Frequently Asked Questions

I am a PharmD and have had functional medicine training through The Institute for Functional Medicine, Kalish Functional Medicine, and A4M. I’m also a Founder of the Hashimoto’s Institute.

As pharmacists, we are unfortunately unable to prescribe medications. Because that sounds like it’s a current need for you, I would recommend getting in touch with a physician that can prescribe medications to you, in your area. Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

Another place to start is the Institute of Functional Medicine and ZRT Lab which maintains a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

While I only work with patients with Hashimoto’s, oftentimes these patients will have additional autoimmune conditions. Most autoimmune conditions have common root causes, and a lot of times the things that are recommended for one autoimmune condition will help with others.

Over the last two years, I’ve developed several tools and solutions to help those seeking guidance. In particular, my book, Hashimoto’s Protocol, is a step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions to heal common root causes of autoimmune diseases, such as leaky gut and adrenal imbalance, to help your body to detox, heal, and re-balance the immune system.

Conditions that I’ve found to respond really well to my Hashimoto’s protocols include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, asthma, Graves’, premature ovarian failure, Psoriasis, Alopecia Areata, and Sjogren’s. I’ve also seen my protocols help with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PCOS, as well as Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis.

I believe everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of their own health care team. As a result, I’ve taught my protocols to the Thyroid Pharmacist Consulting team.

Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

Another place to start is the Institute of Functional Medicine and ZRT Lab which maintains a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

Adrenal dysfunction is common with Hashimoto’s. Treating hypothyroidism without treating the adrenals is one of the biggest reasons people continue to feel exhausted despite receiving treatment with thyroid hormones. Stress seems to be a precursor to hypothyroidism. Additionally, taking thyroid hormones can help us clear out our adrenal hormones faster, which then leads to adrenal dysfunction. It’s a complicated relationship that has a lot of back and forth.

Common signs and symptoms of adrenal dysfunction include:

• Fatigue, insomnia, sleep issues
• Brain fog, decreased ability to make decisions  
• Mood imbalances, easily overwhelmed, decreased ability to handle stress 
• Struggles with weight, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, memory loss, chronic pain, and/or libido
• Alternate between diarrhea/constipation
• Low blood sugar, frequent “hanger” 
• Intense premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Dependency on caffeine
• Intense cravings for salty and/or sweet foods 

While adrenal dysfunction can present with an array of symptoms (many of them similar to Hashimoto’s), the good news is that turning these around does not have to be complicated. To feel good, we simply must send our bodies signals to let them know they’re safe and can rest, digest, and heal.

When we start supporting the adrenals—making a few small dietary and lifestyle changes and taking the right supplements—we can produce profound improvements within a few short weeks… or even days!

My latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, will help you transform your energy levels, discard unwanted anxiety, and sleep well, so you can be the person you are meant to be in this world!

This new, accessible approach (no testing or hormones required) allows you to take charge of your health, heal, and thrive, with a focus on addressing the root cause of adrenal dysfunction and its symptoms. The 4-week program featured in the book has been utilized by over 3,500 people and has an 80% success rate of resolving common frustrating symptoms of an impaired stress response.

I also cover the adrenals further in this article:
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?

Some people with Hashimoto’s test negative for thyroid antibodies because their overall immune health is so weak, they do not produce enough antibodies. I’ve tested negative for antibodies several times. Now I’ve insisted on a thyroid ultrasound. Given that Hashimoto’s is one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism worldwide, I wouldn’t stop until I know one way or another.

Here are the tests you need for diagnosis:
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS

Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well. Have you done all these tests?

About 95 percent of people with Hashimoto’s have elevated Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies, while 80 percent will have elevated Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies. They can both be important in monitoring the autoimmune attack on the thyroid, and can both be used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions. Some interventions will lower TPO antibodies more, while others will have a greater effect on Tg antibodies. This can depend on the individual and their body’s response.

Here are two articles I wrote on antibodies, that you may find helpful:
Thyroid Antibodies Part 1: An Early Warning for Thyroid Disease
Thyroid Antibodies Part 2: Mechanisms to Reduce Thyroid Antibodies

I also discuss antibodies further in Chapter 2 of my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause.

You can test your TPO levels as often as monthly to see a trend in antibody reduction. However, it will take a full three months to see the real impact following an intervention, such as a gluten-free diet.

Yes, through lifestyle interventions like eliminating infections, food sensitivities and nutrient depletions, normalizing digestion, improving gut and adrenal function, as well as getting rid of toxins, many people have been able to reduce or eliminate their TPO antibodies.

You are likely sensitive to other proteins and may want to consider an elimination diet. Additionally, you may have a gut infection. Please reference my Hashimoto’s Protocol book for more information or take a look at my article on elimination diets: Uncover Your Hashimoto’s Root Cause with an Elimination Diet.

I’ve done a tremendous amount of research on the different causes of Hashimoto’s and associated symptoms. I’ve written a 380-page patient guide on how to figure out your own root cause. It covers gut infections, the adrenals, toxins, food sensitivities, medications, diet, tests/assessments you can do, etc. It will save you a lot of time and frustration, and so far it has helped a lot of people to feel better. 🙂 I hope you’ll check it out!

You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions.

I’ve also written a cookbook and nutrition guide, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology. I’ve spent years researching the best diets for people with thyroid issues, and I firmly believe that dietary changes can produce profound improvements in your symptoms. This book features 125 recipes, 100 food and lifestyle photographs, meal plans, kitchen revamping suggestions, and thyroid-supporting nutrients highlighted on every page.

My latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, outlines a comprehensive protocol that you can use to get control of adrenal dysfunction and get your cortisol levels in check. The book is based on a program I ran with over 3,500 people, and I’ve found that it helped about 80 percent of them resolve chronic stress symptoms. Participants have also reported improvements in mood, energy, libido, and sleep… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The book outlines a simple plan to help you identify your adrenal triggers, balance your stress response, and build up your resilience to stress. This is an excellent resource you can come back to time and time again when you need a little extra support.

You can get an eBook copy of Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause through my website, HERE.

My Adrenal Transformation Protocol eBook is available through Amazon, HERE. 

The Hashimoto’s Protocol eBook can be purchased through Amazon, HERE.

And Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology can be purchased in eBook format through Amazon, HERE.

The eBook for my Root Cause book is in PDF format as, due to the many charts and graphs, it did not convert to the Kindle file correctly. You can learn more about my book here. It has helped many with Hashimoto’s and thyroid problems recover their health.

You can find the Polish translation of my Hashimoto’s Root Cause book here and the Polish version of Hashimoto’s Protocol here.

I’m excited to spread thyroid health awareness and help others around the world by translating my books into other languages!

My New York Times Best Selling Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause book is currently available in Polish, Romanian, Spanish, German, and Hungarian.

My #1 New York Times Bestseller, Hashimoto’s Protocol, has also been released in the following languages: Chinese, Dutch, German, Polish, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Czech.

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology is available in Polish, German, Bulgarian, and Romanian.

I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. I recommend working with a functional medicine doctor – functional medicine doctors approach the body as a whole, and not just the thyroid hormones. (Here is a blog post I wrote about the functional medicine approach to the thyroid.)

We are currently building a list of doctors; you can view the list here.

You can also go to the Institute of Functional Medicine, Primal Docs, and ZRT Lab for a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

You may also be interested in joining my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

We are so happy that you have found a physician that is open to addressing the underlying causes of your autoimmune condition.

If you would like, you can submit your practitioner recommendation here.

We are so happy that you have found a physician that is open to addressing the underlying causes of your autoimmune condition.

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to add your practitioner to our database, as we do not have enough recommendations for this country to create a designated page. However, we do keep a running list of recommended practitioners in other countries, so that we can add them if we receive enough submissions.

If interested, you can submit your doctor’s information, to be added to that list, HERE.

You can submit your information, to be included in the list, here.

I’m so excited to have you join my mission in conquering thyroid disease!

Unfortunately, I do not offer a practitioner training program at this time. However, if you’re interested in receiving updates from me, you can sign up for my practitioner newsletter.

In addition, I also feature a database of clinicians on my website as a resource for my followers. Whether you’re a physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, health coach, nutritionist, acupuncturist, professional student, or another type of practitioner, please consider submitting your information to our clinician database HERE.

I believe that Biological Dentistry is a safer way to maintain a healthy mouth, something that is important to your overall health—especially if you have Hashimoto’s or other autoimmune diseases.

Biological dentistry is a branch of dentistry that looks at the connection between oral care and the health status of the rest of the body. While most traditional dentists focus only on “rescue care” rather than prevention, biological dentists try to prevent health problems that may originate from exposure to certain procedures and materials.

Biological dentists have advanced training in using biocompatible materials in dental procedures and in the removal of amalgam fillings.

