Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — autoimmune thyroid disease

Many patients produce sufficient thyroid hormone yet still suffer from classic hypothyroid symptoms. Why? Because standard TSH testing misses the full picture. In this clinical guide, Jim Paoletti explains the functional approach to thyroid assessment — examining T4 production, TBG binding, T4-to-T3 conversion, cortisol interference, ferritin and vitamin D — and outlines exactly which tests are needed for a complete analysis.

Weight loss failure is rarely just about willpower or diet — hormones are almost always involved. In this Q&A, Dr. Alyssa Burns-Hill of ZRT Laboratory tackles the most common questions from people struggling to lose weight despite their best efforts: from thyroid interference by the contraceptive pill and stress-driven cortisol cravings, to estrogen-reducing supplements, natural progesterone for menopause, and why 5-HTP can be a game-changer for mood, sleep and comfort eating.

Normal thyroid blood tests don’t always explain why patients still suffer from fatigue, cold intolerance, brain fog and weight gain. In this in-depth clinical article, ZRT Laboratory explains the critical role of selenium in thyroid hormone synthesis and T4-to-T3 conversion, how heavy metals like mercury and arsenic sequester selenium and inactivate protective antioxidant enzymes, and why this can trigger Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — even when TSH, T4 and T3 appear normal.

Thyroid cancer is now among the top 10 most common cancers worldwide, with incidence rising by an average of 5.5% per year. But experts are divided: is this a genuine epidemic, or an epidemic of diagnosis driven by more sensitive imaging? This article reviews the evidence on both sides, explores the role of iodine deficiency, radiation exposure and environmental factors, and explains why thyroid awareness — and monitoring — matters year-round.