The mineral duo that heals and energizes a sluggish gland
For decades, Sandi Holder, 50, battled fatigue, fog and thinning hair. Doctors assured her it was all “normal,” but Sandi kept searching for answers until she found the culprit—and the easy cure
This is what my doctor considers ‘aging gracefully?’” Sandi grumbled into the mirror as she went through her morning ritual of combing her hair one way, then another, trying to get every strand in the perfect position to somehow cover the visible patches of her scalp. “I was going bald and felt utterly depleted and defeated—just brushing my hair in the morning left me drained and wondering how I’d get through the day.
Stressed and spent
“I felt like my life was put on hold a few years back. I wanted to be active, to go farther and accomplish more in life—but I had no energy. Despite how tired I was, though, I had trouble falling and staying asleep. My mind would buzz with scary thoughts about my health: Will I be able to see my kids grow up? Will I have the energy to enjoy grandchildren someday?
“Doctors didn’t help much. Way back when I was 17, my thyroid tested on the low end of the ‘normal’ range, so I was put on a thyroid-replacement medicine to help prevent hypothyroidism. Despite taking that med for 30 years, I still struggled with common slow-thyroid symptoms. Yet in all those years, none of my doctors ever rechecked my thyroid levels or adjusted my prescription… even after I had three babies. They dismissed my requests to be rescreened and made me feel like I was a hypochondriac. Eventually, I began to feel intimidated and started second guessing my own body. Was it all in my head?
“I’ll never forget the last time I worked up the courage to discuss my concerns with my doctor. I asked him, Do you think I’ll ever get off my medication? His reply echoed in my ears: ‘No. You’ll be on those meds for the Rest…Of… Your…Life.’ Then he told me what I was feeling was just a normal part of aging.
“I felt crushed. None of this felt normal to me. I’d spent thousands of dollars on medication over the years, and as I got older, my complaints of insomnia, dry skin, cold extremities and brain fog were getting worse, not better. Honestly, the doctors seemed to be there only to keep pushing the pills.
“I left that doctor’s appointment feeling beyond frustrated. I tried to stay upbeat and focus on my work— selling collectible vintage Barbie dolls. Even after 27 years, I still enjoyed
playing Santa 365 days a year. I just didn’t want his bowl-full-of-jelly stomach anymore. The only thing on my wish list was to achieve optimal health, not settle for living a mediocre existence.
Living life again!
“Since I wasn’t getting help from the doctor’s office, I decided to try a Paleo diet, which a friend said had worked wonders for her. I relied on a book called Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo, which touted using food as medicine and recommended foods like apples and sweet potatoes that could help support the thyroid gland.
“Taking matters into my own hands was a game-changer. Within one week, I felt improvements with my energy. Every day, I woke up feeling more refreshed, focused and optimistic. My thinking became clearer and my hair grew stronger and fuller. I even had the energy to do CrossFit, which along with the diet, helped me lose nearly 100 pounds. And I completed the Nike Women’s marathon in San Francisco—twice! After decades of frustrating roadblocks, I was flabbergasted to witness how just a few simple diet tweaks could invite my body to heal.
“My eyes were opened even more when I learned about a study that suggested the medicine I was taking isn’t effective in treating mild or subclinical thyroid problems like mine. Thankfully, after doing some blood work, my doctor agreed to slash my dosage in half. He said, ‘I’ve never done this before. Most people never get off the meds.’
“Now I’m weaning off the thyroid medication completely, and I’m working with a functional medicine doctor who actually listens to my concerns and takes my symptoms into account instead of just going by some medical establishment idea of what’s ‘normal.’ I’m so glad I didn’t think, It’s too late for me…this is just how it is when you’re older.
I’m amazed at the turnaround my health has made in such a short amount of time!
“What I’ve accomplished—and the money I’ve saved on prescription medications—feels awesome. Let me tell you, I hold a Guinness World Record for my doll business, having sold the most expensive vintage Barbie doll in history at more than $27,000. But the fact that I healed myself brings me more pride. That to me is priceless!”
—as told to Lisa Maxbauer