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For years, I’ve spoken about the critical connection between gut health and thyroid function. But in this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I had the chance to dive even deeper with someone who truly gets it: Dr. David Jockers. If you’re not already familiar with his work, Dr. Jockers is a doctor of natural medicine, founder of one of the top natural health websites, and host of the Functional Nutrition podcast. He is also an expert in functional nutrition, gut health, and mitochondrial medicine.
We covered everything from how gut inflammation can block thyroid hormone activation to the role mitochondria play in energy production and immune regulation. Dr. Jockers also shared his personal health story, along with some controversial takes on popular thyroid protocols like keto and intermittent fasting. The bottom line? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Our discussion also dives into practical, research-backed strategies that support metabolic flexibility and reduce thyroid antibodies, including the use of postbiotics, immunoglobulins, and nutrient therapies.
Whether you’re just getting started on your healing path or you’ve tried it all and still feel stuck, I think you’ll find this episode both clarifying and empowering.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The gut microbiome activates 20% of your active thyroid hormone. Without proper conversion of T3 sulfate and T3 acetate, you may have thyroid hormone in your system that your body can’t even use.
- When your cells go into “wartime mode,” your thyroid pays the price. Chronic stress, infections, or environmental toxins can flip the mitochondria your body’s energy producers into a defensive, low-energy state. This cell danger response damages the gut lining, fuels autoimmunity, and halts healing unless reversed through targeted mitochondrial support.
- Leaky gut is not always obvious. Many people with thyroid conditions have silent intestinal permeability driving inflammation and autoimmunity. Symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, or infertility may actually stem from gut damage that began years before a Hashimoto’s diagnosis.
- You can’t fast or keto your way out of burnout. While these tools can be powerful, they must be personalized. For some people, especially those with adrenal issues or sleep deprivation, they can do more harm than good.
- Foundational healing starts with mitochondria and digestion. Magnesium, carnitine, butyrate, and serum-based immunoglobulins can all help restore gut resilience and mitochondrial function before jumping into advanced protocols.
- Improving vagal tone and managing stress are non-negotiables. Healthy digestion and thyroid hormone conversion depend on a regulated nervous system, starting with better sleep, hydration, and slowing down before meals.
Freebies
- Sign up for Dr. Jockers’ newsletter for his free eBooks: The Crushing Inflammation Smoothie Guide and Cleanse Your Liver Now.
- Join Dr. David Jockers and 30+ of the world’s top experts in integrative medicine, functional nutrition, mind-body wellness, and inflammation science at the Conquering Chronic Inflammation Summit on August 5 to 9th, 2025. This free online event is for anyone ready to discover science-backed, root-cause solutions to chronic inflammation, reclaim their energy, and restore their health.
- Download Dr. Jockers’ 7 Root Causes of Autoimmunity e-book and get a free ticket to the Conquering Inflammation Summit!
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. David Jockers
- Learn more at Dr. Jockers’ Website
- Follow Dr. Jockers on Instagram
- Visit Dr. Jockers’ Facebook page
- Watch the Functional Nutrition podcast on YouTube
- Book by Dr. Jockers: Keto Metabolic Breakthrough: A Radical Approach to Reversing Metabolic Dysfunction, Optimizing Nutrient Timing, and Balancing Hormones for Success on a Low-Carb Diet
- Book by Dr. Jockers:
- Blog article by Dr. Jockers: The Cell Danger Response: New Theory for Chronic Illnesses – Check out the Health News section of his website to browse for more topics.
Supplements We Discussed
- Magnesium: Acts as a calming mineral, supports mitochondrial energy, digestion, and stress recovery – I like Rootcology Magnesium Citrate Powder.
- Carnitine: Helps transport fats into mitochondria and supports energy and brain function. I created Rootcology Carnitine Blend to provide a blend of muscle supporting L-Carnitine and brain supporting Acetyl-L-Carnitine in one blend.
- Benfotiamine: A fat-soluble form of B1 that supports mitochondrial energy and blood sugar stability – Rootcology Benfotiamine is a high-quality supplement option.
- D-Ribose: A sugar molecule that supports ATP production and combats fatigue.
- Butyric Acid (Tributyrin X): A postbiotic that stimulates mitochondrial function and helps heal the gut lining. (Use Coupon code WENTZ for 15% off!)
- Serum-based Immunoglobulins: Help bind and remove pathogens and toxins like LPS from the gut. I like SBI Protect by Ortho Molecular, available via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here.
