A few years ago, I had the honor of giving a presentation at the very first functional medicine conference in Poland, my birth country. The only problem? I hadn’t given a presentation in Poland since the second grade, so as you can imagine, my language skills were a little rusty!
I practiced my presentation for a few days to be sure I had the technical lingo down that wouldn’t lend itself to my usual conversations in Polish, but a couple of opportunities to ad-lib presented themselves.
One of them was a reaction to a question about how to lose weight when someone is not eating much. I wanted to explain that women with Hashimoto’s often have problems with losing weight and battling excess weight, even when their calorie intake is super low, due to the metabolic implications of the condition. Hypothyroidism lowers our basal metabolic rate and thus our caloric requirement, meaning we could be eating and exercising just as much as our genetically identical twin without hypothyroidism, but still be gaining weight!
I also wanted to share the devastating implications that women feel due to their impaired metabolism, so I decided to use a clever play on words and meant to say, “Women with Hashimoto’s may tell their doctors that they eat like birds but feel like whales!”
But instead, I said, “Women will say that they eat like birds and feel like camels!”
The conference attendees (who were so gracious), looked at me confused at first, then started laughing hysterically.
Why were camels on my mind? One reason is that the words “whale” and camel” are similar in Polish (“wieloryb” vs. “wielbłąd”), but the other reason is that later in the presentation, I was excited to talk about the benefits of camel milk for people with thyroid and autoimmune disease.
In my estimates, based on my 2015 survey of 2232 people with Hashimoto’s, as well as my experience working with clients, about 80 percent of people with Hashimoto’s tend to be sensitive to cow’s milk. A lot of people ask if there’s any type of milk that’s safe with Hashimoto’s in those who are cow milk sensitive. Raw milk? Nope. A2 milk? No, sorry. Goat milk? Probably not. 🙁 Sheep milk? Not likely.
Unfortunately, once we become sensitive to cow’s milk, we also become cross-reactively sensitive to other types of milk… except for… camel milk!
Camel milk has some very unique properties which make it an extremely nutritious food choice, plus it works as a dairy substitute for many who are sensitive to cow’s milk.
Camel milk may help reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, resolve food sensitivities, support the immune system, and more! (1-4)
Amazing, right?
I wanted to share some of my personal and clinical experience with you, as well as some research-based information, about why camel milk can be a great dietary choice for some of us with Hashimoto’s.
Read on to learn about:
- The differences between camel milk and cow’s milk
- Why many people who are sensitive to cow milk can drink camel milk
- How camel milk can help improve gut, liver, and brain health
- How camel milk can help those with nutrient deficiencies
Does Milk Really “Do a Body Good”?
I was never drawn to dairy as a child, but was compelled to start drinking it when I watched the deceitful “Milk Does a Body Good” commercials of skinny girls and boys who were “invisible” to the opposite sex. I was destroying my health because dairy marketers used a fear-based tactic to get me to buy their product. “Drink milk, or you’ll be ugly and no one will love you”, I heard from my television set, courtesy of the marketing dollars of “Big Dairy.”
How disgusting, right?
This is a part of the reason why I no longer watch television — the bombardment we get from commercials suppresses our own intuition. The intuition that tells you that a type of food is not serving you. The intuition that tells you that you are being manipulated. The intuition that tells you that you need to live your truth.
If dairy simply didn’t deliver on the promises of making me beautiful, I wouldn’t be as upset, but the fact is, dairy prevented me from living to my fullest on most days. The constant stomach aches made me shy away from physical activity, took my focus away from more important things, and made me feel disconnected from my body.
I didn’t realize that it wasn’t normal to have stomach aches every single day, until I went dairy free. Worst of all, dairy made me doubt my own power and intuition. After all, what did a little girl with a stomach ache know when the whole world said that dairy was healthy?
I am still on a continuing journey to recover my intuition and understand the messages from my body. Healing is never a destination; it is an awakening of how we, as humans, respond to our environment. So even if you’ve hit a setback on your journey, keep moving and listening to what your body is trying to communicate to you in the moment. It could be sending you a message about food, a person, or an activity that is not agreeing with you. You just need to listen.
I’m so grateful for the internet and independent information getting out into the world. Until recently, no one sponsored or censored my writing (if you know what I mean). I have no ads on my website, and I am not indebted to any organization. I speak my truth so that you too can awaken your inner healer and get into a conversation with your body.
A part of the awakening can come from the food you choose to eat (or not to eat).
I can’t tell you what exactly is not working for you as an individual, but I hope I can guide you to make informed choices on what is likely to work in a person with Hashimoto’s based on my research, my experience, the experiences of my clients and colleagues, and the collective experience of the Hashimoto’s and autoimmune communities.
If you’ve been following my work, you’ll know I’m a big proponent of removing dairy from your diet as you begin your healing journey. Dairy was a huge trigger for me, and after removing dairy, my acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and carpal tunnel disappeared, and I felt like a new person!
But it’s not just me. In my survey of 2232 people with Hashimoto’s, 40 percent were already dairy free, 57 percent reported that they suspected they were sensitive to dairy, and 79 percent of those who tried a dairy-free diet felt better. (This comes as no surprise, as dairy can often be difficult to digest and contribute to gut symptoms seen in Hashimoto’s.)
Removing dairy can eliminate problems you thought were “illnesses,” including chronic stomach aches, allergies, asthma, acne, irritable bowel syndrome, and even many autoimmune diseases. A dairy-free eating plan can even reverse Hashimoto’s, though more commonly, a gluten-free diet is required too.
So Back to Camel Milk… What Makes it So Different from Other Types Of Dairy?
You may have heard proponents of dairy-free diets claim that milk is an excellent food for baby cows, but not for humans. Using this same logic, you may be surprised that I would recommend another animal’s milk at all, especially when there are so many tasty dairy-free milk alternatives available today.
Camel milk is delicious — it tastes like regular milk, and you can use it in all the same ways.
Perhaps what’s most alluring though, is that allergy and sensitivity concerns that are seen with cow’s milk, are often absent in camel milk consumption.
Typically, once a person is sensitized to casein protein, they react to other types of dairy (goat, cow, and sheep milk).
Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk proteins are very similar to cow’s milk proteins and have about a 60-75 percent rate of cross-reactivity. This means that a significant percentage of people who are sensitive to cow casein will also react to goat and sheep casein. Once a person becomes sensitized to the casein protein, they may react to all forms of dairy across the board.
