Case Study: How a Young Business Owner Improved Her Thyroid and Cholesterol Health (and Is Healing Her Gut)
When Samantha (name changed for privacy), a young shop owner, first reached out to me, it wasn’t the right time. She was newly into running her business, still learning the ropes, and stretched thin with both time and finances. She knew she needed help, but she just didn’t have the bandwidth.
Still — she kept my name in the back of her mind. She specifically wanted to work with me because of my training as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP). She knew that when she was ready, she didn’t want a quick fix or another restrictive diet — she wanted a root-cause approach.
The Turning Point
By the time she came back to me ready to start, Samantha was exhausted, bloated, and dealing with urgent bathroom runs more often than she’d like to admit. Her energy and motivation were low — a tough spot for someone running a busy business. Plus she was experiencing prolonged soreness, annoying and uncomfortable for someone who enjoys working out.
Like many people her age, she hadn’t had comprehensive labs done in years. When we ran her initial blood chemistry, she was stunned to see sky-high cholesterol numbers. Had she been to a doctor, she likely would have been caught completely off guard if they even chose to run her lipids.
This was our starting point.
What the Labs Showed
Her initial bloodwork revealed:
Total cholesterol at 343 (well above the optimal range)
LDL at 271
ApoB at 174 (a strong marker of cardiovascular risk)
TSH at 5.9 (showing sluggish thyroid function, liver congestion, and GI dysfunction)
Total T3 at 79 (suggesting gut bacterial imbalance, selenium deficiency, and sluggish thyroid function)
Free T3 at 2.5 (showing sluggish thyroid function and selenium deficiency)
Thyroid antibodies elevated, suggesting a likely autoimmune component (specifically the TPO)
Nutrient depletion: low iron, ferritin, vitamin D, and B vitamins all essential for energy and thyroid health
Poor methylation
In functional health, we always ask: what’s driving the dysfunction? Is it environmental stress? A toxin overload? Chronic inflammation from hidden infections? That’s why I never stop at bloodwork. We also looked at her GI-MAP stool test for gut infections and inflammation, and HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) for stress patterns and mineral imbalances. Together, these gave us a fuller picture.
BTW: Did you know that Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism?
A Quick Teaching Moment: Thyroid, Cholesterol, and Inflammation
Most doctors only run 2–3 thyroid markers (usually TSH, Total T4, and sometimes Free T4). If those look “in range,” you’re often told your thyroid is fine.
In functional nutrition, I take a much broader view. I’m not only looking at blood markers like TSH, Free T3, Reverse T3, Total T3, antibodies, and nutrient cofactors — I’m also assessing mineral balance through hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA).
Why? Because thyroid dysfunction can stem from many different issues:
Production problems (the gland isn’t making enough hormone)
Conversion issues (T4 isn’t turning into active T3)
Cellular resistance (hormone isn’t being used properly at the tissue level)
Brain-based signaling problems (miscommunication from the hypothalamus or pituitary)
Autoimmune activity (the immune system attacking thyroid tissue)
Why does this matter? Because thyroid health and cholesterol are deeply connected. A sluggish thyroid slows the liver’s ability to clear cholesterol from the blood, which means levels can climb higher than expected. Add in chronic inflammation — whether from gut infections, food sensitivities, environmental toxins, mold exposure, or stress — and the body shifts even more toward imbalance.
When we address thyroid health and lower inflammation, cholesterol markers often improve right alongside it. And that’s exactly what happened with Samantha.
GI-MAP Stool Testing
Her gut told another side of the story:
H. Pylori present → linked to suppressed stomach acid, iron deficiency, and thyroid autoimmunity
Dysbiosis → overgrowth of Enterobacter, Strep, and Staph contributing to gas, bloating, and loose stools
Fat malabsorption (elevated steatocrit) and low enzyme output (low elastase-1)
Slightly low SIgA → reduced gut immune defenses
One notable finding from her GI-MAP was that elevated steatocrit marker, which indicates poor fat digestion and absorption. This matters because when the body isn’t breaking down and using dietary fats properly, cholesterol metabolism also becomes disrupted. In other words, her liver/gallbladder was playing a direct role in her lipid imbalance — and by addressing fat digestion alongside thyroid health, we could help bring those cholesterol numbers down naturally.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
Mineral testing revealed:
Slow oxidation pattern → her metabolism was sluggish and burned out
Very low sodium-to-potassium ratio → adrenal exhaustion and difficulty handling stress
Copper imbalance → contributing to liver congestion, fatigue, anxiety, lack of motivation, and inflammation
Heavy metals (mercury, aluminum) adding to her body’s toxic load
The Personalized Plan
Her plan focused on addressing each weak link — gently and strategically:
Nutrition: Balanced, whole-food meals built around her MRT food sensitivities, nutrient needs, digestion, and autoimmune activity. More protein, more variety, more polyphenols, less sugar and refined carbs.
Digestive support: Pancreatic enzymes, biliary support, and stomach acid rebuilding to help her absorb fats, iron, and protein.
Thyroid & immune support: GTA and Thytrophin PMG to support hormone balance and calm antibody activity.
Mineral balancing: Custom Vykon blend with sodium, potassium, zinc, adrenal support, and liver support while addressing copper excess.
Lifestyle: Stress resilience strategies like red light therapy, candling down the house, and mindful eating — realistic tools that fit into long shop-owner days.
The Progress We’ve Seen
After just a few months of working together, Samantha’s re-test showed remarkable improvements:
ApoB: from 174 → 97 (almost at optimal)
Total Cholesterol: from 343 → 205 (in functional range!)
LDL: from 271 → 133 (getting close to optimal)
TSH: from 5.9 → 5.7 (slight movement, but trending)
Free T3: from 2.5 → 3.0 (back in range)
Total T3: from 79 → 109 (back in range)
TPO antibodies: from 180 → 157 (coming down — a very positive sign)
Her gut health is also improving — less bloating, more stable digestion, and better resilience to the stress of long workdays and unexpected events.
Why This Matters for You
Samantha’s story highlights a few important truths:
It’s okay if you’re not ready right away. She kept me in mind for over a year before jumping in. Progress is still possible when the time is right.
Comprehensive testing changes the game. If we had only looked at basic thyroid labs or cholesterol alone, we would have missed the deeper connections driving her symptoms.
Root-cause support works. By supporting thyroid health, gut balance, and mineral status, her cholesterol naturally improved — without fear tactics or band-aid solutions.
Where We’re Heading Next
Samantha still has a few sessions left in her package. We’ll continue to support her thyroid, further balance her gut microbiome, and keep lowering inflammation. But the foundation we’ve built means she’s no longer blindsided by her labs — she feels informed, empowered, and in control of her health.
And most importantly? She finally has the energy and confidence to run her business and make plans for the future without her health constantly holding her back.
Final Takeaway
If you’ve been putting off getting help because you’re not “ready” — know that you’re not alone. Samantha waited until she had the space to commit, and when she did, the results followed.
Your health journey doesn’t have to be perfect or immediate. What matters is that when you’re ready, you choose someone who sees the whole picture, who really listens to you, see’s you — not just a few lab markers.