DR. IZABELLA WENTZ, PHARM D

Thyroid Pharmacist

Hashimoto's & Your Blood Sugar

Why Balancing Blood Sugar is Vital for Hashimoto’s Health

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I often get asked if there is one thing that people with Hashimoto’s should do right away to feel better. My answer is always, “There are two: get off gluten and balance your blood sugar levels!”

Balancing blood sugar levels should be one of the top priorities for anyone who is hoping to overcome autoimmune thyroiditis (and adrenal fatigue). It was one of the first interventions I tried when working to heal my own thyroid condition, and it made a big difference for me, helping to lower my anxiety levels and reduce my thyroid antibodies.

I wasn’t aware that I had blood sugar issues when I was first diagnosed (despite being a self-admitted sugar addict). I was thin — therefore, I assumed that I was healthy. However, I would get “hangry” (hungry + angry) multiple times per day, as the high carbohydrate foods I had consumed were causing me to experience huge blood sugar swings. What I didn’t know is that these swings were also weakening my adrenals and causing a spike in my thyroid antibodies.

In this article, I’d like to answer some questions about blood sugar, including:

  • What are blood sugar imbalances?
  • How do blood sugar imbalances impact Hashimoto’s?
  • How can you control blood sugar levels without medications?
  • What are some tips to naturally reduce blood sugar levels today?

What are Blood Sugar Imbalances?

Blood sugar, also called glucose, is the primary sugar that enters the body through the food that we eat. As an energy source for the body, it provides nutrients to the organs, muscles, and nervous system.

Glucose enters the bloodstream through the small intestine after carbohydrates are consumed. The pancreas then produces insulin to help keep blood sugar levels in check, converting excess glucose to glycogen, and sending it to the liver for storage.

Blood sugar imbalances occur when our blood sugar swings out of a normal, steady range, usually from consuming high carbohydrate foods that spike blood sugar levels before they drop quickly, like a rollercoaster.

When we consume large amounts of sugar — often in the form of high carbohydrate foods such as desserts, grains, and starchy vegetables — the pancreas has to release larger amounts of insulin to bring the levels of sugar in the blood back down. These surges in insulin can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, which then causes cravings for more carbohydrate-rich foods. This starts the cycle all over again as blood sugar levels swing high and low, creating stress in the body.

Common symptoms of blood sugar levels that are out of balance include hormonal issues, fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, poor brain function, and chronic pain.

Unfortunately, these symptoms are all too common in our society, where carbohydrates have received prominent placement at the base of the Food Pyramid for decades. Fortunately, the new USDA MyPlate no longer encourages people to eat the equivalent of one bread loaf worth of carbohydrates on a daily basis. However, there is still a major emphasis on the importance of carbohydrates, despite the fact that they are actually the one macronutrient that is not required for survival!

How Do Blood Sugar Imbalances Affect Hashimoto’s?

Research has shown that up to 50 percent of those with Hashimoto’s have a carbohydrate intolerance. This means that when a high-carbohydrate meal is consumed, our blood sugar levels are more likely to spike quickly, leading to low blood sugar levels (reactive hypoglycemia), as well as feelings of nervousness, lightheadedness, anxiety, and fatigue.

Blood sugar imbalances have been described as adding “fuel to the fire” in autoimmune thyroid disease by many practitioners who focus on reversing Hashimoto’s.

Blood sugar levels and the thyroid are intimately connected. In fact, one study that reviewed the current literature on the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and metabolic disorders highlighted the fact that patients with diabetes were up to three times more likely to develop a thyroid disorder.

This correlation is due in large part to the fact that increased stress to the body will cause damage to the thyroid. When blood sugar levels are constantly fluctuating, the body experiences it as chronic stress. When the adrenals (the glands that are responsible for releasing stress hormones) become stressed, they release an excess of the hormone cortisol, which can also lead to an increased production of inflammatory proteins that are associated with a heightened immune response. This pattern eventually leads to an altered release of cortisol, which can, in turn, lead to numerous symptoms, including chronic fatigue, mood swings, and increased thyroid antibodies. (Weakened adrenals can also weaken the thyroid!)

Stabilizing blood sugar is an important part of protecting your adrenals from excess stress and healing from hypothyroidism. Improvements in mood, energy, brain function, and weight are positive side effects of proper blood sugar balance.

How Do You Know if Your Blood Sugar is Out of Balance?

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, or prediabetes, you’ll likely know that your blood sugar is out of balance. If you have Hashimoto’s, blood sugar abnormalities are extremely common, and many people with Hashimoto’s will present with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in the early stages. This is an early risk factor for developing diabetes. It also exacerbates Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune conditions.

In my own case, my blood sugar was around 50 mg/dL (very low) right before I got diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, and I often used to feel lightheaded, faint, and anxious, without knowing why.

Symptoms of low blood sugar levels include:

  • Craving sugary foods
  • Irritability and lightheadedness if meals are missed
  • Dependency on caffeine
  • Needing food to relieve fatigue
  • Shaky, jittery, or tremulous feelings
  • Nervousness or agitation
  • Forgetfulness
  • Blurred vision
  • Mental fog
  • Cold extremities

Symptoms of elevated blood sugar levels include:

  • Fatigue, after meals and in general
  • Persistent hunger
  • Cravings for sugary foods that are not eliminated after eating them
  • Needing desserts after meals
  • Waist girth equal to or larger than hip girth
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased appetite and thirst
  • Difficulty losing weight

Testing for Reactive Hypoglycemia

If you tend to have dramatic blood sugar swings simply after eating, you may be experiencing reactive hypoglycemia. Reactive hypoglycemia is an abnormal reaction of excess insulin secretion in response to eating. High carbohydrate-containing meals have been typically implicated, but some individuals may have a hypoglycemic response to low carbohydrate foods as well. Drops in blood sugar usually occur one to three hours after eating.

You can easily test yourself for reactive hypoglycemia with the use of an over-the-counter blood glucose monitoring kit, which uses a small finger-prick to collect a sample of your blood. Follow these instructions to test your reactions:

  1. After at least 10 hours of fasting (such as first thing in the morning), test your blood sugar before eating your first meal of the day.
  2. Eat a meal with your typical carbohydrate serving.
  3. Record the meal in a journal.
  4. Repeat testing every 30 minutes, for a total of four hours.
  5. Repeat as necessary to test other foods.

A surprising thing I’ve learned over the years, is that different foods may produce different reactions. I suspect this is largely connected to our unique mix of genetics, health conditions, digestive enzymes, and nutrients that determine how we “process” each unique food molecule.

If blood sugar levels drop below 70 mg/dL at any time during this four hour period, this could be an indication that you are experiencing reactive hypoglycemia. If so, consult with your doctor to discuss treatment options.

Control Blood Sugar Levels Naturally

Most people with Hashimoto’s and blood sugar imbalances will be able to stabilize their blood sugar with simple diet and lifestyle changes and won’t have to use medications, as can be the case when blood sugar issues progress to insulin resistance and diabetes.

Lifestyle Changes to Balance Blood Sugar Levels

  1. Exercise. Regular exercise has been shown to help the body’s cells become more sensitive to insulin, which will help us avoid insulin resistance and can reduce thyroid symptoms. Glucose is the primary fuel source for your muscles, and when you engage in moderate exercise, such as walking, your muscles pull more glucose from your blood. Over time, this can lower your blood sugar levels. It’s important to not go too overboard with exercise, however, as strenuous exercise can cause the body to produce more cortisol — which, in turn, raises blood sugar levels. Walking, swimming, and yoga are all great ways to add more exercise into your day without adding more stress to your body.
  1. Hydration. Preventing dehydration by drinking enough water may help keep blood sugar levels balanced by helping your kidneys flush out excess blood sugar through your urine. One study that looked at a group of adults with starting blood sugars within normal ranges found that, as water intake increased, the risk of developing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) decreased. Keep in mind that water and other non-caloric beverages are best, while sugar-sweetened drinks raise blood glucose levels.
  1. Sleep. Getting enough quality sleep is important for blood sugar balance and insulin sensitivity. A lack of sleep affects metabolic hormones, including growth hormone, and raises cortisol levels. These hormonal imbalances can disrupt insulin levels, while also increasing appetite and cravings for carbohydrate-laden foods that will further increase blood sugar swings.

Balancing Blood Sugar Levels with Diet

Focusing on the impact of food on our blood sugar is the most effective way to balance your blood sugar levels, and this is best accomplished by paying close attention to the glycemic index of foods. The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly food becomes assimilated into our bodies. It can also be referred to as the “burn” rate — how quickly we burn the fuel we receive from these foods. Focusing on low glycemic index (GI) and low glycemic-loaded (GL) foods, which burn slower, can really help with balancing blood sugars.

Foods with a glycemic index of less than 55 are considered to have a low glycemic index. These include most non-starchy vegetables, meats, nuts, seeds, and some whole grains. Fruits with less fructose (“sour” fruits such as grapefruit, lemons, limes, and cranberries) also have a low glycemic index.

Foods with a glycemic index above 55 are considered high glycemic index foods and include processed grains, sugar, starchy vegetables like potatoes, and sweet fruits like watermelon.

The glycemic index of foods can be referenced at glycemicindex.com.

The graphic below gives you an idea of how high and low GI foods affect blood sugar over a two hour period. As you can see, high GI foods spike blood sugar levels high, which crash dramatically after 30 minutes have passed. Low GI foods, however, produce a smaller spike that declines relatively slowly.

GI Foods Graph
Carbohydrates have a very fast burn rate and can spike blood sugar levels dramatically. Since they can quickly become assimilated into our bodies, we may feel hungry again less than an hour after eating them.

Instead of loading up on carbs, I recommend increasing your intake of (healthy) fats and proteins, as they have a slower burn rate and become assimilated into our bodies in a slower and more gradual manner. A person will be hungry again two to three hours after eating protein, and four hours after eating fat.

The following quick reference can be printed out to make balancing your blood sugar much easier:

How Macronutrients Impact Hunger
Another important thing to note is that combining carbohydrates with protein can slow down the glycemic impact of the carbohydrates you consume. If you do consume some carbohydrates, I recommend a ratio of no larger than two servings of carbohydrates to one serving of protein. (For example, if you are having 4 ounces of steak, you should have a maximum of 8 ounces of potatoes.)

