Autoimmune Paleo Diet

Autoimmune Paleo Diet DR. IZABELLA WENTZ  / J UN E 10 , 20 17 Share 4.8kShare 4.8k Share Tweet 298Pin 298 Pin 8Share

 Note: Originally published in July 2013, 2013, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

What is the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) Diet and How Can It Help Improve Symptoms Symptoms of Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism? There are numerous dietary protocols that can help a person with Hashimoto’s feel better. In some cases, a dietary dietar y approach can produce a complete remission of the condition! For me, as a clinician, the goal of the approach is to help your body reset, nourish itself, and reduce inflammation caused by reactive foods, as well as to help you reconnect to an intuitive way of eating, where (eventually) you will naturally select foods that make you feel better and avoid those that make you feel worse. Dietary protocols are meant to be used as starting s tarting points, or templates, where you implement the basic plan and eventually change it up based on your needs. To keep it simple, I recommend sticking with the basic template for 30 days or so, and of course, make sure you reintroduce foods methodically, one by one so that you can isolate your body’s reactions to individual foods.

The Origins of the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) Diet First, let’s talk about the Paleo diet which is the diet from diet from where AIP originates. Many people, even those not diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, are aware of the benefits of the Paleo diet. It has helped countless people feel better from a wide range of symptoms: fatigue, brain fog, joint  pain, gas, and bloating, to name a few. In a survey of my readers and clients, a resounding 81% reported that they felt better on a Paleo or grain free diet. In the case of Hashimoto’s, the traditional Paleo diet has even helped many people lower  — or or completely eradicate — their their thyroid antibodies. For those of you who have tried Paleo but have not seen significant improvement, I want you to know there are additional steps you can take that will give you the power to take back your health!

The traditional Paleo diet is a classic elimination diet that focuses on omitting things people are commonly sensitive to in an effort to lower inflammation. As you may know, the Paleo diet eliminates all  grains  grains and all   processed foods. The focus is on replacing the things you take out of your diet with nutrient-dense foods such as organic or grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, organic vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs from  pasture-raised hens and, depending on who who you ask, dairy. The Paleo diet is certainly a great start, but it is not always al ways enough to address every case of Hashimoto’s. Often, we need to peel back more layers of that onion! The good news is, with each new diet, supplement, or treatment that you try, you are finding out how your body responds to different external factors. Each case of Hashimoto’s is unique and many of us have additional sensitivities that are deregulating our immune system. People with Hashimoto’s often have sensitivities to a wide range of foods—  particularly gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy — which which are all omitted on the traditional Paleo diet. Anecdotally, the Paleo diet is said to have been introduced in the 1970’s with the book, The Stone Age Diet  by  by Walter Voegtlin, but it has significantly gained in popularity over the past ten years. Since then, countless resources such as cookbooks, websites, and articles have been created that include recipes ready r eady for you to use! I’m sure many of you have seen these resources at your local bookstore, your go-to go- to health food store, and even at Costco! It’s a very exciting time to be on a Paleo diet! As for the Autoimmune Paleo diet, I don’t know who invented it, but I have seen it work wonders for many people with Hashimoto’s.

If the Traditional Paleo Diet Does Not Improve All My Symptoms, What’s Next?  Now that you understand understand Paleo, I would like to put the spotlight on the AIP diet which helped many of my symptoms of Hashimoto’s. The Autoimmune Paleo diet takes Paleo a step further… Although the Paleo diet has helped some people with Hashimoto’s recover completely, I have found that the AIP diet can be even morehelpful, morehelpful, based on 75% of my readers and clients reporting significant symptom reduction — and and almost 40% seeing a reduction in thyroid antibodies — with with this dietary protocol! On a personal level, this was one of the key protocols on my own healing journey and helped me get my condition into remission. The Autoimmune Paleo diet has helped many people with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions get better but can be quite difficult to i mplement. As a pharmacist, I see this dail y,  people  people who know what they need to do to get better but just don’t know how to get started.

The traditional Paleo diet is a classic elimination diet that focuses on omitting things people are commonly sensitive to in an effort to lower inflammation. As you may know, the Paleo diet eliminates all  grains  grains and all   processed foods. The focus is on replacing the things you take out of your diet with nutrient-dense foods such as organic or grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, organic vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs from  pasture-raised hens and, depending on who who you ask, dairy. The Paleo diet is certainly a great start, but it is not always al ways enough to address every case of Hashimoto’s. Often, we need to peel back more layers of that onion! The good news is, with each new diet, supplement, or treatment that you try, you are finding out how your body responds to different external factors. Each case of Hashimoto’s is unique and many of us have additional sensitivities that are deregulating our immune system. People with Hashimoto’s often have sensitivities to a wide range of foods—  particularly gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy — which which are all omitted on the traditional Paleo diet. Anecdotally, the Paleo diet is said to have been introduced in the 1970’s with the book, The Stone Age Diet  by  by Walter Voegtlin, but it has significantly gained in popularity over the past ten years. Since then, countless resources such as cookbooks, websites, and articles have been created that include recipes ready r eady for you to use! I’m sure many of you have seen these resources at your local bookstore, your go-to go- to health food store, and even at Costco! It’s a very exciting time to be on a Paleo diet! As for the Autoimmune Paleo diet, I don’t know who invented it, but I have seen it work wonders for many people with Hashimoto’s.

If the Traditional Paleo Diet Does Not Improve All My Symptoms, What’s Next?  Now that you understand understand Paleo, I would like to put the spotlight on the AIP diet which helped many of my symptoms of Hashimoto’s. The Autoimmune Paleo diet takes Paleo a step further… Although the Paleo diet has helped some people with Hashimoto’s recover completely, I have found that the AIP diet can be even morehelpful, morehelpful, based on 75% of my readers and clients reporting significant symptom reduction — and and almost 40% seeing a reduction in thyroid antibodies — with with this dietary protocol! On a personal level, this was one of the key protocols on my own healing journey and helped me get my condition into remission. The Autoimmune Paleo diet has helped many people with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions get better but can be quite difficult to i mplement. As a pharmacist, I see this dail y,  people  people who know what they need to do to get better but just don’t know how to get started.

When I work with someone who is overwhelmed by jumping straight to AIP, I recommend slowly transitioning. The 4 most helpful dietary templates I recommend are (in order of difficulty to implement): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

the gluten free diet the gluten free/dairy free/soy free approach (The Root Cause Intro Diet) the Paleo diet the Autoimmune Paleo diet the Root Cause Rotation diet (more in the  Hashimoto’s Protocol )

If you’ve been eating the standard Western diet for most of your life, starting a dietary dietar y  protocol like the AIP can be extremely intimidating! Though Though you may eventually eventually end up “going AIP,” it’s okay to take baby steps and begin with gluten free, then move on to dairy free and soy free. I encourage you to remove one food group at a time if that makes you feel more at ease with the transition. tra nsition. Committing to a 100% gluten free diet is an important first step, and 88% of my readers with Hashimoto’s have indicated that the y felt better after going gluten free. I know that some of you will dive right in! However, many of you will find the AIP diet difficult to adhere to early on in your personal journey. We all have different needs, motivations, and challenges, and I encourage en courage you to honor your individuality and listen to your body!

