Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Bone Broth for Thyroid Health

Bone Broth: Help Your Gut to Help Your Thyroid

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP

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If you have spent any time in the health and wellness world over the past few years, you’ve probably heard of bone broth — otherwise known as liquid gold.

Bone broth is made by cooking down the bones of animals (usually chicken or beef) to release the nutrients they contain, and has been touted as a healing elixir for everything from joint health to immune function.

But did you know that bone broth can be healing for those of us with Hashimoto’s? I discovered its benefits when I was looking for ways to put my own Hashimoto’s into remission, and it has since become a staple in my diet. In fact, I recommend it as one of the top foods for Hashimoto’s that most people should include in their healing diets.

In this article, I’ll talk a little bit about:

  • The history of bone broth
  • Bone broth’s benefits for Hashimoto’s
  • How to make your own gut-healing broth

History of Bone Broth

Bone broth has become popular in recent years, and is a staple for many people who follow a Paleo style diet. However, people have been drinking bone broth in various forms for millennia — even your grandmother knew of its healing power when she cooked down a chicken carcass to make you soup when you were sick!

In the Paleolithic era, no part of the animal was wasted. Flesh and muscle were used for eating, the hide was used to make sheets of material, and inedible/unusable parts, such as hooves and bones, were stewed and simmered to create broth — but not at first! Before pots came about, some 20,000 years ago, people would open animal carcasses and add hot stones to break down the bones and extract nutrients from them (like bone marrow). Once pots were invented, they would throw animal bones into hot water, over a flame, to draw the nutrients out into the water. Then they would drink this liquid gold!

Cultures all over the world have their own versions of bone broths that date back thousands of years. In Greece, chicken broth is commonly mixed with lemon and beaten eggs, and used as a remedy for colds and digestive upset. In East Asia, bone stock infused with herbs and spices, is often added to accompany meat-based meals, to enhance its healing properties and flavors. Meanwhile, in India, chicken soup is commonly sold by roadside vendors during the winter to ward off illness.

These days, people everywhere recognize bone broth for its gut healing properties and ability to prevent or heal common colds and flu. In fact, in 2000, a research study sought to substantiate the millennia-old claim that chicken soup can cure illness, and found that some of its components were able to inhibit the migration of innate immune cells (called neutrophils), and acted as an anti-inflammatory that could, in theory, reduce symptoms of illness.

Your grandmother might have been onto something, after all!

Benefits of Bone Broth

Bones contain an abundance of minerals and amino acids, most of which are released into the broth when they are cooked and broken down. The sought-after nutrients that are found in bone broth include:

  • Collagen – A protein that is the main component of connective tissue, including cartilage, tendons, bone, skin, and ligaments.
  • Gelatin – Smaller proteins that are formed when collagen is simmered.
  • Glycine – This amino acid makes up about a third of collagen and also acts as a neurotransmitter.
  • Proline – This amino acid increases the stability of collagen.
  • Glutamine – The most abundant amino acid in the blood that is used for energy by intestinal and immune cells.
  • Glucosamine – An amino sugar that is primarily responsible for building cartilage within the joints.
  • Chondroitin sulfate – A sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), this is an important structural component of cartilage.
  • Minerals – These include calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, manganese, and zinc.

In addition to speeding up one’s recovery from the common cold, there are numerous health benefits associated with the consumption of bone broth and its components, and they can be especially helpful for Hashimoto’s.

Benefits of Bone Broth for Hashimoto’s

I recommend bone broth first and foremost because I have found that a diet for healing Hashimoto’s needs to include some essential nutrients, including those found in bone broth, to help rebuild the intestinal lining. This is very important for people who display signs of “leaky gut” or intestinal permeability.

As Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.”

What does the gut have to do with the immune system and autoimmunity?

Researchers have found that, in addition to digesting and absorbing nutrients, as well as maintaining water and electrolyte balance, the intestines are also responsible for helping the immune system recognize foreign invaders from self-antigens, thus facilitating the control of pathogens and preventing autoimmune reactions.

Leaky gut results in an abnormally increased permeability of the small intestine. In leaky gut syndrome, the tight intestinal junctions become looser, allowing substances that normally would not gain systemic access, to enter circulation in the body. This irritation can interrupt the immune system’s ability to regulate itself and put the body into a perpetual “attack mode” that is counterproductive to healing. And, Dr. Fasano has found that leaky gut is one of three factors that must be present in order for autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, to occur!

