If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to improve your condition through nutrition. The answer is yes!
We recommend stopping what you’re doing right now mid reading and ordering Dr. Susan Blum’s books The Immune System Recovery Plan and Healing Arthritis.
Dr. Blum explains that hypothyroidism is often caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and reduces its ability to produce thyroid hormones. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, depression, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, and more. You may want to ask your healthcare provider for an antibody test to see if Hashimoto’s is the culprit.
Dr. Blum recommends a four-step program that she used to heal her Hashimoto thyroiditis and includes:
- Perform an Elimination Diet. Removing the triggers that cause inflammation and autoimmunity, such as gluten, dairy, soy, corn, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and environmental toxins.
- Restoring the nutrients that support thyroid function and hormone production, such as iodine, selenium, zinc, tyrosine, vitamin D, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Rebalancing the gut microbiome, which plays a key role in modulating the immune system and preventing leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation.
- Repairing the stress response, which can affect the communication between the brain and the thyroid gland and disrupt the hormonal balance.
Dr. Blum suggests following a diet that is rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as colorful fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil and nuts, fermented foods with probiotics, and herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, and rosemary. She also advises avoiding inflammatory foods 90% of the time, such as processed foods, refined carbohydrates, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and foods that contain gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or sugar.
A great way to kick off you're new anti-inflammatory food plan is to try our Anti-inflammatory Cleanse designed by Dr. Susan Blum herself.
For more information such as supplements and recipes on how to heal your thyroid through nutrition and lifestyle changes, don't forget to get a copy of Dr. Blum's books, The Immune System Recovery Plan and Healing Arthritis.
If you have an autoimmune disease or suspect you have one, you should consult with your healthcare practitioner before starting any new diet or program. You should also monitor your symptoms closely and adjust accordingly. Remember that food is medicine and it can help you heal from the inside out but not all plans work for everyone. Work with Dr. Blum's team at the Blum Center for Health or find a functional medicine practitioner near you.