Withania Natural Health, 820 E. Terra Cotta Avenue , Suite 215, Crystal Lake, IL (2025)

08/06/2025

Want better thyroid function? 👉

Then we also need to optimize the liver and the gut. Here’s why:

🔁 Thyroid & Gut:
Thyroid hormones influence gut motility (causing constipation when underactive). Gut dysbiosis or inflammation can worsen oxidative stress that damages the thyroid.

🔁 Thyroid & Liver:
Thyroid hormones influence fat metabolism in the liver (contributing to insulin resistance and fatty liver when underactive). Conversion of T4 to active T3 takes place in the liver, meaning that a compromised liver could compromise thyroid function.

Poor thyroid function can impair gut and liver function—and the reverse is also true.

If you struggle with thyroid health and want to take a holistic approach to feeling better, Withania can help.

08/01/2025

Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. Today is World Lung Cancer Day, so let’s talk about why this is something ✨everyone✨ should be aware of!

According to the journal of the American Cancer Society, globally, lung cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in 2022, responsible for almost 2.5 million new cases, or 1 in 8 cancers worldwide!!

There are 5 known causes of lung cancer:

1️⃣ 🚬 SMOKING

According to Lung.org, smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer cases, and while the risk goes down after you quit, it’s still elevated. Secondhand smoke is also linked to lung cancer, so if someone in your household smokes, everyone is at risk.

2️⃣☢️ RADON

The 2nd leading cause of lung cancer is radon - an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas found naturally in soil. Radon gas seeps up into your home through small gaps and cracks and levels are higher in basements and first floors. It’s estimated that 14–17% of lung cancer cases and 3% of all cancer mortality can be attributed to radon.

You can look up radon maps to see if there are higher levels of radon where you live. Radon mitigation systems are effective and pretty affordable.

3️⃣⚗️TOXIC CHEMICALS
Exposure to harmful chemicals like asbestos, arsenic, formaldehyde, and others is directly linked to lung cancer. DIY home reno projects are a common path of asbestos exposure, which typically happens within occupations like construction/renovation & automotive, arsenic can be found in drinking water, and formaldehyde in building materials.

4️⃣🏭PARTICULATE POLLUTION

Air pollution from industry, vehicle exhaust, and wildfires, especially small particles (PM2.5) can be highly dangerous and can lead to cancer and other respiratory issues.

5️⃣🧬GENETICS

Although a smaller risk factor, genetics can play a role in the development of lung cancer.

Testing your home for radon & asbestos, using VOC-free products, and improving ventilation in your living spaces are practical steps you can take to reduce exposure. Stay safe and breathe easy friends!

References: PMID: 38572751, PMID: 29856911, PMID: 31160966
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/particle-pollution

07/29/2025

How we optimize thyroid function beyond TSH 👇

Anyone who struggles with thyroid function knows that it’s all too common for their labs to look “fine” and yet still feel tired all the time or have mood swings, brain fog, constipation, hair loss, or other concerns.

This is usually because nobody is looking at the bigger picture.

From a functional perspective, we also…

✔️ Monitor more than just TSH
✔️ Optimize nutrition for thyroid hormone synthesis
✔️ Support conversion of T4 to the more active T3
✔️ Calm inflammation & oxidative stress
✔️ Identify & address root causes (autoimmunity, toxins, nutrient deficiencies, infections, stress, etc.)

If you have questions about thyroid health and want to explore a holistic approach, be sure to message us for next steps.

07/25/2025

🥫 Nearly every pantry contains at least a few canned foods (including mine!). Canned foods are a staple for millions of people: they are inexpensive, convenient, and they last a long time. Many people rely on canned foods to keep them and their families fed.
Unfortunately, canned food consumption is also our primary source of exposure to bisphenol-a, or BPA.

BPA is a well-established endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been detected in more than 90% of people sampled. Our exposure to this chemical is ubiquitous.

Bisphenol chemicals are used to line most food cans, creating a barrier between the food and the metal, which is important to prevent the can from breaking down and potentially allowing bacteria to enter. Most canned foods are heat-packed - meaning the food is hot as it goes into the can. Heat, along with acidity and time can increase the leaching of these chemicals into the food.

One study found that eating canned soup over a 5-day period (admittedly more frequently than most people consume canned soup) resulted in a more than 1000% increase in urinary BPA levels. Another study found that eating 1 canned food item, vs none, was associated with 24% higher urinary BPA concentrations.

BPA has been linked to numerous chronic health issues, from behavioral problems in children to hormone disruption to metabolic disease.

