Dr. Monica Velletri, ND

12/05/2025

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but taking an ashwagandha supplement won’t cure your Hashimoto’s. Finding YOUR root causes is the most important first step

12/05/2025

05/29/2023

Whenever your doctor requisitions you blood work, be sure to always ask the following questions:
1️⃣ Should I be fasted before completing these labs?
2️⃣ Is there a specific time of day I should get these labs done? (AM/PM/anytime)
3️⃣ Is there a specific time in my menstrual cycle I should be getting these labs done?
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The most common thyroid lab test (TSH), actually follows a circadian rhythm, with peak levels being reached at around 2-4am and the lowest point being in the late afternoon. So in order to avoid missing a diagnosis, the best time to get your thyroid tested is first thing in the morning.
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Same goes for fasting – TSH has been shown to be significantly lower after eating versus in the fasted state. Again, to avoid missing a diagnosis, it’s best to be fasted before completing your labs.
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Unfortunately, Dynacare and Lifelabs can produce different results and have different ranges. Pick one of these labs and stick to it for the most accurate comparison of lab work.
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These are the top 4 general rules for accurately testing your thyroid. However, there may be additional factors/testing procedures to consider depending on what other lab markers are on your requisition (cortisol, reproductive hormones, etc). So be sure to always confirm with your MD or ND how they would like you to complete the blood work 🩸

04/19/2023

A common misconception is that most thyroid conditions are due to a lack of iodine — this is usually not the case, especially in North America, where iodine deficiency is very rare.

Research shows that there is a sweet spot when it comes to iodine and thyroid health. If iodine levels are very low (again, unlikely in Canada), or if levels are too high, this can be detrimental to thyroid health.

If you have a thyroid condition, watch out for iodine in any supplements you may be taking, and talk to your ND about other sources of iodine and if the amount your consuming is affecting your thyroid health.
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If you feel like you would like more support in your thyroid health journey, click the link in my bio to book a free discovery call with me 🤎✨

04/17/2023

Handy checklist to go through for each of your meals. ✅ How many boxes are you checking off?

04/06/2023

Swipe ➡️ to see which fats are best and why they are essential to maintaining optimal health!

A lot of the time I see that people fear fats, thinking that consuming more fats won't be compatible with the weight loss journey they may be trying to embark on. This couldn't be further from the truth. Don't fear fats! Fats are your best friend

We definitely want to avoid unhealthy fats such as saturated and trans fats as much as possible, but there are other categories of fats that are so beneficial to preventing and correcting disease, and maintenance of good health 🥑 

TIPS to help increase your healthy fat intake: 
✨ Drizzle some olive oil on top of your food at meal time
✨ Eat fatty fish (i.e., salmon) 1-2x per week 
✨ Add an avocado wedge or nuts to your snacks
✨ Add seeds to your breakfasts
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04/03/2023

Did you know that iron deficiency and hypothyroidism can share some common symptoms? Feeling tired and cold, shedding lots of hair, even having heavy periods, can all be signs of either an under functioning thyroid or low iron.. or both!

Iron is actually an essential nutrient for the thyroid gland, helping to regulate metabolism and energy levels in the body. Without enough iron, the thyroid can't produce enough hormones to keep your body functioning properly.

So it's important to address both pieces of the puzzle!

When was the last time you had your iron and thyroid levels checked? 🩸📉

03/31/2023

Irregular bowel movements, bloating, gas, discomfort, eczema, acne, and a weakened immune system are all indicators that your microbiome is probably out of balance

If you’ve been diagnosed with hashimoto’s, here are the top 4 reasons why having a healthy, balanced gut microbiome is so important when it comes to managing your hypothyroidism —

👉🏼 A healthy gut will improve the absorption of your thyroid medication, whether that’s levothyroxine or desiccated thyroid. If your medication is not being properly absorbed, this will cause an increase in hypothyroid symptoms an increase in your TSH and likely an increase in your thyroid medication dose if your gut issues are not addressed

👉🏼 Conversion of T4 to T3 is essential for thyroid health. Sub optimal thyroid hormone levels will exacerbate hypothyroid symptoms (weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, hair thinning, etc)

👉🏼 People with hashimoto’s are more likely to have nutrient deficiencies. A balanced gut microbiome will improve nutrient absorption

👉🏼 Hashimoto’s is caused by dysregulation of the immune system, so supporting and keeping the immune system in check will help reduce inflammation and achieve better thyroid outcomes

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✨ If you feel like you could use some guidance in managing your thyroid health, I’d love to support you – book a free discovery call through the link in my bio

03/27/2023

Cortisol aka our “stress hormone” has so many functions including regulating blood sugar levels, managing inflammation, and, of course, controlling our body’s response to stress.

Our cortisol levels are supposed to be highest in the morning and slowly decline throughout the day however, chronic stress can lead to chronically elevated cortisol levels, which can then eventually lead to burnout 😴

Here are some tips to help support cortisol regulation;

1️⃣ Morning exposure to natural light (not your phone) ⛅️

2️⃣ Protein rich meals and snacks, including breakfast 🍳

3️⃣ Avoid coffee on an empty stomach ☕️

4️⃣ Prioritize 7-9 hours of sleep 💤

5️⃣ Stress management techniques (deep breathing, baths, yoga, meditation) 🧘🏻‍♀️

6️⃣ Get adequate vitamins & minerals (through diet is always best, but can use supplemental support when needed). Some key nutrients for cortisol regulation are; vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium 🥗

〰️ everyone experiences some degree of stress in their life. The key is having the ability and the tools to effectively manage your stress to prevent it from taking over your life and eventually leading to illness

03/26/2023

Part 3 of the insulin resistance posts!

Insulin resistance can be a real struggle and can be part of the reason why you’re feeling crappy on a daily basis (see previous post for causes and symptoms of insulin resistance), but there are ways to manage it and feel better. One of the most important things you can do is focus on your diet - eating enough protein and fiber can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

Supplements like inositol, berberine, chromium, etc can also provide some extra support by making cells more efficient due to their ability to increase insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells, leading to improved blood sugar control.

By taking control of your hormonal and metabolic health, you’ll finally start to see changes for the better 🙌🏼

03/24/2023

Yesterday’s post was around the cycle of insulin resistance. Our blood sugar rises from one of these causes, so our pancreas releases insulin to take that sugar out of the blood, but the cells don’t respond to the insulin, and so more insulin is released and it’s a vicious cycle. That’s when we see these signs and symptoms arising. 😴🍬

Lab work that should be tested if you or your doctor believe you may be experiencing insulin resistance:
✅ Fasting glucose
✅ Fasting insulin
✅ HbA1c
✅ OGTT-2 hr

Another post to come about addressing insulin resistance 🔜

03/23/2023

You don’t have to have diabetes to be insulin resistant! If you are gaining weight or having issues loosing weight, feeling tired all the time and experience constant cravings, then you may be insulin resistant.
The regulation of insulin and glucose plays a huge role in our hormonal and metabolic health, so if you haven’t had blood work done in a while, maybe it’s time 🧐

More posts to come around symptoms of insulin resistance and ways to address it 🔜