So how does bone broth play a role in healing a leaky gut?

The most important benefit, in the case of gut health, is that the gelatin in bone broth helps to seal the junctions in the intestines so they are no longer permeable, and those pesky foreign invaders can no longer pass through the intestinal wall and inflame the immune system.

The gelatin and glutamine contents in bone broth help maintain the layer of mucus in the gut that protects the intestinal wall from being damaged by gut microbes.

Additional Benefits of Bone Broth

There are many other ways that bone broth can benefit your health, including many symptoms that are associated with Hashimoto’s.

Bone and Joint Health

Drinking bone broth provides many of the necessary components for building strong bones, including calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids. It also contains glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as chondroitin sulfate, which are complex carbohydrates that help form the lubricant that surrounds the joints. This allows the joints to move smoothly and painlessly. Glucosamine further supports joint health by helping to build cartilage.

Additionally, bone broth is rich in collagen, which has been shown to support joint health. This is especially important for those with Hashimoto’s, because joint pain and osteoporosis are commonly associated symptoms, often stemming from nutrient deficiencies that are a root cause for many.

Gut Health

The gelatin and glutamine in bone broth help maintain the layer of mucus in the gut that protects the intestinal wall from being damaged by gut microbes. (This is especially helpful for those with leaky gut!) Meanwhile, glycine stimulates the production of stomach acid, which is essential for digestion. Gelatin in the gut will also draw fluid into the intestine, improving gut motility and supporting healthy bowel movements. This is especially important to those of us who experience constipation — a common symptom of hypothyroidism!

Metabolic Health

Glycine plays a role in blood sugar regulation by controlling the production of glucose in the liver, and may counteract some of the negative effects of dietary fructose (sugar) consumption.

Blood sugar imbalances are a common root cause and symptom in Hashimoto’s. Blood sugar levels that are in constant flux also cause chronic stress in the body, and stabilizing blood sugar is an important part of protecting your adrenals from excess stress that affects thyroid function.

That’s why blood sugar imbalances are one of the first things I recommend that people address when they begin working to get their thyroid symptoms into remission… and incorporating a blood-sugar balancing diet, along with glycine-rich bone broth, is an excellent way to get started. (You can read more about blood sugar imbalances here.)

Skin Health

Studies have shown that collagen consumption can significantly improve skin elasticity, as well as skin moisture content. Another study in mice found that supplementing with gelatin provided protection against ultraviolet (UV) skin damage. Many people with Hashimoto’s suffer from dry, dull skin, rashes, and hives, which can be relieved by collagen, gelatin and many of the nutrients in bone broth.

Brain Health

There are many components of bone broth that benefit the nervous system, including the abundance of healthy fats that provide raw material for the brain. Glycine has been shown to protect against neuronal death after stroke, and is believed to play a role in brain development in the womb. Additionally, calcium is essential for nerve conduction, and chondroitin sulfate is essential for learning and memory. Brain fog, depression, and other cognitive conditions are common symptoms of Hashimoto’s, and the brain-supportive components of bone broth can help mitigate many of these conditions.

Additional benefits that have been associated with the nutrients in bone broth include decreased anxiety, improved sleep quality, better eye health, detoxification support, and faster muscle repair and growth.

What is the Best Source of Bone Broth?

Though there are many retailers selling packaged and canned bone broth, I don’t typically recommend purchasing it at a supermarket. Those boxes contain so many more ingredients than basic bone broth would have — including MSG (a neurotoxin!), corn starch (hello GMO’s!), chicken flavoring (artificial flavors), and many preservatives to keep that broth “fresh” and stable in its boxed form.

One packaged version of bone broth that I do enjoy is made by The Flavor Chef. They create certified humane and verified non-GMO bone broth (made with organic chicken and grass-fed beef), and they even have AIP options — great for those with Hashimoto’s. You can save 10% off your order of bone broth by entering the code THYROID10 at checkout! 🙂

When possible, I do recommend creating bone broth from scratch. Bone broth is one of the easiest recipes to make, and requires only a few simple ingredients. You can make a large batch at one time and store it in glass jars in the refrigerator (up to 5 days) or freezer (up to a year), to be warmed as needed.

