LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I spoke with naturopathic doctor and functional medicine practitioner Dr. Jarrod Cooper to discuss why so many people with chronic illness feel stuck despite doing “all the right things.”
After working with thousands of patients with complex, treatment-resistant conditions, Dr. Cooper developed what he calls The Healing Hierarchy – a framework designed to help people address the root causes of chronic illness in the right order. Rather than focusing on individual protocols or wellness trends, The Healing Hierarchy provides a roadmap for identifying the most important factors affecting health and restoring function step by step.
During our conversation, we explore how issues such as nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, gut infections, detoxification challenges, and hormone dysfunction can contribute to ongoing symptoms. We also discuss why timing matters when it comes to healing, and how even beneficial interventions may backfire if the body isn’t ready for them.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’ve hit a plateau despite following a healthy diet, taking supplements, or working with practitioners, this episode offers a practical framework for understanding what may be missing and how to move forward.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why doing the right things in the wrong order can slow your recovery. Dr. Cooper explains how many people with chronic illness aren’t necessarily following the wrong protocols – they may simply be addressing issues out of sequence.
- The four levels of The Healing Hierarchy. Discover the framework Dr. Cooper uses to help patients recover from complex chronic illnesses, beginning with crisis stabilization, followed by gut repair, biochemistry and detoxification support, and finally hormone optimization.
- Why blood sugar balance, nutrient status, sleep, and inflammation matter more than many people realize. Before addressing deeper root causes, Dr. Cooper emphasizes the importance of stabilizing the body’s basic functions. Learn how deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin D, along with blood sugar imbalances and poor sleep, can keep the body stuck in a chronic stress response.
- The critical role of gut health in Hashimoto’s and chronic illness. We discuss how intestinal permeability, SIBO, parasites, microbiome imbalances, and digestive dysfunction can contribute to immune activation, nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, and ongoing symptoms, even in people who don’t have obvious digestive complaints.
- What “health blocks” are and how they can prevent progress. From chronic infections and mold exposure to unresolved gut dysfunction and detoxification challenges, Dr. Cooper explains how hidden stressors can keep the body stuck in a cycle of inflammation, sensitivity, and stalled healing.
- Why some wellness practices can backfire during chronic illness recovery. Learn why interventions such as fasting, cold plunges, intense exercise, and extensive supplement protocols may place additional stress on an already sensitized system, and why timing matters when it comes to healing.
Check Out Dr. Cooper’s New Book
The Healing Hierarchy: Restore Function Rebuild Your Body offers a practical framework for understanding why so many people with chronic illness remain stuck despite following diets, protocols, and treatment plans. Drawing on thousands of complex clinical cases, Dr. Cooper introduces a four-level healing framework designed to help readers identify the root causes of persistent symptoms, uncover hidden obstacles to recovery, and prioritize interventions in the proper sequence. The book explores topics such as gut health, nutrient deficiencies, detoxification, methylation, hormone balance, and advanced functional testing, providing a roadmap for restoring energy, digestion, sleep, and overall health by addressing what matters most first. Order your copy on Amazon today!
Freebies
- Download your free copy of The Healing Hierarchy workbook here.
- Watch the free webinar, The 3 Root Causes of Disease You Must Address Now, to learn more about gut health, balancing biochemistry, and identifying and removing health blocks.
Programs and Resources Mentioned
- The Functional Medicine Solution: Dr. Cooper’s online program for those who want to go deeper with their healing, improve energy, reverse symptoms, and finally thrive.
- Book a Consult: US patients are welcome to book a telehealth consultation directly via Dr. Cooper’s website.
- Connect with Dr. Cooper on Instagram and Facebook, and learn more at his website.
Supplements Mentioned
- B-Complex Vitamins: B vitamins can support energy production, methylation, detoxification, and nervous system function. Consider Pure Encapsulations B6 Complex.
- Vitamin B12: An essential nutrient involved in energy production, neurological function, red blood cell formation, and methylation pathways. Consider Pure Encapsulations Liquid B12.
- Vitamin D: A critical nutrient that supports immune regulation, bone health, hormone function, and overall wellness. Consider Vitamin D Supreme by Designs for Health.
- Iron: An essential mineral required for oxygen transport, energy production, thyroid function, and healthy ferritin levels. Thorne’s Iron Bisglycinate is the one I have most commonly used for people with anemia. Some additional alternatives that my clients have found to be better absorbed/less constipating include OptiFerin-C by Pure Encapsulations, Floradix, or HemeVite by Apex.
- Zinc: A mineral involved in immune function, thyroid hormone metabolism, methylation, and cellular repair. I prefer the zinc picolinate version, such as the one made by Pure Encapsulations, because of its improved absorption profile compared to other forms.
- Vitamin B6 (P5P): The active form of vitamin B6 that supports neurotransmitter production, detoxification, methylation, and glutathione synthesis. Consider Rootcology P5P.
- Carnitine: An amino acid derivative that helps transport fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production. Rootcology’s Carnitine Blend combines 400 mg L-carnitine and 100 mg acetyl-L-carnitine, which has unique brain-supportive properties.
- Glutathione: The body’s master antioxidant, essential for detoxification, immune function, and protection against oxidative stress. Consider Pure Encapsulations Liposomal Glutathione, or Rootcology’s Pure N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC is a precursor to glutathione).
- SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine): A naturally occurring compound available as a dietary supplement that may support methylation pathways in some individuals. Supplementation should be individualized and is best used under the guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner, especially if taken long term.
Functional Medicine Lab Tests Mentioned
- Organic Acids Test (OAT) (Mosaic Diagnostics): A comprehensive urine test that evaluates nutrient status, mitochondrial function, detoxification pathways, microbial overgrowths, neurotransmitter metabolites, and other biochemical markers.
- GI-MAP (Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory): A DNA-based stool test that evaluates gut pathogens, beneficial bacteria, digestive function, inflammation, immune markers, and intestinal health.
- Complete Microbiome Mapping (Nutripath): A comprehensive stool analysis used in Australia to assess the gut microbiome, digestive function, pathogens, and markers of intestinal health.
- SIBO Testing (Genova Diagnostics): A breath test used to identify small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, a common contributor to digestive symptoms, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic illness.
- MycoTOX (Mosaic Diagnostics): A specialized test used to assess exposure to and accumulation of mold-related toxins that may contribute to chronic symptoms.
- MTHFR Genetic Testing: A genetic test that evaluates common variants affecting methylation and folate metabolism pathways.
Helpful Articles
- 6 Root Causes Behind Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity
- Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Hashimoto’s
- The Fundamental Gut Health Protocol
- Could SIBO Be Preventing Your Remission from Hashimoto’s?
- Candida and Hashimoto’s Connection
- Mold: A Potential Trigger of Hashimoto’s
- MTHFR, Hashimoto’s and Nutrients
- How Supporting the Liver Is Key to Recovering from Thyroid Disease
- Why Balancing Blood Sugar is Vital for Hashimoto’s Health
- The 7 Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Hashimoto’s
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
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Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is now out in the world, and available here!
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About Our Guest
Jarrod Cooper is a naturopathic doctor and one of Australia’s leading functional medicine practitioners, specializing in complex, treatment-resistant chronic illness. Based in Perth, Western Australia, he consults with patients across Australia and worldwide via telehealth. Over more than a decade and thousands of complex cases, he has developed a sequenced, data-driven approach to multi-system restoration.
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