I have a confession to make… I’ve been struggling with my weight for the last four years! As a previously self-described “greyhound” who could not gain weight and had to take weight gainer shakes, I used to think that losing weight was as simple as going gluten- and dairy-free and getting on a T3-containing medication. Boy, was I wrong!
Thank you perimenopause, mold exposure, eating my son’s snacks, SIBO, and turning 40 for humbling me (and for those extra 20 pounds). 🙂
Since struggling more with my weight, I’ve done a ton of research on all the different factors that influence our weight, and honestly, the research was a bit paralyzing – even for me, because there are so many different drivers of weight gain.
I tried fasting, but it made me super cranky. I tried cutting my calories, but then my energy and mood were super low. Slowly but surely, I did find methods that helped me lose weight in a sustainable way.
I ended up creating a comprehensive guide for weight management that will be added to all of my programs (they’re on sale right now!), and also when you purchase my brand new Balance Kit, a discounted bundle of supplements to support healthy weight management, which was designed after much research and personal experimentation.
I know I’m not alone in this struggle. Weight gain is a common symptom of thyroid disease. When people struggle with their weight, eventually they look to the thyroid, so in some ways we can thank our bodies for letting us know there is something going on that we need to focus on.
Unfortunately, as many people see those pounds begin to pack on, they are often advised to start a low-calorie diet. The problem with following a low-calorie diet is that we often become deficient in macro and micronutrients when we reduce our calorie intake — and over time, we may be inadvertently sending our bodies a message that we are experiencing a famine.
To protect you, your body will slow down your metabolism in an effort to run on fewer calories to make sure you do not starve. This makes weight loss even harder. So for many people, low-calorie diets are NOT the solution.
So what diet is best for you? Well, that will require a little experimentation, and often, the most helpful diets may also help your thyroid symptoms. Is there anything other than diet or medication that you should be looking at? Absolutely!
I’m excited to share with you everything I’ve learned to support weight management and Hashimoto’s. You’ll be surprised by just how big of a role your thyroid, adrenal, and nutrient levels play in unexpected weight gain!
In the following article, you’ll discover:
- How suboptimal thyroid levels affect your weight
- The connection between thyroid medications and weight gain
- The best thyroid diet for weight loss
- Other factors that affect your weight — like the liver, the adrenals, and other hormones
- The right type and amount of exercise for weight loss with Hashimoto’s
- The best supplements to support healthy weight management
11 Helpful Strategies for Weight Management and Hashimoto’s
1. Get Your Latest Lab Values
Get your latest lab values for TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 from your doctor. You may have been told that these numbers were “normal,” but sometimes when these numbers are on the outskirts of normal, your metabolic rate may still be impaired, making it more difficult for you to burn calories.
Additionally, new guidelines have redefined the normal range for TSH to be below 3 μIU/mL; however, not many labs have implemented this guideline. Your doctor may be using old ranges. Thus, many physicians may miss the patients who are showing an elevated TSH, which means that they do not have enough thyroid hormone on board and that they are hypothyroid. (This is one reason why patients should always ask their physicians for a copy of any lab results!)
Many patients are told their TSH is in the “normal” range, but their levels are actually on the higher side of this range, which could be one reason why they may find it harder to lose weight.
Functional medicine practitioners have further defined that normal reference ranges should be between 1-2 μIU/mL for a healthy person not taking thyroid medications. Anecdotally, most patients feel best with a TSH between 0.5-2μIU/mL.
Here’s a handy reference chart of optimal thyroid ranges:
You can check out my article for more information on thyroid lab tests!
Remember, thyroid medications are dosed in micrograms — that’s 1/1000th of a milligram! — and sometimes a teensy increase in the dose can make a world of a difference. Talk to your doctor to discuss revising your dosing, as optimizing your thyroid levels can repair your metabolic rate and help you lose weight more easily.
2. Consider the Type of Medication You Are Taking
Synthroid, a medication that contains the T4 hormone, is the most commonly prescribed medication for an underactive thyroid. However, T4 must be converted into the metabolically active T3 thyroid hormone. In theory and on paper, T4 gets converted into T3; however, there are many potential factors (including genetics) that can prevent this conversion from happening in the human body!
Factors that Inhibit T4 to T3 Conversion
| Stress | Medications | Aging | Surgery | Nutrient Depletions |
| Fasting | Chemotherapy | Diabetes | Soy | Growth Hormone Deficiency |
| Obesity | Goitrogens | Pesticides | Radiation | Low Progesterone |
| Iodine Excess | Heavy Metals | Cigarettes | Alcohol | Kidney and Liver Disease |
Furthermore, under stressful situations, T4 gets converted to Reverse T3 instead of T3. Reverse T3 is an inactive molecule related to T3, but without any physiological activity, it is a dud that just takes up space and blocks the active T3 from activating the receptors.
So what can one do to boost their T3 levels? Taking thyroid medications that contain T3 will help ensure that the right hormone is getting to the right receptors.
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.
In addition to losing weight, many patients who start taking a combination T4/T3 product often report that they feel better as well! For more information, be sure to read my article on which thyroid medications are best and my top 11 thyroid medication tips.
*Note: While Armour Thyroid does not have any gluten-containing ingredients, it is not tested for gluten content, and cannot be certified as gluten-free. Armour does contain sodium starch glycolate, which can be derived from wheat or corn.
3. Consider the Type of Diet You Are Eating
Are you following The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.)? The S.A.D. is full of sugar and simple carbohydrates, and 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!
Instead of eating processed and pre-made meals, I like to think about eating “real food”. If it wasn’t considered food 200 years ago, we probably shouldn’t be eating it now!
Ditching the S.A.D. is often a step that many of us must take not only to lose weight, but also to feel better, and in some cases, minimize or eliminate the attack on the immune system.
Some Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism diets that have been helpful include the Body Ecology diet, the Paleo diet, the Virgin diet, the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) diet, the GAPS diet, the SCD diet, the Weston A. Price diet, or the Mediterranean diet. Sixty-three percent of 2332 readers that I surveyed in 2015 reported positive weight changes when they tried the AIP diet! A great way to see if the AIP diet might work for you is to try my 2-Week Recipe Plan for FREE below. (That’s 14 days worth of delicious meal plans and recipes!)
These diets are meant as a starting point, as you may need to modify these diets to fit your own individual needs. Some people with Hashimoto’s may actually need to do a modified ketogenic diet to lose weight. I know this is controversial in the thyroid world, as the keto diet (when done the standard way) can worsen thyroid dysfunction.
After all, people with Hashimoto’s usually have multiple food intolerances – especially to dairy (and of course gluten).
Here are a few rules of thumb to consider:
- Eliminate sugar, processed foods of all kinds, gluten, dairy, corn, rice, and other simple carbohydrates. (Excess carbohydrates get stored in our bodies as fat.)
- Focus on eating lots of good meats and vegetables (preferably organic), and good fats like avocados, olive oil, and coconut oil.
- Make sure you’re getting enough protein. For general health purposes, I recommend consuming about 0.45-0.55 grams of protein per day, for each pound that you weigh. However, many people, including older and more active individuals, may need higher amounts. Increasing your protein intake to 1 gram per day of your ideal body weight can be helpful for weight loss. If you’re struggling with that, consider adding in a great protein shake. (Consider adding Rootcology’s Organic Pea Protein or AI Paleo Protein powder to your daily smoothies!) Read more about Hashimoto’s-safe proteins and daily protein guidelines in this article.
- Add in high-protein, homemade, gut healing bone broth. This will help with satiety, as well as will support your gut to reduce inflammation. Bone broth is a high protein, easy-to-digest, and keto-friendly beverage. 🙂
- Don’t count calories, rather, eat until you are satisfied.
After an initial week or two of withdrawal, your body will start to thank you. You will start noticing stomach aches, bloating, acid reflux, and fatigue subside. You will also start to lose weight without trying.
If you’ve been eating a clean diet for some time but your weight isn’t budging, you may also want to consider food sensitivity testing to remove foods that are specifically inflammatory to you. Many of my clients who have played with their current diets have seen progress in weight loss after eliminating foods per their food sensitivity results.
The test that I found to be highly accurate for myself and my clients is the Alletess Lab food sensitivity test. Alletess food sensitivity testing is available for self-order without a doctor’s prescription. The test kit comes with a blood spot collection paper, and can be mailed to just about anywhere in the world.
There are two options to test for the most commonly eaten foods:
- The 96 Food Panel test checks for IgG (a branch of the immune system that mediates food sensitivities as well as Hashimoto’s) reactions to 96 common foods. You can order this test through my Rupa Health or MyMedLab portals.
- The 184 Food Panel test checks for IgG (a branch of the immune system that mediates food sensitivities as well as Hashimoto’s) reactions to 184 common foods. You can order this test through my Rupa Health or MyMedLab portals.
4. Balance Your Blood Sugar and Address Insulin Resistance
Balanced blood sugar helps support our mood and energy levels, as well as can reduce our cravings (especially for carbs and sugar). You can support steady blood sugar by prioritizing protein and healthy fats at meals, reducing your consumption of ultra-processed foods (yes, even those gluten-free ones), and reducing overall carbohydrate consumption.
Related to blood sugar issues, insulin resistance is when our cells don’t respond well to insulin, and have a hard time taking up sugar from our blood. This is another important factor to consider in elevated blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance can cause weight gain and weight loss resistance.
I suggest taking stock of your daily diet to make sure each meal has sufficient amounts of protein and healthy fats, and that there aren’t any sources of carbs that you’re not aware of. This will help balance blood sugar levels and support insulin resistance.
Exercise has been shown to be incredibly helpful for insulin resistance, so if it’s appropriate for you, incorporate exercise into your daily routine. [1] This will depend on where you are on your individual healing journey – your body may not be ready for more intense forms of exercise. Remember that the goal is to feel better after exercise, not worse or more tired.
For a simple, low-impact way to get exercise in, you can walk for 30 minutes per day on a treadmill or walking pad. Adding incline to your walk will increase the benefits of these walks. Walking after meals is very supportive for blood sugar levels. (See the Physical Activity section later on in this article for more details on exercise.)
You might also want to consider supplements for blood sugar support. A few of my favorites are:
- Berberine: This plant alkaloid supports blood sugar metabolism and normal insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown that one gram of berberine per day supported fasting blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. [2] Rootcology Berberine is a high-quality option.
- Myo-inositol: Researchers have found that this important form of inositol (a type of natural sugar alcohol), which is made in our bodies, supports healthy metabolic function. A 2013 study explored the effects of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol supplementation on metabolic health in individuals with PCOS. [3] Additionally, research has illustrated that myo-inositol can be supportive for gestational diabetes. [4] Rootcology’s Myo-Inositol Powder is easy to incorporate into your daily routine (I like to add it to tea, as it has a natural sweetness to it).
