Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Thyroid Function

Most people associate iodine exclusively with thyroid health — but this essential mineral plays a far broader role in the body. From breast tissue and ovarian function to fetal brain development and endometrial health, iodine is active in virtually every organ system. Deficiency is more widespread than commonly recognised, and standard thyroid blood tests cannot reliably detect it. This guide explores the extrathyroidal roles of iodine, the difference between iodide and molecular iodine, the controversy around dosing, and why testing urinary iodine is the most accurate way to assess your status.

  By Dr. Tracy Tranchitella, ND (ZRT Laboratory) For anyone who has dealt with issues that are related to chronic fatigue has likely evaluated their hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis performance through a multi-point salivary test. The hormone Cortisol is measured in saliva when the samples are collected through predetermined intervals throughout a single day reveal one’s physiological resilience and metabolic reserve in response to daily stressors. HPA axis testing is a mainstay in the world of integrative, naturopathic, and functional medicine. For the past 2 years, the world has existed under the constant shadow of COVID-19. To say that we have been “stressed” is...

By Amen Clinics, ZRT Laboratory Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front part of your neck. Its job is to secrete hormones that control growth/development during childhood, regulate your metabolism and body temperature, and drive the production of many neurotransmitters in your brain. Specifically, the ones that help you feel good and enough have motivation to accomplish your goals: serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. It’s estimated that tens of millions of people worldwide have thyroid problems—anywhere from 5-25% of the world’s population. In the book, Thyroid Mind Power, it’s reported that, “the last 40 years...

By Dr. Allison Smith, ZRT Laboratory Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) is one of the most overlooked variables in hormone health. It directly controls how much testosterone is biologically active in your body — yet it rarely appears on standard blood panels. Whether you're dealing with symptoms of low testosterone, androgen excess, or unexplained hormonal imbalance, understanding SHBG is essential to getting the full picture. What is SHBG? SHBG is a protein produced primarily in the liver that binds tightly to testosterone — and to a lesser degree, Estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — and carries them through the bloodstream....

The thyroid gland is under constant threat from modern life — oestrogen dominance, chronic stress, iodine and selenium deficiency, heavy metal toxicity and xenoestrogen exposure all suppress its function. This article outlines 7 key action steps you can take to protect your thyroid, from hormone rebalancing and stress reduction to targeted nutritional support and testing.