SHE Talks Health | Thyroid Health Tips, Functional Medicine, Hashimoto's, Hypothyroidism, Gut Health, Hormones, Holistic Healing

Can genetics explain chronic gut issues, thyroid symptoms, inflammation, and why one person can “eat poorly” and feel fine while another does everything right and still struggles? What if your best diet depends on your genetic carb tolerance, plus things like caffeine and histamine sensitivity?
On this episode of the She Talks Health Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Sam Shay to talk about how functional genetics can validate what you’ve probably felt in your body for years and give you a practical roadmap forward.
We started things off with Dr. Shay’s story of being really unwell as a child, and how that pushed him to seek out his own information about his health. As a kid, he struggled with things like years of crippling insomnia, violence in school, and developing a caffeine habit at only 6 years old. His desire to find answers about his health struggles led him to specialize in genetics and train other practitioners in this modality.
Later, we got into the details of what our genetics really tell us about our health. We discuss that inflammation is a major driver of chronic illness, and that “bad genes” are often really an environmental mismatch with evolutionary tradeoffs. So if you’re feeling as though you’re chronically inflamed but are doing everything “right”, your genetics might be the missing piece to the puzzle here.
Your genetics can even tell you about how well you digest carbs, and who does better with lower vs higher carb diets. If you’ve ever tried a diet that made you feel completely messed up but didn’t know why, this could explain a lot for a lot of people. We also touched on genes related to caffeine-induced anxiety/depression, histamine sensitivity, and why Dr. Shay focuses on testing “drivers of disease” (like inflammation, free radicals/mitochondria, etc.) rather than disease markers themselves.
Our genetics make up every part of us, but they’re rarely considered when it comes to chronic and “unexplainable” health problems. If you’ve ever dealt with chronic inflammation, unexplained weight gain, strange food intolerances, or even mental health issues, but your labs are always “normal,” the answers just might be in your genetics.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention.

In This Episode:
[2:50] Dr. Shay’s story that led him to genetics testing
[8:45] What Dr. Shay learned about himself from his genetics test results
[14:15] What’s the benefit of having variations in how our bodies process different things?
[19:45] Why a Mediterranean diet won’t work for everyone
[24:41] “The Finger Rule” for helping to decipher our test results
[27:40] What happens when people start following The Finger Rule to change their diet
[31:35] What can genetics testing can tell us beyond carb tolerance
[36:03] Change your environment to match your genetics
[36:35] The 7 drivers of disease that we can see in test results
[40:10] 3 types of genetics-based weight gain and how to eliminate them
[47:00] How to work with Dr. Shay

Find more from Dr. Shay online:
Website: https://drsamshay.com/
https://fitgenesusa.com/
Instagram: @drsamshay
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@DrSamShay

Connect with Sophie:
Instagram: @shetalkshealth
Website: shetalkshealth.com
Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call
The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package
Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/
Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front

Can nervous system regulation help chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and long COVID symptoms like brain fog, crashes, and fatigue? What if the root issue is a hypersensitive nervous system stuck in survival mode rather than another protocol you need to stack?
On this episode of the She Talks Health Podcast, I sat down with Miguel Bautista, founder of CFS Recovery, to talk about nervous system-driven chronic conditions and why “doing more” can backfire when your system is already overwhelmed.
Miguel shared his personal recovery story from years of escalating symptoms, being bedridden and then hospitalized, and the turning point when a doctor finally explained that his symptoms weren’t random, but signals from a nervous system on high alert. We talked about how long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia can look incredibly similar, often differing mainly by the trigger, and why trying to overdo recovery can actually flare symptoms even more.
Miguel explained the “nervous system threshold” idea, when life stressors, perfectionism, and self-pressure max out your capacity, your body starts sending louder signals to force a slowdown. We also unpacked why your response to symptoms matters so much for nervous system regulation. Fear, frustration, and catastrophic thinking can fuel the same loop that keeps symptoms going — and that’s why we always say to stop obsessively Googling your symptoms!
We also discussed how recovery becomes more predictable through education, stopping the cycle of obsessive symptom tracking, and gradually building physical, cognitive, and emotional capacity through repeatable “progress cycles.”
If you’ve been dealing with chronic fatigue, a dysregulated nervous system, chronic stress, or any symptom that has you feeling stuck with no clear answers, this episode will shed so much light on what could possibly going on. I hope this episode points you toward chronic fatigue recovery and a more symptom-free future.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention.

