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