- Resistant Starch: As the name implies, resistant starch (RS) is a type of carbohydrate that resists digestion. It’s not digested in the small intestine and moves on to the large intestine, where it’s fermented. These fermented fibers act as a prebiotic — food for the good bacteria in your gut. In addition to being an ally for your gut health, RS supports healthy blood sugar levels and insulin metabolism. [5] This makes it great to incorporate when working to balance your blood sugar levels. You can find RS in foods like plantains, green bananas, chickpeas, and lentils. Cooked and cooled potatoes, as well as rice, also contain high amounts of RS. I formulated Rootcology’s Paleo Starch so that you can easily incorporate RS into your daily life. This can be taken before bed to prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia, and to support healthy weight.
5. Consider Taking a Probiotic or Eating Fermented Foods
New research is showing that people who are overweight have an imbalance of bacterial flora in their intestines. [6] Those who are overweight may have particular bacteria strains that extract more calories from food compared to those found in people who are not overweight. This means you could be eating the same amount of food as your friends, yet gaining more weight from it!
Probiotics and fermented foods that contain beneficial bacteria may be helpful with balancing your bacterial flora. As a bonus, since 70 percent of your immune system resides in the cell walls of your digestive system, supporting your gut health will also help support your immune system. [7]
Here are some of the probiotics that you may consider:
- Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii): This is a beneficial yeast that helps to support microbial balance in the gut I have found it to be supportive for Candida, some parasites (including Blastocystis hominis), and H. pylori (an infection that has been implicated in ulcers and has been linked to Hashimoto’s). [8]
- ProB 50 by Rootcology: Containing 50 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains (both of which are low in people with Hashimoto’s), this is a great high-dose probiotic that supports a healthy intestinal environment and supports gastrointestinal and immune health. [9]
- Klaire Ther-Biotic: This is a less expensive, but equally effective brand of high-dose multi-strain probiotics recommended by my brilliant nutritionist friend, Tom Malterre. It’s available via Fullscript. If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up with my credentials here.
- MegaSporeBiotic: This spore-based probiotic has a unique mechanism of action, which allows it to directly modulate the gut microbiome. Spore-based probiotics have shown promise in various autoimmune diseases and in reducing allergies and asthma. [10] Spore-based probiotics also have the ability to boost Lactobacillus colonies, so they can be used concurrently with Lactobacillus probiotics as well as in place of them. Unlike Lactobacillus probiotics, spore-based probiotics can reduce SIBO and increase gut diversity by boosting the growth of other beneficial flora. Clients and colleagues with Hashimoto’s have reported the following after using MegaSporeBiotics for 30 to 90 days: a reduction in thyroid antibodies, an improved mood, less pain, better bowel movements, more energy, and a reduction or complete elimination of food sensitivities.
- Butyrate: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that improves gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria. While it doesn’t directly cause weight loss, it can support insulin sensitivity and healthy inflammatory levels, which may support metabolic health and weight management. Limited studies suggest it may assist in weight regulation indirectly by supporting gut health and systemic inflammation. [11] The recommended dose is 500 mg, 2 to 3 times daily.
High-dose, multi-strain probiotics can be very helpful for people with Hashimoto’s in general. However, please note they may be problematic for people with SIBO, which can be caused by an overgrowth of various bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Streptococcus bacteria, which are often found in probiotics. Be sure to check out my article on probiotics and consult a local functional medicine practitioner to find the right probiotic for you!
6. Adrenal Support and Stress Response
Our bodies have this amazing capability to heal. When you’re in the “rest and digest” state, or the anabolic process, your body is actively repairing and healing itself.
When you experience stress, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode, diverting its attention from healing and digestion. Instead, it goes into emergency mode, pumping your body full of adrenaline to prepare it to survive what your body perceives to be a life-threatening event. Many people cite a traumatic incident in their lives as the precursor to when their Hashimoto’s symptoms began. Adrenal stress is a very common reason why people may hit a weight loss plateau.
There are three potential stages of adrenal dysfunction:
- Stage I – In Stage I, there will generally be too much cortisol production. Your total cortisol level is going to be elevated throughout the day.
- Stage II – In this stage, the total cortisol level will be normal, but there will be some abnormalities where it might be high in the morning, then too low in the afternoon, and then high again in the evening. This can produce some annoying symptoms like blood sugar swings, irritability, or an afternoon crash.
- Stage III (beginning) – This is an advanced stage where the adrenals become depleted and do not produce enough cortisol. You’ll be running on empty and have very low levels of cortisol throughout the day.
- Stage III (advanced) – As time goes on, the cortisol drops lower and lower (unless an intervention is made), and people end up becoming exhausted and often caffeine-dependent. They may be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s, or another autoimmune inflammatory condition, as cortisol is too low to balance the unchecked inflammation. I refer to this advanced stage of adrenal dysfunction as “flatlined” adrenals.
You can reset your adrenals by getting more rest, limiting your caffeine intake, and getting your daily dose of the ABCs: Adrenal adaptogens, B vitamins, and vitamin C. I outline a plan including these strategies and many others in my book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, which is based on my wildly popular Adrenal Transformation Program.
The supplement Adrenal Support by Rootcology contains all three of these adrenal tonics that can support adrenal health, whether your adrenals are over- or underactive.
Please note, severe cases may require further intervention. You can get your adrenals tested with adrenal saliva tests, like the ZRT Adrenal Stress Profile. In some cases, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods.
Just like everything else, your stress hormone cortisol needs to be in balance. Too much, and you store excess belly fat; too little of it, though, and you can feel extremely fatigued. [12] Thyroid symptoms of fatigue can actually be due to low cortisol levels. If you have chronic stress, your body will eventually be unable to produce enough cortisol, DHEA, and progesterone.
Experiencing other symptoms aside from fatigue? As a pharmacist, I am amazed that the simple strategies that I have found to work nine times out of ten for symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, muscle wasting, and hair loss, are not widely taught in medical schools. Through years of trial and error, I created the Thyroid Symptom Hacker eBook for my private clients to address these issues. You can actually overcome fatigue in three days! Enter your email below to download this free eBook!
7. Liver Support
When the liver is overburdened and can’t process toxins as quickly as they come in, the body will divert and store these toxins in fat cells. This is a protective mechanism that your body performs to protect you. Sometimes it can be difficult to lose weight because it requires the body to release these toxins from the fat cells, and your body wants to minimize your exposure to these toxins. Exposure to environmental toxins is often overlooked when it comes to weight loss and fat storage, but it’s important to consider!
Thirty-eight percent of my readers reported improvements in weight status after implementing liver support!
One tool that I love to use for liver and weight support is Rootcology’s Liver Reset Powder. Liver Reset contains a natural pea protein isolate to fuel detoxification pathways, as well as nutrients and antioxidants needed to support both phase I and phase II detoxification pathways, for safe and gentle detoxification. I love to use Liver Reset as a meal replacement by adding it to a smoothie with veggies and protein powder, for a complete and balanced meal. You can check out my Root Cause Green smoothie recipe here.
Rootcology’s Liver & Gallbladder Support is another supplement that may be helpful.
Last but not least, my Root Cause Reset is a program I designed for comprehensive liver support, done in a gentle and effective manner (forcing the body to detox aggressively or quickly can result in a worsening of symptoms).
8. Balance Sex Hormones
Estrogen dominance is a state in which estrogen and progesterone are out of balance. There are two situations of estrogen dominance. The first situation is the most common, where estrogen levels are very high. This excess estrogen occurs because the body is making too much, it’s coming from an external source, or it’s recirculating because the body isn’t sufficiently detoxifying estrogen.
In the second situation of estrogen dominance, estrogen levels may be high or even normal, but progesterone is low, so the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is high. Estrogen dominance can be more common after a pregnancy or in menopause, because of the rapid decrease in progesterone production.
Estrogen dominance can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight, as well as PMS or PMDD, heavy periods, tender breasts, fibroids, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts. [13]
In order to support estrogen balance, we need to support our detoxification system, since this is how excess estrogen is removed from the body (see Liver section above). We may also need to support progesterone supplementally or boost its production, with seed cycling (check out Beeya), Vitex, P5P, magnesium, and vitamin C, if levels are low.
Stress is often the main cause of low progesterone levels, so supporting your stress levels may be helpful (see the Adrenal section above). Reducing your caffeine intake can be supportive of healthy progesterone production as well. Refer to my article on estrogen dominance for more support for balanced hormones.
If you’d like to test your estrogen and progesterone levels, there is a functional lab test that I love for looking at reproductive hormones, and it’s called the DUTCH Complete from Precision Analytical. Some individuals may benefit from topical or oral progesterone. Topical progesterone is available without a prescription, while oral progesterone generally requires a prescription.
9. Choose a Physical Activity You Enjoy
Perhaps you are thinking, “Physical activity?! I’m exhausted even after a full night’s sleep. I can’t even imagine getting enough energy to think about exercise, let alone do it.”
Physical activity speeds up our metabolism, and some tried and tested suggestions include walking 10,000 steps per day. (walking briskly outside or even on a treadmill at a 10% incline for about 30 minutes or so, is one protocol I like). However, you will need to tailor your activity based on your adrenal levels and the stage of adrenal dysfunction your body may currently be experiencing (as mentioned above). The more advanced the stages of your adrenal dysfunction are, the less likely you’re going to be able to tolerate exercise.
Generally, when it comes to exercise, we find that in Stage I adrenal dysfunction, things like running, aerobic sports, and CrossFit are going to make people feel better. In people with Stage III adrenal dysfunction, however, these types of activities may make them feel worse and ultimately worsen their adrenal fatigue and dysfunction. A person with Stage III adrenal dysfunction may do better with more gentle, relaxing exercises like yoga and stretching, as well as with muscle-building exercises like lifting weights. Remember: muscle boosting is great for our own internal metabolism. Having more lean muscle mass will actually make it easier for you to lose weight!
A good rule of thumb when it comes to exercise is that if you find that you feel exhausted after the exercise, this generally means that what you just did was too much for you. A good amount of exercise should make you feel refreshed and energized. You should feel like you should be able to do it all over again once more.
For some of my clients in Stage III adrenal dysfunction, I actually recommend they cut out exercise. It seems counterintuitive, but in this stage, when their adrenals are very dysfunctional, they are not able to tolerate exercise. Even walking or jogging can be too stressful for their bodies, and it actually makes them feel worse. I’ve had some ladies who were able to lose weight by exercising less, which is always surprising, and at the same time, great progress.
Again, it’s important to find the appropriate amount of exercise and tailor your needs to your own body. Choose a physical activity that you will enjoy and continue, such as walking, yoga, swimming, Pilates, running, Zumba, or P90X. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy it!
Something that not a lot of people in the fitness world are aware of, but that is really well known in the functional medicine space (especially by practitioners with advanced training), is that mitochondrial dysfunction can cause exercise intolerance. Mitochondrial-supportive nutrients can help with this. For example, D-Ribose (featured in Rootcology’s Electrolyte Blend) is essential for ATP production (which occurs in the mitochondria), which can be rapidly depleted during exercise. [14] My Adrenal Transformation Program and book were designed to support mitochondrial health.
