If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, the problem could be your thyroid:

• mood swings
• brain fog
• depression
• digestive issues
• insomnia
• hair loss
• inability to lose weight

Your thyroid is considered your "master metabolism gland" because it is intimately connected to every bodily function.

Understanding Signs & Symptoms

When your thyroid is not working properly, you may be subject to head-to-toe symptoms.

For example, with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), everything slows down. You may suffer with depression, fatigue, hair loss, infertility, or constipation. When it's overactive (hyperthyroidism), your body speeds up and you may experience symptoms like anxiety, diarrhea, and insomnia.

However, symptoms can cross over. The good news is, you don't have to play a guessing game. Specific blood tests can assess how efficiently your thyroid is performing.

The crucial element is that you need to get the right test. Most conventional doctors will request the TSH lab. This tells more about the pituitary gland, not the thyroid. Many doctors are also using outdated ranges for what is considered "normal." These ranges are way too broad. Make sure you ask for these labs: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies.

Thyroid Issues on the Rise

Why have thyroid problems increased in the last few decades?

One factor is environmental shifts. Diets consiste of GMO and heavily processed foods, which has contributed to leaky guts. We are bombarded by toxins (including EMF), infections, and stress. And, most Americans are not eating an iodine-rich diet. This means that fluoride, bromide and chloride are allowed to take over.

Another culprit is the increased consumption of soy, which can disrupt the activity of the thyroid. Much of soy today is GMO.

Gut/Thyroid Connection

Your gut is closely connected to your thyroid. In fact, the gut is the gateway to all health; the center of all health problems (even if you're not having digestive issues). A whopping 80 percent of your immune system sits in the gut.

The first step in reversing autoimmune conditions, including thyroid issues, is to heal your gut. Eat lean, organic, pasture-raised, hormone-free meat and other animal products, as well as organic produce. Avoid endocrine disrupting ingredients and compounds. Make sure you're getting quality sleep, because that is when your hormones sync up and your body heals as a whole.

One last thing... removal of thyroid due to cancer or other severe disease should be looked at as a last resort. Many alternative options exist.

Listen in as Amy Myers, MD, joins Dr. David Friedman to discuss all things thyroid, including solutions and tips from her new book, The Thyroid Connection.