LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I interviewed Dr. Tom O’Bryan, a longtime mentor, pioneer in functional medicine, and one of the earliest voices to bring gluten sensitivity and immune-driven inflammation into the mainstream conversation.
We explored why chronic inflammation is not a “root cause,” but rather a root mechanism behind most modern diseases – including autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, neurological disorders, and fertility challenges. Dr. Tom explains why suppressing inflammation without addressing why the immune system is activated in the first place can stall healing, and how identifying immune triggers like gluten, toxins, mold, and gut dysfunction can change the trajectory of disease.
This conversation is especially powerful if you’ve ever been told your labs are “normal,” you’ve tried elimination diets or cleanses without lasting results, or you feel stuck despite doing “all the right things.” Healing isn’t about one magic fix – it’s about removing the brakes that are keeping your body from recovering.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why inflammation isn’t the root cause – it’s the root mechanism. Dr. Tom explains why chronic inflammation is the common denominator behind 14 of the 15 leading causes of death, and why the real question isn’t how to suppress inflammation, but what your immune system is trying to protect you from.
- The surprising reason gluten affects nearly 87% of people with Hashimoto’s. Even without digestive symptoms, gluten can drive autoimmune thyroid inflammation. One exposure can elevate antibodies for months, which is why “cheat days” can quietly undo progress.
- How toxins silently erode immune tolerance, starting before birth. We discuss how glyphosate, phthalates, mold, and other environmental toxins can impair fertility, brain development, and immune balance, even in people living seemingly “clean” lifestyles.
- Why outdated lab tests miss the real drivers of autoimmunity. Dr. Tom shares how newer silicone chip-based testing has dramatically improved accuracy, revealing food sensitivities, endotoxins, brain inflammation, and toxic burden that conventional tests often miss.
- Why healing works best when you remove obstacles one at a time. Instead of overwhelm, Dr. Tom recommends a simple approach: identify your biggest immune triggers, then address them gradually – one hour per week – to create sustainable, long-term healing.
I’ve got a new book coming out!
Thyroid patients often have other symptoms in the body, including gut issues. Through my thyroid healing journey, I’ve learned so much about healing the gut that I decided to write a book about it! My new book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a comprehensive guide that reveals how irritable bowel syndrome is often a catch-all diagnosis that overlooks treatable root causes. It offers a step-by-step approach to help readers understand what’s really driving gut symptoms, and how to create a personalized plan to restore gut health and overall wellness. The book is available for preorder here and will be released on March 17, 2026! For a limited time, you can claim 3 free preorder bonuses before it’s released!
Freebies
- Download Recipes to Tame the Flame – 75+ anti-inflammatory recipes to reduce inflammation, heal the gut, and support brain function.
- Houseplant Guide for Air Detoxification – Learn which plants help remove toxins from indoor air.
- The Inflammation Equation (9-part educational series) – Dr. Tom’s in-depth exploration of immune-driven inflammation
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Tom O’Bryan
- Learn more at Dr. O’Bryan’s Website
- Follow on Instagram and Facebook
- You Can Fix Your Brain: Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You’ve Ever Had by Dr. Tom O’Bryan – For anyone worried about any type of brain ailment, ranging from the chronic conditions to simple brain fog and fatigue, this essential guide covers the full spectrum of prevention to treatment.
Supplements We Discussed
- Curcumin – A powerful anti-inflammatory compound that supports immune balance and helps reduce inflammatory signaling without suppressing immune function. Consider Rootcology Curcumin Absorb.
- Zinc – Supports gut barrier integrity and helps neutralize endotoxins linked to leaky gut and systemic inflammation. Consider Pure Encapsulations Zinc 30.
- Glycine – Plays a role in detoxification pathways and may help bind glyphosate and support liver health. Consider Designs for Health Glycine Powder.
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) – Supports glutathione production and assists the body’s natural detoxification processes. Consider Rootcology Pure N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Other Tools and Resources
- Total Toxic Burden Lab Testing – A urine-based test that assesses heavy metals, mold metabolites, pesticides, and glyphosate exposure.
- Wheat Zoomer – Advanced testing that evaluates immune reactions to multiple wheat peptides, not just one marker.
- Gut Zoomer – Comprehensive gut health test assessing microbiome balance, infections, and intestinal permeability.
- Neural Zoomer Plus – Measures markers of brain inflammation associated with cognitive decline and neurological autoimmunity.
- Vegetable Wash (Truly Free) – Helps remove surface pesticides and chemicals from conventional produce.
- Air Purifiers & Saunas – Support toxin elimination through improved air quality and sweat-based detox pathways. Consider AirDoctor and Sunlighten.
- Eat Organic Where Possible – Check the Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen lists to understand which products contain the most pesticides.
Books and Articles About Thyroid Health & Autoimmunity
- IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Dr. Izabella Wentz – Inflammation is closely linked to so many thyroid symptoms, including gut issues. This comprehensive guide offers a step-by-step approach to help you understand what’s really driving gut symptoms, and how to create a personalized plan to restore gut health for overall wellness. The book is available for preorder now and will be released on March 17, 2026!
- Turmeric for Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s
- The Surprising Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Hashimoto’s
- NAC for Immune Health, Detoxification and Gut Health
- Air Quality and Hashimoto’s – Is the Air You’re Breathing Making You Sick?
- 8 Benefits of the Infrared Sauna That Can Reduce Symptoms of Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism
- 6 Root Causes Behind Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity
- 9 Sneaky Thyroid Toxins Hiding in Your Home
- Mold: A Potential Trigger of 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 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 Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, will be released on March 17, 2026, and is available for pre-order here.
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About Our Guest
When it comes to getting healthy, Dr. Tom O’Bryan’s goal for you is “Making It Easy To Do the Right Thing”. As an internationally recognized, admired and compassionate speaker focused on food sensitivities, environmental toxins, and the development of autoimmune diseases, Dr. Tom’s audiences discover that it is through a clear understanding of how you got to where you are, that you and your doctor can figure out what it will take to get you well.
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