The Autoimmune Paleo Diet consists of the following guidelines:

Foods to Be Avoided on the AIP Diet          

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Gluten Grains (including buckwheat and rice) Dairy Eggs Soy Fungi (mushrooms)* Alcohol Caffeine Beans and legumes  Nightshades [tomatoes, potatoes (except for sweet potatoes), eggplant, peppers, goji  berries, ashwagandha (herb that helps balance adrenals) paprika and other nightshade spices] Seaweed and other sea vegetables* Sugars (including honey, maple syrup, and agave) Canned foods, processed foods, coffee High glycemic index foods All nuts and seeds (except coconut)

*I recommend avoiding mushrooms because of their ability to exacerbate Candida, and sea vegetables because of high iodine content which may exacerbate autoimmune thyroid disease.

Foods to Be Included on the AIP Diet  

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Organic vegetables (except nightshades and legumes) Fermented foods (sauerkraut, nightshade free kimchi, coconut kefir, kombucha, fermented vegetables, and jams) Organic and grass-fed meats Organic and grass-fed organ meats Wild-caught fish Fats & oils Low-glycemic organic fruits Coconut (including coconut milk and coconut oil) Herbs and spices Hydrolyzed beef protein Sweet potatoes

Recommended Best Practices    

Limit fruits to 1-2 servings per day and make sure they are low on the glycemic index Include 6-8 servings of vegetables per day Make each meal Mediterranean inspired: 80% vegetables, 20% meat or fish Focus on sauces, dips, and broths

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Incorporate plenty of fats & oils, cooked at the appropriate temperature (coconut oil, duck fat, beef tallow, avocado oil, olive oil) Don’t eat on the run, and make sure to chew your food thoroughly Learn to ferment your own vegetables Drink plenty of filtered water Don’t forget to check sup plement labels to make sure there are not any non-compliant ingredients. For your thyroid medication, read Is Your Medication Gluten Free?

What Are the Results and Benefits? There is often a short transition/withdrawal period before you start feeling better on the AIP diet, especially if you are new to coming off gluten, dair y, and processed foods. Research suggests that casomorphins ( from the dairy protein casein) and gliadorphins ( from  gluten, the protein found in wheat ) can bind our “feel good” endorphin receptors, much like the morphine found in addictive drugs. This has led some people to say that these foods are as addictive as heroin and other drugs (which also bind our endorphin receptors)… While I think this is an exaggeration, I have s een  people experience withdrawal-like symptoms including brain fog, irritability, cravings, fatigue, and headaches, after quitting gluten, dairy, and sugar while adhering to the Autoimmune Paleo diet. The good thing is, once off these inflammatory foods, a person will start to feel better. You can expect to see results within 30-90 days of implementing the AIP diet, although it may take longer. If you do not see results in 30 days, elimi nate mammalian meat and use fish as your main protein source. Then, you can start to systematicall y reintroduce certain foods one by one. This allows you to create a diet for the long term that is tailor-made for you! This  process will allow you will be more in touch with what does —and doesn’t— work for you. I felt incredibly empowered when my grocery shopping and prep work resulted in a lasting improvement in health — and I know you will too! I have seen many of my clients find 100% relief from their symptoms by implementing the AIP diet into their lifestyle changes. The s ymptoms that many find relief of are joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, brain fog, tinnitus, skin rashes as well as decreased food sensitivities. Even for those who do not recover completely, they will experience significant improvement. You have nothing to lose (except for symptoms!) and everything to gain by considering the AIP diet!

What If AIP Is Not Enough? You may have to take it a step further and incorporate a rotation diet, a low-histamine diet, or low-oxalate diet, and you can find more information on these helpful protocols in my latest book  Hashimoto’s Protocol . These changes are not permanent, so do not be

discouraged! The Autoimmune Paleo diet is meant to be short term; i t solves the problem of leaky gut and is not just a band-aid. These variations i n diet give you the power to improve how you feel and isolate your root cause(s).

Important Labs That Compliment AIP After you are finished with the 90-day elimination period on the AIP diet, you may want to re-test your thyroid antibodies to monitor improvement. You should see a trend in your antibody levels reducing (or going away). If, after 90 days, you are still having gut issues, it may be a good time to test for parasites and other gut infections as well as SIBO.

An Example Day’s Worth of Meals On a personal note, eliminating eggs was a tough step for me, and alt hough I knew I was sensitive to them, I put off excluding them from my diet. This dela yed my progress for many months, and I don’t want that to happen to you! I’m sure many of you are thinking…what am I going to eat for breakfast? I know I asked this question! I used to eat eggs for breakfast almost daily, in omelets or scrambled eggs on weekdays, and every weekend my husband would cook a nice breakfast for us that included runny yolk eggs. However, the transition to life without eggs did not feel limit ing after all. I found it made me more creative in the kitchen! Here are some meal ideas —my husband’s included!

Breakfast, Courtesy of My hubby!     

Bacon Steamed spinach with olive oil Avocado Fermented cabbage (from farmer) Fermented cucumbers (my recipe)

Lunch 

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Butternut squash chili —last night’s leftovers! (Remember, batch cooking is your friend!) Fresh Swiss chard with lemon, sea salt, and olive oil

Dinner 

Coconut crusted trout

Thirsty?

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Mineral water with lemon and lime or, for the occasional treat, add a few berries! Herbal teas are a great choice on an AIP diet

Need a Snack? 

Sip on some homemade bone broth, enjoy a root cause green smoothie , a slice of avocado with a squeeze of lime and sea salt (yum!), or make some savory sweet potato chips!

If you are interested in these recipes, you can find those and more in my FREE eBook: Root Cause Autoimmune Paleo Diet 2-week Recipe Plan! Remember, 75% of my clients saw a reduction in symptoms on the AIP diet, so it is definitely worth a try! I know that you can do it…and enjoy it too  progress you make, you will not want to turn back!