While canned food isn’t our only exposure, it is our primary one, so working towards minimizing exposure may be helpful.

The good news is that BPA is metabolized and excreted (meaning, we p*e it out) very quickly - in as short as a few hours. This means that if we actively lower the amount coming in, we can very quickly lower the levels in the body!

Aim for fresh, frozen, jarred, or dried!

References:
PMID: 25645382
PMID: 34132197
PMID: 22110104

07/21/2025

Labs to test for thyroid function👉👉

This post is for anyone who goes to their annual checkups, gets routine lab tests, and has been told their thyroid is normal…but still has unexplained health issues.

You know something’s not right.

This is not to say that thyroid is the cause in your case (only the tests can say that), but it is to say that routine screenings often only test for TSH and miss thyroid problems.

TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, which is the hormone released from the brain to stimulate the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone (T4). It is only one of several markers of thyroid function.

Other thyroid tests include:
▪️ T4 and free T4
▪️ T3 and free T3 (active hormone)
▪️ Reverse T3 (inactive hormone)
▪️ Antibodies (TPO, Tg, or TRA)

The thyroid gland regulates metabolic rate, gut motility, body temperature, hair, nails, and more.

If you have questions about your thyroid function and want a holistic approach to healing your hormones, reach out to Withania!

07/16/2025

Raise your hand if you hate dusting! 🙋‍♀️

Most people think house dust is just unsightly, or that it’s made up of dead skin cells (yuck), pet dander, and dirt.

Well it’s both of those things, but that’s not all. Turns out that house dust is also a receptacle for chemicals in the home.

Many harmful chemicals are released from the materials they are used in - whether it’s flame retardants in your couch, PFAS chemicals from your carpet, or phthalates found in scented products - and they settle in the dust in your home.

Let’s look at house dust through the lens of one of these: phthalates.

Phthalates are a class of chemicals that are used in the majority of fragrance formulations… think: laundry detergent, dryer sheets, air fresheners, room sprays, scented candles, personal care products, household cleaners, etc. (They are also found in other items as well, like some types of soft plastics.)

When you do laundry, clean, light a candle, etc, the phthalates in those fragrances don’t just vanish into thin air. They settle on surfaces and end up in house dust.

In fact, in a meta-analysis of dust studies across the US, phthalates were measured in 100% of samples!

This is a concern because phthalates are well-established endocrine-disrupting compounds that are linked to health issues like:

👉Type II diabetes and insulin resistance⁠
👉 Overweight/obesity⁠
👉 Breast cancer
👉 Asthma⁠
👉 Reproductive issues in men and women⁠
👉 Altered male reproductive development⁠

What can we do about this?

1️⃣ Start phasing out the use of all fragranced items in the home. I know, I know, who doesn’t love a good-smelling candle or that fresh laundry scent? But opting for fragrance-free or naturally scented products can really cut down on those phthalate levels.

2️⃣ Wet dust & vacuum often. Wet dusting is simply using a damp cloth to dust (wash & reuse!) instead of something like a feather duster. And vacuuming can help cut down on dust in the home.

Reference: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.6b02023, https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/7/2/21

07/13/2025

Warning Signs of Thyroid Imbalance ⬇️

But first some basics:

Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck that regulates metabolism (how your body uses energy) but also influences….

▪️ Metabolic rate
▪️ Heart rate
▪️ Blood pressure
▪️ Body temperature
▪️ Gut motility
▪️ Mental function
▪️ Mood
▪️ Menstruation
▪️ Fertility

Signs of an *overactive* thyroid include feeling anxious or irritable, difficulty sleeping, racing heart, shaking hands, clammy skin, sensitivity to heat, unexplained weight loss (or gain), or irregular periods.

Signs of an *underactive* thyroid include feeling tired all the time, mood swings, brain fog, dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails, constipation, sensitivity to cold, unexplained weight gain, or heavy periods.

The only way to know how your thyroid is functioning is to TEST.

Still, thyroid imbalances are sometimes missed by routine screenings, and even when labs are brought into the normal range, I often see patients who still do not feel well.

Watch for my upcoming post all about how functional medicine can help you understand, address, and optimize thyroid function 🙌

07/08/2025

July is UV safety awareness month - so let’s talk about how to enjoy the sun safely!

Skin cancer kills nearly 60,000 people annually, & according to the IARC, 1.5+ million new cases of skin cancer were estimated in 2022. AND, skin cancer is one of THE most preventable cancers, which is why it’s a good idea to understand the ins and outs of sun safety!

