Hiya Dear Friend,
Today we’re going to explore a health challenge that affects millions of Americans, particularly women: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis—a type of hypothyroidism. In the past, I’ve given you a big picture look your thyroid health (get those details here). But did you know that most women with hypothyroidism don’t even know they have it? If you happen to be one them (or if you know you have this condition already), I hope this blog gives you clarity and helps you move towards greater health.
We’re going to focus primarily on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis today because this type of hypothyroidism accounts for about ninety percent of all cases in the US. Hashimoto’s is caused by an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. And it is by far the most prevalent cause of a slow functioning thyroid. But before we get to the top four Hashimoto’s triggers, let’s review some thyroid basics.
Your butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is the master thermostat for your body, determining, among many things, the rate of your metabolism, your energy levels and how well you’re burning fat. Hashimoto’s occurs when your thyroid gland slows down.
If you’re dealing with this condition, you could experience a variety of symptoms including: Feeling tired, sluggish, cold and achy. Experiencing depression or anxiety. Difficulty managing your weight gain (no matter how disciplined you are. In addition, your body starts to store fat—some of it in the form of harmful cholesterol). Folks have problems with their hormones, including irregular or heavy periods, and even fertility troubles. Not to mention constipation, dry skin, sleep problems and even hair loss. Oiy!
Do these symptoms sound familiar? If so, Hashimoto’s could be the culprit. That’s why I’ve invited Aviva Romm, Integrative M.D. to give us the 411 on some of the biggest Hashimoto’s triggers. Aviva is a Yale-trained M.D. and Board Certified family physician, midwife and herbalist who is focused on helping women not only heal their bodies and minds, but transform their lives.
Take it away, Aviva!
Top 4 Causes of Hashimoto’s Disease
Thanks, Kris. As a functional medicine doctor and herbalist, my approach to thyroid health is to look for the root causes. Because when we know what led to the problem, we can create a more effective and holistic treatment plan. And in some cases we can reverse it and prevent other conditions from developing. While sometimes medications may be necessary to treat your thyroid condition, knowing the root cause will increase your chances of improving your health.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a frequently misdiagnosed autoimmune condition. It’s also a common underlying cause of Hashimoto’s disease. When you have celiac disease, your body produces antibodies in reaction to gluten. These antibodies can attack the thyroid gland, as well as the thyroid receptors on your cells. This leads to a drop in thyroid hormone production and can prevent your body from using the thyroid hormones you’re still producing. Learn more about how to identify whether you have celiac disease here.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome is when your intestinal lining acts less like a barrier, and more like a sieve, allowing proteins to enter your bloodstream. This triggers the production of antibodies and causes an autoimmune reaction in your thyroid (aka Hashimoto’s). Gluten and other food intolerances, antibiotic and ibuprofen use, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are all linked to leaky gut syndrome. To find out more about leaky gut, check out this blog.
Lack of zinc can also make you tired, according to author Anne Louise Gittleman, and unfortunately, zinc can be hard to get on plant-based diets. That’s because the phytic acid in legumes, grains, nuts and seeds binds it. One solution for us plantaholics is to consume those foods along with zinc enhancers such as garlic, onions, shallots, dill and capers.
I am celebrating just getting off thyroid after having Hashis for 35 years. What I have learned in the trenches boils down to: fixing leaky gut and digestion, getting rid of amalgam if you have it, heavy metals detox, general detox (ongoing), no gluten/dairy/sugar, eat super clean.
I was basically walking around out of gas and malnourished for many years. It cost my physically, emotionally, and financially. Doctors were no help and in fact harmed me with the meds they gave me when I developed “fibromyalgia, which I believe is just a bunch of symptoms to show your immune system is melting down… the drugs they gave me would never have helped anything, and it has taken years to work through the damage they caused me.
Ultimately to stay healthy you have to have impeccable nutrition, the right supplements, good stress balance practices, joy and meaning in your life. It is a journey in which you learn a lot, Hashis has such a global effect on the body it is a challenge, but it can be helped immensely. I don’t think of myself as being in remission, I think of myself as having had Hashis at one point. I am always mindful of the predisposition to develop autoimmune diseases
So happy to hear that you’ve found what works for you! Wishing you the best, Elizabeth. xo, kc
Can you tell me please what you ate? Breakfast lunch dinners. Just been diagnosed in the last 6 months or so. It’s hard trying to figure out what to eat. Seeing a holistic dr too. I grew up on a farm so I’m more your regular meals not fancy making meals. What sites or cookbooks worked well for you. I’m not a gourmet cook. I was told to not eat gluten, dairy, sugars. Thanks for any help you might give. Have a blessed day
Wow, that is a long time to be having those issues. You’re right about all your recommendations in your last paragraph. Is so important to stay healthy and making sure you’ve got a good diet that includes lots of herbs.
