The Relationship Between Gluten, Anxiety, and Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism
Suffering from anxiety is like being held prisoner in a place where worry infuses every thought, your heart pounds, and the world seems jarring and disorienting. With anti-anxiety medications among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, Americans are clearly suffering. Though medications relieve the symptoms, they don’t address the cause. Some causes of anxiety are obvious: stimulants such as caffeine, weight loss pills, energy drinks, or supplements that increase energy. Psychological or emotional stressors, such as having to speak in public or prepare for a major exam, can also bring on bouts of anxiety. However, chronic anxiety can have lesser-known causes that, if managed, can relieve symptoms and negate the need for medication. Although the cause of anxiety can sometimes be neurologically complex, other times it can be as simple as making changes to your diet and lifestyle. Unmanaged Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism The majority of cases of hypothyroidism in this country are autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. When an autoimmune attack flares, damage to the gland spills thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, which can amp up metabolism and cause symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. In this case proper management of the autoimmune thyroid condition can help subdue anxiety. GAD autoimmunity and anxiety GAD stands for glutamic acid decarboxylase, an enzyme that triggers production of the brain’s primary calming chemical, called GABA. Some people develop an autoimmune reaction to GAD, which means their immune system erroneously attacks and destroys it. As a result, they can’t make enough GABA to calm the brain and anxiety goes up. GAD autoimmunity is also linked to OCD, motion sickness, vertigo, tics, and other symptoms. GAD autoimmunity is more common in those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. A strong link has been shown between Hashimoto’s and gluten intolerance. Gluten and anxiety Gluten has other links to anxiety. Gluten has been shown to trigger inflammation in the brain and autoimmune attacks against brain tissue, which can cause anxiety. Although a gluten-free diet is an important first step, many people find they also need to eliminate other foods such as dairy, eggs, or other grains to dampen immune flare-ups and anxiety. An anti-inflammatory autoimmune diet is a good beginning to address brain health. Because people with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism typically are gluten intolerant or sensitive, this is another reason to avoid...
Read MoreCeliac disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: What do they have in common?
Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy caused by a permanent sensitivity to gluten, or gluten intolerance. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition, the triggers of which are both the environmental (gluten) and the autoantigen (body’s own immune system). Celiac Disease can be associated with other conditions, disorders, or syndromes. More often these are autoimmune disorders, including insulin-dependent diabetes, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, Sjogren’s, and others. Major risk factors for Celiac disease are the grains, the genetic predisposition, and historically the advent and the spread of the agriculture. Generally speaking, elimination of the environmental trigger leads to a complete resolution of the disease, or at least to a complete resolution of symptoms. As far as the symptoms, most people manifest these in their gastrointestinal tracts. The classical gastrointestinal symptoms are chronic or recurrent diarrhea, abdominal distention, failure to thrive or weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and other. However, there are a number of those who have the symptoms that are traditionally considered, “atypical”, and show up in other areas of the body. In these instances, people may have bone loss or thinning (osteoporosis/osteopenia), delayed puberty, iron-deficiency that may be resistant to treatment, liver disease, arthritis, dental enamel effects, and other. Lastly, there is a smaller group of people who are entirely symptom-free, but still have the underlying Celiac disease. These people may either have no, or minimal symptoms, but positive blood tests and markers for Celiac disease. However, asymptomatic people may still experience health issues at some point in their lives. Long-term Celiac disease complications may include short stature, skin conditions, bone loss, dental enamel erosion, fertility problems, as well as further exacerbation of the gastrointestinal tract. Other effects include malabsorption of nutrients, specifically iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin D. Furthermore, Celiac disease can lead to increased intestinal permeability, known as leaky gut syndrome, which allows the entry of large molecules and proteins, or other toxins that can further perpetuate the onset of autoimmune disease. Both Celiac disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are autoimmune conditions. The symptoms that are often associated with Celiac can also be observed in people with Hashimoto’s. This is due to the fact that people with Hashimoto’s also can experience digestive issues that are inflammatory in nature, which is similar to that of Celiac disease. Consider your options by discussing them with our naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, and our nutritional therapist. Please contact us with your questions and to get...
Read MoreExcess hunger and Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism: Could it be leptin resistance?