To find a biological dentist in your area, visit the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology’s website at www.iaomt.org for a listing. If you find a dentist in your area, I suggest you call and “interview” the biological dentist in advance of scheduling an appointment. Here are the questions you should ask:

• Do you perform Clifford Materials Reactivity Testing for your patients?
• Do you use a thyroid shield for X-rays?
• Do you use a rubber dam for removing mercury fillings?
• Do you perform the MELISA test?

Here is some additional information I think you will find helpful:
THE MANY DENTAL TRIGGERS OF HASHIMOTO’S

I hope that helps!

We are not medical doctors and do not treat or diagnose disease, nor do we prescribe medications. If you are looking for a prescribing physician, I highly recommend working with a physician trained in functional medicine. The Institute of Functional Medicine maintains a list of clinicians.We do, however, recommend lifestyle changes, foods, supplements, and may refer you to other providers. In some cases, we can also order certain lab tests for you. In the case that lab tests are ordered, you will need to schedule a follow-up consultation to review the lab tests, or review them with your own clinician.

The interventions we recommend may often seem drastic, unusual, extreme and are usually not covered by insurance. Pathways to overcoming autoimmune thyroid conditions are still in their infancy and most of the treatments we recommend are considered experimental. The changes we recommend do not treat the thyroid directly, but rather treat the body as and aim to put the body into homeostasis. Each intervention needs to be discussed with your physician.

I am currently not doing any consultations. However, I do offer a 12-week course called the Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

This course addresses all of the strategies that I go over with my one-on-one clients. This program gives clients access to all of the things I learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It was designed to empower clients with the strategies they need so that they can start improving faster, be in charge of their own health, and be less dependent on health care providers. The 12-week Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program walks you through the steps to identify and address the common root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, like dietary triggers, dental triggers, adrenal and blood sugar imbalances, infections, toxins and much more. It is a self-paced self-management program and offers the added benefit of having others with whom to discuss the material each week. If you’re interested in signing up for the program, it is available through this link: Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

If you live in the United States, the UK, Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and take thyroid medications, there’s a high probability that you do have Hashimoto’s. Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95 percent of those with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is sluggish”, that these things happen with age and are told: “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.” A large percentage of the population is simply going undiagnosed.

People with Hashimoto’s may experience BOTH hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms because as the thyroid cells are destroyed, stored hormones are released into the circulation, causing a toxic level of thyroid hormone in the body, also known as Thyrotoxicosis or Hashitoxicosis.

Eventually, the stored thyroid may become depleted; and due to thyroid cell damage, the person is no longer able to produce enough hormones. At this time, hypothyroidism develops.

The following articles discuss common thyroid symptoms in hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s:
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S

If you like the articles, you might also consider picking up a copy of my books Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause and Hashimoto’s Protocol.

Adrenal dysfunction and Hashimoto’s often co-occur and have similar symptoms, too. If you think your symptoms could be related to your adrenals, consider picking up a copy of my book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol. 

90-95 percent of cases of hypothyroidism in countries that add iodine to salt are caused by Hashimoto’s (US, Europe, Canada, Australia). Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition. This means that the immune system gets out of balance and starts attacking the thyroid – which causes hypothyroidism.

Have you been tested to rule out Hashimoto’s? Most people have not. The best tests to look for are the Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and the Tg (Thyroglobulin) antibodies. These antibodies are elevated for many years before a change in TSH is seen. Antibodies are elevated in 90 percent of people with Hashimoto’s.

You can have your physician order the antibodies, or you can order the test yourself through Ulta Lab Tests, HERE.

Please also check out my blog post about Hashimoto’s and TPO antibodies.

I recommend that you find a doctor that will let you be a part of your healthcare team! You can also order your lab tests via direct to patient lab testing that I have set up through my Ulta Labs channel, here. Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

Another place to start is the Institute of Functional Medicine and ZRT Lab which maintains a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

Yes! You can check out some options HERE that specifically offer many affordable lab panels with a special discount that I set up through them.

Please go to http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf for a list of free and sliding scale clinics in your area.
You can also take charge of your own health with simple changes. You can check out my article on budget-friendly ways to help overcome your Hashimoto’s condition HERE.

Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormone that can occur as a result of a variety of different factors such as iodine deficiency, surgical removal of the thyroid or damage to the thyroid. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition that results in the immune system damaging the thyroid. Most cases of hypothyroidism in the US and other countries that add iodine to their salt supply are caused by Hashimoto’s. I am a proponent of not just using medications for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s, but also of rebalancing the immune system to prevent further autoimmune attacks on the thyroid.

Check out my article HERE for more information.

It depends! If you are taking a T4 only medication, you can go ahead and take your medication in the morning before the test. T4 medication has a long half-life, and your levels will be stable regardless of when you take it. On the other hand, if you take a T3 medication, or a combination of T3/T4, do note that T3 has a shorter half-life, so your blood work may not give the most accurate results. It will appear that you have more thyroid hormone on board than you do. Thus, it may be helpful to delay your morning dose of a T3/T4 medication until after you do the test. (Try to schedule the test in the morning).

5-10 percent of those with Hashimoto’s may not have antibodies. An ultrasound of the thyroid will help you see if your thyroid has changes consistent with Hashimoto’s. There is also a test called reverse T3, that tells you if you are having thyroid symptoms because of other reasons not related to Hashimoto’s, such as stress or adrenal issues. You can read more about the top 10 tests used to diagnose Hashimoto’s in this article.

Absolutely! Eliminating food sensitivities can eliminate many symptoms and can sometimes result in remission. Limiting processed foods, sugar, sweets, grains, caffeine and carbohydrates makes a huge difference. Balancing blood sugar by eating good fats and protein with every meal can also help. You can try the Autoimmune Paleo diet that focuses on foods like non-starchy vegetables, low glycemic index fruits, and meats.

Note that blood sugar imbalances may also be related to adrenal health, and addressing them can go a long way when it comes to resolving symptoms of both Hashimoto’s and adrenal dysfunction. I recommend reviewing the following articles, for more information:

ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH? 

WHY BALANCING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR IS VITAL FOR HASHIMOTO’S HEALTH

The traditional Paleo diet eliminates grains and processed foods, and focuses on nutrient-dense foods like meats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and eggs. Depending on who you ask, dairy may also be avoided. It has helped a lot of people feel much better, and some have even been able to eliminate thyroid antibodies by following this diet.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets better on the Paleo diet. In some cases, we need to dig deeper. People may have additional sensitivities that contribute to their immune system dysfunction. People with Hashimoto’s are especially sensitive to a multitude of foods, especially gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs.

That’s where the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) diet comes into play. This diet goes beyond Paleo and removes an additional couple of foods such as nuts, seeds, and eggs. AIP is the starting point – if you don’t remove the inflammatory foods, you can’t know if your other interventions are working or not.

Here are a few articles related to diet that will hopefully help you get started:
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
FOOD PHARMACOLOGY FOR HASHIMOTO’S

I have found that diet is very much an individual intervention. What works for one person, may not work for another, as each individual may be different in their triggers and needs.

The end goal is for everyone to come up with their own personalized Paleo diet that they can enjoy for life!

To help you start, I’ve created a cookbook with many Paleo and Autoimmune Paleo recipes, meal plans and shopping lists to help you reclaim your thyroid health with the power of food. You can check out Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health here!

I’ve found that diet is very much an individual intervention. What works for one person, may not work for another, as each individual may be different in their triggers and needs.

You may be interested in reading about the best diet for Hashimoto’s here.

You may also be interested in checking out my cookbook, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health. It reveals how food can be used as medicine in the same manner that pharmaceuticals are used to impact our biology, and it’s designed with healing recipes and protocols specifically for people with Hashimoto’s or autoimmune conditions.

Some people may not be able to tolerate even raw dairy if they became sensitized to the dairy proteins. Camel milk is an alternate that most will be able to tolerate. Nut milks and coconut milk may be other potential alternatives, depending on your personal food sensitivities.

Here’s an article that will help explain why dairy is often a food sensitivity in those with Hashimoto’s:
GOING DAIRY FREE TO REVERSE HASHIMOTO’S

I’ve found the Trader Joe’s brand to be great (when it’s in stock). I also really like the Aroy-D brand, which you can get on Amazon. Look for one that is free of additives and carrageenan.

I hope that helps!

I’ll occasionally see a reaction to coconut, but it’s not one that comes up very often for my clients. I recommend the Alletess lab for food sensitivity testing – I’ve had very reliable results from this test, in both myself and my clients, for the most part.

Here’s an article I wrote that discusses this lab test:
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

If you haven’t read it yet, you might also want to check out Chapter 15 of my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause, as well as page 270 of Hashimoto’s Protocol, which detail how to tackle food sensitivities.

Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.

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 some articles that I wrote, which you may find helpful:
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET

If you haven’t read it yet, you might also want to check out Chapter 15 of my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause, as well as page 270 of Hashimoto’s Protocol, which detail how to tackle food sensitivities.

Unfortunately, I’m unable to comment on the accuracy of food sensitivity tests that I have not personally used. I use and recommend Alletess food sensitivity testing for myself and my clients.