To begin with, you will need to find a quality source of poultry, beef, or fish bones. I always recommend purchasing bones (and meat) from organic, free range, and humanely raised providers as much as possible. The nutrient quality will be far superior to most conventionally raised animal products, and free of added hormones and antibiotics.

To source the highest quality bones available, you can:

  • Ask your local butcher for leftover bones or chicken carcasses
  • Check to see if a farm near you has bones for purchase
  • Save bones from your roast chicken or beef steaks
  • Check the freezer section of your local supermarket
  • Order online from US Wellness Meats

Bone Broth Recipe

I want to share with you my lazy woman’s way of making bone broth — in a slow cooker! One of my favorite things in the world is waking up in the morning to the fragrance of fresh, delicious, bone broth that has been cooking all night in my kitchen, while I’m sound asleep and resting my adrenals.

Ingredients:

  • 4-5 organic chicken legs
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 onion
  • 6 to 8 large carrots
  • Purified water
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste (if tolerated)

Directions:

  1. Place the chicken, vinegar, and vegetables in a slow cooker.
  2. Fill with water to 1 inch below the top of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 8 to 12 hours.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Strain, pour into jars, and refrigerate (or freeze).

Here’s a quick video on how I make my bone broth:

I’ll be releasing some more quick and fun videos in 2020, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

I recommend adding bone broth into your diet several times a week — even daily — to take advantage of its many healing benefits!

Precautions

If you are sensitive to foods that are high in histamine, you may want to avoid bone broth while you heal, as the collagen it contains is a high histamine food. Histamine is a chemical involved in your immune system, your digestion, and your central nervous system. It causes your blood vessels to dilate so that your white blood cells can quickly find and attack the problem when it senses an immune system attack. If for some reason you don’t break down histamine properly, it will build up, and you may develop a histamine intolerance. You can read more about the symptoms of histamine intolerance in my article, here.

There are a few ways to limit the amount of histamines in your bone broth. You can try:

  • Reducing the simmering time to four hours
  • Using a pressure cooker to reduce cook time to 90 minutes
  • Omitting the apple cider vinegar if you are intolerant, or use lemon juice instead

Additionally, a concerned few have raised the question of lead levels in bone broth after a 2013 study found higher levels of lead in water after boiling chicken bones, than in the same water that was boiled without the bones. However, it’s important to note that the levels of lead that were found (up to 9.5 µg/L) were still below the safety threshold set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (15 µg/L). There are also other unanswered questions in this study, such as where the chickens were raised, what the pH of the water was, and how much fluoride the water contained (as fluoride in water can increase lead accumulation). Conventional grain consumption can also increase the animal’s exposure to lead.

If you have concerns about lead exposure, I suggest using a quality water filter to remove fluoride and other toxins from the water you use to make your bone broth. I also encourage you to find bones sourced from organic, grass-fed meats, to reduce heavy metal exposure. Personally, I believe that the many benefits of bone broth far outweigh the possibility of contaminants, especially when healthy sources of bones are used.

The Takeaway

Bone broth is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to heal your gut and boost your health, and I recommend it to just about everyone! Even if you don’t consider yourself much of a cook, with a slow cooker and a few simple ingredients, you have the makings of a gut-healing superfood.

As a bonus, bone broth is an incredibly versatile food. It can be sipped in a mug on a cold morning, used as a base for many different types of soup, or added to sauces to enrichen the flavor and nutritional value. I even know people who make bone broth popsicles on hot summer days!

For more ideas on how to use bone broth in your cooking, you can pick up a copy of my cookbook Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology, which contains 125 recipes to heal Hashimoto’s and nourish your body.

In the meantime, I encourage you to share this infographic on social media so that others can experience the healing benefits of bone broth!

As always, I wish you well on your journey toward better health!

P.S. For continued updates and interaction, please become a part of our Facebook community and sign up for my newsletter to have helpful information delivered right to your email inbox. You’ll also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways, and more!

