Diet for autoimmune thyroiditis: sample menu, prohibited foods, medical advice

September 11, 2018
Diets for health
Ekaterina Nikitina

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. Seven out of eight victims of the disease are women. Therefore, we can say that this is a women’s health problem, although there are also men who experience it. What are the symptoms and treatment methods for the disease? What are the features of the diet for autoimmune thyroiditis? How does it help improve the condition of patients?

Symptoms

Features of the nature of the disease consist of genetic predisposition, lifestyle, environmental factors, age and general health. All of this affects what symptoms the patient experiences. It's hard to create a one-size-fits-all list.

The most common signs are the following:

Fatigue, often chronic and debilitating.
Weight gain and inability to lose weight.
Constipation, usually chronic and long-lasting.
High sensitivity to cold, especially in the hands and feet.
Dry skin, which usually worsens significantly during the winter months.
Depression and feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Muscle pain, cramps, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis (or may exist alongside these two related autoimmune disorders).
Reduced ability to withstand physical activity, that is, fatigue when walking even short distances.
Irregular or extremely heavy menstrual periods.
Infertility.
Dry, brittle and dull hair, skin and nails.
Reduced body temperature.
Increased cholesterol levels.
Insomnia or fatigue even after normal sleep.
Anxiety, mood swings and mood disorders (sometimes misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder).
Pain in the lower throat, where the thyroid gland is located, frequent sore throats not associated with a disease in this organ, swelling of the throat (goiter).
Increased susceptibility to viral or bacterial infections.

How long to keep the autoimmune protocol?

Ideally, you eliminate trigger foods until you feel well, but in parallel with improvements in well-being, you can try to introduce foods back, after a minimum of 4 weeks, and ideally after 6-8 weeks.

In general, you should reintroduce foods back into your diet one at a time and every 5-7 days, and be sure to listen for symptoms that may arise from the returned food:

1. Gastrointestinal symptoms: abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, change in frequency of bowel movements, flatulence, undigested food particles in the stool.

2. Energy: Decreased energy, feeling tired, low energy in the afternoon along with increased energy in the evening, preventing you from falling asleep at the right time.

3. Cravings for sugar, fat and caffeine. Perverted appetite (craving for sand, dirt, chalk, clay, etc.).

4. Problems falling asleep or sleeping in general, fatigue in the morning after waking up.

5. Headaches. Dizziness. Migraine.

6. Increased mucus - runny nose, nasal congestion. Desire to cough and clear throat. Itching in the eyes or mouth. Sneezing.

7. Pain in muscles, joints and ligaments.

8. Changes in the skin: rash, acne, dryness, redness.

9. Mood problems - frequent changes or depressed mood. Fog in the head. Feeling restless.

In this case, the product should be discontinued for a while, try again after a few weeks and, if the symptoms recur, exclude the product for a longer period or forever.

That's all for now, until we meet again, expert Irina Ivonina was with you @salinas_wellness_centr

How can you get sick

There are many risk factors and causes that contribute to the occurrence of the disease. Here are some of them:

Heredity. Any thyroid disease or hypothyroidism in family members (parents, grandparents or siblings) and genetic susceptibility.
Having a current autoimmune disorder of another type.
Pregnancy or the postpartum period (up to 12 months) may be a risk factor as the thyroid gland is susceptible to hormonal changes.
Excessive intake of iodine, as well as its deficiency.
Viral or bacterial infections that become chronic can trigger an immune attack on the thyroid gland.
Menopause can also cause Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Treatment for Hashimoto's disease

Many doctors who diagnose thyroid disease may prescribe hormone therapy and continue testing thyroid hormone levels until they return to normal. First of all, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an immune problem. Until the immune system stabilizes, the body will be at risk of further autoimmune attacks.

The full range of treatment options should include further research into what caused the disorder in the first place, as well as hormone therapy. You need to follow a special diet for autoimmune thyroiditis. Those with Hashimoto's disease must make dietary and lifestyle changes to eliminate aggravating stressors that could lead to chronic immune dysfunction.