Carrying excess fat can actually make you hungrier thanks to a phenomenon called leptin resistance. For people with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism this is double bad news as inappropriately managed hypothyroidism promotes weight gain and makes it difficult to lose weight. What is leptin? Leptin is a “satiety” hormone secreted by fat cells that tells the brain when you have had enough to eat. Eating causes the secretion of leptin, which signals that the stomach is full and it’s time to stop eating. Between meals or during long periods without food, leptin levels drop, triggering hunger and motivating you to eat and replenish the body’s energy stores. Leptin serves roles beyond hunger and satiety. It is also important for fertility, libido, and puberty. Leptin resistance causes you to always feel hungry Because fat cells secrete leptin, overweight and obese people should never feel hungry. Unfortunately, the reverse happens. Excess fat secretes too much leptin, bombarding leptin receptors on cells. Eventually these cells become overwhelmed and shut down their leptin receptors to protect themselves. This is called leptin resistance—leptin can no longer get into the cells to deliver their message that the stomach is full and it’s time to stop eating. Hence the leptin-resistant person always feels hungry and is prone to overeat, even if she or he is carrying plenty of fat. In addition to causing chronic hunger, leptin resistance doubly vexes the overweight person by promoting fat storage and making it tough to lose weight. Leptin resistance and Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism For the person trying to manage Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, leptin resistance is a primary concern because it signals a blood sugar imbalance. Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. Blood sugar disorders exacerbate autoimmune reactions, which can flare up your autoimmune thyroid condition, or make it difficult to manage. When managing your autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, it’s important to balance blood sugar and address conditions such as leptin resistance. Diet can reverse leptin resistance and chronic hunger The key to unwinding leptin resistance is to adopt a diet that will restore leptin sensitivity. The eating habits that typically lead to being overweight or obese—overeating and eating too many sweets and starchy foods, processed foods, and foods fried in industrialized fats—also lead to leptin resistance, high triglycerides, and hence the feeling of always being hungry. A person with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism should be wary of diets heavy in grains—studies link gluten intolerance with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and many people have sensitivities to grains other than wheat, such as corn. Overeating causes leptin resistance. Ditch the sodas, sweets, processed foods, and high-carbohydrate foods, which trigger cravings in many people. Healthy fats and sufficient protein curb cravings. Consider discussing additional options and discuss them with our naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists. Please contact us with all of your questions and to get...
Read MoreMother’s Hashimoto’s, or autoimmune disease may raise risk of childhood asthma and allergies
Maternal autoimmunity While viral and bacterial infections have declined over the last 60 years, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders are steadily climbing. Autoimmune disease dwarfs cancer and heart disease combined, now affecting about 50 million people, or 20 percent of the population. In an autoimmune response, the immune system mistakenly creates antibodies to the body’s own tissue, thereby tagging the tissue for destruction. Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is the most common autoimmune illness today, affecting an estimated 23 million. Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism have been shown to play a role, as the mother’s immune imbalance can exacerbate the risk and the development of childhood asthma and allergies. Diet and lifestyle can balance autoimmune Hashimoto’s The New York Times story, An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism, veers into the promise of using whip worms—yes, worms—to tame the out-of-control immune system. The theory is that autoimmune disease has skyrocketed in developed nations because we are too clean. The article fails to mention those other hallmarks of Western civilization besides good hygiene: overabundant diets laden with sweet, starchy, processed foods; chronic stress; a sedentary lifestyle; and daily bombardment of environmental toxins. Chronic inflammation raises risk of childhood disorders Other risk factors for autism include maternal asthma, allergies, insulin resistance, obesity, and chronic low-grade inflammation. In other words, when a mom’s immune system is in constant overdrive—never getting the opportunity to rest—the development of the fetal brain is adversely affected and the overall risk for disorders is increased. Naturopathic Medicine and Acupuncture to help modulate the immune system The naturopathic doctors of functional medicine, in our clinic, as well as the acupuncturists have measures other than the whip-worm therapy to manage autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and chronic inflammation. These may include an autoimmune diet, the use of targeted, customized nutritional therapies, as well as immune-modulating techniques to calm the immune system that is in a constant overdrive. Please schedule your appointment to learn how we can work...
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