References

  1. The Surprising History Behind Bone Broth. The Kettle & Fire Blog. 2017. Available at: http://blog.kettleandfire.com/the-surprising-history-behind-bone-broth/. Accessed August 15, 2017.
  2. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. doi: 10.1159/000351376. Epub 2013 Aug 14.
  3. McCarty MF, DiNicolantonio JJ. The cardiometabolic benefits of glycine: Is glycine an ‘antidote’ to dietary fructose? BMJ Journals. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2014-000103.
  4. Scaldaferri F, Riccardo L, Petito V, Cufino V, Bilotta M, Arena V, et al. Gelatin tannate ameliorates acute colitis in mice by reinforcing mucus layer and modulating gut microbiota composition: Emerging role for ‘gut barrier protectors’ in IBD? United European Gastroenterol J. 2014 Apr; 2(2): 113–122. doi: 10.1177/2050640614520867
  5. Gusev EI, Skvortsova VI, Dambinova SA, Raevskiy KS, Alekseev AA, Bashkatova VG, et al. Neuroprotective effects of glycine for therapy of acute ischaemic stroke. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2000 Jan-Feb;10(1):49-60.
  6. Rennard BO, Ertl RF, Gossman GL, Robbins RA, Rennard SI. Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. Chest. 2000 Oct;118(4):1150-7.
  7. Monro JA, Leon R, Puri BK. The risk of lead contamination in bone broth diets. Med Hypotheses. 2013 Apr;80(4):389-90. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.12.026. Epub 2013 Jan 31.

Note: Originally published in 2016, this article has been updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any health problems and before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can result in improved thyroid function and/or an increased absorption of thyroid hormone medications, leading to a lower required dose and possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism at a dose that was previously stable. Please discuss lifestyle changes with your physician and ensure that your thyroid function is monitored every 6-8 weeks while making lifestyle changes. Symptoms of overmedication include, but are not limited to: rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, irritability or mood swings, muscle weakness or tremors, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Do not start, change, increase, decrease or discontinue your medications without consulting with your physician.

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Comments

  1. So tried to make My own bone broth..but guess what..got the worst histamine intolerance I have had…so this is definitely not a solution. Any tip on how to avoid this!

    Reply

    • I’ve been making bone broth from organic chickens from a local farm and feel so great from it. However, I just had a reaction to grocery store chicken. Therefore, maybe you want to try chicken from a different source.

      Reply

    • Stina – Many people have had better success by making their bone broth in a pressure cooker and cooking it only a few hours. This drastically cuts down on the amount of histamines.

      Reply

      • Why hasn’t anyone mentioned the histamine factor before please?
        I’ve got enough to contend with as it is without a new problem?
        I’ve been happily reading through all the bone broth recipes & why it’s good for me, making plans to make some & now I don’t know what to do…
        Please will you explain more about histamine & if this problem can be avoided by using other than chicken please?
        I am wondering why I haven’t come across this before, I’ve been reading about bone broth for a while but never about this before, please help? ????

        Reply

  4. Im so grateful to Izabella and also so so grateful to dr axe. As finaly after 26 years of living in confusion im getting somewhere.
    With my thyroid hoshimoto issues.
    I just had bone broth for the first time ever.
    Also goats milk keffir and fermented cabbage juice.
    Thanks to all of you who are helping me heal
    Im also reading johan Jacobs book he is a local south african who was ill with ms.

    Reply

    • Jaie – Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your story. I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Wishing you a successful healing journey! <3

      Reply

  6. I tried chicken frame and beef bone broth. I didn’t get the gelatin in the broth, it was just running even after freezing it. 2 hours into my bone broth fasting, I noticed a red rash on my hand very itchy’ now its on my leg, foot and other hand. I always have this rash break out when am reacting to a certain food,especially dairy. So am not sure what am reacting to from the bone broth.
    I’ve got Graves’ disease and PCOS. TTC and had a miscarriage. Hoping to reset my immune system with bone broth and hoping to feel better. Will appreciate any more help and advice. Thanks Dr Izabelle for informative articles, always benefit from them:)

    Reply

    • Kim – thank you for following this page.

      Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

      The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually, people with Graves have hyperthyroidism, and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own, and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

      Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target.

      We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

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

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

  7. I want to get on the elemental diet but I need to alter part of it. I have the candida problem and you mentioned that fat may feed the candida. How could I change or substitute the fat intake?

