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This article was in a health newsletter today.  I don't have Hashimoto's but
have known for some time of a connection with gluten and a higher prevalence
among celiacs so thought this might be of interest to some of you on the
list.
Mary in upstate NY.
How a Doctor Beat Her Hashimoto's

Date: November 1, 2016      Publication: Bottom Line Health      Source:
Susan Blum, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai      Print:
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A natural way to control this common thyroid disease...
More than a decade ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT),
the most common cause of hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid
gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism is more widespread than many people realize, affecting about
14 million Americans. And because thyroid hormones regulate metabolism-key
functions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion and body
temperature-symptoms are wide ranging. They can include daylong fatigue,
weight gain, constipation, low libido, weakness, muscle cramps and aches,
cold intolerance, dry skin, poor memory and depression.
HT is typically diagnosed with the same blood tests used to diagnose other
causes of hypothyroidism (including those that measure thyroid hormone
levels and antithyroid antibodies). With HT, however, an imaging test, such
as ultrasound, might also be used to identify the characteristic
inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs with this disease.
My story: When I was diagnosed with HT, my primary care physician said, "No
big deal. You'll just take thyroid hormone replacement medication and be
fine." I disagreed. As a doctor board-certified in preventive medicine, I
wanted to discover the causes of HT, an autoimmune disease in which the
immune system mistakes the thyroid for a foreign invader, attacking it and
destroying thyroid cells.
For years, I've researched HT for myself and for my patients. With the help
of an increasing body of scientific evidence, I have identified key factors
that often trigger and worsen most cases of HT-and the natural therapies
that can help...
MERCURY
When I began to investigate my disease, I discovered that my body had
trouble excreting mercury-a toxic metal that can damage tissues and cause
autoimmune disease. I've now found that many patients with autoimmune
disease have a high mercury level, based on blood and urine tests. One main
source of mercury toxicity-eating lots of fish.
My advice: Large fish at the top of the food chain, such as swordfish and
tuna, contain the most mercury, but all fish deliver some levels of the
toxic metal. That's why I recommend eating fish only twice a week. Opt for
varieties that are low in mercury (such as anchovies, sardines, salmon,
sole, trout and Arctic char). If you limit your intake of mercury, your body
will start to eliminate the excess stored in tissues via urine and stool.
MISSING NUTRIENTS
Two nutrients are key for preventing or healing HT...*
*	Selenium. This mineral helps create thyroid hormone...helps convert
T4 (the less active form of thyroid hormone) to T3 (the active form)...and
protects the thyroid gland from oxidative damage. Selenium is so important
for thyroid health that several studies suggest that a deficiency of the
mineral might trigger HT.
My advice: Each day, take 400 micrograms (mcg) of selenomethionine (the form
found in food, which is easier to absorb) for three to six months, then
switch to a maintenance dose of 200 mcg. Important: Selenium is therapeutic
when taken in the appropriate dose but toxic in high doses. Never take more
than 400 mcg daily. Once selenium levels are restored, you may be able to
maintain adequate levels by eating selenium-rich foods (such as Brazil nuts,
shrimp and sardines) instead of taking a supplement.
*	Vitamin D. Researchers have linked low levels of this
immune-strengthening nutrient to many autoimmune diseases, including
multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel
disease-and now HT.
New research: Greek scientists studied 218 people with HT and found that 85%
of them had a vitamin D deficiency.
My advice: Start by getting your vitamin D level checked. If your level is
low, take a vitamin D-3 supplement. Most people can safely take up to 4,000
international units (IU) daily, but get your vitamin D level checked every
three months. Once you reach an optimal vitamin D level (about 50 ng/mL),
cut back to 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU daily.
GLUTEN
This protein, found in wheat, barley and rye, can damage the intestinal
lining, triggering increased intestinal permeability (also known as leaky
gut), in which gluten and other undigested proteins enter the bloodstream.
Once these undigested proteins are in the bloodstream, the immune system
attacks them as if they were foreign invaders. People with gluten
sensitivity can end up with leaky gut syndrome...diarrhea, bloating and/or
fatigue...an immune system in constant overdrive...and an autoimmune disease
such as HT.
Recent research: A study published in the journal Gastroenterology showed
that people who were sensitive to gluten were seven times more likely to
develop HT and other types of autoimmune disease compared with people who
did not have gluten sensitivity.
My advice: Eliminate gluten for three weeks-and then eat gluten-containing
foods for two or three days. Nine out of 10 of my HT patients feel a lot
better after the three-week elimination period, with more energy and mental
clarity-and their symptoms return after they reintroduce gluten. This is how
you will know whether you are gluten sensitive.
Rice, buckwheat, millet and quinoa are gluten free. Gluten-free breads are
often in the frozen section because they are not made with the usual
chemical preservatives. For more on gluten-free foods, go to MassGeneral.org
<http://www.massgeneral.org/digestive/assets/pdf/gluten_free_diet.pdf> .
*Check with your doctor before taking these supplements-they can interact
with some medications and affect certain medical conditions.
Source: Susan Blum, MD, assistant clinical professor in the department of
preventive medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New
York City, and an integrative medicine specialist in the medicine department
at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. The founder and director of the Blum
Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York, Dr. Blum is also the author of The
Immune System Recovery Plan
<http://bottomlinestore.com/index.php/the-immune-system-recovery-plan.html>
. BlumCenterforHealth.com


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