Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies are one of three main types of thyroid autoantibodies, and they are commonly associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.  However, it’s not uncommon for those with Graves’ disease to also have elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (along with elevated TSH receptor antibodies).  In this blog post I’m going discuss anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in detail.

So why do anti-thyroglobulin antibodies develop?  Well, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies develop when there is damage to thyroglobulin, which is a glycoprotein secreted by follicular cells of the thyroid gland.  The most common reason for damage to thyroglobulin is from the autoimmune process of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

According to the triad of autoimmunity, in order for an autoimmune condition to develop you need 1) a genetic predisposition, 2) exposure to an environmental trigger, and 3) a leaky gut.  In the past I wrote a blog post on thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies, and I discussed how there can be genetic variations of the TPO gene, which in turn can affect thyroid hormone production.  As for thyroglobulin, the research suggests that there is a possible correlation between thyroglobulin gene polymorphisms and thyroid autoimmunity (1) (2).  In other words, having variations in the thyroglobulin gene can increase the risk of someone developing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Anti-thyroglobulin Antibodies: Hashimoto’s vs. Graves’ Disease

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies are more closely associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, although they are also common in those with Graves’ disease.  As for their prevalence, it depends on the source, as one source stated that the prevalence of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies was 60-80% in Hashimoto’s and 50-60% in Graves’ disease patients, where another source stated that they were identified in 70-80% of those with Hashimoto’s, and 30-40% of Graves’ disease patients (3).  What’s the significance of having elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies?  Well, besides confirming the presence of an autoimmune response, having elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies usually means that damage is taking place to thyroglobulin.  And since thyroglobulin plays an important role in thyroid hormone production, if sufficient damage to thyroglobulin takes place this can eventually result in hypothyroidism.

Of course we also need to keep in mind that many people with both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease have anti-TPO antibodies, which also can lead to hypothyroidism.  And while having anti-TPO and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies doesn’t guarantee that the person will develop overt hypothyroidism, I think it’s safe to say that if someone has both of these thyroid antibodies there is a greater chance of them developing overt hypothyroidism in the future when compared with someone who only has one of these thyroid autoantibodies.  Many people with Hashimoto’s don’t present with overt hypothyroidism, as while many will have an elevated TSH, their thyroid hormone levels are commonly within the lab reference range, although frequently below the optimal reference range.  Either way, the goal is to do things to improve the health of the person’s immune system so that further damage to the thyroid gland doesn’t take place.

What is The “Normal” Reference Range of Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies?

Although different labs commonly have different reference ranges, as of 2020, the range of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies according to both Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics is <1 IU/mL.  However, other labs use different methodologies which can result in different reference ranges.  For example, if you visit the Labcorp website and do a search for anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, the methodology currently used is called “Immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA)”.  On the lab reports they specifically say that it’s “measured by Beckman Coultor Methodology”.  However, I had a patient get the anti-thyroglobulin antibodies tested at a different lab that used the “Rouche Elecays electrochemiluminesence method”, and the reference range was 0-115 IU/mL.

In addition, on the lab report it stated that “Thyroglobulin antibody results cannot be compared across different methods.”  So even if the units of measurement are the same between labs (i.e. IU/mL), due to different testing equipment, chemical reagents used, and analysis techniques you can’t necessary compare results from different labs, which is one reason why it’s a good idea to try to use the same lab on a regular basis.

As an example, in May of 2019 I had a patient who tested the anti-thyroglobulin antibodies through Vibrant America and had a value of >4,000 IU/mL.  In August of 2019 she retested the anti-thyroglobulin antibodies at Labcorp and had a value of 43.2 IU/mL, and two months later she retested them through Vibrant America and the value was once again >4,000 IU/mL.  Of course ultimately you want the thyroid antibodies to normalize regardless of which lab you use, but I’m just using this example to demonstrate why you can’t always compare the same marker using different labs.