184 Foods Test
96 Foods Test

Not everyone has the same symptoms after consuming dairy. The best way to find out is by trying an elimination diet where you take dairy out for 2-3 weeks, and then trying it again and watching for reaction for 2-3 days. Dairy protein reactions are pretty common in Hashimoto’s, but it’s possible that not everyone will react. I would recommend first an elimination diet, followed by IgA and IgG testing.

I do not recommend any of the above for those with active Hashimoto’s due to their high content of iodine and their propensity to modulate the immune system. Spirulina, in particular, has been associated with new onset autoimmune conditions. Additionally, excess iodine can perpetuate or worsen the autoimmune attack in Hashimoto’s and lead to additional thyroid cell destruction. You can read more about the effects of iodine in my article, here.

Instead, for cleansing, you could do green juicing and consider liver support. You may also want to check out the Liver Support Protocol in my Hashimoto’s Protocol book.

Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend for my clients. I’ve found that a good percentage of people feel better off of gluten. About 20 percent will actually go into remission by going gluten free. Some researchers have found that implementing a gluten free diet for three to six months can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.

Here are some related articles I’d like to share with you:
GLUTEN FREE DIETS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S

You can find over 100 delicious gluten, dairy and soy free recipes and my favorite thyroid and nutrition experts in the free Thyroid Bundle Cookbook, available here:
THYROID BUNDLE COOKBOOK

If you’re looking for more strategies and recipes to help you get started, consider ordering a copy of my new cookbook, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health. It is a cookbook and nutrition guide that reveals how food can be used as medicine in the same manner that pharmaceuticals are used to impact our biology, and it’s designed with healing recipes and protocols specifically for people with Hashimoto’s or autoimmune conditions.

Additionally, I occasionally share recipes on my blog website. Here are a few links to some of those:
TASTY THYROID FRIENDLY RECIPES
HUBBY’S CARNITAS
PALEO SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Bon appétit! 🙂

I’ve found that supplementing with probiotics and eating fermented foods can be very helpful in restoring the gut microbiome.

Here are a few articles in which I discuss probiotics and fermented foods:
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S

You might also appreciate page 198 of my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, which discusses probiotics in more detail.

Recovering from adrenal dysfunction and Hashimoto’s when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy.

Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always present with Hashimoto’s. Rootcology Organic Pea Protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities.

Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians. However, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet.

Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many at the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys.

While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I haven’t been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.

Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following a transition to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building back the health of people with Hashimoto’s.

That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body, hindering healing; and thus, one’s diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggies).

Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet could be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements often need to be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency.

Please know that I’m a big proponent of bio-individuality which honors the distinct nutritional needs of every human being. I’m not saying everybody needs to eat meat, but I am saying to listen to your body if it needs meat.

For more information about vegan/vegetarian diets and Hashimoto’s, please check out my article HERE.

If you want to learn more about tailoring your diet to help with adrenal dysfunction, please check out my article on adrenal health, or consider picking up a copy of my latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, which features a food plan and delicious recipes!

Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th-1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery. I go into more detail about this in my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause.

Hormonal issues may also be present with adrenal dysfunction. I discuss this in my Adrenal Transformation Protocol book.

I wrote these articles relating to hormones and Hashimoto’s, that you may find helpful as well:
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE AS A HASHIMOTO’S TRIGGER
PREGNANCY AND HASHIMOTO’S
HOW BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ROB US OF OUR HEALTH
ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AND CANCER

Breast implants can be a potential trigger – I have seen this happen in a few cases. They can potentially be seen as a foreign invader and promote autoimmunity. They can also be the host of infections. You can read more about the link between breast implants and Hashimoto’s in my article:
BREAST IMPLANTS AND HASHIMOTO’S

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. People may develop additional autoimmune disorders including lupus, RA, and others. Thus, I recommend working on balancing the immune system to prevent this from happening.

If you are not feeling well, have leaky gut, allergies, or infections, your immune system is not working properly. The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my books focus on balancing the immune system.

Please check out my article on the root causes of Graves’ disease for more information.

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 the thyroglobulin (in 80 percent of people) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzymes (in 95 percent of people). Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with thyroid replacement hormones.

The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves’ disease, 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 thyroid replacement hormones as well.

Lifestyle interventions that address autoimmunity may be helpful in both conditions.

For more information on Graves’ disease, please check out my article HERE.

The three keys to feeling well are:

1. Getting a diagnosis (which you already have).
2. Getting appropriate medication – This is where your TSH, FT4, and FT3 levels would come into play. You want to make sure those are under control and not causing further inflammation and damage. (You can read more about optimizing your thyroid labs here.)
3. Addressing the immune imbalance with the interventions noted in my books and on my website.

Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism.

Here are some articles that I wrote:
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
WHAT’S GOING ON IN HASHIMOTO’S?

These articles are a great place to start and are a great introduction to my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions.

You may also be interested in joining my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program for detailed guidance on effective protocols to help you identify your root causes and put your thyroid condition into remission.

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 a Facebook group comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men, each of them offering support to one another and sharing ideas of what worked for them or things they were planning to try. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges was enormous.

Here are a few groups you may consider joining: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Support Group and Living with Hashimoto’s Disease

I also want to share these articles with you:
TOP 9 THINGS I’D SAY TO A FRIEND NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HASHIMOTO’S
GETTING SUPPORT

You’re not alone! 🙂

For children (and adults), I always recommend starting with diet. Are they gluten, dairy, and soy free? Are they eating a nutrient dense diet with fermented foods?

Implementing those changes can help many symptoms. For example, some cases of anemia can be helped by eating liver; other symptoms may resolve by going gluten free. Acid reflux is often caused by food sensitivities. Most of the interventions recommended in my Root Cause book can be done with children, with the exception of dosing of supplements. I suggest you work with a functional medicine doctor that is familiar in working with children. (I only work with adults.)

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, is ‘dead’, 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 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 books focus on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research in my journey for overcoming my own autoimmune thyroid condition.

I’d like to share these articles that I wrote, which you may find helpful as well:
IS HASHIMOTO’S A SURGICAL DISEASE
HASHIMOTO’S AND THYROID CANCER

You can access your bonus meal plans by logging into your Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program portal and navigating to the “Root Cause Recipes” section on the left sidebar.

If you have forgotten your password, put in your email address and click “Forgot Password”.

You can access the portal here.

If you have forgotten your password, please click “Lost Password” on the bottom left and create a new one. From there, you will be emailed a new password which you can use.

You will have access to the material in the Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program for one year. You will be able to review any of the information in the portal, at any time during the year. You will also have access to any content updates and changes that I may make. I suggest downloading the content so that you have it saved to your computer.

The module emails are set up to go out on a weekly basis. But, you do not necessarily have to complete them in that time frame. It’s always best to take the course at your own pace so that you can effectively understand the content and implement the interventions.

There are 5 stages to thyroid disease. A person with only thyroid antibodies and normal TSH levels is considered to be in Stage 2 of thyroid disease; a person who has an elevated TSH with normal T4/T3 is in Stage 3 of thyroid disease; a person with elevated TSH and lowered T3/T4 with or without thyroid antibodies is in Stage 4 of thyroid disease, regardless if she/he has thyroid antibodies or not; and Stage 5 is when the person progresses to other types of autoimmune disease.

The course is focused on reversing and slowing/stopping the progression of the condition in all stages and is appropriate for all levels of thyroid disease.

The course is tailored to Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism. It will be helpful for other autoimmune conditions as well, such as celiac disease that hasn’t responded to a gluten free diet.

You may want to check out these articles that I wrote:
THE 5 STAGES OF HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS
SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM DESERVES CARE AND TREATMENT

If you like the articles, you might also consider picking up a copy of my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause, as well as my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions.

You are welcome to take the program for your information, but please be aware that the program is tailored to adults and all dosing and supplement recommendations will be for adults. Also, please know that I don’t have experience working with minors.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to estimate the cost of the supplements that you will need for the course, as everybody is going to be different depending on their root causes. However, I do have a portal set up for program participants, where customers in the US receive a 10% discount on many of the supplements I recommend in the course.

I do not like to recommend many of the supplements in the course while pregnant or nursing, as they have the potential to pass through to the baby. That is not to say that they are necessarily unsafe, but that I have not specifically researched each of the supplements’ effects on pregnant and nursing women, so I wouldn’t be able to confirm their safety.

I recommend either waiting to do the course or working with your practitioner who is more familiar with these things, to discuss the safety of the supplements while pregnant or nursing.

Also, you will have indefinite access to the course and all of the content in the Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program portal, provided you save the files to your computer. So, if you were interested in purchasing it now, you could wait and begin implementing the interventions at a later time, as you will still have access to all of the information.

The main tests that I recommend in the course can be shipped internationally, and clients have received their kits in Greece, New Zealand, China, Spain, UK, and South Africa, to name a few. Additionally, some of the tests can be done locally in your country. We also have a growing list of international resources where you may be able to find local lab companies.