However, a study revealed people with cow milk sensitivity only showed an 18 percent cross-reaction to camel milk. Thus, at least 80 percent of those with cow’s dairy sensitivity may be able to tolerate camel milk. (5, 6)
This can be explained, at least in part, due to the differences in the two key types of protein found in dairy products: casein and whey. Researchers have found that the casein protein found in camel milk is similar to the casein found in human milk, but cow, sheep, and goat casein molecules have very different structures. And unlike other types of milk (except breast milk), camel milk whey lacks β-lactoglobulin, a component of whey protein that can cause allergic reactions. (7, 8)
Camel milk also has slightly less lactose than cow’s dairy, and reportedly people with lactose intolerance tolerate camel milk better. (9) Researchers don’t know exactly why this is so, but it seems that camel milk is more easily metabolized. (However, for those with severe lactose intolerance, using a digestive enzyme like lactase may help.)
Top 8 Health Benefits of Camel Milk
If you’ve been following my work, you will know by now that Hashimoto’s is a combination of nutrient depletions, food sensitivities, chronic infections, intestinal permeability, an impaired ability to handle toxins, and often, an impaired stress response. People with Hashimoto’s typically have a thyroid hormone imbalance, blood sugar imbalance, and an immune system imbalance.
Camel milk has many healing properties that can help with these Hashimoto’s-specific health problems (and more).
Here’s an overview of some of the notable properties of camel milk:
- High levels of protective proteins like lactoferrins and immunoglobulins give camel milk excellent antimicrobial properties (which means it can protect against viruses and bacteria).
- It offers antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cholesterol benefits.
- It’s lower in hard-to-digest proteins such as lactose, casein, saturated fats, and cholesterol, than cow’s milk.
- Compared to cow’s milk, it tends to be higher in minerals like zinc, magnesium, and iron.
- It is high in vitamins A, B, B3 (niacin), C, D, and E. (10, 11)
- It can help to support gut health and reduce gastrointestinal problems.
- It may be useful for supporting conditions like tuberculosis, asthma, joint pain, and liver problems.
- It may have anti-cancer properties. (12)
- It may help balance thyroid hormone levels.
- It can be a rich source of whey protein for those who are sensitive to other types of dairy. Whey protein can facilitate the production of glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant often deficient in those with Hashimoto’s. GSH decreases inflammation by decreasing levels of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). (13, 14)
Traditional cultures in desert regions of the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa have been reaping the benefits of camel milk for centuries, which likely kept them healthy in arid climates, when few other food sources were available. Personally, I see camel milk as an extremely functional food that is better tolerated by those with dairy sensitivities, and can also help us heal! #foodpharmacology
Now we’ll discuss some of its functional health properties in more detail.
1. Camel Milk Helps Reduce Nutrient Deficiencies
People with Hashimoto’s are specifically vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies, which can further exacerbate symptoms (you can read more about that here).
Camel milk is nutrient-dense and contains higher amounts of potassium, iron, and vitamin C than cow’s milk — it may even contain up to five times more vitamin C than cow milk! It also contains high amounts of vitamins A, B, D, and E.
One study found that higher levels of potassium (and sodium) in camel milk stopped diarrhea in rats suggesting that this nutrient improves gut health. Vitamins D and E are key supplements that I recommend for those with thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s — read more about these here and here. (15-17)
2. Camel Milk May Contribute to Thyroid Hormone Balance
Camel milk contains T4 and T3 hormones, which could benefit people who need to take thyroid hormones.
The levels of thyroid hormones in camel milk are highest within 30 days of giving birth. On average, camels lactate for nine months to one year. One study looking at the amino acid profile of camel milk during lactation, found that thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in camel milk help baby camels with the maturation of their small intestine. Although not the purpose of the study, researchers concluded that the thyroid hormone passed through the milk affects metabolic and endocrine health. (18, 19)
While ample research has shown that insulin from camel milk is absorbed by humans, I have not found research suggesting that camel milk thyroid hormones are absorbed by humans. However, based on some of the positive results I have seen with thyroid patients, I suspect that the thyroid hormones in camel milk may be of some benefit.
3. Camel Milk Could Help Resolve Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities are common in people with Hashimoto’s, and many of my clients (as well as myself) are sensitive to dairy, in addition to gluten and soy.
Yosef Shabo, an Israeli doctor, reported a study of eight children with various levels of food reactions (allergies and sensitivities) to cow’s milk dairy. Camel milk was not only well-tolerated by the children, it also appeared to reduce/eliminate their food sensitivities, even to cow’s milk! (20)
The effects in some of the children were permanent when the camel milk was discontinued; in others, the reactions returned after stopping camel milk.
In my experience, loss of oral tolerance is often due to low carnitine or infections (especially H. pylori infections). Camel milk could help with oral tolerance and food sensitivities, possibly due to oral tolerance brought on by smaller doses of similar proteins, improved fatty acid transport, and better digestion of the milk fats. Camel milk’s high levels of carnitine and antimicrobial effects that clear out pathogens in the gut, leading to better absorption and fewer reactions, could also be at play. (21, 22)
4. Camel Milk Aids in Resolving Infections
Camel milk has antimicrobial properties, which means it could help protect us from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens often linked to autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s. (23, 24)
Camel milk is reportedly effective against dysbiotic gut bacteria like E. coli, H, pylori (a common trigger of Hashimoto’s), and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), an infection that’s difficult to diagnose and treat, that has been associated with the cow version of Crohn’s and believed to be a root cause of autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s and Hashimoto’s.
Recent research points to the effectiveness of camel milk in protecting against peptic ulcers (caused by H. pylori). For instance, in one 2017 study on rats, camel milk appeared to reduce the formation of stomach ulcers as well as protect from gastric damage, suggesting that it has plenty of potential for gut support. (25)
5. Camel Milk Can Help to Reduce High Blood Sugar
Milk has an interesting connection to blood sugar and type 1 diabetes.
Cow’s milk contains insulin, but the insulin in cow’s milk is NOT absorbed in humans. Furthermore, intake of cow’s milk in young childhood has been correlated with increased risk for type 1 diabetes.
Human milk contains insulin that is well-absorbed by tiny humans. Orally-administered insulin from human breast milk has been shown to promote gut maturation and to reduce intestinal permeability to macromolecules in infants, lowering their likelihood of type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition. (26)
There are a lot of articles coming out about the wonders of human breast milk for adult conditions, like diabetes, but let’s face it, it’s not the easiest to source!
So, as you may have guessed, camel milk may be the next best type of milk for diabetes. Traditional societies in the Middle East have long believed that camel milk helped with the management of diabetes, and today there’s plenty of research to support this.
Camel milk has special properties which can help us balance our blood sugar, which is not only great for those with Hashimoto’s but also for people with diabetes. One reason is that it contains “encapsulated insulin nanoparticles” — basically, tiny droplets of insulin that are easily absorbed into the stomach, intestines, and bloodstream.
One study of 24 people with type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent autoimmune diabetes) found that camel milk was a safe and effective adjunct therapy to insulin. In that study, it helped people improve blood sugar control and reduce insulin requirements by about 50 percent when used over the course of two years. Three of the 12 people studied were able to completely wean off insulin after a year or so. The researchers think that was partially due to the camel milk’s immune-modulating properties. (I have not heard of many other interventions that have helped people with Type 1 diabetes wean off insulin.)
