Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

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Why Women Have More Thyroid Disorders

Why Women Have More Thyroid Disorders: The Izabella Wentz Safety Theory

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP

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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) estimates that five to eight women are affected with Hashimoto’s for every one man. The ATA also estimates that one in eight women will be affected with Hashimoto’s or another thyroid disorder at some point in their lives.

I wanted to share a post this week that will hopefully offer some insight and hope for women with autoimmune thyroid disorders.

I often get questions from my readers about why women have higher rates of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune disease. After all, I teach that Hashimoto’s is partly triggered by our environment, and men and women live in the same world, right?

Most autoimmune conditions do have a higher incidence rate in women as compared to men. These conditions include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Hashimoto’s. [1]

In this article, I wanted to explore a very important element of women and autoimmune disease that most researchers have not figured out — I think I’ve cracked the code!

Let’s take a look at:

  • Theories about why women experience more thyroid disease
  • What triggers Hashimoto’s
  • How our immune system protects us
  • The Izabella Wentz Safety Theory
  • How to make our bodies feel “safe” again

Theories on Women and Autoimmunity

There are multiple theories as to why women are statistically more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases in general, and Hashimoto’s in particular.

Theory #1: Hormones

Female hormones are thought to play a role in the development of autoimmune thyroid conditions. Pregnancy, puberty, and perimenopause (periods of major changes in female hormones) are three of the most common times in a woman’s life for the onset of thyroid disease to occur. [2]

Sex hormones, especially estrogen and prolactin, have an important role in modulating the immune system and may impact autoimmune disease. Estrogen can also change the requirements for thyroid hormone, and this may result in an autoimmune condition, especially in the presence of nutrient deficiencies. Prolactin, released by breastfeeding women to promote milk production, may also become elevated in women with Hashimoto’s (even when they’re not breastfeeding), and has been tied to both increased thyroid antibodies and infertility. [3]

Women have a higher risk of developing Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease in the years following giving birth. One theory called “fetal microchimerism” proposes that this is due to fetal cells that may remain in the mother’s thyroid gland, which can cause an immune system response. [4]

A study of women with Hashimoto’s once revealed that 50 percent of them had fetal cells in their thyroid glands. [5] However, a 2015 study found that fetal cells in the thyroid gland postpartum were actually more common in women without autoimmune thyroid disease, and that they seemed to serve a protective role in preventing the development of Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease. [6] (Isn’t that sweet? it’s like our babies are trying to help their mamas out — even in utero!)

So, hormonal differences and pregnancy don’t fully explain the higher rates of thyroid conditions in women.

Theory #2: Personal Care Products

Another theory to explain the different rates of autoimmune disease between the sexes is the fact that women use more personal care products than men. Sadly, conventional personal care products are laced with toxins. It is estimated that women use 12 products and are exposed to 168 chemicals from these products each day! Meanwhile, most men use just six products containing some 85 chemical ingredients. [7]

The skincare ingredients get absorbed into our skin, which is an excellent delivery system for chemicals. In fact, many topical patches and creams are used to administer pharmaceuticals and hormones directly into the bloodstream (think the Ortho Evra® birth control patch).

When products (food or drugs) are ingested, the liver usually works to make them less toxic before they enter the circulation. This is known as the first-pass effect, and only a small percentage of the original product may wind up in the circulation system.

By contrast, products applied to the skin, bypass the liver and go directly into the circulation, potentially producing systemic effects, until they arrive at the liver and are eliminated.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are applied directly to the skin (such as those found in personal care products) can induce estrogen dominance, and thus, worsen or perpetuate autoimmunity. [8] The same applies when using soy products that induce estrogenic activity. The use of lipstick, in particular, has been connected to the development of lupus, another autoimmune condition. [9]

In my own case, I suffered a flare-up of Hashimoto’s from makeup I used in 2014. I have toxicity labs and a third-party test to prove the source of my contamination. So, I do think the use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals plays a role in the development of autoimmunity.

But I don’t think personal care products fully explain the higher rates either.

Theory #3: Genetics

Genetics do help us understand why Hashimoto’s tends to run in families, as there is a genetic predisposition to developing the condition.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can occur in two varieties:

1) An organ wasting (atrophic) form associated with HLA-DR3 gene inheritance

2) An enlarged thyroid (goitrous form) through HLA-DR5 inheritance

However, studies have shown that in people with Hashimoto’s, only 50 percent of their identical twins presented with thyroid antibodies, meaning genes alone are not the single defining factor, and environmental triggers play a critical role. [10] Intestinal permeability (leaky gut), as well as an environmental trigger, must also be present for the condition to present itself.

Research is well-established regarding the environmental factors that can trigger Hashimoto’s in those who are genetically predisposed. These factors include excessive iodine intake, bacterial and viral infections, hormonal imbalances, therapy with certain types of medications, and exposure to chemicals and toxins. [11]

The tragic Chernobyl incident is one example of a chemical-related environmental trigger.

Interestingly, a 1997 study of children exposed to the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl explosion, found that 80 percent had thyroid antibodies, while only 17 percent of genetically similar children in a Ukrainian village that was at a further distance from Chernobyl, had the antibodies. These antibodies were found in boys and girls alike. [12]

So, while genetics do play a role, clearly environmental factors are more impactful in determining who develops thyroid conditions.

So, What Triggers Hashimoto’s?

While I believe there is some merit to each of the theories above, they don’t give us the full picture of why Hashimoto’s develops in the first place.

Through my research and work with people with Hashimoto’s, I have found that a combination of nutrient depletions, food sensitivities, an impaired stress response, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins, intestinal permeability, and infections, can trigger Hashimoto’s.

What do all of these things have in common?

All of these factors send a message to our body that the world we are living in is not a safe place, and that the body should go into an energy-conservation mode.

In 2014, I attended a lecture by Erica Peirson, ND, who specializes in thyroid disorders in children with Down Syndrome. In the lecture, she theorized that more people in Ireland have Hashimoto’s because the lower metabolic rate helped them survive the potato famine of the mid-19th century.

Imagine that — thyroid disorders are advantageous in times of famine! Here’s how I think it works.

During a famine, it becomes crucial for us to conserve our resources. What is the best way to conserve resources? Slow down the metabolism. That way, a person can still survive while eating fewer calories.

How do you slow down metabolism? Slow down thyroid function.

How do we slow down thyroid function? Send some inflammatory cells into the thyroid to attack it, so that it doesn’t produce as much hormone.

In a way, hypothyroidism puts us in a quasi-hibernation mode so that we are more likely to retreat to our “caves,” survive on fewer calories, and conserve energy by sleeping a lot more.

While I haven’t found any studies of thyroid antibodies in bears, thyroid hormone activity has been measured to be significantly lower in bears when they hibernate, as compared to when they are out and about catching fish and doing the other bear things that bears do during warm months. This mechanism helps them survive harsh winters when food and resources are scarce. [13]

We humans have also made our own adaptations to survive difficult times.

How the Immune System Protects Us

To help our species survive, the immune system has an important job to perform: to sense our environment, and to determine what is safe and what isn’t. The thyroid gland is also a part of this sensing pattern. In fact, a 2013 study found that the thyroid gland can sense danger and initiate the autoimmune response. [14]

The innate immune response is known to be triggered when the thyroid gland becomes infected by a pathogen, like the Epstein-Barr virus, or when it is damaged by radiation or a toxin. The damage to the thyroid tissue releases molecules that call out to the immune system to help clear the pathogens and damaged cells, and begin cell repair.

These molecules are called danger (or damage)-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). They can initiate and perpetuate an inflammatory response within a tissue or an organ, as the cells that are sent in may further damage thyroid cells. This theory explains why toxins like fluoride, or even excess iodine, can initially damage the thyroid (especially in the presence of nutrient depletions), and can contribute to an autoimmune response.

Many people know that I am a big evolution buff, and from an evolutionary perspective, it makes perfect sense to me that our immune system and thyroid gland are sending a message to our body in times that are not safe.

The Izabella Wentz Safety Theory

I have developed my own theory, which I call the Safety Theory, about the development of autoimmune thyroid disease. What I explain below is based on my work and observations with thousands of people with Hashimoto’s, a concept known as adaptive physiology, and some of the leading theories of autoimmune disease. These include the bystander effect, molecular mimicry, thyroid-directed autoimmunity, and the three-legged stool of autoimmunity.