When the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone, hypothyroidism occurs, which affects the body's metabolism, so weight gain is often associated with thyroid problems. The good news for people with Hashimoto's disease is that the condition can be completely controlled with the right diet and taking Levothyroxine. This remedy is the first line of defense against hypothyroidism because it mimics the hormone (thyroxine) produced by the thyroid gland.

Autoimmune protocol, what to include in your diet:

This is a list of not only allowed products, it is a list of recommended products. Based on the daily caloric value of 2000 calories:

20% – carbohydrates

65% – fats

15% – proteins

The number of meals is 2-3, but always individual. A specialist should give a recommendation. The fourth meal, in the form of a snack, is acceptable for Gilbert's syndrome, Adrenal phatic and acute conditions of inflammation of the gallbladder. In other cases, eating more than 3 times is unphysiological!

• Red meat

• Fish (any)

• Bird (any)

• Shellfish

• And other types of seafood (caviar, anemones, sea cucumber, etc.)

• Offal (liver, tongue, heart, head meat, bones (in the form of bone broth and jellied meat), brain, kidneys, lung, etc.)

• Foods rich in glycine (bone broth, gelatin, cheeks, skin and cartilage, duck legs, chicken wings, most organ meats)

• Leafy vegetables and salads (artichokes, arugula, asparagus, beet leaves, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, capers, carrot tops, cauliflower, celery, spinach, chicory, greens, watercress, endive, fennel, kohlrabi, kale , lettuce, mustard greens, radicchio, watercress, etc.)

• Bulbous vegetables (different types of onions, garlic)

• Seaweed (nori, kombu, wakame)

• Vegetables that are actually fruits (avocado, cucumber, olives, plantain, pumpkin, zucchini)

• Root vegetables (arrowroot, beets, cassava, celery, daikon, ginger, turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, root parsley, sweet potatoes, carrots, horseradish, wasabi, yams, parsnips, radishes)

• Berries

• Fruits (including citrus fruits)

• Mushrooms

• Foods rich in probiotics (beet and other vegetable kvass, coconut milk kefir, fermented vegetables (beets, carrots, kimchi, cucumbers), fermented fruits (like soaked apples), sauerkraut)

• Good fats (avocado oil, animal fat (tail fat), coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, olive oil (extra-virgin, virgin), poultry fat (duck, goose).

• Herbs and spices (asafoetida (but check the ingredients to make sure there are no seed spices), basil, bay leaf, chamomile, cilantro, chervil, leek, cinnamon, cloves, dill (herbs), fennel (herbs) , garlic, ginger, horseradish, lavender, lemon juice, nutmeg, marjoram, dried onion (without additives), oregano, parsley, mint, rosemary, saffron, sage, pink or black sea salt (which has more minerals), thyme, tarragon, thyme, natural vanilla extract (without alcohol), turmeric). Spices and seasonings should not come from seeds.

• Miscellaneous (agar-agar, anchovies, apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, arrowroot powder, baking soda, balsamic vinegar, capers, carob, coconut aminos, coconut oil, coconut manna, coconut cream, coconut flour, coconut milk, coconut vinegar , fish sauce (without any banned ingredients, which is rare), green banana flour, plantain flour, honey, maple syrup, pomegranate molasses, tapioca starch, truffle oil (check ingredients), truffle salt (check ingredients) , chestnut flour).

• Vegetables – everything too, except nightshades

This diet is suitable for anyone diagnosed with or suspected of having an autoimmune disease. This is a fairly simple diet, free from foods that irritate the intestines, cause dysbiosis and activate the immune system. There are more than enough nutrients, and this means that such nutrition is possible for a long period. Please note that if your autoimmune disease causes sensitivity to certain foods outside of our list, this is worth considering.

Nutritional Features

The autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) diet focuses on natural and whole foods. Commercially prepared foods are filled with refined sugars and preservatives that will not help restore the balance of the immune system. It is very important to exclude foods containing gluten and dairy products from the diet.

In some intestinal diseases, incompletely digested food particles can leak through the intestinal walls into the blood. The immune system then misreads gluten, particularly in thyroid cells. Therefore, bowel treatment is mandatory in order to achieve remission in autoimmune thyroiditis. What diet is prescribed for AIT?