A 2017 review of 22 research articles concluded that all but one of them “demonstrated the favorable effects of camel milk on diabetes mellitus by reducing blood sugar, decreasing insulin resistance and improving lipid profiles.” (27-29)
6. Camel Milk Supports Immune System Balance
One of the unique properties of camel milk is that it contains immunoglobulins, the part of blood plasma containing antibodies that can modulate the immune system. Camel immunoglobulins pass from the camel milk into our bloodstream, and have shown potential in modulating the immune system. (30)
IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) therapy is a medically prescribed therapy that can suppress thyroid antibodies by using immune cells isolated from blood donation. However, drawbacks to this therapy include cost (thousands of dollars), side effects (common: flu-like symptoms; rare: infection, skin peeling, fluid overload, kidney damage, liver damage, and meningitis), and the difficult route of administration (through a slow intravenous infusion that has to be given every 3-4 weeks). As such, the therapy is usually reserved for very serious conditions. (One condition is Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, an acute, life-threatening condition where thyroid antibodies attack the brain.) (31, 32)
I consider camel milk the “poor man’s IVIG,” because of the way it can help modulate the immune system. Immunoglobulins from camel milk are less likely to cause side effects and are so much more convenient to take… not to mention a lot cheaper!
7. Camel Milk May Help Reduce Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
Oral tolerance is an immune-modulating intervention that introduces tiny amounts of the reactive substance in an easily digestible and absorbable way, to teach the body that the substance is safe (similar to how allergy shots work). This method has been utilized in thyroid disease using thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin extracted from animal thyroid glands, to reduce the level of auto-antibodies to these proteins. (33)
In theory, this may be one reason why some people have reported seeing improvements in their Hashimoto’s TPO and TG antibodies after starting natural glandular thyroid (NDT) medications like Armour and Nature-Throid, which are extracted from the glands of animals and may contain small amounts of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. That said, I do know some people whose antibodies actually increase with NDT medications, so I am not clear if NDT medications have a low enough dose of TPO and TG to properly desensitize people.
An alternate approach may be consuming camel milk. Lactoferrin from camel milk may help the body learn to tolerate its own thyroid peroxidase, thus helping to reduce the number of thyroid peroxidase antibodies that are produced when the thyroid is under an autoimmune attack. Lactoferrin is a protein that helps us fight infections, and camel milk tends to be much higher in lactoferrin than in other types of animal milk. (34)
Additionally, the lactoferrin in camel milk is reportedly 71 percent similar in structure to human thyroid peroxidase, so it could serve as a possible tool for helping to reestablish oral tolerance to thyroid peroxidase, the most common part of the thyroid physiology that gets recognized as a “foreign invader” by our immune system. (35)
Although research on this topic remains limited, I think this sounds promising as an adjunct to other lifestyle changes.
8. Camel Milk Reduces Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Oxidative stress results when an imbalance occurs and our cells produce too many free radicals, knocking oxidants and antioxidants out of balance. Antioxidants can help reduce oxidative stress on cells, which essentially means that they are better able to resist damage from conditions such as inflammation and disease.
Whey protein helps us produce the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), a lack (or imbalance) of which has been associated with neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, HIV, and age-related illnesses. Since the whey protein in camel milk may be tolerated by those who are sensitive to the whey in other types of dairy, it’s a great alternative for those looking to get more protein from whey. (36)
GSH can also help to protect against inflammation, which can be especially helpful for those with Hashimoto’s, since those with Hashimoto’s tend to experience inflammation in various forms. For instance, chronic pain and poor gut health are two common symptoms related to inflammation.
GSH can also help with other conditions, including liver problems, which are common in those with Hashimoto’s, due to toxic overload and liver impairment. Camel milk is already known as a liver protectant in some traditional cultures. A 2021 study that used camel milk to help treat alcoholic liver disease (in mice) showed that it reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver while increasing GSH. (37-39)
Other Interesting Benefits of Camel Milk
I first learned about the use of camel milk from hearing about its benefits in the autism community in 2012. One mom of a child with autism wrote an entire case study of using camel milk to address her son’s autism symptoms, and other research recognizes the possibility that camel milk could help with autism. (40)
Part of what’s behind the autism connection is that camel milk may facilitate the production of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), a lack of which is associated with neurological disorders (like autism), as well as other conditions, including Hashimoto’s. One study showed an increase in glutathione in autistic children after consistent consumption of camel milk, which could be attributed to its antioxidant properties and specific combination of vitamins and nutrients. (41)
Research shows that the properties of camel milk make it the closest to human mother’s milk, and it’s generally safe for children who have sensitivities to other types of dairy. A word of caution, however, is that camel milk in its natural state would not be an appropriate substitute for breast milk for babies under one year old, as it would need to be modified to meet the nutritional requirements of growing humans. Dr. Kaayla Daniel, Judy Converse, RD, and Sarah Pope, Health and Nutrition Educator, have published various recipes for camel milk formulas that I considered (but didn’t end up trying) for my son as a breastmilk alternative. (42, 43)
I’ve also recommended camel milk to many of my Hashimoto’s clients, who have reported benefits in improved gut health, better energy, and reduced thyroid antibodies.
Here are some additional benefits reported by people who have used camel milk themselves or with loved ones in the autism and autoimmune communities:
- “My daughter had formed stools for the first time pretty much ever! Improved gut health is our biggest gain.”
- “I was able to clear my eczema after 2-3 weeks of using ¼ cup daily.”
- “My son has been drinking camel milk for the past 3 yrs and his gut dysbiosis is gone, he’s skating and cycling without supporters, happy boy, eczema gone, no rashes, sleeping well, overall a lot of improvement in health.”
- “Both my daughters’ and my own histamine reactions have significantly improved. My 5-yr- old was on daily antihistamines because she had stomach pain and itching after every meal. Two weeks drinking camel milk and I was able to take her off them.”
- “A reduction in inflammation!”
Potential Concerns and Drawbacks with Camel Milk
As you can see, I am a big proponent of camel milk, and see very little in the way of drawbacks. But here are some reasons why you may not want to use camel milk, or try it with caution.
Possibly High Iodine Content
One study in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria, points to the possibility that camel milk contains high levels of iodine. While we don’t know for sure that the iodine content in U.S. camel milk is particularly high, those with Hashimoto’s should be aware that excess iodine can exacerbate hypothyroidism. (44)
Camel Milk is Not Pasteurized
Some people may have concerns about drinking or eating unpasteurized foods. While I generally don’t recommend unpasteurized food for infants, very young children, or immunocompromised individuals, it’s generally thought to be safe for adults with Hashimoto’s.