Adaptive physiology is a concept that suggests that our bodies develop chronic illness to adjust to our environments, and that chronic illness serves a protective role.

Our bodies have evolved, or were brilliantly designed, to achieve two main goals:

1 – To help us survive

2 – To reproduce and perpetuate our species

In essence, our bodies are constantly adapting to our environment in a way that will ensure the best for us as individuals, as well as for the future of our species.

We know that women carry the primary responsibility of bringing new life into our world. This means that women are particularly tuned into sensing the environment to make sure that the time is prime for reproduction. After all, pregnancy is a huge stress on the body and requires greater resources. In situations where resources are scarce, it’s generally easier to survive if you’re not pregnant. As infertility is often a side effect of thyroid disease, perhaps the immune system attack on the thyroid gland is an effort to help us survive.

Here’s the message our body is hearing from our immune system:

“You’re not safe here. This is not a good time to reproduce. I’m going to help you get through the tough winter by slowing down your metabolism. This will allow you to hold on to more weight to keep you fed when food is scarce. I’m also going to make you cold and tired so you don’t venture out of your cave… because that will keep you safe.”

Back when we were cavewomen, one of our main sources of stress would have been a lack of food. When we ate things that we were not adapted to digest, had deficiencies in nutrients, or didn’t eat at all due to a shortage of food available in our area, our actions sent a message to our bodies that we needed to conserve resources and reduce calorie burning.

Today, we can send the same signals to our bodies by:

  • Eating things that are considered food today, but would not have been recognized as food by cavewomen (causing digestive difficulty)
  • Eating a processed diet lacking in essential nutrients (leading to nutrient deficiencies)
  • Being on a calorie-restricted diet (we may burn fewer calories or store fat if our bodies feel they need to prepare for famine because food is scarce)

For example, humans are not able to eat most grasses in their natural state due to not having the ability to ruminate (chew and digest food more than once). However, modern agriculture has found a way to process grasses (like wheat) to make them “edible” for humans. Of course, I use the word “edible” loosely; even with all of this processing, research is finding that there are still components of these foods that are highly indigestible to humans. Most notably, the protein gluten found in wheat.

Women’s Safety in Modern Society

In addition to food “shortages,” my Safety Theory also accounts for other situations where women are less safe than men, and therefore experience higher rates of thyroid conditions. One reason is that, simply, it is safer to be a man than it is to be a woman.

The most prominent example here is that women are more likely to be physically, emotionally, and sexually abused compared to men, and abuse sends a signal to our bodies that we are not safe. Multiple studies have confirmed that thyroid hormone alterations are present in people who have been abused:

  • In 2000, researchers Stein and Barrett-Connor found that past sexual assault was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, arthritis, and thyroid disease. [15]
  • A 2005 study found that altered thyroid activity was found in women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with childhood sexual abuse. [16]
  • Two studies found alterations in thyroid hormone levels in women who were sexually abused and had co-occurring menstrual-related mood disorders. [17]
  • Higher rates of Hashimoto’s were found in victims of child abuse, and researchers concluded that: “Severe childhood-trauma-related stress may promote lasting altered thyroid levels.” [18]
  • Battered person syndrome (previously called “battered woman syndrome”) is experienced by people who are victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Health complaints like asthma (an autoimmune disorder) and fibromyalgia (often connected to Hashimoto’s and other thyroid antibodies) are very commonly reported symptoms of this syndrome.
  • Some PTSD studies have found that people who have undergone traumatic stress events may have alterations in their thyroid hormone release patterns. Some may show higher levels of T3/T4, while others may show lower levels of T4. [19]
  • A 1999 study by Wang and Mason reported that former prisoners of war (POWs) with evidence of combat-related PTSD, show increased levels of free and total T3. These levels of thyroid hormone may be reflective of the ex-POWs’ reports of “shutting down” or “stonewalling” (refusing to communicate or cooperate) as well as hyperarousal, behaviors that were more life-preserving compared to a fight-or-flight response that may have put their lives in danger. [20]
  • Another study that measured hormone profiles in military survival training showed reduced levels of T3 and T4, but increased thyrotropin, within 12 hours of captivity. [21]

It may be easy for people to recognize physical abuse, but emotional abuse may also be a factor in feeling unsafe. Even “social defeat situations,” such as being picked on by “mean girls,” can cause a person to feel unsafe in their environment. In cavewoman times, if you were rejected by society, your chances of survival were reduced.

Can Hashimoto’s Help Us Survive?

While it may be hard to think of Hashimoto’s as a desirable condition, I do believe that it developed as a mechanism to help us survive as a species. Here are some of the ways that it could do this:

  • Hashimoto’s makes us want to sleep and withdraw, be less fertile, and carry more weight, which increases our chances of survival.
  • Hypothyroidism makes us less fertile, lowers our libido, and possibly makes us less attractive to potential partners and those who threaten us (i.e. our abusers). (This manifests as hair loss, weight gain, dull skin, and pheromone changes.)
  • The anxiety experienced due to thyroid cell breakdown, may make a person more hyper-vigilant to potential dangers.
  • Mental health professionals who work with people who are overweight, report that those who have been physically abused may inadvertently go on to form a protective barrier around themselves. A person who was abused or felt vulnerable may feel “protected” by the excess weight.
  • Being tired, depressed, apathetic, and withdrawn means that we are more likely to stay inside and sleep to conserve energy; and we are less likely to be out in the world where we could be attacked and/or exposed to toxins.
  • If our trigger is a stealth infection, thyroid disease makes us withdraw to help us focus on healing the infection. This also prevents the spread of the infection to others.
  • During postpartum, when prolactin is elevated (in addition to thyroid antibodies), our likelihood of becoming pregnant again is lowered. This ensures that we are conserving resources for ourselves and our newborns.

If you have thyroid disease, thank your body for having this genius design that has helped you survive.

How to Tell Your Body That You Are Safe

The good news is that there are many things you can do to make your body feel safe again so that you can emerge from your “cave” and feel better.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just tell our immune systems to stop attacking our thyroid glands and bodies, and that we are actually relatively safe in this unsafe world? However, rather than repeating mantras and telling yourself that you are safe (though I always love those), the key is to communicate to your body in a language that it will understand.

In simple terms, you must eliminate the things that make your immune system believe that you need to conserve your body and resources.

In my work, I’ve found that there is often a combination of triggers that fuels Hashimoto’s, and that a trigger can be anything that has the potential to stress the body or mind, upset the gut barrier, or clog up our detox pathways.

Though triggers will vary from person to person, there are a series of protocols that I have developed to get to the root cause of Hashimoto’s and allow the body to heal:

  1. Support the liver: In this modern world, we are exposed to an unprecedented number of toxins every day. We inhale them through the air, absorb them through our skin when we use our personal care products, and ingest them through the foods we eat. We also consume fluoride from our water sources. We can begin the healing process by removing hidden toxins from our everyday lives, and helping our livers process out the toxins that are already in our bodies. To accomplish this, we can remove potentially triggering foods, add supportive foods to our diets, reduce our toxic exposure, and support our detox pathways. For more information, take a look at my article on the importance of supporting the liver.
  1. Restore the adrenals: From surveying my clients with Hashimoto’s, I estimate that around 90 percent of Hashimoto’s patients are also dealing with some degree of adrenal dysfunction, which can manifest as insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, low blood sugar, anxiety, and stress, among other symptoms. We can support our stress hormones by embracing stress-reduction techniques that will help shift our bodies into a regenerative process so we can become stronger and more resilient. To do this, we need to learn how to rest, de-stress, reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, and replenish nutrients. My most recent book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, covers healing the adrenals in depth with a four-week program to help you feel more energetic, focused, and less stressed. This is important, as stress does not send a safety signal to your body!
  1. Balance the gut: In my experience working with people with Hashimoto’s, intestinal permeability has been a factor in every case, and research supports that intestinal permeability is a factor present in autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s. [22] By optimizing our gut health and restoring microbial balance in our intestines, we can start healing from within! To do this, we can remove reactive foods, supplement with enzymes, balance our gut flora, and nourish our gut. For more information, please see my article on the importance of gut health.
  1. Dig deeper: Some of us will need to dig a little bit deeper to identify and address our unique triggers. This may include optimizing thyroid hormones, addressing hidden infections, and removing other sources of toxic exposure, such as dental amalgams.