- Electrolytes: Replace sodium, potassium, and magnesium during fasting or low-carb states. An electrolyte blend that I recommend to my Hashimoto’s and adrenal clients is Rootcology Electrolyte Blend.
- Digestive enzymes and HCl with bile support: Aid in breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and preventing SIBO.
- CoQ10, B Vitamins, and Multivitamins: Provide foundational nutrient support for energy and mitochondrial repair.
Other Tools and Resources.
- Infrared Therapy & Sunlight Exposure: Support melatonin production and mitochondrial health.
- Low FODMAP or Grain-Free Diets: Helpful starting points for reducing gut inflammation and IBS symptoms.
- High-Protein, Low-Toxin Diets: Focus on blood sugar stabilization and nutrient density.
Articles About Gut & Thyroid Health
- The Mitochondria, Adrenal and Thyroid Connection
- The Fundamental Gut Health Protocol
- Using a Ketogenic Diet with Hashimoto’s
- Food Sensitivities and Hashimoto’s
- Are Your Adrenals Sabotaging Your Health
- Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Hashimoto’s
- Mold: A Potential Trigger of Hashimoto’s
- Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Remission after Helicobacter Pylori Eradication
- Candida and Hashimoto’s Connection
- Could SIBO Be Preventing Your Remission from Hashimoto’s?
- How Betaine with Pepsin Can Help Hashimoto’s
- Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
- How Does Carnitine Support Hashimoto’s?
- Can Thiamine Help Reduce Thyroid Fatigue?
- The Importance of Electrolytes for Hashimoto’s
- The Ultimate Guide to Using Enzymes with Hashimoto’s
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!
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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 her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
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About Our Guest
Dr. David Jockers is a doctor of natural medicine and runs one of the most popular natural health websites (DrJockers.com), which has gotten over 1 million monthly visitors, and his work has been seen on popular media such as the Dr. Oz show and Hallmark Home and Family.
Dr. Jockers is the author of the best-selling books The Keto Metabolic Breakthrough by Victory Belt publishing and The Fasting Transformation. He is a world-renowned expert in the area of metabolic health, fasting, brain health, inflammation and functional nutrition.
He is also the host of the popular Dr. Jockers Functional Nutrition podcast, which has been consistently ranked among the top 50 health and fitness podcasts and has been the #1 ranked nutrition podcast in the world.
Dr. Jockers lives in Canton, Georgia with his wife Angel, his twin boys David and Joshua, and his daughters Joyful and Shine.
Hi! Where do I find the transcript? And how does any of this change if I am or get pregnant?
Taryn
Taryn, you can find the Transcript towards the bottom of the article. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, I recommend discussing any protocols or supplements with your healthcare practitioner to determine what’s best for you.
Longtime follower tried being a affiliate for you although I’m not a very good sales person even though I feel the stuff sells itself, have anything that has all those needed items that you spoke of above in one capsule? I’ve got a bottle of magnesium, a bottle of betain with pepsin, bottle of vitamin D bottle SBI protect. I just have so many capsules that I ended up quit taking everything, I got pill fatigued! I suffer from major fatigue, brain fog, low energy was diagnosed with Hashimoto several years ago changed my diet. I feel like I need everything you stated above but in like one or two capsules do you have any such thing?
Kelli, Thank you so much for being a longtime follower, and I truly appreciate your support as an affiliate! I completely understand the feeling of “pill fatigue.” When you’re dealing with fatigue, brain fog, and Hashimoto’s, managing multiple supplements can start to feel overwhelming. You’re definitely not alone in this. While many of the nutrients I recommend, like magnesium, vitamin D, Betaine with Pepsin, and SBI Protect, serve important roles in supporting gut health, nutrient absorption, and immune balance, I know it can be a lot to manage. Currently, there isn’t a single capsule that contains all of these specific ingredients together, largely because they serve different purposes and are best taken at different times or in different forms (for example, digestive support is typically taken with meals, while magnesium and vitamin D may be best taken separately). That said, I’ve worked to formulate some combination products that reduce the number of capsules needed—for example, my Rootcology line includes multi-nutrient blends like Nutrient 950 or Mitochondrial Support, which can help simplify routines depending on individual needs. That said, it’s always best to personalize your approach with the help of a knowledgeable practitioner. Sometimes, simplifying your regimen and focusing on just a few foundational items, like adrenal support, a high-quality multivitamin, or gut support, can still make a big difference. Sending you encouragement on your healing journey, it’s absolutely okay to scale back when needed and find a routine that works for you.