Some People May Still Be Sensitive to Camel Milk
I mentioned earlier in this article that camel milk whey and casein proteins have different structures than that of other types of dairy milk, but it is similar to human breast milk in this regard. This difference, as well as a difference in lactose levels, explains why many people can tolerate camel milk but not other types of dairy.
Despite this, some people who are sensitive to other types of dairy milk can still be sensitive to camel milk.
Use with Caution If You Have Hypoglycemia
Although camel milk may be useful for managing blood sugar, the insulin in camel’s milk can potentially exacerbate hypoglycemia. If you have problems with low blood sugar, check with your doctor, as that condition could worsen.
Camel Milk Costs More than Other Types of Milk
Camel milk can be expensive and challenging to source, but there are good reasons behind the higher cost. Cow’s milk tends to be so cheap because it’s so abundant, and because of government subsidies (the “true” cost of cow’s milk is likely much higher than what we see on the shelves). Camels, on the other hand, are not abundant in the U.S. or E.U.; the farms are small, they can be challenging to breed, and they have long gestation periods.
The good news, though, is that camel milk is slowly but surely becoming more abundant, and higher demand could drive down prices.
Raw Milk May Cause a Histamine Reaction
I had a reader recently comment that powdered camel milk helped with her gut issues, but raw camel milk caused histamine reactions.
This makes sense since raw milk generally contains more bacteria that can increase histamine levels/are histamine producing. It is possible that the powdered form has lower levels of such bacteria, and thus, naturally less histamine.
As such, those who have histamine intolerance may wish to opt for camel milk in powdered form.
Where Can You Find Camel Milk?
I used camel milk myself for a few weeks (it tastes like two percent skim milk). I do believe that camel milk helped me to lower the severity of my reaction to cow’s dairy, when I did this in conjunction with gut support and taking systemic enzymes.
My readers have also reported great results with camel milk, even in powdered form. I had a few questions about whether powdered camel milk would be as nutritious as raw milk. Desert Farms Camel Milk Powder is made with a spray-drying method to retain nutritional value and (most) enzymes. (45) Powdered milk should have a shelf life of about one year. Nutritional value is also retained in frozen camel milk, but boiling it will remove a lot of the important nutrients, so I do not recommend that.
Here’s what one person, Theresa W., reported:
“I started using powdered camel milk 4 weeks ago and I am amazed at the improvements – less joint pressure (reduced inflammation), reduced muscle pain, improved digestion, more energy, fewer chilly spells, and I’ve even had 2 or 3 days where I felt normal. I have Hashimotos (post menopause) and am on Synthroid, but even after 4 dosage increases, it wasn’t doing the full job with TSH staying at 32. After using camel milk (3 weeks), TSH dropped to 10, which is the right direction. I still have to address anemia and high LDL (I am following the Hashi diet protocol.) I am very thankful for the advice on camel milk – it is helping me more than any other supplement at this time. Keep up the great work!”
At one point, I stopped drinking camel milk because it was difficult to source — but now Desert Farms ships camel milk through the United States. They sell raw camel milk in fresh and frozen formats, as well as powdered camel milk, kefir, and actual camel fat. I believe that at least some Whole Foods markets carry camel milk as well.
In some areas, it might still be challenging to find, so I encourage you to ask the dairy manager at your local health food or specialty foods store. (In Europe, you can order from Desert Farms’ U.K. site or camel milk can be sourced from a Dutch farm. Here is another source out of the Netherlands — I believe there are several camel farms in this area.)
It’s worth noting that region and season can change the ratio of compounds in camel’s milk, so that, along with possible ethical concerns regarding production, are good reasons to source it carefully. (Desert Farms works with family farms across the U.S., and avoids third-party contractors to ensure pure and high-quality results.)
Takeaway
Camel milk can be an excellent choice for some of us who have a dairy sensitivity, and possibly other sensitivities, and are looking for a nutritious (and delicious!) alternative to cow’s milk. Research conducted over the past few years (since I first published this article) is extremely promising regarding its benefits.
I truly believe that camel milk can do so much for us when it comes to all kinds of health concerns, including Hashimoto’s, and hope that it continues to become more accessible.
Are you planning on trying camel’s milk? Have you tried it before? Please share your experience below!
To learn more about other helpful interventions for thyroid disease, please consider picking up a copy of Hashimoto’s Protocol and Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause.
P.S. For continued updates and interaction, please become a part of our Facebook and Instagram communities, and sign up for our newsletter. I love connecting with readers!
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- van Wassenaer A, Stulp M, Valianpour F et al. The quantity of thyroid hormone in human milk is too low to influence plasma thyroid hormone levels in the very preterm infant. Clin Endocrinol. 2002;56(5):621-627. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.2002.01526.x.
- Shabo Y, Barzel R, Margoulis M, Yagil R. Camel milk for food allergies in children. Isr Med Assoc J. 2005;7(12):796-798.
- Alhomida AS. Total, free, short-chain and long-chain acyl carnitine levels in Arabian camel milk (Camelus dromedarius). Ann Nutr Metab. 1996;40(4):221-226. doi:10.1159/000177925
- Kent KD, Harper WJ, Bomser JA. Effect of whey protein isolate on intracellular glutathione and oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate epithelial cells. Toxicol In Vitro. 2003;17(1):27-33. doi:10.1016/s0887-2333(02)00119-4
- Maryniak NZ, Hansen EB, Ballegaard AR, Sancho AI, Bøgh KL. Comparison of the Allergenicity and Immunogenicity of Camel and Cow’s Milk-A Study in Brown Norway Rats. Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1903. Published 2018 Dec 4. doi:10.3390/nu10121903
- Rasheed Z. Medicinal values of bioactive constituents of camel milk: A concise report. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(5):1-2.
- Hu Z, Chang X, Pan Q, Gu K, Okechukwu PN. Gastroprotective and Ulcer Healing Effects of Camel Milk and Urine in HCl/EtOH, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (Indomethacin), and Water-Restraint Stress-induced Ulcer in Rats. Pharmacogn Mag. 2017;13(52):559-565. doi:10.4103/pm.pm_135_17
- Shehadeh N, Shamir R, Berant M, Etzioni A. Insulin in human milk and the prevention of type 1 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes. 2001;2(4):175-177. doi:10.1034/j.1399-5448.2001.20406.x.
- Agrawal R, Jain S, Shah S, Chopra A, Agarwal V. Effect of camel milk on glycemic control and insulin requirement in patients with type 1 diabetes: 2-years randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011;65(9):1048-1052. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.98.
- Mirmiran P, Ejtahed HS, Angoorani P, Eslami F, Azizi F. Camel Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2017;15(2):e42150. Published 2017 Mar 11. doi:10.5812/ijem.42150
- AlKurd R, Hanash N, Khalid N, et al. Effect of Camel Milk on Glucose Homeostasis in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1245. Published 2022 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/nu14061245
- Rasheed Z. Medicinal values of bioactive constituents of camel milk: A concise report. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(5):1-2.
