Ep 120: Understanding Thyroid Health

Ep 120: Understanding Thyroid Health

Author: Ashleigh VanHouten & Rachel Gregory December 2, 2025 Duration: 1:11:23

In this episode with renowned thyroid expert Elle Russ, bestselling author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, Ashleigh and Elle discuss:

-why it can be so difficult to get a proper diagnosis; 

-symptoms to look out for, including less common symptoms;

-a detailed dive on the proper testing and how to advocate for these tests with your healthcare provider;

-lifestyle, nutrition, and environmental changes that can have a big impact on thyroid health;

-how thyroid issues intersect with fertility and peri- and menopausal changes;

-information about treatment of thyroid disfunction, including potential problems with conventional thyroid treatment; 

-autoimmune disorders, and much more. 

If you want to dive even deeper and take your health into your own hands, Elle's The Ultimate Thyroid Course is packed with over 20 hours of helpful content, including expert tutorials from Dr. Gary E. Foresman MD and other experts. Whether it's hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's, Reverse T3, post-thyroidectomy, or other thyroid issues, this course has you covered. It is the most comprehensive thyroid resource available, and it's a game-changer. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.elleruss.com/a/2147520265/FFeWmWGP

You can reach out to Elle or learn more about her work at elleruss.com.

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit. If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Learn all about the Muscle Science For Women programs at https://musclescienceforwomen.com and reach out to us for a first responder/military discount.

 


Ashleigh VanHouten and Rachel Gregory, the co-creators behind the Muscle Science for Women training program, bring their combined expertise as a health coach and a nutritionist-strength specialist into a regular, down-to-earth conversation. This isn't about generic fitness advice; it's a deep, practical look at how women can build strength and wellness on their own terms. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair with two knowledgeable friends who genuinely understand the specific physiological and cultural landscape women navigate in gyms and kitchens. They tackle the real questions-from optimizing nutrition for energy and recovery to designing effective training sessions and critically examining fitness trends. The dialogue is always rooted in science but delivered without jargon, making complex topics like metabolism, hormonal influences, and sustainable habit change both accessible and actionable. Tuning into this podcast offers a reliable source of clarity amidst the noise, transforming the principles of muscle science into a personalized roadmap for anyone looking to feel stronger and more confident. You'll hear honest discussions that blend evidence with experience, all aimed at empowering your individual health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Muscle Science for Women
Podcast Episodes
Ep 132: Heal your gut with Hannah Aylward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:58
In this episode Ashleigh speaks with Hannah Aylward, a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Gut Health Expert + Mindfulness Advocate, to help breakdown: The major gut health issues we may be dealing with How to get to the ro…
Ep 131: How to train NOW to be strong at 80 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:26
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Rachel discuss what we need to be doing now to live the life we want when we're older, including discussing some key markers of longevity, the things they want to be able to do when th…
Ep 130: Influencer red flags | act like a baby - for your health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
In this solo episode, Ashleigh offers some food for thought on how to handle the onslaught of health information we are exposed to on a daily basis, and how to determine whether or not the "online influencer" you're watc…
Ep 129: Super disciplined, or just not resilient? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Rachel give updates on their Dopamine Reset Challenge, continue to explore the impact of AI, talk about the latest negative fitness trend on social media, and confirm the importance of…
Ep 128: Does more control = more freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:15
In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel explore practical strategies for optimizing routines, managing dopamine, and choosing the right support systems to enhance overall well-being. They delve into the importance of flexib…
Ep 126: Is your favorite workout overrated? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
In this short solo episode, Ashleigh offers a free Substack subscription if you review the pod; she answers a listener question about whether or not it's normal to make gains and feel BETTER during pregnancy, and she rat…
Ep 125: Is your Type-A approach helping or hurting you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
In this episode, the ladies discuss where they were in 2016, they both touch on some recent injuries and how they're dealing with them, and they talk about how having a Type A personality can be a blessing and a curse -…
Ep 124: Is AI going to take over coaching (and our brains)? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:31
In this episode, Ashleigh offers updates on her month-long Costa Rica residency, the ladies discuss more dopamine management, and they dive deep into AI as it relates to the current state (and future) of health coaching,…
Ep 123: What women need to know about Iron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:43
In this episode, Ashleigh breaks down the basics of what you need to know about iron and iron deficiency as a strength-training woman. She discusses why iron deficiency is so common in women—especially athletes—and how t…