LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Have you ever wondered if your child’s anxiety, fatigue, or mood swings could be related to their thyroid health or a nutritional deficiency?
As a mom, pharmacist, and Hashimoto’s patient myself, I’ve often reflected on the symptoms I experienced as a teenager — things like fatigue and anxiety — that were dismissed as “normal” growing pains. That’s why this conversation with Dr. Roy Steinbock, an integrative pediatrician and longtime friend, felt so personal and important.
Dr. Roy was my son Dimitry’s pediatrician when we lived in Boulder, and his approach to pediatric care is nothing short of incredible. He blends evidence-based medicine with functional tools to get to the root of what’s going on with kids — especially when it comes to chronic symptoms, mental health struggles, and overlooked thyroid issues. In this episode, we dig into how and when to test kids for thyroid conditions, the connection between maternal thyroid dysfunction and children’s health, and how nutrient deficiencies, like iron and vitamin D, can influence everything from mood to attention and immune function.
We also covered complex conditions like OCD, PANDAS, and ADHD — and how these can often tie back to thyroid and immune system dysregulation.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Thyroid disorders in kids often present differently than in adults. Dr. Roy shares how symptoms like anxiety, constipation, insomnia, and even changes in handwriting can indicate an underlying thyroid issue.
- Postpartum thyroid dysfunction is more common than you think. Many mothers with postpartum anxiety or depression may actually have undiagnosed thyroid issues, and testing TSH alone often isn’t enough.
- Iron and ferritin levels are crucial for thyroid and mental health. Dr. Roy explains how low ferritin can trigger fatigue, anxiety, and even behavioral issues in children — even when hemoglobin levels (iron tests) appear normal. Furthermore they can prevent proper use of thyroid hormones.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be tied to thyroid and nutrient imbalances. Supplements like myo-inositol, NAC, and even nutritional lithium can make a big impact — especially when combined with thyroid support.
- PANDAS is a real and underdiagnosed condition. We break down the signs, the overlap with thyroid dysfunction, and how antibiotics and IVIG therapy are helping some children recover.
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Roy Steinbock
Supplements We Discussed
- RelaxMax, Cherry Flavor (Xymogen): A tasty, calming powdered formula with inositol, magnesium, L-theanine, taurine, and GABA. Available via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here to get 10% off! 🙂
- RelaxMax, Unflavored (Xymogen): The unflavored version of the calming powdered formula with inositol, magnesium, L-theanine, taurine, and GABA. Available via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here to get 10% off 🙂
- Myo-inositol: Supports thyroid, blood sugar, mood, and anxiety. Use code “PODCAST” to get 20% off Rootcology Myo-Inositol.
- NAC (N-acetyl cysteine): Helps with OCD, thyroid health, and glutathione production.
- Nutritional Lithium (Lithium Orotate): Low-dose mood support, especially in anxiety, rage, and OCD.
- Fish Oil (Omega-3s): Supports brain health and reduces inflammation.
- Vitamin D3: Critical for immune balance and mood.
- Iron: Supports energy and thyroid hormone utilization.
- L-theanine: Promotes calm without drowsiness.
- Probiotics (including Streptococcus salivarius): Support immune balance and reduce strep colonization.
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Supports energy and reduces thyroid-related fatigue.
- Vitamin B12: Essential for energy, mood, and nervous system health.
- Magnesium: Calms the nervous system and supports mood and focus.
Other Tools and Resources
- Full Thyroid Panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, TPO antibodies, and TG antibodies.
- Ferritin + CBC (complete blood count): Crucial for evaluating iron status.
- Celiac Testing: Especially in kids with anxiety or neurological symptoms.
- Therapy + Mindfulness Techniques: Especially helpful in OCD and anxiety treatment.
- Exposure Therapy (CBT): Key part of treatment for moderate to severe OCD.
Books and Articles About Thyroid and Mental Health
- Nutritional Lithium: A Cinderella Story by Dr. James Greenblatt
- Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD That Restores Attention, Minimizes Hyperactivity, and Helps Eliminate Drug Side Effects by Dr James Greenblatt
- Could Nutritional Lithium Benefit or Hurt Hashimoto’s?
- How Balancing Iron Levels Can Help Your Thyroid
- Study: Thyroid Function and ADHD/Autism in Offspring
- The OCD and Hashimoto’s Connection
- How Myo-inositol Can Improve Hashimoto’s Symptoms
- The Surprising Effect of Zinc on Hashimoto’s
Tune in to learn how addressing thyroid health early can make a profound difference in your child’s energy, mood, and lifelong well-being. Whether you’re a parent, practitioner, or simply curious, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
- Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
- Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
If this podcast resonates with you, don’t forget to share with a friend who needs this information!
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 her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
Thyroid Pharmacist Blog
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Rootcology
About Our Guest
Dr. Roy Steinbock MD is a Board-Certified Pediatrician with an integrative and patient-centered approach. He believes that investigating the root cause, rather than only addressing symptoms, is the best route to achieving and maintaining optimal health and well-being. Dr. Roy combines evidence-based Western medicine with a functional and mindful approach. His area of expertise includes digestive disorders, allergies, eczema, frequent and recurrent illness, PANDAS, anxiety, OCD, ADHD and other difficult-to-treat cases. He works with children of all ages and young adults, providing in-person care locally in Boulder, Colorado and offering distance consultations to families across the United States.
Hello,
Does hypothyroidism always warrant a thyroid medication?
Thank You,
Cheryl
Cheryl, Thank you for your question. If you have subclinical hypothyroidism, treatment can be a gray area. Here’s how I approach it: If you’re not experiencing symptoms and are working to reverse Hashimoto’s naturally, you might try giving yourself about three months to see improvement. But if your condition worsens or doesn’t improve, it may be time to consider medication. Thyroid medications can reduce symptoms for many and may even help lower thyroid antibodies. For those with high antibodies or significant symptoms, starting medication sooner can be helpful. There are several options available, and it often takes some trial and error to find the best fit. If your current provider isn’t open to certain medications, you might ask your local pharmacist for names of doctors familiar with a wider range of thyroid treatments. I believe in using all the tools available to support healing—medications included. And for some, medication may not be permanent if root causes are addressed.