Eating a low glycemic index diet that is low in carbohydrates helps with feeling fuller longer, improves cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improves cognitive performance, improves energy, and reduces acne. It also reduces the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, while promoting weight loss for those who are overweight. Of the people with Hashimoto’s who took my 2015 survey, 61 percent reported an improved mood, 71 percent had better energy, and 53 percent experienced weight loss on a low GI diet!

Tips For Balancing Blood Sugar with Diet

Are you ready to begin addressing your blood sugar levels? There are a few important dietary rules to keep in mind that will help keep them balanced throughout the day:

  1. Include fat and protein with every meal — good sources include eggs, nuts, seeds, fish, and meat. Protein powders are another great way to get protein in your diet! You can read about the safest protein powders for Hashimoto’s here.
  2. It is important to eat every two to three hours. Small, low-carb snacks between meals and before bed can help stabilize blood sugar levels and manage Hashimoto’s symptoms. (Snacks rich in protein and fat are great. Green smoothies made with Organic Pea Protein Powder or Hydrolyzed Beef Protein from Rootcology are my favorite!)
  3. Do not eat sweets less than three hours before bed to avoid blood sugar swings that can elevate stress hormones and prevent sleep.
  4. Avoid fruit juice, as most fruit juices are loaded with quick-burning sugar.
  5. Limit your intake of caffeine, as caffeine stimulates adrenals to get stress hormones to bring blood sugar back up, which in turn creates the cycle of imbalance. You can read more about coffee and Hashimoto’s here.
  6. Limit grains and avoid all gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and yeast, as these foods are generally high in carbohydrates and can be food sensitivities for many people with Hashimoto’s.
  7. Never skip breakfast. Eat breakfast within one hour of waking (but not within 30 minutes of taking thyroid medications if you take them in the morning).
  8. Always combine carbohydrates with fat or protein. Never exceed a 2:1 ratio of carbs to protein. In other words, aim for more protein and less carbs.

Additionally, there are a few herbs, spices, minerals, and other supplements that can be used in conjunction with a proper diet to help stabilize blood sugar levels:

  • Cinnamon: Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels by up to 29 percent. It slows the rate of carbohydrate breakdown in the digestive tract and moderates rises in blood sugar levels. I also recommend pumpkin pie spice (a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice) as a tasty ingredient to stabilize blood sugar. You can add it to your smoothies, gluten free baked goods, and even hot beverages!
  • Magnesium: Nutrient deficiencies have been shown to contribute to blood sugar imbalances, and magnesium deficiency has been linked to a higher risk of developing diabetes. One study suggested that those with the highest levels of magnesium intake had a 47 percent lower risk of becoming diabetic. Thus, supplementing with magnesium can help stabilize blood sugar levels.
  • Chromium: The mineral chromium is involved in carb and fat metabolism, and also helps control blood sugar levels. A lack of chromium may make one more intolerant to carbohydrates, so it’s important to boost one’s intake of foods high in chromium. Such foods include egg yolks, coffee, nuts, green beans, broccoli, and meat. Additionally, I recommend supplementing with ChromeMate GTF.
  • Thiamine: Thiamine is one of the B vitamins, known as B1. Its main responsibility is to change carbohydrates into energy, and it also helps with the digestion of proteins and fats. Food sources of thiamine include fortified grains, beef liver and pork, dried milk, eggs, legumes and peas, nuts, and seeds. Most of these foods are restricted on the Paleo and Autoimmune Paleo diets, and many people with Hashimoto’s find themselves deficient and less able to break down carbohydrates for absorption. For this reason, I recommend BenfoMax by Pure Encapsulations.
  • Probiotics: New research has highlighted the importance of gut health for blood sugar balance, and some gut bacteria have been found to be more closely linked with diabetes. Nurturing the gut and taking a high quality probiotic may help stabilize blood sugar levels.
  • Glutamine: Used to treat diabetes and curb carbohydrate cravings, this essential amino acid helps suppress insulin levels and stabilize blood glucose. There is a known link between Hashimoto’s and type 2 diabetes, with up to 30 percent of those with Hashimoto’s developing the condition. Interestingly, research has shown glutamine to be effective in restoring insulin response in diabetics, so glutamine supplementation may be helpful in addressing blood sugar issues in those with Hashimoto’s. You can find glutamine in the form of L-glutamine in bone broth, as well as in supplements like L-Glutamine Powder by Pure Encapsulations.
  • Myo-inositol: Researchers have found that this important form of inositol (a type of natural sugar alcohol), which is made in our bodies, can reduce insulin resistance often associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (Interestingly, PCOS often co-occurs with hypothyroidism — perhaps due to both conditions sharing blood sugar imbalances and deficiencies in myo-inositol as root causes.) A 2013 study showed supplementation with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol led to a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity in those with PCOS. You can read more in my article, about myo-inositol supplementation for blood sugar balancing, as well as its multiple benefits for Hashimoto’s.
  • Carnitine: Carnitine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body. It helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be burned up and used as fuel. Studies in both humans and animals have shown that carnitine supplementation resulted in an improvement of glucose tolerance, in particular during insulin-resistant states. I recommend Rootcology’s Carnitine Blend, which also contains the acetyl-L-carnitine form, for its unique properties in supporting brain function and reducing mental fatigue.
  • Black Cumin Seed (Nigella Sativa): This spice (which can be used as a seasoning for food) has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Studies have shown that black cumin seeds may lower blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas and raising glucose absorption by muscular tissue. Diabetes patients in one recent study lowered their fasting glucose levels after consuming 2 grams of black cumin seed every day, for four to six weeks. It can be taken in powder (seed) or liquid form and added to a smoothie, or as a supplement in pill form.
  • Berberine: This is a compound that is extracted from several different plants and has many health benefits, including lowering blood sugar levels. Its effectiveness has been compared to the most common diabetes drug because it is able to make insulin more effective, help the body break down sugars inside cells, decrease sugar production in the liver, and slow the breakdown of carbohydrates in the gut. Studies have shown that 1 gram of berberine per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 20 percent in diabetic patients.

Blood Sugar-Friendly Foods

There is a wide variety of nourishing foods to choose from that will help keep your blood sugar levels in balance, but I recommend staying away from processed carbohydrates. Natural carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes and berries, can be eaten in moderation. For best results, you may want to limit your servings of carbohydrates to one or two a day if you’re still in the early stages of your Hashimoto’s journey and experiencing blood sugar swings. For some of my clients, even too much fruit can throw them off! As you heal, your tolerance for carbohydrates will improve, but your focus should still be on low-glycemic index foods.

It’s a good idea to keep low carbohydrate snacks on hand to balance blood sugar and beat cravings. My favorite blood sugar-stabilizing sources of fats and proteins, which can be combined to make delicious snacks, are:

  • Avocados
  • Chia seeds
  • Chicken
  • Coconut milk
  • Coconut, avocado, and olive oils
  • Duck fat
  • Eggs and egg white proteins (if not sensitive)
  • Grass-fed beef
  • Hydrolyzed beef protein
  • Lamb
  • Nuts (except peanuts)
  • Olives
  • Pea protein
  • Pork
  • Salmon
  • Sardines
  • Seeds
  • Tallow
  • Turkey
  • Whitefish

(Please note that some people may be intolerant to some of these foods and may need to complete an elimination diet or food sensitivity testing to find the right foods for their situation.)

Here is an example of how to rethink your breakfast and begin the day with a low-carbohydrate meal, that will start your day with balanced blood sugar levels and sustained energy:

Happy Breakfast = eggs + bacon + avocado + herbal tea with stevia

(This is a healthier alternative to the typical Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) breakfast that may include a bagel with cream cheese, orange juice, and coffee with sugar!)

In the same way, lunch and dinner can be can made into blood sugar-balancing meals by swapping out high-carbohydrate foods for healthy fats and proteins, and small amounts of low GI carbohydrates. You can find more ideas on how to structure your meals in my Tasty Recipes article, or in my new cookbook, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health.

For more information about low-carbohydrate foods that will help balance blood sugar levels and heal your thyroid, take a look at my Best Diet for Hashimoto’s article.

The Takeaway

As you begin to move away from a carbohydrate-heavy diet and incorporate more low glycemic-index foods, including plenty of healthy fats and proteins, into your meals, I encourage you to start journaling your symptoms. With balanced blood sugar, you may start to experience a reduction in thyroid antibodies and an improvement in energy levels almost immediately!

You can print the graphic of my blood sugar-balancing rules below and hang it on your fridge to refer to at any time.

Blood Sugar Balance Rules
Increasing your intake of cinnamon, magnesium, chromium, thiamine, myo-inositol, probiotics, L-glutamine, berberine, carnitine, and black cumin seed may also be beneficial.

Here’s another handy graphic that you can use to remind yourself of them:

Supplements for Balancing Blood Sugar

Remember, blood sugar can be a significant issue for those with Hashimoto’s, but utilizing food as medicine is a simple and natural way to bring it into balance, reduce thyroid symptoms, and feel better.

That’s why I decided to develop my very own cookbook, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, to help you use food to balance your blood sugar and heal your thyroid!

My goal is to make eating a nutrient-dense, blood sugar-balancing, gut-healing diet easy for you. In my cookbook, you’ll find 125 recipes that are low carbohydrate, autoimmune-friendly, and healing to your thyroid.

Additionally, you’ll discover the best strategies for making diet changes an easy part of your life, including how to stabilize your blood sugar with the right fats and proteins, customized dietary modifications for specific concerns, and the best strategies for making dietary changes easy to follow.

I hope this information helps you on your journey!

P.S. You can download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 thyroid-friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter of my first book for free by signing up for my newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.

For future updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook too!