Amino acids can also be helpful for exercise recovery. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are necessary for muscle repair, can help reduce fatigue and muscle soreness, and support the recovery process. [15]
I wanted to mention one more supplement that can be supportive for weight loss, especially when combined with exercise. Carnitine supports fat metabolism by transporting fatty acids into cells for energy production, especially during exercise. It’s particularly helpful for those who are active or follow a consistent exercise regimen. Some studies suggest it can help support healthy body fat levels, though results are more modest without paired physical activity. [16] Rootcology’s Carnitine Blend contains two forms of carnitine, for supporting muscle strength, normal fat metabolism, and healthy energy production, as well as supporting brain health.
10. Consider Medication Side Effects
As a consultant pharmacist, I have witnessed numerous people have major changes in weight with the use of certain medications.
Birth control, in particular, can be associated with significant weight gain, and 45 percent of my readers with Hashimoto’s reported that stopping birth control helped them normalize their weight. I’ve written about the impact of birth control on our health in this article.
As people with Hashimoto’s are often misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions, I would be remiss to report the important impact of psychotropic medications on weight gain.
The biggest culprits associated with weight gain include antipsychotic medications which were traditionally developed for schizophrenia, but are used on and off-label for conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, irritability, and even insomnia! [17] In my experience, Zyprexa was the worst offender. I have seen people gain 100+ pounds on this medication. Other antipsychotics include Seroquel, Risperdal, and Abilify.
Antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro can also contribute to weight gain. The antidepressant Wellbutrin, however, is less likely to cause weight gain.
I recommend speaking with your doctor or pharmacist about your current medications to see if they could be potential culprits for causing weight gain, and if weight-neutral alternatives exist.
11. Address Your Nutrient Deficiencies
One of the surprising reasons why people hold onto excess weight is because they are malnourished. It may seem counterintuitive that a person who is overweight would be nutrient deficient or malnourished, however, our nutritional status isn’t based on just calories alone.
The human body requires macro and micro-nutrients to thrive, and proper nutrient status depends on our intake of nutrients, digestion of food, and absorption of the nutrients from the food.
Without these nutrients, your body may sabotage your weight loss efforts by slowing down your metabolism or causing you to have cravings or feel hungry, even when you have had enough to eat.
Let’s review how to address nutritional status:
Intake of Nutrients
I recommend eating a nutrient-dense diet like the Paleo diet or Autoimmune Paleo diet for most people with Hashimoto’s as a starting point. Additionally, taking supplements can help with addressing your nutrition.
The most common nutrient deficiencies in Hashimoto’s are B vitamins (including thiamine and B12), selenium, magnesium, vitamin D, and ferritin.
For more information on each of these, please read my article on the most important nutrient deficiencies in Hashimoto’s.
Another common deficiency that may lead to weight gain is inadequate intake of protein. I recommend starting your day off with a blood sugar-balancing smoothie (bonus: it’s great for reducing cravings and hunger) that includes a hypoallergenic protein source, such as my Rootcology AI Paleo Protein. Smoothies and protein powders allow your body to absorb more nutrients, even if you don’t have perfect digestion, as the foods are more bioavailable and are easier to digest and absorb. Don’t forget to add the Liver Reset Powder for liver support!
Additionally, I love adding green juices to the mix as another great way to boost your nutritional status. Green juices also have tons of nutrients that are easy to absorb and digest.
Digestion
Digestive enzymes, such as betaine with pepsin for protein digestion, as well as fat-specific and broad-spectrum digestive enzymes, can also help you get more nutrients from your food.
Furthermore, blends with enzymes such as Rootcology’s Veggie Enzymes can help you digest fibers and starch in fibrous foods such as raw vegetables and fruits. If you have insufficient levels of digestive enzymes produced naturally in the pancreas, Rootcology’s Pancreatic Enzymes Plus may also be beneficial. The bromelain, trypsin, and chymotrypsin in this supplement target and break down specific amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine), where pancreatic enzymes are normally released. (Please speak with your practitioner before considering pancreatic enzymes if you are currently taking broad-spectrum digestive enzymes, as some of the ingredients may overlap.) I have an article all about using enzymes for Hashimoto’s you may want to check out. Thirty-five percent of my readers reported that digestive enzymes helped them optimize their weight!
Absorption
Absorbing your nutrients is dependent on a variety of factors, including the state of your gut and the function of your liver.
I already talked about the impact of probiotics on weight — 36 percent of my readers reported that a probiotic can help with weight optimization. Part of the reason for this is because probiotics help us extract nutrients.
Your Weight Loss Action Plan
Over the last several years, I’ve developed this weight loss action plan. If you’re feeling confused or overwhelmed with where to start or what to do – start here.
| Focus on Protein Intake | Aim for at least 100 grams per day, or 1 gram per pound of your ideal body weight. Use Liver Reset + 1 scoop of protein powder as a meal replacement for breakfast. |
| Focus on Fiber Intake | Aim for 50 grams per day (note that if you are not currently eating much fiber, you should increase your intake slowly to avoid digestive issues). |
| Prioritize Walking | Aim for 30 minutes of walking, 5 times per week. One viral trend known as the “12-3-30 Workout” is soothingly straightforward: set your treadmill to an incline of 12 and a speed of 3 miles per hour, and then walk for 30 minutes. If you struggle to get your steps in, a walking pad may help. Set it with an incline for a more intense walking session. |
| Pilates or Other Strength-Based Exercises | Aim for 3 times per week. |
| Supportive Supplements | Liver Reset Berberine Carnitine Butyrate Resistant Starch Myo-inositol |
| Perimenopause Support (optional) | P5P Magnesium Citrate |
Introducing the Balance Kit
The was created to support healthy weight management, through a combination of nutrients, herbs, and resistant starches which are known for helping to support a normal appetite, support normal blood sugar metabolism, promote healthy energy levels and balanced moods, and maintain metabolic efficiency.*
Here’s what’s included:
- Liver Reset: Liver support is a crucial part of weight loss for many people. Liver Reset contains a natural pea protein isolate to fuel detoxification pathways, as well as nutrients and antioxidants needed to support both phase I and phase II detoxification pathways, for safe and gentle detoxification. It also includes a comprehensive array of herbal hepatics and cholagogues to promote healthy liver function and elimination.* As mentioned earlier, I love making a blood-sugar balancing smoothie with Liver Reset as a meal replacement.*
- Berberine: Berberine is widely studied for its role in supporting metabolic health. Research suggests it may help support healthy blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, which can be beneficial for overall metabolic wellness.* [18]
- Carnitine Blend: Carnitine supports fat metabolism by helping transport fatty acids into cells where they can be used for energy production. It may support exercise endurance and assist the body in utilizing fat as an energy source during physical activity.* [19]
- Butyrate Balance: This short-chain fatty acid supports healthy glucose metabolism and a balanced inflammatory response, both of which are key in supporting overall metabolic health. Limited studies suggest it may assist in weight regulation indirectly by supporting gut health and metabolic health.* [20]
- Paleo Starch: Paleo Starch contains two forms of resistant starch (RS). RS is a type of prebiotic fiber that passes through the digestive system and ferments in the colon. This fermentation process can support digestive health and provide a source of fuel for beneficial gut bacteria. It can also support healthy blood sugar levels and aid in weight management.* [21]
- Myo-Inositol: Myo-inositol can support insulin sensitivity and normal carbohydrate metabolism, which is important for blood sugar balance. It may also be helpful in maintaining female hormone balance, another potential culprit in weight gain.* [22]
In combination with diet and lifestyle changes, this bundle is so supportive for those on their healthy weight journeys.
Best of all, you get a deep discount on the products with this bundle. The Balance Kit saves you about 14% versus if you were to purchase all these supplements individually. Plus, you’ll get a copy of my Comprehensive Weight Management Guide for free!
Takeaway
In an effort to slow down your body’s metabolism, stress, skipping meals, and toxicity can cause the body to attack the thyroid, as well as promote weight gain. Preventing further attacks on your already delicate thyroid is of prime importance, as you may know if you’ve read my book Hashimoto’s Protocol. By optimizing your thyroid hormone levels, following a thyroid-friendly diet, adding probiotics and fermented foods to your daily regimen, considering a T4/T3 combination medication, repairing your adrenals, implementing liver support, getting the appropriate amount of exercise for your body, and optimizing your nutrients, your health may greatly improve — and you may even notice that losing weight will become easier!
Remember, you are not alone. Losing weight with thyroid disease is POSSIBLE. Many of my readers have seen dramatic and positive weight loss results after implementing these lifestyle changes, and reported feeling better, too. You can be one of them! And you are WORTH it — so get your body and health on the right track today!
I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your health journey!
P.S. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get a free chapter of my first book, recipes, a Thyroid Diet start guide, and notifications about upcoming events. I love interacting with my readers on social media, and I encourage you to join my Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest community pages to stay on top of thyroid health updates and meet others who are following similar health journeys.
References
[1] Venkatasamy VV, Pericherla S, Manthuruthil S, Mishra S, Hanno R. Effect of Physical activity on Insulin Resistance, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Diabetes Mellitus. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013;7(8):1764-1766. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2013/6518.3306
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
[4] Matarrelli B, Vitacolonna E, D’Angelo M, et al. Effect of dietary myo-inositol supplementation in pregnancy on the incidence of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2013;26(10):967-972. doi:10.3109/14767058.2013.766691.
[5] Robertson MD. Dietary-resistant starch and glucose metabolism. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012;15(4):362-367. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e3283536931; Nugent, A. Health properties of resistant starch. Wiley Online Library. 2017. doi:10.1111/nbu.12244
[6] Davis CD. The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Obesity. Nutr Today. 2016;51(4):167-174. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000167
[7] Hyman M. How Good Gut Health Can Boost Your Immune System. EcoWatch. 2015. https://www.ecowatch.com/how-good-gut-health-can-boost-your-immune-system-1882013643.html. Accessed January 15, 2018.
[8] McConaghy JR, Decker A, Nair S. Peptic Ulcer Disease and H. pylori Infection: Common Questions and Answers. Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(2):165-172.; Dore MP, Fanciulli G, Manca A, Pes GM. Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in the Female Sex. J Clin Med. 2023;12(15):5150. Published 2023 Aug 6. doi:10.3390/jcm12155150
[9] Knezevic J, Starchl C, Tmava Berisha A, Amrein K. Thyroid-Gut-Axis: How Does the Microbiota Influence Thyroid Function?. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1769. Published 2020 Jun 12. doi:10.3390/nu12061769
[10] Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM. Probiotics in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders. Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. Published 2018 Oct 18. doi:10.3390/nu10101537; Huang J, Zhang J, Wang X, et al. Effect of Probiotics on Respiratory Tract Allergic Disease and Gut Microbiota. Front Nutr. 2022;9:821900. Published 2022 Feb 22. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.821900; Kim HJ, Kim HY, Lee SY, Seo JH, Lee E, Hong SJ. Clinical efficacy and mechanism of probiotics in allergic diseases. Korean J Pediatr. 2013;56(9):369-376. doi:10.3345/kjp.2013.56.9.369
[11] Liu H, Wang J, He T, et al. Butyrate: A Double-Edged Sword for Health?. Adv Nutr. 2018;9(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx009
[12] Thau L, Gandhi J, Sharma S. Physiology, Cortisol. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 28, 2023.