Be sure to check out my book Hashimoto’s Protocol to learn more about all the protocols I recommend to help you support safety and healing, uncover all the root causes of your symptoms, and start feeling better.

By the way, because nutrition is such a key factor in helping our bodies to heal and letting them know that we are safe in this world we are living in, I wrote a cookbook a few years ago, full of information to help you uncover your own nutrient deficiencies, improve your digestion, and find the right diet that will allow you to thrive. The goal is to teach your body that you are “safe” by providing it with all of the nutrition it needs.

In addition to all of the nutritional guides, my cookbook, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, contains 125 easy and delicious recipes to support your thyroid health. Be sure to check it out as well!

The Takeaway

In the meantime, here are some things you can do to make your body feel safe today:

Treat your body like your cherished temple. Be nice to it. Feed it nutritious foods when it’s hungry. Don’t skip meals. Don’t subject it to unnecessary stresses like working all day instead of playing or resting.

Sleep when you’re tired. Don’t cover your body up with harsh makeup and skin creams.

Don’t silence its subtle signals. Stop forcing it to have more caffeine when you’re tired.

Let it rest. Don’t drench it in antacids when it’s trying to tell you a food you’re eating is not working. Listen to it and care for it as you would care for a dear friend, pet, or child.

I want you and the women you love, to live your best lives, and I know it’s possible. If you found this information helpful, please consider paying it forward by sending it to another woman with a thyroid condition.

Do you think the Safety Theory applies to your condition?

P.S. You can download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 thyroid-friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter of my first book for free by signing up for my newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways, and helpful information.

For future updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest!

References

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[4] O’Donoghue K. Fetal microchimerism and maternal health during and after pregnancy. Obstet Med. 2008;1(2):56-64. doi:10.1258/om.2008.080008
[5] Klintschar M, Schwaiger P, Mannweiler S, Regauer S, Kleiber M. Evidence of fetal microchimerism in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(6):2494-2498. doi:10.1210/jcem.86.6.7540
[6] Cirello V, Rizzo R, Crippa M, et al. Fetal cell microchimerism: a protective role in autoimmune thyroid diseases. Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(1):111-118. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0028
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[10]Zaletel K, Gaberšček S. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: From Genes to the Disease. Curr Genomics. 2011;12(8):576-588. doi:10.2174/138920211798120763
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[12] Vykhovanets E, Chernyshov V, Slukvin I et al. 131I Dose-Dependent Thyroid Autoimmune Disorders in Children Living around Chernobyl. Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. 1997;84(3):251-259. doi:10.1006/clin.1997.4379.
[13] Tomasi T, Hellgren E, Tucker T. Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Black Bears (Ursus americanus): Hibernation and Pregnancy Effects. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 1998;109(2):192-199. doi:10.1006/gcen.1997.7018.
[14] Kawashima A, Yamazaki K, Hara T et al. Demonstration of Innate Immune Responses in the Thyroid Gland: Potential to Sense Danger and a Possible Trigger for Autoimmune Reactions. Thyroid. 2013;23(4):477-487. doi:10.1089/thy.2011.0480.
[15] Center For The Advancement Of Health. (2000, November 24). Sexual Abuse May Affect Health For A Lifetime. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 29, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001122181 025.htm
[16] Friedman M, Wang S, Jalowiec J, McHugo G, McDonagh-Coyle A. Thyroid Hormone Alterations Among Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Childhood Sexual Abuse. Biological Psychiatry. 2005;57(10):1186-1192. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.019.
[17] Bellis M, Burke L, Trickett P, Putnam F. Antinuclear antibodies and thyroid function in sexually abused girls. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1996;9(2):369-378. doi:10.1007/bf02110669.; Haviland M, Sonne J, Anderson D et al. Thyroid hormone levels and psychological symptoms in sexually abused adolescent girls. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2006;30(6):589-598. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.11.011.
[18] Sinai C, Hirvikoski T, Nordström AL, et al. Hypothalamic pituitary thyroid axis and exposure to interpersonal violence in childhood among women with borderline personality disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2014;5:10.3402/ejpt.v5.23911. Published 2014 May 16. doi:10.3402/ejpt.v5.23911
[19] Friedman M, Wang S, Jalowiec J, McHugo G, McDonagh-Coyle A. Thyroid Hormone Alterations Among Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Childhood Sexual Abuse. Biological Psychiatry. 2005;57(10):1186-1192. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.019.
[20] Wang S, Mason J. Elevations of serum T3 levels and their association with symptoms in World War II veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: replication of findings in Vietnam combat veterans. Psychosom Med. 1999;61(2):131-138. doi:10.1097/00006842-199903000-00001
[21] Morgan CA 3rd, Wang S, Mason J, et al. Hormone profiles in humans experiencing military survival training. Biol Psychiatry. 2000;47(10):891-901. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00307-8
[22] Küçükemre Aydın B, Yıldız M, Akgün A, Topal N, Adal E, Önal H. Children with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Have Increased Intestinal Permeability: Results of a Pilot Study. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2020;12(3):303-307. doi:10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2020.2019.0186; Cayres LCF, de Salis LVV, Rodrigues GSP, et al. Detection of Alterations in the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Permeability in Patients With Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Front Immunol. 2021;12:579140. Published 2021 Mar 5. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.579140; Fasano A. Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012;42(1):71-78. doi:10.1007/s12016-011-8291-x

Note: Originally published in January 2017, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any health problems and before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can result in improved thyroid function and/or an increased absorption of thyroid hormone medications, leading to a lower required dose and possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism at a dose that was previously stable. Please discuss lifestyle changes with your physician and ensure that your thyroid function is monitored every 6-8 weeks while making lifestyle changes. Symptoms of overmedication include, but are not limited to: rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, irritability or mood swings, muscle weakness or tremors, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Do not start, change, increase, decrease or discontinue your medications without consulting with your physician.

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  1. I believe it is hormonal for sure. I first started experiencing thyroid issues and a goiter when i was around 12 years old…right around the same time I got my period. Once they sort of balanced out, I felt fine. Then i went on the BC pill and was great for a few years. After coming off I had hair loss, skin issues etc. and was diagnosed with Hashimotos (though my levels were “normal.” ) From there I got pregnant, felt AMAZING, until about a year postpartum. Same deal. Then i got pregnant again and felt wonderful. And am now two years out and feeling like garbage (though my levels are still “normal” 2.9) but having all my hash symptoms again. Im not on meds yet, but probably will be soon. I just went gluten free (i do test mildly allergic to this and chocolate and a billion chemicals!) and so far no real improvement. Anyways, i absolutely think and believe that if you can balance the hormones more your symptoms will also improve.

    Reply

  3. Dr. W, I think you are absolutely on target with this safety perspective. I am a psychotherapist, have worked with trauma survivors for 30 years, and the stress and lack of safety feels like an absolutely key issue for both mental and physical health.
    I have used your Roots book to guide my healing, refer to it all the time, and am happy to report I am mostly well now. My last bit of cleaning up was treating SIBO, but I feel my main healing tool was the careful Paleo diet.
    Thanks so very much for your good work and research!

    Reply

    • Constance- Thank you so much for your support! 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.

      http://rootcauserecipes.com/

      Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing your ideas Izabella . I work as a trauma counsellor, with women who have been sexually abused in childhood. I have also observed that there is a high incidence of Hashimoto’s in the people with whom I work.
    I appreciate your Safety Theory and I liken it to the idea discussed by Ron Gharbo (see Heartmath webinar) that ‘chronic hypervigilance’ of our organism is a common thread in many chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and Hashimoto’s.
    I too am excited to see patterns emerging that help more and more people ‘join the dots’ and understand how unsafe situations (eg. disease, abuse, neglect, war, disrespectful relationships, political unrest, environmental toxins, over-busy lifestyles etc) can affect our health for decades to come. I am grateful for the the discussions that ‘ACEs Too High’ are creating via their blog. I also like to apply the ideas in Stephen Porges’ work on the polyvagal theory and the immobilisation response to the pattern of experience that you are describing in your Safety Theory. I would appreciate hearing any thoughts you might have about that intersection of ideas. Thanks for your contribution to the discussion. I look forward to reading your book in March !
    Warm Regards 😉

    Reply

    • Jo- Thank you so much for your support! Make sure to take the book slow, take notes, highlight, and establish a baseline when making changes. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Wow, those ideas all make total sense. Thanks for publishing this, and for keeping on looking into the causes of thyroid disease!