- Antonelli A, Alberti B, Melosi A. Changes in markers of autoimmunity in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. Preliminary results. Clinical Therapeutics. 1992;141(9 Pt 2):37-42.
- Jordan S, Vo A, Peng A, Toyoda M, Tyan D. Intravenous Gammaglobulin (IVIG): A Novel Approach to Improve Transplant Rates and Outcomes in Highly HLA-Sensitized Patients. American Journal of Transplantation. 2006;6(3):459-466. doi:10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.01214.x.
- Lee S, Scherberg N, DeGroot LJ. Induction of oral tolerance in human autoimmune thyroid disease. Thyroid. 1998;8(3):229-234. doi:10.1089/thy.1998.8.229
- Rasheed Z. Medicinal values of bioactive constituents of camel milk: A concise report. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(5):1-2.
- Khaliq, A. et al. Camel Milk: Massive Paragon of Nutritional and Therapeutic Potentials: A Review. Int. Journal of Research Studies in Biosciences. 2019 Volume 7, Issue 9, 2019, PP 12-26 ISSN No. (Online) 2349-0365 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0365.0709002
- Yang Y, Bu D, Zhao X, Sun P, Wang J, Zhou L. Proteomic Analysis of Cow, Yak, Buffalo, Goat and Camel Milk Whey Proteins: Quantitative Differential Expression Patterns. Journal of Proteome Research. 2013;12(4):1660-1667. doi:10.1021/pr301001m.
- Zhu WW, Kong GQ, Ma MM, et al. Short communication: Camel milk ameliorates inflammatory responses and oxidative stress and downregulates mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats. J Dairy Sci. 2016;99(1):53-56. doi:10.3168/jds.2015-10005
- Korish, A.A., Arafah, M.M. Camel milk ameliorates steatohepatitis, insulin resistance and lipid peroxidation in experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. BMC Complement Altern Med 13, 264 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-264
- Ming L, Qi B, Hao S, Ji R. Camel milk ameliorates inflammatory mechanisms in an alcohol-induced liver injury mouse model. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):22811. Published 2021 Nov 24. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02357-1
- Adams C. Patient Report: Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated With Camel Milk. Global Adv Health Med. 2013;2(6):78-80. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2013.094.
- Al-Ayadhi LY, Elamin NE. Camel Milk as a Potential Therapy as an Antioxidant in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:602834. doi:10.1155/2013/602834
- Pope, Sarah. Camel Milk Baby Formula. The Healthy Home Economist. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/. 2009–2022. (Accessed April 14, 2022)
- Converse, Judy. Camel Milk Infant Formula. Nutrition Care. Nov. 27, 2017. https://www.nutritioncare.net/. (Accessed April 14, 2022)
- Morseth MS, Aakre I, Barikmo I, Dahl L, Henjum S. High iodine content in local animal milk and risk of exceeding EFSA upper intake level for iodine among Saharawi women. PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212465. Published 2019 Feb 15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212465
- Desert Farms Camel Milk. Desert Farms; 2016. Accessed February, 2022. https://desertfarms.com/
Originally published in 2017, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.
I am curious about other animal milks – goat in particular – and Hashimoto’s. I have eliminated 98% of dairy from my diet and am needing an alternative to cheese. I only use blue on a salad – sparingly, or parmesean on spaghetti squash. Would love to know if goat cheese is acceptable.
Thank you!
Barbara- More bad news… goat’s milk and sheep’s milk proteins are also very similar to cow’s milk proteins and have about a 60-75% cross-reactivity, meaning that 60-75% of people sensitive to cow casein will also react to goat/sheep casein. Once a person becomes sensitized to the casein protein, they will react to all dairy across the board, possibly with the exception of camel milk. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
GOING DAIRY FREE TO REVERSE HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/going-dairy-free-to-reverse-hashimotos
I enjoyed this article and it reminded me that Bedouin people have always spoken highly of the health-giving qualities of camel’s milk . They also believe it is good for the libido!
Personally I am fond of camels – they are rebellious and have beautiful eyes! What’s not to like?
Valerie- Thank you so much for sharing!! I look forward to hearing your progress on this page! You may find this article interesting as well! 🙂
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
Dear Dr. Wentz,
I do not have Hashimotos. I do not have any elevated antibodies. I have Hypothyroidism that was diagnosed during my first pregnancy. I have been on synthetic hormones for 32 years. Seven months ago a terrible mistake was made and my synthetic hormone where completely discontinued. I was told to take a dose of just 19%, 30mg of of Armour Thyroid. That I did not need testing and should come back in a year. Needless to say 3 of the last seven months I have been bedridden and the last four struggling to keep my entire life and health from being destroyed.
I have all the signs and symptoms. What can I read about my original diagnosis and and the impact of the way it has been treated, especially now?
I am watching the documentary. Will it address other types of Hypothyroidism? I already follow a lot of the protocol because I have another on going and pre-existing autoimmune disease.
Is there different information that will help me?
Do you have a paper on pregnancy and Hypothyroidism?
Your customer service sent me some resources to find an Md.
Any advise please? Thank you, Paula
Paula – thank you so much for following this page. I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling. 🙁
Did you know that if you live in the United States, the UK, Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and take thyroid medications, there’s a higher probability that you do have Hashimoto’s?
Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95% of those with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.
But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is sluggish”, and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.” I hope you check out these articles that I wrote.
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-you-doing-everything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-yet-well/
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/do-you-have-hypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-both/
Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/
How much milk is suggested that a person should be drinking? Also, if I have had insulin resistance in the past, would camel’s milk cause that to happen again? I would like to try the milk. I have always had a lactose intolerance and have never been able to drink milk or eat ice cream. I do have Hashimoto’s but I use LDN and am wondering if this milk will be of any benefit to me?
Thank you.
Yolanda- The insulin in camel’s milk can potentially exacerbate hypoglycemia. Dairy free proponents will often say, “Milk is an excellent food for baby cows, but not for humans”. Using this same logic, you may be surprised that I would recommend another animal’s milk at all, especially when tasty options like almond milk or coconut milk are available.
If you’ve been following my work, you will know by now that Hashimoto’s is a combination of nutrient depletions, food sensitivities, chronic infections, intestinal permeability, impaired ability to handle toxins, and often an impaired stress response. People with Hashimoto’s usually have thyroid hormone imbalance, blood sugar imbalance, and an immune system imbalance as well!
I have found that camel milk does have some interesting healing properties that may be of use in helping to heal Hashimoto’s. In fact, the World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published a review article of all of the medicinal properties of camel milk: I hope you read the article, I discuss everything from concerns and benefits! 🙂
I just need to repair leaky gut syndrome and Lose belly fat. I find its hard to digest bread, milk boats me and
I need to take off 30lbs like yesterday.
Kathleen- When it comes to weight gain these are a couple of things to think about.