I’m sorry you feel that the program is too expensive. Unfortunately, it does take a considerable amount of time and money to create, maintain, and offer support for these types of programs. However, they are a good model for reaching a lot of people. The Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program provides clients with access to all of the steps I go through with my one-on-one clients, without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner.

Additionally, I want to let you know that I provide a lot of free information through my website and Facebook page. You may also be able to borrow my books from your local library, if interested.

Here are some articles I wrote, which you may find helpful, as well:
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
WHAT’S GOING ON IN HASHIMOTO’S?
DO YOU HAVE TO BE WEALTHY TO OVERCOME HASHIMOTO’S?

Brain fog is a very common symptom of Hashimoto’s as well as adrenal dysfunction (which often co-occurs with thyroid conditions). Often, we are told that being confused and forgetful is part of normal aging or that we need less stress. The truth is, many of our symptoms, including brain fog can be attributed to low thyroid hormones and food sensitivities. Going gluten and dairy free seem to be some of the most helpful interventions to help decrease or often completely eradicate brain fog.

Here are some articles you may find helpful:
BRAIN FOG AND HASHIMOTO’S
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

Anxiety is very common in people with thyroid disorders. Depression is also a common symptom of Hashimoto’s, and a consequence of chronic illness. Some patients have even been misdiagnosed (and hospitalized) with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia when in fact they were suffering from thyroid imbalances.

Here are some articles which you may find helpful:
HASHIMOTO’S AND ANXIETY
ARE YOU GOING CRAZY OR IS IT JUST YOUR THYROID
ROOT CAUSES OF DEPRESSION AND HASHIMOTO’S
HASHIMOTO’S AND OUR EMOTIONS

If you find the articles helpful, you might also appreciate my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause, to help you understand what’s going on with your thyroid. Page 32 discusses misdiagnosis and mentions how many patients are prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications without considering thyroid function. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions for recovering from Hashimoto’s.

Mood issues such as anxiety and depression may also be symptoms of adrenal dysfunction. If you are struggling with intense and chronic overwhelm, fatigue, stress, sleep problems and/or mood issues, please consider taking a look at my book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.

Here’s an article on adrenal dysfunction which you may find helpful as well: 

ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?

The thyroid gland has been called a thermostat for our body, as it helps to regulate heat. People with hypothyroidism are prone to having low body temperatures and cold intolerance. It’s one of those symptoms that we often brush off, don’t notice and don’t take seriously, but can be very stressful when we do not take the proper precautions.

Here is an article I think might be helpful to you:
THYROID AND COLD INTOLERANCE

Stay warm! 🙂

People with Hashimoto’s may experience BOTH hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms because as the thyroid cells are destroyed, stored hormones are released into the circulation, causing a toxic level of thyroid hormone in the body, also known as thyrotoxicosis or Hashitoxicosis. Eventually, the stored thyroid hormone may become depleted, and due to thyroid cell damage, the person is no longer able to produce enough hormones. At this time, hypothyroidism develops.

Here is an article of mine that might be helpful:
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S

I personally struggled with pain in the form of body aches and stiffness, as well as carpal tunnel in both arms, in 2010, when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. I had to wear braces on both arms for about 6 months.

I’d like to share these articles that I wrote, as they might be helpful for you:
PAIN AND HASHIMOTO’S
TURMERIC FOR YOUR THYROID AND HASHIMOTO’S

I’ve found that many patients with Hashimoto’s may have an impaired tolerance to carbohydrates, and balancing blood sugar is a very important first step in feeling better.

Here are a few articles of mine that you may find helpful:
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
REVERSING DIABETES AND HASHIMOTO’S BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES
WHAT’S GOING ON IN HASHIMOTO’S?

Stevia is a popular and good alternative to sugar. It’s derived from the plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, or “honey leaf,” which contains the sweet-tasting compounds known as steviol glycosides. Stevia can help people lose weight, improve diabetes, lower blood sugar, and lower blood pressure; it has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties and can even help people with Lyme disease.

For some people, though, stevia might not be the right choice. You may not like the taste, or if you have adrenal dysfunction, low cortisol, low blood sugar, or low blood pressure or you are trying to conceive, you may want to avoid stevia, especially long-term use. Although there is no current evidence showing that occasional or short-term use poses a problem, one school of thought suggests that any sweeteners may cause insulin release and a stress response in the body.

If you want to avoid stevia, you can try honey, maple syrup, xylitol, or trehalose. Honey and maple syrup are natural and Paleo and Autoimmune friendly, but may contribute to Candida and blood-sugar issues, and you’ll want to avoid these while you are eliminating sugar. Trehalose can accelerate tissue repair, but, like xylitol, may exacerbate SIBO, a common issue for people with Hashimoto’s. Additionally, please note that some researchers have found that trehalose may feed the Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) bacteria; thus if you are struggling with an overgrowth of this gut bacteria, this sugar may not be appropriate for you.

Myo-inositol, a naturally-occurring sugar alcohol with half of the sweetness of sugar may be a better alternative. Myo-inositol, when combined with Selenium, has been reported to improve thyroid function, stabilize blood sugar and help anxiety.

I’ve found that most people with Hashimoto’s will have some degree of overgrowth of the yeast Candida. Eliminating this yeast overgrowth can help with numerous symptoms.

Here is an article that I wrote on Candida, that you may find helpful:
CANDIDA AND HASHIMOTO’S CONNECTION

I include a Yeast Overgrowth protocol on page 317 of my book Hashimoto’s Protocol. Additionally, you may want to work with a functional medicine practitioner on my Thyroid Pharmacist Consulting team. You might find my program for Hashimoto’s to be helpful as well: Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program

Type 1 diabetes, also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), is analogous to Hashimoto’s. Both conditions start with circulating autoantibodies. In IDDM, the antibodies are to the beta cells in the pancreas, while in Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are to thyroid peroxidase (TPO). A trio of factors has been suggested to form the “Perfect Storm” in Type 1 diabetes pathogenesis: abnormal microbial flora, a leaky intestinal mucosal barrier (leaky gut syndrome), and an altered immune system in intestinal cells. I discuss diabetes in my Root Cause book, starting on page 145.Here’s the link to the book, if you’re interested: Hashimoto’s Root Cause book.

Fatigue was the most debilitating symptom that I experienced with Hashimoto’s. It actually started 8 years before I was finally diagnosed in 2009 after I got Mono (the Epstein-Barr Virus) in college. I’ve consulted with countless others who needed to sleep for 12 hours each night just to be able to function.

I’m passing along some articles, in the hopes that they help you:
OVERCOMING THYROID FATIGUE
THIAMINE AND THYROID FATIGUE

Chronic feelings of fatigue, sleep problems, and waking unrested even if you’ve had plenty of sleep, could indicate adrenal dysfunction and/or sleep apnea. My book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol, addresses many strategies for reducing fatigue, including how to balance your circadian rhythm, which is discussed on pages 167-176. 

Here are two articles on these topics which you may find helpful as well:

ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?

HASHIMOTO’S AND SLEEP APNEA  

Hair loss is a distressing symptom experienced by women with Hashimoto’s. For women, our hair represents our femininity, and losing our hair is a constant reminder that something is off and that we are not well.

I’d like to share these articles I wrote with you, as they may be helpful:
HASHIMOTO’S AND GETTING YOUR HAIR BACK
HAIR LOSS AND YOUR THYROID

I also discuss hair loss in my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. You might also appreciate pages 277-278 of my book Hashimoto’s Protocol.

Here are a couple of things to think about:

1. What were your recent TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 levels? Sometimes when those numbers are on the outskirts of normal, your metabolic rate may still be impaired, making it more difficult for you to burn calories. Most people report feeling well with a TSH between 0.5-2 μIU/mL.
2. What type of medication are you on? Some report more weight loss with a T4/T3 combination medication vs. a T4-only medication. Some do not convert T4 properly. You can read more about that here.
3. What type of diet are you eating? The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.), full of sugar and simple carbohydrates, is perfectly designed to cause us to gain weight year after year. Even yogurts that are marketed as “healthy” contain the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar. Divorcing the S.A.D. is often a step that many of us must take to not just to lose weight, but also to feel better. Some diets that have been helpful include the Body Ecology Diet, the Paleo Diet, the Virgin Diet, the Autoimmune Paleo Diet, the GAPS diet, the SCD diet, the Weston A. Price Diet, or the Mediterranean Diet. You may need to modify these diets to your individuality.

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-friendly diet that restricts foods.

Here are 9 tips to keep in mind:

1. Get a calorie counting app like MyFitnessPal on your phone, to help you keep track of your daily calories. Eating real food can be more filling than eating simple carbohydrates, so 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 test. In some, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods. (You can read more about this here.)
5. Be sure that you are not over medicated.
6. Work on reducing your antibodies with a selenium supplement. (You can read more about this and other strategies to reduce antibodies here.)
7. Consider stress reduction, as when we’re stressed, we don’t digest.
8. Add coconut oil to your beverages, as this can add extra calories to your day.
9. Avoid caffeine. It can make you less hungry and stress out your adrenals.

