Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Since my dad's
battle with thyroid cancer - which by the way, he's winning - I've come
to appreciate that tiny gland that regulates metabolism. Of course,
cancer isn't the only disease that can attack the thyroid - a fact I was
reminded of when I received an e-mail from a reader named Ronald
concerning his daughter who suffers from Hashimoto's thyrioditis.
For
those not familiar with this condition, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an
autoimmune disease where the body's own antibodies attack the cells of
the thyroid. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are the primary target.
And, worst of all - there is no cure.
Inside Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
The
symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis can look a lot like other diseases,
and can include tiredness, forgetfulness, depression, coarse dry skin,
slow heartbeat, weight gain or loss, constipation and intolerance to
cold. But Hashimoto's also has some of its own distinct symptoms:
difficulty swallowing food or liquids and the feeling of tightness in
your throat. There might also be a bump (called a goiter) in the front
of your neck. But the only way to know if you actually have Hashimoto's
thyroiditis is with hormone and antibody blood tests that look
specifically for the disease.
One thing you don't want to do is
ignore these symptoms. Left untreated, this disease can lead to high LDL
cholesterol levels and heart disease, clinical depression, low libido
and a higher risk of giving birth to babies with defects like cleft
palate.
If you've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
your doctor may prescribe replacement thyroid hormones. If you do walk
out of the doctor's office with a prescription, fill it and make sure to
take the replacement hormones. Why am I so emphatic about this when I
usually opt for natural alternatives? Because every cell in the body
depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism.
Of course, that's not to say that natural remedies won't help manage your symptoms.
What Not to Eat
What
you eat can have a huge impact on Hashimoto's. Start by eliminating
stimulants and chemicals. Some of the more obvious ones are caffeine,
sugar and preservatives. The first two tax the adrenal glands, causing
imbalances throughout the body. Preservatives and artificial sweeteners
like aspartame can cause further stress to the brain so it's critical to
greatly reduce or eliminate your intake of these substances.
It's
also a good idea to avoid some otherwise healthy foods because they can
depress thyroid activity. These include broccoli, cabbage, brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, soy, beans and mustard
greens. And avoid iodine-rich foods like kelp. While iodine is important
to thyroid function, it can have a negative affect if you're suffering
from Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
This condition has also been linked
to celiac disease. Keep a journal of what you are eating for a week to
see how products containing gluten (bread, pasta, etc.) affect you. If
it seems to be a problem, cut out any foods that contain gluten for a
month and see if it helps.
Tackle Symptoms with Supplements
What
about supplements? They can be tricky in folks with this condition
since many otherwise safe supplements can interact with your thyroid
medication. Check with your doctor before trying any of the following
remedies.
There is some evidence that the Ayurvedic herb bacopa
can help stimulate the thyroid. It's also helpful for mood and
cognition, which can be negatively affected in those with Hashimoto's.
Niacin
can also help treat the high cholesterol levels that accompany this
condition. Just be aware that niacin can cause flushing and even hot
flashes in some people. To avoid this uncomfortable side effect, try
taking the niacin with 900 mg. of nettles - and take it just before
bedtime so that any flushing will occur while you're asleep. When used
as therapy for a specific problem like high cholesterol, the dose is
much larger than normal - 1,000 to 2,500 mg. daily. But because of the
risk of liver inflammation at these doses, medical supervision is
essential.
Other vitamins and minerals are also important. Calcium
(1,000 mg. per day) and magnesium (200 - 600 mg. per day) help many
metabolic processes function normally. Supplemental essential fatty
acids (1,000 to 1,500 mg. three times per day) are also important since
they are necessary for hormone production.
One Last Thing . . .
There are some supplements you should not take if you suffer from Hashimoto's or even garden variety hypothyroidism.
Far
too frequently, people with low thyroid levels consume seaweed or
iodine supplements in the hope that it will help. However, while iodine
deficiency does indeed cause low thyroid levels, taking iodine won't
help if you're not deficient - and the vast majority of people living in
the developed world get plenty of dietary iodine. In fact, excessive
iodine intake can occasionally cause hypothyroidism. This is a classic
case of "more is not better."
Soy can also have a big impact on
the thyroid. When given to people with impaired thyroid function, soy
products reduce the absorption of thyroid medication. In addition, some
evidence hints that soy isoflavones may directly inhibit the function of
the thyroid gland, but this may only be significant in people who are
deficient in iodine.
Finally, iron supplements may interfere with
thyroid hormone absorption. Bottom line, it you want to combine natural
and conventional medicine to treat Hashimoto's, check with your health
care provider before you self medicate.
This Just In . . .
It
was terribly sad to learn recently that actor Patrick Swayze suffered
from pancreatic cancer. But a timely new study by the University of
Rochester Medical Center in New York has found that Resveratrol - a
compound found in red wine - can kill those deadly pancreatic cancer
cells.
During the study, the researchers treated human pancreatic
cancer cells with Resveratrol, either alone or in combination with
radiation. They found that the wine compound disrupted the activity of
the cancer cells' mitochondria, the energy-producing centers needed for
cells to function. Resveratrol also impaired certain cancer-cell
proteins that thwart chemotherapy by pumping drugs out of the cell.
When
it was combined with radiation, the compound bumped up the production
of cell-damaging substances called reactive oxygen species - potentially
making the cancer cells more destructible. And, in fact, the cancer
cells treated with the combination were more likely to self-destruct.
Although
this research is preliminary, Resveratrol could prove to be a potent
weapon against this deadly disease for the nearly 30,000 Americans
diagnosed each year. It's also proving to be an effective cancer
preventative for a wide variety of cancers. Look for a standardized
Resveratrol supplement. The typical dose is 10 mg. per day. If you are
undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, check with your oncologist to see
if a higher dose - 20 mg. or more - might make your treatment even more
effective.
References:
Bell DS, Ovalle F.
Use of soy protein supplement and resultant need for increased dose of
levothyroxine. Endocrine Practice. 2001;7:193-194.
Kar A, Panda S,
Bharti S. "Relative efficacy of three medicinal plant extracts in the
alteration of thyroid hormone concentrations in male mice." Journal of
Ethnopharmacology. 2002;81:281-285.
Sun W, Wang W, Kim J, et al.
"Anti-cancer effect of resveratrol is associated with induction of
apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway alignment." Advances in
Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2008;614:179-186.
Takami HE, Miyabe R, Kameyama K. "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis." World Journal of Surgery. 2008 Feb 28 [Epub ahead of print].
Valentino
R, Savastano S, Tommaselli AP, et al. "Prevalence of coeliac disease in
patients with thyroid autoimmunity." Hormone Research. 1999;51:124-127.