It includes lots of vegetables, high-quality protein, fiber, 3 types of anti-inflammatory fats and low-glycemic fruits. When you're under an autoimmune attack, it's best to eat significantly more vegetables than fruits to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Leaky Gut (Leaky Gut Syndrome)

• More than 80% of the immune system is located in the gut and requires a healthy, well-functioning gut to be healthy.

• To be a healthy person, you need not only beneficial bacteria in your gut, but also a diverse composition of them. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria alone are not enough for a healthy life. The core of beneficial flora should make up 70-90% of the total number of bacteria living in the intestines. The amount of flora in general should be sufficient, which will help to avoid such embarrassing and unpleasant moments as heartburn, reflux, seething, belching, farting, pimples, bad-smelling sweat and much more.

• When a certain composition of bacteria is disrupted, the intestines become permeable to incompletely digested substances that usually do not enter the bloodstream in healthy people. The appearance of inflammation, wounds and ulcers on the intestinal walls leads to the fact that its tightness is broken. The intestinal wall becomes thinner. As a result, human waste, bypassing all barriers, enters directly into the bloodstream, and from there it is carried into sterile areas of the body, causing acute self-poisoning and toxicosis.

If left untreated, it can lead to worsening health problems such as inflammation of the intestinal wall, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, depression, anxiety, migraines, muscle pain and chronic fatigue.

• When leaky gut syndrome occurs, the immune system fails, inflammation occurs, and then, by mistake, the body's own tissues are attacked—an autoimmune disease begins.

Broth on the bone

An excellent remedy for healing the intestines is bone broth (beef or chicken). It helps restore the small intestinal mucosa to prevent foreign agents from entering the human blood. This soup also helps maintain remission of the disease. The diet for autoimmune thyroiditis includes this broth 2-3 times a day. You can drink it, add it to soup, or cook vegetable stew with it. This dish will help heal microcracks in the intestines.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease, or celiac disease, is a genetically determined chronic disease that results in intolerance to the main grain protein (gluten). It causes a specific immune response with the appearance of antibodies that cause autoimmune damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine. With celiac disease, chronic inflammation develops, leading to atrophy of the small intestinal mucosa and malabsorption with corresponding digestive disorders.

The main manifestations of the disease are:

diarrhea, changes in stool character (loose, foamy, foul-smelling);
loss of appetite up to anorexia;
malabsorption (anemia, hypovitaminosis, weight loss and other signs of impaired absorption of nutrients in the intestines);
reduction of body weight;
pain and discomfort in the abdomen, bloating;
damage to the oral mucosa.

A low-carbohydrate diet is recommended for people with celiac disease.

Studies have revealed that a specific immune response is characteristic of patients who have certain variants of the HLA system genes. In most cases, patients with celiac disease have haplotypes DQ2.5, DQ2.2, as well as their combinations with variants DQ7 and DQ8. Predisposition to celiac disease (celiac enteropathy) can be detected by studying genes such as AIS5, ALPS5, CTLA4, GSES, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, IDDM12, MYO9, BMYR5.

Medical Genetics carries out genetic testing for celiac disease.

What to pay attention to

With autoimmune thyroiditis, diet and lifestyle are extremely important. We'll talk about them a little later. If you or anyone in your family has experienced or is currently struggling with thyroid problems, it is important to seek medical help. Thyroid problems usually don't start until women are in their thirties, and sometimes later. However, it is becoming increasingly common for young women in their twenties to early twenties to show signs of the disease.

Any abnormalities in the thyroid gland can affect the following conditions:

Metabolism.
Body temperature.
Muscle strength.
Menstrual cycles.
Cholesterol levels.
Weight.

For thyroiditis, the dosage and timing of medication are different for everyone, so consultation with an endocrinologist is mandatory. You should not self-medicate. Something that can have a positive and profound impact on managing your condition is a special diet for autoimmune thyroiditis. What can you eat if you have this disease? What should you exclude from your diet? More on this below.

