Hormonal Balance for Women

Summary

Dr. Benedicte Lerche explains how she went from low thyroid function to a master's in biochemistry and a PhD, and what she focuses on with coaching clients: nutrition first, then thyroid function, digestion and key supplements.

Key points

• Normal blood tests can miss low thyroid: look at pulse, temperature and symptoms such as cold hands and feet, fatigue, headaches, digestive and blood sugar problems.
• Low thyroid can cause weight loss too, because digestion slows and food is poorly absorbed.
• Not responding to thyroid hormone can come from years of polyunsaturated fats, too little protein, or low sodium, calcium and magnesium.
• The diet: saturated fats instead of liquid oils, plenty of protein from milk, eggs, meat and shellfish, gelatin as part of the protein, and fibre from raw carrots and bamboo shoots rather than salads and whole grains.
• Supplements she mentions: vitamin D, calcium (including eggshell powder), aspirin, and vitamin B6 for high prolactin.

Questions this interview answers

• What should you change first for your metabolism? Your diet, especially removing polyunsaturated oils and getting enough protein.
• Is non-organic milk OK? Yes. Milk is a clean product even when it isn't organic.
• Do you need a magnesium supplement? Usually not, if you eat fruit, orange juice, well-cooked greens and enough salt and calcium.