Once you get going and see the

I’d love to hear from you…what type of benefits have you seen from the AIP diet? Here are links to additional resources…

Books & Recipes        

FREE Root Cause Autoimmune Paleo Diet 2-Week Recipe Plan My book  Hashimoto’s Root Cause My book  Hashimoto’s Protocol 

 Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook  The H ealing Kitchen Cookbook   He Won’t Know It’s Paleo Cookbook 

 Simple F rench Paleo: F lavorful Allergen-F ree Recipes for the Autoimmune Protocol The Paleo Approach

Food & Pantry Items    

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US Wellness Meats Desert Farms Camel Milk  Paleo On The Go The Flavor Chef (The Brothery)  –  Be sure to look for the products marked as AIP and use “thyroid10” for your special discount! Thrive Market

 You May Also Be Interested in These Posts  

Food Pharmacology for Hashimoto’s Dairy and Hashimoto’s

Here Are Some Helpful Cooking Tools to Make AIP Life Easier    

Vitamix Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crock Pots Granite Ware Covered Oval Roaster Spiralizer

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FILED UNDER: DIET, RECOVERY TAGGED WITH: AUTOIMMUNE PALEO, DAIRY, ELIMINATION DIET, FOOD PHARMACOLOGY, FOOD SENSITIVITIES , GLUTEN, RECOMMENDED RESOURCES, ROOT CAUSE RECIPE PORTAL, SO Y, SUGAR

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Comments

1.

Laina McCall says July 20, 2013 at 2:09 PM Where do I start if I may have Lupus. Reply

2.

Thyroid Root Cause says July 31, 2013 at 8:20 AM Hi Laina, be sure to see a functional physician. He/she may help you out with balancing your immune system. Trying a diet like autoimmune paleo may also be helpful Reply

3.

Kirstin says August 2, 2013 at 8:47 AM Do you recommend *starting* with the Autoimmune Paleo Diet if we have Hashimoto’s? Or do it only if we don’t see any improvement on the regular Paleo Diet?

Reply

4.

Izabella Wentz says August 11, 2013 at 6:50 PM Hi Kirstin, From my personal experience the AIP may be a good place to start. It would be the most efficient place to start, for let’s say 1-2 months, allowing your gut to heal. Eggs, seeds and nuts on the regular Paleo diet can still cause problems in someone with intestinal permeability and delay healing… You will likely see improvements with Paleo, but than may hit a wall if you continue eating eggs/nuts/seeds Reply

5.

Jennifer says August 8, 2013 at 8:53 PM Izabella, I was so surprised to read your list. Prior to getting antibiotics for my Hashimoto’s rosacea (which have been MOST effective!), I went to an ayurvedic practitioner. And the elimination of nightshades, peppers, alcohol, sugar, coffee, dairy, etc. is almost EXACTLY what they prescribed. The only problem for me is, the cure was worse than the problem! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says  November 29, 2016 at 6:02 AM Jennifer –  In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causingyour-leaky-gut Reply

6.

Kirstin says August 12, 2013 at 4:00 AM (sorry this didn’t post under the reply above…I kept getting an error message!) Thanks so much! That’s kind of what I was thinking. Interestingly, I already know I’m sensitive to eggs, so I’ve

nearly eliminated them (I can tolerate them baked in things). I wonder if, after I do the AIP diet, I might be able to add them  back in???? One can dream, right? So do I understand correctly that I would do the AIP diet for roughly 2 months and then add in different categories of foods one at a time, to see if I see a reaction? How will I tell if the AIP helps my Hashimoto’s? Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says  November 29, 2016 at 6:05 AM Kirstin –  In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can trial a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting! ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-dietfor-hashimotos

Reply

7.

Beth says August 19, 2013 at 9:00 PM How do you get enough carbohydrates on this diet? Reply

8.

Izabella Wentz, PharmD says August 23, 2013 at 11:46 PM

Hi Beth, there are some schools of though that believe we don’t need as many carbohydrates as we currently consume. In  particular, that grains and grasses are a detriment for human health, and that fruit should be limited due to their ability to feed pathogenic bacteria and cause too much insulin issues . I tend to feel best on a grain free, low fruit diet…That said, we are all different, and autoimmune paleo is just one dietary approach that may be helpful Reply

9.

Evan says

 November 28, 2016 at 3:35 PM Hi Izabella, I am vegan. I do not and will not eat meat. Am I out of luck here? How can I get the protein that I need if legumes, grains, nuts and seeds are taken away? Are truly whole grains,  possibly even sprouted, and well soaked beans or lentils still a  problem? I am not aware of having any food allergies. Is soy nevertheless bad for me? (Thank you for your very kind  providing of highly useful information!) Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says  November 28, 2016 at 3:56 PM Evan –  Recovering from adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy. Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always  present with Hashimoto’s. Pea protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities (I use NOW Foods brand).

Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians, however, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet. Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many in the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys. While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I have not been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following transitioning to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building  back the health of people with Hashimoto’s. That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body; hindering healing, and thus the diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggie). Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those

with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet can  be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements should be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency. Reply

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Emily Wood says January 20, 2017 at 9:04 AM If meat takes forever to digest and is void of needed fiber, how then are nuts and seeds the culprits for  being difficult to digest? Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says January 20, 2017 at 2:26 PM Emily- Unfortunately, most with Hashimoto’s have sensitivities or develop sensitivities to nuts https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-7hashimotos-food-myths Reply

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henriette says June 12, 2017 at 6:22 AM Hi Evan, I’ve had the same problem as you. I have been vegetarian for over 30 years. Since my health was compromised I started the AIP diet. The first month has  been challenging to say the least. It was very uncomfortable but I promised myself I would give it a month to see if the blood works got better. After a month I could start introducing new foods and when I tested after 3 months my blood was much better. Then a alternative dietist advised me to eat more protein, in the form of pea  protein and although this was good, she advised me to eat some fish. I felt awful and prayed for the fish but I tried since my fear of medicine was bigger than my determination to exclude animal protein. My health got so much better that my blood has been in normal range after 6 months. I eat fish sometimes, mostly once a week, sometimes twice and stick to pea protein daily or an egg. It felt like me or the animal. It helps if I thank the animal  before I eat it, for its help in my health journey. Meat is one step too far so I don’t eat that. Good luck on your  path! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 27, 2017 at 2:03 PM Henriette –  thank you so much for sharing your  journey! I am so happy you are taking charge of your health. <3 Reply

10. Alicia Childers says January 20, 2017 at 7:53 AM I have had Hashimoto’s for a very long time, and am at the stage where additional autoimmune problems are manifesting. I live in a rural area, and none of the drs. around here have a clue as to how to treat Hashimoto’s. As such, I have been on a daily regimen of Levothyroid and Cytomel for many many years. With that said, I am 99% sure that I have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten and dairy. I am aware that I need to eliminate these from my diet, along with several others foods as well. However, because I am a very picky eater and the majority of the foods listed in the autoimmune paleo diet, and the cookbook, are not things I would eat. Suggestions for a  picky eater? Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says January 20, 2017 at 2:30 PM Alicia- You may be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipe Portal. It is full of autoimmune paleo and  paleo recipes. You’re able to organize weekly shopping lists, meal planning, etc. Hope you check it out. http://rootcauserecipes.com/ Reply

11. Thaia Katsos Dorow says January 20, 2017 at 3:41 PM I just wanted to THANK YOU for being so responsive to everyone’s questions. I’ve learned so much just from reading all your responses. Thaia Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says