    Reply

  6. Hello Dr Izabella Wentz ,

    My Name is Sharon Molloy , I’m 57 years of age and live in Australia , at the age of 23 i was diagnosed with under active thyroid gland ,i had a 6 month old baby ,and three other children ,5 years 4 years 3 years and 18 month old ,i breast fed all my children ,so when i wasn’t feeding i was carrying a baby , when i first got pregnant with my fourth baby i was 8 stone 6 ,when i had the baby i weighed in at 10 stone when i came home from the hospital all was well for the first few months then i started to gain weight ,by the time the baby was 6 months old i was 12 stone ,i went to Melbourne Australia Royal women Hospital to see a Dr there who diagnosed me with Thyroid , he put me on thyroxine tablets for the rest of my life…… i had all the systems….. hair loss cramps in my hands throat face…… legs in spasms during the day mostly at night in and out of bed halve the night because of cramps ….cant sleep ….cant think for myself ,and very cloudy memory , still find it hard to think about yesterday , can’t hold memory ,have a lot of trouble with my hands….contipantion gums bleed , headaches trouble with my muscles ,i take vitamin D and Magnesium tables for my bones and cramps all the time just recently my Dr Brian Hassett retired and i got a new Dr Paul Keiran who couldn’t believe that i could be i such a high level of tables Eutroxsig Thyroxine 175 micrograms dosage a day ,so he changed my medication back to 120 a daily dosage which really muck me up for quite awhile ,because back to blood test and gradually putting my medication back up ,now i can’t get the weight off ,I’ve had a hysterectomy ,my Gallbladder out ,and gone through the change of life ,plus thyroid ,what chance do i have ,I’m 5 foot 3 as well so you could imagine ,my currant weight is 96 kilos ,i have tried diets to which don’t work for me ,what do you think i should do next ,hope to here back from you hope that you can help with thanks Sharon Molloy

    Reply

    • Sharon- You may be interested in my 12 week online program called Hacking Hashimoto’s that covers all of the strategies that I go through with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that participants have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. There are a few requirements that you should pay attention to, such as my book is a required read.

      HACKING HASHIMOTOS
      http://hackinghashimotos.com/

      In addition, any person that goes through the program will have the opportunity for a follow up consultation with one of my thyroid pharmacist consulting members.

      Reply

  7. I agree with the “unsafe” trigger for thyroid. Interestingly a Russian Dr. Torsunov says: “Sing. Singing will help the thyroid gland to get rid of the negative emotions that are stuck in it. The nodules in the thyroid gland will disappear by themselves. Sing happy songs, no matter what kind of problems you have.”
    I would suggest studying Gary Craig’s Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) it is very effective for releasing negative memories. Brad Yates has youtube videos that are great EFT examples too.

    Reply

  8. I appreciate your research and acknowledgement of safety as a possible factor in thyroid health and I’m inspired to do more personal healing work in addition to all the delicious diet changes to help reverse my Hashimoto’s. I, however, have a high metabolism and have been losing weight that I can’t afford to lose and that adds more fear and stress. Please acknowledge those of us who are underweight when discussing theories and solutions. I’m all ears if you have more weight gain ideas that don’t trigger the autoimmune response.
    Thanks for all your good work!
    Sally

    Reply

    • Sally- thank you for following this page and my research. 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.

      Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      https://smile.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-Symptoms/dp/006257129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482698453&sr=8-1&keywords=Hashimoto%27s+Protocol

      Reply

  9. Wow – this exactly jives with my own hypothesis, albeit less scientific than yours! I have suspected that being in an extremely insecure state and constant fight-or-flight through my life since childhood has contributed too the development of so many health problems I experience. Thank you for this article and your research. I am also thankful to have someone to validate my experience, because, so often, people (even doctors) don’t understand and invalidate what I know and experience and seem to believe I am making it up.

    Reply

    • Anita- Thank you so much for your support! I know how frustrating it can be when it seems like no one understands. 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.

      Reply

  10. this theory really speaks to me. i was emotionally abused for about 27 years, and my best friend is a chiropractor who believes that i have ptsd from it . i have had hashimoto’s for 12 years but have had me/cfs for 35 years. the hashimoto’s began when i was beginning menopause, i had lost my sister,my husband and my dad in the 3 previous years , and my mom was in the beginning stages of dementia, and i was living with her. so much stress……

    Reply

    • Celiac family trees may abuse and die early from untreated Celiac. Tests may not work to diagnose Celiac. PTSD can be due to burned out adrenals. Gluten may hurt all glands..thyroid/adrenals/liver/pancreas/pituitary etc. When progesterone goes down a person maybe estrogen dominant which can block thyroid. Taking progesterone may help. I need estriol/progesterone/testosterone. Stress may use up B vitamins and zinc and steal progesterone. Dementia maybe due to low thyroid/low sex hormones/stress which burns out the adrenals. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/
      GMO/food with a label may help and taking vitamins/good oils/minerals…probiotic…LDN (helps block hidden gluten) and detoxing. People can be fixed with natural help if they decide to get help. Even a chiropractor can give ideas about diet/supplements/detoxing etc that may help a person fast. Vit B12 methylcobalamin with intrinsic factor may help stress/sleep/balance and remyelinate the brain. Vit B12/progesterone also may help bones. Best wishes.

      Reply

      • Thank you Sasha and Dr. Wentz for your thoughts and suggestions! I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Celiac, narcolepsy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from Epstein-Barr virus. I am almost 62 and have not been well since age 16 or earlier. My biggest problems are sleeping too much, hard to wake up, slowed brain function, and thin hair and nails. I want to try LDN but my integrative medicine doctor doesn’t think it is a good idea.

        Reply

        • Debbie- 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.

          It is my belief that this combination had a profound impact on my gut flora, and thus my immune system.

          Epstein-Barr is a virus that causes mononucleosis (commonly called “Mono”) , a debilitating viral infection that is common among college students, and is also known as the “kissing disease,” because individuals are exposed to the virus through saliva of those who are infected.

          Specific immune cells known as CD8+ T cells are needed to fight off the Epstein-Barr virus, however, some individuals may have a low baseline level of these types of immune cells. (CD8+ T cells decrease with age, are lower in women, and in the presence of low vitamin D intake). When these fighter cells are low, the Epstein-Barr virus may take up residence in our organs (such as the thyroid) and essentially hijack the organ to help the virus hide and multiply.

          The timing of infection may also matter as well, for example, children in developing countries usually contract the Epstein-Barr Virus when they are under the age of 10. This usually results in an asymptomatic infection—one that does not cause them symptoms. In contrast, in developed countries, where individuals are not usually exposed to the virus until they are in high school or college, the infection is symptomatic in 50% of the older kids affected. This is because by the time we reach college age, CD8+ T cells, the ones that fight EBV, have declined by threefold compared with the number of cells we had in childhood.

          Additionally, animal fat and broths, soups and stews support the body’s ability to suppress the viruses. Monolaurin/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.

          EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS AND HASHIMOTO’S
          https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/epstein-barr-virus-and-hashimotos

          Reply

    • I love your Hashimoto’s work – you write so beautifully and explain it all so clearly. Amazing, pioneering ideas rooted in science, and delivered with warmth and sincerity. Thank you!

      Reply

  11. Thank you very much for writing this article. I find your theorie to be relevant to my personal history and diagnosis. Keep up the research and maybe one day you will find a cure.