If you’re looking for strategies and recipes to help you get started, consider ordering a copy of my Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology cookbook and nutrition guide. It reveals how food can be used as medicine in the same manner that pharmaceuticals are used to impact our biology, and it’s designed with healing recipes and protocols specifically for people with Hashimoto’s or autoimmune conditions.

Weight issues (usually weight gain) are also often present when you have hormone imbalances related to adrenal dysfunction. My Adrenal Transformation Protocol book includes a food plan and recipes that can help you balance blood sugar, regain your energy, and optimize your weight.

Our skin is a window to our internal health. It is the body’s largest elimination organ, and also a canvas where toxicities, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and hormonal imbalances can show up. Women with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions are more likely to have dry, dull skin, rashes, hives, premenstrual acne and facial swelling, especially if their thyroid levels are not optimized and they are not absorbing vitamins and nutrients correctly.

Here are some articles that I want to share with you, as they might be helpful:
THYROID AND SKIN
THE COMMON ROOT CAUSE OF HASHIMOTO’S HIVES AND IBS

Also, conventional cosmetics, potions, and lotions are filled with petroleum by-products, phthalates, formaldehyde, hormone disruptors and other toxins; and as a pharmacologist, I’m well aware that what you put on your skin definitely gets absorbed into your body! Here are some more articles that you may find interesting:
ARE YOU SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTH FOR EXTERNAL BEAUTY?
NEW SKIN CARE LINE

Thankfully, we don’t have to sacrifice beauty for our health! 🙂

There are many different potential root causes and triggers for Hashimoto’s. Oftentimes, when a person has tried a number of interventions but still does not feel well, I will find that they have some sort of underlying infection.

Here are a few articles that I wrote on infections, which you may find helpful:
INFECTIONS AND HASHIMOTO’S
INFECTIONS AS HIDDEN TRIGGERS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
LYME AND HASHIMOTO’S
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS AND HASHIMOTO’S
THE COMMON ROOT CAUSE OF HASHIMOTO’S, HIVES, AND IBS
PERIODONTITIS
DAVE’S HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE: MOLD!

If you find the articles helpful, you might also appreciate my books, Hashimoto’s Root Cause and Hashimoto’s Protocol.

Unfortunately, as a licensed Pharmacist, I’m unable to legally provide specific medical advice online. If something were to happen to you, I could be held liable. I hope that you understand.

Generally speaking, clients have found success in treating H. pylori through the use of antibiotics, herbal support, or a combination of both. A discussion of these options with your medical provider should be useful in determining the most effective course of treatment for you and should be based on your past history, symptoms, and testing results.

I’ve found that some clients are successful in treating their H. pylori infection by using a combination of herbal products such as Mastic Gum, DGL, S. boulardii, and Rootcology Amino Support, among other products.

Here is an article that I wrote on infections, that you may find helpful. It specifically addresses H. pylori:
INFECTIONS AND HASHIMOTO’S

If you find the article helpful, you might also appreciate my book, Hashimoto’s Protocol. The book has an entire section dedicated to infections and the various options for treatment.

Additionally, my 12-week Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program has an entire module dedicated to infections, including recommendations for treating H. pylori. This program gives clients access to all of the things I learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It was designed to empower clients with the strategies they need so that they can start improving faster, be in charge of their own health, and be less dependent on health care providers. The program walks you through the steps to identify and address the common root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, like diet, dental, adrenal and blood sugar imbalances, infections, and much more. It is a self-paced self-management program and offers the added benefit of having others with whom to discuss the material each week. If you’re interested in signing up for the program, it is available through this link: Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

Unfortunately, in many cases, I cannot provide specific advice without a consultation. However, I recommend these tests:

THYROID FUNCTION TESTS

• TSH
• TPO Antibodies
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies
• Free T4
• Free T3
• Reverse T3 (optional)
• Thyroid Ultrasound (optional)

In addition, I’d like to pass along this research article on the top 10 thyroid tests for diagnosis:
TOP 10 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS

Beyond thyroid tests, I also recommend several tests to help you identify underlying causes that may be contributing to your symptoms. Click here to see my full list of labs I recommend to help you identify your root cause(s).

I’ve written a pretty comprehensive patient guide, based on my personal experience with Hashimoto’s and extensive research, that I think will help you understand the many root causes of Hashimoto’s, as well as what you can do to overcome it. Here’s the link to the book. 🙂

You may also want to check out my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions.

Unfortunately, as a licensed Pharmacist, I’m unable to legally provide specific advice on labs over the internet. I hope that you understand. I recommend consulting a local functional medicine practitioner that can review your case and provide guidance and education on your lab results. Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

There are so many different labs for different root causes. I cover labs in detail in my first book Hashimoto’s Root Cause, if you’re interested. 🙂

In the meantime, I’d like to pass along this research article on the Top 10 thyroid tests for diagnosis, which details the optimal ranges you should aim for:
TOP 10 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS

Most labs from our Direct Labs Portal can be shipped internationally, as long as they do not require a blood draw. Please be sure to contact Direct Labs for questions about shipping, as they are a third party lab and we are unable to access shipping or tracking information. You can visit the website HERE.

Please note, you will need to create an account when ordering. Once you receive an email notification that your results are available, you can log into your account to get the results. Please go to “Your MyDLS Account” and view results under “Orders.”

I highly recommend that you work with a skilled practitioner to help interpret your labs and work with you on a course of treatment or action.

For blood work, it may be necessary to find a provider in your area. The Institute for Functional Medicine maintains a list of global practitioners HERE. Additionally, my Thyroid Pharmacist team is currently building a list of patient recommended doctors. You can check it out HERE.

Conventional cosmetics, potions, and lotions are filled with petroleum by-products, phthalates, formaldehyde, hormone disruptors and other toxins. As a pharmacologist, I’m well aware that what you put on your skin definitely gets absorbed into your body!

Here are some articles I wrote, which you may find helpful:
ARE YOU SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTH FOR EXTERNAL BEAUTY?
NEW SKIN CARE LINE

I also maintain a list of recommended personal, skin, and self-care products on my Resources page.

I often talk about how important optimizing nutrients is in Hashimoto’s.

Here are a few articles I wrote on nutrient deficiencies and Hashimoto’s, that you may find helpful:
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES: SELENIUM
NUTRIENT DEPLETIONS: ANTIOXIDANTS
NUTRIENT DEPLETIONS: ZINC
NUTRIENT DEPLETIONS: THYROID & B12
NUTRIENT DEPLETIONS: NUTRIENT EXTRACTION

I also have a full supplements chapter in my Hashimoto’s Root Cause book, as well as a chapter on digestion and depletions. Not everyone should be taking every supplement. The book will help uncover your root cause, which will help in figuring out your personal supplementation needs.

Although we don’t have a current resource for recommended low-level laser therapy practitioners, we are planning to build a database in the future.

You can submit LLLT practitioner information to be included in the list, when it’s available, HERE. We will be sure to make it available on the Thyroid Pharmacist website once finished.

In the meantime, you can get more information through the links at the end of this article:
LASER THERAPY AND THYROID TISSUE REGENERATION

Unfortunately, as a licensed Pharmacist, I’m unable to legally provide specific advice on medications over the internet. You deserve the personalized care of a focused primary care physician to advise you. I hope that you understand.

Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

Another place to start is the Institute of Functional Medicine and ZRT Lab which maintains a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

In the meantime, I’d like to pass along these articles about medications as they would be helpful for you:
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
COMMON Q&A: MEDICATIONS & YOUR THYROID
IS YOUR MEDICATION GLUTEN FREE?
LOW DOSE NALTREXONE

I also cover medications in detail in my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. You may also want to check out my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions.

There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, you may consider asking your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try.

The benefits of following a gluten free diet with Hashimoto’s have been well documented.

Many people have taken the plunge of going gluten free and are carefully checking labels to ensure that their foods do not contain any traces of gluten, but gluten can also be found in medications and can sabotage your healing.

There are no current laws that require medication manufacturers to specify if their products contain gluten. Many progressive manufacturers have started labeling their products, but not all. I wrote this article on gluten free thyroid medications for further insight. You may also consider reading about Tirosint, a thyroid medication that is free of harmful fillers.

Many people with Hashimoto’s are sensitive to multiple ingredients like dairy, soy, corn, and eggs, and may be sensitive to them when used as fillers in medications. Tirosint, WP Thyroid, and Nature-Throid have the fewest additives as far as thyroid medications go. You can also work with a compounding pharmacist to have a special thyroid medication made for you without any ingredients that are going to sabotage your health.

Thyroid hormones are known to have a very narrow therapeutic index – they are “Goldilocks” medications in that have to be dosed just right to ensure effectiveness and prevent adverse drug events. Thyroid hormones are dosed in micrograms — that is just 1/1000th of a milligram! When the dose is a teensy bit too high, we may have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and when the dose is a teensy bit too low, we have symptoms of hypothyroidism!