January 22, 2017 at 2:16 PM Thaia- Thank you so much for your support!! Reply

12.  jill says January 29, 2017 at 1:51 PM I suffer from acid reflux mostly wakes me up at night. I have hashimotos and take synthroid for 20+ years.what can i do  besides taking rolaids. Would drinking lemon water help? Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says January 30, 2017 at 1:55 PM Jill –  I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and  prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functionalmedicine-approach-to-the-thyroid WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR SHOULD YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-type-ofdoctor-should-you-see-if-you-have-hashimotos 10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wishmy-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me CLINICIAN DATABASE http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/cliniciandatabase.html FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.as  px?id=117 Reply

13. Robyn says February 3, 2017 at 7:59 AM

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my 30’s. In my 40’s, I was told I had Hashimoto’s and now in my 50’s, I have been told I have type 2 diabetes. I have been overweight for years and am having other symptoms such as swollen joints, joint  pain (primarily (primarily hips), severe severe tiredness, no energy, energy, mental mental fog, forgetfulness, indigestion and bloat. I do not take medication for diabetes yet although that seems to be the only thing my doctor is concerned about. I am wondering what your thoughts are about this diet and diabetes. I know that I would probably not be able to eat enough carbs as suggested by my doctor to maintain blood sugar levels. Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says February 3, 2017 at 10:15 AM Robyn –  please, Robyn –   please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and  prevention of of serious chronic chronic disease rather rather than disease symptoms. FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID https://thyroidpharmacist.co https://thyroid pharmacist.com/articles/fun m/articles/functionalctionalmedicine-approach-to-the-thyroid

WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR SHOULD YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.co https://thyroid pharmacist.com/articles/what-typ m/articles/what-type-ofe-ofdoctor-should-you-see-if-you-have-hashimotos 10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME https://thyroidpharmacist.co https://thyroid pharmacist.com/articles/10-thin m/articles/10-things-i-wishgs-i-wishmy-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me CLINICIAN DATABASE http://www.thyroidpharma http://www.thyr oidpharmacistconsulting.co cistconsulting.com/clinicianm/cliniciandatabase.html FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN https://www.functionalmedic https://www.fun ctionalmedicine.org/practit ine.org/practitioner_search ioner_search.as .as  px?id=117 Reply

14. Lena says March 6, 2017 at 10:37 PM Hi, I have a history of multi thyroid nodules for years, tested and was cleared as non-cancerous, with my TSH results always running on the lower side of norm,somewhere between 0.4-0.5 my endo doctor always sent my home with normal results BUT I know I am not well.

Thank you so much for all you do, please inform me does my condition with nodules and low TSH indicates hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?? Please help me understand. I am in the  process of finding finding functional functional medicine medicine practitioner practitioner in Chicago area but its not so easy. Am I hypo or hyper? Thanks so much in advance. Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says March 7, 2017 at 10:42 AM Lena –  Thank Lena –   Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions. TOP 6 THYROID TESTS https://thyroidpharmacist.co https://thyroid pharmacist.com/articles/top-6m/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests thyroid-tests I’m glad that you are searching for a Functional Medicine Clinician. You may wish to check out the doctors that other patients recommend recommend on this list. CLINICIAN DATABASE http://www.thyroidpharma http://www.thyr oidpharmacistconsulting.co cistconsulting.com/clinicianm/cliniciandatabase.html

FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.as  px?id=117 Reply

15. Ana says March 9, 2017 at 11:26 AM Hi. I have hypothyroidism and also vitiligo. Should I start for the food sensitivities test first or just start with the autoimmune paleo diet? Have you seen in your practice people with these two conditions getting their pigmentation back after healing their thyroid? Thank you! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says March 9, 2017 at 5:49 PM Ana –  thank you so much for following this page. Did you know that if you live in the United States, the UK, Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and take thyroid medications,

there’s a higher probability that you do have Hashimoto’s? Depending on the source, estimates are that between 9095% of those with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s. But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is sluggish”, and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.” I hope you check out these articles that I wrote. ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL? https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-you-doingeverything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-yet-well/ DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH? https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/do-you-havehypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-both/ Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well. TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/ Reply

16. Julie says March 13, 2017 at 1:57 PM Hi Izabella –  Thank you for your informative site. My father has Hashimotos and I have recently been working with a  provider for my apparent leaky gut. I was vegetarian for about 15 years and while I eat well, with lots of organics, I realize now I ate too many carbs. Since my we have a family history, I’m following the autoimmune diet for healing. I adore eggs, nuts, legumes. It’s very difficult to eat meat, but I’m finding that easier with bone broth and small amounts of high quality  beef and chicken. My healing journey started with the discovery that if I drink fluoridated water, I get horrible migraines. When I cut out tap water and started drinking spring water known to be F-free, my health greatly improved. I also cut all foods known to be high in F, like grapes. I’m curious if you advise those living with auto-immune disease or those at high risk to cut out fluoride, esp. fluoridated water? I see you have it listed as a risk factor for Hashimotos and I’ve also seen it’s linked to hypothyroidism. I’ve been drinking fluoridated water since I was 7 and can’t help but wonder if it’s played a major role in my migraines and digestive woes. I know you can’t speak to my case, but I’m curious what you’ve observed on this topic. Thanks again. All my best, Julie

Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says March 13, 2017 at 3:40 PM Julie –  thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions. Here is some information you may find interesting. Three things MUST be present in order for autoimmunity to occur… 1. Genetic predisposition 2. Environmental triggers 3. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) Developing autoimmunity is like a three-legged stool, all of these factors must be present for autoimmunity to occur! When you remove one of these, you can prevent or stop autoimmune disease. While we can’t change genes, if we know the trigger, we can remove it and we can heal the gut. REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE PERFECT STORM https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversingautoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/

IS HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM GENETIC https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotosgenetic Reply

17. Elizabeth Nelson says March 23, 2017 at 2:53 PM Sorry if this is long. I have hypothyroidism along with rheumatoid arthritis. Last summer I began the Low Dose  Naltrexone protocol with a knowledgeable functional medicine doctor. Four weeks ago I began to have erratic (high to normal) bp issues along with high heartrates. Went to the ER 2X, saw my pcp 3X, saw a cardiologist, had loads of tests and my heart was deemed “normal”. I called my  func. dr. who told me to quit the LDN as I may have developed allergies  because of it (or to it). I see him next week. My pcp thinks I may have a parathyroid issue but I’m waiting several days to  be tested to get the LDN out of my system so it’s more accurate. I was placed on 2 new bp medications, for 2+ days I had more normal bp and heartrate —that is until today. I’m thinking now I do have allergies to whatever I’m eating. I also want you to be aware that for 5+ yrs I’ve been on the Wheat Belly protocol so have already eliminated grains, processed foods, sugars, soda and more recently dairy from my diet. Have you ever run across anyone similar to what I’ve been experiencing? I’m looking at the AIP diet and it seems almost impossible to think about. I know that it could be temporary and it is a mind-set. Can you help give me words of wisdom??

Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says March 24, 2017 at 1:12 PM Elizabeth – thank you for following this page. I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions. Here are a few articles related to diet that hopefully help you get started. FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivitiesand-hashimotos AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleodiet TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-yourthyroid-diet-to-your-needs BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-forhashimotos-hypothyroidism Reply

18. Stephen says June 5, 2017 at 6:09 PM Was diagnosed with Hashimotos 8 months ago… went gluten free…. blood work was still bad 3 1/2 months ago… went full AIP 3 1/2 months ago… feel great, thinking I’ll try to make it 6 months and then try to reintroduce some foods…(I use to daily drink for 25 years, so want to give it more time to keep healing) 49 years old and went from 289 to 215 in the past year…so happy….I also am only eating between 12 8pm….feels great!!!! my question is how long should I give on the AIP to see change in antibodies in my blood work?? I’ve he ard rumors of 6 months after the gut heals??? Is this correct?? Hoping I can “heal”/ improve my gut health without medication …hoping !!! Will always stay gluten/dairy free, but miss a few items like eggs, beans, nuts, & bananas… (whiskey, beer, pizza ,fast food & Soda…..gone forever!!) Thanks for all the advice!! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 6, 2017 at 10:41 AM Stephen –  thank you for following this page. It depends on the person and their individualized food sensitivities. Some people go into remission just gluten free; others may have to go as far as autoimmune Paleo. The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey. I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s. Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal  permeability whenever they are eaten. Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An

additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-forhashimotos-hypothyroidism TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-yourthyroid-diet-to-your-needs DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotosyou-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy Reply

19. Candice says June 11, 2017 at 11:29 AM Izabella, I am an avid reader of your blog and books and a huge fan of your documentary series. Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all you are doing. It is because of you I am

currently healing my body and in tern, living an extremely fulfilling life. Thankfully my physical symptoms were never debilitating but mentally they grew to be. It’s because of you, and all those involved in your documentary series, that enabled me to take hold of my health, never accept what my current medical doctors were telling me and to find TRUTH. Thank you. Thank you for all you do in sharing this blessed knowledge with the world. Candice Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 12, 2017 at 7:35 PM Candice –  thank you for following this page and for your heartwarming words of support. <3 I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Reply

20. Cindy says June 11, 2017 at 12:46 PM

I would like to try incorporating green smoothies in my diet. I am currently avoiding foods I have tested sensitive to and am on a 4 day rotation diet. I am concerned about having the same ingredients in my smoothie every day, specifically the protein  powder and the coconut milk as I think I can rotate the other ingredients such as the fruits and vegetables. Any suggestions for alternatives for the protein powder and coconut milk on alternate days? Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 12, 2017 at 7:31 PM Cindy –  thank you for following this page. You may be interested in my 12 week online program called Hashimoto’s Self -Management Program that covers all of the strategies that I go through with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that participants have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. In addition, any person that goes through the program will get access to a Quick search Q&A Database of 1000+ questions asked by past program  participants, Root Cause Assessment based on 100’s of my clients’ root causes and triggers, 2-week Meal Plans, recipes, and shopping lists to get you started on the following diets: Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo, SIBO, Candida. Also, Discounts on lab tests, high-quality supplements, and consultations and much more to support

you in your journey! There are a few requirements that you should pay attention to, such as my book is a required read. Hashimoto’s Self -Management Program http://hackinghashimotos.com/ Reply

21. Melinda Jach says June 11, 2017 at 1:07 PM It would be nice if you had a website that you could pay a nominal fee and I mean nominal to address simple questions for people struggling. It takes so long and now costs so much to get into a functional medicine doctor. Be the first Isabella to truly help those of us who are dying to live. Thank you Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 12, 2017 at 7:28 PM

Melinda –  thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions. When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing. A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/ Ask questions. Post your thoughts. Scan the files. It is an absolutely amazing resource. Best of all it’s kept private from spammers. Reply

22. Shasha says June 11, 2017 at 3:13 PM

I feel like I am starving trying to eat bananas instead of organic brown rice, but they don’t have the same nutrients and I have the symptoms of low Vit B1. Se/niacin/protein and more are in the organic brown rice. I am too dizzy/inflammation/swollen/leaky gut/nails bend/got new varicose vein/could not think/no energy etc…trying to eat organic brown rice again. The first day is fine, but by day 3 my intestines are hurt and many symptoms are kicking in. I can’t eat meat/dairy/soy/high sugar/food with a label/gluten/heated oils/saturated and monounsaturated fat etc. My adrenals are burned out…stage 3+ maybe. Meat/coconut oil/olive oil clogs my blood vessels. I try to eat organic. I need more than vegetables…need a carb. Sugar/starch causes glycation. I still have Lyme. My mitochondria have been hurt too many times. What has the same nutrients as organic brown rice, but no gluten. I think quinoa etc in a package has contamination and is expensive. Thanks! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 27, 2017 at 2:11 PM Shasha –  Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions, but I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functionalmedicine-approach-to-the-thyroid CLINICIAN DATABASE http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/cliniciandatabase.html FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.as  px?id=117 Reply

23. Lola says June 11, 2017 at 4:41 PM I was diagnosed with Hashomoto’s a month ago. I’ve been sick for 4 years. For the last month I’ve been following gluten , soy-, dairy-, caffeine-, sugar-, grain-, potato-, alcohol-free diet. It’s been tough. I never feel full. I’ve gained more weight. I eat lots of vegetables, salads, meats though I always have. I’d like to try the AIP diet but I got Alletess food sensitivity test done. And It shows reaction to lettuce, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, green peas, coconut, watermelon, almonds,

salmon, different spices like cinnamon, oregano, nutmeg etc. among other things. Would AIP diet be advisable for me or should I go by what the food sensitivity test say? If I illuminate all of my reactive foods + nightshades + legumes and limit fruit to 1 serving (half an apple?) also I’m not a huge fan of meat I’m looking at a diet that’s really hard to maintain —  meats, carrot-free bone  broth, extremely limited selection of vegetables and 1 fruit per day. It doesn’t sound very healthy, honestly. Am I understanding the necessary dietary changes correctly? Would it be ok to include non-reactive foods (according to the food sensitivity test) like rice, tomatoes, eggs into my AIP diet? Thank you Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 27, 2017 at 2:15 PM Lola –  thank you for following this page. In general, most  people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one  person, may not be the same for another. It might seem

like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUThttps://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whatscausing-your-leak  Reply

24. Ursula says June 12, 2017 at 1:01 AM Hi Izabella, first thank you for the amazing work you do in giving us informations which help. I live in Germany and Functional Physicians aren’t here. I hold on to your nutritional advice since a year , strict AIP . And I have followed your plan outlined in your book how to find my root causes. However eating AIP didn’t seem to be enough! I had to dig deeper. Among other root causes physician found out I have Histamine intolerance. DAO is too low, the causes are genetical. I love your recipies, but they all don’ t consider HIT.  No batch cooking, no left overs, all your good and so supportive nutritional advice…now I can’t use it. Please write an article on Hashimoto and HIT as one root cause with some supportive advice . Reading your posts

always give me a feeling:”Oh ! What a good idea, what an inspiration! I can do that, she did it.” Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 12, 2017 at 7:34 PM Ursula –  thank you for following this page and for your kind words of support. <3 I will keep your suggestion in mind and look forward to hearing your progress on this page. Reply

25. Britlie Silvester says June 12, 2017 at 8:14 AM Hi! I was wondering where flours Fall into this program (like coconut flour, almond flour, etc) and are they okay to consume? Also, what about nut-butters? Thank you!

Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 12, 2017 at 2:42 PM Britlie –  thank you for following this page. Here are a few articles related to diet that hopefully help you get started. FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivitiesand-hashimotos AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleodiet GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-andautoimmune-disorders TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-yourthyroid-diet-to-your-needs Reply

26. Tahnee says June 13, 2017 at 1:00 AM After watching the Thyroid Summit I began the AIP Diet on March 23, 2017. I have been Gluten Free, Soy free and egg free for 2 years and taking Nature-Throid. I weighed 194lbs. 12 weeks later and I have lost 34lbs! Everytime I step on the scale I’m afraid to check but am always excited to see a few more pounds lower. My Dr. was really impressed. I feel so amazing and I wish I would have tried this sooner! Don’t be afraid to dive in and try AIP, you won’t regret it! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 13, 2017 at 10:30 AM Tahnee –  thank you for following this page. That is amazing and I’m so happy for you! <3 I'm currently collecting success stories and my goal is to collect 10,000 in hopes to submit them to a medical  journal. I know it's a lot to ask but would you mind submitting yours? http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/testimonial

Reply

27. Débora says June 13, 2017 at 5:07 PM Hi, I was dignosed with Hashimoto’s this past January, and I started following your protocol a couple of days ago. When you mention that Kombucha is ok for an AIP Diet, are there any restrictions? I know almost all Kombucha has caffeine. Just want to make sure it is ok. Thank you so much for all you do! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 14, 2017 at 10:01 AM Débora –  thank you for following this page. Kombucha can be helpful sometimes, but I recommend proceeding with caution, as some people may have adverse reactions to the wild yeast. I prefer probiotics and fermented foods. Reply

28. Lynn J says June 13, 2017 at 5:23 PM Aloha! So far, haven’t come across articles about incorporating sprouts into the AIP diet. I understand no seeds or nuts, and with sprouts soooo full of nutrients, it’s difficult to not incorporate. This may be redundant also, but what about wheat grass, before it’s processed. Spirulina also. Thank you for all that you do and have done. You came into my life this February after being diagnosed with Hashi and empowered me. Such very right timing!! (Initially my DO did the first screenings, and since my symptoms are so vague, I went to a  ND, who confirmed it again. And we were doing well, then she wanted me to start Levothyrozine. That prompted me to seek out a Functional MD who is working with a couple alternatives.) Mahalo nui loa, once again. Aloha Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 14, 2017 at 10:00 AM Lynn –  thank you for following this page and for your support. <3

You may be interested in my 12 week online program called Hashimoto’s Self -Management Program that covers all of the strategies that I go through with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that participants have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. In addition, any person that goes through the program will get access to a Quick search Q&A Database of 1000+ questions asked by past program  participants, Root Cause Assessment based on 100’s of my clients’ root causes and triggers, 2-week Meal Plans, recipes, and shopping lists to get you started on the following diets: Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo, SIBO, Candida. Also, Discounts on lab tests, high-quality supplements, and consultations and much more to support you in your journey! There are a few requirements that you should pay attention to, such as my book is a required read. Hashimoto’s Self -Management Program http://hackinghashimotos.com/ Reply

29. Jill Klausen says June 14, 2017 at 8:51 AM I literally blew my doctors away with the degree of success I’ve had on the AIP diet. At the beginning of this year, I told  both my GP and my endocrinologist that I was tired of treating

the symptoms of my disease with pharmaceuticals and intended to heal my body with food, with a goal of being off all prescription medication except thyroid hormones by the end of the year. They were not optimistic. I said, “Watch me”; they shrugged. Both my endo and GP were stunned and thrilled when I saw them after having followed the AIP protocol for 90 days. They could not stop crowing about how amazing I looked and how  beautiful my bloodwork was. Here’s why: A1C: before –  6.2 (prediabetic); after –  5.9 (healthy) LDL cholesterol (the bad one): before  –  115; after –  86. Triglycerides: before –  214; after –  133 Total cholesterol: before –  230; after –  166 Chol/HDL ratio: before –  4.4 (avg. risk of heart disease); after  –  3.3 (reduced risk by half) Free T3: before –  2.7 pg/mL; after –  3.8 pg/mL (Free T3 levels below the reference range [of 2.3 –  4.2 pg/mL] are considered evidence of hypothyroidism. … [L]evels in the top half of the reference range are considered evidence of sufficient thyroid function, and levels in the top 25th  percentile of the reference range are considered optimal.) https://www.verywell.com/interpret-your-thyroid-test-results3231840

Weight loss: 30 pounds! THIRTY POUNDS! ? My endo was so overwhelmed she had me write down all the resources I used to get these incredible results (are you sitting?) so she could use them to help her other patients! Of course I started with “Finding the Root Cause,” and included your website and your newest book, along with links to Paleo Mom and Hypothyroid Mom. I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces! And guess what? They took me off statins and off blood  pressure medication, with Metformin elimination only a couple of months away. I cannot thank you enough for the vast amount of great information and resources you make available to men and women like me who have been suffering for years using conventional treatment only. It has saved my life. With gratitude, Jill Reply Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says

June 14, 2017 at 9:46 AM Jill –  thank you for following this page and for sharing your amazing success story. I’m so thrilled for you! <3 I'm currently collecting success stories, and my goal is to collect 10,000 in hopes to submit them to a medical  journal. I know it's a lot to ask but would you mind submitting yours? http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/testimonial Reply

30. Anne Veloo says June 15, 2017 at 11:25 PM Hello Isabella, I have a question I was hoping you could help me with. I have been trying to follow Bright Line Eating (no sugar, no flour) and found that I was putting on weight despite  being on BLE. I have subclinical thyroid levels and I’m seeing a Naturopath. The treatment seems to be going well. I have read that dairy is in the “NO” list. I take about 1 oz of milk in coffee / black tea and I have about 2 cups of coffee with milk and 2 cups tea with milk almost every day. Is this a problem if I have no other form of dairy? I have been quite good about giving up flour and sugar but am finding it difficult to give up milk with the hot beverages. I

have a stressful job and I have a cup of tea with milk helps me get my work done. I’d appreciate your thoughts. regards, Anne Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 16, 2017 at 12:24 PM Anne –  thank you for following this page. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. Through my research, I’ve found that a good  percentage feel better off gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies. 10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpfuldiy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeawaysfrom-2232-people-with-hashimotos/ Reply

