LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Many people are surprised to learn that the thyroid, gallbladder, liver, and even our genes can be deeply connected. But when symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and sluggish detox show up, the real culprit may lie at the intersection of methylation, bile flow, and nutrient processing, especially if you have an MTHFR gene variation.
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I interview nutritionist and methylation expert Lisa Windbourn about how the MTHFR gene variant can impact liver and gallbladder function, increase the risk for fatty liver, and create major challenges for thyroid health. Lisa brings her deep personal and clinical experience to this conversation, helping us understand how supporting methylation and bile production can dramatically improve fatigue, detoxification, mood, and hormone balance.
If you’ve ever felt confused or anxious about having an MTHFR “mutation” (as it’s often incorrectly called), this episode is here to give you important information and tools to help you understand your root causes and feel better for good.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- What the MTHFR gene variation really means, and why it’s not a mutation: Lisa explains how this common genetic difference affects folate activation and detoxification. You’ll learn why this variation doesn’t guarantee symptoms and how stress, toxins, and lifestyle choices determine whether symptoms appear.
- How MTHFR relates to thyroid, liver, and gallbladder issues: This single enzyme plays a key role in hormone clearance, bile flow, and nutrient absorption. Sluggish methylation can increase the risk for Hashimoto’s, fatty liver, and digestive challenges, even in people following a clean diet.
- Why folic acid may be making things worse: Folic acid, the synthetic version of vitamin B9 found in many processed foods and supplements, can interfere with detox and methylation in people with MTHFR. Lisa shares how to spot it on labels and how to choose more effective forms like folate, methylfolate, or folinic acid.
- How to personalize your supplement approach: Not everyone does well with high-dose methylfolate. Lisa explains how your mood tendencies, such as anxiety or low energy, can guide your choices. You’ll also learn about gentler options like riboflavin, glycine, and TMG.
- How to support detox naturally, even without a gallbladder: Lisa offers practical tools, including salt flushes, breathwork, food-based nutrients, and bile support. These simple habits can help reduce inflammation, improve energy, and restore digestive function without intense protocols.
- Why balance is better than perfection: From enjoying dessert to skipping extreme wellness trends, Lisa and Izabella talk about real-life healing. They remind us that joy, flexibility, and self-awareness are just as important as supplements and lab tests.
Freebies
- Get Lisa’s free MTHFR Guide
Guest Resources / Connect with Lisa Windborn
- Learn more at Lisa’s website
- Follow Lisa on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube
- Check out Lisa’s Metabolism Tuneup for MTHFR
Supplements We Discussed
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Essential for supporting methylation and an important workaround for those sensitive to methylfolate. This product is available here via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here.
- Trimethylglycine (TMG): A gentle methyl donor that supports the methionine cycle and detox pathways. This product is available here via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here.
- Creatine: Another methylation workaround that helps spare methyl groups.
- Beef organ complex: A rich food-based source of B vitamins and nutrients that support methylation and liver health. This product is available here via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here.
- Magnesium and electrolyte support: Helps support adrenal health, energy, and hydration. Consider Rootcology Magnesium Citrate Powder and Rootcology Electrolyte Blend.
- SAMe: Supports mood and methylation but should be used with caution and not long-term.
- Selenium: Often helpful for thyroid health, but may cause issues in over-methylators or those with CBS gene variations. Consider Rootcology Selenium + Myo-Inositol.
- Betaine with Pepsin: Helps support digestion and methylation, especially in those with low stomach acid. Consider Rootcology Betaine with Pepsin.
- MTHFR Pathways: Contains important nutrients that work together to support the metabolism of homocysteine and help maintain healthy homocysteine levels.
Other Tools and Resources
- Salt flush: A simple electrolyte boost using ¼ tsp unrefined sea salt in water, optionally flavored with lemon or lime.
- Coherence breathing: A 6-second inhale/6-second exhale rhythm to support vagus nerve tone and shift out of fight-or-flight.
- Infrared sauna or sunlight exposure: Supports detoxification, hormone balance, and circadian rhythm health. Consider the Sunlighten sauna.
- Beets, leafy greens, eggs, and citrus fruits: Key foods to support methylation, bile flow, and detox.
Books and Articles About Methylation and Thyroid Health
- The Best Probiotics for Hashimoto’s
- The Benefits of Vitamin D for Thyroid Health
- How Do Adaptogenic Herbs Benefit Hashimoto’s?
- How Betaine with Pepsin Can Help with Hashimoto’s
- MTHFR, Hashimoto’s and Nutrients
- Selenium: The Nutrient That Can Reduce Thyroid Antibodies by 40%
- Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
- 8 Benefits of the Infrared Sauna That Can Reduce Symptoms of Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism
- The Importance of Electrolytes for Hashimoto’s
- How Your Gallbladder Affects Hashimoto’s and Fat Digestion
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 rate it on Spotify!
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
Nutritionist and methylation expert Lisa Windbourn helps women with fatty liver, no gallbladder, or MTHFR variations have more energy, sleep better, and lose weight with methylation-focused nutrition.
Leave a Reply