[13] Leeners B, Geary N, Tobler PN, Asarian L. Ovarian hormones and obesity. Hum Reprod Update. 2017;23(3):300-321. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmw045
[14] Teitelbaum JE, Johnson C, St Cyr J. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(9):857-862. doi:10.1089/acm.2006.12.857
[15] Sharp CP, Pearson DR. Amino acid supplements and recovery from high-intensity resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(4):1125-1130. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c7c655
[16] Askarpour M, Hadi A, Miraghajani M, Symonds ME, Sheikhi A, Ghaedi E. Beneficial effects of l-carnitine supplementation for weight management in overweight and obese adults: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmacol Res. 2020;151:104554. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104554; Talenezhad N, Mohammadi M, Ramezani-Jolfaie N, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Salehi-Abargouei A. Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;37:9-23. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.03.008
[17] Allison DB, Mentore JL, Heo M, et al. Antipsychotic-induced weight gain: a comprehensive research synthesis. Am J Psychiatry. 1999;156(11):1686-1696. doi:10.1176/ajp.156.11.1686
[18] Xie W, Su F, Wang G, et al. Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1015045. Published 2022 Nov 16. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1015045
[19] Askarpour M, Hadi A, Miraghajani M, Symonds ME, Sheikhi A, Ghaedi E. Beneficial effects of l-carnitine supplementation for weight management in overweight and obese adults: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmacol Res. 2020;151:104554. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104554
[20] Liu H, Wang J, He T, et al. Butyrate: A Double-Edged Sword for Health?. Adv Nutr. 2018;9(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx009
[21] Higgins JA. Resistant starch and energy balance: impact on weight loss and maintenance. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2014;54(9):1158-1166. doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.629352
[22] DiNicolantonio JJ, H O’Keefe J. Myo-inositol for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes. Open Heart. 2022;9(1):e001989. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2022-001989; Bizzarri M, Monti N, Piombarolo A, Angeloni A, Verna R. Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro-Inositol as Modulators of Ovary Steroidogenesis: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2023;15(8):1875. Published 2023 Apr 13. doi:10.3390/nu15081875
Note: Originally published in March 2015, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness
Dianne – thank you for your support and I’m glad to hear you’ve seen some improvement. Here’s the information on my book. I’d call ahead to B&N if you go to the store. Since it hit the NY Times, it’s been running out. I hope it’s helpful.
BARNES AND NOBLE
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hashimotos-thyroiditis-izabella-wentz-pharmd/1117308205?ean=9780615825793
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK:
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/book/
Joy – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FYI, all the ThyroidPharacistConsulting.com links above no longer work.
Elle – thank you letting me know. I am sorry you are having technical issues with our website. Please email my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and explain what the issue is and they will be happy to help you. 🙂
Debra – It’s important that you take the correct amount of medication for your own body’s needs, not what works for others. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Lauri – I’m sorry to hear about your complications. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Best wishes. YOU CAN DO IT!
Sarah – I’m so glad to hear you’ve found something that works for you! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Kim – Thank you for sharing what worked for you. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Shelley – Thank you for sharing what worked for you! Everyone is different 🙂
Ivonne – I’m so glad to hear that you found something that works for you. Over-exercising can exacerbate adrenal issues.
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Nicole – I’m sorry to hear that you miss the Crossfit community. There are other exercise programs that have communities – pilates and yoga are two great options.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Erin – I’m glad to hear that Crossfit is working for you! Thank you for sharing!
Brianne – Thank you for your input! You are right that exercise can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
You can read more about it here:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Kathie – It seems like you have found something that really works for you! Well done for working on it and finding a solution 🙂 The important thing is that you’re feeling better about yourself and in yourself!
Kim – Sadly overexertion in exercise can really wipe out the adrenals. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Linda – Garcinia Cambogia is associated with liver toxicity and studies have not shown any particular correlation with weight loss. Weight loss pills can be problematic because they are often based on stimulating properties which can drain our adrenals. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Meghan – please see my reply above 🙂
Meghan – In addition to lifestyle changes, individuals with the MTHFR gene variation and high homocysteine levels may benefit from an activated version of folate, B6 and B12 , such as methylfolate, Pyridoxyl-5-Phosphate , and methylcobalamin, respectively. This is because we may not be able to get enough of the needed nutrients from food alone. Pure Encapsulations makes a supplement called Homocysteine Factors that contains all of the above-mentioned ingredients and may be helpful with reducing homocysteine levels.
http://www.purecapspro.com/thyroidrootcause/pe/products/product_details.asp?ProductsID=121
Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
Yvonne – Garcinia Cambogia is associated with liver toxicity and studies have not shown any particular correlation with weight loss. Weight loss pills can be problematic because they are often based on stimulating properties which can drain our adrenals. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
I have done everything from pure compounded thyroid T3T4, strict paleo autoimmune protocol, 100% organic, eat fish with low mercury content, no dairy, no grains,no refined sugars, no chocolate no caffeine, no alcohol, overhauled my beauty products, mediation classes, essential oils….. it has been two years and nothing has helped me. NOTHING. I work out, but my body hurts all the time… I give up.
also..no nightshades…
Jennifer – 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!
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. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can trial a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here are some articles I hope you will find helpful!
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO ME AND IM 23!! I just yearn for a life that’s not filled with exhaustion, horrible bloating, 25+ weight gain, and just falling ill all the time:( super bummed about it.
Claudie – thank you so much for following! ❤️ I’m so sorry you are struggling with all of this. Hashimoto’s is often a combination of food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, adrenal issues, gut issues as well as an impaired ability to get rid of toxins. Any of those things would prevent a person from getting better. Hashimoto’s is very much an individual condition. While there are root cause commonalities, each person will have their own or in some cases, more than one root cause. You will have to start with the simplest modifications, by removing triggers, followed by repairing the other broken systems to restore equilibrium, allowing the body to rebuild itself. You will need to dig down to why the immune system is imbalanced in the first place and this will tell you how you begin to finally feel better, reduce your thyroid antibodies and even take your condition into remission.
You will have to create your own health timeline. Look back at your overall history as far back as you can remember. Look for infections, periods of severe stress, the use of medications (especially antibiotics, antacids, and oral contraceptives), accidents, and exposure to toxins. These are events that may have contributed to Hashimoto’s. Once you do, you will know what types of changes you need to implement to make yourself feel better. If you need further support, please check out the list of lab tests inside the “Testing” chapter of my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. I also offer a 12-week program, Hashimoto’s Self Management Program. Here are some resources I hope you find helpful as well. ❤️
BUILDING YOUR OWN HEALTH TIMELINE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/sample-health-timeline/
Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/enroll-in-hashimotos-self-management/
ROOT CAUSE RESET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/enroll-in-root-cause-reset/
Carol – I’m so glad to hear you’ve found something that works for you! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Hi Carol, what brand supplement did you use?
Sandy – I’m sorry to hear things aren’t great right now. Don’t forget that you are only one person in a partnership – your husband has to work with you to improve things in your relationship. As well as the tips in the above article, two things that can make a difference are eating coconut oil and supplementing your stomach acid:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-low-stomach-acid
Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
thanks
Joan – Chromium supplements can be helpful in managing blood sugar swings – blood sugar imbalances are a big contributor to Hashi’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.
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/blood-sugar-imbalances-and-hashimotos
REVERSING DIABETES AND HASHIMOTO’S BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-diabetes-and-hashimotos-blood-sugar-imbalances
Lyn – Garcinia Cambogia is associated with liver toxicity and studies have not shown any particular correlation with weight loss. Weight loss pills can be problematic because they are often based on stimulating properties which can drain our adrenals. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Carolyn – While I haven’t seen any contraindication between ashwagandha and thyroid medications, ashwagandha is a night shades which many with Hashimoto’s are sensitive to. I provide more detail in this article:
PAIN HASHIMOTOS AND FIBROMYALGIA…
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-fibromyalgia/
Caroline – I highly recommend that people work with a functional medicine clinician. I’m glad you have found someone helpful. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Ann – In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. For those that have not been able to remove their symptoms after implementing a gluten-free diet, I recommend digging a bit deeper to find their personal food triggers. The most common food sensitivities are going to be to gluten, dairy (this was my biggest one), soy, grains (especially corn), nightshades (like potatoes, tomatoes and peppers), nuts and seeds.
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut
Georgina – I’m sorry to hear things arent going as well as you’d like. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
I have a program called Hacking Hashimoto’s, which is a 12 week education program that walks you through, step by step, all the strategies I use with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that people have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It includes a free trial. For more information please go to http://hackinghashimotos.com/
Jodi – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Ditto for biotin? How much per day?
Marcy – Not everyone will need every single supplement! In fact, I believe that most nutrients should come from the diet, this is why I always list food sources for most of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s in the book and on the blog. However, some may require/prefer supplements and the supplements on the website are a resource for those that do. I recommend getting tested for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm. Always follow the dosage recommendation listed on the bottle.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Here’s an article about probiotics I hope you’ll read.
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-four-best-probiotics-for-hashimotos
Wendy – Not everyone will need every single supplement! In fact, I believe that most nutrients should come from the diet, this is why I always list food sources for most of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s in the book and on the blog. However, some may require/prefer supplements and the supplements on the website are a resource for those that do. I recommend getting tested for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm. Always follow the dosage recommendation listed on the bottle.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Here’s an article about probiotics I hope you’ll read.
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-four-best-probiotics-for-hashimotos
many brands for last 5 years.
Margot – I’ve found Prescript Assist can be very helpful! Here’s an article about probiotics I hope you’ll read.
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-four-best-probiotics-for-hashimotos
Michelle – thank you for following this page. 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 4-6 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/top-10-tips-for-overcoming-hashimotos-fatigue
THIAMINE AND THYROID FATIGUE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/thiamine-and-thyroid-fatigue
9 WAYS TO HACK YOUR SLEEP FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH AND REST
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/9-ways-to-hack-your-sleep-for-optimal-health-and-rest
HASHIMOTO’S AND ANXIETY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-anxiety
ROOT CAUSES OF DEPRESSION AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/root-causes-of-depression-and-hashimotos
I was recently diagnosed and your post reads exactly like mine…except I also have an infant baby, I work full time and I am a single mom. I live this every day and it sounds like you do too. I have always been a very strong and independent person and now I am the polar opposite. Please know that you are not alone – one thing that has helped me is to get to know me better – I have started taking time to myself – read a book I have wanted to read – and take as long as I want to do it. I sit around and watch tv and play with my daughter. I find ways to make me comfortable in the moment – thinking too far ahead is very very overwhelming. Good luck to you – pray too – I do.
