I was delighted to welcome Keith Littlewood back onto the podcast for another conversation around Thyroid health and lab tests, why TSH is almost pointless to look at, how Aspirin can be beneficial for many ailments and that neither of us are too concerned about the negative propaganda around Aspirin. We also touch on estrogen, serotonin and Ozempic's role in down regulating thyroid function. And LOTS more. Keith is one of the smartest people I know, with a post grad diploma and MSc in endocrinology, and is currently completing a Phd in endocrine research, with a specific focus on thyroid hormones. We are sure you will learn lots in this conversation and please let us know if you have any questions or feedback in the comments. :)  You can also find out more about Keith and his work here; https://www.keithlittlewood.co.uk/ https://www.balancedbodymind.com/   / tommolittlewood  As always, please like share and subscribe if you haven't already. :)

#340 TSH issues, Aspirins safety, Ozempic & more with Keith Littlewood.

It’s well known that your thyroid controls and regulates your weight through its impact on your metabolism. 

As a result, it’s actually very common that patients with hypothyroidism end up gaining weight. 

But what patients usually don’t understand is that if you gain weight from hypothyroidism, only about 10-15 pounds of that weight is directly from your thyroid. 

So why is it that some thyroid patients gain 30, 40, or even 50 pounds after their diagnosis? 

The cause for this extra weight gain has more to do with fluid than with actual fat!

And because fluid levels can shift rapidly from day to day, they are often responsible for the wide shifts in weight that many thyroid patients experience. 

The 3 main causes of this rapid weight gain include: 

1. Swelling, edema, and water weight. 
Hypothyroidism puts your body in a state where holding fluid is much more likely due to a condition called myxedema. This thyroid-specific condition results in the accumulation of GAGs and hyaluronic acid in your tissues which pulls in water from circulation resulting in swelling. 

2. Constipation. 
Thyroid patients are also at risk for developing constipation and, if you aren’t having a bowel movement every day, you can start to gain a lot of extra weight from stool. 

3. Menstrual problems (hormone-related weight gain)
Your thyroid not only regulates your metabolism, but it also has an impact on the menstrual cycle and progesterone. Thyroid dysfunction causes a decline in progesterone which can lead to an imbalance in estrogen:progesterone and excess weight gain from fluid. 

If you think the weight gain from your thyroid is more related to fat mass instead of water weight then you’ll want to check out this information: https://www.restartmed.com/mistakes-hypothyroid-patients-make-when-trying-to-lose-weight/ 

Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/

Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo

See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here: 
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/

Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here: 
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/

Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS

Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or resp

Rapid Weight Gain in Hypothyroidism? Here’s Why

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with the lovely Carol Petersen of  @thewellnessbydesignproject  . We went deep into progesterone therapy, why most women need MORE bioidentical hormones, why you may believe progesterone is NOT working for you, the influence stress has on your adrenaline and progesterone, and lots more. I also wanted to add in at the end, the aspect of paying out of pocket for HRT when your Dr won't help. 
This is a fantastic conversation and we both think you will find it enjoyable and helpful! 
Carol Petersen is an accomplished compounding pharmacist with decades of experience helping patients improve their quality of life through bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. With 27 years experience with bio-identical hormone therapies, co-owning an alternative medicine practice, co-hosting Take Charge of Your Health radio, and in practice with a compounding pharmacy specializing in bio-identical hormone therapies, you are sure to learn lots from what Carol has to say. 

Let us know in the comments and if you would like to find out more about what Carol does and reap the rewards from her experience, you can check her out here; 
Web - https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/
Take charge of your health radio show - https://www.wbai.org/program.php?program=127

As always, please like share and subscribe if you haven't already. We appreciate you! :)

#348 Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with Carol Petersen.

My mentor and inspiration for getting into the world of hormones, Dr Michael Platt is back for another fantastic conversation. I really enjoyed this conversation, as you will see. This time we discussed bioidentical versus synthetic progesterone, progestin only IUDs, estrogen issues, urinary incontinence, migraine, insomnia, and lots more! I am grateful to have this kind intelligent man support me on my learning journey, so that I can help others more. Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback in the comments. :)
If you would like to get Dr Platts books or access to his products, you can do so here; 
‪YouTube @plattwellness3930‬ 
https://plattwellness.com/CHEMAINES15 
"Adrenaline Dominance" book on Amazon - https://a.co/d/8YeTWfm

As always, please like, share and subscribe if you haven't already. We appreciate you! :)

#349 Progesterone revisited, estrogen issues, urinary incontinence, & more with Dr Michael Platt.

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Raena health founder Alannah Connealy, and I think you will too! The conversation flowed from one hormone topic to another and we covered A LOT. We discussed treating estrogen dominance, taking responsibility for your health, testing hormones, hormone fluctuations during your cycle, how hormones effect the skin and liver, serotonin and weight gain, an interesting thyroid question from one of my clients, and more. Let us know if you have any questions or feedback in the comments. 

