The Empowered Thyroid Podcast

You're eating healthy, exercising regularly, and doing all the things you're supposed to do, so why is your cholesterol still high?

If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's, there may be more to the story than what you're eating.

Your thyroid and liver are very closely connected, and when thyroid function is impaired, it can affect how your body processes cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, and metabolizes fat.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the often-overlooked connection between hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and stubborn weight gain.

We'll talk about why these conditions frequently occur together, what your blood work might be telling you, and why addressing your metabolic health involves so much more than simply eating less and exercising more.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why hypothyroidism can contribute to elevated LDL cholesterol, even when you're eating well
• The connection between thyroid hormones and fatty liver disease (MASLD)
• How fatty liver and insulin resistance can influence each other
• Why insulin resistance is often associated with stubborn belly fat and elevated triglycerides
• Which blood tests and investigations can help identify liver and metabolic health concerns
• Five strategies to support liver and metabolic health

If you've been struggling with weight gain, elevated cholesterol, or abnormal liver enzymes, this episode will help you better understand how these issues may be connected and what questions to ask about your health.

FREE LIVE TRAINING: Effective Weight Loss for Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto's (Nov. 12th, 14th & 17th, 2026)

If you want to learn what actually moves the needle for women with thyroid disease, then join me in this free, 3-day live training happening next week!

I'll be breaking down each of the underlying factors that can make weight loss more challenging when you have a thyroid issue, what you need to investigate, and the exact approach my team and I use to help women lose weight sustainably with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

Register here: https://www.drvongnd.com/wtlosstrainingnov2026

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

If you're eating healthy, cutting calories, exercising regularly, and STILL struggling to lose weight with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's, this episode is for you.

So many women have been told that weight loss is simply about eating less and moving more. But when you have a thyroid condition, there's often a lot more to the story.

In today's episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I'm challenging some of the most common beliefs about weight loss and helping you understand why the strategies that worked for you in the past might not be working anymore.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• How hypothyroidism affects your metabolism and why your body's energy requirements can change
• Why constantly cutting calories can make sustainable weight loss more difficult
• What metabolic adaptation is and how your body responds to prolonged calorie restriction
• Why eating more, rather than less, may sometimes be an important step for women who have been chronically undereating
• Why weight gain can be a symptom of a bigger health issue, and why focusing only on the number on the scale can mean missing the bigger picture

If you've spent years trying different diets and feeling like nothing works, this episode will help you start looking at weight loss from a completely different perspective.

Because the goal isn't just to lose weight. It's to understand what's happening in your body, improve your health, and find an approach that's actually sustainable.

FREE LIVE TRAINING: Effective Weight Loss for Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto's

If you want to learn what actually moves the needle for women with thyroid disease, then join me in this free, 3-day live training happening next week!

I'll be breaking down each of the underlying factors that can make weight loss more challenging when you have a thyroid issue, what you need to investigate, and the exact approach my team and I use to help women lose weight sustainably with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

Register here: https://www.drvongnd.com/wtlosstrainingnov2026

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

Have you ever treated SIBO, felt better for a few weeks or months, only to have the bloating, constipation, and digestive discomfort come right back?

SIBO recurrence is incredibly frustrating, but one of the biggest problems I see is that treatment often focuses on getting rid of the bacterial overgrowth without addressing why it developed in the first place.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, I'm walking you through my three-phase approach to SIBO treatment, including how I prepare patients for treatment, the different strategies used to address bacterial overgrowth, and what I focus on to help prevent SIBO from returning.

We'll also explore why women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's may be particularly susceptible to recurring digestive issues, and why optimizing thyroid function and gut motility can be such important pieces of the puzzle.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why SIBO frequently comes back after treatment and what may be contributing to recurrence
• My three-phase approach to SIBO treatment: preparation, eradication, and healing
• What bacterial biofilms are and why it's so important to address prior to treatment
• Conventional treatment with rifaximin versus herbal antimicrobial approaches
• The role of the elemental diet and low-FODMAP diet in managing SIBO
• Why the migrating motor complex (MMC) is so important for preventing recurrence
• How thyroid function, stomach acid, digestive enzymes, bile flow, stress, and meal spacing can influence digestive health
• What improvements you may experience when SIBO is successfully treated

If you've been struggling with persistent digestive symptoms or have gone through multiple rounds of SIBO treatment without lasting results, this episode will help you understand why there may be more to treatment than simply getting rid of the bacteria.

And if you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, make sure to check out Episode 14, where I explain what SIBO is, its connection to hypothyroidism, common symptoms, and how to test for it.

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

Up to 50% of people with hypothyroidism have SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth).

And yet, so many women struggling with chronic bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and digestive discomfort have never even heard of SIBO, let alone been tested for it.

