Hashimoto diet

Hashimoto belongs to the group of diseases of the hypothyroidism and is one of the main causes of insufficient secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland. As with other variants of hypothyroidism, the incidence of Hashimoto's disease increases after the age of 60, but young people and children are also increasingly affected. It often co-occurs with other autoimmune diseases, such as: type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, Addison-Biermer anemia or RA (rheumatoid arthritis). The basis of its treatment is pharmacology. However, many doctors overlook the issue of diet, which can be of great importance for the course of the disease.

Who is the Hashimoto diet for?

The diet will work for people diagnosed with Hashimoto, but also with hypothyroidism. People struggling with other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis or ASD, can also benefit from the Hashimoto plan.

The task of the diet is primarily:

• improving the digestibility of medications taken,
• reduction of inflammation and, accordingly, delay in the destruction of thyroid tissue,
• elimination of adverse feelings, and
• control of body weight.

Diet rules

The Hashimoto diet is based on the recommendations of nutrition of a healthy person taking into account several variables:

• increased protein supply — the proportion of this macronutrient in the diet should be approximately 25% of total energy demand. The recommended sources of protein include, above all, lean poultry meat, eggs or legume seeds. It is worth paying attention to products rich in tyrosine, which is an amino acid that is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. These include: dairy products, peas, lentils, pork, beef, tuna, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ or flax;
• low glycemic index (GI) products Hashimoto's disease is often accompanied by disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, such as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia. For this reason, an important element is a diet based on a low or medium glycemic index (this indicator determines to what extent the concentration of glucose in the blood will increase after consumption of a given product). You should choose, among others: whole grain cereal products (buckwheat, pearl barley, brown rice, whole grain pasta, quinoa), low-sweet fruits (especially berries — strawberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries, blueberries) and vegetables;
• higher dietary fiber content — Due to the slowing of intestinal peristalsis among people with Hashimoto's disease, the adequate content of this ingredient in the diet is extremely important. It affects the regulation of the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and also nourishes the intestinal microflora, which affects the state of the immune system. Therefore, the diet should be based on products such as: whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits, seeds and seeds. A valuable source of fiber will also be coarse groats, such as buckwheat or pearl barley. It is worth including them in your diet also because of the richness of minerals and B vitamins,
• the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular those of the omega-3 and omega-6 family — they have anti-inflammatory effects and slow down the destruction of the thyroid gland, so it is essential to provide them with food. For this purpose, fish (minimum 2 servings per week, eg: salmon, herring, cod, halibut, sardines, mackerel, pike perch), vegetable oils (eg rapeseed, sunflower, linseed, olive oil), nuts and seeds should be included in the diet;
• more antioxidants — affect the reduction of inflammation, and can also slow down the process of fibrosing thyroid tissue. The most important antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E and bioactive substances such as polyphenols or catechins. They are mainly found in vegetables and fruits, and the more intense the color of the peel and pulp, the greater their content;
• important mineral components: zinc, selenium, iron, iodine — among other things, they support the work of the immune system, build thyroid hormones and are components of enzymes involved in normal metabolism and their use by the body. Covering the need for these ingredients will be provided by a balanced, varied diet, rich in cereals, nuts, seeds, seeds or cocoa, as well as seafood, fish, eggs and meat;
• limiting products containing antinutrients (goitrogens, isoflavones, thioglycosides, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors) - all these catchy names of anti-nutritional compounds can negatively affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals, as well as the functioning of the thyroid gland. They are mainly found in soybeans, cabbage vegetables, legume seeds and some cereals. However, this does not mean that people with hypothyroidism should eliminate the aforementioned products from the diet. Proper culinary processing reduces the content of these substances.

What meals?

The Hashimoto diet in the MultiLife program excludes dairy, gluten, soy and solanaceous vegetables in raw form. Meals are based on naturally gluten-free products. Breakfast proposals are mainly eggs in various forms, buckwheat or millet. In the main courses, as in dinners, you will find a lot of vegetables, rice and groats, as well as good quality protein in the form of poultry, fish or legumes. For snacks, we mainly offer vegetables and fruits with the addition of nuts or seeds.

Bibliography:

1. Alicja E. Ratajczak, Małgorzata Moszak, Marian Grzymislawski. Nutritional recommendations in hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease. Piel Zdr Publ. 2017; 7 (4) :305—311
2. Paul Tuchendler, Zygmunt Zdrojewicz. Diet in diseases of the thyroid gland. Med Rodz 2017; 20 (4) :299-3
3. Robert D Abbott, Adam Sadowski, Angela G Alt. Efficacy of an autoimmune protocol diet as part of a multi-disciplinary, supported lifestyle intervention for hashimoto's thyroiditis. Cureus 2019; 27; 11 (4) :e4556