References

  1. Russell WR, Baka A, Björck I, Delzenne N, Gao D, Griffiths HR, et al. Impact of Diet Composition on Blood Glucose Regulation. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016;56(4):541-90. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2013.792772.
  2. Kadiyala R, Peter R, Okosieme OE. Thyroid dysfunction in patients with diabetes: clinical implications and screening strategies. Int J Clin Pract. 2010 Jul;64(8):1130-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02376.x.
  3. Blood Sugar Major Player in Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism. Functional Health News Website. https://functionalhealthnews.com/2014/08/blood-sugar-chronic-health/. Accessed February 5, 2019.
  4. Roussel R, Fezeu L, Bouby N, Balkau B, Lantieri O, Alhenc-Gelas F, et al. Low water intake and risk for new-onset hyperglycemia. Diabetes Care. 2011 Dec;34(12):2551-4. doi: 10.2337/dc11-0652. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
  5. Kirkham S, Akilen R, Sharma S, Tsiami A. The potential of cinnamon to reduce blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2009 Dec;11(12):1100-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01094.x.
  6. Guerrero-Romero F, Rodríguez-Morán M. Complementary therapies for diabetes: the case for chromium, magnesium, and antioxidants. Arch Med Res. 2005 May-Jun;36(3):250-7.
  7. Gupta A, Gupta R, Lal B. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study. J Assoc Physicians India. 2001 Nov;49:1057-61.
  8. Baxter NT, Lesniak NA, Sinani H, Schloss PD, Koropatkin NM. The Glucoamylase Inhibitor Acarbose Has a Diet-Dependent and Reversible Effect on the Murine Gut Microbiome. mSphere. 10.1128/mSphere.00528-18.
  9. Minozzi M, Nordio M, Pajalich R. The combined therapy myo-inositol plus D-Chiro-inositol, in a physiological ratio, reduces the cardiovascular risk by improving the lipid profile in PCOS patients. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Feb;17(4):537-40.
  10. Unfer V, Facchinetti F, Ora B, Giordani B, Nestler J. Myo-inositol effects in women with PCOS: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Endocrine Connections. 2017;6(8):647-658. doi:10.1530/EC-17-0243.
  11. Mauras N, Xing D, Fox LA, Englert K, Darmaun D. Effects of glutamine on glycemic control during and after exercise in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a pilot study. Diabetes Care. 2010;33(9):1951-3.
  12. Samocha-Bonet D, Chisholm DJ, Holst JJ, Greenfield JR5. L-glutamine and whole protein restore first-phase insulin response and increase glucagon-like peptide-1 in type 2 diabetes patients. Nutrients. 2015 Mar 24;7(4):2101-8. doi: 10.3390/nu7042101.
  13. Ringseis R, Keller J, Eder K. Role of carnitine in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity: evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies with carnitine supplementation and carnitine deficiency. Eur J Nutr. 2012 Feb;51(1):1-18. doi: 10.1007/s00394-011-0284-2.
  14. Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara R, Golzarand M, Ghaffari MP, Djafarian K. Nigella sativa improves glucose homeostasis and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Dec;35:6-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.08.016.
  15. Zhang Y, Li X, Zou D, Liu W, Yang J, Zhu N, et al. Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jul;93(7):2559-65. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-2404.

Note: Originally published in May 2015, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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  1. Hi. I am just so discouraged. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid/ Hoshimotos back in 2010. My Endo just gave me Synthroid and when I asked if there was anything I could do as far as eating to help with this thing that sounded so scary to me…He said no….This is your life eat what you want its no big deal. So I TRIED to live my life and have struggled severly. I have been challenged with severe anxiety for years on and off….I stopped eating gluten on Friday Oct. 3 2014 and the anxiety is horrible….I am not sleeping well….muscle spasms,crying,waking up with heart racing,loss of appitite and I feel like my blood sugar drops alot…I keep reading that it is withdrawal from gluten and that it will get better but I feel such the oposite…..Help!
    Reply

    • Diane – I am so sorry to hear that. 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 though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article you may find helpful! 🙂 ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

    • It’s so sad that most medical practitioners have this standard reply on diet and lifestyle having any positive effect on thyroid. One day hopefully in the not too distant future we will look back in disbelief as hopefully things will have drastically changed for the better in terms of medicine’s approach to health. Hippocrates knew it over 2,000 years ago enough to inspire the people of his time and the history books – Let food be thy Medicine and Medicine be thy food! To think Doctors must take the Hippocratic Oath today to be sworn in – its Hippocracy LOL!

      Reply

    • I realize I’m late to the game here, but if you’re still struggling with mood swings and blood sugar issues, I highly recommend eliminating caffeine. I have endo and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and therefore blood sugar issues. Eliminating caffeine changed my life. It caused significant blood sugar swings, worse mood swings and made me exhausted without even realizing it. and instead of going gluten free, eat balanced meals with protein, fat and a small amount of whole grain. This will balance your sugar longer and prevent symptoms such as mood swings and tiredness from sugar swings. It’s a tough hand to be dealt but these changes helped me a lot….hard for a coffee addict, but so worth it.

      Reply

  2. Diane, I am so sorry to hear that you are going through all this. I went gluten free (due to celiac) 3+ yrs ago and experienced nothing like that. I felt so much better! I am not a Dr but it maybe that your thyroid levels are mucking around, possibly going hyper??. My Endo said the same to me… Diet does nothing :/. I took fructose, soy and other beans out of my diet and my tsh level dropped within a few days. I am not on any thyroid meds. Your diet may just be lacking essential vits and mins and. Wish there was something more I could say that would ease your mind, though I do think you should go to the Drs or see your Endo. Goodluck
    Reply

  3. I finally went to a functional medicine practitioner. When my blood tests came back I discovered (3) main things among others:
    1. I tested positive for gluten sensitivity
    2. I have antibodies to my thyroid
    3. The dosage of my thyroid medication was too high
    My holistic MD who was not doing blood tests had increased my thyroid dosage twice in 6 months. So I cut my dose in half and the anxiety jumping out of my skin feeling went away along with crazy hot flashes happening all day and night sweats that woke me up 4-6 times a night. I’m now looking for a new MD who is open and receptive with my treatment today with a functional medicine practitioner.
    Reply

    • I have been experiencing adrenaline surges for over 11 months. During the day they are around 30 to 40 minutes apart and at night they have gone as long as 2-1/2 hours apart. This has been consistent throughout the entire 11 month period. The only time I slept longer than that was when I took an Ativan and slept for 5 hours. The next night when I took it again it did nothing and the surges continued 2 hours apart as usual. In the last month I have had several nights where I have laid in bed and never fell asleep. Last night I finally fell asleep at 5:00 am and slept for 2 hours. In the last month I have been eating every two hours but always have a trembly feeling. Do you think this is due to blood sugar or is it an adrenal issue? My TSH has been at 4.06 since December and my antibodies were down to 12. My doctor didn’t check them this month.

      Reply

      • Nancy – thank you for sharing your journey. I am so sorry you are struggling with this. I understand how hard this is. <3 When people have adrenal struggles, we often see that their release of cortisol is altered. People with healthy adrenal function release the most cortisol in the morning. People with impaired adrenal function may wait to release their cortisol at the end of the day. Taking an adrenal adaptogen like the Rootcology Adrenal Support or the Pure Encapsulations Daily Stress Formula in the mornings can help.Additionally, I recommend going to bed before you experience that energy rush. If it comes around 10 pm, going to bed around 9 pm would greatly help your adrenals. Having Hashimoto’s can feel very stressful. Having out of range thyroid hormones, adrenal fatigue, negative food sensitivities and low nutrient levels can lead to feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and stress. Treating these issues one at a time is the best plan of action. You can recover and regain your health! My new book Hashimoto’s Protocol is a step by step guide to the interventions that helped 80% of the people 80% of the time. I hope you check it out.

        Hashimoto’s Protocol
        http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq

        You also may be interested in this article I wrote. ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
        https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-heal

        Reply

  4. I too have eliminated gluten from my diet and have many of your symptoms. However, many of the symptoms, especially the muscle issues, may be due to mineral imbalances. I have completely eliminated my muscle problems and much of the anxiety by increasing my magnesium intake. The heart issues may well be due to fluctuations in your thyroid gland’s hormone production, causing your thyroid meds to be either too much or too little. I am still a work in progress and try to listen carefully to what my body is telling me.
    Reply

  5. Diane,
    Acupuncture helps me tremendously as does EFT (Tapping) GET OFF the synthroid-it is a synthetic and is triggering inflammation. Also start drinking fresh brewed Kombucha. It will also help tremendously. YOGA has been wonderful as well. Went from horrible to sleeping well, weight loss and very little anxiety.
    Reply

  6. Diane,
    Be cautious with Kombucha as it is wild fermentation and people with unhealthy guts can react to this. Try Cocobiotic from Body Ecology or in a pinch, Inner-Eco Fresh Coconut Water Probiotic or Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drink Coconut. The difference is they are fermented with a culture vs. kombucha, which is fermented with airborne yeast.
    Reply

  7. Find a Functional Dr in your area. They are usually a Chiropractor. They are more knowledgeable about nutrition and how to help your body heal itself rather than mainstream medical Drs who are just glorified drug pushers, and the drugs don’t help but harm our bodies.
    Reply

  8. Diane, In the beginning I suffered with the same thing. It turned out my adrenal glands were struggling right along with my thyroid. This was diagnosed with a 24 hour saliva cortisol test. I did as Sarah said, I ate every 2-3 hours healthy fat and protein and eliminated sugar. I also stopped eating grains because it too turns to sugar in the body. I began to feel better but not overnight. It takes awhile to heal the adrenals. Also, stop exercising for now. It taxes the adrenals. Try mild walking which helps to burn the adrenaline in your system that may be causing the anxiety. My anxiety was horrible. Like over the top horrible. Just doing these few things helped things calm down. Sleep is extremely important so don’t be afraid to lay down during the day. Not sit down, but lay down. It makes a difference. Try investigating adrenal supplements like Drenamin from Standard Process. That helped me a lot. Hang in there. Try finding some support groups regarding adrenal fatigue and or hashimoto’s on Facebook where you can get a ton more information that agree’s with this book. Hugs
    Reply

  9. Kim, Wow, I thank you so much for replying to me..I hate that you had the same experiences and at the same time its a relief to know that someone else experienced the same things…….The anxiety is off the chain and it does not help when my sugar us dropping and that scares the heck out of me so then I am nervous about going places and feel horrible….so then creates more anxiety! My Naturopath Dr. had me do an adrenal saliva test and i am waiting on that to come back….she believes my adrenals are maxed out…..I hope that is the problem and I also feel that since going gluten free that I feel worse….but better in some ways like not as bloated and i am losing weight. I wish I could sleep! Thank you so much! When the sugar drops I have to drink a little bit of Orange juice ….the only carb I am eating is small amounts if is brown rice when I eat protein and veggies…this is so hard…please tell me this gets better….almost want to eat gluten again but I m not.
    Reply

  10. If you do Not have a gluten sensitivity then going GF will do you no good. My doctor told me the same thing yours did about not needing to change my diet. So, I read everything I can and have join several support groups and pages on FB. I am not a fruit eater so I make sure I eat more cooked veggies than i used to. I drink White tea insteaf of Green tea at home and everything else in Moderation. Hugs and never stop informing Yourself on this 😉
    Reply