This is why switching back and forth between different brands of thyroid medications is not recommended. Even a teensy bit difference in the formulation can make a profound impact on our well-being! Here are some helpful hints for switching thyroid medications.

Thyroid medications are notorious for drug interactions with other medications. This means that some medications can cause alterations in thyroid hormone levels and side effects, and in turn, thyroid medications can impact the effectiveness and toxicity profiles of other medications. Always be sure to check with your pharmacist when taking new medications or over-the-counter drugs. Ideally, you should fill all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so your pharmacist can do a check of your drug interactions every time you fill a prescription.

Yes, thyroid medications are found in Category A, the safest category of medications for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Having adequate thyroid hormone levels can actually help with fertility, preventing miscarriage and improving pregnancy outcomes for mom and baby! If you get pregnant while taking thyroid hormones, be sure to see your doctor ASAP to test your levels. You will very likely need to increase your dose, as pregnancy increases the requirement of thyroid hormones. If you are thinking about pregnancy, be sure to read this guest post – Hashimoto’s and Pregnancy, as well as my personal pregnancy story.

Thyroid medication absorption can be impacted by many things, including food, other medications, and supplements. Thyroid medication should be taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to one hour before eating, taking other medications, supplements or coffee to ensure appropriate absorption. Antacids such as Tums, iron, magnesium, and calcium supplements can impair the absorption of thyroid medications. Thus, you need to have at least 4 hours of time in between your thyroid medications and these agents.

This article provides more information on timing your medications for your lab tests:
HOW TO GET ACCURATE LAB TESTS WHEN TAKING THYROID MEDICATIONS

Unfortunately, as a licensed Pharmacist, I’m unable to legally provide specific advice on medications over the internet. You deserve the personalized care of a focused primary care physician to advise you. I hope that you understand.

Generally, though, I have not found natural desiccated thyroid medications to be an issue in pregnancy. Of course, I’d refer you back to your doctor for specific recommendations. But, to my knowledge, they should be just as safe as synthetic thyroid medication options and can be beneficial for those who do not properly convert T4 to T3.

In the meantime, I’d like to pass along these articles about medications as they would be helpful for you:
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
PREGNANCY

I also cover medications in detail in my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause.

There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, you may consider asking your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try.

Three things MUST be present in order for autoimmunity to occur…
1. Genetic predisposition
2. Environmental triggers
3. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

Developing autoimmunity is like a three-legged stool: all of these factors must be present for autoimmunity to occur! When you remove one of these, you can prevent or stop autoimmune disease. While we can’t change our genes, we can heal our gut; and if we know our triggers, we can remove them.

You might want to check out some of these articles that I wrote:
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE PERFECT STORM
IS HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM GENETIC

Nodules and goiters are often the results of toxicity and/or the autoimmune process. So, doing interventions to reduce the autoimmune attack on the thyroid, and toxicity, can be helpful in reducing them.

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 that have their thyroids removed 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, program, and books focus on balancing the immune system.

The information I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition. You might also appreciate my books, Hashimoto’s Root Cause and Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions. Hope it helps!

Here are a few articles you might find helpful, as well:
NODULES AND HASHIMOTO’S
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
WHAT’S GOING ON IN HASHIMOTO’S?

I’ve had countless clients say this! Unfortunately, most conventional physicians use the TSH test to determine if one has a thyroid disorder and to dose thyroid medications.

However, this test can often be misleading, as levels of circulating hormones may fluctuate at different times, such as in Hashimoto’s, where the person affected may fluctuate between highs and lows.

Additionally, when scientists first set the “normal” ranges of TSH for healthy individuals, they inadvertently included elderly patients and others with compromised thyroid function in the calculations, leading to an overly lax reference range.

This resulted in people with underactive thyroid hormones being told that their thyroid tests were “normal,” based on this skewed reference range. I’ve found that most people feel best with a TSH between 0.5-2.0 µIU/mL, with Free T4 and Free T3 levels in the upper half of the range.

I’d like to pass along these articles, which you might find helpful:
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TSH IS NORMAL AND YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
ARE YOU GOING CRAZY OR IS IT JUST YOUR THYROID

If you find the articles helpful, you might also appreciate my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. Chapter 3 focuses on restoring thyroid hormone levels.

I often talk about how people with Hashimoto’s have a combination of food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, adrenal issues, gut issues as well as an impaired ability to get rid of toxins. Any of those things would prevent a person from getting better.

Hashimoto’s is very much an individual condition. While there are root cause commonalities, each person will have their own root cause trigger, or multiple ones.

You will have to start with the simplest modifications by removing triggers, followed by repairing the other broken systems to restore equilibrium, allowing the body to rebuild itself. You will dig down to why the immune system is imbalanced in the first place, and this will tell you how you can begin to finally feel better, reduce your thyroid antibodies and even take your condition into remission.

You will have to create your own health timeline. Look back at your overall history as far back as you can remember. Look for infections, periods of severe stress, the use of medications (especially antibiotics, antacids, and oral contraceptives), accidents, and exposure to toxins. These are events that may have contributed to Hashimoto’s. Once you do, you will know what types of changes you need to implement to make yourself feel better.

I have a list of lab tests that can be done in the “Testing” chapter of my Hashimoto’s Root Cause book, which details the approach above. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions and has checklists to help you to identify your possible triggers.

You may also be interested in joining my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program, which walks you through the steps needed to uncover your personal root causes..

Yes. Even when the thyroid is removed, an immune system imbalance may still remain. My mission is to spread awareness about lifestyle changes that can reduce or remove the autoimmunity, such as eliminating food intolerances, eliminating infections and balancing the gut environment.

Unfortunately, I cannot give any straightforward guidance about vaccinations. As with any drug, we each have to make our own informed decision about this and ultimately, it’s up to you, your family, and a doctor you trust to assess personal risk and benefits, and decide if a vaccine is the right thing for you and/or your family member.

There are a few reasons why this could happen. Sometimes, these results can be due to pituitary suppression. This can also be due to taking Adrenal Support supplements, steroids, or glandulars at bedtime. Additionally, this effect may be seen with the use of T3 medications in some people.

Furthermore, please note that Cytomel may contain traces of gluten, which may affect your thyroid hormone levels. You can check out this article for more information:
WARNING ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS

Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism.

The infections and other triggers associated with Hashimoto’s can often be difficult to uncover and address. However, many people have been able to reduce their symptoms, and even put their Hashimoto’s into remission by finding and treating their root cause(s). So, it can definitely be worth the effort and cost when our health is at stake.

I’d like to pass along these articles that I wrote:
THYROID HEALTH ON A BUDGET
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
WHAT’S GOING ON IN HASHIMOTO’S?
DO YOU HAVE TO BE WEALTHY TO OVERCOME HASHIMOTO’S?

These articles are a great place to start and are a great introduction to my first book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions depending on your triggers.

I’ve also written a book on adrenal dysfunction, which is a common issue in those with Hashimoto’s. I wrote Adrenal Transformation Protocol after learning first-hand that the key to feeling calm, strong, sharp, and vibrant lies in balancing the release of our stress hormones! It is based on the premise that to feel good, we can send our bodies signals to let them know they’re safe and can rest, digest, and heal. I developed this protocol over the course of two years, and tested and optimized it with over 3,500 people. Most people who have taken the program reported improvements in symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, libido, energy levels, and sleep issues. If you are struggling with these symptoms, I encourage you to take a look at my book, as well as this article: 

ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?

Furthermore, I provide a lot of free information through my website, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook page. You may also be able to borrow my books from your local library, if interested.

I don’t have much experience with parathyroid adenomas. That said, I recently did some research for a client with a pituitary adenoma and found a case report of a woman who shrunk her adenoma with a B12 supplement.

So, one thing to consider may be asking your practitioner to test your B12 levels, and talking with them about supplementing with B12. You can read more about my supplement and dosage recommendations for B12 here.

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 that have their thyroids removed 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, program, and books focus on balancing the immune system.

The information I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions and contains protocols that may help your condition as well.

Although this is not something that I have covered yet, I’ve found that there may potentially be a connection. The adrenals are also often implicated in menstrual issues.

I want to share the book, The Period Repair Manual, with you. You might also be interested in my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program. It helps people with adrenal issues and normalizing periods.

There does seem to be an increased risk of Glaucoma in people with a history of thyroid disease. I’m currently working on an article about Hashimoto’s and eye disease and will be sure to include a review of the potential mechanism of action behind the glaucoma connection. As always, I like to give some empowering solutions and not just information about the many problems associated with Hashimoto’s, so it takes me awhile to research and write an article. In the meantime, here are some helpful search results from PubMed.

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22661397
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2708670/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=glaucoma+AND+thyroid

Unfortunately, I don’t have any current information available on this topic. However, I recommend working with a functional medicine doctor for hypopituitarism. I also suggest talking with your practitioner about pituitary glandulars, like Cytozyme PT/HPT by Biotics.