I was diagnosed wh Hashimoto’s disease at the age of 22 (that’s quite young apparently) after over a year of unexplained weight gain & exhaustion. I’m now 41 & have been taking levothyroxine all those years. As everyone’s ‘normal’ thyroid levels can differ (normal tsh range is 0-6) I took control of my own health by keeping track of my own tsh levels & how I was feeling. I also started seeing a kinesiologist in 2001 & she’s really helped wh sorting out what my body needs in addition to the thryoxine (selenium is necessary for your body to convert thyroxine). I have my good weeks & bad weeks, suffer from depression from time to time, get stressed very easily & find it incredibly difficult to lose weight, but if u can manage your disease as best u can, be as healthy as possible & try to enjoy each day – what more can u do 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this info about your journey! I’m sure it’ll help other readers experiencing thyroid issues. 🙂 kc
Much of it sounds familiar R Watkins — I found a really big change when I went from Synthroid to Nature-throid, for many Hashis people that balancing the T3 makes a huge difference….
I think adrenal fatigue is so intertwined with Hashis. I say I’m allergic to stress now, I can handle it but it takes a lot out of me.
Continued good luck getting well, I do NRT and it has helped to pinpoint issues really well
Thanks Elizabeth 🙂 I live in the UK & we don’t seem to get the same ‘choice’ of meds as in the US, it seems to be levothyroxine or nothing. You’re so right about adrenals, I was suffering adrenal exhaustion beginning of year & wh supplements are finally starting to improve again but it always seems to be up & down for me but I’m always looking to improve :D. Inspiring to hear your story, thank u x
R Watkins—I agree with Elizabeth about the T3. Is Cytomel available in the UK? Often levothyroxine doesn’t do the trick and adding selenium may not complete the picture. T3 is much more the ‘quality of life’ hormone so if you’re still up and down I’d exhaust all possibilities to get T3 because that was night and day for me.
Hi Erin, the NHS don’t usually prescribe any t3 because, to quote “studies have found no evidence this is more effective…there are also concerns that taking both hormone replacements may increase risk of serious side effects, such as irregular heartbeat & osteoporosis” – it might also be because t3 is very expensive for the nhs (or privately), it just isn’t really dealt as well in the UK as in the US, that’s why I’ve taken charge of it myself & I’ve been shocked by what my SIL (who’s another sufferer) has been told – she joined the thyroid ‘register’ (or something) & they manage it for her, but not we’ll in my opinion.
For the 1st few years the lab tested the whole spectrum, but now they only give u your tsh! Dreadful really, and private tests are so expensive but will probably ‘treat’ myself to one soon! Thanks again Erin ?
Thank you for this post! I’ve been losing my hair in a dramatic fashion since last Summer–visualize a shiny pink stripe up the middle of my noggin–not my best look, hehe. I don’t have insurance but luckily have access to my local clinic–and my blood tests lead them to believe I likely have Hashimoto’s (though I must wait til late Summer to see an endocrinologist). Off to see a nutritionist in the interim, and will try to heal my suspected gut leaks etc. purely with good clean food…our food is less nutritious than ever and full of pesticides; I suspect this is part of the puzzle. Sending out love and encouragement to everyone else who is struggling with this modern pandemic! I believe we can heal ourselves with intuition, love and (thank goodness) yummy food. <3
About a year and a half ago I went to the Dr. to find out what I was allergic to as o had been having severe reactions to something-eyes, throat and tongue swelling and hives everywhere. I was told I had a thyroid problem and had a THYROPEROXIDASE ANTIBODY level of 41.5, and the normal limit is less than or equal to 5.5. My dr. said there was nothing to be done and sent me on my way. I’m still struggling! I’m almost 22 and have no idea how to get help as I’ve tried to contact me and he just says nothing can be done. Suggestions?
Forgot to mention I’m vegan, which seems to help and I try to eat as cleanly as possible but still want to get to the root problem!
Hi Heather! You may want to talk to a doctor who is open to investigating your situation further—someone you could talk to about the possible root causes mentioned in this blog, plus anything else you’re curious or concerned about. Aviva has more info on thyroid health at her website, plus there’s the KrisCarr.com post I mention above as well. Keep researching and if you’re looking for an integrative MD, check out this resource: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/ xo, kc
Working with someone would be great. Also check out Root Cause by Isabella Wentz, she wrote a great book on Hashis and general autoimmune with tons of information. She has a self-paced online program that could help you come a long way in 3 months.
