Thyroid disorders are prevalent, especially in women, affecting roughly 10 million individuals who have been diagnosed with low thyroid functionality. Countless others likely suffer from undiagnosed issues or sub-optimal thyroid operation. However, detecting low thyroid function is not sufficient. We must ask, "Why is this happening, and why now?"

Part of an integrative approach to wellness is checking for nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to, or even cause, imbalances in blood sugar (glucose). Increased consumption of simple carbohydrates in your diet can increase blood insulin levels, which, in turn, can deplete a number of essential nutrients.

The culprit is gluten, a mixture of proteins including gliadins and glutenins, known for giving wheat dough its elastic texture. Gluten is also found in barley, oats, spelt, kamut and several other foods. A rise in gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease in which gluten damages the small intestine, has led folks to search out gluten-free options.

Almost immediately as immigrants arrive in the US and their diet changes, their gut bacteria changes. Microbial diversity decreases substantially and measurably. Those bacteria that most effectively metabolize complex carbohydrates reduce substantially.

The flora shifts from Prevotella dominance to Bacteroides dominance (and these changes propagate across generations).

Childhood obesity is increasing across the US. Childhood obesity is associated with lifetime obesity. Obesity is a primary predictor of development of diabetes type II, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and sleep apnea. So it stands to reason that working to decrease childhood obesity is a valuable investment for the child’s future health.