This is Part
3 in a 3-part series on thyroid disorder by Erin.
In Parts 1 and 2 of this series we discussed the
basics of the most common thyroid disorder, the most common cause of low
thyroid function, how to determine if you have Hashimoto’s, and preliminary steps
to take once diagnosed. Today’s post
will discuss specific changes you can make to calm your immune system and tame
the attack on your thyroid.
Most people
with Hashimoto’s have an imbalance in the 2 immune pathways.
These
pathways are known as TH-1 and TH-2. In
most cases, one of these pathways has become dominant, allowing the immune
system to become imbalanced. It’s
important to figure out which pathway is dominant so that you can take measures
to support the weaker pathway and restore balance.
Once the
immune system has been balanced, Hashimoto’s can be managed with diet and
lifestyle changes (hello, Real Food!), often without the need for any thyroid
hormone replacement.
If
caught early, there will probably be enough healthy thyroid tissue remaining
that can manufacture its own hormones.
The most important changes to make involve removing gluten, stabilizing
your blood sugar levels, decreasing stress, and getting adequate sleep.
If you have
Hashimoto’s it is imperative that you go off gluten.
Going
gluten-free is not a fad for someone with Hashimoto’s. The gluten molecule and your thyroid tissue
look the same to your immune system. So
when you eat even a tiny amount gluten, your overzealous immune system destroys
your thyroid. In addition, gluten can
stay in your system for 6 to 10 months, provoking attacks on your thyroid
tissue that entire time.
Iodine
supplementation for Hashimoto’s is quite controversial.
Many
practitioners, even alternative ones, will frequently recommend iodine
supplementation for thyroid health.
Unfortunately, that recommendation is based off research done by Dr.
Broda Barnes (also the creator of the basal body temperature test for thyroid
function) in the 1960s when iodine deficiency was the #1 cause of low thyroid
dysfunction. Hashimoto’s is now the #1
cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. Current research shows that iodine
supplementation may actually trigger Hashimoto’s. Read more here. If you choose to supplement with iodine,
watch your thyroid antibodies closely.
Normal consumption of cruciferous
vegetables (aka goitrogens) is perfectly safe, even if you have thyroid
dysfunction.
I have
told friends with thyroid problems to avoid cruciferous vegetables in the past,
but I’ve recently learned that that recommendation is based on a faulty theory
(read here). Cruciferous vegetables include kale, cabbage,
brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and mustard greens (fyi… strawberries
and peaches are also goitrogens). Be
aware that juicing these vegetables frequently would not be considered “normal
consumption.”
As you may
have guessed, there is a diet for people with Hashimoto’s.
It’s
called the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (a.k.a. Autoimmune Paleo or AIP). This is a Real Food, elimination-style diet
where you remove possible offending foods and slowly re-introduce them after 30
days to watch for reactions.
A few
resources for the AIP diet include:
I am
currently on the AIP diet. I started out
sugar-free, then went gluten-free, then grain-free, and now AIP over the course
of 5 years. I didn’t know AIP existed
until a few months ago. I can honestly
say that I am not going hungry on this diet.
I’m greatly enjoying trying out new things like plantains and leeks. The biggest adjustment has been avoiding
nightshades since this includes white and red potatoes (not sweet potatoes,
though!), tomatoes, and paprika, a spice that seems to be in almost every
prepared food. J
With the way medical science is advancing, I
expect to continue learning more about my condition and tweaking my
approach. I hope you’ve been encouraged to do the same
for yourself or someone you care about.
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