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Summary
On episode 164 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan sits down with Elle Russ, a writer, actor, health and life coach, host of the Primal Blueprint podcast, and author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution.
Elle argues thyroid problems are an epidemic that most doctors, including classically trained endocrinologists, are poorly equipped to solve. She walks through the problem solving principles from her book: do your own research, follow your gut, take copious notes, seek the right kind of doctor (functional medicine, integrative, or a DO rather than a classic endocrinologist), and don't rely solely on that doctor, drawn from her own decade of misdiagnosis with hypothyroidism and later a reverse T3 problem.
The conversation then moves into the paleo primal lifestyle itself: becoming fat adapted instead of running on sugar, eating high fat, moderate protein, and low carb, training at a lower, steadier heart rate instead of chronic hard cardio, and building in more standing and casual daily movement.
Links
- https://elleruss.com
- https://middlepathmedicine.com
- https://marksdailyapple.com
Key Takeaways
- Do your own research on your condition. Elle trusted an early doctor who told her she was fine, which let her hypothyroidism go undiagnosed and caused lasting harm. She argues almost no one on thyroid hormone understands what it is or how it works, and that gap is a losing position.
- Follow your gut, even with a good doctor. If a doctor dismisses a concern or makes you feel small, that is a signal to get a second opinion or find someone new, not to defer just because they have a medical degree.
- Take copious notes on symptoms and vitals. Thyroid problems can impair memory and brain function, so tracking symptoms, temperatures, and lab results as they happen matters more than trying to recall them later, and it also helps a future doctor help you.
- Seek out the right kind of doctor. Functional medicine, integrative, and anti-aging doctors and DOs tend to take the time and run the broader testing needed. Elle singles out classic endocrinologists as often the most entrenched in outdated protocols.
- Don't rely solely on your doctor, even a good one. Elle once took a prescribed weight loss drug without question and it worsened her adrenal problems. Research what's suggested, trust your gut on dosing, and get second or third opinions when something feels off.
- Become fat adapted instead of staying a sugar burner. A paleo primal diet is high fat, moderate protein, and low carb, aligned with how humans are built to run on fat rather than needing food every two to three hours. The transition takes about three to four weeks and can be uncomfortable at first.
- Chronic hard cardio can work against you. Training consistently above roughly 75 percent of max heart rate burns mostly glucose, spikes hunger and soreness afterward, and stresses the adrenals. Training between 55 and 75 percent burns more fat, is more enjoyable, and doesn't leave you ravenous.
- Small, consistent movement counts, especially standing more. Even just standing while on the phone or building up standing time gradually supports fat loss and bone health, which matters when thyroid-related fatigue makes bigger workouts hard.
- A skewed cholesterol panel can be a thyroid symptom, not a statin problem. Hypothyroidism throws off lipid panels, and correcting the underlying thyroid issue can normalize them naturally, so it's worth investigating the root cause before jumping to medication.
“This is completely fixable in every way. So don't give up.”
Elle Russ
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