1) What was your recent TSH, Free T3 and Free T4? Sometimes when those numbers are on the outskirts of normal, your metabolic rate may still be impaired making it more difficult for you to burn calories. Most people report feeling well with a TSH between 0.5-2.
2) What type of medication are you on? Some report more weight loss with T4/T3 combinations (Armour, Nature-Throid, compounded medications) versus T4 medications (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint) alone. T4 is a precursor to T3, but some individuals do not convert T4 to T3 properly, and the T3 component is the metabolically active one.
3) What type of diet are you eating? Some report more weight loss with T4/T3 combination vs T4 alone. Some do not convert T4 properly.The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) full of sugar and simple carbohydrates is perfectly designed to cause us to gain weight year after year. Even yogurts that are marketed as “healthy” contain the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar. Divorcing the S.A.D. is often a step that many of us must take to not just lose weight, but to also feel better. Some diets that have been helpful include the Body Ecology Diet, the Paleo Diet, the Virgin Diet, Autoimmune Paleo Diet, GAPS diet, SCD diet, Weston A. Price Diet, or the Mediterranean Diet. You may need to modify these diets to your own individuality.
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/how-to-lose-weight-with-hashimotos
Thank you for this interesting information. I don’t think I will be affording to try camel’s milk, but the whole concept is fascinating. I developed severe enteritis (that is what my specialist called it) after giving birth to my now 26 year old son. Once my Dr. had done all of the proper tests he was able to see my stomach lining had become so terribly inflamed it was causing me to have internal convulsion. I thought they were “cramps before death”. I barely made it to the crib twice before collapsing in pain. He took me off of everything, but water and sweet potatoes. I don’t remember how long that was. I know I was so thankful he had come into my life. After a time of healing and following his instruction to the letter. We beg
the process of adding foods back. Dairy, refined flours of any kind, and processed meats were out! Like you I had been raised with the only knowledge my parents had. “Drink milk to be strong and healthy”. That turned out to be a nine month nightmare for me,
Thanks for your honesty and integrity. May we all find more wellness and Healing in 2017!
Hi
Just wonderful how much camel milk is recommended each day. I have been taking it for a few months and have to add lacteze as I am severely lactose intolerant. I was hoping the camel milk may cure that but not yet so maybe I don’t drink enough? I only have it in my coffee once a day. Thanks
Michelle- Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
Hi
I now drink a2 milk which does not contain Casein and is now stocked in supermarkets in the UK.
Jude- Thank you so much for sharing! Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
Gluten may hurt and people who can’t have gluten may not be able to have dairy. A person needs to fix the root cause…not just keep eating gluten/dairy and trying to stop symptoms. No gluten//hidden gluten may make symptoms go away fast. Camel milk may help, but are the Camel’s treated well. I take Osteoprocare instead of dairy and it stopped my Ca/Mg cravings and has many cofactors to help it absorb. It helps me greatly.
Shasha- Thank you so much for sharing! Here is some information you may find interesting! Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECOVER THYROID FUNCTION IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-it-possible-to-recover-thyroid-function-in-hashimotos
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
Hi thanx a lot for sharing wonderful information about camel milk ..
Nighat- You are so very welcome! Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
Hi. I just read your article on camel’s milk and Hashimotos. It was an interesting read. I have Hashimotos and struggle to feel better with “normal” thyroid labs. I am curious if the raw milk really is necessary, I’m nervous about consuming raw milk. Does pasturization kill/ruin something in the raw milk that is beneficial for Hashimotos? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Jenny- The camel milk has to be raw and it can’t be boiled in order for it to retain many of these properties. Freezing and pasteurizing does seem to retain all of the benefits. Most conventional physicians use the TSH test to determine if one has a thyroid disorder and to dose thyroid medications.
However, this test can often times be misleading, as levels of circulating hormones may fluctuate at different times, such as in Hashimoto’s, the person affected may fluctuate between highs and lows.
Additionally, when scientists first set the “normal” ranges of TSH for healthy individuals, they inadvertently included elderly patients and others with compromised thyroid function in the calculations leading to an overly lax reference range.
This resulted in people with underactive thyroid hormones being told that their thyroid tests were “normal,” based on this skewed reference range.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TSH IS NORMAL AND YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-to-do-if-your-tsh-is-normal-and-you-are-anything-but
Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests
How much do you recommend we drink daily to benefit?? Being that it’s so expensive I’m hoping not much! Lol
I’d love to know this too
Hi, what is your opinion about other camel milk products? The firm in Europe is selling fox example camel milk powder? Thank you for this interesting information!
Pia- I have been hesitant in recommending camel milk on my blog because of the sourcing issue, until recently when I learned about All Desert Farms, which ships camel milk to most of the United States. (In Europe, camel milk can be sourced from a Dutch farm.)
Hey there, thanks so much for all of the wonderful information! I went on the website for the camel milk and I was curious which you recommend? The raw or the pasteurized? I’ve always read raw is the best, but I’m wondering with these studies you mentioned in your article which was used, raw or pasteurized?
B- The camel milk has to be raw and it can’t be boiled in order for it to retain many of these properties. Freezing and pasteurizing does seem to retain all of the benefits.
This is the first time I’m hearing about camels milk. How would I know if I’m reactive or not? While the food sensitivity test I took showed that I have cross-reactivity to cow and sheep and goat dairy, there’s no test for camel milk is there? Now that I haven’t had Dairy for several months if I even have a drop of it I get a stomach ache. I never felt an issue before I stopped taking in dairy but since the test showed it could be affecting my thyroid and Hashi’s I stopped and have been on strict AIP diet which helps tremendouslywith energy, mood and brain fog issues. What would be an indicator for me whether the xamel milk is ok or not considering its possible that cows milk may not cause symptoms? I’m so curious. It’s definitely expensive, so I want to know more about how to know if it’s working for me or not before diving in. Thank you so much for posting this. Also where can I just buy a camel 😉 they’re beautiful!
Mah- Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk proteins are also very similar to cow’s milk proteins and have about a 60-75% cross-reactivity, meaning that 60-75% of people sensitive to cow casein will also react to goat/sheep casein. Once a person becomes sensitized to the casein protein, they will react to all dairy across the board, possibly with the exception of camel milk.
The camel is not a ruminant, but a Tylopode, and has different proteins in its milk. One study found that in those with cow milk allergy, only 18% also had camel milk cross-reactivity. Camel milk does not contain beta-lactoalbumin and has a different structure of casein, the two most reactive parts in cow’s milk. Camel milk has little fat, lactose content is only 4.8% (making it easily tolerated even with lactose intolerance). Here is the link below! 🙂
https://desertfarms.com/?rfsn=223904.90c86
I understood what you said. To clarify my question, how will I know it’s working? How will I know it’s not harming me? I don’t have symptoms with other milk either, so how will I know what to look for?
How will I know that I’m not part of that 18%?