    Reply

  12. My thyroid stopped after having two babies in a row that drained vitamins/good oils/minerals out of me. I didn’t know I was Celiac so was low in nutrients before I got pregnant. I and my babies suffered due to low nutrients. I didn’t figure out the Celiac until 20 years later. My blood was daisy shaped and I have yeast/fat in my blood. My liver was not working well due to Celiac. I had symptoms of low thyroid since 8th grade when I could not swim much before my energy crashed. I was born Celiac. To me gluten lowered my immune system. I was only healthy the year after summers of being in the sunlight. I had S.A.D and warts/yeast/sugar cravings/didn’t eat most of the time since I only felt well when I didn’t eat.
    Low immune system allowed antibodies to attack my thyroid. When I get hidden gluten I make antibodies again. Fish oil greatly helps my immune system…stopped my cold/flu for more than 20 years. I need no gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and take vitamins/good oils/minerals..probiotic…LDN..detoxing now. I didn’t get that when young. I hardly ate when young and holiday candy/treats hurt me. I got Epstein Bar infection age 25, but my thyroid was already low by then. Celiac people may catch infections easier since their immune system is down. I also have MS due to Celiac and recently got Lyme. I think gluten also made antibodies to my pituitary so it doesn’t make TSH, but I need thyroid medicine or I would survive….need upper range of free T4 and free T3 by taking Synthyroid/Amour combo in the morning.
    My thyroid got worse gradually and PMS/periods were painful due to Celiac. Before I got pregnant I got some vitamin help from a chiropractor, but didn’t have much money afterwards to keep taking vitamins and my health collapse. I breast fed without vitamins. I ate healthy, but didn’t realize the gluten etc was hurting me. I ate mostly pizza/bagels/dairy/sugar. Gluten can be like Heroin and sugar like cocaine to the brain. Gluten may hurt all glands eventually and every cell due to low nutrients absorbed. I had bumps on the back of my arms/crusty heels/mumps/measles/chickenpox/strep throat and more which people considered “normal” not realizing these could be prevented by no gluten/fish oil/Vit C in fruit etc. I didn’t eat much meat due to maybe low HCl and enzymes. Protein is needed for the immune system to work well and to help sleep/energy.
    The key to me is sunlight which gives energy to the body and stops the immune system from attacking the brain/body. Celiac is due to low sunlight heritage/current low sunlight and people new to eating gluten. I was inside studying too much and not outside having fun enough. Celiac families maybe emotional. Whole family tress maybe Celiac and get many different health issues from it.
    My one son is like me…low thyroid age 21. My other son is like his dad. Two Celiac people may marry each other so both of my sons are Celiac to different degrees. I was born with already hurt mitchondria from my mom and then/antibiotics/ heavy metals/antibiotics again/chemicals hurt my mitochondria more. MS is just due to low oxygen in the brain due to mitochondria/low thyroid/intestines being hurt so it doesn’t absorb nutrients well and a liver that doesn’t detox well/low Vit B12 due to stomach lining cells that make HCl and intrinsic factor being hurt and more…all Celiac things.
    My family tree has cancer/Lupus/fibromyalgia/Diabetes etc due to Celiac. Tests may not work to diagnose Celiac.
    It would be nice to rebuild the thyroid and other glands so they work 100% ok again. I am doing ozone treatments for the Lyme which raises oxygen and helps greatly. Once the DNA of mitochondria are hurt they may not fix again and low energy in the mitochondria doesn’t chemical reactions work well. My temperature was 90.9 degrees when I stopped my thyroid medicine many years ago and was not taking vitamins. A person can die at 90 degrees.
    When I went to the hospital for Lyme they took away my thyroid medicine and said I didn’t need it. I had taken it for 30 years already. My TSH is very low. Doctors need to be taught not to use TSH since my pituitary is not making TSH. Zyto scan shows pituitary 80% not working which also make ACTH for the adrenals. You can’t tell on a thyroid test if mitochondria are hurt or pituitary. They need to go by free T4/free T3 in the upper range and symptoms..not just lab numbers. They enjoy withholding what I need since I love Alternative medicine. Many MS people have died due to low thyroid/lack of Celiac help and $5000 a month MS drugs that don’t help. They did not get the basics for health.
    My adrenals are burned out due what happened in the hospital. I would not survive being in the hospital ever again. I pray God will always help me get the help I need.
    When the brain/body get the energy they need they can repair themselves. People who lived the longest were outside in nature and sunlight/exercising/purpose/family/ate real food and didn’t over eat. Low stress helps. I worked 90 hours a week…no time to play/have fun. Stress can destroy a person. I didn’t do that basics to be healthy…didn’t have the internet to learn from. I had some magazines and books and figured out my thyroid was low and I had yeast. I eventually also figured how to suppress my MS and learned about every part of the body. Doctors want to change my protocol to THEIR way…ego and that would destroy me. It took me 17 years to figure out this protocol which works awesome to help my health. I enjoy Alternative medicine since they realize the person knows what works and honor it. I was full of heavy metals which detoxing helped my thyroid etc. Every mercury filling took my health down a notch.
    My family tree is in denial about Celiac and is still eating gluten. They think if I was healthy I would not need anything but good food. They think if they live a normal length of life and not suffer too much they can eat most things. My Hmong friend’s great grandmother lived to be 120 years old. My family tree doesn’t realize they are not really healthy. Hmong kids are months ahead of white race in baby development. My Hmong friends are now eating American food/gluten/GMO etc and are having health issues/depression. They think they can cheat and eat pizza/beer/soda/Ramen noodles and Birthday cake and be ok if they don’t eat it every day, but it takes me 1 1/2 months to heal from microscopic hidden gluten. I eat no food with a label.
    Gluten hurts intestines in most people and then less nutrients absorbed makes the brain/body/immune system not to work right. Sunlight gives energy to the immune system so works better. Taking iodine may also give energy. We are from the sea?…need fish oil/coral Ca/krill oil/iodine from seaweed/sea salt with 22 minerals. The ocean/sunlight is needed…no pollution is needed.

    Reply

  13. I am a big fan of you and I like your idea very much. It resonates with me – though I have never been abused, but I really do have constant anxiety and fear from a lot of things. I definitely don’t feel safe in this world. While reading your article, I felt like someone highlighted my entire life. You must be right, it is something like another added leg to the three legged theory of autoimmune diseases.
    Although until now I just felt that I am always stressed, (sometimes without visible reasons) but your theory explained this feeling in a more complex way, what I just felt in my stomach. Last year I started to seek for stress reduction techniques and implement some of them in my life. Now you proved me that this was a good move, and it is essential for healing. Up to now I haven’t got too much improvement, but this is a long journey I know. 🙂

    Reply

  14. Thank you Isabella. Your article has really created a line of thinking for me, I’m very grateful for you sharing this with us all. Your insights and filteration of information i really appreciate. Your theory does resonate with me a lot- I had not put the two aspects together of a feeling of safety (which is a big challenge for me) and my low thyroid presentation. This may be an explanation as to why my antibodies have recently blown out (after being at good levels ) after challenging myself to be out in the world doing new things. Thank you and much gratitude for your dedication and your work it has benefitted me greatly. X

    Reply

  15. Great article Isabella. As an Irish NT who works with AI Thyroiditis and fertility I do believe this theory of ‘safety’ has a lot going for it from a PsycoNeuroImmunology perspective and it seems to fit with the stories of many of my clients.
    Before getting to my ‘critique’ I’d like to point people to the work of Dr Jeffry Martin who conducts research into helping people find the right meditation for themselves…he reports that the real benefit of meditation (once you find your fit) is that it reconditions the brain stem into accepting that ‘everything is ok’. It seems to turn off the fear / safety switch! Cool eh!

    I’m going to challenge one statement in your article, albeit not a central pillar of it…you mentioned Dr Erica Peirson’s comments about the Irish and AIT.
    I often hear people comment on the Irish famine and how it affected the survivors, but unfortunately the vast body of narrative is based on the popular but false assumption of nationwide food shortages and the failure of the potato crop.

    In reality there was widespread food shortages but also widespread food availability, more importantly there were ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’…it was the have nots whose monocropped potato failed (this despite there being a history of variety in heirloom potato seeds in the country, which all but disappeared into a single high yield seed variety due to the poor being forced onto smaller and smaller land lots and thus having to rely on big spud producing seeds…but I digress!) Pretty much all but a small portion of the have nots died thus the idea that the survivors must have had adaptive metabolism…whilst possible…doesn’t explain why ‘the Irish’ of today have high rates of AIT. The vast majority of us are not descendants of the have nots…their progeny is not sufficient to make up the numbers.
    Most likely, but alas also just a theory, is that our status as having the highest rate of Celiac Disease in the world is connected to our high rate of AIT by a common epidemologic wheat (or possibly grain) intolerance that triggers a diverse array of phenotypes. The purported explanation for this is our distance from the middle east grain trade routes…the Middle East being the centre of grain supply…we simply didnt get grain in any real quantity until much later than everyone else and thus have had less time to adapt to it! Who knows!

    Reply

  16. A very interesting and profound insight that goes deep inside to the roots. Your safety theory mostly fits me too. I went through shock and trauma, sudden death of young family member, and was also attacked and abused myself before I got the hashimoto’s.