L
Linda – I’m sorry to hear things have been hard – many people struggle with hypothyroidism after the birth of a child. Emotional support is incredibly necessary at this time. When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
And thank you for your time. I just want to feel like me again, glad I’m not ‘crazy’~ Cheryl
Cheryl – Most people with Hashimoto’s will experience weight gain, and so of course that’s what gets the most focus, but some people actually experience weight loss, or they can’t keep their weight on.
This is especially problematic when a person has multiple food sensitivities and needs to adhere to an autoimmune diet that restricts foods.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1) Get a calorie counting app like My Fitness Pal on your phone, to help you keep track of your daily calories. Eating real food can be more filling than eating simple carbohydrates and you may not be getting enough calories. Use the app to figure out your target weight and the number of calories per day you need to get there.
2) Supplement after dinner with The Root Cause Building Smoothie: 1 avocado (300 calories), 1 cup coconut milk (150 calories), 1 banana (100 calories), 2 egg yolks (100 calories, if tolerated), 1 scoop of protein of beef/pea protein(60 calories) – You can also add cooked sweet potatoes if you need more carbs.
3) Get tested for gut infections. Gut infections can prevent the digestion and assimilation of foods, leaving you underweight and malnourished. The 401H test or GI Effects test are my go to tests.
4) Get your adrenals tested with an adrenal saliva tests. In some, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods.
5) Be sure that you are not over medicated.
6) Work on reducing your antibodies with a selenium supplement
7) Stress reduction, when we’re stressed we don’t digest.
8) Add coconut oil in your beverages, this can add extra calories in your day
9) Avoid caffeine, it can make you less hungry and stress out your adrenals.
Thanks for ordering my book, I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you haven’t already, would you mind leaving a review on Amazon? 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
You’re not alone & not crazy! Since being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I’ve had back pain that requires I not sleep flat at night and occasional extreme joint pain. I finally got my doctor to test reverse T3 & antibodies this week, hoping for results next week. I’m anxious to see what they say so I have a better idea of where to start with my healing journey!
Laurie – thank you for following this page. I personally struggled with pain in the form of body aches and stiffness as well as carpal tunnel in both arms in 2010, when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. It was awful, I had to wear braces on both arms all day and even at night for about 6 months.
I took NSAIDs every day to deal with the pain so I could get through my workday.
I hope these articles help you get started.
PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-and-hashimotos
PAIN HASHIMOTOS AND FIBROMYALGIA…
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-fibromyalgia%E2%80%A6
TURMERIC FOR YOUR THYROID AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/turmeric-for-your-thyroid-and-hashimotos
Margaretta – 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 in 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
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-a-surgical-disease
Sugar can be problematic and sugar should be kept to a minimum and eaten as part of a protein containing meal. Blood sugar imbalances are a big contributor to Hashi’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.
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/blood-sugar-imbalances-and-hashimotos
There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
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 in 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
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-a-surgical-disease
Lisa – Garcinia Cambogia is associated with liver toxicity and studies have not shown any particular correlation with weight loss. Weight loss pills can be problematic because they are often based on stimulating properties which can drain our adrenals. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Michele – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Edy – As well as the tips in the above article, two things that can make a difference are eating coconut oil and supplementing your stomach acid:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-low-stomach-acid
Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
Carol – I’m so glad you’ve found something that works for you. 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
John – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Charlene – I’m so glad to hear you’ve made progress! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Laurie – The Thyroid Bundle Cookbook contains over 100 delicious gluten, dairy and soy-free recipes from me and my favorite thyroid and nutrition experts – available here:
THYROID BUNDLE FREE COOKBOOK
http://thyroidbundle.com/
Also, you may be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipe Portal. It is full of autoimmune paleo and paleo recipes. You’re able to organize weekly shopping lists, meal planning, etc. Hope you check it out.
ROOT CAUSE RECIPE PORTAL
http://rootcauserecipes.com/
Cindy – The Thyroid Bundle Cookbook contains over 100 delicious gluten, dairy and soy-free recipes from me and my favorite thyroid and nutrition experts – available here:
THYROID BUNDLE FREE COOKBOOK
http://thyroidbundle.com/
Also, you may be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipe Portal. It is full of autoimmune paleo and paleo recipes. You’re able to organize weekly shopping lists, meal planning, etc. Hope you check it out.
ROOT CAUSE RECIPE PORTAL
http://rootcauserecipes.com/
Mari – Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th-1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy,
when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery. I do talk a lot about it and go into more depth in my book!! 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
Hormonal imbalances also help to explain why women are affected by autoimmune conditions more often than men. You might find this article interesting?
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE AS A HASHIMOTOS TRIGGER
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/estrogen-dominance-as-a-hashimotos-trigger
Tracy – I would follow this up with your doctor for more information. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Viki – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Jamie – 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 4-6 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/top-10-tips-for-overcoming-hashimotos-fatigue
THIAMINE AND THYROID FATIGUE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/thiamine-and-thyroid-fatigue
9 WAYS TO HACK YOUR SLEEP FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH AND REST
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/9-ways-to-hack-your-sleep-for-optimal-health-and-rest
In my experience, people with Hashimoto’s often have a combination of food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, gut infections, adrenals issues and an impaired ability to clear toxins. Any of those things would prevent a person from getting better. I have a list of lab tests that can be done in my Testing” chapter of my book. I will also be doing a Finding Your Root Cause” workshop sometime in the next few months. Please join my newsletter if you would like to be notified about it. I also post new research and resources almost on a weekly basis
Jonnie – Topical application of coconut oil can make a big difference to stretch marks!
Laura – Here is a link to sign up for my emails. You will also get free access to the Depletions and Digestion book chapter, Thyroid Diet Quick Start Guide and 10 Nutrient Dense Gluten Free Recipes.
THYROID DIET QUICK START GUIDE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift
Teresa – Selenium content of Brazil nuts is determined on the soil where the nuts are grown and can vary 10 fold depending on the origin of the nuts. Brazil nuts can have between 50-500 mcg of Selenium per ounce of nuts, so unless a lab has analyzed the micronutrients, you really don’t know if you are getting enough or too much Selenium.
Selenium is very important to thyroid health and can even reduce antibodies. I cover selenium in the Depletions and Digestion chapter in my book, which you can read for free here:
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift
Barb- Yes, Armour is a prescription only medication. There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Cindy – Armour is a natural desiccated thyroid medication derived from pig thyroid glands. There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Armour Thyroid is considered pig thyroid. My Dr. Just took me off because she said it is not a consistent drug such as the amounts in the meds that help the thyroid.
Ann – Armour is strictly regulated – natural medications may have been variable 50 years ago but they can be relied on for consistency these days. Here is some more information on choosing the right medication for you:
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
After being on Levothyroxine since then I decided, with the help of my GP, changed to a more natural Armorthyroid five weeks ago. I’m 63, haven’t had a period since I was 55 and have never had any menopausal symptoms. Within three weeks of starting Armorthyroid, I was launched into a raging menopause, with night sweats, fatigue, and terrible hot flashes. I’ve been back on my Levoxyl for two weeks and am hoping my symptoms disappear!
Becky – Sorry to hear you are suffering these symptoms. Some people do find that natural desiccated medications don’t suit them and for some people they increases thyroid antibodies. Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well. Have you done all these tests?
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests
Nancy – I’m so glad to hear you found what works for you! For people seeking a new functional doctor I recommend these articles:
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Michelle – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Julie – Some other things to prioritize are: getting enough sleep, at least 8-9 hours. Gentle exercise like walking, about an hour a day. Supplementing your stomach acid:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-low-stomach-acid
And eating coconut oil, it’s antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
he believes if I begin taking medication now that I will actually becomes Sicker before I become better. So
at this point I have been rapidly gaining weight and very fearful of gaining more, I have no energy at all, I’m losing my hair and I have lost my putter eyebrows, skin is extremely dry and crackedand I do have a gluten intolerance
Is diet change alone going to be good enough? I also suffer with severe fibromyalgia and find it very painful to do any chore or necessary activity. the medications I take for that cause severe inflammation and swelling so it feels like I’m going in circles without any improvement.
Vicky – 3 is the top of the currently healthy range. Most people report feeling well with a TSH between 0.5-2. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. I’m afraid some doctors are quite closed-minded when it comes to just going by lab results, which is why I recommend a functional medicine practitioner, they are much more willing to go by how you feel instead of numbers on a page. Have you seen this article?
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TSH IS NORMAL AND YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-to-do-if-your-tsh-is-normal-and-you-are-anything-but
Kathie – Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-and-autoimmune-disorders
GET SOME SUNSHINE FOR YOUR THYROID!
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/get-some-sunshine-for-your-thyroid
I was told that freezing, then toasting 21-grain bread far reduces its gluten content. is that true? if this is the only gluten in my day, is that still healthy?
i can not find an internet source to look up/compare gluten contents. do you have any resources to recommend?
thanks bunches, tricia
Tricia – Unfortunately toasting even the best bread won’t reduce the gluten content. Even a speck of gluten can cause damage to the gut lining. Going completely gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-and-autoimmune-disorders
I hope this helps, best wishes and good luck!
Jen – Thank you for your contribution! – 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!
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-and-autoimmune-disorders
Betty – Our skin is a window to our internal health. It is the body’s largest elimination organ, and also a canvas where toxicities, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities and hormonal imbalances can show up. Women with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions are more likely to have dry, dull skin, rashes, hives, pre-menstrual acne and facial swelling, especially if their thyroid levels are not optimized and they are not absorbing vitamins and nutrients correctly.
THYROID AND SKIN
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-thyroid-and-skin
Holly – thank you so much for your support! I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you haven’t already, would you mind leaving a review on Amazon? 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
Sandy – I’m sorry to hear of your struggles. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
I am still unable to work.
I had a baby 2 years ago and have had 4 surgeries.
Diagnosed with Hoshimoto’s.
My friends all abandoned me.
Beautiful Nightmare – Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th-1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy, when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery.
Hormonal imbalances also help to explain why women are affected by autoimmune conditions more often than men. You might find this article interesting?
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE AS A HASHIMOTOS TRIGGER
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/estrogen-dominance-as-a-hashimotos-trigger
ARE THYROID MEDICATIONS SAFE FOR PREGNANCY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
PREGNANCY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-pregnancy
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Lisa – I have a program called Hacking Hashimoto’s, which is a 12 week education program that walks you through, step by step, all the strategies I use with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that people have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It includes a free trial. For more information please go to http://hackinghashimotos.com/
Have you read my book?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Marlena – Individuals with the MTHFR gene actually have a difficult time processing folic acid that is present in most cheap supplements and added to processed foods. Some professionals claim that this type of folic acid may even cause a build-up in the body leading to toxicity. Studies have been done that showed folic acid supplements increased cancer risk… one more reason to ditch processed foods and your multivitamin! Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting!