In This Episode:
[1:40] Introducing Miguel Bautista
[5:25] Miguel’s incredibly relatable story of how his nervous system was pushed into chronic fatigue
[12:00] What the psych ward did for Miguel that traditional medicine doctors couldn’t
[15:10] Nervous system dysregulation eventually shows up as chronic illness
[17:00] The most common people to end up with CFS symptoms and nervous system problems
[19:50] What’s the difference between CFS and long COVID
[23:55] What does safety in the nervous system actually look like?
[27:15] Your nervous system is trying to protect you, and getting overwhelmed in the process
[34:00] Tools for sustainable recovery from CFS
[41:03] Your success is determined by how you respond to symptoms, not IF you have them
[47:10] How to work with Miguel

Find more from Miguel online:
Website: https://cfsrecovery.com/
Instagram: @cfsrecovery
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh610cYKG5yfXlTT8Se97Vg
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TkjYZhcUgitUuRfivrkjd
Exclusive content for podcast listeners: https://cfsrecovery.co/shetalks

Connect with Sophie:
Instagram: @shetalkshealth
Website: shetalkshealth.com
Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call
The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package
Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/
Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front

How are hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s related to your risk of having high cholesterol and heart disease? What symptoms have you normalized that might actually be your body asking for help?
In this Thyroid Thursday episode, I share what recently happened when my Dad landed in the hospital and ultimately needed open-heart surgery for a triple bypass after doctors found major arterial blockages. This is a vulnerable episode for me, but it comes with great advice on handling unexpected life events and how they relate to your own health management. So get ready for some deep emotions, but also deep insights into why it’s never too late to start taking our health more seriously.
I talk about the fear and overwhelm of getting to Florida in time, what it was like watching him go through surgery and early recovery, and how grateful I am that he’s doing well now. From this experience, there are 6 big lessons that changed how I’m showing up in my life and work. As I go through them, I also invite you to think of areas in your own life and health journey that can use some immediate action today.
Since this is Thyroid Thursday, we can’t finish an episode without getting a little clinical and science-y. I talk a little bit about the thyroid–heart connection and how the thyroid is closely connected to cholesterol. I explain why, when someone has high cholesterol, I want to see a full thyroid panel (not just TSH), and why treating cholesterol without addressing thyroid function can miss the root issue.
I close with a reminder to get the right testing and support now, listen to your body early, release perfectionism, and focus on consistent compassion and action—because we can’t buy back time. And as always, getting your stress and emotional well-being under control is one of the best things we can do to support our overall health today.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention.

In This Episode:
[1:55] What happened with my dad’s triple bypass surgery
[4:50] Your genetics are NOT your destiny
[7:20] Taking care of your health now helps you out later in life
[9:15] Get clear on one area of your health that you need to improve now
[10:07] Get in tune with your body’s cues and know when something is off
[15:15] Processing vs. bypassing emotions (feel the hard stuff)
[20:40] Get clear on what actually matters to you
[24:15] I’m breaking up with perfectionism
[28:10] The thyroid-heart connection and how this affects cholesterol

Connect with Sophie:
Instagram: @shetalkshealth
Website: shetalkshealth.com
Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call
Thyroid Breakthrough Call: https://thyroidhealthaudit.shetalkshealth.com/thyroid-health-audit
The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package
Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/
Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front
Gofundme link: gofundme.com/f/help-felix-promote-artery-checks-for-a-healthier-future/fb/o?attribution_id=sl:fe4ed664-b414-4114-8cce-518492516f2d&ts=1778546466&utm_campaign=natman_today_topbar_ios&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Can mindset and habit change improve autoimmune disease outcomes like Hashimoto’s and multiple sclerosis? Why is consistency so hard with chronic illness and fluctuating energy, and how do you build healthy habits that actually stick?
On this episode of the She Talks Health Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Amy Behimer, a doctor of pharmacy-turned autoimmune health coach, to talk about why the chronic, progressive, debilitating story around diagnoses like MS isn’t the whole picture of autoimmunity.
Amy has had four autoimmune diagnoses since age 17, with her MS diagnosis at 27 becoming the wake-up call that led her to action to improve her quality of life. From this, she’s built her autoimmune coaching business, developed supportive frameworks, and guided people to tap into their own expertise rather than be “another expert in a white coat.”
We also talked about why people think needing help with the autoimmune journey means they’ve failed, when it can actually be the thing that helps you see your blind spots and put what you know into practice. Amy explained how redefining autoimmune health matters, because if health only means “absence of disease,” it can feel hopeless. Instead, we can focus on creating stronger metabolic, gut, emotional, and mental health while still acknowledging that our symptoms are real.
Finally, we get into the critical step of consistency and habit change. Amy’s “trust in the tiny” approach emphasizes that small actions matter more than all-or-nothing attitudes. Her ABC Habit Playbook makes habit shifts approachable and easy to implement in real life. She also walked through her Habit Hub framework that helps us reroute around roadblocks and learn to make friends with negative emotions without letting them define the quality of our lives.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention.