    Reply

  8. I am only 28 and have been struggling with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism for 8 years already as well as leaky gut. I tried everything and nothing helped me feel better. I found Hashimoto’s Protocol and am currently on phase 3 and certain symptoms have subsided! I don’t know how to thank you enough for this help! Now that I am trying to heal my leaky gut, I would like to incorporate more bone broth to help it but sometimes ‘time’ is an issue or I get broth-ed out lol. I’m just curious what your thoughts are on the grass-fed bone broth protein powders for those times? (the grain, soy, dairy, etc free ones) Again, thank you so much for the work you’ve done!

    Reply

    • Kacie – thank you so much for your support! I regret that I do not have the time to evaluate every supplement on the market. As a pharmacist, I can tell you that many supplements are ineffective, and some are even downright unsafe. The truth is that most supplement companies do not undergo the same scrutiny and testing that pharmaceutical products do. This is because many of the tests required of pharmaceutical companies are voluntary for supplement companies and most companies do not take the extra steps to test their products to ensure safety and purity.

      Rootcology’s mission is to provide safe and effective supplement solutions for people struggling with autoimmune thyroid conditions. Rootcology supplements are composed of high-quality premium, gluten, dairy, soy, pesticide, and toxin-free ingredients and undergo rigorous testing to ensure that the ingredients on the label match the ingredients inside each bottle. Here is a link to the site. https://www.rootcology.com/collections/supplements I hope you check it out!

      Reply

  9. I have been struggling with hypohthyroid for 5 years .How to do my daily chores in spite of weakness even after having healthy diet.

    Reply

    • Deesha – thank you for following this page. Without going into too much detail, the first of the crucial defining moments in my disease development may have started during my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois. Due to the communal living setting of dormitories (and less than stellar hygiene habits of most college students) I had recurrent strep throat infections and even contracted mononucleosis, a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which is implicated in triggering many autoimmune conditions. I received multiple courses of antibiotics as well as flu shots (which may be associated with EBV infections), and started birth control for menstrual cramps.

      It is my belief that this combination had a profound impact on my gut flora, and thus my immune system.

      Epstein-Barr is a virus that causes mononucleosis (commonly called “Mono”) , a debilitating viral infection that is common among college students, and is also known as the “kissing disease,” because individuals are exposed to the virus through saliva of those who are infected.

      Specific immune cells known as CD8+ T cells are needed to fight off the Epstein-Barr virus, however, some individuals may have a low baseline level of these types of immune cells. (CD8+ T cells decrease with age, are lower in women, and in the presence of low vitamin D intake). When these fighter cells are low, the Epstein-Barr virus may take up residence in our organs (such as the thyroid) and essentially hijack the organ to help the virus hide and multiply.

      The timing of infection may also matter as well, for example, children in developing countries usually contract the Epstein-Barr Virus when they are under the age of 10. This usually results in an asymptomatic infection—one that does not cause them symptoms. In contrast, in developed countries, where individuals are not usually exposed to the virus until they are in high school or college, the infection is symptomatic in 50% of the older kids affected. This is because by the time we reach college age, CD8+ T cells, the ones that fight EBV, have declined by threefold compared with the number of cells we had in childhood.

      Additionally, animal fat and broths, soups and stews support the body’s ability to suppress the viruses. Monolaurin/lauric acid, one of the components of coconut oil, has been found to be active against the Epstein-Barr virus. Replication of many viruses including Epstein-Barr is inhibited by glycyrrhizic acid, an active component of licorice root. Quercetin, Co-Enzyme Q10, N-Acetylcysteine, and glutathione were also reported to be helpful in chronic fatigue syndrome because of their anti-viral properties. You need to be sure to ask for the Epstein Barr Virus Early Antigen test, as this is a test that will let us know if the virus is actively replicating.

      EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/epstein-barr-virus-and-hashimotos

      Reply

  10. Just want to be sure as this was not covered in the Bone Broth recipe… I am assuming you refrigerate the finished broth and pour a glassful each day? Let it come to room temp, stir, and drink?

    Reply

      • Well we have made 3 batches so far and it tastes great! Even my husband enjoys this concoction. We have added some peppercorns, garlic, parsley sprigs… I have one thing I can’t figure out how to do and that is to find an easy way to get rid of the fat on top. I pour several glasses in preparation for the work days ahead, saran wrap them, and put away in the frig. The remainder is in a large sun tea container to pour from later. All form little white pieces which I would guess is the fat. Not sure if that is so good to also drink down or not. I have had Hashimotos since I was 40 (that I know of), switched from Sythroid almost 2 years ago to NaturThroid. Suddenly in April I started having bilateral joint pain and stiffness in my knees, hips, and shoulders upon waking, even during the night of sleep, and after sitting. My symptoms fit PMR, polymyalgia rheumatica (definitely feels more like pain in the muscles and inflammation around those joints than actual joint pain). So I am working on healing the gut with this bone broth first. I don’t have any GI issues that I know of but am sure healing the gut is always good.

