Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland. This results in inflammation and decreased function of the gland.
There are two main types of thyroid hormones: T3 and T4. T3 is the more active form, and T4 must be transformed into T3 by the enzymes tissue sodium reuptake transporter (TSR) and deiodinase.
Many people with Hashimoto’s find relief from this autoimmune disease by following a strict gluten-free diet for a period of time. This can help your body heal itself and reduce symptoms.
This article will go into detail about the best foods to eat while on a gluten-free diet in order to support your health and wellness.
Buy organic vegetables
When you get to the point where you are cooking your own meals, making your own snacks, and ordering your own groceries, then it’s time to buy organic vegetables.
Organic vegetables cost more than non-organic ones, but that is because you are paying for purer and healthier vegetables. You will be feeding yourself high-quality nutrients with organic veggies instead of chemicals that are meant to prevent fungus and growth on the vegetable.
It can be hard to keep up with the changing prices of organic foods, but I would suggest looking up the average price per pound or liter of organic produce and buying as much as you can at that price. This way, you will have a good supply of healthy food for a good amount of time!
Also, try to have a variety of colors on your plate at every meal to get all the necessary nutrients.
Buy organic, free-range eggs
In order to make the complete protein found in eggs, you need to gather some proteins from different sources. These sources are called foods.
Eggs contain many powerful nutrients, including carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found in the egg whites. When you eat an organic egg, you are also getting vitamin D from the sunlight exposure of the egg shell.
An easy way to prepare an organic egg is to bake it in a oven at high temperature. You can also fry them in a pan with coconut oil or another mild oil. Boil them is not recommended because the egg white becomes thin and runny.
Buy local eggs that come from chickens that are fed nutritious foods and spend time outside! Although this may cost a little more, it is worth it for the nutritional value of the eggs.
Purchase fermented foods
In addition to supplementing with iodine, it is important to eat foods containing fermented bacteria. These are commonly found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt.
You can also purchase supplements of probiotics, the term for these healthy bacteria. However, it is best to get them from vegetables and/or fermented foods as supplements may not contain the same healthy bacteria as food does.
Sauerkraut and other fermented cabbage contains a type of lactic acid bacteria called Lactobacillus plantarum. This helps regulate the immune system and controls inflammation in the body.
Kimchi contains lactobacilli or Lactobacillus paracasei. These reduce oxidative stress in the body and help regulate thyroid function. You can also find probiotics in yogurt or supplements.
Take a thyroid supplement
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe a pill to take every day. These pills can be synthetic T4 compounds or combination T4 and T3 pills.
Some doctors also prescribe NDT, or natural thyroid replacement therapy. This therapy uses desiccated pork thyroid which contains T3 and T4.
There are several brands of NDT, so you should talk to your doctor to see if this is a good option for you. Some people find that they need to take both a synthetic pill and NDT to feel better and balance their hormones.
If you are taking a pill every day, it is important to make sure that you take it at the same time so that your body gets the right amount of thyroid hormone each day.
Speak to your doctor about getting tested for thyroid disease
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, or even if you don’t have any symptoms at all, your doctor should test you for thyroid disease.
This is especially important for women as women are nine times more likely to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism. However, men can also be affected by the disease.
Your doctor may ask you some questions about your lifestyle and health history, and do a physical exam along with some blood tests to determine if you have thyroid disease.
A simple blood test can determine whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and whether treatment is necessary. A diagnosis can be difficult to receive, but your doctor will be able to explain what steps to take next.
Learn how to manage your thyroid disease
People with thyroid disease need to learn how to manage their condition. This includes knowing what foods to eat and what foods to avoid, getting the right supplements, and learning how to exercise properly.
There are many books and online resources that provide guidelines for living with a hypothyroidism. You can also ask your doctor or endocrinologist for recommendations.
Because things can change over time, it’s important to re-evaluate your lifestyle plans periodically. Even small improvements can have a big impact on your health.
People with hypothyroidism may also need to use medications to help boost their metabolism. Your doctor will determine the best medication and dosage for you based on your symptoms and lab tests.
Follow the autoimmune Paleo protocol for 90 days
Following the autoimmune Paleo protocol for 90 days will help you find stability in your diet. Following a Paleo diet for a short period of time can improve symptoms, but sticking to an autoimmune Paleo diet for longer periods of time is important.
By eating this way, you will remove foods that trigger inflammation and you’ll replace them with healthy foods that balance your hormones and give you energy.
This process can take several weeks or months, depending on how long you have been experiencing symptoms. You will also start to feel better as your body begins to heal.
Carbohydrate restriction is an important part of the AIP diet, so you will need to determine what works best for you in terms of numbers of carbs per meal and daily amounts.
Test different supplements and foods to see what works for you
While there are many things that can exacerbate Hashimoto’s disease and its symptoms, there are also many things that can help you manage them. Some of these include nutritional supplements, special diets, and alternative treatments such as acupuncture.
We recommend trying all sorts of things to find what works for you. For example, you may find that a particular supplement or diet change helps you, but doesn’t totally eliminate your symptoms.
That is totally okay! Keeping yourself in a healthy state of wellbeing is the most important thing.
We recommend researching all kinds of alternative treatments and trying out the ones that seem safe and effective for you. Many people find relief from various alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, reiki, and more.