Let’s get into it!

UV rays are a form of ionizing radiation that can damage cells - the 2 types of UV rays we are most commonly exposed to are UVA and UVB. Both are damaging in different ways:

☀️ UVA rays (think A for Aging) pe*****te deep into the skin and contribute to premature aging wrinkles, and some skin cancers.

☀️ UVB rays (think B for Burn) are responsible for sunburns, and most skin cancers.

While it’s true that sun exposure is great for our health, it’s also true that too much can harm us.

Your best sun protection strategies include:

⛱️Shade
👒👕Hats & clothing. This is the "low-tox" way to protect yourself - no sunscreen needed Sunscreens:
🧴When choosing sunscreen, look for ones that offer broad-spectrum protection against both UVB and UVA rays.

🧴Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen, but the best option, as it pertains to ingredient safety, is to avoid chemical sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone & octinoxate, or any that have added fragrances.

🧴Better options are sunscreens that rely on zinc oxide, or Tinosorb and Mexoryl, two chemical sunscreen ingredients with a great safety record

I love options from Babo Botanicals , Badger Balm , and Goddess Garden Organics .

Remember, the goal is to reduce exposure and protect your skin over the long run. Are you ready to enjoy the sun safely and responsibly?

References: https://www.iarc.who.int/cancer-type/skin-cancer/

05/27/2025

The accepted belief has long been that obesity leads to insulin resistance and diabetes by impairing insulin signaling.

Now a new study brings that into question.

Here’s what to know:

➡️ Stress hormones have the opposite effect of insulin. Whereas insulin acts to lower blood sugar, stress hormones act to raise it.
➡️ Obesity triggers overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and the associated stress hormones.
➡️ This study showed that elevated stress hormones in obesity counteracted insulin’s effects—even when insulin signaling still worked.
➡️ Mice genetically engineered to produce fewer stress hormones did not develop diabetes despite being obese.

This study is significant because it suggests that the underlying mechanism to explain the link between obesity and insulin resistance may be different than what we have long believed.

Ready for the good news?

We have a lot of tools at our disposal to lower the sympathetic nervous system response and stress hormones.

It’s called nervous system regulation ✨

If you haven’t caught my other posts about nervous system regulation this month, jump on over to my profile and binge them now!

PMID 39437790

05/21/2025

What do breast fibroids, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, early puberty in girls, early menopause, and ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer all have in common?

They are all considered “estrogen-dependent conditions” that can be accelerated or exacerbated by estrogen, or substances that mimic estrogen.

Estrogen-dependent conditions have both genetic and environmental components. One primary environmental component is exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, many of which can mimic or interfere with estrogen in the body.

New research published this summer found that endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, phthalates, cadmium, and lead were all associated with PCOS, endometriosis, and endometrial cancer.

All 4 of these chemicals are used in the production of plastics!

These harmful chemicals can leach from plastic containers, food packaging, and personal care products, entering our bodies through food, water, air, and even our skin. Over time, this exposure can disrupt hormonal balance, increasing the risk of these estrogen-dependent diseases.🚨

Phthalates, along with PFAS and parabens - all endocrine-disrupting chemicals - are among over 900 others that have been identified as potential breast cancer carcinogens!

Our environment, and how we interact with it is important and can have direct effects on our health. We can’t avoid ALL exposures to these chemicals, but we can work toward systematically lowering our exposure by making small shifts in our habits and purchases.

Here are a few suggestions:

✅Minimize single-use plastic, plastic food packaging, and plastic in your kitchen.
✅Avoid home fragrances, and opt for safer cleaning & personal care products.
✅Decline cash register receipts and minimize canned food consumption.

Small changes like these can make a big difference in protecting your hormone health!! 🌱

References: PMID: 38640992, PMID: 38197648

05/16/2025

Your nervous system depends on protein to build neurotransmitters, fats to build nerve cell membranes, and balanced blood sugar to keep stress hormones in check. 🥩🥑

That means we cannot expect our nervous systems to stay resilient without a healthy eating routine.

How is your daily diet stacking up?

05/12/2025

As we conclude our journey, Dr. Simon's words remind us of naturopathic medicine's unique value: naturopathic doctors uncover insights that might otherwise remain hidden.
This comprehensive approach doesn't just treat symptoms—it honors the whole person and their story, embodying the essence of caring for the whole you✨Thank you for joining us in celebrating the wisdom of naturopathic medicine and its continued contribution to our understanding of true wellness.

https://naturemed.org/what-is-a-naturopathic-doctor/

Withania Natural Health

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