In this episode of the Thyroid Strong Podcast, Dr. Emily Kiberd is joined by functional medicine expert Dr. Patrick Hanaway, MD to explore the deep connection between gut health and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Together, they break down how gut imbalances—particularly intestinal permeability and low microbiome diversity—can contribute to autoimmune flares and chronic symptoms.
Dr. Hanaway shares his go-to method for restoring gut health using the “Five Rs”: Remove, Replace, Repopulate, Repair, and Rebalance. You’ll learn how certain medications, poor diet, and even hidden gluten can disrupt your gut ecosystem—and what to do about it.
They also touch on the gut-brain connection, explaining why brain fog, anxiety, and fatigue are common for those with Hashimoto’s, and how gut healing can improve mood and mental clarity.
If you’re curious about prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, or how to track your gut health with tools like the Bristol Stool Scale and HRV, this episode is packed with practical tips you can start using today. Tune in to discover how balancing your gut can lead to whole-body wellness—one small step at a time.
In this episode:
00:31 Understanding Hashimoto’s and Gut Health
01:44 The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Autoimmune Diseases
06:52 Medications and Their Impact on Your Gut Health with Hashimoto’s
11:13 How what you eat can shift your gut
16:35 Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics Explained
22:19 Fecal Transplants and Postbiotics
31:01 How the Gut-Brain Axis works and Mental Health
38:06 Practical Steps for Improving Gut Health
If these insights resonated with you, check out the following resources for women navigating Hashimoto’s:
You want to work out without the burnout, jump into Thyroid Strong: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/thyroid-strong/
You want to lose weight with Hashimoto’s, jump into Thyroid Strong Elite: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/elite/
You want a 1:1 functional medicine approach to heal your Hashimoto’s, jump into Root Cause Functional Medicine: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/functional-health-coaching/
Follow Dr. Emily Kiberd and Thyroid Strong Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
