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Constipation, Thyroid Disorders: Hashimoto's, Grave's Disease and Weight Gain
On this week's show, I talk about the link between food and mood, plus Hashimoto's Disease, including what it is and how to improve your symptoms.
A Diet High in Chocolate and Fat Increases Risk for Mental Issues
I’ve said many times that food and mood are linked, and here we have a study that shows exactly that. Free sugars and saturated fatty acids are linked to a higher risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety. So, if you’re having problems with your mood, food may be the first place you look for answers.
IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS) is a disorder where people have abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. It is estimated that up to 10% of people suffer from IBS, and it can really negatively impact your life. Many of my clients have told me that they are constantly running to the bathroom and it has negatively affected their work and social/family lives.
The exact cause of IBS isn’t known. We aren’t sure whether depression and anxiety lead people to develop IBS or vice versa, but we know that fixing the gut often leads to fixing the brain, too.
Work With Me
If you’re dealing with chronic GI issues or stubborn weight that won’t budge, it’s time to go deeper and find the root cause of the problem. I provide specialized testing that will give us information to heal your microbiome, discover food intolerances, and get you feeling better faster. If you’re ready to feel good, click the button below to schedule a free 45-minute call with me to talk about which tests are right for you.
Client Case Study - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Client History
I had a client, a 46-year-old woman who was 5’4” and weighed 210 pounds. She was active her entire life and was one of those people who could eat whatever she wanted and not gain a pound. Then, she had a car accident and needed foot surgery. She also had some issues with her back and needed another surgery but she was doing okay and not gaining weight after surgery.
3 years ago, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease, which is an inflammation of the thyroid that leads the thyroid to produce less thyroid hormone. The thyroid helps with cell growth and repair, your rate of metabolism, and your GI transit time.
After my client was diagnosed she started to develop more symptoms of Hashimoto’s, including fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, cold intolerance, anxiety, depression, mood changes, and constipation. Every time she went to the doctor, she was told to just eat less, work out more, keep taking her medications, and stay away from the foods they’d told her were bad for Hashimoto’s. Her doctor also offered to refer her to a therapist.
My client couldn’t figure out what to do and was stuck feeling this way for a while.
What helps with Hashimoto’s Disease?
Medication is typically prescribed for Hashimoto’s which is a doctor’s role to use. Studies have shown that following a nutritious diet can also be very beneficial for Hashimoto’s, and a gluten-free diet combined with an anti-inflammatory diet is especially helpful. This means staying away from:
Gluten-containing foods, including wheat, barley, rye, and oats
Food additives
Processed/Junk food
Fried food
Fast food
Working out can also help with Hashimoto’s. I always talk about the fact that the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be. So, when it comes to exercise, focus on building muscle instead of just sticking to cardio.
My Client’s Plan
After meeting with my client, I suggested she do a micronutrient test so that we could look for any nutrient deficiencies that were worsening her symptoms of fatigue and anxiety. Then I suggested a microbiome test because gut bacteria play a major role in weight loss, anxiety, depression, and GI issues. For Hashimoto’s, I’d look at the B Vitamins, Vitamin D, Zinc, Iodine, Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin A, and Calcium.
I suggested that she go gluten-free, since research backs up a gluten-free diet for Hashimoto’s, and when her tests return I’ll suggest foods to add to her diet to bring up the levels of any nutrients that were found to be low.
