Conversations Unplugged
with Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz says she has found the same gut organism in roughly 30% of the clients she has worked with, and she believes it can be an important trigger in Hashimoto’s. That discovery became part of a much larger mission for the pharmacist and two-time New York Times bestselling author: helping people look beyond the thyroid itself to understand what may be driving their symptoms. In this conversation with STEMREGEN Founder and Chief Science Officer Christian Drapeau, Dr. Wentz explores the connections between Hashimoto’s, stress, the gut, and the immune system, and why identifying those underlying triggers early can matter.
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Hashimoto disproportionately affects women, and Dr. Wentz says diagnosis often appears around major hormonal transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause. But hormones are only one part of the picture. In her work, she has also seen intense periods of stress surrounding the onset of symptoms. That stress does not always have to come from something negative. A new job, a move, marriage, or another major life change can place additional demands on the body. For Dr. Wentz, understanding Hashimoto’s means looking at these experiences alongside genetics, immune function, and what is happening inside the gut.
The gut is where much of Dr. Wentz’s work has been focused. She describes a framework in which genetic predisposition, a triggering event, and increased intestinal permeability can come together in autoimmune conditions. One organism she has investigated closely is Blastocystis hominis, which she says she identified in about 30% of her clients. She also discusses H. pylori and other disruptions of the microbiome as potential pieces of the puzzle. Her approach is to identify what may be disrupting the intestinal environment and address it individually, rather than assuming the same diet or protocol will work for everyone.
That focus on finding the underlying cause also explains why Dr. Wentz emphasizes early action and patient education. She says her goal is to identify Hashimoto’s before thyroid damage has progressed for many years, when there may be more opportunity to improve symptoms and thyroid function. Through her books, online resources, and work with clients, she wants people to better understand their own health and become active participants in it. “Doctors can help us, and medications can help,” she says, “but really, the key to healing is within our own hands.”
