Have you ever been told your thyroid is fine, but you still feel exhausted, can't lose weight, your hair is falling out, and your brain just won't cooperate?
You were not wrong about your body.
This might be the most mismanaged area of women's health in conventional medicine, and today we're getting into all of it. Most thyroid testing stops at TSH, which is only one piece of a much bigger picture. And for women dealing with insulin resistance or PMOS, that single number can be actively misleading.
In this episode, I'm breaking down how your thyroid actually works, why your labs can look normal while your cells are starving for active thyroid hormone, what Hashimoto's is and why it's so commonly missed, and what comprehensive thyroid care actually looks like in practice.
We're also covering the evidence-based supplements I use in my clinical protocols to support thyroid function, and three things you can do this week to start getting real answers.
💡 In this episode, we cover:
- Why a normal TSH does not mean your thyroid is functioning well
- How T4 converts to active T3 and what breaks that process down
- What reverse T3 is, why it matters, and why nobody talks about it
- How insulin resistance directly impairs thyroid hormone conversion
- What a complete thyroid panel actually looks like and what to ask your provider for
- What Hashimoto's thyroiditis is, why it's so commonly missed, and how it connects to PMOS and insulin resistance
- Evidence-based interventions that can reduce antibody levels and slow the autoimmune process
- Why so many women on levothyroxine still feel terrible, and what the alternatives are
- The supplements that directly support thyroid conversion, receptor sensitivity, and immune modulation
- Three things you can do this week to start moving in the right direction
⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro
02:16 How your thyroid actually works: T4, T3, and the conversion process
04:38 How insulin resistance breaks thyroid hormone conversion
06:12 What reverse T3 is and why it explains so much
09:04 Why TSH alone is not enough and what it actually measures
10:42 What a complete thyroid panel looks like and what to ask for
13:34 Hashimoto's thyroiditis: what it is and why it's missed
16:28 The overlap between Hashimoto's, PMOS, and insulin resistance
17:58 Evidence-based interventions to reduce antibodies and slow the autoimmune process
21:44 Treatment options: desiccated thyroid, T3, and why T4 alone may not be enough
27:12 Thyroid optimization goals: treating the patient, not the lab number
28:58 Supplements that support thyroid function
35:02 Three things to do this week
🔗 Resources / Links
If this episode helped you, share it with a woman who keeps being told her thyroid is fine but has never felt fine. And make sure to follow the podcast for more conversations around thyroid health, insulin resistance, PMOS, hormones, and midlife wellness.
What is The Elevated Woman's Podcast?
For high-performing women who are exhausted by weight gain, hormonal chaos, and vanishing energy — this is your reset. I’m Dr. Ade Akindipe, a DNP, obesity + hormone specialist, and health coach.
On this show, we demystify metabolism, gut health, hormone balance, longevity, and the root-cause mindset behind lasting transformation.
If you’re ready to stop fighting your body and start living with more clarity, energy, and confidence — this is your space.