Tag Archive for: hair loss treatment

Photo of Will Siskey diagnosed with alopecia areata treatment before and after

Overcoming Alopecia Universalis

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Guest Will Siskey, co-founder of the Sparrow Clinic, joins hosts Nataliia Sanzo and Kimberly Vaughn on this episode of the Thyroid Hair Loss Connection podcast. Listen to full episode here!

Will was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at the young age of 16. His health challenge quickly progressed to Alopecia Universalis causing total hair loss all over his body.

Will writes about his journey to health on his clinic’s website: “It was out of desperation that we sought more natural treatments as traditional options had gotten us nothing more than a long list of side effects. We changed my diet among other lifestyle changes and sure enough a few years later I had about 85% recovery. Then a new challenge occurred, a gut parasite. We sought and learned more. Leading us to stem cell therapy using your own cells, tricking your cells to act younger with things like NAD+, immunomodulators, and so much more. So here I am 10 years later with a full head of hair experts said was impossible. All because the Lord, His design of our bodies, and the power of a determined mother.”

THLC asked Will to share what worked for him. This is his personal holistic, clean diet that supports his auto-immune condition plus suggestions for a simple, slightly less restrictive diet to improve health.

Will’s diet first started by eliminating the following:

  • Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Soy
  • Processed Foods
  • Artificial Ingredients
  • Food Substitutes
  • Peanuts
  • Artificial Colorings
  • Processed Salt

As his auto-immune condition improved, his diet continued to evolve, and Will shares the following with his diet today:

As for produce: organic–biodynamic even when available.

  • Fermented Foods
  • Organ meats
  • All of the ones listed above except I do eat raw 100% grass fed organic A2A2 Dairy on occasion now.
  • No vegetarian fed organic or non-organic chicken. Must be eating worms and insects.
  • No seed & nut oils: canola, sunflower, safflower, rapeseed, etc.
  • Wide array of colorful vegetables. Certain vegetables like spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, collard greens, etc. can contain some anti-nutrient components, making it essential to cook them properly.
  • Bone broth &/or bone marrow
  • Wild foods when available
  • Cooking oils: I use tallow, lard, coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil (the most unrefined and most natural the better.) Certain olive oils and processes can distort the omega profiles rendering them borderline toxic to your cells, while many others are “cut” or mixed with cheap seed oils like canola. This is also true even for organic corn and soy fed chickens.

Simple Ways to improve your diet & lifestyle

Without going too restrictive

  • Increase veggie & fruit intake if it is not a staple part of your diet. Everything should be organic but if not then I would take ION before eating for sure. There are only a select few foods that are GMO, so if you do not eat organic than make sure they are non-gmo. Corn is a great example. A list can be found online.
  • Beef, Lamb, Bison, Elk – Eat as wild and closest to nature intended as possible. For beef that is grass fed, preferably organic, no hormones, no antibiotics (unless necessary), etc.
  • Fish & shellfish – wild caught never farm raised. Larger fish tend to have higher levels of metals in them like swordfish and tuna. Don’t have to be avoided but something I wouldn’t eat a ton of.
  • Chicken & Eggs – Find a farm that grows them organically and not vegetarian feed which is often corn and grain etc. This still distorts the chicken’s fat profile to where it is almost toxic to us. The chickens may eat some grain but mostly worms and insects. Typically, one of the hardest items to find.
  • Oils – Use an organic olive oil or properly raised animal fat. A good olive oil source is Apollo Olive Oil in California. Avocado oil and coconut oil are also options.
  • Sugars – no artificial sugars or sweetners, no high fructose corn syrup. Best options are organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, or something minimally processed. Raw honey, maple syrup, and molasses are also other options. Organic stevia is okay too, but I wouldn’t overdo stevia.
  • Salt – use a sea salt. Some are even tested for micro plastics. A good brand I use is Redmond’s Real Salt.
  • Grains – organic sprouted ancient grains. Sourdough is best for any baked goods because it limits the gluten content through the fermentation process and increases nutrients.
  • Legumes – organic, soaked, and sprouted.
  • Nuts – organic – sprouted if you’re sensitive.
  • Dairy – Same standards for the beef above but also unpasteurized and raw dairy. If you’re getting cheese you want to make sure the cheese isn’t stored at too high a temperature. Finding a good farm is the best way to do this.
  • Limit processed and boxed foods.

Nataliia and Kimberly want to thank Will for his candid discussion about his Alopecia diagnosis and for providing the diet he follows. You can find out more about Will and the Sparrow Clinic by emailing him: Will@thesparrowclinic.com

A woman with thyroid

Thyroid, Hair Loss Connection

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Lots of Hair Shed?

Are you having symptoms of Thyroid Disease?

Hair loss is a complicated issue, and it is very important to look at all aspects of a person’s well-being when trying to identify the root cause.

When someone is suffering from symptoms of hormonal imbalance and thyroid issues, most likely they are also shedding hair. Getting the proper diagnosis early on will help restart your hair growth journey!

Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

  • Anxiety and irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Sleep disorders (too much or too little sleep)
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Your body temperature is too warm or too cold
  • Lack of focus or concentration
  • Unusual weight changes
  • Fatigued muscles
  • Dry hair and skin

Why does the Thyroid Cause Hair Loss?

The thyroid is known as the “master gland”. This gland controls hormone production. When the thyroid is not regulating correctly, it affects other bodily functions. 

The development of the hair follicle falls into one of these major roles. Hair starts to shed resulting in thinning all over the scalp and possibly other areas such as your eyebrows.

New growth may not happen until the thyroid is operating properly again. The amount of hair loss could be severe if the thyroid condition is not treated.

An autoimmune condition known as alopecia is quite often seen with thyroid disorders. Two other autoimmune conditions, PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome and lupus, may cause hair loss and can be connected to thyroid issues.

Your thyroid also controls your digestive process. A slow-acting thyroid could cause your stomach to not produce as much acid as you need. This could hinder the absorption of vitamins and minerals. 

Minerals like iron are crucial for oxygenating red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the hair follicle. Lack of oxygen can lead to hair loss.

How to Find Out More?

Subscribe and listen to our podcast series: Thyroid, Hair Loss Connection. It is also available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Overcast. 

The hosts of this podcast are Kimberly Vaughn, a national trichologist, and certified nutrition, and hair loss coach, along with Nataliia Sanzo, a registered dietitian, a.k.a Nashville Thyroid Expert®️.

Each week, you will learn practical solutions to hair growth, thyroid healing, and balancing hormones with holistic nutrition, quality supplements, and the latest treatments. 

They will discuss evidence-based models leading to the root cause of your hair loss and thyroid disease. The hosts will incorporate the importance of gut health, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle protocols. 

The episodes will feature industry leaders in functional and integrative medicine, experts in health and nutrition, and actual clients who will share their stories and practices that work.