The Best Hashimoto Diet – Dr Becky Campbell

The Best Hashimoto Diet
Diet plays an integral role in every aspect of health, so it only makes sense that there is a specific diet for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Specific dietary strategies can greatly reduce symptoms, and even possibly eliminate the need for medications. Food is just one of the things we can take control of. It’s up to us to decide what we feed our body. If you suffer from Hashimoto’s dietary choices are even more important. I am going to share a Hashimoto diet plan with you to help get you on the right track with your thyroid health.
The Importance of Diet
Diet is not only important when you suffer from an autoimmune disease but in every other area of your health. When you make healthier dietary choices, you are less likely to suffer from certain health conditions. When you eliminate your known trigger foods, autoimmune conditions have the potential to go into remission.
With Hashimoto’s disease, eliminating your food triggers is such an important piece to healing from this condition. The last thing you want is to add more inflammation to your already inflamed thyroid.
Let’s take a look at the Hashimoto’s diet I recommend as well as some of the dietary changes I recommend all people with Hashimoto’s make.
Diet for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
While no one diet fits all, the diet I recommend my clients following when dealing with Hashimoto’s disease is a Paleo style diet. This dietary approach removes many of the commonly consumed inflammatory foods which allows the overactive immune system time to settle and the thyroid to heal.
A Paleo style diet works so well because it removes many of the foods that don’t mix well with this autoimmune thyroid condition. Let’s look at these foods more closely:
Gluten
Gluten is something that absolutely should be removed from the diet when dealing with Hashimoto’s
disease. Gliadin is a protein found in gluten which happens to resemble the thyroid gland once ingested. This is where problems come in with those who suffer from thyroid disease. When this protein passes through the gut lining and into the bloodstream, the body attacks this protein. Not only is the immune system on a path of destruction for gliadin, but for the thyroid as well.
Another problem with gluten is that the immune system can respond to gluten for up to 6 whole months after consumption! This is why it’s so important to completely eliminate gluten, and not just reduce it. With a Paleo diet, gluten is completely out of the question.
Dairy
Another food item eliminated from this Hashimoto’s diet approach is dairy. One of the many issues with dairy is the fact that cow’s milk contains different proteins than the proteins found in human milk which can be a huge issue for anyone who suffers from digestive issues which a large majority of those with autoimmune disease do. An immune response can be triggered by these foreign proteins and cause chaos in the body. When dealing with Hashimoto’s, it’s a good idea to eliminate dairy. Eliminating dairy can help heal the gut and the immune system at the same time.
What to Eat Instead of Dairy?
Almond milk, cashew milk, hazelnut milk, and hemp milk are fantastic dairy-free milk options. Make sure to buy organic, unsweetened varieties without additives or make your own. For healthy fats, try avocados, nut cheeses, or nut butter instead of cheese. If you are looking for a cheesy flavor without cheese and dairy, sprinkle a bit of nutritional yeast on your meals and salads.
Sugar
A Paleo style diet urges you to eliminate all processed and artificial sugars. This is great news for those with Hashimoto’s as sugar does not work well when trying to heal from this condition.
One of the many reasons sugar should be out of the question is the concern for balancing your blood sugar. Anyone who is looking to reduce or even eliminate Hashimoto’s symptoms will need to work hard to balance their blood sugar. The issue with blood sugar imbalances is that many people will consume large amounts of carbohydrates to feel better. When you consume carbs to try to boost your energy levels, you may be causing your blood sugar to spike too suddenly at the same time. It’s a vicious cycle you do not want to be a part of.
What to Eat Instead of Sugar?
When you first go sugar-free, it will be emotionally difficult for the first couple of weeks. The good news is that your body will adjust to this new way of eating. You will feel more energetic and healthy, and you won’t be missing sugar at all. If you want some sweetness in your life, low-glycemic index fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, and sweet vegetables, such as beets, sweet potatoes, and carrots will satisfy your sweet tooth. For sweeteners, you can use a bit of monk fruit or stevia without disrupting your blood sugar levels.
The Paleo Diet Can Help
The Paleo Diet is a fantastic approach if you are dealing with Hashimoto’s or other thyroid conditions. The Paleo approach urges you to remove sugar, gluten, and dairy from your diet, and choose a more natural and healthier way of eating.
By following the Hashimoto’s diet based on Paleo principles to improve your Hashimoto’s, you will be consuming fewer calories, more protein, and more healthy fats to keep your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day. You will learn how to manage your blood sugar levels by using food as fuel. It seems so simple but you can feel better just by trying a few simple dietary modifications.
Final Thoughts
Health starts with the foods we choose to eat. The sooner you balance your diet, the faster you can balance your health and get well. Addressing your dietary choices is an important part of overcoming Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Working with a functional medicine practitioner, like myself, who has extensive experience in thyroid health, can guide your journey and help you with a personalized Hashimoto’s diet using Paleo principles.
If you are dealing with symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease or other thyroid issues, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. I can help to identify the root cause of your condition and recommend a personalized treatment plan to repair your body and regain your health and well-being. Schedule your consultation here.
EXPLORE THE RECIPES, THE STORIES, THE METHODS AND CHANGES TO GET YOU BACK WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
DR. BECKY CAMPBELL
Hi, I am Dr. Becky Campbell. I work with men and women who’ve had a health set back and are willing to do whatever it takes to reach optimal health so they can perform their best in their careers and be fully present with their family again.
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