5 Hidden Toxins Wreaking Havoc on Your Gut and Thyroid

Welcome to Healthy Gut Healthy Thyroid!

This is your weekly roundup of the BEST actionable steps for those people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions who want to restore their health…by healing their gut. Whether you have hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto’s you will benefit from the content in this newsletter.

In today's issue:

• Main Topic: 5 Hidden Toxins Wreaking Havoc on Your Gut and Thyroid

• Podcast Review: Why Healthy People Still Get Bone Loss

• Ask Dr. Eric: What natural treatment approach should I take if I have the antibodies for both Graves’ and Hashimoto’s?

5 Hidden Toxins Wreaking Havoc on Your Gut and Thyroid

Every day, we’re exposed to thousands of synthetic chemicals—many of which impact our health in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Some disrupt the gut microbiome. Others interfere with thyroid function. And unfortunately, a select few do both.

This isn’t just a theory—it’s backed by peer-reviewed research. So while it’s impossible to avoid all environmental toxicants, becoming aware of the most disruptive ones can help you take action to reduce your exposure.

Keep in mind that since most of the immune system cells are located in the gut, having any type of gut dysbiosis or disruption can affect thyroid health. And so while some of these toxins directly affect thyroid health by acting as endocrine disruptors, others will impact thyroid autoimmunity by affecting the gut microbiome.

And so you’ll notice that most of the research articles referenced in this newsletter are related to the impact of these toxicants on the gut microbiome. But just remember that all of them either directly or indirectly affect thyroid health as well.

Let’s explore five of the worst offenders:

Toxicant #1: Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a synthetic compound commonly used in plastic bottles, food containers, thermal receipts, dental products, and even children's toys. Due to its structural similarity to estrogen, BPA can bind to hormone receptors and has been linked to endocrine disorders including thyroid conditions, infertility, PCOS, and hormone-sensitive cancers.¹

But it doesn’t stop there. BPA, along with its analogues BPS, BPF, and TMBPF, has been shown to alter the composition of the gut microbiome.^2,3 These disruptions may weaken gut integrity and contribute to chronic inflammation.

Toxicant #2: Mercury. Mercury exposure can come from multiple sources—including dental amalgams, contaminated fish, and even chewing foods like nuts, seeds, or gum when amalgams are present.^4,5

There are two primary forms of mercury:

Methylmercury, found in seafood, can accumulate in the brain and nervous system.

Inorganic mercury, found in dental fillings, can also be absorbed and disrupt internal systems.

Studies show mercury can damage tight junctions in the gut lining, alter microbial balance, and trigger immune responses that worsen gut inflammation.⁶

Toxicant #3: Phthalates. Phthalates are plasticizers commonly found in packaging, food containers, personal care products, and household dust. They’re classified as endocrine disruptors and are nearly impossible to avoid in the modern environment.^7,8

One study found that phthalates and other microplastics accumulate in the gut, where they reduce short-chain fatty acid production and disrupt the microbiota’s metabolic activity.⁹ They’ve also been shown to influence the gut-brain axis, potentially impacting mood and neurological health.¹⁰

Toxicant #4: Organochlorines and Pesticides. Organochlorines (OCs) are a group of persistent pesticides known for their long half-life and toxic effects. Even though many have been banned, they still persist in the environment and food supply.¹¹

Numerous studies have shown these chemicals can impair gut health by disrupting microbial balance and encouraging dysbiosis.^12,13 This microbial imbalance may increase intestinal permeability and activate immune pathways linked to autoimmunity.

Toxicant #5: Glyphosate. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, is heavily used on genetically modified crops. It’s one of the most pervasive agricultural chemicals—and one of the most concerning for thyroid and gut health.

Studies show glyphosate selectively harms beneficial gut bacteria while allowing harmful pathogens like Clostridium and Salmonella to thrive.^14,15 This creates an imbalanced gut environment that contributes to inflammation, leaky gut, and autoimmune responses.

What You Can Do

You can’t eliminate all exposure, but you can lower your toxic load by making a few strategic shifts:

BPA: Avoid drinking from plastic bottles. Use glass or stainless steel instead. Skip receipts when possible.

Mercury: If you have silver amalgam fillings, consider a safe removal process with a biological dentist. Limit intake of large fish like tuna and swordfish.

Phthalates: Reduce exposure by choosing phthalate-free personal care products and storing food in glass.

Pesticides & Glyphosate: Eat mostly organic when possible—especially high-residue crops like strawberries, spinach, and apples.

Conclusion

Reducing your exposure to these five toxicants can have a profound impact on your gut integrity, thyroid function, and immune balance. It’s not about perfection—it’s about making small, consistent changes that move the needle in the right direction.

The more you reduce your toxic burden, the better your gut can heal—and the more likely your thyroid is to calm down and rebalance.