Will you please let me know your thoughts on this Dr. Wentz? I’m asking seriously, how do I find out whether or not I’m part of the 18%?
An interesting article and, as ever, your site is a mine of great information. I have Hashimotos, but fortunately do not seem to struggle too much with symptoms. I take a huge number of supplements though, as recommended my a functional medical doctor. I have cut way back on dairy (I have been gluten free for years) and I use either Almond, Hazelnut or Oat milk. Recently I have been getting skin rashes and the skin on my shins itches so badly it sends me up the wall. I was wondering if perhaps there is something in these milks that is irritating me? I can’t seem to find the source of the problem. I think in 2017 I will have to go on a full elimination diet to find the source….sighs. Thanks.
Justine- Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
THE COMMON ROOT CAUSE OF HASHIMOTO’S, HIVES AND IBS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-common-root-cause-of-hashimotos-hives-and-ibs
Hi Justine,
Oats have a similar protein to gluten:
https://www.glutenfreesociety.org/are-oats-safe-to-eat-on-a-gluten-free-diet/
I react to oats and have read that non-coelics can be far more sensitive to oats than coeliacs. I have also reacted to other grains such as Buckwheat that are promoted as gluten free but about 15% of gluten intollerant people react to them. I am now on a very high quality coconut milk as I am even reacting to the gum’s (guar gum etc) that are in most commercial alternative milks.
It’s a bit of a minefield!!
Helen – thank you for sharing! 🙂
I think I recall a lecture from Dr Aristo Vojdani in which he said human milk is even better than camel milk. Maybe thats another option.
David- Thank you so much for sharing! Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
Hi Dr. Wentz,
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos and am struggling to address it and other possible autoimmune conditions. I also have many GI problems: gastritis, bile reflux and SOD, (after gallbladder removal), dysbiosis and possible SIBO. I’ve heard that gut issues and thyroid issues can be connected. I’m thinking of trying the camel milk, (even though I’m dairy intolerant). But, I’m confused about if pasteurized milk has the same benefits as raw? I’m a little leery of raw because of all of my GI problems. Thank-you.
Kate- Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk proteins are also very similar to cow’s milk proteins and have about a 60-75% cross-reactivity, meaning that 60-75% of people sensitive to cow casein will also react to goat/sheep casein. Once a person becomes sensitized to the casein protein, they will react to all dairy across the board, possibly with the exception of camel milk. You may find these articles interesting! 🙂
HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-the-gut
THE GUT AND AUTOIMMUNE THYROID CONNECTION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-gut-and-autoimmune-thyroid-connection
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut
Where do you purchase Camel’s Milk?
Jesse- Here is the one I recommend.
https://desertfarms.com/?rfsn=223904.90c86
Hi Isabella, I have been prescribing Camels milk for children on the spectrum for years! Also have not seen any literature on the thyroid properties on humans. Would love to discuss more on it properties with you, especially nanobodies.
Barry- Thank you so much for your support! Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Do you know anything about water buffalo milk? There is a farm near me that is selling it along with camel’s milk.
Sue- Thank you for sharing. I hope you try the camel’s milk I ended up liking it better than regular milk…and it has better health benefits. 🙂
You say the milk mustn’t be boiled but if it is just warmed, say for tea or coffee,would this be acceptable? What is the maximum temperature possible to still preserve the essential qualities of the milk?
thank you very much for the amazing article. Do you know/did you come across any information if camel milk would stimulate prolactin production the way dairy does. thank you in advance!
Hi Dr.Wentz,
I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto 3 months ago.
I’m working in Saudi Arabia and I just start drinking camel milk.
At the end of the month I have to do blood checks to see the hormons levels and I’m going to check also my antibodies.
I start with 1/4 cup per day as I read in the article.
It’s taste like normal milk and here it’s not expensive at all.
Andrea- That is great! I ended up liking it better than regular milk…and it has better health benefits.
I look forward to hearing your progress on this page! Here is some information you may find interesting as well! Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
You state in your article, and some of the comments, that the milk must be raw…but “pasteurization does seem to retain all the benefits.” This is a contradiction as raw is defined as unpasteurized. Please help me with this confusion.
Will camel milk be beneficial for somebody with hyperthyroidism? I’ve had low TSH and high T3, T4 diagnosed in May of last year. It might have been the result of corticosteroids that I was administered basically without my knowledge at ER. It took a few months until I figured out that it was thyroid gland out of balance making me flush, high BP, irritability, panic attacks etc ( hopefully it’s just a hormonal overreaction since I’ve been taken methimazole for the past 6 month and the hormones were all within normal range for the past 2 months.) Now since camel milk has T3 and T4, won’t that bring me back to hyper stage again? And if this doesn’t work in my case, is there any other diet? THANK YOU!!!
Denys- Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.
The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up on Synthroid as well.
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research in journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Hashimoto’s Protocol
https://smile.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-Symptoms/dp/006257129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482698453&sr=8-1&keywords=Hashimoto%27s+Protocol
I just ordered the smallest pack they sell. I do have a dairy intolerance- it comes in the form of bad breakouts all over my face and upper body. I have the same reaction with soy and canola oil, but about 75% as bad. I am also lactose intolerant. I’m hoping that this milk does not make me break out. I think dairy also used to give me acid reflux. I’ve been dairy-free for about three years now; it’s hard to remember what it even tastes like.
Carlee- I look forward to hearing your thoughts! I ended up liking it better than regular milk…and it has better health benefits. You may be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipe Portal. It is full of autoimmune paleo and paleo recipes. You’re able to organize weekly shopping lists, meal planning, etc. Hope you check it out.
http://rootcauserecipes.com/
According to my ALCAT test, I am not allergic to either cow or goat milk. So I’m curious as to whether I should still eliminate dairy due to my Hashimotos? Also according to my ALCAT, the only grain I’m not allergic to is millet – which, of course I learned on page 80 of The Root Cause, should be avoided due to isoflavones. So I’m curious as to whether I should still be eliminating these foods even if I’m not technically allergic to them? Thank you!
Jill- The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.
It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing.
In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. This allows us to tailor the diet to the person, not to the dietary philosophy! Going through an elimination diet will help you figure out your individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
I have the same question Heather posted on Jan 2017. I don’t see a reply to her question. Would love an answer to her question:
You state in your article, and some of the comments, that the milk must be raw…but “pasteurization does seem to retain all the benefits.” This is a contradiction as raw is defined as unpasteurized. Please help me with this confusion.
Beverley – thank you for following this page. Here is an article you might find helpful.
DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy/
Beverley, I’m guessing it is a typo. Confused me too! And it looks like her website uses some sort of automated reply that’s not catching the question.