31. Becca says June 19, 2017 at 7:45 PM To avoid painful swelling in my left hand I’ve had to cut out wheat, corn and rice —  even black rice which is not inflammatory according to some but it definitely is for me.  Not sure about quinoa. I also have to avoid sugar, wine, beef and nuts. For me, dairy, eggs, coffee, and potatoes do not cause a problem so far. Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 20, 2017 at 12:30 PM Becca –  thank you for following this page. Here are a few articles related to diet that hopefully help you get started. FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivitiesand-hashimotos

GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-andautoimmune-disorders TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-yourthyroid-diet-to-your-needs BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-forhashimotos-hypothyroidism Reply

32. Carolyn Chamberlain says June 25, 2017 at 11:26 AM I’ve been paleo for  6 months now. I wake up at 6 full of energy. My dr. Has lowered my synthroid. I still won’t give up my wine though. I love it and enjoy a bp coffee 4 times a week. I’ve lost 20 lbs by going grain, dairy and sugar free. Feel awsome. Thank you Dr. Isabella. I came across through thyroid secret guide by accident and it changed my life. Thank you!!! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 26, 2017 at 12:22 PM Carolyn –  thank you for following this page, and for your support! <3 That is amazing, and I'm so happy for you. I'm currently collecting success stories, and my goal is to collect 10,000 in hopes to submit them to a medical journal. I know it's a lot to ask but would you mind submitting yours? http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/testimonial Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 28, 2017 at 11:01 AM Carolyn –  thank you for following this page and for sharing what has worked for you! I’m looking forward to seeing your progress here. Reply

33. Jolene says June 25, 2017 at 5:10 PM Izabella, A warm thank you for the wisdom, experience and love you have put into helping others with Hashimoto’s. I have two questions. 1) I am a vegetarian and the AIP diet is not an option for me. I went back on fish for awhile but with most seafood being radioactive from Fuk ushima, it’s not worth the risk (for me) so I went off again. Eggs have been my primary source of  protein. I’ve been off gluten for about 10 years. But I’m feeling pretty discouraged with how limiting this will be & it scares me I will go off. Are there other options? 2) Would it be more beneficial to have the tests done first  before starting a 90 day diet in case there is an underlying infection going on? Thanks so much, Jolene Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 26, 2017 at 11:47 AM

Jolene –  thank you for following this page. Recovering from adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy. Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always  present with Hashimoto’s. Pea protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities (I use NOW Foods brand). Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians. However, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet. Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many in the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys. While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I have not been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following

transitioning to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building  back the health of people with Hashimoto’s. That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body; hindering healing, and thus the diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggie). Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet can  be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements should be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency. AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleodiet ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-dietfor-hashimotos Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says June 28, 2017 at 10:56 AM

Jolene –  thank you for following this page. In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one  person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUThttps://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whatscausing-your-leaky Reply

34. Jen says July 6, 2017 at 11:07 AM Hi Dr. Wentz, I have been AIP for almost 8 weeks now. I read today that  people with Hashimoto’s can be triggered again by even a molecule of gluten that may drift onto the GF food at a restaurant and the have antibodies go back up for 8-9 months after this exposure. Is this true? I have been absolutely GF, as far as I know. But I have eaten the occasional grilled chicken salad at a restaurant where it wasn’t marinated in a GF

dressing. Do we have to be so careful as to request glove changes at Chipotle and separate pans at restaurants? Thanks so much for all your work! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says July 6, 2017 at 4:11 PM Jen –  In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can trial a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting! ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-dietfor-hashimotos Reply

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Jen says July 6, 2017 at 6:39 PM Thanks for your reply! Do you know if we need to avoid gluten to such an extreme level? For instance, replacing all kitchen tools and avoiding eating out completely? Do you do this for yourself? Also, when re-introducing foods, for someone like me who has no symptoms b/c antibodies are barely elevated, how do I know if a reintroduced food is okay or not? Thanks, again! Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says July 8, 2017 at 12:26 PM Jen –  thank you for following this page. In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good

starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can trial a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting! ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination -diet-for-hashimotos Reply

35. suryabhan singh says July 9, 2017 at 8:48 AM need an advice i have started reintroduction of food and start with egg yolk, and after 3 time he complain stomach pain and i have introduced 10/6/17 and blood test done on 5/7/17 and TSH raise 16.42. whether reintroduction fails can raise TSH level. Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says

July 10, 2017 at 1:36 PM Suryabhan –  thank you for following this page. In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one  person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-dietfor-hashimotos WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causingyour-leaky Reply

36. Susan Bennett Gallimore says July 11, 2017 at 6:49 PM I recently purchased the AIP meal portals. I have 2 questions. Can lunch recipes be used for dinner? Above it states to avoid

all sweeteners including honey. Several of the recipes call for honey??? So far all of the recipes are delicious! Many thanks Reply

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Dr. Izabella Wentz says July 13, 2017 at 3:20 PM Susan –  thank you so much for your support. I am so happy you are enjoying the recipes.:) Please contact my team at [email protected] and they will be happy to help you. Reply

37. Raffaella says July 27, 2017 at 12:30 PM Hi Dr. Izabella Wentz and thanks for all informations you share here. I write from Italy to ask you an advice. Some months ago, i was always felt tired, with headache, suffering pain on my back and having a lot of problems with my mood… well, actually i don’t exactly know what is really

related to the disease… all doctors say that i don’t have anything, but i decided to go ahead for myself. After tiroid analysis i have found Hashimoto’s, with values TSH 0.89, FT3 2.83, Anticorps anti-thyroglobuline 579,3 (in a range of about 20-30 if i remember well), anticorps anti microsomal 307,8. Here, endocrinologists usually don’t give anything for this disease. They let waiting patients for six months or more, to  bring overall hormones out of range values and, only then, they give a drug called Eutirox… But, most of all patients have a lot of collateral effects, including tachycardia, mood swings, etc. So, i’ve decided to follow your Paleo diet, but here we don’t have some foods like sweet potatoes… So i made this integrations:  –  2 times a week legumes, such as peas, chickpeas, always gluten free  –  1 fruit a day (less sweet as possible)  –  Almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower oil, oil of various seeds  –  Total abolition of gluten-based foods, milk and derivates, sugars, flours (except quinoa, 2 times a week)  –  D3 Vitamin (5000units, once a day), selenium (1 capsule/day 100mg), serotonin (1 capsule/day). Hope i’m doing well for my health. I’m crossing fingers for future… Sorry for my english and thanks again. Have a nice day! Raffaella Reply

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Dr. Izabella says July 31, 2017 at 9:37 AM Raffaella –  thank you for following this page. I am so  proud of you for taking charge of your health! The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet. It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. You may find this article interesting! ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-dietfor-hashimotos Reply

