Many people are told their labs look “normal,” only to be offered antidepressants when symptoms persist. But fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea often have deeper root causes. Today, I’m going to share how a 30-year-old woman transformed her health in less than three months—after discovering what her previous doctors missed.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®. After 40 years in practice, most new patients I see come in with gut or thyroid issues—and this patient was one of them.
Her Symptoms: Gut Issues, Hypothyroid Signs & Mood Imbalances
She originally came in with:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Itchy skin
Her symptoms were significantly affecting her daily life, yet her previous labs were labeled “normal.”
Comprehensive Testing Revealed the Real Root Causes
Standard lab panels often miss underlying issues. Her previous doctor only ran:
- CBC
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Lipid panel
- TSH
But to fully assess thyroid and metabolic health, you need a much more complete panel.
The Minimum Health Panel You Should Run
To properly evaluate thyroid and metabolic health, you should include:
- Free T4
- Free T3
- Reverse T3
- TPO antibodies
- Thyroglobulin antibodies
- Ferritin
- Iron, iron saturation %, TIBC
- CRP
- LDH
- GGT
- Insulin
- A1C
- Uric acid
- ANA
- DHEA
- Cortisol
- Testosterone
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
Thyroid Findings
Her TSH was 3.7. Normal range: 0.5–5 Optimal range: 0.5–2
She also had below-optimal T3, the active thyroid hormone.
High Cholesterol
Her cholesterol was 245, commonly associated with underactive thyroid function.
Nutrient Deficiencies
She was low in:
- B12
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- Selenium
- Inositol
All essential for thyroid, adrenal, and gut function.
Gut Infections
Functional testing revealed:
- Candida yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial overgrowth
Food Sensitivities
She tested positive for:
- Celiac genetics
- Gluten sensitivity
- Leaky gut
- Additional food allergies
Hormonal Imbalance
She had below-optimal adrenal function, which can worsen fatigue and negatively impact thyroid health.
This comprehensive approach is what revealed her true root causes.
Step 1: The Anti-Inflammatory FreeDiet®
I put her on the FreeDiet®, which I developed years ago while healing my own autoimmune Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, and skin issues.
Foods to Avoid on the FreeDiet®
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These foods are the most common triggers of inflammation, gut dysfunction, thyroid imbalance, and chronic symptoms.
Step 2: What She Ate
Breakfast
A nutrient-dense FreeDiet® Super Smoothie containing:
- High-quality protein
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Fiber
- Essential fats
(Recipe included with the FreeDiet® Phase 1 Food Chart linked below.)
Lunch & Dinner
- Beef, chicken, or fish
- Plenty of vegetables
- Healthy fats
As she improved, we added additional foods back in during Phase 2 and beyond.
Step 3: Targeted Supplements
She took the Functional Five™:
- Multivitamin
- Fish oil
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Probiotic
Plus:
Additional Support
- Gut-support supplements
- Curcumin
- Adrenal support
- B-complex
- NAC
- Selenium
- Inositol
- Other nutrients she was deficient in
These helped replenish nutrient stores, support gut healing, and balance thyroid and adrenal function.
Her Results After 3 Months
Thyroid & Cholesterol
- TSH dropped from 3.7 to 1.41 (optimal)
- Cholesterol dropped 53 points, from 245 to 192
- All without thyroid or cholesterol medication
Symptoms Improved
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Itchy skin
She felt dramatically better and said she finally felt like herself again.
The Bottom Line
With the FreeDiet® and targeted supplements, she was able to:
- Heal her gut
- Balance her thyroid
- Lower cholesterol
- Restore energy
- Improve mood
- Resolve chronic symptoms
If you have gut issues, thyroid problems, or other chronic conditions, comprehensive testing is essential to uncover your root causes so you can receive the right solutions.
If you’d like personalized help, feel free to contact us—we’re currently accepting new patients.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.