  11. This is what I do: No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit D3, Vit C, zinc, fish oil, Mg citrate may help the immune system and cancer. HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic at night, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind, MTHF folate, Nature’s plus- Source of life multiple may help and eating organic, getting sunlight/exercise/good water..not tap water with Cl/F, eating nothing in a box/bag/label. Hidden gluten may hurt….nuts not in a shell, meat basting, spices may have hidden gluten. LDN helps block hidden gluten. LDN gives energy…is like a miracle. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye…oats. GMO maybe corn/soy/canola oil.
    Synthroid has gluten in it. LDN may help. Amour thyroid may help. T4 in Synthroid needs zinc, Se, iron to convert from T4 to T3. Vit D3 5000IU stopped me crying for no reason. Vit B12 shot helped me deal with stress. Stress uses up B vitamins and zinc. Mercola site has good articles/blog/help also. I eat organic brown rice with Chia on it and pepper/dehydrated onions. I do EDTA/DMPS IV chelations to remove heavy metals. Low oxygen in the brain can cause depression/anxiety/obsessing/no sleep/panic/suicidal thoughts. Mg citrate may help relax muscles. Gluten can be like Heroin …stimulates the same opioid receptor sites..LDN is the opioid…blocks how gluten stimulates the opioid receptor sites. LDN is awesome help. An Alternative doctor may help more. Best wishes.
    Reply

  13. LDN is Low Dose Naltrexone which helps to block Celiac, but the Celiac is still needed since it is a low dose and a person can override it with what they eat. LDN may help block hidden gluten which maybe in all products almost. LDN is like a miracle as it heals the gut lining and helps more minerals absorb and help cells rebuild so the work right. LDN is awesome…helps brain/body/eyes/adrenal/liver/personality/brain/gut lining/helps the immune system and more. It costs about $1 a day from a compounding pharmacy..ask there to find doctor that gives it. Usually Alternative doctors give LDN, but some conventional doctors may help. LDN saves my life since hidden gluten may be hurting me…it keeps me going strong.
    Reply

  14. Dr Tom O’Bryan (gluten expert) quoted a study recently which showed that when people went on a gluten free diet they needed 50% less thyroid hormones than when eating gluten. As someone else mentioned, maybe your thyroid hormone dose is now too high and needs adjusting. Typical symptoms are anxiety, palpitations and feeling hot.
    Reply

  15. HI, No….thyroid got worse with more gluten contamination..went down a notch again. Millions of women may have a strange TSH…low, but thyroid stopped. The pituitary that makes TSH may also be hurt beside thyroid being hurt by gluten. MS people may get cooling suits instead of thyroid medicine. They get bedsores/infections…all due to low thyroid due to gluten etc.
    I was recently in the hospital with Lymes and they took away my thyroid medicine that I had for 30 years and said I did not need it. They used TSH…not free T3 to decide that. I was 100% constipated for 3 weeks while there and they gave me diuretics instead of thyroid medicine since my legs were 3-4X their size full of water. I had clots which only kick in when thyroid is low. I had all the symptoms of low thyroid, but they were blind to it due to strange TSH. They were blind to my MS/Celiac/thyroid/Vit B12 shot I need/bioidentical hormones/Vitamins/good oils…all which I needed to survive and they took them away from me. I ended up in Intensive care due to what they took away and then they attacked me for doing Alternative medicine. They had my health all backwards. I came out of there crashing in Vit B12…too me 2 months to heal my brain and took 1 1/2 months for my bones to heal and more. Alternative medicine saves my life. Coventional medicine doesn’t understand and took it all away from me. I almost didn’t survive. They thought they were doing me a favor, but almost killed me.
    My thyroid has not healed after going gluten free. I don’t know anyone who can not take their thyroid medicine unless they are very young and it is just happening for their thyroid to go down.
    Reply

  16. Can Zinc supplements do the same thing? Seems like I develop hoarseness, head drainage, and sometimes heart rate increases (palpations) when I use Zinc.
    Reply

  17. HI, How much zinc? Detoxing may remove zinc. White marks on finger nails mean low zinc. A hair test shows zinc and other good mineral levels and heavy metals. An Alternative doctor or acupuncturist/chiropractor may offer hair tests or on Amazon. Zinc may remove excess fluid as it helps the thyroid hormone convert from T4 to T3. If you eat a lot of meat you may have enough zinc. Each person is different in what they need to take for supplements depending on how they eat and how their body works. Zinc helps the immune system and helps wounds heal etc. You may get enough zinc in a multiple vitamin maybe or from diet. You need to decide, but I could check with a hair test. Blood tests for zinc/Mg etc may not help since it is mostly in the tissues not the blood. Best wishes.
    Reply

  18. Your symptoms sound identical to what I went through about three years ago. I don’t know how old you are but I experienced this at the onset of menopause. I’ve was diagnosed with Grave’s disease in 1987, although one endo told me I may have Hashimoto’s…not sure but, regardless, I am on Synthroid (not the generic) and have been since the 90’s. Anyway, I did research on my own about hormone imbalance and came across info on magnesium. I had blood work done and was told I was definitely in peri menopause. Being desperate because I felt so out of control, I bought some magnesium and within 5 days, I felt normal. I’ve been on it ever since. I do not have the typical menopause issues that other women talk about…cross my fingers. Anyway, magnesium deficiency is a very common issue and affects your body systems tremendously. You may want to give it a try. Blood work will not reflect a deficiency…I cannot count on doctors giving any advice on vitamins, minerals, etc. to help a problem…they just don’t seem to pursue the natural route. I hope this helps and you can get to feeling better. Good luck. P.S. I read a lot of articles by Dr Mercola at mercola.com…very good information.
    Reply

  19. Hi, I need bioidentical hormones..estriol/progesterone/testosterone to be ok or blood pressure is like 90/50. The hormones help sleep/circulation/less saggy and baggy look and help constipation etc. Antibodies to the thyroid may cause 97% of thyroid issues. Synthroid may have gluten in it which may cause thyroid problems. LDN may help block hidden gluten. Zn/Se/enough iron/dairy free probiotic may help T4 convert to T3. I also need Amour thyroid in addition to generic Synthroid. The Synthroid gets me through the night so I only need thyroid medicine in the morning. I take 400mg of Mg citrate and it is in my Osteoprocare drink and green vegetables. Mg may help 350 chemical reactions. You maybe low in all minerals due to gluten hurting intestines so nutrients don’t absorb. Thyroid issues are usually due to gluten. Hair tests show good minerals levels and heavy metals. I need to detox heavy metals monthly. Blood tests for Mg and other vitamins may not be correct. Vit B12 tests may not work since green algae may have analogs to Vit B12. I am on Mercola.com, but recently his newsletter is not coming to me after I forwarded it to my sister. Best wishes.
    http://articles.mercola.com/members/Shasha/default.aspx
    Reply

  20. You should look for support groups on Facebook. There are many. Some more helpful than others. From what I’ve learned the symptoms you are describing are due to Hormones, Adrenals and Thyroid HAT. They all need to be at optimal levels for you to feel better. Try ‘Hypothyroid Advice & Support-A Group That Ensures Your Privacy’ on Facebook.
    Reply

  21. Diane, don’t give up, it took me about several months to get off all gluten because there was some in my T-3 compounded thyroid meds. There is also a part of wheat that is very close to codine and it can make it hard to give up wheat.
    Reply

  22. This is what I do…. Gluten can make antibodies to the thyroid and low nutrients absorbed in intestines so Mg may be low causing muscle spasms/heart racing. Crying be due to low Vit D3. Anxiety maybe due to low oxygen in the brain due to low Vit B12 methylcobalamin and gluten not allowing nutrients to absorb in intestines so cells are not made right to work right to burn oxygen. Not eating sugar may help blood sugar…lemon/lime/cranberry/rhubarb diluted so not so acid may help…are very low in sugar and avoid other sugar which may raise up blood sugar and then crash it. Chromium and other nutrients absorbed once no gluten may help blood sugar level.
    No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and vitamins/good oils, LDN and detoxing help me help my brain/body. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc, fish oil 2000mg, 2000mg of evening primrose oil. 2000mg of lecithin, krill oil, coenzyme Q10, rhodiola, Mg citrate, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body health issues. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid.
    Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food, no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them).
    EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, zeolites, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain.
    LDN may help block hidden gluten, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten may help rebuild cells as more nutrients absorb. Best wishes.
    Reply

  25. This article is so great! It is me to a T, although I have only been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, not Hashimoto’s. I am so thankful to have a wonderful doctor who understands how all of these issues can be connected and is treating me accordingly, however there was a time when my previous GP thought I was crazy. I asked him if my low blood sugar/ anxiety/ stomach problems/ fatigue could all be related…. he told me no and said he’d increase my meds!! Thank you for posting this… knowledge is power!!
    Reply

  26. Hi, Most thyroid issues are due to gluten/Celiac so not eating gluten and also dairy/soy/sugar/GMO may help all brain/body issues along with vitamins/good oils, LDN, detoxing. Best wishes.
    Reply

  28. Diane, for some hypo/Hashimoto’s patients, eliminating carbs can cause an increase in reverse T3. You may be better off having some carbs but only whole grain and gluten free
    Reply

  29. I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Hypothyroid this summer, thogh we’ve been tracking my levels and so far they aren’t at a place where I’m on any medication. I’ve eliminated gluten and soy and most corn but when I read about eliminating all grains, it worries me as I’m really thin (unusual for hypothyroid I know) and it’s always been hard for me to maintain a healthy weight. Is oatmeal (gluten free kind) and rice okay?
    Reply

  30. HI, Oats may depend on the person. Gluten free oats made my stomach bleed. Oats have avenin that may act like gluten in some people. Rice may have arsenic, but I eat it and later detox the arsenic with EDTA/DMPS IV chelations at an Alternative doctor. I eat no gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO. GMO corn may hurt the gut lining like gluten. GMO soy/canola oil may also hurt. Soy can block thyroid and is in many foods along with gluten contamination so I don’t eat anything in a box/bag/label. I drink reverse osmosis water instead of tap water that has Cl/F and eat organic and cook my own food except one restaurant that cooks special for me with own pan. Brice rice may have more B vitamins than white rice, but more arsenic too. I am trying to cut back on brown rice and try to eat a low sugar fruit instead. LDN may help heal the gut lining…then weight maybe good. Best wishes.
    Reply