Essential Nutrients

With autoimmune thyroiditis, diet and lifestyle must change. The health of your thyroid gland is highly dependent on your diet. There are certain substances that you should take regularly. This:

Iodine.
Selenium.
Zinc.

An autoimmune thyroiditis diet that optimizes these nutrients is vital to the overall recovery plan. The best way to get your daily intake of these minerals and nutrients is to eat a balanced diet. Avoid eating within 1 to 2 hours after taking thyroid medication because food affects how the medication is absorbed into the body. Always discuss any changes in your diet or medications with your doctor.

As for lifestyle changes, the recommendations are as follows: eat right and strive to be more physically active. Exercise improves strength and metabolism and affects how the body responds to hormones such as insulin and thyroid hormones. Cardio training helps increase T4 hormone levels, which is beneficial. If intense physical activity is a problem for you, regular exercise is a good alternative.

The diet menu for autoimmune thyroiditis of the thyroid gland has much in common with some other diets:

Paleolithic (Paleo).
Gluten-free.
Vegetarian or vegan.

Gluten

Gluten contributes to autoimmune diseases in three ways.

Promotes the formation of leaky gut. Gluten causes the release of the protein zonulin in the intestines, which makes the intestinal wall leaky.
Causes inflammation.
Gluten has a similar structure to some body tissues (such as the thyroid gland), which can lead to molecular mimicry and autoimmune attack on body tissues.

Selenium

The thyroid gland has the highest selenium content in the entire body. There is no solid scientific evidence to support the use of selenium to treat Hashimoto's disease. However, people suffering from this disease and taking selenium supplements note a decrease in the number of antibodies affecting the thyroid gland.

Selenium-rich foods:

Eggs.
Legumes (soybeans, beans, lentils).
Brazilian nut.
Tuna and sardines.
Beef.
Chicken.
Liver.
Wheat bran.
Octopus.
Corn.
Rice.
Barley grits.

Zinc

Zinc is an important element that must be supplied to the body in required quantities for Hashimoto's disease. Zinc supplementation has been shown to increase thyroid hormone levels in people with goiters. If you're looking to add more zinc to your diet, the following foods are excellent sources:

Oysters and clams.
Beef.
Chicken.
Legumes (lentils).
Wheat bran.
Veal liver.
Acne.
Beef.
Mutton.
Pork.
Sesame, poppy seed.
Pumpkin seeds.
Chicken hearts.
Pine nuts.

Paleolithic diet, nutritional features

The diet for AIT of the thyroid gland is very close to the Paleolithic. It is based on the food that people ate during the Paleolithic. The focus is on the food that was once obtained by hunters and gatherers. Because it eliminates foods that can trigger an autoimmune reaction (such as grains, dairy, and chemically processed foods), the Paleo diet is highly effective for Hashimoto's disease.

Good results can be achieved by eating the following foods:

Lean meat.
Fish.
Seafood.
Fruits.
Vegetables (except potatoes).
Nuts.

Gluten-free diet: allowed and prohibited foods

A gluten-free diet excludes:

oats, rye, wheat, barley, malt, triticale and baked goods made from them;
starch;
semolina, couscous;
fast food;
strong alcohol;
canned food;
tea in bags, instant coffee, kvass;
sausages;
meat and fish semi-finished products;
sweets, ice cream;
ketchup, mayonnaise, industrial seasoning mixtures;
sweetener dextrin;
maltose.

The following are allowed on a gluten-free diet:

buckwheat, rice, millet, corn, sorghum, quinoa;
legumes;
seeds, nuts;
meat fish;
dairy and fermented milk products;
potato;
whole grain corn, rice, potato, soy bread;
fruits, vegetables, herbs;
olives and black olives;
eggs;
cocoa, honey, homemade jam;
vegetable fats;
spices;
black chocolate;
water, coffee, tea.

Before purchasing these products, make sure they are gluten free:

bread;
pasta;
oatmeal, breakfast cereal;
sweets, cookies, crackers;
soy and other sauces;
beer and juices;
curd desserts.

