Gut Healing Roadblocks, Fluoride, Chronic Constipation

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 Gut Healing Roadblocks To Overcome

• Podcast Review: Why Your Water, Air, and Skincare Are Aging You Faster! with Rachel Varga

• Understand Your Tests: Testing for Glyphosate

• Ask Dr. Eric:
  ✔️How important is it to avoid fluoride in water and toothpaste?
  ✔️Are there natural solutions for chronic constipation?

5 Gut Healing Roadblocks to Overcome

As natural healthcare practitioners, we sometimes make gut healing sound easier than it really is. The truth is, healing the gut can be challenging—especially when underlying obstacles aren’t addressed.

In this article, I’ll outline five common gut healing roadblocks that I see in clinical practice. In future newsletters, I’ll dive deeper into each one, but for now, this overview should help you start making meaningful progress on your gut-healing journey.

🚧 Roadblock #1: Consuming Inflammatory Foods. Even those following a clean diet 80–90% of the time may unknowingly sabotage gut healing by continuing to eat inflammatory foods.

One major culprit? Seed oils such as canola, soybean, cottonseed, safflower, and sunflower oil. These oils are frequently used in restaurants, so even seemingly healthy meals—like a salad with grilled chicken—may be drenched in low-quality oils.

The Olive Oil Trap

Even when choosing olive oil, quality matters. A 2023 study found adulteration of olive oil with almond and hazelnut oils.¹ Some restaurants use vegetable oils in place of olive oil to cut costs. And store-bought olive oil isn’t always pure.

Takeaway: Be mindful of the oils used when dining out. At home, stick with trusted brands of high-quality olive oil (such as Kasandrinos or California Olive Ranch).

🚧 Roadblock #2: Environmental Toxicants. We live in a world filled with environmental toxicants—many of which can disrupt the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier.

This includes:

• Heavy metals (e.g., mercury)

• Glyphosate (found in herbicides)

• Mycotoxins (from mold)

• Microplastics

While we can’t completely eliminate our exposure, we can take steps to reduce our toxic burden and support detoxification.

What You Can Do:

• Eat organic, whole foods

• Stay well hydrated

• Support detox pathways with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), liposomal or topical glutathione, and fiber-rich foods

🚧 Roadblock #3: Low Stomach Acid. Adequate stomach acid is essential for:

• Digesting protein and minerals

• Activating digestive enzymes

• Preventing microbial overgrowth

Despite common belief, GERD symptoms are often linked to low stomach acid, not too much. Stress plays a big role here—a 2023 study showed that high stress levels are associated with reflux symptoms.²

Support Tips:

✔️Try bitter herbs like gentian or dandelion before meals

✔️Consider betaine HCl under practitioner guidance

✔️Focus on stress reduction, which supports vagal tone and stomach acid secretion

🚧 Roadblock #4: Hidden Gut Infections. Gut infections such as H. pylori, parasites, or even stealth pathogens like Borrelia burgdorferi can impair gut health without causing obvious digestive symptoms.

This means that many people with leaky gut have no overt GI complaints, making infections easy to miss.

How to Know If You’re Affected

Comprehensive stool testing can detect some of these infections, but false negatives are possible. Some people choose to work with specialty labs like ParaWellness, or even consider just following antiparasitic protocols when symptoms strongly suggest infection.

Takeaway: Don’t rule out infections just because you don’t have bloating or gas. Consider functional testing or working with a practitioner familiar with subclinical gut infections.

🚧 Roadblock #5: Poor Parasympathetic Nervous System Tone. The vagus nerve is part of your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)—the “rest and digest” branch of your autonomic nervous system. It directly influences:

• Stomach acid production

• Motility

• Digestive enzyme release

When chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight"), it suppresses vagus nerve function and impairs digestion and gut repair.

What Helps:

• Daily stress management (deep breathing, meditation)

• Cold exposure, like cold showers

• Gargling, humming, or singing out loud

• Prioritizing sleep and mind-body practices

Conclusion:

Healing the gut isn’t always straightforward, and for many, it's more than just eliminating gluten or taking a probiotic. True gut healing involves identifying and overcoming these common roadblocks—some of which are hidden or counterintuitive.

If you’ve been working on your gut health but still aren’t seeing results, consider whether any of these five factors may be holding you back. With the right approach, progress is absolutely possible—and often transformative.

Key Takeaways

Inflammatory foods, including seed oils, can silently sabotage healing—even on a mostly clean diet.

✅ Environmental toxins like glyphosate and heavy metals impair gut and immune function.

✅ Low stomach acid is more common than you think and often stems from chronic stress.

✅ You can have hidden gut infections without any digestive symptoms—functional testing may help.

✅ The vagus nerve plays a critical role in digestion and thyroid function—support it daily with stress management and nervous system practices.

