01 Sep Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Are you getting confused re: thyroid friendly foods?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is increasing in women when the thyroid launches an immune attack on the thyroid gland.

It can lead to confusion regarding very beneficial foods.

Autoimmune thyroid disease

Increasingly common and the problem is an autoimmune reaction within the body.  The immune system, which produces antibodies to fight bacterial infection and foreign body invasion, turns on the body itself.

In Hashimoto’s disease antibodies to the thyroid are launched and latch onto receptors within the thyroid and may switch them on to promote over-activity.  So there may be periods of months or even years where the thyroid is over active.  But at some point the situation goes into reverse and the thyroid starts to slow down, and hormone production lessens.

Foods That Support

• Increase oily fish, raw nuts and seeds, essential fatty acids are vital for the uptake of the thyroid.
• Coconut contains monolauric acid, which has strong antiviral property and is soothing fuel for the glandular system.
• Coconut oil has several thyroid-promoting effects.  It contains butyric acid which helps thyroid hormone move into the brain [liothyronine (T3 ) uptake into glial cells].  It opposes anti-thyroid unsaturated oils.  It contains short and medium chain fatty acids, which help modulate blood sugar, is anti-allergic, and protects mitochondria against stress injuries.
• Incorporate natural coconut into the diet, or buy unsweetened desiccated coconut, or unsweetened coconut milk (such as used in Thai cooking).
• Add Seaweeds, Chlorella and Algae’s to Your Diet.
• Selenium rich foods, brazil nuts.
• Zinc, oysters, eggs chicken, pumpkin, seeds.
• Vitamin E, nuts, seeds, sardines and avocados.
• B6, dark green leafy vegetables.
• Tyrosine-good quality proteins.

Avoid

• Gluten and wheat.
• Xenoestrogens/hormones choose organic grass fed meats where possible.
• Refined sugar, carbohydrate.
• Alcohol.
• Caffeine – especially tea contains fluoride and reduces function.
• Iodized salt contains aluminium and sugar as stabilising elements, and those are irritants to the thyroid.
• Raw Brassicas.
• Pine nuts and peanuts.
• Soya beans goitrogenic – reduce the amount of thyroid hormone available.
• Toxic metals-especially Mercury – tuna/swordfish.

Gluten is the greatest concern and needs to be removed along with addressing underlying gut infection/issues. To turn off inflammation is key.

To learn more regarding auto-immune management contact Susie.