  32. Hi, I take generic Synthroid and Amour in the morning. The Synthroid is like time release..gets me though the day/night as long as I take zinc and Se/iron is ok and dairy free probiotic is taken far from stomach acid which help T4 convert to T3. I take 3/4 of a .1 Synthroid and 1 1/4 of 30mg of Amour. It is hard to cut these, but worth it to feel well. Synthroid may have gluten it so generic kind maybe better. Gluten may cause thyroid issues and much more. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit D3, zinc, fish oil, Mg citrate, Natures’ plus- Source of life multiple…HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic and Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and MTHF folate and more help me. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye…oats. GMO maybe corn/soy/canola oil and more. You need to get free T4 and free T3 in range. TSH should not be used to decide thyroid issues. Best wishes.
    Reply

  33. Hi Isabella
    I am interested to find out more about chromium and its impact on blood sugar levels.
    My doctor discovered that I am deficient in Chromium and has requested that I supplement. She says that chromium is important for balancing blood sugar levels.
    What are your thoughts about chromium?
    Reply

  34. Hi, I take Chromium picolinate sometimes if I eat more sugar. Hair tests show Cr and other mineral levels and heavy metals. Cr may help blood sugar, but not eating gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and taking vitamins/good oils etc. may help more. Best wishes.
    Reply

  35. I’m so discouraged.
    100% AIP diet past two months and I just see the scale going up.
    Taking IV gluthatione (spell?) and cream as well.
    Took Armor for 2 1/2 years and stated not feeling that was working. I’m back on Synthroid 112mcg for moth now.
    What else could you suggest?
    Thx
    Reply

  36. HI, I take generic Synthroid and Amour in the morning. The Synthroid is like time release..gets me though the day/night as long as I take zinc and Se/iron is ok and dairy free probiotic is taken far from stomach acid which help T4 convert to T3. I take 3/4 of a .1 Synthroid and 1 1/4 of 30mg of Amour. It is hard to cut these, but worth it to feel well. Synthroid may have gluten it so generic kind maybe better. Gluten may cause thyroid issues. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar…vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit D3, zinc, fish oil, Mg citrate, Natures’ plus- Source of life multiple…HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic and Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and more help me. Best wishes.
    Reply

  37. Diane. .my name is nikkisha. …I have the same issues as you…please lets link..I am on facebook…I follow dr Wentz. .in hypothyroid mom..my full name on facebook is Nikkisha Downes. ..hang in there ok
    Reply

  39. I agree with practically everything here and gain so much more information to try in gaining health back for myself and my family. Thanks! However, I disagree with one thing on this post. Breakfast. For some, it’s MUCH MORE HEALTHFUL for the body to fast daily. I struggled for 25 years trying off and on to eat a healthy breakfast as a means of improving weight and health. Of course 25 years ago I thought that was oatmeal, or toast. But now even if I eat a truly healthy breakfast without carbs, I feel lousy for hours. I’m hungry soon after. I eat more overall on ever day that I eat breakfast, and I am hungry all day on days I eat breakfast. When I don’t, I feel fantastic, energet
    Reply

  40. Yes…that is how I am also. I like to skip breakfast to wear off my food hangover and eat when I am hungry. I recently had to eat with an antibiotic for Lymes and ate breakfast today. Now I feel like I ate too much today and Lymes may grow more with more food. I like brunch and 4 pm supper. Best wishes.
    Reply

  42. HI, Dizzy can be due to low blood pressure due to low thyroid and low adrenals and gluten and eventually low sex hormones. I take bioidentical hormones to help me. I eat no gluten (wheat/barley/rye…oats) and no GMO corn/soy/canola oil. Gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid. Gluten/GMO may hurt the gut lining so less nutrients absorb.
    No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit C, Vit D3 5000IU, zinc, fish oil 2000mg, Mg citrate, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple. HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic when stomach acid is low, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and MTHF folate may help. Any food in a box/bag/label maybe contaminated with gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. (lowest they can measure)..too much. Nuts not in a shell/meat basting/some spices/lotion/make up and more may have gluten. LDN maybe great help to block hidden gluten. Best wishes.
    Reply

  43. Wendy,
    I have.been on.synthroid for over 10 years.
    Everytime I have my ts levels they are all in the norml range.
    However I now suffer from horrible insomnia , so am.constantly fatigued.
    I also have put on significant weight gain.
    I have a.young child so need some caffeine to keep with him.
    I also take anxiety meds, and.anti depressants.
    Any suggestions that are practical and easy?
    Reply

  44. Hi, No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit C, Vit D3 5000IU, zinc, fish oil 2000mg, Mg citrate, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple. HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic when stomach acid is low, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and MTHF folate may help. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye…oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO maybe corn/soy/canola oil. Any food in a box/bag/label maybe contaminated with gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. (lowest they can measure)..too much. Nuts not in a shell/meat basting/some spices/lotion/make up and more may have gluten.
    I take 3/4 of a .1mg Synthroid and 1 1/4 of 30mg Amour thyroid. Taking Zinc/Se/enough iron/dairy free probiotic and more may help T4 change to T3. LDN may help. Synthroid may have gluten in the filler which would lower thyroid more. . No sleep can be due to low oxygen in the brain. Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot 2500mcg every other day or under the tongue kind/spray in mouth/cream or intrinsic factor kind may help raise oxygen and sleep. No gluten (wheat/barley/rye…oats may act like gluten) may help rebuild cells to burn oxygen and increase energy 1000X and feel 20 years younger…then you may not need the caffeine. Caffeine/gluten/low sleep may burn out adrenals. Vit C/sea salt may help adrenals. Pepper on food may help absorb vitamins. TSH should not be gone by since gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid and pituitary that makes TSH. Most new thyroid books say to only go by free T4 and free T4 in testings. An Alternative doctor may help and give thyroid dose that is right for you and help in other ways. Thyro-gold may also help..see internet. Depression/anxiety/panic/obsessing/no sleep/suicidal thoughts can be due to low oxygen in the brain due to Celiac. Tests may not work to diagnose Celiac. Medicine for depression may have fluorine in it that can block thyroid and make a person tired and no sleep. Natural help instead of medicine may help. LDN is a drug from a compounding pharmacy …is like a miracle..it helps to block hidden gluten…the diet is still needed since it is a low dose. It is cheap. An Alternative doctor may give LDN. I take 3 mg…before bed or in the day. I works best at night. Some people may get 4.5mg of LDN. This is the short version. I do a longer version to help my health. Best wishes.
    Reply

  45. Hi, TSH is not good to go by. The pituitary maybe hurt by gluten and not make TSH. No sleep can be due to low oxygen in the brain due to eating gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO. No sleep may make cortisol which may block thyroid and cause carb cravings. No sleep/anxiety/depression/panic/obsessing/suicidal thoughts can be due to low oxygen in the brain. Valerian may help sleep and taking a daily Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot or under the tongue kind or intrinsic factor kind or spray in the mouth or cream etc. The swallow kind of Vit B12 may not work if intrinsic factor is low due to gluten hurting the stomach lining that makes it. Exercise/sunlight/good water..not tap water…organic food/pure foods/cooking by scratch may help. Antidepression medicine may have Fluorine that blocks thyroid so weight gain. Amour thyroid may help or Thyro-gold. The drugs may be hurting you, making it worse.
    No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit C, Vit D3 5000IU, zinc, fish oil 2000mg, Mg citrate, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple. HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic when stomach acid is low, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and MTHF folate may help. Any food in a box/bag/label maybe contaminated with gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. (lowest they can measure)..too much. Nuts not in a shell/meat basting/some spices/lotion/make up and more may have gluten. LDN maybe great help to block hidden gluten. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye…oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO maybe corn/soy/canola oil. GMO corn may hurt the gut lining like gluten so nutrients don’t absorb. Coenzymated B vitamins may help also. Best wishes.
    Reply

  46. I battled hypoglycemia my whole life and I was thin. Finally diagnosed with type 2 at age 34 🙁 This describes me perfectly. I feel like I’ve been in a battle with my own body for 38 years.
    Reply

  47. Hi, Eating gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO may cause Type 2 Diabetes. Eating sugar may make a person dizzy/tired/glycation and then low blood sugar and make more cravings for sugar. You can buy a glucose meter for Diabetic at Walmart to measure blood sugar. at different times of day and 2 hours after eating. Eating fructose..fruit sugar may also hurt besides regular sugar. Lemon/lime/rhubarb/cranberry…are low in sugar. I eat these diluted in water so the acid doesn’t hurt. Gluten (wheat/barley/rye…oats) may hurt the pancreas and other glands so they don’t work well. Hidden gluten maybe in boxes/bags/labeled food and nuts sold not in the shell or meat basting or some spices/restaurants/lotions/make up etc. LDN helps me block hidden gluten and I try to avoid it always.Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Best wishes.
    Reply

  48. I have your book and read most of it and added a few of the supplements you reccommeded but I take so many supplements and eat a fairly clean diet already. I take armour thyroid for my hashimotos, but have to be careful because I have atrial fibrillation and heart rate can be escalated according to how much thyroid meds I take so I might not always be in the ideal range. I am in my 60’s and have been battling around 30 pounds for quite awhile and since menopaus and hashimotos I have found it impossible to lose the weight. I am gluten free and eat femented veggies take pro biotics etc. I don’t eat a lot and what I eat is free of chemicals only eat fresh organic foods. I am looking for a doctor in my area so that I can continue on the armour meds as I’m not longer seeing the doctor that wrote my prescription.
    Reply

  49. HI, Bioidentical hormones may help thyroid medicine work better…get into the cell. Coconut oil may help weight and LDN which helps to block hidden gluten. Best wishes.
    Reply

  50. After thyroiditis for two years I had my thyroid removed and I am having worse problems now. Cannot regulate it, I am on Armour, 2 30’s in am and 15 in pm–gained more weight, sleepy,dry brittle hair and nails, the same old feelings. Why
    Reply

    • Scotty- 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, is ‘dead’, 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 re-balance 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 and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

  51. Hi, Taking Zinc/Se/enough iron/dairy free probiotic may help convert T4 to T3. You maybe on too much thyroid medicine and it maybe making reverse T3. No food/supplements should be taken 2 hours before or after thyroid medicine. Gluten may lower thyroid. No gluten may give 1000X more energy and feel younger. Best wishes.
    No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils, LDN, Vit C, Vit D3 5000IU, zinc, fish oil 2000mg, Mg citrate, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple. HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic when stomach acid is low, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind and MTHF folate may help. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye…oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO maybe corn/soy/canola oil. Any food in a box/bag/label maybe contaminated with gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. (lowest they can measure)..too much. Nuts not in a shell/meat basting/some spices/lotion/make up and more may have gluten.
    Reply