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut%C2%A0%C2%A0brain%C2%A0and-autoimmune-disorders
HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-the-gut
Cheryl – As well as the tips in the above article, two things that can make a difference are eating coconut oil and supplementing your stomach acid:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-low-stomach-acid
Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
Have you read my book?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
So sorry to read your post. I totally understand your frustrations. I feel hopeless also. My husband even thinks I’m over reacting. I can’t even find the energy to get out of bed unless it’s to visit the grand kids or go to a Dr.’ s appointment. I started to see a natural Dr. that understand our situation. I sure hope she can help cause I haven’t any other place to turn to. I often leave and stay in a hotel just to cry myself to sleep. I give you big credit for even exercising. I have absolutely no life left in me or hope as you have read in my previous post. Please feel free to e-mail me at dragonflygirlone@gmail.com. Believe me I understand and am so sorry. Question for you, do you have severe depression also? I live in Oregon. Will say a prayer for the both of us. If you would like to talk just ask for my number. Good luck!
Sandy – I”m sorry to hear things are difficult right now. A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Beata – Thank you for sharing what worked for you. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Sandy – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Rachel – Thank you so much for sharing your story! It is so great to hear success stories! If you’d like to submit a written testimonial, you can do it via this link:
http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/testimonial
Susan – Eyebrow loss is a very common side effect of Hashimoto’s – you can read more about it here:
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/symptoms-of-impaired-thyroid-function
Have you read these articles on how to reduce hair loss?
HASHIMOTO’S AND GETTING YOUR HAIR BACK
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-getting-your-hair-back
HAIR LOSS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hair-loss-and-thyroid
In the summer I ride my bike and swim laps.
My arms are still jiggly and the inside of my thighs are too.
I use ankle weights, and do “spot exercises” on the floor.
I target the back of my arms with light weight as I have a 4 level cervical fusion, so I cannot go too high.
My muscles just are NOT responding to years of consistent exercise and it is very frustrating.
I am taking good supplements and tested hormones, cortisol, vitamin D (it was low and now it is fine) and a few others.
I am 54, but I see others older, totally TONED. Why is my body not responding anymore?
I also added a probiotic and it did make my stomach flat and not “gassy” anymore.
I lost weight! 20 lbs over a year, and down 3 sizes. I just cannot get my muscles TONED.
I tire easily when I do cardio, even when I ride my bike, every other day. I never build up to doing more. Now the ride has been cut down, and I am exhausted when it is over. I usually take an hours nap, an hours after I am done,
My cervical fusion is definitely affecting the “intensity”, but some is better than none, so I will just keep going.
My blood pressure is up too, and that is weird for someone who is consistent.
YES, I eat a good diet, mostly protein, fruits and asparagus is my favorite. Barely a carb in my world and I drink nearly a gallon of water a day!
Anne – Thank you for sharing what worked for you. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Kathy – I know how overwhelming and frustrating it can be. 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Hoping once I implement my exercise plan I can drop some weight. So far with just the supplements alone and new medication I am feeling better and I’ve lost about 5-7 pounds over the last month. Hang in there. With patience with yourself and being kind and good to yourself and your body you can LIVE again.
Karen – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
B – Recovering from adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy.
Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always present with Hashimoto’s. Pea protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities (I use NOW Foods brand).
Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians, however, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet.
Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many in the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys.
While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I have not been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.
Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following transitioning to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building back the health of people with Hashimoto’s.
That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body; hindering healing, and thus the diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggie).
Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet can be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements should be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency.
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
GDT – Thank you for sharing your story! Individuals with the MTHFR gene actually have a difficult time processing folic acid that is present in most cheap supplements and added to processed foods. Some professionals claim that this type of folic acid may even cause a build-up in the body leading to toxicity. Studies have been done that showed folic acid supplements increased cancer risk… one more reason to ditch processed foods and your multivitamin! Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting!
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut%C2%A0%C2%A0brain%C2%A0and-autoimmune-disorders
HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-the-gut
Murainne – 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Judi – Most people feel best with a TSH around 1 or lower and with a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper half of the range. People with Hashimoto’s may experience BOTH hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms because as the thyroid cells are destroyed, stored hormones are released into the circulation causing a toxic level of thyroid hormone in the body, also known as thyrotoxicosis or Hashitoxicosis. Eventually, the stored thyroid may become depleted and due to thyroid cell damage, the person is no longer able to produce enough hormones. At this time, hypothyroidism develops.
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/symptoms-of-impaired-thyroid-function
Robin – I’m so glad to hear you’ve found something that works for you! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Carla – Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help :
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/09/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos.html
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HYPOTHYROIDISM AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-hypothyroidism-and-hashimotos
Kevlynn – I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Paulita – I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Megan – Thank you for your contribution. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
You may also find these articles useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Sandra – I’m so glad to hear you’ve found something that works for you! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Lisa – thank you for sharing your experience 🙂 As well as the tips in the above article, two things that can make a difference are eating coconut oil and supplementing your stomach acid:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-low-stomach-acid
Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibiotic, and can help with weight issues. I find most people with Hashimoto’s can tolerate it.
Andrea – wow, that is good to know. I’m sorry you had that experience. You may also find this article useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
Merise – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Melanie – Pure Encapsulations is a high quality brand I use and I recommend for family members and friends. All the products sold by Pure Encapsulations are free of gluten, dairy, and additives that may impair absorption. I would try this formulation of magnesium at night:
http://www.purerxo.com/thyroidpharmacist/rxo/products/product_details.asp?ProductsID=951
Patr – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Rhonda – Please have a look at this article. Selenium can be very helpful in reducing your antibodies:
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES – SELENIUM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/nutrient-depletions-in-hashimotos-part-i-selenium
Cynthia – Here are the tests you need. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well. Have you done all these tests?
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests
Melanie – I’m so glad to hear you’re making progress! Please feel free to add a doctor or clinician you have had great success with to our Recommended Practitioners database. Follow the link and scroll to the bottom, once you click “Accept” you’ll then be able to see the lists and icons for each country.
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Bia – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
Rhonda
– I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Susie
– I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
SRA
– I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Debra – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
Merise – Pure Encapsulations is a high quality brand I use and I recommend for family members and friends. All the products sold by Pure Encapsulations are free of gluten, dairy, and additives that may impair absorption. I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Tanya – When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
TJ – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
Pamela Ann – 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 in 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
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-a-surgical-disease
I have a program called Hacking Hashimoto’s, which is a 12 week education program that walks you through, step by step, all the strategies I use with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that people have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It includes a free trial. For more information please go to http://hackinghashimotos.com/
Jennifer – Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-and-autoimmune-disorders
Robyn – If you care to receive my weekly newsletter, you can sign up through this link:
http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/gift
Annet – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Christina – There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-medications-and-your-thyroid
Pamela Ann – Selenium appears to be a supplement with a narrow therapeutic index. A minimum dose of 200 mcg was required to reduce TPO antibodies in clinical trials (100 mcg did not have an effect), and Selenium can be toxic at doses >800 mcg. The daily Selenium dose for adults should be between 200mcg and 400 mcg daily.
The Selenium content of Brazil nuts is determined by the soil where the nuts are grown, and can vary 10 fold, depending on the origin of the nuts. Brazil nuts can have between 50-500 mcg of Selenium per ounce of nuts, so unless a lab has analyzed the micronutrients, you really don’t know if you are getting enough or too much Selenium.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT DIET AND THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/common-questions-about-diet-and-thyroid
Kathy – I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles. You do need proper medical help to get well. – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Pamela Ann I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
You may also find some good doctor recommendations in this group:
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Nancy – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Have you read my book?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Merise – 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 in 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
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-a-surgical-disease
Michele – Anxiety symptoms are very common in people with thyroid disorders.
HASHIMOTO’S AND ANXIETY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-anxiety
AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASE AND ANXIETY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-thyroid-disease-and-anxiety
ARE YOU GOING CRAZY OR IS IT JUST YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-you-going-crazy-or-is-it-just-your-thyroid
Sharon – I know it can be hard to stick to a strict diet but it’s not forever! 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 I hope you find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Sara – Most people with Hashimoto’s will experience weight gain, and so of course that’s what gets the most focus, but some people actually experience weight loss, or they can’t keep their weight on.
This is especially problematic when a person has multiple food sensitivities and needs to adhere to an autoimmune diet that restricts foods.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1) Get a calorie counting app like My Fitness Pal on your phone, to help you keep track of your daily calories. Eating real food can be more filling than eating simple carbohydrates and you may not be getting enough calories. Use the app to figure out your target weight and the number of calories per day you need to get there.
2) Supplement after dinner with The Root Cause Building Smoothie: 1 avocado (300 calories), 1 cup coconut milk (150 calories), 1 banana (100 calories), 2 egg yolks (100 calories, if tolerated), 1 scoop of protein of beef/pea protein(60 calories) – You can also add cooked sweet potatoes if you need more carbs.
3) Get tested for gut infections. Gut infections can prevent the digestion and assimilation of foods, leaving you underweight and malnourished. The 401H test or GI Effects test are my go to tests.
4) Get your adrenals tested with an adrenal saliva tests. In some, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods.
5) Be sure that you are not over medicated.
6) Work on reducing your antibodies with a selenium supplement
7) Stress reduction, when we’re stressed we don’t digest.
8) Add coconut oil in your beverages, this can add extra calories in your day
9) Avoid caffeine, it can make you less hungry and stress out your adrenals.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Angelina – 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 in 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
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-a-surgical-disease
Lottie – The current research shows there are 5 stages to thyroid disease. There are 5 stages to thyroid disease. A person with only thyroid antibodies and normal TSH is considered in Stage 2 of thyroid disease, a person who has an elevated TSH with normal T4/T3 with or without thyroid antibodies, is in Stage 3 of thyroid disease, a person with elevated TSH, lowered T3/T4 +/- thyroid antibodies is in Stage 4 of thyroid disease, regardless if she/he has thyroid antibodies or not. Stage 5, is when the person progresses to other types of autoimmune disease. The course is focused on reversing and slowing/stopping progression of the condition in all stages, and is appropriate for all levels of thyroid disease.
Please have a look at this article. Selenium can be very helpful in reducing your antibodies:
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES – SELENIUM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/nutrient-depletions-in-hashimotos-part-i-selenium
Naima – have you read my book? I have more information on supplements and timings in it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Lisa – I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/1/post/2013/10/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid.html
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
You may also like to check out the doctors that other patients recommend on this list:
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
HASHIMOTO’S 411
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Amy – I’m so happy to hear about your progress! Your medication can make a difference to your rate of weight loss. Some people see a big change by using NDT or compounded T3/T4 medications. There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. Check out these articles I wrote for further insight.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-your-medication-gluten-free
Thank you for your post. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and I am on a T3/T4 regimen that puts my TSH and free T3 at ideal levels, however my free T4 is a bit low. My diet is grain free and sugar free HFLC, but I can’t lose the 10 lbs I gained. Do you think it’s my low T4? Thanks
Gail- 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.
DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy
GOING DAIRY FREE TO REVERSE HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/going-dairy-free-to-reverse-hashimotos
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
Thanks for the information, but I have some questions.
I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and before a year I have found that I am lactose intolerance without any tests. I made only the elimination diet.