    Reply

  17. I am a 61 yr old female. In June of this year it will be 30 years since my Hashimoto’s diagnosis. Unfortunately, back then the treatment was RAI (Radioactive Iodine), which I had. Subsequently, I had normal thyroid function for 6 months and then went hypothyroid. Synthroid has been a life-saver, although in recent years my dose requirements have steadily been dropping. 4 yrs after diagnosis, I found out I was seriously allergic to cow’s milk, wheat, beef, corn, soy….lots of stuff…in fact, 99.9% of my diet! I went on a complete elimination diet and then slowly added items back in. Suffice it to say, it has been 26 years since I have had an ice cream cone!
    The original dx came 6 months after I gave birth to my second child. I was told it was the weight gain and loss cycle with pregnancy that caused it…never believed that deep inside, but that’s all they had back then! Long story short(er)…10 years ago after three spinal fusion surgeries I was up to a high weight of 167 pounds. At 5’2″, that’s a lot. I was miserable. So, I started on what now is called “the paleo diet”, although at that time it was just “low-carb” or “Atkins”. Well, I’m happy to report that I have weighed 103 lbs for the last 5 years…I dropped the weight slowly and carefully. I only drink filtered water (Pro-Pur filters take out ALL the bad stuff) and plenty of it. I do eat carbs, but only healthy ones in moderation. I eat healthy fats (coconut, hemp, olive oils, butter); plant and animal proteins, and vegetables (rarely fruit). As mentioned above, about the same time I started filtering the fluoride out of my water, my Synthroid requirements dropped. Fluoride is one thing I didn’t see mentioned in possible causes; I believe there is research out there showing the ingested fluoride does damage the thyroid. Fluoride does occur naturally in spring water, but is in very low concentrations and a different chemical form than what is added to our water, toothpaste, etc. I use only fluoride-free products and have noticed what I believe to be a difference in my thyroid function.
    I don’t believe I’ll ever be medication free, due to the damage to my gland from the RAI, but it’s great to know that as I age, thyroid function is not getting worse. Sadly, my hair loss is permanent (there are so many more important things in life, really!), as is the damage to the muscles in my left eye from the fluid buildup when my disease was at its worst. Such is life…I can’t emphasize enough to all of you out there to STOP EATING dairy, GMO wheat (and it’s just about all GMO), SOY, corn, SUGAR, and ALL processed foods. Please…for your sake and the sake of our planet…buy organic whenever possible, cook and bake at home (you can do it, I know you can!), and make sure to use only healthy fats/oils. Thanks, Dr. Wentz, for your work in this area. Wish you’d have been around years ago when this was brushed off as “a woman’s problem”!

    Reply

  18. My thyroid disease (graves) was caused by an emotional trauma, the endocronologist i saw 20 years ago told me this, & he was right. He asked me if i had an emotional upset in the last 3 months & yes i had. so this theory is not new. Other endos are not aware if this cause.

    Reply

    • Cheryl- Thank you so much for sharing. Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

      The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

      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 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 rebalance 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
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      https://smile.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-Symptoms/dp/006257129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482698453&sr=8-1&keywords=Hashimoto%27s+Protocol

      Reply

  19. Hello Izabella,
    I was wondering if Candida overgrowth is considered an environmental trigger? I don’t see what else my trigger could be so I’m wondering if it’s that.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  20. Hi Izabella,
    You mentioned nutrient deficiencies being one cause of Hashimoto’s. Which ones are you referring to that can make Hashimoto’s worse besides Selenium? I know that ferritin and Vitamin D are commonly depleted in Hashimoto’s and that they both strengthen the immune system and that Vitamin D is an immune modulator and reduces inflammation. But I was just wondering if you have seen people’s antibodies reduce drastically when addressing iron deficiency and Vitamin D deficiency? Are you aware of any studies that show this? I’m deficient in both of them and my antibodies are very high so I was just wondering.

    Reply

  21. Dr. Wentz, I so much appreciate your researches and how simple you delivers it for us to understand what makes our thyroid to be sick. After reading your book on Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, my health has improved as I make changes. I have gone gluten and diary free, soy is not my food. I take some supplements and thyroid medication is reduced. But I still have difficulty sleeping, and that affects my head as feel heavy and unable to think through and remove my mind from it. The doctors cannot help. I’m wandering what else can help me sleep?

    Reply

  22. Hi Dr. Wentz,
    I was diagnosed hypo 5-6 years ago and Hashi 2 years ago. I am unable to properly take ANY meds as it always leads to horrible anxiety attacks that last for days. I have tried leverothyroxine, synthroid, tirosint and armour all ending the same way. My doctors all look at me like I’m crazy (been through 6-7 now) and they all tell me to just keep taking the meds. I am prescribed 50 mcg of levo right now which I take a 1/4 or 1/2 every other day. Still after 2-3 weeks my ears start popping, my sinuses tighten and then the anxiety comes on. I stop taking the pills for a week or so and then start over again. I have been AIP for almost 2 years which has helped me feel better but nothing seems to help with the meds. My TSH is usually around 15. ? There is something else going on….. some sort of resistance or maybe a pituitary issue. Not for sure. Have you ever heard of this or have any ideas?? Doctors don’t seem to want to look into it any further.
    Thanks
    Cami

    Reply

  23. Very interesting. I can see a correlation for me personally, however I only suspect thyroid issues, I haven’t been diagnosed. But I do have a horse who has a goiter and she is scared of everything, all the time! No matter what training methods I use to build her confidence or desensitize her to situations, she I still scared of her own shadow! I’ve always suspected that it was connected to her thyroid.

    Reply

  24. Dr. W

    I agree. I think that this can be the root cause to many metabolic issues for women. I believe that this is how pcos develops as well.

    With regard to child birth, maybe it’s the stress that is associated with it. The high number of sections vs natural births. I wonder if there is any evidence around women who have natural deliveries vs csections and their incidence of thyroid issues.

    I also believe that we put such an emphasis on women returning to their normal body weight after giving birth. That the calorie restriction can signal to the body that it’s not safe.

    Reply

    • Claudia- Thank you so much for sharing. Hormonal fluctuation may contribute to the development of Hashimoto’s and peak effects are seen around puberty, pregnancy and menopauses. Up to 20% of women may have TPO antibodies indicative of Hashimoto’s. There seems to be a higher incidence of this condition in Caucasians and Japanese compared to individuals of African or Mexican descent. Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.

      Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂

      REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/

      HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/hashimotos-self-care

      Reply

  25. Yes, yes, yes! Genius. I too have often pondered what you call ‘The Safety Theory’. I developed Hashimoto’s at a time of great stress – an unhappy marriage and severe financial problems, loosing our home and lack of family support.
    As a Yoga teacher I have also often thought about the role of the 5th Chakra (throat) where we speak our ‘truth’, something that is often very hard as a woman.
    I have suffered terribly with anxiety for a great deal of my life and have genuinely struggled to feel safe. And I do see this as key to my developing the disease but also to my recovery.
    I am such a fan of yours and all the tireless work you do on behalf of the Hashimoto’s community. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for this perspective. I look forward to reading the book.
    Kindest regards
    Alison Carroll

    Reply

  26. I also believe in your safety theory. For many years I suffered from migraines and after trying everything under the sun and lots of money to try and fix the problem, I eventually went on the Gerson diet which meant I ate only raw fruit and vegetables for a year. I lost lots of weight (and suspect muscle mass too) and must have slowed my metabolism down so much that Hashimotos kicked in. It was not long after that that I experienced symptoms and was eventually diagnosed with Hashimotos. Thanks for all the work and research you do. All the best, Izabella.

    Reply

    • Marina- Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I look forward to hearing your progress on this page! 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.

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply

      • Thank you, Izabella. My thyroid antibodies were double the top of the range. I then went gluten free and followed the autoimmune paleo protocol and my reading came right down to within range! I feel so much better. xxx

        Reply

  27. Wow, this makes a lot of sense. Ever since I started to study the thyroid, there is something I haven’t quite gotten about its prevalence. I recently learned that Epstein Barr can infiltrate the gland, which made a light bulb go off for my own case, but it doesn’t explain every case. This safety theory explains a lot! Izabella, you’re a international treasure in this field! I pre-ordered the book some time ago, and look forward to it. (:

    Reply

    • Bridgit- Thank you so much for sharing and your support!! 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.

