The Rising Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in California

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

The rising incidence of thyroid cancer in California has been of great concern among many physicians. A recent study out of the University of California, Los Angeles has found a higher rate of advanced thyroid cancer in certain parts of California. The numbers are well above the national average in certain parts of the state, leading researchers to look into …

Glutened? Recover with these 5 steps.

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

With the holidays upon us, celiac disease and gluten exposure has been on my mind and many of my patient’s minds too. When you are traveling or at the mercy of other people’s cooking, it can be hard to tell if you are getting “glutened.” Many people feel that eating gluten isn’t a big deal unless you have celiac disease. But there …

Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Fertility to Postpartum

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

Autoimmune thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, affects over 20 million of Americans, the majority of which are women. Thyroid conditions have a direct impact on our fertility, pregnancy, birth outcomes and can have a large influence on our postpartum period. But for some women, childbirth is the triggering event that leads to postpartum thyroiditis. Bridgit Danner, LAc and I …

Common Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

Estrogen and Progesterone are generally regarded as the female sex hormones, although women also have testosterone, but it is in lower amounts than men (except in PCOS). When your sex hormones are out of balance, they are rarely alone. In fact, your hormonal imbalance symptoms may stem from issues with your adrenals, thyroid, gut, liver, diet or lifestyle factors. Because of …

Doctor’s Orders: Should I Stop Drinking Coffee?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

In my practice, I get asked about coffee nearly every day. “Should I stop drinking coffee” is one of the most common questions I get. Often, my patients assume I’ll tell them to stop drinking coffee and are surprised when I tell them that it depends on their unique situation. Coffee has many health benefits, including lowering the risk of liver …

Hypothyroidism? Why You Should Absolutely Quit Gluten Now

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

It is estimated that approximately 90 percent of hypothyroidism in the United States is caused by an autoimmune condition. In these cases of autoimmune hypothyroidism, known as Hashimoto’s, antibodies attack the thyroid, resulting in thyroid tissue destruction. There is evidence showing gluten plays a significant role in driving the antibody attack against your thyroid.

hypothyroidism symptoms

10 Signs You Have Hypothyroidism

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid, Thyroid & Hormone Balance

There are very obvious signs you have hypothyroidism and then much more subtle signs that can make this condition easy to miss. Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder, which means it affects hormones—in this case, thyroid hormone. Thankfully, providers are getting better at recognizing the signs. Even so, symptoms are often subtle or chalked up to other things, which means it …

Is Leaky Gut Causing You to Gain Weight?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS), also known as intestinal permeability, is a condition that leads to widespread inflammation and hormonal disruption throughout the body. Inflammation, imbalance in gut flora and hormonal imbalances can create a state of disharmony in your body that may be one of the reasons for weight gain. What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome? Between the cells of your …