Elle Russ, wellness advocate and author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, provides a wealth of knowledge on thyroid issues and explains how millions of people remain undiagnosed and suffer needlessly.

Elle Russ is a sought-after guest on many wellness-oriented shows and interviewee of wellness-related blogs and magazines. Her celebrated book, The Paleo Thyroid Solution, is a bestseller on Amazon and has made her a noted voice in the paleo, primal, and ancestral health movement. Russ is also the popular host of The Primal Blueprint Podcast, a top-ranked health show created by food blogger, former distance runner, triathlete, and well known New York Times Bestselling author, Mark Sisson.

Russ discusses her serious bouts with hypothyroidism, how it impacted her life, and how none of her doctors were offering much help. With over 30 symptoms, Russ started digging deeper to discover the root of her health maladies. She details how so many common issues from depression to cholesterol problems to high blood pressure are directly related to the thyroid. As she states, the thyroid is the master gland of the human body, without a doubt. From metabolism to production of hormones, the thyroid is the source from which many bodily functions and systems are maintained or regulated. Brain fog, exhaustion, inability to lose weight, etc., the list goes on and on, and the thyroid is the key to so much in our body and its systems. 

Russ elaborates on the many and various antibody tests, and others, that help to define potential thyroid issues. As she states, over 20 million people in the US suffer from thyroid-related issues, but sadly 60% are undiagnosed and struggle with symptoms from which they can find no relief. Her book covers many important topics such as paleo protocols for preventing and reversing low thyroid function, the correct blood tests to diagnose hypothyroidism and how to treat it, how to diagnose and treat Reverse T3 issues, how to lose weight gained because of hypothyroidism, and much more.

She discusses the importance of nutritional experimentation and elimination of foods that contribute to problems, as well as many other issues that have a direct impact on health. She talks about brand name versus generic pharmaceuticals and details some specific drugs in which the generic version could be contributing to more or other problems or symptoms. She outlines specifics of T3 and T4 drugs and hormone replacement therapy. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are the two major hormones produced by the thyroid gland. There are many factors that are important, but one particularly important issue is to make sure your drug choice is suited for you, and that your lab work provides proof that whatever combination therapy you are on, that it is working for you. She discusses the many inaccurate assessments the healthcare industry has made regarding thyroid and thyroid drug issues. 

The thyroid health guru talks about fluctuating signals and lab indicators, and the importance of seeing the big picture when interpreting results and implementing treatment and drug plans. And importantly, she underscores that physicians need to look at multiple test results and not just one or two to properly diagnose these issues. Russ relates how her struggle to find the answers to her own health problems really motivated her to help others, and that is just what she does day in and day out.