  52. Fantastic article. I’m a fellow hashi – gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, nut free, egg free, no nightshades, I could go on……on 2.5 grains armour – feel goodish but have a big problem I think with fructose and if I eat fruit at all I put in as much as 1lbs a day!!! Help, how can this be?
    Reply

  53. Hi, Fructose may hurt people…goes straight to fat and not energy and adds weight. Lemon/lime/cranberry/rhubarb may help diluted in water for fruit and avoid other fruit maybe. Amour 2X a day with zinc/Se/enough iron/dairy free probiotic…may help. Take thyroid medicine far from food or supplements…2 hours before or after..none of these when taking the thyroid medicine may help. . LDN may help block hidden gluten. Fructose hurts me also. Mercola articles on health may also help and blog. He has many articles about fructose. Best wishes.
    http://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?q=fructose
    Reply

  54. Hi there
    I am wondering how you know if you have a blood sugar imbalance. Are there any tests that you can /should do?
    Reply

  55. Hi, Eating gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO may cause Type 2 Diabetes. Eating sugar may make a person dizzy/tired/glycation and then low blood sugar and make more cravings for sugar. You can buy a glucose meter for Diabetic at Walmart to measure blood sugar. at different times of day and 2 hours after eating. Eating fructose..fruit sugar may also hurt besides regular sugar. Lemon/lime/rhubarb/cranberry…are low in sugar. I eat these diluted in water so the acid doesn’t hurt. Gluten (wheat/barley/rye…oats) may hurt the pancreas and other glands so they don’t work well. Hidden gluten maybe in boxes/bags/labeled food and nuts sold not in the shell or meat basting or some spices/restaurants/lotions/make up etc. LDN helps me block hidden gluten and I try to avoid it always.Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Best wishes.
    Reply

  56. I have had Hashimoto’s for over 15 years now. While I have tried different approaches I am now gluten free. Dairy does not presently seem to be an issue but I use very small amounts. I have followed the Fat Flush Diet, which is unsweetend cranberry juice w/ stevia fruit smoothies, non GMO- non denaturized protein powder. I add green powder and fresh greens. Also clean protein, vegetables (low glycemic for the most part) and elimination of grains to find triggers.
    Amaranth and quiniou seem ok for me in limited portions.
    It is important to get good fats, Borage and Primrose oil. Not sure if Flax is ok for Hashimoto’s? I feel much better when eating these foods.
    A pharmacist suggested I try Glutathione for a fast heart beat when I could no longer tolerate compounded T3/T4 for some reason. It worked very well. I am now back on Levethyroxine and trying to work with it. I am following Izabelle’s suggestions for supplements to lower the dosage.
    Reply

  57. Hi, Some people are ok with dairy once they stop gluten. When the tips of the villi regrow after gluten is stopped and make lactase to digest lactose some people can eat dairy again. My dairy issue is maybe due to the fat/casein. Each person is different.
    80% of people may not be able to convert flax into what is in fish oil…then may get a rash/red blotch/sicker and more. I use fish oil 2000mg and 2000mg of evening primrose oil, 2000mg of lecithin, krill oil, phosphatidylserine/DMAE, CLA.
    Compounded Amour was too low a dose for me. I take 3/4 of a .1 Synthroid and 1 1/4 Amour..need to cut them at my house to the dose. Mg/coenzyme Q10, Osteoprocare Ca/Mg and cofactors helps my heart. Glutathione helps get rid of free radicals and recycles Vit C and Vit E etc. Levothyroxine (generic Synthroid) has only T4. Amour has T4,T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. Taking both helps me. The Synthroid gets me through the night like time release so I only take thyroid mediicne in the morning. To convert T4 to T3….Zinc/Se/enough iron/probiotic and more may help. Take the probiotic when stomach acid is low. I refrigerate my probiotic. Best wishes.
    Reply

  58. Diane, had a hair analysis done. Very interesting as to the results, I am lacking in most minerals, especially, magnesium and phosphorus. You might want to try doing a hair analysis which will give you more information about your body
    Reply

  59. If low in minerals on hair test…can be due to gluten and GMO corn that can hurt the gut lining/intestines so nutrients are not absorbed. Gluten can make antibodies to the thyroid. Heavy metals on hair test may block chemical reactions in the body also. I need EDTA/DMPS IV chelations to remove heavy metals. Sea salt has 84 minerals…helps me and taking Mg/K/Zinc and eating 100% no gluten and GMO. Best wishes.
    Reply

  60. I am on my 3 rd try gluten free. Never felt like that so sorry. This time I realize it’s a lifestyle change. I am also not a doctor but I also think it’s your thyroid. I had to get off synthetic hormones. I started on armour in Jan last year. Don’t get me wrong I am still not where I need to be but a heck of a lot closer
    Reply

  63. Thank you for this, I like that you addressed the crying for no reason, I have had periods in my life where I cry for NO reason. Hard to do w/ kids & a job. I am gluten/dairy/egg, soy, nut, seed free & on synthroid & T3 . Trying to work w/ my T3 to get right dose as it’s causing extreme anxiety.
    Reply

  64. Hi, T3 is used up fast. I could not do Cytomel…made reverse T3. Thyro-gold may help. Amour thyroid has fillers that may hurt. GMO corn may hurt the gut lining. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oat may hurt like gluten with avenin. Hidden gluten may hurt and cause depression/crying. Low Vit D3 may cause S.A.D and crying for no reason. 5000IU of Vit D3 helped stop me from crying and going into the sunlight for a walk. Less then 5000IU and I cried and 5000IU…I laughed. I take bioidentical hormones..estriol/progesterone/testosterone which help now at menopause. Too much estriol may hurt. Taking Zinc may help balance copper. Hair tests show good minerals/heavy metals. Food in a box/bag/premade/level/restaurant etc may have hidden gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. Nuts/seeds need to be sold in the shell to avoid hidden gluten on them. Allergies can be due to hidden gluten/gluten..due to leaky gut. Raw walnuts help my brain…but open shells and freeze them to keep them fresh. Best wishes.
    Reply

  66. Dianne. I was diagnosed about 4 yrs ago. Still struggling to improve. Had a set back in March when I accidentally ate some wheat crackers. Was Ill (all symptoms) for six weeks, got better for a week and then got shingles. Am improving tho. Hopefully will find an answer to more improved health soon. The reason. I’m replying is that I am gluten allergic and even had to quit coloring my hair, use gf soaps, shampoos, makeup (if it has vitamin e in it a lot of times it is wheat) Finally have given up corn completely. But, my daughter has also been diagnosed and she is not gluten sensitive, but she has fructose malabsorbtion and the only sweetener she can use is stevia or maple syrup. She is doing very well. We have to find our root cause, I think, before we can make a full recovery.
    Reply

  67. Hi Diane, I have thyroid disease also and no longer have a functional thyroid. I am 100% dependent on Synthroid. My Endo started me on a liquid synthroid called Tirosint, and I have felt much better. She said that it allows the synthroid to be absorbed into your system faster than the coated pills that are normally prescribed. You may want to try it. Also, I complement my diet with Isagenix; it is a nutritional cleanse program and has really changed my lifestyle and helped me with a lot of the issues you mention. Please reach out if you would like to chat.
    Reply

  68. Diane, if you are still feeling bad, I URGE you to google Dr. D’ Adamo and the Blood Type Diet. Find out what your blood type is. The website has an inexpensive test you can order to find out. Then follow that diet for your blood type to the T. You will start feeling better very soon. And go to UnkeyHealth.com and get their free catalog. Order their mutli vitamin. It is exceptionally good. Iron-free if you are post menopause. With iron if not. I care. I hope you feel good soon!
    Reply

  69. This is exactly how I felt when my synthroid dose was too much and caused me to be hyper. Going gluten free and getting the right dose of thyroid med will make a big difference. Make them recheck your TSH because it really does make you feel HORRIBLE!!! And it’s dangerous! I also have Hashimotos.
    Reply

  70. Go back to eating gluten. Just because gluten free is hip right now, it doesn’t mean it is right for you. Celiac and other digestive autoimmunes are greatly helped by gluten free because the gluten is actively harming them. If you don’t have that issue, gluten free may not be what is right for you. I would suggest checking your thyroid after going back on gluten (dietary changes–esp in your level of fiber can influence your thyroid levels)
    Reply

  71. HI, Gluten free is not a fad. Gluten is hurting most people, but few figure it out. Tests may not work to diagnose Celiac. Not eating gluten saved my life and suppresses my MS. Gluten can make antibodies to the thyroid. 97% of thyroid issues are due to gluten. Even microscopic gluten in nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices, food with a label and certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten. Eating pure foods and 100% no gluten may stop the destruction of the thyroid and brain/body fast.
    Reply

  72. Please check out Datis Kharrazian. Drknews.com oes lots of research and clinical work with Hashimoto patients. Dizziness, vertigo, fatigue when concentrating on projects, driving at night etc. can be signs of autoimmune attack on cerebellum. They have found huge numbers of Hashimoto patients also have molecular mimicry going on with Cerebellum.
    Reply

  73. HI, Yes…dizzy can be from many reasons. I had a friend with cerebellum issues. He died..didn’t get the help he needed. He may have been Celiac and had heavy metals in him and needed to detox. Lyme/coinfections can make a person dizzy. I had to crawl to the bathroom since I was banging into walls trying to walk. Antibiotics for Lyme may make a person dizzy and low Mg. I was dizzy due to low sex hormones also. I take bioidentical hormones now. I was so dizzy from gluten when I ate it that I had to lay down and almost could not drive. Too much sugar can make me dizzy also and then I know glycation is also happening. Thanks for the information. Happiness….
    Reply

    • Sue- 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. ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  75. Hi, Flax may not convert into what is in fish oil in 80% of people. My brother got a rash and my son got red blotches on his legs and my MS got worse from Flax. I have not tried hemp. I just take fish oil and other good oils. See what I do on other comments.Best wishes.
    Reply

  76. Hi, Thanks for sharing such wealth of information. I have since gone gluten free . My diet consists largely of sweet potatoes, pumpkin and yellow yams and carrots.. Carrot and papayas and mangoes are heavily consumed including in juices. Could this contribute to the change in the colour of my palms? I have noticed this only since I cut out rice, flour, wheat, oats and their byproducts from my diet. I do not eat goitrogenous vegetables either since I have two small nodules on my thyroid glands.
    Reply

    • Joan- 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.