Find our more about Raena here;
 @raenahealth.  
https://raena.com/
Discount code; FINDHEALTH for 10% off
https://www.instagram.com/raenahealth

As always, please like share and subscribe if you haven't already. 
THANK YOU!!!

#355 Raena health hormones, treating estrogen, thyroid anomalies, & more with Alannah Connealy.

I had a wonderful conversation with the very beautiful and intelligent Eric Hull this week on toxic fat and weight gain as we move through perimenopause. We discussed how many people as not being heard by their doctors or medical providers, and so many aspects of their struggles are being overlooks. We also discussed;
- how imbalances start
- monitoring the symptom picture
- how you can't pour from an empty cup and how resiliency declines as we get old
- addressing the foundations of health
- the accumulation of toxins in the body 
- fat cells and estrogen
- visceral fat and LOTS more!
We think you will very much enjoy this conversation and please let us know in the comments. :)

Erica Hull is a board-certified Physician Assistant with over 15 years of experience specializing in solid organ transplant, reconstructive surgery, and emergency medicine. Erica is a Certified Mastery Level Integrative Health Practitioner and also serves as faculty teaching Mastery Level studies at the Integrative Health Practitioner Institute. Currently, Erica is the Vice President of Health at EquiLife, a leading functional medicine company offering at-home lab testing, scientifically-backed supplements, and protocols for natural body rebalancing.
Find out more about Eric and EquiLife here;
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deeplywellwomen/
https://www.instagram.com/achieveequilife/?hl=en
 @EquiLife  


As always, please like share and subscribe if you haven't already. I appreciate your subscription as the bigger this channel grows, the bigger the guests. So thank you! xo

#363 Toxic fat & weight gain during perimenopause with Erica Hull.

Keith Littlewood and Alannah Connealy are back on the podcast, this time together for a discussion on Cancer. It was great to have this opportunity to bounce ideas back and forth on this very important topic, with these very knowledgeable hormone and metabolism experts.
We covered many considerations around Cancer including;
What causes it, including the notorious "But doesn't sugar cause Cancer?" question. 
PUFAs and Cancer.
How metabolism and thyroid are implicated in Cancer. 
Stress being a trigger for Cancer development? 
What Keith and Alannah would do if they got a Cancer diagnosis.  
And lots more. 
We hope you enjoy this round table discussion on Cancer. :)

Keith Littlewood holds a BSc in fitness & health and a post grad diploma and MSc in endocrinology. He is currently completing his PhD in endocrine research with a special focus on thyroid and Cancer. 
Find out more about Keith here;
https://www.keithlittlewood.co.uk/about
https://www.balancedbodymind.com/
Alannah Connealy is founder and CEO at RAENA Health natural hormone provider.
Find out more about Alannah and her work here;
‪@raenahealth.‬ 
https://www.instagram.com/raenahealth...
https://raena.com?sca_ref=8294464.Uaror112QPN
Use Discount Code - FINDHEALTH for 10% discount

As always, please like share and subscribe of you haven't already. The bigger the channel gets, the bigger the guests get. ;)

#366 Cancer PT1. Sugar & Thyroid, whats the connection? With Keith Littlewood & Alannah Connealy.

The infamous Georgi Dinkov is back for a 2hr game changing conversation with his insights on Cancer. We are also joined by the lovely Alannah Connealy again too. :)
In this Part 2 on out Cancer conversation we discussed (so much) what Georgi believes is the cause of current Cancer rates increasing, how inflammation and cortisol play a big part. Georgi also shared two of his lab results (including graphs) to show the outcomes of his research. And more
Including;
- Metabolic dysfunction.
- Following a low fat diet.
- Reducing PUFAs.
- Estrogen and androgen therapy for Cancer treatment.
- B vitamins and Aspirin.
- Ozempic considerations. 

References cited by Georgi;
https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/gi-bleeding-risks-of-aspirin-are-grossly-overstated.12338/
https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/the-benefits-of-aspirin-outweigh-the-bleeding-risks.13851/
https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/aspirin-reduces-death-complications-from-gi-bleeding.6158/
https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/aspirin-actually-lowers-risk-of-bleeding-in-the-brain.6762/
https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/aspirin-has-dramatically-lower-bleeding-risk-than-pharma-anticoagulants.37140/
https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/flagship-blood-thinner-worse-than-aspirin-for-preventing-strokes-trial-halted.20293/
https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/aspirin-as-effective-as-heparin-for-preventing-blood-clots.48181/

Georgi Dinkov is an independent researcher and Ray Peat proponent. He is a computer science engineer (still practicing) turned self-taught biochemist and owner of IdeaLabs. He's well known online for his in-depth Bioenergetics research. When it comes to biohacking and metabolic health, Georgi is the first one I email. Georgi is probably one of the few people who is always ready to give you a whole world of answers.

