Reducing Toxic Burden, Testing for Toxicants, Bloating and Gas

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: How Environmental Toxins Disrupt the Gut and Thyroid

• Podcast Review: The 6 Pillars of Health You’re Probably Ignoring

• Understand Your Tests: Testing for Toxicants

• Ask Dr. Eric:
  ✔️What are some of the things I can do to safely reduce my toxic burden?
  ✔️What can I do to eliminate bloating and gas?

How Environmental Toxicants Disrupt the Gut and Thyroid

There are tens of thousands of chemicals in our environment, yet the long-term health effects of most of these substances remain poorly understood. While growing evidence highlights the harmful effects of certain environmental toxins and toxicants, it’s important to recognize that ongoing research is likely to uncover even more links between chemical exposure and health concerns—especially related to the gut and thyroid.

The purpose of this article is not to alarm you, but rather to increase your awareness of the potential health implications so you can take meaningful steps to reduce your exposure and protect your well-being.

Toxins vs. Toxicants: What’s the Difference?

For simplicity, the term "toxins" will be used throughout this article, but there is a difference between toxins and toxicants:

• Toxins are naturally occurring substances produced by living organisms (e.g., snake venom, mycotoxins).

• Toxicants are human-made chemicals (e.g., pesticides, flame retardants, microplastics).

How Environmental Toxins Affect Thyroid Function

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with thyroid function in a variety of ways:

• Inhibit iodine uptake, impairing thyroid hormone synthesis

• Accelerate the breakdown of thyroid hormones, reducing their availability

• Block hormone receptor binding, preventing cellular signaling

• Alter hormone transport in the bloodstream

These disruptions can lead to both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms and may even contribute to autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Common Thyroid-Disrupting Chemicals:

⚠️ Xenoestrogens

⚠️ BPA, phthalates, flame retardants

⚠️ Microplastics and nanoplastics

⚠️ Heavy metals

How Environmental Toxins Affect Gut Health

The gut microbiome and intestinal barrier are highly sensitive to environmental influences. Many toxins have been shown to:

• Disrupt the composition of gut bacteria

• Damage intestinal lining, contributing to increased permeability ("leaky gut")

• Promote chronic inflammation, which can fuel autoimmune processes

This is especially relevant for those with autoimmune thyroid conditions, as a compromised gut is often a key contributor to immune dysregulation.

Common Gut-Disrupting Toxins:

⚠️ Xenoestrogens

⚠️ BPA, phthalates, flame retardants

⚠️ Microplastics and nanoplastics

⚠️ Heavy metals

⚠️ Glyphosate

⚠️ Medications (including antithyroid drugs)

⚠️ Mycotoxins

How to Reduce Your Toxic Burden

While complete avoidance of environmental toxins isn’t realistic, you can significantly reduce your exposure by making mindful choices:

• Eat organic foods to avoid pesticides like glyphosate

• Drink purified water (e.g., reverse osmosis or high-quality carbon filters)

• Avoid plastic containers and food packaging

• Use non-toxic personal care and cleaning products

• Minimize pharmaceutical use when appropriate

• Improve indoor air quality with HEPA filters and air-purifying plants

In the “Ask Dr. Eric” section, I’ll dive deeper into supportive strategies for detoxification, including supplementation and lifestyle practices.

Conclusion

Environmental toxins and toxicants are a growing concern—and their effects on gut and thyroid health should not be underestimated. From impairing hormone production to disrupting the gut microbiome, these chemicals can play a significant role in the development and progression of autoimmune thyroid conditions like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s.

 Coming Soon: Save My Thyroid Summit 2.0

I'm super excited to announce that I'll be hosting the "Save My Thyroid Summit 2.0". This free online event will have 36 different presentations related to thyroid health.

I initially hosted this summit in October 2024, and while many of the speakers will be the same, there will also be some new speakers this time, including Dr. Alan Christianson, Margie Bissinger, and Dr. David Jockers. Whether you have hyperthyroidism/Graves' disease or hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's, I'm confident that you will find this summit to be valuable.

Register for the Save My Thyroid Summit Here

• Here are just a few of the topics that will be covered:

• Functional Nutrition For A Healthier Thyroid

• Heal Leaky Gut and Become Autoimmune Disease Free

• Thyroid Blood Testing Made Simple: Key Insights and Tips

• How To Lower and Normalize Your Thyroid Antibodies

• The Truth About Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Cancer

• 7 Tips to Overcome Hyperthyroidism

• Understanding The Different Thyroid Types in Those with Hashimoto's

• Adrenal Mastery for Thyroid Thriving: Strategies to Conquer Stress

• And much, much more!!!

Register for the Save My Thyroid Summit Here

The Save My Thyroid Summit starts on Thursday May 8th. If you've been dealing with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition for awhile then I'm sure you'll be familiar with many of the presenters, which include Dr. Izabella Wentz, Dr. Westin Childs, Dr. Anshul Gupta, Dr. Amie Hornaman, and Dr. Alan Christianson. But I'm sure there are also some speakers that you aren't familiar with, yet will be blown away by their presentations.