 5 Steps To Reverse Hyperthyroidism and Avoid Radioactive Iodine and Thyroid Surgery

If you have hyperthyroidism (i.e. Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter), visiting an endocrinologist is likely to result in one of the following three recommendations:

1. A prescription for antithyroid medication

2. Radioactive iodine

3. Thyroid surgery

While there is a time and place for conventional medical treatment, it’s crazy that most medical doctors don’t do anything to address the underlying cause of your condition.

The good news is that you can do things to reverse hyperthyroidism, which I discuss in my free webinar entitled “5 Steps To Reverse Hyperthyroidism and Avoid Radioactive Iodine and Thyroid Surgery”.

Click Here to register for the free webinar

Here are some of the things you’ll learn by attending this free webinar:

• How to avoid radioactive iodine and restore your thyroid and immune system health so you can feel great again and live a healthy life!

• The 4 main categories of Graves' disease triggers, and why you shouldn't overlook "hidden" hyperthyroid triggers

• How to break the "hyperthyroid cycle"

• How to address thyroid eye disease and toxic multinodular goiter

Click Here to register for the free webinar

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 aesthetic nurse specialist Rachel Varga to explore the connection between beauty, health, and biohacking. She breaks down how toxins, EMFs, and inflammation impact aging and shares practical strategies to protect and rejuvenate your skin, hair, and overall well-being. From skincare essentials to cutting-edge therapies, this episode is packed with expert tips for achieving a radiant, youthful glow.

To learn how to transform your skincare and overall health make sure you check out the episode.

Understand Your Tests

Testing for Glyphosate

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup and is widely used on genetically modified (GM) crops. It’s one of many environmental toxicants that may be contributing to the rise in chronic health conditions.

If you routinely consume processed or refined foods, there is a strong likelihood that you are regularly exposed to glyphosate. This is especially true if those foods are not organic.

However, even individuals who eat mostly organic can still experience some degree of glyphosate exposure due to environmental contamination and cross-contamination in supply chains.

Why Is Glyphosate a Concern?

One of the primary concerns with glyphosate is its ability to disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially leading to intestinal dysbiosis.³ This disruption of microbial balance can contribute to a leaky gut, which, as discussed in earlier newsletters, is a key factor in the development of autoimmune conditions, including Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Additionally, glyphosate can interfere with estrogen metabolism,⁴ which may play a role in the formation of goiters and thyroid nodules, especially in individuals with pre-existing hormonal imbalances.

My Personal Glyphosate Test Results

I don’t routinely test every patient for glyphosate, as I generally assume most people have some degree of exposure. That said, I still emphasize minimizing toxic burden as part of any healing protocol.

Back in 2016, I personally did a urine test for glyphosate (Image #1). While my levels weren’t excessively high, they were elevated enough to prompt a change. Around that time, I began using infrared sauna therapy consistently.

One year later, I retested (Image #2) and was pleased to see a notable reduction in my glyphosate levels. This reinforced the value of incorporating detox strategies as part of an overall health plan.

Among patients who do test, I almost always see detectable levels of glyphosate—some significantly elevated, others only mildly so.

How to Minimize Glyphosate Exposure

To reduce glyphosate exposure:

• Prioritize organic foods as much as possible.

• Install a high-quality water filtration system, such as reverse osmosis, to help remove contaminants like glyphosate from drinking water.

• Avoid non-organic processed foods, which are among the most common sources of glyphosate.

To support detoxification of glyphosate from the body:

• Support liver detoxification through a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet.

• If you have access to an infrared sauna, then use this several times per week (I personally use it three times weekly).

Consider binders and detox agents such as:

• Activated charcoal

• Humic and fulvic acids

• Fermented foods like sauerkraut juice

Research by Dr. Stephanie Seneff and others highlights how these natural agents can significantly lower glyphosate burden.⁵

Conclusion

Although routine testing for glyphosate isn't necessary for everyone, understanding the risks of exposure is essential—especially for those with thyroid or autoimmune thyroid conditions. Glyphosate’s ability to disrupt the gut microbiome, interfere with estrogen metabolism, and increase the body's toxic load makes it a compound worth avoiding when possible.

The good news is that you can take meaningful steps to reduce exposure and support your body’s ability to detoxify. By eating organic, filtering your water, and using supportive therapies like infrared sauna and targeted detoxification, you can lower your glyphosate levels and reduce its potential impact on your thyroid and overall health.

Ask Dr. Eric

During every issue I'll answer a few questions 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 #1: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO AVOID FLUORIDE?

Dr. Eric, how important is it to avoid fluoride in water and toothpaste?

Fluoride was first recognized for its cavity-preventing properties in the early 1900s, and over time, municipalities began adding it to public water supplies in an effort to reduce dental decay in the general population. However, it’s important to note that the form of fluoride added to water—and found in many toothpastes—is not the same as naturally occurring fluoride.