SIBO is something I see incredibly often in my clinical practice. Many of the women I work with have spent years eliminating foods, taking probiotics and digestive supplements, or being told they have IBS, without ever understanding what might actually be contributing to their symptoms.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, I'm breaking down what SIBO is, why women with thyroid disease may be more susceptible to developing it, and how to recognize and test for it.

In this episode of the Empowered Thyroid Podcast, you'll learn:

• What SIBO is and why bacteria growing in the wrong part of your gut can cause so many symptoms
• The connection between hypothyroidism, gut motility, and the migrating motor complex (MMC)
• Common SIBO risk factors, including food poisoning and gut infections
• The most common signs and symptoms of SIBO
• The differences between hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide SIBO
• How SIBO breath testing works and what your results may tell you

If you've been struggling with digestive symptoms despite changing your diet and taking probiotics, this episode may help you understand what you might be missing.

And stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll discuss SIBO treatment options, the role of diet, and why SIBO can keep coming back even after treatment.

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

If you have Hashimoto’s, chances are you’ve come across the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) diet at some point.

It’s often recommended as the diet for autoimmune disease, but is it actually necessary for everyone with Hashimoto’s?

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m sharing why I don’t routinely recommend the AIP diet, despite having worked with hundreds of women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the AIP diet removes and why it’s commonly recommended for Hashimoto’s
• When I might actually consider using AIP with a patient
• Why more restriction isn’t always better
• How restrictive diets can sometimes lead to under-eating and under-nourishing
• Why sustainability matters more than perfection
• What I recommend instead for most women with Hashimoto’s

If you’ve ever wondered whether you really need to follow AIP to lower inflammation and support your Hashimoto’s, this episode is for you.

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

What happens when you’ve done all the “right” things for your Hashimoto’s, but you still don’t feel well?

You’ve cleaned up your diet. You’ve worked on your gut. You’re taking the supplements. Your thyroid is being treated. And yet, you’re still struggling with persistent fatigue, brain fog, and other stubborn symptoms, or your thyroid antibodies just won’t come down.

Sometimes, there may be more to the story than just your thyroid.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Liam LaTouche, ND, whose clinical practice focuses on chronic fatigue, chronic infections, autoimmunity and complex chronic illness.

We take a deeper look at what may be going on in some of the more complex Hashimoto’s cases, including:

• How to recognize when fatigue may be more complex than typical hypothyroid fatigue
• Chronic infections and viral reactivation, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• The connection between chronic infections, immune dysregulation and Hashimoto’s
• POTS, dysautonomia and why these symptoms can easily be mistaken for thyroid symptoms
• Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
• Mold exposure and other potential barriers to healing
• What persistently elevated thyroid antibodies may be telling us
• How Dr. Liam approaches investigating a complex case when the usual pieces aren’t enough

We also walk through a real patient case involving Hashimoto’s, profound fatigue, mold exposure and viral reactivation, and how looking beyond the obvious pieces helped uncover what had been missed.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but something is still missing, this episode is an important reminder that your symptoms are not necessarily “just Hashimoto’s” and sometimes we need to widen the lens to see the rest of the puzzle.

CONNECT WITH DR. LIAM:
https://liamlatouche.com/
https://rootedinhealth.ca/

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

What is actually driving your Hashimoto’s?

If you have Hashimoto’s, you may have been told that there’s nothing you can really do beyond taking thyroid medication and monitoring your TSH.

But Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition and while thyroid medication can be incredibly important for replacing the thyroid hormones your body needs, it doesn’t address the bigger question of what may be contributing to the immune dysfunction and inflammation in the first place.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m breaking down the 8 major triggers and drivers I look at when working with women with Hashimoto’s, including:

• Genetics
• Chronic stress
• Gut dysfunction
• Chronic infections
• Toxin exposure
• Nutrient imbalances
• Blood sugar and insulin resistance
• Hormonal shifts like puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause

I’ll explain how these different factors can fit into the bigger Hashimoto’s picture, why I believe so many women who feel like they’ve “tried everything” may simply still be missing pieces of their puzzle, and the importance of rebuilding your body’s resilience rather than spending your life trying to avoid every possible trigger.

I’ll also walk you through the story of one of my clients, Lyndsay, and how uncovering things like SIBO, nutrient deficiencies, insulin resistance and chronic stress helped us better understand what was contributing to years of debilitating fatigue, brain fog, bloating, poor sleep, hair loss and unpredictable weight changes.

If you’re doing “all the right things” but still struggling with symptoms or persistently elevated thyroid antibodies, this episode will help you understand where you may need to look next.

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

If I could be in the doctor’s office with every woman the moment she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, there are five things I would want her to know.

Because for so many women, the conversation goes something like this: “You have Hashimoto's. You’ll need to take thyroid medication. We’ll monitor your TSH.”

And that’s it.

No real explanation of what Hashimoto’s actually is. No conversation about why your immune system is attacking your thyroid. And very little guidance around what you can actually do to be proactive about your health.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m sharing five things I wish every woman knew when she was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s: the things that could save you years of frustration, confusion and feeling like you have no control over what happens next.

