In a new podcast episode, integrative health practitioner Ashley Cruz Arata discusses why so many women are told their lab results are normal while experiencing debilitating symptoms. After her own years of unexplained fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog, she turned to functional medicine to identify the hormone and thyroid markers conventional testing overlooks.
Standard thyroid panels typically only measure TSH and T4. Arata explains that Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO antibodies, cortisol, and sex hormones are essential to understanding true thyroid function. Without them, many women remain undiagnosed and untreated.
She cautions that popular wellness practices like intermittent fasting and high-intensity cardio can aggravate thyroid dysfunction when the underlying issue is adrenal or hormonal. Taking thyroid medication, she adds, is not a cure-all - stress management and lifestyle adjustments are equally critical.
Simple daily habits can support the thyroid-cortisol axis: morning light exposure and consuming protein before coffee help stabilize energy and mood. To control stress, Arata recommends a Sunday night planning ritual that reduces mental load without adding obligations.
Arata offers a free guide, “Normal Isn’t Optimal: The Essential Hormone Lab Guide,” for women seeking deeper insight into their hormone health.