Calcium fluoride, which exists naturally in the earth, differs significantly from sodium fluoride, a synthetic byproduct of the aluminum industry. Sodium fluoride is not only man-made but also toxic in nature. Historically, it was even used as a treatment for hyperthyroidism due to its known anti-thyroid effects. Alarmingly, it has also been used in the past as an ingredient in roach and rat poison as well as in nerve gas formulations.

Fluoride: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

There is some evidence suggesting that fluoride may reduce the incidence of dental cavities. However, this does not mean fluoride is essential for preventing tooth decay—especially when good oral hygiene and proper nutrition are maintained.

For example, I’ve personally been drinking reverse osmosis water—which removes fluoride—for over 14 years. I’ve also used fluoride-free toothpaste for even longer. Despite these changes, I can’t recall the last time I had a cavity.

If you’ve also been using fluoride-free toothpaste for several years, I’d be interested to hear whether you’ve experienced more cavities—or perhaps fewer—compared to when you were using fluoride-containing products. Feel free to reply and share your experience.

Why Fluoride Matters for Thyroid Health

The bigger concern lies in fluoride’s effect on the thyroid gland. Sodium fluoride’s anti-thyroid properties are well-documented, and chronic fluoride exposure may contribute to thyroid dysfunction.^6,7,8

Given that drinking water is a primary source of fluoride exposure, filtering it out—using a reverse osmosis system or a high-quality water filter—is a simple and effective way to reduce your toxic burden. While it’s ideal to also switch to fluoride-free toothpaste, the fluoride absorbed through water is generally of greater concern due to the higher and more consistent exposure.

Conclusion:

While fluoride may offer some benefit in cavity prevention, it is not without potential health risks—particularly when it comes to thyroid function. Given that sodium fluoride is a synthetic compound with known toxicity and potential thyroid-suppressive effects, minimizing your exposure is a wise decision.

If you're concerned about your thyroid or overall health, drinking filtered water and switching to fluoride-free toothpaste are simple steps that can make a meaningful difference. Your thyroid, gut, and long-term wellness may thank you for it.

QUESTION #2: ARE THERE NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR CONSTIPATION?

Dr. Eric, are there any natural solutions for chronic constipation?

Chronic constipation can have multiple underlying causes, and it’s a common concern for individuals with thyroid imbalances. Let’s take a look at some of the more frequent contributors—especially those that overlap with thyroid-related health challenges.

Hypothyroidism. Low thyroid hormone levels can slow gut motility, leading to constipation. This makes constipation a frequent symptom among those with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

That said, constipation can also affect people with hyperthyroidism, particularly those taking antithyroid medication. These medications reduce thyroid hormone levels, and in some individuals, this can result in slowed digestion and less frequent bowel movements.

Inadequate Hydration. Not drinking enough water is a common and often overlooked cause of constipation. Aim to drink at least 40–50% of your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water each day. For example, someone who weighs 150 pounds should aim for 60–75 ounces of water daily.

To jumpstart your digestion, try drinking 1–2 cups of water first thing in the morning upon waking.

Lack of Movement. A sedentary lifestyle contributes significantly to constipation. Prolonged sitting—such as at a desk job—can impair intestinal motility.

Engage in regular physical activity at least 3–5 days per week. If you sit for long stretches of time, take frequent movement breaks by standing, stretching, or walking for a few minutes every hour.

Poor Diet. A diet high in refined carbohydrates, processed foods, and sugars, and low in fiber-rich whole foods, is a major contributor to sluggish bowels.

I personally experienced chronic constipation as a teenager and young adult, often going only once or twice per week. Looking back, my poor diet—devoid of vegetables and full of processed food—was likely a significant factor.

While some argue that fiber is not essential for regular bowel movements (e.g., in carnivore-style diets), many people experience substantial improvement in bowel regularity when increasing fiber intake from vegetables, fruits, seeds, and legumes.

Imbalance in Calcium and Magnesium Intake. Supplementing with high doses of calcium—especially without sufficient magnesium—can cause constipation. On the flip side, magnesium supplements, particularly magnesium citrate, can help support regular bowel movements and are often used as a gentle, natural remedy for constipation.

Conclusion:

Chronic constipation is common among individuals with thyroid imbalances, but it is often manageable through targeted lifestyle and nutritional changes. Optimizing thyroid hormone levels, staying hydrated, incorporating movement throughout the day, improving your diet, and balancing mineral intake can all make a substantial difference.

If you’re struggling with ongoing constipation, it’s important to evaluate these basic contributors before turning to medications or laxatives. Supporting the gut and thyroid simultaneously is key for long-term digestive health and whole-body wellness.

Additional Thyroid-Related Resources

Click Here Why Your Water, Air, and Skincare Are Aging You Faster (episode 192)

Click Here The Impact of GMOs and Glyphosate on Thyroid Health with Jeffrey Smith (episode 119)

Click Here to read The Vagus Nerve-Autoimmune Thyroid Connection (article)

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

Click Here for References

That’s a wrap