Will a diet help with Hashimoto’s?
People with the disease are frequently told that there is no diet for Hashimoto, but this is not true. Diets high in iodine will worsen the symptoms of Hashimoto Thyroiditis, but there are some foods you can eat to support your thyroid health.
Below are diet recommendations for people with Hashimoto’s.
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Hashimoto Thyroiditis Requires a Different Diet Than Hypothyroidism
The first thing you should know about Hashimoto thyroiditis is that it is an autoimmune disease. This means your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland, which causes inflammation and damage to the cells in the thyroid.
It’s different from hypothyroidism, which means your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone. Instead, diet, exercise, and stress management play a big role in managing Hashimoto’s symptoms.
Another way they differ is their cause. For example, hereditary factors like radiation or chemical exposure may also cause Hashimoto disease over time.
Eat Healthy Foods and Avoid Flare-Up Triggers
A diet for Hashimoto includes foods that give you a lot of nutrition and avoid foods that can worsen your disease symptoms. Here are foods you shouldn’t eat too much:
Dairy
Some people with Hashimoto thyroiditis can handle small amounts of dairy, but others may have trouble digesting even the smallest amount. If your body can’t digest dairy well, it will cause inflammation and make your thyroid gland swell or inflame.
Wheat and Gluten
People who eat too much wheat or gluten-containing grains may develop Hashimoto disease. This is because the immune system makes more antibodies than it needs to, causing them to attack healthy tissue instead of foreign invaders.
Some people’s thyroids work best when they don’t eat gluten. If you don’t mind eating a little gluten here and there, cutting back on it can help your thyroid work at its best.
Vitamins and Minerals Can Ease Hashimoto’s Symptoms
There are other ways to deal with Hashimoto’s symptoms. Vitamins and minerals are a good place to start when looking for ways to make life easier. Here are nutrients that are good for Hashimoto’s:
- Vitamin D – helps regulate your immune system and decrease inflammation in your body
- Fish oil – provides essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation and improve heart health
- Magnesium – is an essential mineral that affects every organ system in your body, including hormone production, bone density, and brain function
Stress-Management to Decrease Cortisol Levels
Stress management includes everything we do when anxious or stressed. According to hashimotosfix.com, by managing our stress, we help our bodies cope with and recover from stressors.
Stress can be work-related, relationship-related, financial, or health-related. Managing it involves identifying your body’s response to triggers and finding ways to cope with them.
Adopting an Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Hashimoto
A diet for Hashimoto reduces inflammation and is an alternative treatment that helps the immune system heal itself. Also, it’s always best to work with your doctor and dietician when developing and managing a diet. They can help you ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need while avoiding any triggers that may cause a flare-up of your symptoms.
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