Alannah Connealy is founder and CEO at RAENA Health natural hormone provider.
Find out more about Alannah and her work here;
‪@raenahealth.‬ 
https://www.instagram.com/raenahealth...
https://raena.com?sca_ref=8294464.Uaror112QPN
Use Discount Code - FINDHEALTH for 10% discount

As always, please like share and subscribe of you haven't already. The bigger the channel gets, the bigger the guests get. ;)

#367 Cancer pt2. Inflammation, Metabolism, & Ozempic. With Georgi Dinkov & Alannah Connealy.

My first solo episode in a while, but it was time! Many of you have been asking me how do you detoxify estrogen and if I have any tips to help your body detoxify estrogen, so hopefully I covered it all in this episode. Helping your body metabolize and detoxify estrogen is one of the most important things you can do to support your hormone health right across your life but especially in perimenopause. I hope you find this episode helpful!
Also, here is the study on Citrus rind helping with estrogen control and detoxification that I mentioned in this this podcast episode, for those of you curious. 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8007834/

As always - please like, share, and subscribe if you haven't already. Thank you! xo

#382 Estrogen Detoxification.

In this episode, I welcome on Dr Nayan Patel, a collegue of Carol Petersens onto the show - so you know its going to be good! We dive deep into the importance of hormonal function, and how supporting your thyroid and progesterone levels can transform your health and quality of life. From PMS and perimenopause, to postpartum depression, and even hormone support for young girls, we’re covering it all. We both think you will very much benefit from this conversation and we hope you enjoy it. 
What you will learn;
- Why healthy thyroid function matters at every stage of life
- The role of thyroid hormone therapies and natural support strategies
- How stress and adrenaline impact your your Thyroid and hormones
- The connection between nutrition, lifestyle choices, and hormone balance
- Why bioidentical progesterone is essential for PMS, perimenopause, and postpartum recovery
- Progesterone safety in younger women and girls
- How to test your hormones and what markers to look for

If you’re curious about optimizing your hormones naturally or exploring medical therapies, this episode gives you actionable insights to support your thyroid, balance your hormones, and feel your best.

Dr Nayan Patel is a clinical compounding pharmacist, educator, and founder of CENTRAL DRUGS COMPOUNDING PHARMACY, a nationally respected facility specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) and personalized pharmaceutical care. For over two decades, Dr. Patel has worked hand-in-hand with functional and integrative doctors and practitioners to design precise hormone protocols, interpret complex lab panels, and guide safer, more effective patient outcomes especially when it comes to hormone health. You can find out more about Dr Patel and his work here;
http://aurowellness.com/
https://www.instagram.com/Aurowellness
https://www.facebook.com/aurowellness
https://www.tiktok.com/@auro.wellness
 @aurowellness  

🔔 Subscribe for more on women’s health, hormones, and real-life strategies for hormone balance. And please give us a like and a share... if you think we deserve it. ;)

#384 Why Thyroid & Progesterone Are A Powerhouse Duo At All Ages with Dr Nayan Patel.

Your hormones don’t all “vanish” at the same time when you reach menopause — and in this video, I’m walking you through exactly what I see happen for most women, starting in their 30s or 40s. 

I’ll explain: 
🔹 Estradiol – how it rises and falls during the menstrual cycle, from its lowest levels (50–100 pg/ml) to its peak during ovulation (300+ pg/ml). 
🔹 Progesterone – why it’s only produced after ovulation and why it’s usually the first hormone to drop. 
🔹 Testosterone – the small but meaningful increase around ovulation and how it changes over time. 

We’ll look at what these fluctuations mean in perimenopause and the usual order in which they fade — so you can better understand your body and your symptoms. These shifts can start earlier than many women realize, and they don’t happen all at once. By understanding the timing and pattern, you can make more informed choices about your health — whether that’s tracking your cycles, supporting hormone balance, or preparing for the changes ahead. 
If you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or simply want to be proactive about your midlife health, I invite you to subscribe and join me for more conversations about women’s hormones, wellness, and aging well. 