In This Episode:
[4:10] Amy’s autoimmunity history that motivated her to help others with the same diagnoses
[7:30] There’s no shame in getting help
[9:45] Believing that your life doesn’t have to be worse because of a diagnosis
[13:15] Finding the re-route and the willingness to follow a different path to get to the end goal
[14:45] Trusting in the tiny shifts that eventually bring big changes
[18:40] The ABC Habit Playbook
[21:50] Where to start if you’re too overwhelmed to begin
[29:42] The Habit Hub Framework
[33:15] Good stressors that help make us better
[37:00] Learning to be ok with dark moments as part of the journey
[38:41] Using our diagnosis as a reason to become healthier

Find more from Amy online:
Website: https://amybehimercoaching.com/
Instagram: @amybehimercoaching
Autoimmune Health Secrets podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autoimmune-health-secrets-ease-fatigue-improve-your/id1681403369

Connect with Sophie:
Instagram: @shetalkshealth
Website: shetalkshealth.com
Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call
The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package
Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/
Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front

Why do so many women with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism still feel exhausted, bloated, anxious, and foggy even when their labs look “normal” on thyroid medication?
How do leaky gut, SIBO, H. pylori, parasites, chronic stress, and even gluten connect to thyroid inflammation and autoimmune flares?
In this week’s Thyroid Thursday episode, I lay out what I see every week in my practice: women doing “everything right,” taking their meds, eating right, exercising regularly, and still feeling awful. Many of them are still experiencing hair loss, stubborn weight changes, constipation and/or diarrhea, food sensitivities, anxiety, depression, and fatigue that sleep just doesn’t help. They’re told they’re fine, yet their symptoms keep piling up, and they end up stuck between multiple specialists who never connect the dots.
I explain what “leaky gut” actually means, why ongoing gut inflammation doesn’t just stay in the gut, and how it can contribute to autoimmune flares like Hashimoto’s. We talk about common drivers I see behind a compromised gut lining, like overgrowths and infections, chronic stress and low vagal tone, gluten’s immune impact and molecular mimicry, nutrient depletion, and environmental exposures like mold.
If you suspect leaky gut might be linked to your thyroid issues, or you have a lot of the symptoms mentioned in the episode, I leave you with some practical tips for getting tested, information on why we test and don’t guess, and changes we can make after getting tested that will really move the needle on your health journey.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention.

In This Episode:
[3:22] Common symptoms with women who are told they have Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism
[5:30] The gut and thyroid aren’t two separate problems
[6:00] My story of struggling with IBS and Hashimoto’s for years before finding real answers
[9:35] How the gut is connected to our immune system
[12:00] The 3-legged stool of autoimmunity
[14:32] Hashimotos and leaky gut are closely connected
[19:41] Parasites, fungus, SIBO, and h. Pylori overgrowth effect on gut health
[20:38] The connection between perfectionism and leaky gut symptoms
[21:40] Stress is the #1 root cause of leaky gut
[22:35] The unique link between gluten, our gut, and thyroid issues
[23:48] What we look for to address leaky gut symptoms
[25:08] How do we screen for leaky gut?
[27:40] How one client is addressing her leaky gut symptoms head-on
[30:21] Key takeaways

Connect with Sophie:
Instagram: @shetalkshealth
Website: shetalkshealth.com
Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call
Thyroid Breakthrough Call: https://thyroidhealthaudit.shetalkshealth.com/thyroid-health-audit
The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package
Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/
Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front