Some of the causes for low platelets are listed below.

• Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)
• Viral infection
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Rickettsial infections
• Platelet autoantibodies
• Drugs
• Myelodysplasia
• Cirrhosis
• Autoimmune disease
• Sepsis
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma

You might want to read my first book to work out your root cause, as well as look into working with a functional medicine doctor.

Should you need help finding a physician near you, we do have a list of patient recommended doctors: Thyroid Pharmacist Clinician List.

Another place to start is the Institute of Functional Medicine and ZRT Lab which maintains a list of knowledgeable clinicians.

You may find my program for Hashimoto’s to be helpful as well: Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

There are higher rates of lichen sclerosus associated with autoimmunity and thyroid. This condition can be caused by hormonal imbalances and potentially chronic infections, which often trigger Hashimoto’s as well. The strategies that I recommend in my Hashimoto’s Root Cause book should help both conditions. You may also want to check out my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions. I wish you all the best on your health journey!

Low alkaline phosphatase levels have been connected to hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and some other autoimmune conditions as well. It’s a good indicator of a poorly functioning gut. But what’s causing it is not always straightforward. One task that alkaline phosphatase does in the body is neutralize lipopolysaccharides, which are inflammatory toxins from our dysbiotic gut bacteria. Alkaline phosphatase tends to get depleted in an acidic environment.Generally, probiotics can be helpful to rebalance the gut flora, and magnesium glycinate can be helpful in re-balancing our body’s acidity.

Here are a few articles that I wrote, that you may find helpful:
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
NEW STUDIES ON MAGNESIUM AND THYROID HEALTH

Furthermore, low alkaline phosphatase can be a sign of zinc deficiency. Please check out my article on the importance of zinc for more information:
ZINC & HASHIMOTO’S

Although I haven’t written an article on this topic yet, I do feel that there seems to be a connection between transvaginal mesh surgeries and Hashimoto’s.

Here is an article that you may find helpful.

Vertigo can be a common symptom seen in people with thyroid disease. In one research study, 52 percent of Hashimoto’s patients showed an alteration of vestibular function, which can affect balance and lead to vertigo and nausea. Getting your thyroid antibodies down will, of course, help vertigo. In the meantime, I want to share this new advance in medicine with you.

Also, you might also find this article on symptoms related to Hashimoto’s helpful:
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S

The root cause treatments that I recommend for Hashimoto’s may also potentially be helpful for vitiligo. Any infection or toxin can produce these symptoms of autoimmune disease. Also, with vitiligo, antibodies may cross-react with the thyroid.

I’ve had a few clients who have been able to reduce or eliminate their vitiligo through my Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program. Specifically, I had one client who had vitiligo because of an infection. Another client’s vitiligo patches stopped growing after doing the program. My 12-week program addresses all of the strategies that I go over with my one-on-one clients. This program gives clients access to all of the things I learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. It was designed to empower clients with the strategies they need so that they can start improving faster, be in charge of their own health, and be less dependent on health care providers. The 12-week Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program walks you through the steps to identify and address the common root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, like food sensitivities, dental triggers, adrenal and blood sugar imbalances, infections, toxins, and much more. It is a self-paced self-management program and offers the added benefit of having others with whom to discuss the material each week. If you’re interested in signing up for the program, it is available through this link: Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program.

Although I don’t have any current information available on this topic, I do know that viruses often trigger Hashimoto’s, and weak adrenals may allow the viruses to propagate. So, this may be the potential connection between shingles and Hashimoto’s.Here are some articles I wrote, that you may find helpful:
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS AND HASHIMOTO’S
INFECTIONS AS HIDDEN TRIGGERS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

If you find the articles helpful, you might appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, which has a section dedicated to protocols for those who have infections as their root cause of Hashimoto’s.

​Heart palpitations are very common for people with Hashimoto’s, and there are a few things that often cause them:

1. Adrenal imbalances: Adrenal imbalances are very common in Hashimoto’s patients. Treating hypothyroidism without treating the adrenals is one of the biggest reasons people continue to feel exhausted despite receiving treatment with thyroid hormones. Stress seems to be a precursor to hypothyroidism. I estimate that 90 percent of Hashimoto’s patients are dealing with at least some degree of adrenal dysfunction! Dysfunction in adrenal hormone production is often to blame for symptoms that don’t seem to retreat even after thyroid hormone treatment.

2. Blood sugar issues: Many people with Hashimoto’s may have an impaired tolerance to carbohydrates. I have found that balancing blood sugar is a very important first step in feeling better.
3. Anxiety: Anxiety is a common symptom of thyroid disease. While it can be caused by many Hashimoto’s triggers, there are many dietary and lifestyle interventions that can help reverse anxiety, as well as supplements like myo-inositol.

I share detailed solutions for these three triggers in my latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol>. If heart palpitations are an issue for you, consider taking a deeper look at your adrenals—when we’re in a state of constant stress and anxiety, it can mean the adrenals are taxed, which in turn only causes more stress, and that cycle continues. Taking a step back to rest, evaluating your lifestyle, balancing blood sugar, and nourishing your body are just some of the gentle protocols discussed in this 4-week plan. Once you heal your adrenals, you will have a more balanced stress response, and gradually build up your resilience to prevent excess stress from overwhelming your adrenals.

Here are some articles that you might find helpful as well:

ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
SELF-CARE RESOURCES FOR ADRENAL HEALING
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES AND HASHIMOTO’S
HASHIMOTO’S AND ANXIETY
MYO-INOSITOL AND HASHIMOTO’S

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 their dose of medications, and others will need to stay on medications indefinitely. 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 their antibodies. I was able to do both.

Here are a few articles that I wrote to get you started:
ARE MEDICATIONS LIFELONG?
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION

If you find the articles helpful, you might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions that discuss thyroid tissue regeneration.

I recommend high-quality supplements that are tested for purity and content and that are free of gluten, dairy, soy, pesticides, and toxins.

As a pharmacist, I can tell you that many supplements are ineffective, and some are even downright unsafe. The truth is that most supplement companies do not undergo the same scrutiny and testing that pharmaceutical products do. This is because many of the tests required of pharmaceutical companies are voluntary for supplement companies and most companies do not take the extra steps to test their products to ensure safety and purity.

After much deliberation, I decided to apply my background in pharmacology and my extensive study of the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease into the development of the Rootcology brand supplements. Rootcology supplements are composed of high-quality premium, gluten, dairy, soy, pesticide, and GMO free ingredients and undergo third-party testing to ensure that the ingredients on the label match the ingredients inside each bottle.

You can learn more about Rootcology and purchase supplements here: Rootcology.com

I also like the Pure Encapsulations brand and have the most experience using it, of other brands.
Additional high-quality brands I know and use are:

• Designs for Health
• NOW Foods
• Metagenics
• Vital Nutrients
• Douglas Labs
• Thorne
• Allergy Research Group

You can find protocol specific supplements that I recommend for Hashimoto’s HERE, as well as view and purchase professional brands through my portal HERE.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to comment on or recommend specific products to those who are not clients. I recommend consulting with a functional medicine practitioner to discuss your personal supplementation needs.

Unfortunately, I’m unable to provide specific advice on supplements online, outside of what I cover in my book, blog, Facebook, and program.

This is because Hashimoto’s is very much an individual condition. While there are root cause commonalities, each person will have their own or in some cases, more than one root cause. As such, supplementation can get confusing, which is why I’ve included a full supplement guide in my book, Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause. You might also appreciate my book Hashimoto’s Protocol, which is a step by step guide of the interventions that has helped 80 percent of the people, 80 percent of the time.

I do not recommend that you take all the supplements. The key to improved health involves lifestyle interventions. You will learn about the foods to eat and the foods to avoid, advice on supplements that support your liver, and an adrenal recovery plan. My research helps you create a personalized plan with foods, supplements and other lifestyle interventions tailored to your body’s own unique Hashimoto’s triggers, which you identify using self-tests included in the book.

I currently use and recommend practitioner only brands that are free of fillers and where the companies practice excellent quality control methods. It’s the mission of Rootcology brand supplements to provide safe and effective supplement solutions for people struggling with autoimmune thyroid conditions. Rootcology supplements are composed of high-quality premium ingredients which are gluten, dairy, soy, pesticide, and GMO free and undergo third-party testing to ensure that the ingredients on the label match the ingredients inside each bottle.

You may also find these articles that I’ve written to be helpful in familiarizing yourself with potential helpful supplements:
WHICH SUPPLEMENTS ACTUALLY HELP HASHIMOTO’S
USING ENZYMES TO OVERCOME HASHIMOTO’S
THE FOUR BEST PROBIOTICS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

I recommend getting tested for deficiencies and working with a practitioner to determine your need for a supplement.

I do! I appreciate your interest in my Rootcology supplements. Rootcology products are now available for purchase here.

My Rootcology team and I hope you find them helpful!

If you have any further questions regarding Rootcology, please see the “Support” tab on the website, or reach out to the Rootcology team at info@rootcology.com.