Gluten-free diet

Although gluten-containing foods are not the cause of Hashimoto's disease, they can trigger an autoimmune response in some people. This leads to inflammation and tissue destruction. Gluten is part of every wheat flour product and can be found in many products. You should avoid:

Wheat.
Barley.
Cookie.
Cakes.
Pizza.
Pasta.
Bread

Gluten-free alternatives to regular flour products are available, although they can be expensive. For people suffering from Hashimoto's disease, the best thing to do is try a gluten-free diet and see if it relieves symptoms. With autoimmune thyroiditis, diet and lifestyle must change. If you continue to drink milk and a bun every day and eat fried potatoes in the evenings, the situation will not improve.

Stress

• The number of stress-related diseases is increasing more and more.

• Stress can trigger and worsen autoimmune diseases.

• Stress is not only emotions, but also biochemical changes in the body, so it can destroy functions in different ways.

• Chronic stress leads to long-term inflammation and leads to autoimmune diseases.

• If you have an autoimmune disease, stress only makes it worse.

Inflammation is a process that accompanies autoimmune diseases, as well as most other chronic diseases.

Reducing inflammation is critical to the body's recovery.

Two groups of dietary factors contribute to inflammation: a diet high in carbohydrates (especially refined carbohydrates) and a diet high in omega-6s.

• A healthy body neutralizes oxidants with the help of antioxidants that it produces itself or that come from food. But with excessive consumption of food and especially carbohydrates, the balance of free radicals and antioxidants is disrupted. Which leads to inflammation.

• Also, consuming large amounts of sugars stimulates the production of insulin, which is a pro-inflammatory hormone.

Vegetarian and vegan diets

Vegetarians do not eat meat, and vegans do not eat any animal products, including milk, butter, and eggs. These diets are thought to help improve the autoimmune response associated with Hashimoto's disease. They also reduce inflammation and promote gut health. However, be aware that vegetarian and vegan diets can leave your body deficient in important vitamins and minerals. Supplements should help balance out the nutritional deficiencies found in this type of diet.

If you decide to experiment with this diet to improve your thyroid and gut health, focus on incorporating plant-based foods into your diet, such as:

Fruits.
Vegetables.
Nuts.
Seeds.
Vegetable oils.
Legumes.

Nutrition strategies and the main principles of PALEO (One of the light AIT Protocols)

Paleo nutrition strategies include many vitamins: iron, zinc, copper, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, all B vitamins and especially B12, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and other beneficial substances, important amino acids, and also quality fats.

The variety of meat consumed (both red and poultry) and its quality are important.

Meat

A source of quality saturated fat if the animals are grass-fed. The postulate that saturated fat increases cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease is based on outdated research.

Recent research has linked the increased risk of cardiovascular disease to the inflammatory environment created by excessive sugar/carbohydrate consumption. Saturated fats themselves, especially those from grass-fed animals, are important for the body.

Skin, bones, and joints are rich in glycine, an amino acid that is part of all connective tissues. This amino acid is also important for the healthy functioning of the immune system. Therefore, it is important to consume skin, bone broths, etc. It is doubly important for those who have immune problems affecting the skin, joints, and other connective tissues.

Paleo includes all red meat, preferably grass-fed poultry, bacon is also allowed within Paleo, if without a huge amount of additives, nitrates, etc. A small amount of nitrates is acceptable.

By-products

Extremely rich in valuable vitamins and minerals - A, D, B12, zinc, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, Q-enzymes and other elements (collagen in the skin, for example).
A source of glycine, an important amino acid that is involved in the synthesis of DNA, RNA, many proteins and also regulates the immune system.
Therefore, it is so important to regularly include connective tissue (skin), offal (liver, heart, bone marrow, brain, tongue, cheeks, fat - lard, tail, blood, etc.), bones (in the form of bone broths), and cartilage in the diet.
Can be consumed as supplements - gelatin, collagen. It is recommended to consume at least 4 times a week, because... they will help quickly compensate for the deficiency of nutrients, vitamins and microelements.

Fish and seafood

Richest source of omega-3. The question of wild vs farm is not so pressing. Even farmed is an excellent source of omega-3, although there is less of it than in the wild. It is a fact that fish contains mercury, but it also contains selenium, which helps detoxify mercury in the body.