Vegans and Hashis can be a bit of a problem, B vits and some other important stuff. Some practitioners won’t work with vegans… Hopefully you can find the right help.
Adrenals are super important which means no stimulants, good herbal support, etc
Good luck, there is more help than ever but you have to look for functional medicine guys and folks like Aviva, not regular docs or endocrirnologists. They will tell you you are just fine while you are beyond exhausted, brain fog, freezing cold, and hair falling out!
My Dr just did a blood test to check my thyroid and it came back normal, is it possible it could still be out of whack?
Yes! There are about 4 tests that need to be done to get an accurate picture of the thyroid situation. I’m in that place now where I need to find a more holistic approach. Both my internist and my reproductive endocrinologist seem to be apathetic in their own way. The former says no big deal the latter says to take Levothyroxine indefinitely. Yikes!
Best to you!
Hi Jodi, I checked in with Aviva and here’s her advice: “Absolutely! It all depends on how your doc interpreted the labs, and for that matter, which labs she or he did. Check out my blog http://avivaromm.com/thyroid-labs-gap for more info. Also, get a copy of your labs and compare the results to the lab values in the article. Best wishes! Aviva”
Hi Kris, I’ve been a fan of yours for a while, and haven’t commented on a blog yet, but this one is SO near and dear to me. I’ve suffered from hypothyroidism for decades. It was discovered by my homeopathic doctor, the late great Dr Abram Ber. According to Dr Ber, thyroid disease goes undetected because of the blood test that is used to measure all the “T’s”. In my case, I have plenty of the “T’s”, but I’m not using them. It is only detected with the “old” challenge test, where your doctor takes blood for a base line, then stimulates the thyroid, then takes blood to measure use every half hour for several hours. Synthroid doesn’t work for me. Naturethroid or Armour Thyroid natural thyroid supplement does. I hope someone finds this helpful.
Hi
If I finally got rid of H pylori, will my thyroid go back to normal on it’s own? Thx
I have lived with this diseasebsince I was 24. I am now almost 57. 8 years ago by pure accident I discovered I have Celiac disease. Not only that I am allergic to eggs, all nuts, shell fish, corn and bananas. I recently read that my thyroid medicine had gluten in it so it I just emailed them and all thyroid medicine companies. I lives on a fixed income and have other issues RA, fibro, sjogrens just to name a few. Thank you for this article. Going with me to Dr tomorrow.
Hey all-
I’ve got Hashimoto’s and I don’t eat meat. One of the hardest things I’ve come across is the cruciferous vegetable issue because I love my Crazy Sexy smoothies! Raw kale, spinach, cauliflower, etc mess with thyroid levels and aren’t digested well, so they should be steamed before eating. I even lightly steam spinach for my smoothies- major bummer! Any advice or stories? Hang in there people! 🙂
Hey Cristina! I touched base with Aviva about your question and I hope this info helps: “Since spinach isn’t a cruciferous veggie, my suspicion is that something else is the trigger. There’s a condition called Histamine intolerance, and spinach and other greens can trigger that — and the resultant inflammation could possibly affect your thyroid. Also, something could be going on in your digestion, causing the problem, and indirectly impacting your thyroid. Aviva”
Hi Kris — glad you are out there educating.. I have two children with two autoimmune diseases each. They are 11 and 15. It is heart-wrenching, and I have been meticulous with their health. We are vegan and organic. Since my second child was diagnosed this January, we are also completely grain free ( although we only really ate rice, quinoa and a few spouted organic things …) Now we eat really only fruit, veggies, roots, cashews, seeds, and wild rice… We supplement omega 3 with plant source stuff… I keep looking for ways to heal leaky gut without harming creatures.. this is all overwhelming as I am a single parent with very low income and a huge amount of hands on work to do with my kids who are both ill. Any help/recommendations would be so welcome. I liked your link for leaky gut but wish she would have included vegan sources instead of fish oil.. There have been numerous people telling me that we HAVE to eat creatures to be healthy, and this has been so hard.. it is like guilting me for living compassionately and so far I have seen no scientific evidence that convinces me, as I have seen both dies argued… anyway, just thought that info could be useful to you aswell.. Best. Sharon
Thank you for sharing this article. I’ve been dealing with Hashimoto’s soon after I delivered my daughter in 2003. Yup, I experience all those symptoms even after meditating, eating mindfully, working out, taking medication, going to therapy and seeing my provider. I’ve come to embrace this mysterious part of my journey. My go to treatment is good ‘ol fashioned self-loving self care, keeping an open mind, and staying mindful about my health needs.
