Episode #524
My Guest:
As a Functional Medicine M.D., Dr. Peter Kozlowski uses a broad array of tools to find the source of the body’s dysfunction: he takes the time to listen to his patients and plots their history on a timeline, considering what makes them unique and co-creating with them a truly individualized care plan. Currently, he works with patients online and in-person via his Chicago, Illinois, and Bozeman, Montana-based offices. Dr. Kozlowski did his residency in Family Practice but started training in Functional Medicine as an intern. He trained in the clinics with leaders in his field including Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Susan Blum.
Questions we answer in this episode:
- Why has thyroid disease become so prevalent?
- Why is thyroid disease so prevalent among midlife women?
- The thyroid is part of a whole picture: Can it be diagnosed and treated too soon if other things are not addressed? For instance, adrenal issues?
- How can it be managed?
- How can thyroid function be improved without medication?
- Let’s review the difference between Western-based typical testing and functional diagnostic tests necessary to really get a picture of what’s happening for someone suspected of thyroid issues. What is typically tested, what’s missing, as well as how is that interpreted in a way that only addresses “norms” vs optimal levels?
- Typically tested and missing and why that’s important?
Review for listeners, many of who are becoming increasingly aware that being in the normal range is not what you want, knowing a lot of people who don’t feel good make up those norms, how are optimal levels determined? (This is something we’ve never discussed in this way).
Let’s review dietary changes that will support a thyroid condition? And clarify that…. Is this supporting thyroid function in a way that can improve it? In doing so, does that mean that dietary changes could reduce the need for thyroid medicine or the amount of thyroid medication? Specifically, Ferritin levels and B12, or the importance of selenium, or disruption from sea salt.
What is an adequate amount of time a woman should make consistent changes to test the effect of habits on her body before ruling it out as not working, not enough, or too much to make the next change?