Seafood is also a wonderful source of vitamins and microelements - phosphorus, A, D, E, K (B2), iron, magnesium, iodine, selenium, calcium.

It is important to note that fish and seafood are an excellent source of calcium, which is important to compensate for by excluding dairy products.

Fish and seafood have higher levels of omega-3 than even organic meat. It is recommended to consume it at least 3 times a week.

Vegetables

The most important source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals.

The high fiber content helps regulate hunger hormones and normalize microflora. Also, vegetables, especially leafy ones, due to their chlorophyll content, neutralize the cancer-promoting component in red meat. Therefore, it is important to eat meat with plenty of vegetables.

Leafy and green vegetables are especially good - they are rich in vitamins, including group B, minerals, and antioxidants. Exceptions to the Paleo diet are legumes and vegetables of the nightshade family (bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, etc.) due to their negative properties.

Leafy and green vegetables are especially rich in calcium and are also essential in the diet because they help compensate for the exclusion of dairy products. The calcium content, for example, in cabbage is much higher than in milk, and it is easily absorbed. Cabbage of all types - white cabbage, kale, broccoli, bok choy, various leafy salads - watercress, letuche, arugula, etc., dandelion leaves, celery and others - a rich source of calcium.

Root vegetables - beets, carrots, radishes, kohlrabi, artichokes, and others - are an excellent source of carotenoids, vitamin C, B, K, phosphorus, potassium, copper, magnesium.

• Other vegetables - zucchini, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, olives.

Fruits and berries (My favorite saying: the best fruits are berries)

Fruits and berries of all kinds are an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamins.

They also contain fructose and are recommended to be consumed without overdoing them.

It is important to exclude starchy vegetables (potatoes, for example), which are included in the nightshade group, because they stimulate the growth of unfriendly microflora.

Have you heard the expression “eating rainbows”? This means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day to provide the full range of nutrients. For example, green and leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll, yellow, orange, and red vegetables and fruits are rich in carotenoids, purple and dark blue berries and fruits are a source of flavonoids and antioxidants, which reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Whites - pears, apples, mushrooms, cauliflower are also rich in numerous vitamins and minerals.

As you can see, vegetables, fruits and berries are an important component of the Paleo diet due to their high content of nutrients, fiber, which is important for the health of the gastrointestinal tract, and the ability to neutralize unfavorable substances in red meat. And don't forget to include the whole rainbow in your diet.

Fats

It is recommended to cook with animal fats (lard, lard), and vegetable fats with a high melting point - coconut oil, ghee, red palm oil, avocado oil, as well as walnut and macadamia oil, if there are no allergies, for the last two.

Ghee (preferably from grass-fed cows) is a high-quality fat; milk proteins, which contribute to leaky gut syndrome, are evaporated during the process of making this butter.

But allergies are such a thing that sometimes a microdose, one breath, is enough to trigger an autoimmune reaction. In general, it is up to you whether to include ghee in your diet. Perhaps, at the first stages, exclude it, then return it.

For salads and cold consumption - olive, avocado, flaxseed, sesame, walnut oil (if there are no allergies).

Eliminate all hydrogenated, deodorized oils, anything with the name “vegetable oil” (it’s not clear what they come from), anything that says “trans fat,” as well as corn, sunflower, canola, cottonseed, grapeseed, soybean and safflower oils. There is a high content of omega-6 or serious industrial processing.

Worst diet for autoimmune thyroiditis: menu

In addition to foods that help the thyroid gland, in certain amounts there are certain foods that can negatively affect the thyroid gland. Gluten and goitrogens are the worst foods to have in your diet if you have Hashimoto's disease.