38. Manija Abawi says August 8, 2017 at 11:16 AM Hello Dr. Izabella!

First I want to thank you for showing a us the light at the end of the tunnel:-) I’m almost done reading your Hashimoto’s Protocol book and I’m going to start my 90 day diet in two weeks! I have a questions about using organic raw honey during the 90 day diet? This was not mentioned in the book, is this safe to use? Thank you for your time!! Reply

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Dr. Izabella says August 9, 2017 at 11:37 AM Manija –  thank you for following this page. For questions  pertaining to the protocols or side effects please contact my team at [email protected] and they will be happy to help you. Reply

39. Kristine Fischer says August 21, 2017 at 5:31 PM What kind of olives are acceptable on this plan Reply

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Dr. Izabella says August 22, 2017 at 11:29 AM Kristine –  thank you for following this page. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey. I’ve built a database of 300+ paleo and autoimmune paleo Root Cause Approved recipes. The software allows you to customize your weekly menu and grocery store list by aisle. I hope you check it out: http://rootcauserecipes.com/ Reply

40. Becca says September 14, 2017 at 2:59 PM I am curious if you have numbers or an idea of how many  people who follow the AIP actually experience complete healing from their thyroid issues (as in, being completely off of thyroid meds) or if you know where I could find any information about that? Thanks Reply

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Dr. Izabella says September 19, 2017 at 8:30 AM Becca –  thank you for following this page. Please contact my team at [email protected] and they will be happy to help you. Reply

41. Deb says October 30, 2017 at 8:15 AM Hi Dr. Izabella, I’m wondering if you’ve seen patients that have hypothyroidism and asthma? My Dr. and I can’t figure out why my asthma kicks in shortly after taking the medication and we’ve tried a few different things. I’m in Canada so we don’t have access to the variety of medications that you do in the States. I’m working hard on the leaky gut issue, AIP diet, and a host of other things but I’d love to know if you’ve heard of any connection between hypothyroidism and asthma. Reply

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Dr. Izabella says  November 1, 2017 at 11:35 AM Deb –  thank you for following this page. While I only work with patients with Hashimoto’s, oftentimes patients will have additional autoimmune conditions. Most autoimmune conditions have common root causes, and a lot of times the things that are recommended for one autoimmune condition will help with others. Conditions that I have found to respond really well to the Hashimoto’s protocols have been rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, asthma, Graves’, premature ovarian failure, psoriasis, Alopecia Areata, and Sjogrens. I have also seen the  protocols help with Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PCOS, as well as Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s, and Ulcerative colitis. Hashimoto’s Protocol https://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-ProtocolReversing-Thyroid-Symptomsebook/dp/B01HXK6GVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=150 6463784&sr=81&keywords=hashimotos+protocol+izabella+wentz Hashimoto’s Root Cause http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF 8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=x m2&tag=thyroipharma-20

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42. Liv says  November 4, 2017 at 6:51 PM Dra Izabella, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto several years ago. I made some small changes and was able to quit my meds very soon. I check my thyroid levels and visit my endo every quarter or so. I recently started feeling foresaken and anxious. My T levels were under control but my TPO was higher than when I was diagnosed (I haven’t checked them in between, just those two times). So I started the AIP, since I really didn’t want to feel anxious not lonely I also started taking magnesium citrate and thiamine (in lower doses than your articles about the nutrient deficiencies). Within few days I started feeling better; no more loneliness and no more anxiety. But I feel kind of stuck. I am also constipated and very gassy. Is it normal? Every since I started AIP I was also very hungry, even 30 min after a meal when I had felt full. At the beginning if I did not eat when I was hungry I will feel like depressed, took me a few days to discover the link. So I will eat and I will feel better. It does not happen anymore (to feel depressed if I don’t eat when I am hungry) but the constant hunger continues. Is it normal and part of the healing process? How to know when to reintroduce the foods? I’ve read that some do after 30 days, some later (even years later!). If I am not feeling neither anxious nor foresaken can I say it is safe to start the reintroduction foods? Or is my TPO supposed to lower after the AIP (should I testing it again to see if it lowers?). Is it

common to have my thyroid levels under control but my TPO to be higher? Also, if my soap is made with not oils such as safflower, castor, sunflower, etc. does it mean that I’m not AIP compliant at all? Reply

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Liv says  November 4, 2017 at 6:55 PM Sorry I meant, soap made with ** not compliant** oils such as safflower, castor, sunflower, etc. Reply

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Dr. Izabella says  November 6, 2017 at 10:51 AM Liv –  thank you for reaching out. We know that intestinal  permeability (aka leaky gut) is present in every case of autoimmunity and often precedes the development of Hashimoto’s. Symptoms of leaky gut may include  bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, many people develop IBS 5-10 years before an autoimmune diagnosis. I was

one of them and didn’t take my gut health as seriously as I should have. Gut problems are often caused by infections like H. pylori, parasites like Blasto, SIBO, an imbalance of bacteria, and enzyme deficiencies or food sensitivities (especially to gluten, dairy, and/or soy). Even stress can  be a factor in gut permeability. Here is an article you might find interesting. 6 DIFFERENT ROOT CAUSES https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-differenthashimotos-root-causes/ Reply

43. Bonnie Rosenbarker says December 18, 2017 at 1:09 PM I have celiac and Hashi’s. I started the autoimmune diet six weeks ago and am feeling good. My problem is weight loss which I do not need. I’m loosing a pound a week & don’t want to lose more. Any suggestions? Reply

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Dr. Izabella says December 19, 2017 at 11:24 AM

Bonnie –  thank you for following this page and my research. Most people with Hashimoto’s will experience weight gain, and so of course that’s what gets the most focus, but some people actually experience weight loss, or they can’t keep their weight on.This is especially  problematic when a person has multiple food sensitivities and needs to adhere to an autoimmune diet that restricts foods. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: 1. Get a calorie counting app like My Fitness Pal on your  phone, to help you keep track of your daily calories. Eating real food can be more filling than eating simple carbohydrates and you may not be getting enough calories. Use the app to figure out your target weight and the number of calories per day you need to get there. 2. Supplement after dinner with The Root Cause Building Smoothie: 1 avocado (300 calories), 1 cup coconut milk (150 calories), 1 banana (100 calories), 2 egg yolks (100 calories, if tolerated), 1 scoop of protein of beef/pea  protein (60 calories) –  You can also add cooked sweet  potatoes if you need more carbs. 3. Get tested for gut infections. Gut infections can prevent the digestion and assimilation of foods, leaving you underweight and malnourished. The 401H test or GI Effects test are my go to tests. 4. Get your adrenals tested with an adrenal saliva tests. In some, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods. 5. Be sure that you are not over medicated. 6. Work on reducing your antibodies with a selenium supplement 7. Stress reduction, when we’re stressed we don’t digest. 8. Add coconut oil in your beverages, this can add extra