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Have you ever been told your labs are “normal” — but you’re still tired, foggy, cold, or losing hair, even if you’re taking thyroid medication?

If this sounds like you, or if your hair is deserting you one strand at a time, your T3 levels may be the missing piece of your healing puzzle. In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I break down the science behind T3 — our most active thyroid hormone — and why many people struggle to convert T4 (found in common medications like Synthroid/levothyroxine) into the energizing, metabolism-boosting T3 their bodies desperately need.

I’ll walk you through how to tell if you’re under-converting your T4, what lab tests can help you figure this out, and most importantly, the nine strategies you can implement to start producing more T3 naturally. Whether you’re already on thyroid meds, can’t tolerate T3-containing prescriptions, or want to support your body more holistically, this episode is packed with actionable advice that can help you feel like yourself again — maybe even better.

Let’s dive into the most common root causes of poor T3 conversion and the nutrient and lifestyle shifts that can make a huge difference. Spoiler alert: there’s a rainbow involved, but no pot of gold — just more energy, a better mood, and maybe the return of good hair days!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why free T3 is so important — and why normal thyroid labs don’t always tell the full story. Understanding how to interpret your thyroid labs can reveal conversion problems that are keeping you stuck in fatigue.
• How to use the “Rainbow Test” method to visualize your lab results and spot T4 to T3 conversion issues. This simple visual tool can help you decode whether your T4 is being properly converted into the active hormone your body needs.
  Top blockers of T3 production that might be sabotaging your progress. From environmental toxins to excessive fasting, find out what could be slowing you down — and how to shift your T3 production.
• How nutrient deficiencies like low ferritin, selenium, and zinc impact your ability to convert T4 to T3. Plus, which forms and dosages actually work without causing side effects.
• The role of your liver, gut, and adrenal health in producing T3 naturally. Yes, your conversion isn’t just about your thyroid — it’s a whole-body team effort. You’ll hear how these systems work together to support healthy hormone activation.
• What to do if you can’t tolerate or access T3 medications. A new product may offer support for those who want a natural way to enhance T3 levels.

Key Tools and Resources

• Lab Interpretation Guide – Rainbow Chart PDF
• Rootcology Thyroid Conversion Support – A specialized blend of nutrients and herbs designed to promote healthy biosynthesis of thyroid hormone, including the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). (Use code PODCAST for 20% off!)
• Fatigue & Brain Fog Fix in Six: Thyroid & Adrenal Edition – A six-week guided course to implement the Adrenal Support protocol and improve fatigue and mental clarity that includes video modules, PDF guides, Q&As, a private Facebook group, and an optional supplement package.

Supplements We Discussed

• Rootcology Thyroid Conversion Support – A specialized blend of nutrients and herbs designed to promote healthy biosynthesis of thyroid hormone, including the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). (Use code PODCAST for 20% off!)
• Support your liver with Rootcology Liver Reset – Contains a natural pea protein isolate to fuel detoxification pathways, as well as nutrients and antioxidants needed to support both phase I and phase II detoxification pathways, for safe and gentle detoxification.
• Understand more about adrenal health and consider Rootcology Adrenal Support [20% off with code: PODCAST] – a combination of standardized herbs and nutrients that may help support normal adrenal function.
• Lactoferrin – Supports ferritin without feeding gut pathogens. (If you don’t have a Fullscript account you can sign up with my credentials here.)
• Iron infusions – Bypass absorption issues and improve low ferritin.
• Selenium – Supports deiodinase enzyme activity and reduces antibodies. I like Rootcology Selenium + MyoInositol.
• Zinc – Aids hormone synthesis and receptor sensitivity – consider Zinc 30 from Pure Encapsulations.
• Vitamins A and D – Support immune health and thyroid hormone activation. I recommend Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3.
• Guggul extract – Shown to enhance T3 levels naturally (found in Rootcology Thyroid Conversion Support).
• Adaptogens (ashwagandha, Rhodiola, holy basil) – Can help reduce cortisol and improve conversion.

Other Tools and Resources

• Get a full thyroid panel from Ulta Labs.
• Root Cause Reset – A 30-day program that guides you through my Liver Support protocol with video modules, PDF guides, and (optional) supplements.
• Gut Recovery Program – A 15-week course to help Hashimoto’s patients understand and implement the Gut Protocol with video lessons, corresponding downloadable audio, weekly goals and emails, worksheets, recipes, supplement protocol guides and discounts, a private Facebook support group, and Q&A videos.

Books and Articles About Thyroid Health

• How Balancing Iron Levels Can Help Your Thyroid
• Top 10 Thyroid Tests and How to Interpret Them
• A Pharmacist’s Review of Medications for Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism
• How do Adaptogenic Herbs Benefit Hashimoto’s?
• How to Reduce TSH Naturally
• Selenium: The Nutrient That Can Reduce Thyroid Antibodies by 40%
• The Benefits of Vitamin D for Your Thyroid
• The Surprising Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Hashimoto’s
• A-Z Symptoms of Thyroid Disease
• The Best Diet for Hashimoto’s
• The 7 Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Hashimoto’s
• How Supporting the Liver Is Key to Recovering from Thyroid Disease
• Are Your Adrenals Sabotaging Your Health?
• Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Hashimoto’s

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

• Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
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Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz 

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.

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