Find Your Graves’ Disease Triggers

If you have been diagnosed with Graves' disease and have been told that your only three options are 1) antithyroid medication, 2) radioactive iodine, or 3) thyroid surgery, then you might be interested in a FREE 5-day "Find Your Graves' Disease Triggers" challenge I'll be hosting from December 6th through December 10th.

During this 5-day challenge you will...

• Discover the 3 biggest mistakes people with Graves' disease make

• Learn the real root causes of Graves’ disease

• Find out how to become your own health detective and start uncovering some of your triggers on your own

• Learn when to move beyond guesswork—discover which tests actually matter, what they reveal, and how to determine which ones you should specifically do

How Does The Challenge Work?

Every day I'll present a live lesson on Zoom, starting on Saturday December 6th at 2pm EST. If you're unable to attend live there will be a limited time window where you can watch the recordings.

There will also be a Healing Graves' Naturally community associated with the challenge. This community IS NOT on Facebook, and while it's not necessary to join the community to attend the live Zoom calls, this community is where the engagement will take place, and you'll also have the opportunity to win some great prizes!

For more information please visit the following:

https://savemythyroid.com/findyourtriggers 

Best of health,

Dr. Eric

P.S. Although the 5-day challenge is free, after you register there will be an option to upgrade to VIP.  This is completely optional, and while it includes extra live calls and some cool bonuses, even if you only take advantage of the free challenge I'm confident you will receive a lot of value from it.  

P.P.S. Although the main focus will be on finding Graves' disease triggers, if you have a different type of hyperthyroid condition you will also benefit from a lot of the information presented.

Save My Thyroid Podcast Review

I have a podcast called "Save My Thyroid", where I discuss how people with hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's can save their thyroid and regain their health. And during each edition of this newsletter I'll briefly discuss a recent podcast episode.

In a recent podcast episode I chatted with Dr. Ben Weitz about how to increase bone density. When Dr. Ben Weitz fractured his femur and was told it might never heal, he turned to the same principles he’s used with patients for decades: ‘root cause, functional medicine’ thinking. In this conversation, he shares how he designed a bone-healing protocol that combined targeted nutrition, vitamin K2 and vitamin D optimization, growth factors, and the right kind of exercise stimulus.

We also discuss why bone loss and osteoporosis aren’t just ‘aging issues’, how testing like trabecular bone scores can reveal what DEXA scans miss, and why many medications block bone repair instead of rebuilding it. The story offers a powerful look at how science, persistence, and patient intuition can work together to restore strength naturally.

If you’ve ever worried about bone density, fractures, or slow healing, this episode will help you understand what your bones really need to rebuild safely and effectively.

Ask Dr. Eric

During every issue I'll answer a question or two that I think can benefit most people with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition. If you'd like for me to consider your question for a future edition of this newsletter email your question to [email protected].

QUESTION: WHAT NATURAL TREATMENT APPROACH SHOULD I TAKE IF I HAVE BOTH GRAVES’ AND HASHIMOTO’S ANTIBODIES?

Dr. Eric, what natural treatment approach should I take if I have the antibodies for both Graves’ and Hashimoto’s?

Thanks for your question! It's actually quite common for people to test positive for multiple thyroid antibodies. To provide some context, here are the three main types of thyroid antibodies:

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies: These are the most frequently detected and are primarily associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. However, many people with Graves’ disease also test positive for TPO antibodies.

Thyroglobulin antibodies: These are more closely linked to Hashimoto’s and typically indicate autoimmune thyroid activity targeting the thyroglobulin protein.

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI): A form of TSH receptor antibody (TRAb), these are commonly associated with Graves’ disease and are responsible for stimulating the thyroid to produce excess hormone.

What If You Have Antibodies for Both?

Although symptom management for Graves’ and Hashimoto’s differs significantly—especially given that one leads to hyperthyroidism and the other often results in hypothyroidism—the autoimmune root cause approach remains quite similar for both.

For example, if I’m working with someone who has hyperthyroidism and tests positive for TSI only, my approach wouldn’t drastically change if that same person also tested positive for TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies. That’s because the primary goal is still the same:

#1 Goal: Identify and Remove Your Triggers

Whether someone has Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s, or another autoimmune condition, the top priority is to find and eliminate the underlying triggers driving the immune system to attack the thyroid. While certain triggers tend to be more prevalent in one condition over the other, there is considerable overlap.

Additional Thyroid-Related Resources

Click Here for Why Healthy People Still Get Bone Loss (Episode 224)

Click Here to access hundreds of thyroid-related articles and blog posts

Click Here to join the Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s community

Click Here to purchase one of Dr. Eric’s thyroid-related books

Click Here to work with Dr. Eric and his team

📚References:

Click Here to access the references

That’s a wrap