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What does your thyroid have to do with your bones? More than you think.
In this episode, host Debi Robinson sits down with Dr. Hilda Maldonado, a board-certified MD and regenerative medicine expert who helps women over 40 reclaim their energy, vitality, and bone health — starting with the master hormone: the thyroid.
The conversation goes beyond the basics to uncover how conventional thyroid testing often misses the mark, why fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain might be symptoms of an undiagnosed thyroid issue, and how thyroid dysfunction directly impacts bone density.
Whether you’re on thyroid medication, navigating perimenopause, or just feeling off—you need to hear this.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why normal thyroid labs don’t mean your thyroid is functioning well
- How T3, not T4, is the hormone your body actually uses (and what blocks it)
- The shocking link between gut health, inflammation, and thyroid function
- How low thyroid impacts digestion, nutrient absorption, and bone loss
- Lifestyle factors that can reverse or support thyroid health naturally
- The truth about medications like Synthroid, Armour, and beta-blockers
- Symptoms of thyroid resistance no one talks about
- How to advocate for better testing and treatment with your doctor
Key Quotes:
“You don’t need to choose between thyroid health and bone health—you can have both.” – Dr. Hilda Maldonado
“The body isn’t broken. You just haven’t been shown how to connect the dots.” – Debi Robinson
Where to Find Dr Maldonado:
Claim a free Thryroid and Bone Health Gift from Dr Maldonado:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are part of a plant’s defense mechanism against predators and can be found in high concentrations in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, tea, and certain beans.
Regarding bone health, oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium in the gut, forming calcium oxalate. This compound is not easily absorbed by the body, meaning the calcium that could have been utilized for bone strengthening is instead excreted. This process can potentially lead to lower calcium availability for bone health, which can be particularly concerning for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or other bone-related issues.
However, for most women, dietary oxalates do not pose a significant threat to bone health, especially if their diet is balanced with enough calcium and they do not have a history of kidney stones.
Your gut is crucial for stronger bones for several reasons:
- Nutrient Absorption: The gut is where most nutrient absorption occurs. For bones to be healthy and strong, they need a variety of nutrients, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. A healthy gut efficiently absorbs these essential nutrients from your diet and facilitates their transportation to the bones.
- Gut Microbiome and Bone Health: Research has shown that the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your intestines) can influence bone density. Certain gut bacteria help in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have been shown to promote bone health. SCFAs can enhance the absorption of minerals necessary for bone strength and play a role in reducing inflammation, which can negatively affect bone health.
- Hormone Regulation: The gut helps regulate hormones that are involved in bone metabolism, including insulin, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like estrogen. For example, estrogen is vital for bone density, and gut health can influence estrogen levels through the enterohepatic circulation, where estrogens are processed in the liver and intestines.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, which can stem from poor gut health, is linked to many conditions that compromise bone strength, such as osteoporosis. A healthy gut helps to reduce systemic inflammation, protecting bones from inflammatory damage.
- Immune System Modulation: The majority of the immune system is located in the gut. An imbalance in the immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, some of which affect the bones. Maintaining gut health helps to ensure the immune system works correctly, protecting against autoimmune reactions that could impact bone health.
In essence, maintaining a healthy gut contributes significantly to stronger bones by ensuring the effective absorption of vital nutrients, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system. Therefore, a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with lifestyle factors that promote gut health, is key to maintaining strong bones.