Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

In addition to being a Naturopathic Doctor trained in the holistic care of autoimmune conditions, Dr. Litsey also lives with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland. It is the most common autoimmune disease and primarily affects women. Autoimmune thyroid disease occurs when the immune system creates antibodies to the thyroid gland. Over time, the immune system attacks the gland and impacts the capacity for the thyroid to make thyroid hormones — eventually resulting in hypothyroidism.

The early stages of Hashimoto’s can present as an over-active thyroid with symptoms of anxiety, difficulty sleeping, decrease in weight, heat intolerance and fullness in the throat. As the disease progresses, symptoms shift toward hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone production. The thyroid is the gland that primary affects the energy state of the body. Thyroid hormones can be thought of as the gas pedal for the body. If fewer hormones are produced, everything in the body begins to slow down. Symptoms of this metabolic slowing include brain fog, fatigue, depression, constipation, cold intolerance, weight gain and hair loss. Although Hashimoto’s is a disease affecting the thyroid gland, immune system imbalance plays a central role in the autoimmune process.

Holistic treatment for autoimmune thyroid disease is personalized to each individual case and includes focus on identifying and removing dysregulators of the immune system. In doing so, the immune system is able to come back into balance. As a result, the function of the thyroid gland can be restored. If the disease has gone on for a very long time, supporting the needs of the body with thyroid hormones such as Armor or Levothyroxine (Synthroid) can be an essential part of long term healing. However, medication will not heal the underlying root cause of the disease.

Blood Sugar Stability

Stable blood sugar involves a consistent level of circulating glucose in the blood stream which provides a stable energy source for the cells of the body to function. Blood sugar spikes and crashes throughout the day are stressful to the body and result in the release of the stress hormone cortisol (1). Dysregulation of blood sugar can also can fatigue, anxiety, depression and irritability. To support blood sugar stability:

shift away from processed grains like breads, cakes, cookies, pastas and refined sugar to whole foods.
prioritize protein, fat and fiber with each meal – never eat carbohydrates alone
prioritize consistent meals throughout the day – don’t skip meals
avoid liquid sugars and carbohydrates in the form of energy drinks, soda and even fruit juices
achieve adequate sleep each night
short walks after meals blunt post meal blood sugar spikes

Remove Gluten, Dairy and Other Food Intolerances

Food sensitivities and intolerances are common drivers of Hashimoto’s. People with autoimmune thyroid disease are at an elevated risk for autoimmune gluten sensitivity also known as Celiac Disease (2). However, even if Celiac is not part of the clinical picture, a therapeutic trial of removing gluten and dairy can impact thyroid hormone production and TSH levels (3,4)

Additional personalized food intolerance testing can also be useful for identifying other food triggers.

Clean up Your Environment

Toxins in our modern environment are everywhere, from drinking water, to the cosmetics we put on our skin, to the materials in our cookware. The presence of these toxins over time can aggravate your immune system and be core players in immune dysregulation. Ways to remove toxins in your environment are:

Shifting from non-stick cookware to ceramic, cast iron, glass and stainless steel
Shifting from plastic to glass for heating up and storing food items
Choosing non-toxic personal care products like makeup, deodorant, shampoo, and household cleaning products listed as safe from the Environmental Working Group (EWG)
Filtering water or buying spring water
Reducing exposure to herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics by purchasing organic produce and grass-fed – pastor raised meats
Reducing consumption of processed food
Cleaning up indoor air quality with an air purifier

Increase T-Cell Function

Certain nutritional building blocks are required for the immune system to regulate and balance itself. The immune system can be thought of as a teeter totter where autoimmunity is an overreactive state of the immune system, tipping the balance to one side. T-Regulatory cells from the immune system help bring the balance back into a neutral position that is more optimal for Hashimoto’s. Nutrients that support immune regulation include:

Omega 3 fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon or fish oil supplements.
Vitamin A and D3 are well established to help increase immune regulation and balance (5-7). Dosing vitamin D should be tailored to the individual with blood testing.
Zinc, selenium, and magnesium all play crucial roles in immune balance. Studies have shown a 40% decrease in thyroid antibodies with 3 months supplementation with 200 mcg of selenium (8).

Balance Stress

The immune system is connected to the brain and nervous system. If we are in a state of stress, the immune system activates to engage the perceived threat to the environment. Chronic activation can lead to immune dysregulation. Many cases of autoimmune disease have a period of high stress prior to diagnosis. Stress is often the hardest support to influence with autoimmune disease because it is personal, and depends on a person’s unique interpretation and response to the world.

Practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, aromatherapy, gratitude, and cognitive reframing can help regulate the nervous system.
Identifying self critical internal voices or people-pleasing tendencies can help navigate how we create or respond to stresses.
Herbal adaptogens such as Resihi and Ashwagandha along with magnesium can support calming the stress response (9).

Support the Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are your stress glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce cortisol along with other hormones and are also critical for day to day energy, along with the thyroid. If the thyroid is out of balance, the adrenal glands are often in need of support.

Support the adrenal glands with adaptogenic herbs, B vitamins and vitamin C.
Allow for rest day to day to support balance between using energy and rebuilding energy.
Stable blood sugar also supports the adrenal glands.

Improve your Digestive Health

70% of our immune system sits tucked within the lining of the intestines. Poor digestion of food, leaky gut, and imbalances in the microbiome activate and imbalance the immune system. Over time this leads to conditions that trigger and exacerbate autoimmunity (10).

Those with Hashimoto’s often have lower stomach acid production, which can impact the breakdown of food. H. Pylori is a pathogen found in the stomach that can lower stomach acid and is known to increase thyroid antibodies (10).
Dysbiosis or an imbalance in the microbial ecosystem in the gut is often a central driver of autoimmune disease (10).
Leaky gut allows proteins into the body that should not enter. Immune reactions to these proteins cross react with the thyroid gland creating an autoimmune response (11).
Functional Stool Analysis is a useful clinical tool to assess the gut.

Assess for and Treat Chronic Infections

Undiagnosed chronic infections such as EBV and other viral infections can chronically engage and imbalance the immune system. Treatment of these infections helps the immune system relax and shifts the internal environment away from autoimmunity. Assessing for infections is done via blood testing or sinus swabs under the care of a health practitioner.

Hashimoto’s can impact quality of life but you can take control over your health and promote true healing through important lifestyle changes like these. Hashimoto’s is a health condition that should have support and monitoring by a medical provider. Setup a free consultation with Dr. Litsey if you are seeking a partner in your Hashimoto’s health journey.

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