Will This Summit Benefit Those Who Have Recently Diagnosed?

Absolutely! While I'm sure that many people attending have been dealing with their condition for many months or years, without question this information will also benefit those who have recently been diagnosed. In fact, I'm sure many attending who were diagnosed many years ago wished they had this information sooner.

This summit is a rare opportunity to access insights from leading experts—all designed to help you improve your health and well-being.

And you can access it all for FREE.

I look forward to having you join me.

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 functional medicine practitioner Leigh Brandon, as he shares the six foundational habits that support your health at the root, from better sleep and hydration to how you think. Leigh also explains how your ‘why’, your values, and even your subconscious beliefs can shape your ability to follow through. Plus, hear about practical tools (like his “Stickability” method) to help you stay consistent, even when life throws curveballs. This episode feels less like a lecture and more like a sit-down with someone who gets it.

Click Here to listen to the episode

Understand Your Tests

Testing for Toxicants

While I don’t routinely perform comprehensive toxin testing on every patient, in certain cases it can provide valuable insight. One of the primary challenges is that there are simply too many environmental toxins to test for individually. That said, targeted testing can be useful—especially when a patient’s history or symptoms point toward toxicant exposure.

Common Methods for Testing Toxicants

Many natural healthcare practitioners prioritize screening for heavy metals, which can be assessed through the following methods:

Urine Testing: Often used after a chelating agent is administered, this method reflects total body burden.

Hair Mineral Analysis: This non-invasive test can detect chronic, low-level exposure and is particularly useful for metals such as mercury and aluminum.

Blood Testing: Most useful for identifying recent or acute exposures to heavy metals.

Let’s take a closer look at some real patient examples:

Patient Test #1 (Urine Toxic Metals Panel): In this test, both lead and mercury were outside of the normal reference ranges, suggesting significant burden based on urine excretion.

Patient Test #2 (Hair Mineral Analysis): This test showed elevated mercury, and the patient reported consuming tuna fish sandwiches multiple times per week. Tuna is known to be high in methylmercury, which accumulates over time.

Patient Test #3 (ToxDetect Panel - Mosaic Diagnostics): This test revealed six elevated toxicant metabolites, suggesting the presence of environmental exposures that may not have been obvious based on symptoms alone.

Patient Test #4 (Cyrex Labs Array #11): This test measures immune reactivity to environmental toxicants. Even when total toxicant levels are low, the immune system may still mount a response, making this test useful for assessing immune system sensitivity to chemicals.

Which Test Is Right for You?

Choosing the best toxicant test depends on several factors, including health history, current symptoms, and suspected exposure:

✔️Hair mineral analysis is a cost-effective option for identifying chronic exposure to heavy metals.

✔️Urine toxic metal testing can also be helpful in evaluating chronic exposure, particularly when combined with a chelating agent.

✔️If mold exposure is suspected, mycotoxin testing should be prioritized—especially if symptoms align with chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS).

✔️For individuals with autoimmune thyroid conditions like Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s, Cyrex Labs Array #11 may provide a unique perspective by evaluating immune system reactivity rather than toxicant levels alone.

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: WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY TOXIC BURDEN?

Dr. Eric, what are some of the things I can do to safely reduce my toxic burden while healing?

Thank you for your question! Reducing toxic burden is important for everyone, but it’s especially critical for individuals with autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s. While the approach to detoxification can vary from person to person, here are some effective strategies that can support the body’s detox pathways and promote healing.

Support Detoxification Through Nutrition. Although it's becoming increasingly difficult to rely solely on food for detoxification support due to environmental factors, a nutrient-dense, whole-foods diet remains foundational. Eating a wide variety of colorful, plant-based foods—especially vegetables and fruits—provides essential antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients that support the body’s natural detox pathways.

Equally important is consuming enough quality protein, as amino acids are crucial for phase 2 liver detoxification, which helps to neutralize and eliminate toxins from the body.

📝 Note: I’ve written a detailed two-part article on “How to Optimize Detoxification,” and even though it was published in 2017, the information is still highly relevant. You'll find the links to both articles in the resource section below.

Stay Well Hydrated. Proper hydration is essential for flushing out toxins. Water helps to support kidney function, regulate bowel movements, and keep detox pathways running efficiently. A common recommendation is to drink approximately half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds should aim for around 75 ounces of water daily.

Promote Regular Bowel Movements. Having at least one “easy” bowel movement per day is a crucial part of detoxification. Inadequate elimination can result in the reabsorption of toxins, contributing to inflammation and other health issues.

Constipation is particularly common in those with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, but it can also occur in people with hyperthyroidism. Conversely, many with hyperthyroidism experience frequent or loose stools.