        Reply

    • Tanya – thank you for reaching out. That’s a great question and unfortunately I don’t have anything to share with you at this time but, I will add this to my list of future article possibilities. You may want to research and see if you can find a recipe for bone broth using fish.

      Reply

  13. Hello Dr.Wentz,I know u had a wonderful holiday w/your new addition 2 the family & happy life.
    I was wondering if u take a flu shot and if you recommend it 4 hashi. individuals….thx,Carmen

    Reply

    • Carmen – thank you for reaching out. Yes, we did have a wonderful holiday. <3 Unfortunately I cannot give you any straightforward guidance about vaccinations and we each have to make our own informed decision about this.

      As a pharmacist, I certainly think that vaccines can save lives. I can also tell you that there's no drug on the market that doesn't have any side effects. It's quite plausible that a vaccine, which introduces a foreign invader and an infection, even though it's a deactivated infection, could set off the immune system in the person with the right genetic predispositions and perhaps some other things going on within their body that can trigger autoimmune disease through a mechanism known as molecular mimicry.

      Molecular mimicry is an autoimmune theory that states we develop autoimmune disease because there's a bug or an infection within our body that looks like our thyroid or another part of our body. The immune system starts to attack the infection and anything that looks like it. Now, it's possible that some of the vaccines, and particularly some of the inactivated infections within the vaccines, might look like the thyroid gland or they might look like another part of our body.
      There have been some studies suggesting that there was a connection between vaccines and other types of autoimmune condition in older times and some of these vaccines were removed off the market. There was one study done by Kaiser Permanente regarding the HPV vaccine, which looked at different types of signals that might suggest that a person may develop an autoimmune condition after the vaccine. They actually did see higher rates of Hashimoto's with the HPV vaccine statistically.

      Reply

    • Dominic – thank you for reaching out. You could use the meat in a soup if you would like to. The vegetibles have very little flavor or nutrients left once the bone broth is done. So I prefer to discard those. I hope this helps.

      Reply

  15. Thanks for a great and fast recipe. As a working woman, I appreciate recipes that are nutritious and fast. I made this the other day. It looked great the night of, but after putting it in the refrigerator, I seem to have some chunks that formed or were left over. Is this typical? If not, how would I prevent them?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  16. I have nodules on my thyroid. 2 years ago I had a biopsy and the cysts showed to be benign. My TSH was in range as well my T4 & T3. Is this an autoimmune condition ? What could I possibly do to get rid of these nodules?
    I’m an athlete, have no weight issues, BMI is 23 & feed my gut bacteria well….I also make my own bone broth with organic ingredients.
    So frustrated.

    Reply

  17. I really want to be able to try bone broth and follow a strict AIP diet, but I truly just don’t like most meat and it has been like this since I was young. I can eat some chicken and turkey, but have a strong aversion to all other meat (as in it I can’t eat it). I can have chicken broth, but don’t enjoy it… at all. I am feeling a little lost over this as it seems that all the healing diets are full of meat and if you don’t eat meat there is very little left. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Karen – thank you for reaching out. I understand how hard this can all be. Chicken and turkey are AIP approved. You could also try one of the protein powders as well my company Rootcology offers a Pea Protein and and AI protein. The AI Protein is a beef protein powder and I find it has as very mild flavor. You could also try the Pea protein which is a vegetarian option. I have seen many of my clients find 100% relief from their symptoms by implementing the AIP diet into their lifestyle changes. The symptoms that many find relief of are joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, brain fog, tinnitus, skin rashes as well as decreased food sensitivities. Even for those who do not recover completely, they will experience significant improvement. I generally recommend following the AIP diet for one to six months. Once you see improvements within this time frame, you can start reintroducing foods one by one, which will help you create a long-term diet tailored to you. If you continue to experience symptoms after experimenting with the AIP diet, you may need to dig deeper and consider addressing other root causes of your thyroid condition. You may want to check out my cookbook Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology for some wonderful recipe ideas. Here are some resources I hope you find helpful:

