Hypothyroidism isn't a root cause. Here's why.
If you've been told your thyroid is to blame for your fatigue, weight gain, or brain fog — I'm calling BS. Yep, I said it. Because while your labs might say "hypothyroid," that's not the whole story. And if all you’ve been given is a prescription (or worse, a “just wait and see”), you’re missing the REAL reason your thyroid’s out of whack in the first place.
Today, we’re busting the thyroid myth wide open and diving deep into the root causes that actually matter. Because hypothyroidism? It’s a symptom — not a root cause.
Root Causes of Thyroid Imbalance (It’s NOT Just Low Hormone Levels)
Let’s get one thing straight: your body didn’t just randomly decide to stop making thyroid hormone. Something triggered it. And if you don’t find that trigger, you’ll stay stuck playing whack-a-mole with symptoms.
Here’s how your thyroid ACTUALLY works:
- The hypothalamus (in your brain) tells your pituitary gland to release TSH.
- TSH tells your thyroid gland to make T4 (inactive thyroid hormone).
- T4 must convert into T3 (the active form that your body actually uses).
🚨 Newsflash: Most doctors only test TSH. Maybe T4. But not T3 — and definitely not the things that help you convert it.
That means you could be taking thyroid meds and STILL feel like garbage because:
- Your liver isn’t converting T4 to T3 (it’s responsible for 60% of that job!)
- Your gut is inflamed or full of pathogens (20% of conversion happens there)
- Your adrenals are triggering reverse T3 (which BLOCKS active thyroid hormone)
- You’ve got high estrogen causing TBG to bind your thyroid hormone so it can’t get into cells
Let’s unpack all that 👇
The Gut-Thyroid Connection: Why Constipation and Bloating = Hormone Chaos
If your gut is wrecked, your thyroid will be too. Period.
The gut converts a full 20% of your thyroid hormone. If you’ve got:
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
- H. pylori or parasites
- Leaky gut or food sensitivities
…you’re not converting well. And that means you can have all the T4 in the world, but if your gut’s inflamed? It’s not becoming the active T3 your body needs.
And guess what? One of the root causes of SIBO is slow motility — which is triggered by (you guessed it) low thyroid. It's a vicious cycle.
🧠 Real fix: test your gut, find the pathogens, and heal the inflammation. That’s how we do it in the Better Belly Blueprint.
The Liver-Thyroid Link: Detox or Stay Stuck
Your liver handles a whopping 60% of T4-to-T3 conversion. That means if it’s overwhelmed with toxins, old hormones, or pathogens, your thyroid doesn’t stand a chance.
Signs your liver is struggling:
- Hormonal acne or painful periods
- Can’t tolerate alcohol or smells
- Fatigue that won’t quit
And let’s be real — most liver support is just milk thistle and prayers. You need real, strategic detox support that clears out mold, pathogens, estrogen, and bile sludge. (Yes, that’s a thing.)
Want to know how? That’s what we walk through step-by-step in the Better Belly Blueprint.
Reverse T3: The Thyroid Blocker No One Talks About
You could have plenty of T3 in your blood and STILL feel tired, cold, and foggy. Why? Because your body is flipping that T3 into reverse T3 — a totally useless version that BLOCKS your cells from using thyroid hormone.
This happens when your body is under stress:
- Emotional stress (trauma, anxiety)
- Physical stress (injury, childbirth, surgery)
- Biochemical stress (toxins, pathogens, nutrient deficiencies)
What’s the most common one I see? Biochemical stress. And most people don’t even know it’s happening. Mold, parasites, low minerals, and food sensitivities are the top triggers.
Fixing this means addressing ALL types of stress — especially the hidden, internal ones.
Estrogen Dominance and Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG)
If your thyroid hormones are getting made but not getting USED, high estrogen might be the reason.
Too much estrogen increases TBG, which binds thyroid hormone and prevents it from entering cells. You could have great labs — and still feel awful.
Where’s all this estrogen coming from?
- Birth control and hormone therapies
- Fragranced products (candles, soaps, detergents)
- A sluggish liver that can’t detox excess estrogen
Supporting your liver and ditching endocrine disruptors helps TBG drop so your thyroid hormones actually work.
Real Testing. Real Answers. Real Healing.
Most thyroid panels don’t tell the full story. That’s why I run:
- GI Map (for gut pathogens, SIBO, H. pylori)
- OAT Test (for mold, yeast, liver overload)
- HTMA Test (for nutrient and mineral status)
- Zoomer Food Sensitivity Test (for gut inflammation triggers)
These tests give you REAL data — so you’re not guessing, or wasting time on generic protocols. Inside the Better Belly Blueprint, I walk you through how to test, interpret, and treat these root causes so you can finally feel like yourself again.
Quick Recap: Real Root Causes of Hypothyroid Symptoms
- Poor T4 to T3 conversion (liver and gut!)
- Reverse T3 overload (from stress and pathogens)
- High estrogen / TBG binding (preventing hormone use)
- Biochemical stress (pathogens, toxins, nutrient gaps)
- Generic meds that don’t fix the root cause
FAQs
Can your thyroid be low even with normal labs? YES. If you're not testing T3, reverse T3, or TBG, you’re missing the full picture.
Do I have to stop taking thyroid meds? Nope. But we CAN make them work better — even at a lower dose.
What’s the best thyroid test to ask for? A full panel: TSH, T4, T3, reverse T3, and TBG. But also test your gut, liver, and minerals.
Can healing your gut really fix your thyroid? Absolutely. 80% of your thyroid hormone is impacted by the gut and liver.
How do I know what my root causes are? Test. Don’t guess. Start with GI Map, OAT, HTMA, and food sensitivities.
Written by Allison Jordan, FDN-P — gut health specialist and founder of Better Belly Therapies
EPISODES MENTIONED:
- 233// H. Pylori: Symptoms of H. Pylori, How to Interpret H. Pylori Test Results, and Why H. Pylori Treatments Fail
- 285// 2 Steps to Reversing Your Acid Reflux (for good!)
- 287// How to safely get off PPI’s and reverse acid reflux naturally
- 283// Stop Wasting Money on the DUTCH Test (Here’s Why)
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