In 1912, a Japanese physician described what was to become the first known autoimmune disease -- a disease in which the body's own immune system begins to attack its own healthy cells. The physician was Hakuro Hashimoto and the disease is his namesake -- Hashimoto's disease -- which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid. With Hashimoto's, the body makes antibodies that begin attacking the thyroid and interfere with thyroid hormone production. The thyroid gland becomes chronically inflamed.
Causes and Symptoms
The underlying cause of Hashimoto's disease is still unknown. What is known is that it occurs in families and is associated with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. It is also known that Hashimoto's is 5 to 10 times more likely to appear in women than men.
The initial symptoms are often mistaken as signs of stress or aging. A person may begin feeling tired, depressed, decreased concentration and have some weight gain. As the condition progresses, symptoms begin to distinguish themselves from normal aging and stress factors. She will begin to have a hoarse voice, increase cholesterol, muscle cramps, dry skin and hair, difficulty swallowing and swelling of the legs.
What to Eat
A healthy diet cannot cure Hashimoto's, but there are several foods that can help support thyroid function and alleviate the symptoms. A diet that consists of mainly leafy green vegetables, quality protein consisting mostly of fish and "good" fats can help restore energy and well-being. Good dietary fats include almonds, flaxseed and olive oil, fish such as salmon and sardines, and avocados. These foods all contain unsaturated fats that help improve cholesterol and ease inflammation. Author Datis Kharrazian in "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?" notes that eating a high quality protein breakfast and eating a small amount of protein every few hours also helps support a low functioning thyroid.
What Foods to Avoid
A low functioning thyroid slows the ability of insulin to process sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells to use for energy. This is why fatigue and sleepiness after eating are the biggest complaints of Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. It is best to avoid foods with processed sugar such as sodas, fruit juices, baked goods and candy. They inundate the bloodstream with sugar and the insulin cannot keep up with clearing it. When you do eat a sugary food, you should consume it with fiber or protein to slow down the processing of the sugar.
Supplements to Consider
Hashimoto's affects every cell in the body and numerous supplements can help improve thyroid function. Each person manifests the disease differently and has different symptoms to alleviate. According to Kharrazian, vitamin D deficiency may play a significant role in the development of Hashimoto's. It is possible to alleviate fatigue symptoms with vitamin B complex, zinc and coenzyme Q10. These supplements can help boost energy. Vitamin C improves absorption of levothyroxine, the hypothyroid hormone medication, according to the Endocrine Society. Before beginning any supplemental treatment, discuss your condition and symptoms with your health care provider.
References
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service; Hasimoto's Disease; May 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Hashimoto's Disease; Feb. 3, 2011
- Harvard School of Public Health: Fats and Cholesterol-The Bottom Line:
- "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms"; Datis Kharrazian; 2010
- The Endocrine Society; Absorption of thyroid drug levothyroxine improves with vitamin C; Tuesday, February 19, 2008