      It is my belief that this combination had a profound impact on my gut flora, and thus my immune system.

      Epstein-Barr is a virus that causes mononucleosis (commonly called “Mono”) , a debilitating viral infection that is common among college students, and is also known as the “kissing disease,” because individuals are exposed to the virus through saliva of those who are infected.

      Specific immune cells known as CD8+ T cells are needed to fight off the Epstein-Barr virus, however, some individuals may have a low baseline level of these types of immune cells. (CD8+ T cells decrease with age, are lower in women, and in the presence of low vitamin D intake). When these fighter cells are low, the Epstein-Barr virus may take up residence in our organs (such as the thyroid) and essentially hijack the organ to help the virus hide and multiply.

      The timing of infection may also matter as well, for example, children in developing countries usually contract the Epstein-Barr Virus when they are under the age of 10. This usually results in an asymptomatic infection—one that does not cause them symptoms. In contrast, in developed countries, where individuals are not usually exposed to the virus until they are in high school or college, the infection is symptomatic in 50% of the older kids affected. This is because by the time we reach college age, CD8+ T cells, the ones that fight EBV, have declined by threefold compared with the number of cells we had in childhood.

      Additionally, animal fat and broths, soups and stews support the body’s ability to suppress the viruses. Monolaurin/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.

      EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/epstein-barr-virus-and-hashimotos

      Reply

  28. Dear Dr. Wentz:

    I read your article and found it interesting but I wonder whether if your theory is valid if your conclusion about sending a signal to your body that it is safe by not eating a processed diet or a calorie restricted diet or not eating food that would not be recognized as food by cavewomen is based on science. You say” You must eliminate the things that make your immune system believe that you need to conserve your body and resources.” Again, is there science to support that. There is much in my history that supports the female hormone influence ( onset in par-menopause), the root history of Epstein Barr and after 80 plus hour work week’s the death of a parent and husband in the same week. So my root causes are pretty clear, however, while you had an impressive amount of research to support parts of your theory, I just was not as sure that you support the theory for eliminating of certain things to tell your immune system that it does not need to conserve the body and its resources. Perhaps the analogy to the cave women is just a bit faulty. I appreciate your experience and research, I just wonder if you have made a leap, or perhaps just not explained everything you were thinking. Thanks.

    Reply

  29. Very insightful! I wonder truly how high the number of women is who, like me, have Hashimotos and were abused as children. I am well on my way to healing with the help of my wonderful functional MD, but so many women are still suffering with no clue how to be their own advocate. Thank you Dr. Wentz for the work and research you do!

    Reply

  30. While I have no knowledge of “abuse”, I did experience a significant death as a 13 YO (actually, 3 significant deaths that year) and as a kid I “always” had strep throat. While I don’t know that I was ever diagnosed with EB, I feel like all of those strep infections were the equivalent. SO, I agree with just about everything you’ve written here, and what I read is that “stress takes a MEGA toll on our bodies!” May I ask, what do you know about “sick euthroid syndrome”? I’ve been told that’s what I’ve got going on, that it’s “not really hashimotos” whatever that means. I find it hard to find information I need on the ‘net so I thought I’d give this a try! My hormone levels are all testing normal now, which is GREAT, but I’m still extremely fatigued and my memory never really improved much at all. Not sure which is worse…anyway, if you have ANY insight for me at all that would be SO awesome! Thank you for highlighting that women’s hormones (and the weekly fluctuations) are a force to be reckoned with & are often the cause of so many troubles, but mostly how to navigate those rough seas!

    Reply

  31. Hello,

    I do not have thyroid issues but do have anxiety, and most often have a feeling of being in danger. I am looking to reword my brain and body to feel “safe”. I am interested in your safety theory and would like to know how to achieve a feeling of safety. Is the book right for me, even though I do not have the issues the book is mostly about? Could you direct me perhaps to a resource? Thank you!

    Reply

  32. When someone has a singular calcified nodule, what is that caused by?
    Could it be protection from a virus? Is surgery recommended in this case?
    Is a biopsy necessary? Where could I get more info?
    I am not on thyroid medication and do not have a thyroid autoimmune diagnosis.

    Thank you kindly, Sally

    Reply

    • Sally- You may find more information in this group. 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.

      Reply

  33. Hi Isabella
    I am an Uk based traditional Acupuncturist with a special interest in thyroid issues. Here in the UK thyroid management is so backwards and by default, I spend a great deal of time helping patients to understand thyroid disease and developing strategies for them to communicate effectively with their GPs. Many of them don’t feel their symptoms are taken seriously by their primary practitioners and given the gray areas of the NICE guidelines, management differs enormously between medics. So for example, a patient with full symptoms and, lets say, a TSh of 6 and T4 of 9, may be told she is’ok’ by a GP or be given thyroxine by a colleague, all depending on the day she visits her local surgery (this is taken from a real case scenario). The NICE guideline do not help to be honest, leaving gaps for physicians to make some clinical choices that are not in the best interest of patients. These are the current revised guidelines for example:
    https://cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenario:1
    Moreover, the standard testing is just TSH and T4. Dream on having a TPO test or TG, and reverse T3 is unheard of.
    It is a gloomy scenario really given the prevalence of thyroid disease especially in the females in reproductive age. Would you consider visiting us in the UK to share your ideas to the wide public?

    Reply

  34. Dear Izabella,
    I live in Sweden. Was diagnosed with both diabetes type1 and Graves 24 years ago at the age of 22.
    I was given RAI.
    About 4-5 moths after that there was a blood test taken that showed:
    TPO antibody- >10 000
    Tg antibody – >20 000
    It was guessed to be beacuse of the RAI, as I read in the journal. Never after that was any antibodies tested.
    Untill last summer when I asked my diabetes doc to take both. She granted me TPO. Which was 11. No Tg antibody.
    My question is HOW important would it be to take both antibodies to rule out Hashis for me? Here in Sweden it seams that the health care are considering Tg anibody being cancer marker. My doc is the cheaf doctor in the hospital for endocrinology.
    I found your article to be very interesting!! Thank you!!

    Reply

  36. Izabella, thank you 🙂
    This is so heartwarming, beautiful and deeply healing. You are very in tune and intuitive with the backing of methodical research (and a love for pattern recognition that I also share). I always know when something rings true for me, and this resonated deeply with a wave of happy emotion/great relief that happens when another has spoken a truth that is heard by my heart as well as my head. Thank you for connecting to us all and sharing your life and learning, I appreciate you very much!
    Much love, Rebecca

    Reply

    • Rebecca – thank you so much for your support and kind words. <3 I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page.

      Reply

  37. Hi there, you have so many great resources and insight for hypothyroidism. However, I have hyperthyroidism (multi-nodular goiter), and wondered if you knew of or could direct me to a resource for this particular issue. Any help is appreciated; thank you!

    Reply

    • Liz – thank you for following this page and for your support! <3

      Graves and Hashimoto's are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto's, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto's results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

      The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually, people with Graves have hyperthyroidism, and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own, and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

      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 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 rebalance 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 and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

  39. Dr. Wentz, how does menopause fit into the development of hypothyroidism? I never had any hypothyroidism symptoms until after menopause.

    Reply

  40. Thank you so much, Dr. Wentz — I think a huge elephant in the room is birth control pills for our young women. It is almost expected that our young daughters will be on the pill. I have several thyroid issues (without having been on the pill), and given that my 18 year old daughter is quite likely to inherit my conditions, I have wanted to protect her from potential triggers, such as the pill, that could harm her down the road; but, she is definitely feeling the pressure to join ‘the pill’ club. I was careful to serve her hormone free food products while growing up, but now she wants to voluntarily ingest them every day! Hormonal birth control is an expectation that many women face and succumb to — unlike men, of course! — and I fear it is the common traumatic interference on a young woman’s reproductive body that could be the cause of the obvious female biased population of thyroid-illness and other female illnesses. Needless-to-say, I am looking for alternatives for my daughter and trying to shake-off the rude comments directed at me by her gynecologist after having expressed my concerns.
    Again — thank you for supporting health, for men AND WOMEN!