💻 Interested in booking an appointment? Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com


Hormone Fluctuations in Perimenopause | How I Walk Patients Through the Changes

In this powerful and fantastic conversation, I sit down with Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy, integrative oncologist and author of The Cancer Revolution, to explore the root causes of cancer and how to create an anti-cancer environment in your body.
We start with Dr. Connealy’s personal story — how her mother’s exposure to a toxic hormonal birth control during pregnancy affected her hormones, fertility, and health as a teenager and adult. From there, we dive into:
How toxic hormonal birth control can interfere with fertility and hormone balance
The impact of generational trauma and stress on present-day health
The Warburg Theory and how that influences cancer cells
Why your body pH matters for cancer consideration and prevention
The role of estrogen in cancer development — and why progesterone can be so beneficial
How your thyroid and metabolic health influence cancer risk
Does sugar fuel cancer
Real-life case studies from Dr. Connealy’s clinic
Practical steps to create an anti-cancer lifestyle
And lots more
If you’ve been searching for answers on hormones, cancer prevention, stress, and nutrition, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. We hope you thoroughly enjoy this conversation.

Dr Leigh Erin Connealy is a prominent leader in the Integrative & Functional Medicine medical field (taking the best of all sciences, including conventional, homeopathic, eastern medicine, and the new modern medicine). She is the Medical Director of two unique clinics, “The Cancer Center For Healing” & “Center For New Medicine.” The combined (30,000 S.F.) clinics have become the largest Integrative Medical Clinic in North America and are visited by patients from all over the world, with 65,000 patients and growing. Find out more here;
The Cancer Revolution BOOK - https://a.co/d/feLzyrY
YouTube1 - ‪@CenterForNewMedicine‬ 
YouTube2 - ‪@cancercenterforhealing‬ 
Instagram -   / connealymd   

👉 If you found this helpful, please like, share, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss future conversations from me and other experts who want to help you feel your best. 
I also appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity.
https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks

Chemaine xo

🛑 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

#391 Cancer PT3. Estrogen, stress & acidic environments. The Cancer Revolution with Dr Leigh Erin Connealy.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat of its fruit."
It is my hope that my podcast and these conversations bring you insight and the tools to take responsibility for your health and hormones, so that you may live your best life AND fulfill your life's purpose with determination and happiness. Please like and subscribe if you are enjoying my content. :)

If you are considering reaching out, I work with high-achieving motivated people in a 1:1 position to optimize their health and life through a science backed holistic approach. This includes personalized nutrition and hormone therapy, 360° sleep improvement, strategic supplementation, movement and more.📝📊🧬

Don't be afraid to say Hi sometime!
support@chemainesmodelhealth.com or on Facebook and Instagram - I swear I do respond! ;)

Do you feel like your thyroid is taking over your life? Are you suffering from symptoms like weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, brain fog, or mood swings? If so, you aren’t alone. 

In fact, millions of other thyroid patients in the United States and around the world suffer from the same issues. And these issues persist even in the face of normal treatment with thyroid medication!

The question is: what can you do about it?

That’s exactly what this podcast is about.

I’m Dr. Westin Childs (D.O.) a former practicing osteopathic physician and my goal is to help thyroid patients get back to feeling 100%. 

Well, I actually have 2 goals:

#1. The first is to help 1 million thyroid patients directly or indirectly. 

And #2. To create the most comprehensive and helpful thyroid resource for thyroid patients on the internet. 

I know just how debilitating thyroid disease can be and I also know that it is possible to take control of your life. 

One of the biggest problems with thyroid management is that we just don’t talk about it enough. 

This podcast changes that. 

We are going to discuss all sorts of topics ranging from thyroid management, the use of less talked about thyroid medications, opinions on emerging treatments and therapies from leading experts, the use of natural therapies and how they fit into the conventional model, and so much more. 

If you want more information aside from the standard thyroid treatment of TSH and levothyroxine then this is the place for you. 

We won’t just stop at your thyroid, either. 

Other topics that are relevant and important to thyroid function will be discussed including things like hormone balance, menopause, testosterone replacement therapy, and weight loss therapies. 

If something helps you to better manage your thyroid, improve your symptoms, lose weight, or balance your hormones then it’s something I want to include. 

For more information on me and why I do what I do check out my website here: www.restartmed.com 

If you have any questions or have a topic you want me to discuss please shoot me an email on my website to submit a request in the "contact" section!

Meet Dr. Susan, a renowned Board-Certified Gynecologist and Certified Menopause Practitioner through the Menopause Society (former NAMS), focused on hormone optimization, sexual wellness, and longevity. She's the pioneering force behind the Complete Midlife Wellness Center in Houston, TX, and the best-selling author of "Sexually Woke." Tune into her engaging podcast, "Empowering Midlife Wellness," for insightful conversations. Boasting numerous accolades, including the Texas Super Doctor award and being consistently rated among Houston's top gynecologists, Dr. Susan combines her medical expertise with her passion as an ICF-certified life and leadership coach. Outside the clinic, she's a fitness enthusiast, marathon runner, Ironman triathlete, and mother of three young adults. Join her YouTube channel for empowering wellness strategies designed for midlife and beyond.

Content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical or mental health condition, and before undertaking any diet, dietary supplement, exercise, or other health program.

New tracks tagged #progesterone