What Is an Hashimoto Diet?

Hashimoto is a kind of disease that affects the thyroid. It is also known as Hashimoto’s or Hashimoto thyroiditis. It is a common disease among people who live in most underdeveloped countries and in the United States of America.

According to research, even after treatment, Hashimoto thyroiditis may still reduce the quality of the life of its victim. More studies found that modification of lifestyle and feeding habits, including diets, can help improve a patient’s condition. Although every patient responds differently to the treatment and management processes of Hashimoto disease, however, something common to the speedy and uniform recovery process involves changes in the diet and lifestyle of the patient. Also, due to the individual recovery procedure, an individual approach is recommended for different individuals.

Contained in this article are diet and lifestyle changes that are recommended by medical experts to help improve Hashimoto’s disease condition.

How Lifestyle and Diet Can Improve Hashimoto’s Disease

Changes in lifestyle, diets and feeding habits can affect Hashimoto’s disease positively. These have shown to be more effective in the total elimination of the disease. This is because most people still record recurrence of symptoms even after proper medical treatment.

In addition, one of the triggers of Hashimoto disease is inflammation, and inflammation is mostly caused by poor food choices and can also be treated with the correction of lifestyle, diet, and feeding habits.

This is proof that lifestyle changes and modifications, as well as diet changes, can help improve most ailments and symptoms, including Hashimoto disease, its symptoms, and its triggers.

People with Hashimoto disease might develop the following illnesses later into the sickness. They might develop illnesses like; diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and obesity. In other words, adopting supplements and dietary changes, as well as lifestyle changes, would help improve the symptoms and increase the quality of the lives of its victims. Also, these methods could reduce inflammation prevent certain damages caused by the illness on the thyroid gland, regulate cholesterol levels, and manage body weight.

Diets for Hashimoto’s Disease Patients

The following are diets suggested by experts for Hashimoto disease patients. These diets can help in the treatment and management of the disease. Also, they have been proven to be effective.

Grain-free and Gluten-Free Diets

According to some studies, people with Hashimoto disease have more chances of suffering from celiac disease. Thus, medical Doctors advise that whoever is diagnosed with Hashimoto disease should be tested for celiac disease.

Grain-free and gluten-free diets can help both Hashimoto disease and celiac disease patients. The research found that 30 women who were diagnosed with Hashimoto disease and adopted grain-free and gluten-free diets experienced low thyroid antibody levels. They also experienced improved vitamin D levels and function of their thyroid gland.

Be it that Hashimoto disease patients have celiac disease or not, this kind of diet will benefit them. Thus, they are advised to adopt it.

Experts have suggested that while adopting a grain-free and gluten-free diet, you must avoid all rye, barley, and wheat products.

Autoimmune Protocol Diet

This is a kind of diet that is recommended for people who are suffering from autoimmune diseases. It excludes foods that are harmful to people who have autoimmune diseases. Some of these foods include grains, dairy, coffee, sugar, eggs, legumes, and additives.

Research has shown that the autoimmune protocol diet has caused significant changes to the lives of those who consume it and also improve the quality of their lives.

Despite how good this diet can be for autoimmune disease patients, it is best to adopt it under the close monitoring of medical professionals.

Consume Dairy Cautiously or Avoid it Completely

Most people with Hashimoto disease suffer from lactose intolerance. In fact, a survey carried out on most Hashimoto patients showed that over 70% of them are lactose intolerant. If you are suffering from Hashimoto disease and you are lactose intolerant, it is best to avoid dairy products, as doing this may not only help you feel better but also reduce digestive issues, improve thyroid function and encourage the proper absorption of the medications you are on. Note that this diet is mainly for only those suffering from both Hashimoto disease and have lactose intolerance. This is because not all Hashimoto disease patients suffer from lactose intolerance. Some of them can tolerate dairy.

Add Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Your Diet

Inflammation is a known cause of Hashimoto disease. Thus, adding foods that do not trigger inflammation is a good way to battle Hashimoto’s disease. Also, adding fruits and vegetables to your anti-inflammatory diet will go a long way in helping you combat the disease.

Whole Foods and Nutrient-Dense Diet

Eating whole and organic foods free of every form of processing and additives can help improve your health. Also, eating nutrient-dense foods would also keep you healthy and strong while making your immune system function properly. They may also help you handle your weight and reduce the symptoms of certain types of diseases.

The best way to get such nutrient-dense foods and whole foods are by preparing them yourself. While preparing them, be sure to add proteins, fiber-rich foods, vegetables, and fruits, as they contain high amounts of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Supplements

Some supplements have been identified to help reduce the impact of the symptoms of Hashimoto disease on its victims. In addition, it is possible that people who suffer from this disease become deficient in certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and these nutrients need to be replaced, hence the need for supplements.

Some of these important supplements include;

• Selenium; 150 mcg of selenium regularly can help reduce antibodies that can damage the thyroid gland. It also improves the quality of the lives of those suffering from the illness.
• Zinc; one of the major functions of zinc is the protection of thyroid health. According to research, taking zinc with selenium in moderate and prescribed doses can help improve the function of the thyroid gland, especially in those with Hashimoto disease.
• Curcumin; curcumin is a supplement that is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help eliminate Hashimoto disease triggers. They can also help in the treatment of the thyroid gland, as well as the complete treatment of certain autoimmune diseases.
• Vitamin D; most people with Hashimoto disease are vitamin D deficient. They have experienced a drastic reduction of their vitamin D levels due to the impact of the disease on their health. However, vitamin D supplements have shown positive results in the reduction of the severity of Hashimoto disease and also boost their vitamin D levels.
• B complex vitamins; just like vitamin D, people with Hashimoto disease tend to be vitamin B complex deficient. Adopting vitamin b12 supplements would help boost the different vitamin B levels in the body.
• Magnesium; actually, when the level of magnesium in the body sinks below normal, Hashimoto complications set in. However, when magnesium supplements are taken, the impacts, symptoms, and triggers of Hashimoto disease reduce. Also, magnesium supplements can help improve the conditions of people suffering from other forms of thyroid diseases.
• Iron; research has found that people with Hashimoto disease are most likely to suffer from anemia. This is why iron supplements are suggested to help improve their condition and also improve the quality of their lives.

Some other supplements like alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl, and fish oil can also contribute to the improvement of autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s disease.

Foods for Hashimoto’s Disease Patients

• Fruits
• Starchy and non-starchy vegetables
• Animal protein
• Healthy fats
• Gluten-free grains
• Nuts and seeds
• Lentils and beans
• Dairy products or substitutes of dairy products for people who are lactose intolerant.
• Condiments, spices, and herbs
• Beverages

Try out any of the foods and find out which of them work for you. It is advised that you drop whichever one does not work well with your body system as a Hashimoto disease patient.

Foods to Avoid

• Processed foods
• Additives; sugar, preservatives
• Refined grains
• Grains and foods that contain gluten

Lifestyle Modification

• Sleep well
• Stop stressing yourself
• Practice self-care
• Take your medications as prescribed
• Adhere with the diet that works best for you

Symptoms

• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Cold intolerance
• Brittle nails
• Constipation
• Depression and anxiety
• Menstrual irregularities
• Thinning hair
• Fatigue
• Slow heart rate
• Poor concentration
• Reduced muscle strength
• Thyroid tenderness or neck pain
• Change in voice
• Insomnia

In conclusion, Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease. It affects the thyroid gland. Coupled with the treatment procedures, some diets and lifestyle modifications have been found to be effective in the treatment and management of the disease.