Gluten. Research has found a correlation between Hashimoto's disease and gluten sensitivity. Some researchers even suggest that gluten intolerance may be largely due to all autoimmune disorders. If you suffer from Hashimoto's disease and your symptoms do not improve with lifestyle changes and medications, try eliminating gluten from your diet and see if your symptoms improve. Try to avoid foods that include wheat (bread, cookies and crackers), barley and rye.
Goitrogens. These are pollutants that interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. If taken in large enough doses, they can negatively affect the thyroid gland and disrupt hormone production. Goitrogens are most abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli. These foods do not pose much of a threat if you eat them in small quantities.
Soy, on the other hand, can cause thyroid problems because it is so ubiquitous in our modern diet. If you have a high protein soy cereal latte topped with soy milk for breakfast, some tofu for lunch, a soy protein bar for a snack, and some more tofu for dinner, then you may get a goiter.
Sugar and empty carbohydrates.

Antinutrients for AIT

Lectins are a group of proteins that make digestion difficult and lead to leaky gut. Contained in:

1) cereals (wheat and other seeds),

2) legumes,

3) crops and grains (cereals).

• Gluten is a type of lectin. Consumption of these proteins increases intestinal permeability and activates the immune system against body tissues.

• Digestive enzyme inhibitors – seeds “don’t want” to be digested and contain substances that impair digestion. GMO is related to this problem; it is due to the increase in the level of protective components in GMO products that the plant becomes more resistant to insects, parasites, etc. Contained in grains, legumes, and cereals.

• Saponins and glycoalkaloids are toxic substances that create micro holes and increase intestinal permeability and activate the immune system. Nightshade family (eggplant, paprika, etc. peppers, tomatoes, etc.), seeds.

• Phytates and phytic acids - good in small quantities, because. perform the function of antioxidants, but large quantities are bad for the absorption of minerals, microflora and digestion in general. Contained in all seeds, including grains, cereals, legumes, seeds.

• Alcohol – contains toxic substances that increase the spaces between cells in the intestines and increases intestinal permeability. In very small quantities and rarely is the only way to use it without much damage in cases of AIDS.

Many are already familiar with various diets that have burst into our lives just a couple of years ago. A lot of integrative doctors write about nutrition for various gastrointestinal problems. For any autoimmune diseases, it is most often recommended to follow the autoimmune protocol, the most commonly known protocol is Sarah Ballantyne , although there are many different versions of this protocol, for example, the Terry Waltz .

It is important to know that each specialist makes some adjustments to the protocol; there are more strict options, and there are less strict ones.

Foods that need to be completely excluded from the diet:

• Cereals (rye, wheat, all types of rice, oats, corn, barley, sorghum, etc.)

• Products containing gluten.

• Pseudo-cereals (amaranth, chia, quinoa, buckwheat).

• All dairy products (butter, milk, cream, cheeses, sour cream, curd cheeses, milk protein isolate, ghee, ice cream, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, whey, whey protein isolate, whipped cream). Ghee made from butter from grass-fed cows may be an exception.

• Legumes (all types of beans, all types of beans, peanuts, green peas, lentils, soybeans, including tofu, soy isolate, soy lecithin, fermented soybeans, soy sauce, etc.).

• Processed vegetable oils (canola, corn, cottonseed, peanut, soybean, sunflower, safflower).

• Food additives, preservatives and colorings.

• Sugar and sugar substitutes (agave, beet sugar, brown rice syrup, corn syrup, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, brown sugar, cane sugar, glucose, inulin, malto-dextrin, maltose, muscovado, palm sugar, erythrol, mannitol, sorbitol , xylitol, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, stevia, sucralose).

• Nuts and nut butters (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, etc., as well as any oils, butters and nut flours. The exception is coconut (it will in approved products).

• Seeds and oils from them (chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, poppy, as well as any oils, butters and flour from them).

• Nightshades and spices made from them (all types of peppers - sweet, hot, chili, cayenne, eggplant, goji berries, paprika, potatoes, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes. Some types of curry seasoning mixtures contain nightshades).

• Spices from seeds (anise, cumin, celery seeds, coriander, mustard, fennel, dill).

• Eggs (especially whites, yolks may be an exception and are well tolerated).

• Alcohol.

• Coffee.

• Foods with a high glycemic index

Products for which special instructions are available:

• Black or green tea can be drunk if it is well tolerated.

• Fructose – its amount should be limited to 10-30 g/day. (including from fruits)

• Salt – it is better to use Himalayan salt as it is richer in minerals.