      HASHIMOTO’S FOOD PHARMACOLOGY
      https://amzn.to/2OEMzXd

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet/

      AI PALEO PROTEIN POWDER
      https://www.rootcology.com/products/ai-paleo-protein

      Reply

  18. I’ve recently been hearing more about fish bone broth. Is that good with hashimoto due to the iodine or would it be too much iodine? Thank you

    Reply

  20. I dont believe I have I have Hasimotos, I have been diagnosed with overactive thyroid in the past ,and about 8 months ago my blood results came back normal (as far as t3 and t4 ) and my endocrinologist told me it was” in remission.” I’m intrested in getting Thiamine Simply because of the fact I still get tired easily even though I have eliminated coffee out of my diet and added occasional bone broth and more veggies, less bread and almond milk, etc. but I want to know will Thiamine help over active thyroid or make it worse?

    Reply

    • Veronica – thank you for reaching out. <3 I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. Fatigue was the most debilitating symptom I experienced with Hashimoto’s. It actually started 8 years before I was finally diagnosed in 2009 after I got Mono (Epstein-Barr Virus) in college. I needed to sleep for 12 hours each night to be able to function, and by “function” I mean after hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock for two hours (ask my poor husband), I would drag myself out of bed and then had to drink 46 cups of caffeine everyday to keep myself awake. I often had Red Bull and Pepsi for breakfast, and was the epitome of “wired but tired”. I hope my articles help you get started 🙂

      OVERCOMING THYROID FATIGUE
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/strategies-overcome-hashimotos-fatigue/

      THIAMINE AND THYROID FATIGUE
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/thiamine-and-thyroid-fatigue

      Reply

  21. Hi there, I was wondering what you can do with the chicken & vegetables after they are strained seperately from the broth? Does anyone use these for anything else? Seems a shame to waste it is all…… Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Heather, thank you for following! <3 I have used the veggies in my homemade soups, however, I haven't tried using the chicken as it is rather dried out by the time the bone broth is complete. I would love to hear your suggestions! <3

      Reply

  23. Hello, I just have a question. I’ve done some research and I learned that it’s best to control my sugar ans iodine intake to help with my Hashimoto’s and possibly reverse many of my chronic symptoms. I learned that the most iodine I should consume is 100-200 mcg per day. Wouldn’t this recipe or bone broth in general be considered too much sodium? I’m really trying by best to understand all of this and becoming keen on nutritional facts.

    Reply

  24. Hi! I will undergo radioactive iodine treatment in a few weeks. My Dr. told my to go on Iodine/sea salt free Diet for 3 weeks . Do Bone Broth Protein powders or Egg white Protein powders or Beef Protein powders contain Iodine? The labels do not say they do but do not say they don’t either. For example Whey Protein powders labels do not say they contain Iodine but we know whey is dairy derivative so it must contain Iodine…. I am trying to have as much Protein intake as possible during my 3 weeks no iodine diet as to not loose muscle mass. Kindly, advice. Thank you

    Reply

  25. Hello! Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do!
    Making bone broth is not for me, but what about using bone broth powder? What are the pros/cons? Is it just a waste?
    What about grass fed beef collagen powder? It seems like it is very similar to bone broth?
    What would you advise to someone who can not make/consume fresh bone broth?

    I have also read your article on carnitine supplements as I suffer from muscle (and mostly tendon) pain. Would bone broth powder or collagen powder be a way to supplement carnitine?
    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Anne – thank you for reaching out. Collagen, although considered a protein source, is not a complete protein, meaning it does not have the 9 essential amino acids that our body needs for muscle and tissue repair. Collagen, therefore, is not recommended for long term use as a protein supplement. However, it does have its own benefits, including supporting the gut lining and skin, lubricating joints, and increasing strength of the hair and nails, which may make collagen a great addition to your protein powder. You could also try a protein powder such as Rootcoloy’s AI Protein powder. Here is an article that you might find helpful:

      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/protein-safe-hashimotos/

      Reply

  26. I’m inclined to throw some garlic in, because I’ve heard it has great health benefits. Have you tried that? Any reason why I shouldn’t?

    Reply

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