Janice and Beverley, Thank you for following this page and for pointing this out I will have my team look into it! 🙂
I am interested in the immune system support from camels milk. Are the camel immunoglobulins present in both the Raw and Colostrum or just the Colostrum? I have MG and I am tapering off Prednisone after an IVIG treatment. I am thinking Camel Milk might help support my immune system while doing do. Also, is there research that show how much camel’s milk is necessary to receive an effective dosage? The colostrum is quite pricey but one pint might go a long way.
Cindy – Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions, but I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Hi Dr Izabella
3 years ago I had to have the iodine tablet to remove nodules from my thyroid
so now I don’t have much left. Last year August I developed Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease. After having radio therapy and lots of steroids which did not work but played havoc with my body I had an orbital decompression opp in April I am now about to have the second opp to cure the double vision.
I am an active person but since having graves I get tired very easily and painful joints, I workout every day but keeping muscle tone is hard as well as the other systems that go with this disease it can be a bit of a battle. My T3 and 4 are very good at the moment and I do have regular blood tests.
On reading your information about camels milk and just having a camel park 5 minutes away I am very keen to get down there and purchase some.
It will be interesting to see if there will be any change in my body and bloods buy taking this .
Regards Tracey Parish
Tracey – thank you for following this page. Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people) – Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.
The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up on Synthroid as well.
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine, the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The information I present is based on my own research, in my journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.
Hashimoto’s Protocol
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Dear Isabella,
A great many of your responses above are copy-and-paste identical, regardless of the reader’s specific question or comment. Even, many responses are patently unrelated to the reader’s issue. Since you are clearly extremely intelligent and know exactly what you’re writing about only one reason can exist for so peculiar a disconnect between reader questions and “your” reply: you have helper elves in your office who handle many of the responses. I can understand why: your work is both crucial and heavy. But perhaps your helper elves could be better trained and/or supervised. They’re not doing you and the importance of your work justice here. Thank you so much for all you are trying to–and do–accomplish for us.
Amy – Thank you for being here. It’s impossible for me to respond to tens of thousands of people without using pre-made responses. Many of the questions are the same. I appreciate your understanding.
Great article! 🙂 I have a question regarding powdered camel milk – I found a source of “raw powdered” camel mil I can affford, it is made by a freeze-dry process… Do you think this is still beneficial? Thnx in advance!!!
Kira – thank you so much! I recently learned about Desert Farms, which ships camel milk to most of the United States. (In Europe, you can order from Desert Farms’ UK site or camel milk can be sourced from a Dutch farm.) They do offer a powdered version as well. Here are the links:
https://desertfarms.com/collections/camelmilk
https://desertfarms.co.uk/?rfsn=223904.90c86
Hi . Thank you for all the great information, I have mentioned your book Hashimoto’s Protocol often including to my doctor. My question is this : is goat milk and it’s products OK to eat? I hope so :))
Maria – you are very welcome! Thank you so much for your support! <3 Some people may not be able to tolerate dairy of any kind. If you have been sensitized to casein in conventional cow’s milk, you will likely react to the casein in raw milk, goat milk, sheep milk and lactose-free milk. Casein is a protein within dairy that is highly problematic for people with Hashimoto’s. Camel milk is an alternative that most will be able to tolerate. Here’s an article you may find helpful:
GOT HASHIMOTO'S - YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER DAIRY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy
Thank you! OK I understand that goat milk products need be avoided and my goodness that is too bad!! One other tiny question and I do apologize if this question has also been asked as well…I have been making my own goat milk Kefir since 2 yrs now, I imagine that this too is out? Omg…
Maria – you are very welcome! I understand how hard can be when we have our favorites! Have you tried coconut kefir? <3 The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet. It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. You may find this article interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Do you know if powdered camel milk can be just as effective? Also, since I’m on a budget, what is the minimum amount of times per week that I could take a serving to still get the benefits for healing Hashimoto’s? (Also, how big of a serving?) Thanks!
Catherine – thank you for reaching out! <3 I recommend that you do your research. As I noted in the article, camel milk has to be raw and it can’t be boiled in order for it to retain many of the beneficial properties. Freezing and pasteurizing does seem to retain all of the benefits. I have been hesitant in recommending camel milk on my blog because of the sourcing issue, until recently when I learned about All Desert Farms, which ships camel milk to most of the United States. (In Europe, camel milk can be sourced from a Dutch farm.)
Did I understand you correctly – that pasteurized milk does not affect the benefits of camel’s milk, such as the immunoglobulins? I was recently diagnosed with RA and my daughter has Hasimoto. My son is type one diabetic. I read (Camel Crazy) I had to get raw, which is more expensive and harder to find. Thank you.
Bev – thank you for following and pointing out that error! <3 The camel milk has to be raw and it can’t be boiled in order for it to retain many of the properties. Freezing does seem to retain all of the benefits though. I hope your sone is doing well.
I am a big fan of your articles! You have helped me so much! I have done the IgG testing a year ago where it said I am mildly sensitive to Casein. I did the expensive ALCAT testing this year and it says I have mild sensitivity to Casein and moderate sensitivity to Whey. So I started on the 4 day rotation diet they suggested and I am seeing a huge difference in my stool ( I have IBD along with Hashimoto’s which causes diarrhea and weight loss). I am very fascinated with this article and would love to try Camel’s milk to help easing with the ton of food sensitivities I have. What would you suggest? I am already taking Quercetin, B12, Butyrate, Iron, zinc, calcium citrate, magnesium glycinate. and phosphatidyl Choline along with the Tirosint med.
Sharita – thank you so much! ♥ I understand how hard ths can be! Gut healing is a journey; you may need various interventions like removing reactive foods and infections, taking enzymes and probiotics, and balancing nutrients. Remember, be kind to yourself and learn to listen to your body so that you can support and feed it properly! You are worth it! You may find these articles helpful as well!
IMPORTANCE OF GUT HEALTH
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/importance-gut-health/
SUPPLEMENTS ACTUALLY HELP HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-supplements-actually-help-hashimotos/
I started using powerdered camel milk 4 weeks ago and I am amazed at the improvements – less joint pressure (reduced inflammation), reduced muscle pain, improved digestion, more energy, fewer chilly spells, and I’ve even had 2 or 3 days where I felt normal. I have Hashimotos (post menopause) and am on Synthroid, but even after 4 dosage increases, it wasn’t doing the full job with TSH staying at 32. After using camel milk (3 weeks), TSH dropped to 10, which is the right direction. I still have to address anemia and high LDL (I am following the Hashi diet protocol.) I am very thankful for the advice on camel milk – it is helping me more than any other supplement at this time. Keep up the great work!
Theresa – that’s wonderful to hear! ❤️ I hope you will keep me posted on your continued progress.
Hi, I was wondering how much camel milk to drink a day to lower TPO antibodies? I saw you drank 1/4 cup for eczema but is that the same dosage recommended for hashimotos? Thank you!
Laura – thank you for following. ❤️ Everyone is different, so I recommend starting low and monitoring your symptoms to be sure you are not sensitive to it.