Unfortunately, certain supplement companies mentioned in my books, such as Rootcology, currently do not sell or ship their products outside of the United States, due to complicated regulations. However, I do appreciate your inquiry and hope to be able to help with the following information.

If you live in Canada, you can often find Pure Encapsulations and Designs for Health products at your local natural health store. As for pea or AI Paleo-compliant protein powders, here are a few alternate protein powders that I recommend. (These can all be ordered through well.ca):

• Organika Beef Bone Broth Protein*
• Prairie Naturals Beef Bone Broth Protein Powder*
• NOW Pea Protein
• Hemp Protein Powder

*These protein powders are compliant with the Autoimmune Paleo diet.

If you reside outside of Canada, I recommend the following resources:

• My Amrita portal – They are UK-based and can ship to other countries. Simply create an account using invite code WZ8B1Q and/or login, and enter “Izabella Wentz” as your practitioner, under your personal information settings, to get access to all of my recommended products.
• www.naturaldispensary.co.uk– They are based in the UK, but ship to most of Europe. You can use “Izabella Wentz” as your referring practitioner. View the countries that Natural Dispensary will ship to HERE.
• farmaline.nl – They ship to most countries.
• http://www.iherb.com/
• http://www.bio-health.co.uk/
• http://www.purebio.co.uk – You can find Pure Encapsulations products here. You must create an account. When doing so, please put “Dr. Izabella Wentz” as your practitioner’s name.

Please note: All of these resources are subject to changes that we may not be aware of, as we are not associated with them.

I hope this helps!

Selenium appears to be a supplement with a narrow therapeutic index. A minimum dose of 200 mcg was required to reduce TPO antibodies in clinical trials (100 mcg did not have an effect), and selenium can be toxic at doses >800 mcg. Daily selenium doses for adults should be between 200 mcg and 400 mcg.

The selenium content in Brazil nuts is determined by the soil where the nuts are grown and can vary 10 fold depending on the origin of the nuts. Brazil nuts can have between 50-500 mcg of selenium per ounce of nuts, so unless a lab has analyzed the micronutrients, you don’t know if you are getting enough or too much selenium.

Additionally, many people with Hashimoto’s may have multiple protein sensitivities and may be sensitive to Brazil nuts. You can read more about selenium and Hashimoto’s here.

Many vitamin E brands are made from soy oil, which can be detrimental to thyroid health. Check out my article on vitamin E to see the products that I recommend.

There are about 20 different types of magnesium. I recommend magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate because these are the forms that I’ve seen people have the most success with.

Here is an article I wrote on magnesium, that you may find helpful:
NEW STUDIES ON MAGNESIUM AND THYROID HEALTH

I’m very hesitant in recommending iodine in those with Hashimoto’s. Although iodine serves as fuel for our thyroid and is very important in iodine deficiency-induced hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s is a different mechanism, and most people with Hashimoto’s are not iodine deficient. Adding iodine is like pouring gas into an engine that’s on fire. Doing so before “putting out the fire” may result in further damage to the thyroid. In those with a predisposition to autoimmunity, this has been documented time and time again, in both animal and human studies. I’ve spent 4 years researching this and have seen too many people suffering the consequences of adding iodine too soon. My approach is, let’s fix the engine first (usually a gut issue), and then add the fuel once we know that the engine is no longer on fire. I hope that you will check out my Hashimoto’s Root Cause book – it has an entire chapter on the iodine controversy that references numerous studies, as well as the work of Abraham and Brownstein.

You may also want to check out my Hashimoto’s Protocol book, a more step by step in-depth plan that streamlines the most effective interventions, which discusses how to cope with excess iodine intake on page 266.

I often do recommend combining them. One is a beneficial yeast, one a beneficial bacteria. They work in synergy.

While some companies source their betaine from beets, Rootcology’s Betaine with Pepsin supplement is synthetic and is not sourced from beets. Patients sensitive to beets should therefore be able to tolerate it. As a company that specializes in hypoallergenic formulas, Rootcology often chooses to use synthetically derived ingredients if they can be made to be bio-identical (acting in the body identically to naturally derived compounds). This limits the potential for allergy/sensitivity in the highly sensitive customer population.

The same can be said for the Betaine HCl Pepsin supplement from Pure Encapsulations.

Digestive enzymes, like Veggie Enzymes and Pancreatic Enzymes Plus by Rootcology, differ from betaine with pepsin, as they play different roles in digestion. Generally speaking, betaine with pepsin can be combined with other digestive enzymes to help support optimal digestion.

Betaine with pepsin is a supplement used to raise stomach acid levels. Betaine with pepsin should be taken after a protein-rich meal.

Betaine with pepsin is helpful for:

• supporting digestive health
• proper digestion of proteins
• optimal absorption of nutritional substances
• bowel irregularities, such as occasional diarrhea and constipation

Digestive enzymes, on the other hand, help digest specific types of food (protein, fat, carbohydrate, etc.) to prevent food particles from sitting in the gut and causing damage.

Veggie Enzymes contains an enzyme formula that:

• is plant-based and may be especially helpful for the improved digestion of plant foods like grains and beans
• contains carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, which are helpful for the breakdown of simple sugars, complex carbohydrates, starches, and fibers
• provides support for occasional constipation, gas, bloating, and a feeling of excessive fullness after meals

Pancreatic Enzymes Plus contains an enzyme formula that is:

• free of grain, legume, and dairy-sourced ingredients
• comprised of pancreatic enzymes that are nearly bioidentical to human enzymes
• instrumental in breaking down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in foods

For more information, here are some articles that you might find helpful:
HASHIMOTO’S AND LOW STOMACH ACID
ENZYMES AND HASHIMOTO’S
VEGGIE ENZYMES FOR HASHIMOTO’S
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

Unfortunately, I’m unable to provide specific advice on supplements through email.

If you feel that you are experiencing a reaction to a supplement, please stop taking the supplement(s) immediately and follow up with your local general practitioner. If it is an emergency, please call 911 or go to your local Emergency Room.

The ability for calcium/magnesium to interact seems to be dose related. Thytrophin PMG has very tiny doses of each, and I haven’t found taking the two together to be an issue for most people. That said, everyone is different. So, I encourage you to work with your practitioner to determine what’s best for you.

Standard Process only sells Thytrophin PMG through health care practitioners. You can go to their site and search for a local health care professional that carries the line.

Also, some people have been able to have it shipped to them through different practitioners, when they were unable to find one locally. So, you could try calling some people on their provider list about that, if this is the case for you.

Fluoride and chlorine can potentially be problematic in Hashimoto’s. I’ve found fluoride, in particular, to be a trigger for Hashimoto’s and recommend getting a reverse osmosis filter or switching to bottled water, as well as getting fluoride free toothpaste, to avoid being exposed to it in such high amounts.

Here is an article I wrote, which you may find helpful:
FLUORIDE AND YOUR THYROID

The bottled water brands with the lowest amount of fluoride are Aquafina, Calistoga, Dasani, Avian, and Propel Fitness Water. However, their fluoride content may change, so you may wish to check the Fluoride Alert site for up-to-date information.

I’ve found that an accumulation of different heavy metals can play a role in Hashimoto’s. However, the body needs to be supported properly before attempting to chelate the metals. Generally, with chelation you want to address your nutrient deficiencies, support your adrenals, get rid of infections and heal the gut first. If done too soon, rather than getting rid of the metals, you can actually recirculate them and get worse. I recommend following a gentle Liver Support Protocol instead.

Here are some articles of mine, which you may find helpful:
HEAVY METALS, HORMONES AND HASHIMOTO’S

I also discuss heavy metals in my book, starting on page 273. Here is the link to the Hashimoto’s Root Cause book, if you’re interested.

Navigate to the Password Reset Page, then:

1. Enter the email address you utilized to register your account.
2. Watch for a reset email to arrive in your inbox.
3. Click the password reset link provided and follow any other instructions.

NOTE: If you do not see an email in your inbox, you may wish to check your SPAM/Junk Mail folder.

Yes, I do! You can find it here: Zapraszam na strone Polska

You’ll be able to find my Root Cause book in Polish there, too! 🙂

You can subscribe to my newsletter here.

In addition, when signing up for my newsletter, you will receive three free gifts including the Depletion and Digestion Chapter of my Root Cause book, a Thyroid Diet Quick Start Guide, and 10 nutrient dense gluten free recipes.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the option to translate emails or newsletters. However, you can paste the content in Google Translate, which should give you the information in your language.

Unfortunately, Pure Encapsulations supplements ordered through the link on my website are provided by a third party. These supplements are not actually shipped by my team, and I don’t have control over handling returns. This is a matter that PureRXO’s customer support would need to handle for you.

Here is their customer support phone number: 888-821-8808

Unfortunately, PureRXO is a third party provider, and we do not have control over their website, accounts, or order fulfillment. Please reach out to their support team at 888-821-8808 for further assistance.