We’ll talk about why Hashimoto’s is not just a thyroid problem, why I believe the “watch and wait” approach leaves so many women without the support they need, and why thyroid medication is only one piece of the bigger picture.

And if you finish this episode thinking, “Why has nobody ever explained Hashimoto’s to me this way before?”...

JOIN ME FOR THE HASHIMOTO’S SOLUTION:
Starting Thursday, September 24th at 12:00 PM EST, I’m hosting my FREE 3-day LIVE virtual Hashimoto’s masterclass.

This is the training where I go much deeper into everything we introduce in this episode and teach you what I wish every woman with Hashimoto’s understood about what is actually happening inside her body.

We’ll talk about the bigger picture behind Hashimoto’s, the most common drivers/triggers of immune system dysregulation, and the strategies I use with my clients to help them lower their thyroid antibodies, get their energy back, lose weight more easily, and feel like themselves again.

I’ll also be sharing real client case studies, and you’ll hear from women who have gone through their own Hashimoto’s journeys and experienced meaningful changes in their health.

If you’ve been told to “watch and wait,” because your labs are still “normal” but you don’t feel well, or you simply know there has to be more you can do for your Hashimoto’s than take medication and check your TSH once a year, this masterclass is for you.

This is the last time I’ll be teaching The Hashimoto’s Solution this year, so make sure you save your spot.

👉 REGISTER FOR THE FREE HASHIMOTO’S SOLUTION MASTERCLASS:
https://www.drvongnd.com/thehashimotossolutionsep2026

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

If you have Hashimoto’s and feel like your body suddenly changed when you hit your late 30s or 40s, you’re not imagining it.

Maybe you’re gaining weight (especially around your belly) even though you haven’t changed the way you eat. Your energy is lower, you’re waking up in the middle of the night, your brain feels foggy, your mood is different, and suddenly the things that used to work for your body just… don’t anymore.

So is it your thyroid? Is it perimenopause? Or is it both?

|In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m breaking down what actually happens to your body during perimenopause and why this hormonal transition can be particularly important for women with Hashimoto’s.

We’ll talk about why perimenopause is much more than simply declining estrogen, how fluctuating estrogen and progesterone can influence your immune system, brain, sleep, metabolism and body composition, and why major hormonal transitions like pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause can sometimes act as triggers for Hashimoto’s in susceptible women.

I also explain why insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain can become more common during this stage, why the same diet and exercise strategies you used in your 20s and 30s may stop working the way they once did, and why simply eating less and exercising more isn’t always the answer.

We’ll also get into some of the areas I focus on most with women going through perimenopause, including strength training, protein, blood sugar and insulin, stress and sleep, liver health, gut health and hormone metabolism.

And finally, I share my perspective on hormone therapy, including bio-identical hormones like estradiol and micronized progesterone and an important consideration if you’re already taking thyroid medication.

Because perimenopause doesn’t have to mean spending your 40s and 50s feeling like you’ve completely lost control of your body. Your body may need different support now than it did at 25 and understanding what has changed is the first step toward knowing what to do about it.


✅ THE HASHIMOTO’S SOLUTION MASTERCLASS:
If you have Hashimoto’s and want to better understand what may be driving your autoimmunity and what you can actually do beyond simply taking thyroid medication, join me for my FREE 3-day live masterclass, The Hashimoto’s Solution, beginning September 24th at 12:00 PM EST.

👉 Register here: https://www.drvongnd.com/thehashimotossolutionsep2026

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

If you’re getting enough sleep but still wake up exhausted, hit a wall every afternoon, or feel like you’re constantly running on empty… this episode is for you.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, but that doesn’t mean you should simply accept feeling exhausted as your “new normal.”

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m breaking down some of the biggest reasons I see women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's struggle with debilitating fatigue and why the answer isn’t always as simple as getting more sleep, drinking more coffee, or finding the right energy supplement.

We’ll talk about some of the most commonly overlooked contributors to fatigue like low iron and nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, chronic stress, and inflammation.

I’ll also walk you through some of the blood tests and patterns I look at when someone comes to me struggling with low energy, and what you should start investigating if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually causing your fatigue.

Because fatigue is a symptom. It’s information. And instead of asking, “What can I take to give me more energy?” the better question is actually: “Why am I so tired in the first place?”

If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s and feel like your exhaustion has started taking pieces of your life away, this episode will help you understand what may be contributing to your fatigue and what you can do to get your energy back.

LINKS:

• Book a complimentary discovery call with our thyroid-focused team: https://www.drvongnd.com/apply
• Download my FREE thyroid lab guide: https://www.drvongnd.com/thyroidlabguide
• Learn more about our comprehensive 5-month thyroid program, the Thyroid Reset System: https://thyroidresetsystem.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1107407

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvongnd/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