) may be associated with muscle pain? With Hashimotos, I have many of the common symptoms, however, muscle pain in my shins, ankles and feet has been the worst issue. I consume a lot of water each day. It has taken a year to get my levels “normal.” For one month, I was starting to feel so much better, but now pain is back. Doctor says I’m just very sensitive, and does not want to change dosage. I’m wondering if I could have an electrolyte imbalance, however, my lab work was good this past January. Very frustrated, been going on for three years. (BTW, I’m gluten, dairy, and soy free.) Thank you very much.
Kelli – thank you for reaching out. <3 Please understand, I am not able to advise on what would be appropriate for you and your specific health needs without a comprehensive health assessment. I recommend that you discuss this with a practitioner who is familiar with your family history. I also highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide you, that will also listen to you and your concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that you may not fit in with the standard of care. It's a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is you can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. You could also contact your local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point you to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I encourage you to keep looking for the right one for you! Here are some resources you might find helpful.
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/database-recommended-clinicians/
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/database-recommended-compounding-pharmacies/