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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I interviewed Autumn Smith, co-founder of Paleovalley and a holistic nutrition expert, to explore one of the most confusing (and controversial) topics in health: what we should actually be eating to feel our best.
Autumn shares her deeply personal journey from struggling with IBS, anxiety, and nutrient deficiencies to completely transforming her health through food. What I love about this conversation is that it goes beyond diet “labels” and dives into what truly nourishes the body – especially for those of us with thyroid conditions, fatigue, and mood challenges.
We talk about protein, nutrient deficiencies, the role of animal foods, glycine, and why many of us may be unknowingly undernourished, even when we think we’re eating “healthy.” If you’ve ever felt confused about what to eat (or frustrated that “clean eating” didn’t fix your symptoms), this episode is for you.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- How a “healthy” diet can still leave you undernourished: Autumn shares how her salad-heavy, low-protein diet contributed to IBS, anxiety, and instability, highlighting how common it is for women to miss key nutrients like protein and amino acids, even when eating “clean.”
- The connection between protein, mood, and mental health: Without adequate protein, your body can’t produce key neurotransmitters, which can contribute to anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue, even when your diet looks balanced on the surface.
- Why iron deficiency may be the missing link in persistent thyroid symptoms: Low ferritin levels can impact hair growth, energy, and how well your body responds to thyroid medication, yet this is often overlooked in conventional care.
- Why glycine deserves more attention in modern diets: This often overlooked amino acid plays a key role in sleep quality, inflammation, detoxification, and healthy aging, and many people may not be getting enough from muscle-meat-heavy diets alone.
- What actually sets grass-fed meat apart from conventional options: Farming practices directly impact nutrient density, omega-3 levels, and inflammatory potential, making food quality an important factor in how your body responds to what you eat.
- Why food quality matters just as much as food type. Labels like “organic,” “free-range,” and “grass-fed” can be misleading, and understanding what they actually mean can make a big difference in your health outcomes.
I’m excited to share that my new book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is out now! Many people with Hashimoto’s have irritable bowel syndrome, which can be both a root cause and symptom of autoimmunity. This comprehensive guide 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.
Guest Resources / Connect with Autumn Smith
- Visit Paleovalley and Wild Pastures
- Follow Paleovalley and Wild Pastures on Instagram
- Follow Paleovalley and Wild Pastures on Facebook
- Check out Autumn Smith on YouTube
- Wild Pastures meat delivery service: Get delicious, nutrient-dense, 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised meats for the lowest prices. Sign up today and get 20% off for life plus $15 off your first box.
Supplements We Discussed
- Organ meat supplements – Provide highly bioavailable nutrients like iron, B12, vitamin A, and copper that support energy, thyroid function, and overall vitality.
- Grass-Fed Organ Complex – A supplement in capsule form created to make getting a full spectrum of traditional superfoods into your body faster, easier, and without that “liver” taste. Contains three organs from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle.
- Grass-Fed Beef Liver supplements – The only product of its kind on the market made from 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle from small-scale, regenerative farms in the USA. Freeze drying retains over 92% of the nutrients found in raw liver. Capsules are a simple and convenient way to enjoy nature’s “superfood” if you don’t enjoy the taste of organ meats.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – Support brain health, reduce inflammation, and help regulate mood and cardiovascular function. Consider Paleo Valley Omega 3 Complex.
- Magnesium glycinate – Supports relaxation, sleep quality, and nervous system balance, while also providing glycine. Consider Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate.
- Glycine (or collagen/bone broth) – Helps improve sleep, support detoxification, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy skin and joints. Consider Designs for Health Glycine Powder.
- Berberine – Supports blood sugar balance and metabolic health, partly by influencing the gut microbiome and carbohydrate absorption. Consider Rootcology Berberine.
Other Tools and Resources
- IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Dr. Izabella Wentz – Many with Hashimoto’s and autoimmunity experience gut issues like IBS even though they may be eating “clean.” Yet, many are either never told about it or given a diagnosis that doesn’t address the deeper causes. This comprehensive guide will help you understand your root causes and help set you on the path to lasting wellness.
- Paleovalley Snacks – These travel-friendly snacks are created with integrity, free of additives and hormones, and packed with healthy nutrients. They are preserved through fermentation, which results in a delicious, shelf-stable product that contains probiotics. Save 15% on Turkey Sticks and Beef Sticks with these links.
- Bone broth (homemade or powdered) – A rich source of glycine and collagen that supports gut health, skin, and recovery. Consider Paleovalley Bone Broth (there’s even a chocolate flavor! : -)
- Fermented foods – Help improve gut health and microbial diversity, which play a key role in immunity and digestion. Consider stocking your pantry with fermented foods like sauerkraut and fermented probiotic beverages.
- Grass-fed and pasture-raised meats (regenerative meat sources) – Provide more nutrient-dense food while supporting environmental sustainability. Get it delivered straight to your door via companies like US Wellness Meats and Wild Pastures.
- Iron/ferritin testing – Consider the Ultalabs ferritin test to check on your ferritin levels. (You can self-order the labs and later submit them for potential reimbursement, but please check with your individual insurance first to ensure coverage.)
Books and Articles About Nutrition & Thyroid Health
- Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us – Book by Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall
- IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Dr. Izabella Wentz – This is the exact framework she wished she had years before her own IBS diagnosis.
- Study on Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) – Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- How Balancing Iron Levels Can Help Your Thyroid
- Which Protein is Safe for Hashimoto’s
- The Benefits of Amino Acids for Hashimoto’s
- Blood Sugar, Hashimoto’s, Ozempic, Metformin and Berberine
- Why Essential Fatty Acids Are Essential for Hashimoto’s
- Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
- The Best Diet For Hashimoto’s
- A Paleo Diet: Will It Resolve Your 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, is now out in the world, and available here!
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About Our Guest
Autumn Smith suffered from debilitating digestive issues and crippling anxiety for most of her life. Specialist after specialist told her nothing could be done, and she was ready to give up. As one final attempt, Autumn turned to whole foods. In just 30 days, her IBS was cured, her anxiety lessened, her mind became sharper, and her bubbly personality returned. Since then, Autumn has dedicated her life to helping others harness the power of whole foods to live vibrant, healthy lives.
In 2013, she and her husband, Chas, launched Paleovalley, a company committed to providing essential nutrients without added sugars, grains, or harmful ingredients. Inspired by the healing powers of grass-fed, pasture-raised meat – both for human health and the planet – they launched Wild Pastures in 2018, a regenerative meat delivery service that brings 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised meat straight to your doorstep.
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