📝 If you're struggling with constipation, refer back to the previous newsletter edition where I discussed strategies to overcome chronic constipation.

Consider Targeted Supplementation. While a healthy diet is essential, certain supplements can enhance the body's detox capacity. For example:

✔️N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor to glutathione and is widely used to support liver detoxification. It’s cost-effective and well-tolerated.

✔️Liposomal or topical glutathione offers direct antioxidant support, though it is more expensive than NAC.

✔️Hepatommune Supreme, a private-label formula I often recommend, contains a blend of nutrients that support both detoxification and immune function.

It’s important to work with a knowledgeable practitioner to determine which supplements are most appropriate for your needs.

Encourage Sweating. Sweating is another effective way to support detoxification, as many toxins are excreted through the skin. I personally use an infrared sauna three times per week, although I wasn’t doing this during my own Graves’ disease journey.

For those with hyperthyroidism, sauna therapy should be approached with caution. Since it can increase heart rate and core body temperature, those with elevated resting heart rates may need to avoid or limit sauna use until their thyroid function stabilizes.

Alternative ways to encourage sweating include:

• Exercise (within your capacity)

• Hot baths with Epsom salts

• Mild sauna sessions (with practitioner guidance)

Other Detoxification Approaches

Depending on your personal health history, additional therapies may be beneficial, such as:

• Coffee enemas or colonics to support liver and colon health

• Binders like activated charcoal or modified citrus pectin for toxins like mycotoxins and heavy metals

• Customized detox protocols under the guidance of a functional medicine provider

Everyone’s detox capacity and needs are different, which is why a personalized approach is always best.

QUESTION #2: WHAT CAN I DO TO ELIMINATE BLOATING AND GAS?

Dr. Eric, I've been experiencing bloating and gas for over two years, and would like to get your opinion on what I can do to reduce, and possibly eliminate these symptoms?

Thanks for your question! When someone is experiencing bloating and gas, the goal should always be to identify and address the root cause. As with any digestive condition, it's important not to merely cover up the symptoms, but to understand what's triggering it.

Although the terms bloating and abdominal distension are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Bloating refers to a subjective sensation of fullness, pressure, or gassiness, while abdominal distension is the visible or measurable increase in abdominal girth.¹

Common Causes of Bloating and Gas

Here are some of the more frequent triggers behind these symptoms:

• Food sensitivities (e.g., gluten, dairy, eggs)

• High FODMAP foods

• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

• Parasitic infections

• Hormone imbalances

• Lactose or fructose intolerance

• Celiac disease

• Aerophagia (excessive swallowing of air)

• Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying)

Since so many possible culprits exist, it’s wise to start by ruling out common dietary triggers before diving into deeper testing for conditions like SIBO, parasites, or hormonal imbalances.

Start With Food

If you haven't done so already, consider keeping a food and symptom journal for at least one week. Track everything you eat and note the timing and severity of any bloating or gas symptoms. This can help you identify patterns and food triggers.

While lactose intolerance is often easier to recognize, sensitivities to foods like gluten, FODMAPs, or even eggs can be subtler. If you notice consistent bloating after eating certain types of food, this could justify further testing—such as a SIBO breath test.

Hormones and Bloating

Many women report increased bloating around the time of menstruation. This points to a potential connection between fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone and gastrointestinal symptoms.² Hormonal changes can affect gut motility, alter fluid retention, and increase intestinal sensitivity.

Low progesterone, estrogen dominance, or general hormone dysregulation may indirectly worsen bloating by contributing to poor gut motility or increased inflammation.

SIBO and Parasites

SIBO occurs when bacteria that should primarily reside in the large intestine overgrow in the small intestine. This imbalance can lead to fermentation of food in the wrong place—causing bloating, gas, and discomfort. People with SIBO often report worsening symptoms after eating high-FODMAP foods.

While symptoms can point to SIBO, a breath test (measuring hydrogen and methane gases) is typically used to confirm the diagnosis.

Parasitic infections can also trigger bloating, especially in those with recent travel history or exposure to contaminated food or water. However, stool tests can yield false negatives. In such cases, working with a practitioner familiar with parasite testing—especially via more sensitive specialty labs—can be helpful.

Conclusion

Bloating and gas are common symptoms with many potential causes—including food sensitivities, hormonal fluctuations, microbial imbalances, and infections. Because of this complexity, it’s important to approach these symptoms methodically, starting with simple tools like a food diary and moving toward targeted testing when necessary.

Additional Thyroid-Related Resources

Click Here for The Six Pillars of Health You’re Probably Ignoring (podcast episode)

Click Here for How to Optimize Detoxification Part 1 (article)

Click Here for How to Optimize Detoxification Part 2 (article)

Click Here to register for the Save My Thyroid Summit 2.0

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:

(1) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3264926/ 

(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19406367/

That’s a wrap