The problem is that I am not sure if I have problem with gluten. I haven’t done any tests yet because I have read that even if the results are ok, it is not sure that I can eat this kind of food.
So…is there any connection between lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance?
And can you tell me something more about the basal temperature? Is it a factor of the health of my thyroid?
My last question is connected with bodybuilding and fitness. I am really addicted to this sport and I am not sure if I can stop. I love it. It helps me relax. But since I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I start gaining weight. I don’t like myself right now…do you know something about this topic?
Thanks a lot. 🙂
Gratziela- Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies. Extreme exercise, such as training for a marathon or triathlon, may be too demanding for someone who is undergoing adrenal fatigue, and may need to be postponed until after the person recovers.
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/
Hi,
Thank you for this information. I am hypothyroid but still really tired! I am so exhausted filling out patient forms for them to smile at me and say to make sure I’m taking care of myself and avoid stress . . . Anyway, I had some labs done and am not sure where to go with the info. I live in MT and only saw one functional medicine doctor on the list and she specializes in autism. (I know because I have a son with autism.) My thyroglobulin antibody test was 23, my TSH was 4.8 and The FREE T3 and T4 were both the lowest they could be and still be in the normal.
1.) What do those numbers mean?
2.) I would like to get my whole family tested as I think it could be part of the puzzle to my son’s autism. What tests should I have done?
Thank you for making this topic loud enough people can find it.
God bless,
colleen
Colleen – my heart goes out to you and your son. 🙁 Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions.
These are the recommended labs from my book, page 32.
RECOMMENDED THYROID FUNCTION TESTS
TSH
TPO Antibodies
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Free T4
Free T3
Reverse T3 (Optional)
Have you read my book, Hashimoto’s The Root Cause? Here’s the link in case you’re interested.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

HOW TO GET ACCURATE LAB TESTING WHEN TAKING MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/how-to-get-accurate-lab-tests-when-taking-thyroid-medications
When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Ask questions. Post your thoughts. Scan the files. It is an absolutely amazing resource. Best of all it’s kept private from spammers.
A couple months after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I competed in my first powerlifting competition. Now I’m entering a muscle gain phase as I’m on the smaller end of my weight class (I’m 5’7″ and weigh 65.7 kg in the 72 kg class) and want to gain a lot of strength so I can be more competitive in the sport. I’m a little scared that because of the autoimmune problems, I won’t be able to cut the inevitable small amount of fat I gain along with the muscle, or that I won’t gain any muscle because my hormones are messed up. Everything I find online is on how to lose weight if you have this condition, but do you have advice or an article for athletes who need to keep training and get stronger?
Thanks!
Lara
Lara – thank you for following this page. Best of luck!
Here are a few articles related to diet that hopefully help you get started.
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/blood-sugar-imbalances-and-hashimotos
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
Dr. Izabella,
I have many conditions or health issues and also wondered if I might have a thyroid condition. It all started about 18 yrs ago when I fell ill and had to leave my job and take up residense at my doctors office. First they diagnosed me with epstein bar syndrome, I felt like I was dying. Severe pain and fatigue persisted and finally after several doctors and visits they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also have IBS with constipation, a redundant colon, allergies to foods, scents and medication, asthma, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetic, anxiety, depression, migrains, h. pylori duodentinitis, arthritis, high cholesterol. I have struggles with being overweight and recently started sweating profusly and gained 20 pounds it seemed in a very short time. The last time I had my thyroid tested they said it was on the low side of normal. No hair loss though. I need a little direction on what to do and what is going on. Thanks so much,
Debbie
Debbie – thank you so much for following this page.
Did you know that if you live in the United States, Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and take thyroid medications, there’s a higher probability that you do have Hashimoto’s?
Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95% of those with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.
But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is sluggish,” and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.” I hope you check out these articles that I wrote.
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-you-doing-everything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-yet-well/
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/do-you-have-hypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-both/
Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all, so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/
Umesh- Wow, thank you so much for your support! You have no idea how much it means to me! I look forward to hearing your progress on this page! 🙂
I was diagnosed without hashimotos 6 mos ago. I’be been off sugar, white flour, reduced my milk intake to plain yogurt and cheese only, and have taken probiotics (VSL#3) for 10 years . My integrative MD has recommended all the same things you have recommended and I’ve read the Hashimotos Protocol. I take a handful of supplements a day – (now brand mostly) Ashwaganda, C, B, Multi, D, fish oil, rhodiola, and a cal mag at night. I eat a pea protein shake for breakfast, A fresh lunch (very small portions) and a small healthy dinner. Yet, I am still gaining weight. ANY SUGGETIONS!! I am so frustrated!
Kym – thank you or following this page. When it comes to weight gain these are a few things to think about.
1) What was your recent TSH, Free T3 and Free T4? Sometimes when those numbers are on the outskirts of normal, your metabolic rate may still be impaired making it more difficult for you to burn calories. Most people report feeling well with a TSH between 0.5-2
2) What type of medication are you on? Some report more weight loss with T4/T3 combinations (Armour, Nature-Throid, compounded medications) versus T4 medications (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint) alone. T4 is a precursor to T3, but some individuals do not convert T4 to T3 properly, and the T3 component is the metabolically active one.
3) What type of diet are you eating? Some report more weight loss with T4/T3 combination vs T4 alone. Some do not convert T4 properly.The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) full of sugar and simple carbohydrates is perfectly designed to cause us to gain weight year after year. Even yogurts that are marketed as “healthy” contain the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar. Divorcing the S.A.D. is often a step that many of us must take to not just lose weight, but to also feel better. Some diets that have been helpful include the Body Ecology Diet, the Paleo Diet, the Virgin Diet, Autoimmune Paleo Diet, GAPS diet, SCD diet, Weston A. Price Diet, or the Mediterranean Diet. You may need to modify these diets to your own individuality.
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/how-to-lose-weight-with-hashimotos
Thank you very much for your advices! I’m on the way to start AIP. Your website is very helpful, even if I don’t have perfect english))). I would like to read your books in russian!
Olesia – thank you so much for your support! That is a wonderful suggestion I will take that into consideration. 🙂
Hello Dr Izabella,
Hope you are doing great.
I have a question about hypothyroidism – So, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid 2 years back. One of the symptoms is difficulty is shedding off weight. Still I was able to loose 15 pounds 🙂
But recently I went out for vacation for 3 weeks. Though I avoided unhealthy meals , exercised regularly still I gained 6 pounds in 3 weeks 🙁
Do you this is due to hypothyroidism?
Tripti – thank you for your question. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state.
The body’s energy is shifted from doing “useless” things like growing beautiful hair, metabolizing, making hormones, digesting and repairing itself, and instead, all of the body’s resources are reserved to make cortisol and adrenaline that is pumped through our veins so that we can keep going.
Eventually, we run out of nutrients that are required for proper adrenal function and we get to a state of adrenal fatigue. This is when our body is no longer able to heal itself and we feel drained.
Replenishing nutrients and using adaptogens, that balance out the adrenals can be helpful for everyone. The Daily Stress Formula from Pure Encapsulations contains nutrients and adaptogens that can help your body repair itself.
ADRENAL SUPPORT
https://www.rootcology.com/products/adrenal-support
You may also find this article useful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health
I live in the UK where medicines are free but it’s difficult to get the tests you recommend. I am on 125mcg Levothyroxine but still have most of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. (My TSH was tested three weeks ago at 0.91 and my doctor insists this is normal and no change is needed. TS3 & TS4 levels are not shown.)
I note your comments that the medicine be taken half an hour before anything else, or four hours before iron etc – so would it be better to take the Levothyroxine at night?
Liz – I wish I could give you more direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise you to ask your personal pharmacist or a trusted clinician who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to these types of questions here.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications/
My PCP placed me on a diet of (horrible tasting) protein bars accompanied by 8 ounces of water per bar. I was allowed to eat one actual meal per day. The meal was dinner. I was allowed to have 4 ounces of a protein (fish/chicken/bison etc.) and vegetables. The ‘idea’ . . . was to eat every 2 or 3 hours (snacks) and this was supposed to frequently stimulate my metabolism. I profoundly disliked the dry sand-like taste of the protein bars and I disliked even more having to snack all day long.
My condition is Hashimotos Thiroiditis and I am morbidly obese. I’ve been reading material on your website and do not see anything that supports this theory of eating small and frequently amounts of (I’ll be generous and use the word) food every 2 or 3 hours while awake. I would greatly appreciate and value your opinion regarding this type of ‘diet’.
Sara – thank you for reaching out. You are unique. Your genes, your ethnicity, your blood type, your gender, your digestive capability, your intestinal environment, your food sensitivities all make you unique. The diet should be tailored to your response. Your needs may also change as time goes on, or as you get rid of infections or balance your intestinal flora. Just because one diet worked for someone, does not mean it will work as well for you. When it comes to weight gain these are a few 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
I just bought your book two weeks ago, and have started implementing a non-dairy diet. I had already started gluten-free earlier this year, but after reading this book, I have a new determination.
One question I have is around the timing of my medications, meals, and vitamins. Your book suggests eating within 1 hour of waking up, but I have started taking my levothyroxine and liothyronine in the morning (now that I don’t drink coffee). I also read that taking some vitamins together is beneficial, but taking others together will negate the effects. What should the timeline be for meals, thyroid medication, and vitamins for an average day?
Thanks again! You are a huge help!
Jayne – thank you for following this page. For questions pertaining to the protocols and supplements please contact my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you. <3
I am just diagnosed with Hashimotos . I am not put on medication as my TSH , T3 and T4 is normal . I have just started a detox with a functional medicine doctor in Maryland.
I really need to loose weight. My entire appearance has changed . Besides the diet change do you think i need to take Levothyroxine?
I am begining to feel more energetic and better thanks to the detox. I am wondering what supplements will i need to take and for how long? also how do i order them?
Rowena – thank you for sharing your journey with me! <3 I wish I could give you more direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise you to ask your functional medicine clinician who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to these types of questions here. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time, and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://amzn.to/2DoeC80
Hashimoto’s Protocol
http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq
Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Hashimotos. My tpo levels are high last checked was a 215 way over the limit of 35. I’m always fatigued exercising almost seems impossible. I gained 70 pounds in a year and a half after loosing 70 pounds. I was put on a low carb diet but it left me feeling depleted all the time. My eyes are puffy almost all the time I swell and also on depression meds. Effexor to be exact. I honestly am miserable. I feel like I may not be getting the right treatment. I was put on synthroid but I seem to have a hard time trying to get my doctor to call my refills in when I’m out. I feel like I’m at my wits end. I know there has got to be something out there to make me feel better. Im going to buy your book and follow the aip diet and I hope to feel better. Thank you for posting this.
Amanda – thank you for sharing your journey! I am so sorry to hear you are struggling. My heart goes out to you. <3 I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Hello. I am 18 years old and have had Hashimoto’s after contracting EPV which continues to be chronic active. At 16 years old I had 6 wisdom teeth pulled out and my gall bladder. I’m 5’3 and have gained from 140 to 190. I also have IBS and stay constipated. I feel disgusting and miserable, and my doctor’s don’t seem to know how to address the EPV or
Hashimoto’s.