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  77. Hi, Any orange vegetable will have beta carotene which people may not convert into vit A. I turn orange if I eat lots of carrots. I don’t mind. It is not jaundice, but looks like a tan. People need a rainbow of colors of food…not too much of one kind like orange vegetables. Gluten etc may hurt intestines so now you may absorb more nutrients. Vit A is fat soluble..needs fat to absorb. I eat broccoli etc cruciferous family, but cooked…is healthy for me. Nodules/cysts maybe due to low iodine/iodide. Genova has vitamin tests and hair tests show minerals. Iodine is on the hair tests. An acupuncturist or chiropractor or Amazon or Alternative doctor may have hair tests. Eating a variety of food is good and colors. Best wishes.
    Reply

  78. i also have Hashmitos/hyposthyroidsm and recently been diagnosis with type2 diabetes now. they have me back on my thryroid meds and i am on Metformin and insulin. i took myself off my meds by my own choice for 2yrs. what can you tell me about the link to Diabetes and Thyroid disease? what can i else can i do.
    Reply

  79. Hello: Can someone explain why fasting is a problem (and supply a possible link with studies). Is it just until blood sugar starts to stabilize or is it bad in general? Cheers
    Reply

  80. HI, Fasting may raise cortisol levels…which may lower thyroid. I may not eat sometimes until allergies/sugar level come down… tells me I am hungry. Fasting 12 hours may help reset insulin receptor sites. Oregon grape root may help lower blood sugar and Ceylon cinnamon.
    Reply

  81. Hi, Diabetes can be due to Celiac. Gluten may hurt glands..thyroid/pancreas etc. Lyme may also hurt glands and made my blood sugar go up. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and taking vitamins/good oils, LDN, detoxing may help. Oregon grape root may help lower blood sugar. Synthroid/Amour may help since gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid/ Zinc/Se/enough iron/probiotic may help T4 convert to T3. Any hidden gluten may still make antibodies to the thyroid and hurt glands more. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in shells/meat basting/some spices/food in a box/bag/label/restaurants may have hidden gluten. Lemon/lime/cranberry diluted in water may help…lower in sugar. Dangerous Grains/Wheat Belly/Grain Brain books are good also. See my other comments. Best wishes.
    Reply

  82. Hi, LDN may lower heavy metals and block hidden gluten. Certified gluten free may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Anxiety can be due to low oxygen due to gluten/dairysoy/sugar/GMO. The liver may build up heavy metals in Celiac people. Hair tests show good minerals/heavy metals. Serrapeptase may help unclog blood vessels..taken once a week maybe and 2000mg of fish oil daily may help thin blood..help brain/body work better/help the immune system. Orange juice may raise blood sugar, but crash it again. Lemon/lime in good water may help..is low in sugar. Detoxing by Far Infrared Sauna may help lower toxins/heavy metals. Best wishes.
    Reply

  83. I have a (large) multinodular goiter. Biopsy was negative-they are just “watching”. I have never been officially diagnosed w/ Hashimotos or even hypothyroid. But I understand per Dr Alan Christianson, that if you have a goiter, it’s a given that you have Hashi’s? My only symptoms are fatigue and difficulty losing weight (am definitely insulin resistant). Have been off gluten for years and eat only low starch veggies & organic protein. No milk other than half n half in my organic decaf coffee. I do eat raw cheese and drink red wine occasionally. My mainstream endo will not run the tests I want even though she’s considered “the best” in my area, and I cannot find one who will. Does anyone know a functional doc or alternative endo in Maryland that could help with these issues? It’s very difficult to find alternative docs in the greater Baltimore area. Thanks in advance.
    Reply

    • Robin- 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

      Reply

  84. Hi, You may have low thyroid. Iodine/iodide may help also. Low sugar fruit..lemon/lime/cranberry/rhubarb…diluted in water may help. I went 10 years without fruit, but started to get precancer which went away when I ate fruit. Ask at a health food store or chiropractor or acupuncturist for the name of an Alternative/Integrative doctor. Endo may not help…go by numbers on tests, but TSH may not show always the problem since the pituitary may not make TSH. LDN is great help for me …blocks hidden gluten and helps the immune system. Best wishes.
    Reply

    • Wendy- I’m very hesitant in recommending iodine in Hashimoto’s. Although iodine serves as fuel for our thyroid and is very important in iodine deficiency hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s is a different mechanism. It’s like pouring gas into an engine that’s on fire… that’s essentially what’s happening in Hashi’s, thyroid inflammation, and adding iodine to the mix before putting out the fire and fixing the engine may result in further damage to the thyroid. In those with a predisposition to autoimmunity, this has been documented time and time again, animal and human studies. I have spent 4 years researching this and have seen too many people suffering the consequences of adding iodine too soon. My approach is, let’s fix the engine first (usually a gut issue), and then add the fuel once we know that the engine is no longer on fire. Hope that you will check out my book. I have a whole chapter on the iodine controversy that references numerous studies as well as the work of Abraham and Brownstein.

      AMAZON
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

  85. I was just diagnosed with Hypothyroid (after trying to get a diagnosis for almost 4 years). I’m on a lot of vitamins to try and get my blood work more normal. I’m exhausted all the time. My appetite is not normal. I don’t know what type of food I should be eating. I’ve been gluten free for several months since I am gluten intolerant. I don’t eat meat because 3 years ago I had a bad case of food poisoning from meat and I just haven’t had the appetite for it. I don’t know if I should be eating AIP or Paleo but meat doesn’t appeal to me. I need to get my system back on track. I’m trying to find an endo in my area but I can’t keep going on like this. I should be enjoying my marriage instead I’ve been sick since we’ve been married. I feel like I’m deteriorating each year. I have brain fog, constipation, acne, anxiety, no patients. My anxiety and patience is running out. I feel like I’ve lost myself. I don’t know what to do. I want to get my diet back on track because I feel like if I can start to heal my gut, I can start to heal myself. If anyone can help, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you so much. I want to feel better.
    Reply

    • Ashley- 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 though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food.

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      Reply

  86. Hi, Low thyroid can be due to gluten. Hidden gluten may hurt. Eating no food with a label…only eat organic pure foods may help. Endo may not help. Alternative doctors/chiropractors etc may help with nutrition/Celiac diet. I don’t eat meat…saturated fat hurts me. But meat has iron/zinc/B vitamins/Vit B12/protein. I need Vit B12 methylcobalamin..not oral kind unless it has intrinsic factor with it. Iron bisglycinate may help if finger nails are pale. White mark on finger nails maybe due to low zinc. Ridges on finger nails may mean you are absorbing in intestines enough. LDN is awesome…helps heal the gut lining and give energy and much more. See what I do. Mercola site may also help. Best wishes. What I do for my Celiac. (short form): No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and vitamins/good oils, LDN and detoxing help me. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc 50mg if detoxing, fish oil 2000mg, 20000mg of evening primrose oil. 2000 mg of lecithin, Phosphatidylserine/DMAE or krill oil, Coenzyme Q10, Rhodiola, Mg citrate 400mg, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body/thyroid/ and more health issues. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid. Coenzymated B vitamins far from synthetic kind make make me calm. Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food….. no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Certified gluten free food may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them). EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, zeolites, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support, Far Infrared Sauna and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain. LDN may help block hidden gluten/heal the gut lining and help the immune system, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten..no hidden or microscopic gluten may help. Cutting back on gluten or cheating by eating gluten hurts the immune system. It may take 1 1/2 months to heal the gut lining after getting hidden gluten. Amour thyroid has some T3 and Calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4..may not convert to T3. Zn/Se/enough iron/strong probiotic may help convert T4 to T3 for thyroid.
    Reply

  87. Root Problem: non stop hypoglycemia, with all that entails. My hashi’s was due to a nasty bout of adult Epstein Barr virus at 33. Thyroid failed over a 2 month period. First hyper, then suddenly hypo. Thyroid ultrasound shows a swiss cheese appearance. Antibodies too. At the time, I was very fit, I suddenly went from normal food tolerance to an nearly uncontrollable hypoglycemic in what seemed like one day. As my thyroid levels plummeted. (offset by synthroid) Suddenly, I needed to eat all the time, to avoid a blood glucose of 55. Two months before, it was not a problem and I did not have multiple daily bouts of hypoglycemic fatigue. We can talk about the necessary low carb diet. But we are not addressing the root problem. Hashimoto’s CAUSES these problems and the problem IS NOT resolved by Synthroid, Armour, Cytomel or other thyroid replacement therapy. Regardless of TSH levels, T3, T4 or other levels. It is truly a complex disease, it’s not fully understood and therefore, cannot be properly treated. Nearly 20 years later, I’m a health disaster, despite super human effort on my part. My current diet consists of just protein chix breast, fish filet or lean pork, with just a tiny touch of fat thrown in. It’s calorie deficient, and I remain tired. It’s the only way for me to avoid becoming fat. Anything else sends me into an insulin reaction my body can’t stand. My current exercise routine includes daily 3/4 hour of maximal weights, plus at least 1/2 hour of maximal effort cardio. You’d think I’d be fit, not even close. Yet without such effort, my body fails rapidly and I can’t stand that. Funny thing, I’m not alone. Every true hashi’s sufferer I know has the same issues.
    Reply

  88. HI, I had Epstein Barr and now have MS due to Celiac. I also recently got Lyme since my immune system is down. Maybe your pancreas is hyper like thyroid can be at first and will later change to the opposite. I had a friend eat mostly meat when she had Lyme. Lyme caused me to be like Type 2 Diabetic when it lowered Mg which is needed to make insulin. A hair test shows minerals/heavy metals. Alternative doctors may help. Genova tests show vitamins/allergies/hormones etc. People need fruit/veg to be healthy. Lemon/lime/cranberry/rhubarb are low sugar. Vegetables are needed. Eating things high in sugar may cause sugar to rise and then drop even more. Eating low sugar may help. I eat an Asian/Celiac diet. Maybe you have Lyme/coinfections. Epstein bar may reactivate. Lyme may hurt mitochondria and thyroid. Igenex test may help for Lyme test. Best wishes. What I do for my Celiac. (short form): No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and vitamins/good oils, LDN and detoxing help me. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc 50mg if detoxing, fish oil 2000mg, 20000mg of evening primrose oil. 2000 mg of lecithin, Phosphatidylserine/DMAE or krill oil, Coenzyme Q10, Rhodiola, Mg citrate 400mg, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body/thyroid/ and more health issues. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid. Coenzymated B vitamins far from synthetic kind make make me calm. Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food….. no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Certified gluten free food may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them). EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, zeolites, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support, Far Infrared Sauna and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain. LDN may help block hidden gluten/heal the gut lining and help the immune system, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten..no hidden or microscopic gluten may help. Cutting back on gluten or cheating by eating gluten hurts the immune system. It may take 1 1/2 months to heal the gut lining after getting hidden gluten. Amour thyroid has some T3 and Calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4..may not convert to T3. Zn/Se/enough iron/strong probiotic may help convert T4 to T3 for thyroid.
    Reply

  89. Thank you for posting this today! I have been struggling with Hashimoto’s for about 15 years. It has truly turned me into a shell of the person I once had been. I have made many dietary changes over the years eliminating gluten, dairy, soy, corn, ect. I have been feeling better in the past couple years, as close to normal as I can be. I finally saw a specialist that was able to clear the brain fog, which was a godsend! I have most recently been struggling with reactive hypoglycemia, which has been difficult with my already limited diet! I thank you so much for sharing this infrormation today, the timing could not have been better!
    Reply

  90. HI, Lemon/lime/cranberry/rhubarb maybe ok….low in sugar. Mg, Cr may help. When I got Lyme that lowers Mg I felt like Type 2 Diabetic. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Eating sugar may cause blood sugar to go up and then down fast and crash. Oregon grape root one time a day may help blood sugar. Best wishes.
    Reply

  92. HI, Talk to a Health food store in your area for the name of an Alternative/Integrative doctor. They may know a good person to go to. Best wishes.
    Reply

    • DMP- 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 though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food.ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  94. Yes…Brewers yeast may hurt some people. I am allergic to it as seen on an allergy test. If you grow yeast in your body due to sugar/starch etc..then Brewer’s yeast may also grow maybe. Best wishes.
    Reply

  95. How long should you be off gluten to see a difference in your blood work? Takes how long to be out of your system so to say? Also, how harmful is it for someone if they go back and forth- off gluten & sugar, then on again, etc. It can’t be good. I know it’s messing with their body and they will truly feel it physically, but can it cause harm and do anything that’s dangerous to them? Thank you!
    Reply

  96. I have suffered for the past 10 years with Hashis with little help. I am going to start this blood sugar balance and see what happens. One question I have is that you say avoid dairy but list eggs as something you should eat. I am confused?
    Thanks for the article.

    Reply

    • Glenda – thank you for following this page. Eggs are one of the foods we need to avoid for a leaky gut and as you may know a leaky gut os required in order to get an auto immune disease. many people are able to add eggs back into their diet later after doing an elimination diet to heal the gut. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity in particular has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?

      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

      Reply

  99. I am 26 years old. I have been dealing with reactive hypoglycemia. 30 mins after a good meal it drops to 80s. I stopped eating fast food because that makes it drop fast for a few days. For the past 9 months I have been dealing with this everyday. I have seen a thyroid Dr and they said my thyroid was high it was 3.7 and he wanted it to a 1. It’s been at a 1 for a while and no changes. I have gained 100 pounds in a year. I’ll see another thyroid dr in a month because mine is not trying to help figure this out. The only blood test came up off is fasting insulin. It was 23 and I got it down to 20 but haven’t been tested since for it. Any advice would be great! Thanks

    Reply

  100. Hi Izabella,
    Thank you so much for all of the information you provide, it is incredibly helpful to many! I have been struggling with adrenal/thyroid issues, along with some blood sugar regulation issues and insomnia. What do you recommend for someone who is very active? I believe many of my hormonal problems came from working out twice a day along with a very low carb diet and high stress. Should carbs consumed after long workouts still be low glycemic? What do you recommend for someone very active? I find my blood sugar gets too low very often, especially since my appetite is low after workouts. I am just wondering what your thoughts would be. Thank you!!

    Reply

  101. Hi Izabella, I stopped taking compounded thyroid medication 7 months ago after my thyroid levels stabilized. (After years of thyroid care.) My adrenals have never caught up – been struggling with severe adrenal fatigue for months. I’m taking adaptogens, following a clean, GF and dairy free diet and working with an Integrative MD to heal Epstein Barr. Out of nowhere I started having hot flashes and experiencing severe intolerance to the heat. For years I struggled with cold temperatures and now I cannot handle the sun. My MD said this is my adrenals and liver flooding my body with toxins as they heal. But I’m worried this could be a symptom of thyroid cancer. What are your thoughts on hot flashes and thyroid health, particularly with Epstein Barr?

    Reply

    • Kay – thank you for following this page. Having Hashimoto’s can feel very stressful. Having out of range thyroid hormones, adrenal fatigue, negative food sensitivities and low nutrient levels can lead to feelings of anxiety, hopelessness and stress. Treating these issues one at a time is the best plan of action. You can recover and regain your health! My new book Hashimoto’s Protocol is a step by step guide to the interventions that helped 80% of the people 80% of the time. I hope you check it out.

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

  102. As a 10+ year Hashimoto & Type 1 Diabetic experienced person, I have learned that I cannot rely on the medical community for my continued survival above and beyond required testing and prescriptions.
    The medical community treats our bodies and completely ignores the mind & spirit. What we receive is treatment for the failing/failed body part without investigating the root cause of the real issue of the failure.
    We have highly sophisticated systems that involve 3 different mechanisms to operate and the medical community only chooses to acknowledge one small portion of one mechanism and ignores the big picture.
    Changing your diet to fix most of these problems is like changing your engine oil in an attempt to repair your transmission.
    We are being led by the blind, so if you choose to be healthy then seek and ye shall find.

    Reply

  103. I have hypERthyroidism and I just ate 2 Butterfinger Hostess Brownies (I was hungry, waiting for the delivery guy). Within 20 minutes I began to feel nauseous, shaky, blurred vision, fatigue in my muscles, and felt very confused. It is wearing off, but comes back when I move. Theoretically, this reactive hypoglycemia is also possible for hypREthyroidism, maybe?

    Reply

    • Charity – thank you for following this page. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?

      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

      Reply

  104. You advise to miss out all grains – Ii am a little vague about what exactly grains consists of? Does this include rice? Quinoa? Kamut? Please help. thanks

    Reply

  105. I have Hashimoto’s and the most noticeable things are hair loss (shedding) and anxiety.

    I have always been able to drink caffeine but am rethinking that. I think blood sugar has A LOT to do with this disease. I do tend to go for hours without eating and I know that’s not good!

    Reply

    • K.C. – thank you for reaching out. While fasting can be beneficial in many cases, some caution is required for people with Hashimoto’s due to our blood sugar issues. Blood sugar imbalances are a big contributor to Hashimoto’s. Balancing blood sugar levels should be one of the priorities for anyone who is hoping to overcome autoimmune thyroiditis and adrenal fatigue. Balancing my blood sugar made a big difference for me, helping with my anxiety levels and reducing my thyroid antibodies. <3

      Reply

  107. Thank you, this is so helpful. I purchased the Hashimoto’s Protocol, and I am feeling hopeful. It has been most difficult to give up oats, but I can tell that they do not agree with my body. These tips you provided here are great!

    Reply

  108. This article has been really helpful, I have Hashimotos like many people here, and was surprised/bewildered to see my recent lab work. My cholesterol was rising, not yet high, and my A1C was borderline pre-diabetic. I assumed because I was thin that I would be immune to such changes, but if I’m understanding the article correctly, those of us with Hashimotos are susceptible to insulin resistance if we’re not eating correctly? I thought my diet was healthy until a Naturopath pointed out how high the carb load was and how little protein I was getting. If only all practitioners had this knowledge.

    Reply

    • Kelli – thank you for sharing your journey. I am happy to hear you are taking charge of your health! Most autoimmune conditions have common root causes, and a lot of times the things that are recommended for one autoimmune condition will help with others. Conditions that I have found to respond really well to the Hashimoto’s protocols have been rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, asthma, Graves’, premature ovarian failure, psoriasis, Alopecia Areata, and Sjogrens. I have also seen the protocols help with Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PCOS, as well as Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s, and Ulcerative colitis.

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq

      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://amzn.to/2DoeC80

      Reply

  109. Can you please tell me why you do not promote fasting? I’ve heard so many benefits about intermittent fasting to improve blood sugar levels. I have Hashimoto’s and am battling SIBO and have been considering intermittent fasting.

    Reply

    • Heather – thank you for reaching out. Fasting and the latest intermittent fasting trend are alternative health approaches that have cleansing and healing properties. Unfortunately, they are super stressful on the adrenals. So while some people may benefit from fasting, I’ve seen that Hashimoto’s patients, due to rampant adrenal issues, often feel worse on a fast in the initial stages of healing. This is why I recommend abstaining from fasting during the fundamental healing period.

      Reply

  110. Would an A1C be reliable for us with Hashimoto’s? I was considering it for the first time and now I’m not sure.

    Reply

  111. I realize this was posted long ago but wonder if you could provide your opinion on this. I’ve been on Naturethroid and Cytomel for years along with metformin for reactive hypoglycemia. I haven’t had a bad hypoglycemic episode in years About a week or two ago I was switched to straight Cytomel. I’ve been having a lot of bad hypoglycemic episodes. I’ve read Cytomel usually increases blood sugar. Any idea why this may be happening?

    Reply

  113. Hi – thanks for all your great articles! I have a question about fasting. I have Hashimoto’s but don’t have pre-diabetes or hypoglycemia. The Bahai’ Fast (no food or drink from sunrise to sunset) lasts for 19 days. Can I follow it, or should I abstain? Thanks.

    Reply

    • Vered – thank you for reaching out. <3 While fasting can be beneficial in many cases, some caution is required for people with Hashimoto’s due to our blood sugar issues. Blood sugar imbalances are a big contributor to Hashimoto’s. Balancing blood sugar levels should be one of the priorities for anyone who is hoping to overcome autoimmune thyroiditis and adrenal fatigue. Balancing my blood sugar made a big difference for me, helping with my anxiety levels and reducing my thyroid antibodies. I hope this article helps shed some light on the matter:

      BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/blood-sugar-imbalances-and-hashimotos

      Reply

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