I have been on medication for 6 years. Recently read a book of Dr. Izabella Wentz. After finishing it, I tried out few of the theories she have mentioned in her book.
First, Selenium+ E vit. as they enhance each other’s absorption. Also, they are vital elements for production and conversion of thyroid hormones.
Second, gluten free diet as I already have been cutting of sugar and all the rest boo-boo dirty stuff. So, results were amazing in 3 months my anti-bodies went down in half and in 6 months in half again.
So, now I am looking forward for my next blood test in few months 🙂
OMG! I have had Hashimotos Thyroiditis for over 30 years and was never informed of this! I had EBV also! Thank you for all of this wonderful info!
I was recently diagnosed with Grave’s Disease(an auto-immune Disease causing HYPERthyroidim). I had many of the same symptoms and a few more like heart palpitations. Through lots of research, I decided to go mostly raw and vegan. I eliminated all grains as well. I have never felt better in my life and my t3 & t4 are both back in normal ranges and my tsh is trending back towards normal. I love your site Kris! You helped me to go against my MD who insisted I go on meds(probably for the rest of my life) to take the natural approach to healing myself. Thanks again….. You Rock!!!!
My thyroid was radiated 11 years ago will holistic way off treating it be effective since I haven’t any thyroid at all? I have been taking synthroid for all this time. Doctors could never find a level that worked but I found my own dosage that shows good levels through blood work but still have felt unhealthy for a long time.
Pamela—ask for Naturethyroid or Armour which adds T3. That should make a BIG difference. And if your doctor hasn’t suggested that then get a new doctor! Functional or integrative med…or google search for practitioners using bioidentical hormone therapy because they much more readily prescribe T3 than traditional Western medicine.
I just found your blog looking for healthy ways to manage the symptoms of Hashimoto’s. I’ve actually had the disease for a couple of years but was being treated for the symptoms and not the cause. I am completely shocked by the lack of awareness of this disease. It’s frustrating because I saw a doctors many times about the symptoms (high cholesterol, extreme fatigue, joint pain…) and not one thought to test me. I am a family history of autoimmune disease as well which should have absolutely been another reason to test. I actually had the psychiatrist who was treating me for depression suggest that I get tested. The thing is just before I saw him, I had gotten my annual check up with my primary care physician and the blood work seemed to be fine (except for vitamin D deficiency and the high cholesterol). However, after about nine months of various cocktails of prescription drugs that only seemed to make me feel worse, I’m glad he pushed me to get the thyroid tests.
I am so, so glad to see you sharing this information. I am truly astonished that there isn’t more awareness of Hashimoto’s. I come across so many testimonials from people (mostly women) who have had the same experiences. So thank you!
funny i just came across kris carr for the first time on youtube so i came here. 🙂
doctor diagnosed me with hashimoto’s last year as i was not feeling well, stressed and whole body just not well. i’ve had skin issues, constipation and many other things for the last 20 years, am only 30ish. noone can imagine the pain i’ve suffered when it comes to health, it’s been so uncomfortable. anyways, so after the hashimoto’s dignosis i was told to take some pills, i refused. doctor got mad as i had refused several times, i said No, i will take control of my own health now, doctors have Never been of help to my health issues. instead with their medications, i got worse. so, i started with changing from tap water to filter water, i was never a meat eater per se but i cut it down on many foods even if i had them once in a while like say cake. i saw holistic doc, did some tests (it helped but too expensive so i started doing my own research), added more greens, juices, fruits and lots of positive thoughts (having a Dog has changed my life to a point that i rather be with her than people 😀 ). thyroid was normal within few months, and i didn’t have to try hard. but the good thing is other health issues are coming along nicely, i know it will take time for my skin to heal but there is a hope and i realized no matter what health issues one is going through, how far worse they are, there is always always a hope and ways.
🙂 i hope people see the positive sides to their dis-ease that the body is trying to tell them something- something is out of balance in your body, mind and spirit.
Hi Kris,
I have Hasimoto and I have been told that in order to be better I have to eat meat. Do you know is it true in case of this disease?
Also in my country many dieticians recommend taking Food Intolerance test (FoodScan IgG/IgA) and on the basis of the test excluding some of the food from the diet, however it is very expensive and my alergologist said that if you have leaky gut syndrome, the test will show intolerance to the food you eat most often so it is misleading and not worth doing.
Do you know anything about that? I would be really grateful for information beacuse we don’t have good integrative MD, so it’s really difficult to get reliable information and find help.
Thanks for sharing useful information. One of my friend is looking for information on Celiac Disease. I think your article will surely her. Please share more articles related to Health Diseases.