    Reply

  41. Your safety theory is right on for my whole family’s struggle with weight gain and stress, but completely normal thyroid labs (even the expanded thyroid labs). I have been working with various naturopathic doctors and last summer one doctor took my t3 to reverse t3 ratio and told me it was high, diagnosis me with Wilson’s temperature syndrome. What you explain about the safety theory sounds almost identical to how my doctor explained Wilson’s temperature syndrome. Is this the same thing as hashimotos? I’m confused because I don’t test with having antibodies, but I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism….I think my problem is with conversion of proper hormones since I have a very damaged gut (4.5 months of treatment for lyme disease and still have Lyme) and nutrient deficiencies of all the b vitamins, vitamin D, and Oleic acid. It was suggested that I take t3 only in the short term to get the ratio down, but I’m extremely hesitant to use medications. I’m currently watching your thyroid secret videos one each night and then plan on reading the hashimotos protocol book. If Wilson’s temperature syndrome is not the same as hashimotos, will this protocol still be of use for me? Thank you for all that you do. I hope to heal myself and then ripple that information out to my family.

    Reply

  42. I completely agree with your safety theory. Thank you for your research and clear discussion. Over 15 years ago when I first began to suspect a thyroid problem, I proposed a simplistic single-factor theory to my doctor. (Essentially, I was working at a job that required extraordinarily long hours on occasion, like from 7am to 10pm. This became more and more frequent. Due to demands of the job, we often ate breakfast early in the morning, then dinner late at night. I felt my body adapted to this as a survival mechanism.) The doctor, of course, thought I was way off base and told me I just needed to eat less and exercise more.

    Reply

  43. I think your theory makes a lot of sense. Nature cares about nothing more than sustaining life. And it will react immediately to anything that will threaten it. The more dangerous the threat and the longer the threat lasts the stronger the body’s response to ‘protect’ itself will be. Isn’t it like this with just about any disease?

    I also like your thoughts on why hashimotos is so much more prevalent in women than men. Women’s bodies are the only way to create and sustain life. I wonder what would happen once medical and technological advances make it possible to grow a baby outside a womb? Would evolution eventually adjust to not hit women so hard with its protective mechanisms? How would that affect our society? Interesting and a little scary to think of this…

    Anyway, thank you for all your work! I’m currently working my way through the Root Cause and the tests you recommend, doing AIP. I feel very lucky to have amazing resources like your books and research available to me. I got zero help from doctors (it seems that many docs simply think women are just men with boobs 🙂 ; they have no idea how differently a woman’s body works) and your work has already improved my health tremendously!

    Reply

    • Marita – thank you so much for your support! I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Make sure to take the book slow, take notes, highlight, and establish a baseline when making changes. 🙂

      Reply

  44. Hi there i love the information you have posted ive read your book as well and listened to some of the podcasts that you have joined. I live an extremely active lifestyle and eat no soy, gluten, sugar, dairy, and try to have probiotics as well as a well balanced lifestyle with many organic veges and animal meat. I have tried to solve my hashimotos with nutrition but its not quite working out. Any suggestions doctor? I am also on levothyroxine dose 25mg

    Reply

    • Melina – thank you for following this page. Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.

      Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. 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 and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

  45. Your article really spoke to me with my regard to my wife. She is 53, treats her body, for the most part, better than anyone else I know. Paleo, trainer, lots of movement and exercisr, doesn’t eat grains or toxins, etc. The past three weeks she has been hitting a wall at mid day and dragging through the rest of the day.
    A hood test showed her TPA at 9 and low T3, suggesting an autoimmune response.
    But whatvspoke to me was your Safety Theory. My wife was sexually abused for 8 years as a child. She has spent a lot of time in her past in therapy dealing with those events. However it seems her body is now reacting on her. It makes me wonder if the depression meds she has been on (forever) have all this time been solving for the wrong condition!
    Thanks for any thoughts you may have

    Reply

    • David – thank you for following this page. I‘ve found that an inability to manage stress is often at the core of the condition. Most people can trace back the development of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions to a particularly stressful time period. Stress is inherent, and it’s how we handle our stress that matters. I recommend self-management stress-reducing habits like mindfulness, yoga, and meditation. Meditation has specifically been found to be helpful in building resilience to stress. If you have a history of childhood trauma like I do, your stress response could be severely impacted, leading you to overreact and get into a ‘fight or flight’ state at the easiest provocations. I recommend therapies like the self-guided tapping, self-help books, neurofeedback or therapist guided EMDR to reset your stress response. https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health/

      Reply

  47. Wow! I think I started following you shortly after you first posted this article, and I am blown away by what a compelling theory you habe developed! It certainly rings true for me, and I definitely plan to pass it on. Thank you!

    Reply

  48. I can see how stress plays a part in thyroid problems. My mother emotionally abused me all through my childhood and I have hashimotos. While it is difficult for me to pinpoint when I became hypothyroid, I was first diagnosed during the most stressful year of my life.
    My mother also was diagnosed with hashimotos and her parents emotionally abused her when she was a child.
    I know someone who experiences thyroid problems and gets alarming thyroid blood test results whenver she spends too long on her computer. The computer (and all wireless devices) emits ElectroMagnetic Radiation which causes a stress response in the body.
    And a man I know was diagnosed with thyroid problems at a time when he was experiencing significant financial stress.

    Reply

    • Tanya – thank you for reaching out and sharing. <3 I‘ve found that an inability to manage stress is often at the core of the condition. Most people can trace back the development of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions to a particularly stressful time period. Stress is inherent, and it’s how we handle our stress that matters. I recommend self-management stress-reducing habits like mindfulness, yoga, and meditation.

      Meditation has specifically been found to be helpful in building resilience to stress. If you have a history of childhood trauma like I do, your stress response could be severely impacted, leading you to overreact and get into a ‘fight or flight’ state at the easiest provocations. I recommend therapies like the self-guided tapping, self-help books, neurofeedback or therapist guided EMDR to reset your stress response.
      ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
      https://bruno-michael-wentz.dev01.rmkr.net/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health

      Reply

  49. Thank you for your books, they really changed my life! In 2016, after a horrendously stressful period, I started having symptoms of severe allergic rhinitis (I had never suffered from any allergy). In 2018 I also had cutaneous allergic manifestations. But my Hashimoto was only diagnosed late in 2019. In 2020 all symptoms were awful – rhinitis, hives, acne, digestive issues. In October I bought your books and went directly to the AIP diet. I followed it for 4 months and then started the reintro phase. It really improved everything. Today I got my blood test results: all within normal limits, including TPO antibodies. Thank you. You made at least two people very happy (me and my husband) 🙂

    Reply

    • Ecaterina – that’s wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️ I’m so glad to hear you are seeing improvements and finding my book helpful. I hope you will continue to keep me posted on your progress.

      Reply

  50. Thank you for sharing all your hard work with us! I am curious about eating disorder, especially anorexia, as a causal factor for Hashimotos – what are you thoughts on that? You mentioned the body using an autoimmune response to slow down the thyroid in times of famine. This could be in the case of a restrictive eating disorder right? So many women have [undiagnosed] eating disorders or disordered eating/dieting that I think this could absolutely explain the higher rate of Hashis in women.
    Thank you!

    Reply

  51. I’m curious what you think about the theory laid out below that lower testosterone levels is a reason (or THE reason) that women get more autoimmune diseases compared to men.

    I did a saliva hormone test to test my levels at 4 different times of the day. My estrogen and testosterone were both at the very bottom of the “normal” range and my progesterone was below the “normal” range.

    DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is actually a hormone (an androgen) created predominately by your adrenal glands.

    DHEA has some very unique abilities on its own but it’s also a precursor hormone to testosterone and estrogen in the cholesterol-hormone metabolism pathway.

    As I mentioned previously, DHEA is an androgen which means it stimulates androgen receptors (the same receptors that testosterone triggers) in the body.

    We know that people with low testosterone levels have a higher risk of developing autoimmune disease compared to those with normal testosterone levels.

    This is why women get more autoimmune diseases compared to men (They have lower testosterone levels)!

    Reply

  52. The X chromosome is known to contain the largest number of immune-related genes of the whole human genome.
    About 6x more boys have problems with mental deficiency, with autism, with ADHD, and with learning difficulties in general. One theory is that they only have one x-chromosome and when girls have a blight on one x, the other can compensate. This compensation can be streached some distance and then fails dramatically. So girls who have similar difficulties are much fewer, but their difficulties are much more severe, when they do have it.

    Reply

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