I also have taken Lexapro for depression for 5 years, and my prolactin increased causing me to produce milk. My doctor wants to change my antidepressant because Lexapro is known to increase
Prolactin levels. I was put on contrave for my weight and it tripled prolactin. My mom and I are at my wits end! I also take a diuretic, 5 mcg of synthroid, Linzess, visteral, Zyrtec and Belsomra for sleep. Do you have any suggestions.
I feel like my life is over, at its suppose to just be starting. I had to give up my dream of majoring in natural horsemanship and take a year off to rest. Now I am trying to do cosmetology school. I also have central auditory processing disorder which makes it difficult to learn, I smoke to cope and crave sweets.
Thank you,
Bella
Bella – thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey with me. I am so sorry your are struggling with this. My heart goes out to you. <3 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.
Animal fats, broths, soups, and stews support the body’s ability to suppress the viruses. Monolaurin or 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. It is my belief that this combination had a profound impact on my gut flora, and thus my immune system.
I have an entire protocol dedicated to eradicating EBV in my new book, Hashimoto’s Protocol, starting on page 329, that you may want to check out!
HASHIMOTO’S PROTOCOL
http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq
Hi, how can I actually get the 14-day meal plan you mention? When I click the link, a page comes up that talks about it, yet there is nowhere to actually get the information. Thanks!
Kristina – thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. Here is a link: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/two-week-thank-you/
Thanks for your article and book. My wife was diagnosed a couple years ago and it’s been downhill from there. If there is rice or soy hidden in something she eats, she’ll suffers from chronic / debilitative joint pain the next day (or two). It affects everything from her hips to her fingers. This is the first symptom. Of course there’s hot flashes, and etc. Her hormone levels are postmenopausal and she’s 28 years old.
Her diet has become so restricted. She’s eats healthier, significantly less calories than me and exercises fairly equivalent, yet my metabolism is much faster. We are both healthy BMI ~20, but she wants to go lower and just can’t seem to accomplish it. New years was yesterday and today she’s starting the Hashimoto’s protocol. She’s knocked out from caffeine withdraw as I type this. haha. We really hope this helps cure both the symptoms she has from food allergies and the metabolism issue.
Her first time to have this ‘arthritis-like’ symptom was after taking a sulfa antibiotics. She was in bed (and the bathtub) completely disabled for 3-4 days. I believe that was what triggered her flare ups, and I have no doubt that that is screwed up her gut health.
My question is:
Can something trigger Hashimoto’s for the first time in the body?
Do you have any records or people reporting something that triggered them?
Do vaccines play a role in triggering autoimmune diseases?
Has anyone else reading this had anything they can’t point to that might have triggered the disease for the first time?
Jonathan – thank you so much for sharing your wife’s journey. I am so sorry she is struggling with all of this. My heart goes out to both of you. <3 We know that intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut) is present in every case of autoimmunity and often precedes the development of Hashimoto’s. Symptoms of leaky gut may include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, many people develop IBS 5-10 years before an autoimmune diagnosis. I was one of them and didn’t take my gut health as seriously as I should have. Gut problems are often caused by infections like H. pylori, parasites like Blasto, SIBO, an imbalance of bacteria, and enzyme deficiencies or food sensitivities (especially to gluten, dairy, and/or soy). Even stress can be a factor in gut permeability.Here are some articles you may find interesting.
6 DIFFERENT ROOT CAUSES
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-different-hashimotos-root-causes/
INFECTIONS AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/infections-and-hashimotos/
Here is a link with some motivational success stories to get you started as well. https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tag/success-stories/
Hi I just came across this site and downloaded the 2 week meal plan I have hashimoto and looking to do something to help with my weight. I am allergic to Shrimp and I see it used for a few recipes. I am wondering what an alternative would be to use in this situation?
Louise – thank you so much for following! I am so happy you are here! Depending on the recipe you could replace the shrimp with chicken, turkey or salmon.
Hi, I am doing all mentioned in the article since 2014 and also consume only organic food, but still i have weight issues. The belly fat in constantly there. It doesn’t go away with food, suppliments, exsersize or meds. All other issues with fatigue and night sweats dissapeared as soon as i started to follow the regime but the belly fat is always there
Sarah – thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear you are struggling with weight. <3 Another factor that can affect your weight is adrenal health. Just like everything else, cortisol, your stress hormone, needs to be in balance. Too much, and you store excessive belly fat; too little of it, though, and you can feel extremely fatigued. Here are a couple articles you might find helpful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health/
SOLUTIONS FOR LOSING WEIGHT WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/solutions-for-losing-weight-hashimotos/
What would you suggest as the first thing to do for someone with Hashi’s, adrenal fatigue, and SIBO? It is so expensive to shop for all supplements. I am doing KETO diet with low fodmop veggies–no fruit or grain etc. I lost about 15 lbs but have 5 more to go but am now postmenopausal all of a sudden and it so hard–and belly gaining. I am feeling so stuck 🙁
Jennifer – thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey. <3 I am so sorry you are feeling stuck. Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th- 1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery. I do go into more depth in my books as well as providing protocols for adrenal fatigue and SIBO:
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://amzn.to/2DoeC80
Hashimoto’s Protocol (this is my latest book)
http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq
Hi Dr. Izabella,
Thank you for all of these wonderful tips. I have been suffering with all of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease for over 2 years now. And it’s only gotten worse. I was going to a bio identical hormone replacement specialist for this time (spending over $5,000 a year with very little results) and it wasn’t until I recently saw a new Nurse Practitioner that she posed the question of me being specifically tested for the disease. I had my food sensitivity test 2 weeks ago and I’m having my test for Hashimoto’s the end of this month – although pretty convinced that’s the problem. Fingers crossed that we can finally figure out the riddle and start living my best life! I’ve gained over 30 pounds in just the past 6 months and I eat very clean and exercise quite regularly. I’ve been depressed for a long time because of the weight (5’3″ and 170 pounds! I used to weight 130). It’s irritating that my husband doesn’t seem to understand that I can’t just drop 10 pounds in a month like him and cannot seem to understand why I’m exhausted half the time. Hopefully this will get me on the right track. Thank you again! I plan to get your book and do all the research that I can to fight this battle!
Elle – thank you so much for sharing your journey. I understand how hard this can be! I’m so proud of your for taking charge of your health and happy to hear you have found a practitioner. Please keep me posted on your progress. <3
My request for a two-minute video would be to address the iodine issue. I have a large goiter and I’m getting conflicting information on whether or not I should be consuming iodine-rich products. A functional medicine doctor tested me and said I had a sensitivity to iodine which would explain why I am so reactive to shrimp even though I’m not allergic to shrimp. I would love to know if any method exists for shrinking goiters since mine has now started to relocate my esophagus and I’m in danger of having it surgically removed. Thank you so much for this!
Adaina – thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your journey. <3 I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. Nodules and goiters are often the result of toxicity and/or the autoimmune process. So, doing interventions to reduce the autoimmune attack on the thyroid, and toxicity, can be helpful to reduce them.
Here is an article you may find helpful.
THYROID NODULES
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-thyroid-nodules/
You may also find these resources helpful as well:
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://amzn.to/2DoeC80
Hashimoto’s Protocol
http://amzn.to/2B5J1mq
Hello, I am 27 years old, I am 5’4 and weigh 194. I went from having a hyperthyroud to hypothyroid and let me just say that it feels to have an underactive thyroid. I am fatigued, tired, and I cannot lose weight-at this point, I don’t feel healthy.
Jo – thank you for sharing your journey. <3 I understand how hard this can be. 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
Hello, what about low leptin levels? I cannot stop eating and it doesn’t matter what I eat, I just never feel full. This is probably a root cause of some of my issues. After so many years struggling with this, I have only recently did the test for leptin and came back way below the minimum limit. Can you please write some article about this ? I can only see articles about leptin resistance but that’s not what I have.
Many thanks!
Daga – thank you so much or sharing your journey with me! I am happy to add this to my list to research further! I hope you will keep me posted on your progress. ❤️
It’s about leading a healthy lifestyle and feeling better in yourself not necessarily losing weight. But if you eat right and exercise regularly your body will see the results and feel the benefits. What you put into your body makes a huge difference.
Ashley – thank you so much for sharing. ❤️ I agree diet is very important as well as exercise. We are all different so what that looks like for some may be different for others. I would recommend anyone embarking on a program of exercise starts slowly and progresses at their own pace. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state. I hope you will keep me posted on your progress.
Ashley – thank you s much for sharing what has worked for you! ❤️ What we put in our bodies does make a difference!
I’ve been intrigued by this WOE and have been following it very closely and counting and tracking carbs and I also count calories, just in case, but I am not losing. I stay under 20 gr carbs. I dont want to go back to eating carbs as I have issues with them, I pig out when I allow myself to eat them, my moods are terrible and my depression seems worse when I consume carbs. I dont have much to lose and I lift weights and do HIIT but my weight is just standing still, any help or advice will be very helpful.
Ashley – thank you for sharing your journey. I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. Exercise can be very healthy, but for people with Hashimoto’s it can create stress. Stress causes our adrenals to pump out extra hormones, and shifts our body from a relaxing, digesting, healing state to a fight or flight state. Balancing the adrenals can help with weight loss too. When it comes to exercise, a rule of thumb is that you should be able to do the exercise once more after you are done, to determine if the exercise is right for you. If you can answer “yes” and you feel well, then you’ve found the right exercise for your body, at the right time, in the right amount. If not, you will then want to give yourself time to recuperate and try a different exercise, or lessen the amount. Here are a couple articles you might find helpful:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health/
7 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-important-nutrient-deficiencies-hashimotos/
Hi Izabella,
The part about T4 turning into reverse T3 makes me so sad. When I was in my early 20s I was diagnosed with hashimoto’s and put on synthroid. I was so excited for my symptoms to go away but instead they got worse. I started to grow hair on my chin, the hair on my head and eyebrows thinned out dramatically to the point that my hairdresser noticed and gained 20 pounds. My periods also got heavier and more painful. When I went to see my doctor he didn’t think it was the synthroid. I stopped taking it against his advice and went back to my normal weight. He then put me on Eltroxin. Which had similar side effects but not as bad so I stayed on it. My ND said I’ve been on T4 too long to try going off of it now (I’ve been on it for 10 years). I wish I’d gotten the help I needed when I was younger. I’m just doing the best I can now with diet and supplements.
Thank you for your content.
Silka
Silka – thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry. ❤️ Some people with Hashimoto’s, may not be able to properly convert levothyroxine (T4), the active ingredient in Synthroid, to liothyronine (T3), the more metabolically active thyroid hormone, leading to unresolved thyroid symptoms, including fatigue, depression, weight gain and hair loss, despite being on medications. For more information on various thyroid medication options, here’s an article I wrote:
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications/