Episode 203: The Gut-Thyroid Connection: How Your Microbiome Impacts Your Metabolism

In this episode of Thyroid Answers, Dr. Eric Balcavage sits down with functional health coach Anu Simh to explore the critical connection between gut health, thyroid function, and overall metabolism. What You'll Learn:

• Why normal TSH doesn't mean optimal thyroid function - and what's really happening at the cellular level
• How chronic stress disrupts your gut microbiome and creates a cascade of health issues
• The difference between homeostasis and allostatic regulation - and why understanding this changes everything
• Why gut protocols often fail long-term (and what's missing from most approaches)
• The truth about probiotics, fermented foods, and prebiotic fibers
• How ultra-processed foods damage your microbiome - and how quickly you can reverse it
• Why GLP-1 medications work but don't address root causes
• The behavioral and mindset shifts that make healing sustainable

Key Topics Covered:

• The mitochondria-microbiome-thyroid connection
• Why restrictive diets often backfire
• How to eat for your individual body and microbiome
• The role of nervous system regulation in gut healing
• Practical strategies for sustainable behavior change

ANU SIMH is a board-certified functional health coach and the founder of 9 Arms of Wellness. She specializes in helping busy women lose weight and maintain their goal weight by focusing on gut health. Her personalized and unique philosophy has successfully guided hundreds of women in achieving and maintaining their goals. Anu is now training other coaches in her methodology.

Based in La Jolla, California, Anu sees clients nationwide virtually. Her passion lies in the microbiome; she is also a skilled plant-based chef. Her new book, Flourish From Within, reveals the importance of gut health for overall well-being and includes over 50 plant-based recipes. Anu's guiding principle is to help people get off medications for lifestyle diseases through diet and lifestyle changes.

Find her at: ninearmsofwellness.com and @ninearmsofwellness on Instagram.