Serum Thyroglobulin vs. Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies

It’s also important to mention that there is a separate test for serum thyroglobulin.  Once again, thyroglobulin is a protein produced by the cells of the thyroid gland, and normally its concentration in blood is low.  But there are a few factors that can increase serum thyroglobulin levels.  First of all, having elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies can cause an elevation in serum thyroglobulin levels.  Second, it can also be elevated in some cases of thyroid cancer, including thyroid adenoma, thyroid papillary and follicular cancer.  So in some cases thyroglobulin is used as a tumor marker.

A third reason why serum thyroglobulin can be elevated is because someone has an iodine deficiency.  This is an overlooked cause of elevated serum thyroglobulin levels, but numerous studies shows that thyroglobulin can be used as a functional biomarker of iodine status (4) (5) (6).  I usually don’t rely on this marker to determine if someone has an iodine deficiency, as I like urinary iodine testing.  But some feel that thyroglobulin is a superior marker because it reflects long-term iodine intake.

Additional Information On Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies

Before talking about how to lower anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, it’s important to mention that most conventional medical doctors, including endocrinologists, don’t pay much attention to thyroid antibodies.  Some don’t test them at all, while many medical doctors will test them initially for diagnostic purposes.  But since most medical doctors don’t do anything to improve the health of the person’s immune system, they won’t typically retest the thyroid antibodies to see if they decrease.

It’s also worth mentioning that there isn’t always a correlation between high anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and the severity of the autoimmune process.  In other words, if someone has anti-thyroglobulin antibodies that are 100 IU/mL, while someone else has anti-thyroglobulin antibodies that are 1,000 IU/mL, this doesn’t mean it will be more challenging to restore the health of the person with the higher thyroid antibodies.  It really does come down to finding triggers and correcting other imbalances.

For example, if someone has very high anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and their triggers are found and removed relatively quickly, it’s likely for the thyroid antibodies to normalize faster than someone who has much lower anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and the triggers aren’t found and addressed.  This should make sense, although as I’ll mention below, sometimes removing the triggers doesn’t stop the inflammatory process associated with the autoimmune component.

How To Lower Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies

I just mentioned how lowering thyroid antibodies comes down to finding and removing triggers, along with correcting other underlying imbalances.  I also mentioned how if someone finds and removes their triggers relatively quickly then their thyroid antibodies can normalize quickly.  That being said, I don’t want to give anyone the impression that restoring the autoimmune component of someone with Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease is a quick and easy process, as this usually isn’t the case.  For example, if someone finds their triggers quickly, it still usually takes time to lower and normalize their thyroid antibodies.  And of course if it takes awhile for someone to find their triggers it will take a longer amount of time to restore their health.

But either way, the first step to lower anti-thyroglobulin antibodies is to find and remove your triggers.  Sometimes this is as easy as changing your diet and eliminating certain food allergens, but many times it’s more complex than this.  Testing is usually required to find the triggers, and at times it can be challenging to know what testing is needed.  I deal with this in my practice on a daily basis, and I’ve discussed this in past articles and blog posts, as I try to be more conservative when it comes to testing because I don’t want the person to spend more money than they have to, but I also don’t want to be too conservative and miss something important.

Don’t Forget To Incorporate The 5-R Protocol

In addition to finding and removing autoimmune triggers, since a leaky gut is part of the triad of autoimmunity, it makes sense to do things to heal the gut.  In the past I have spoken about the 5-R protocol, which involves the following 5 components:

1. Remove the factor that’s causing the leaky gut.

2. Replace (i.e. digestive enzymes, stomach acid, dietary fiber)

3. Reinoculate (with pre- and probiotic foods and supplements)

4. Repair the gut

5. Rebalance through stress management, adequate sleep

It’s also important to mention that while removing the triggers and healing the gut will frequently resolve the inflammatory process, this isn’t always the case.  There is a transcription factor called Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB), and the deregulated activation of NF-kB may contribute to autoimmunity and inflammation (7).  What happens is that NF-kB becomes chronically activated, and sometimes outside help is needed to inactivate it.

Some of the natural agents that have been shown to inhibit NF-kB include turmeric, resveratrol, vitamin D, ginger, and omega-3 fatty acids.  While many people  with autoimmune conditions take one or more of these, remember that you also need to find and remove the triggers (and heal the gut).  While taking some natural anti-inflammatory agents initially can be beneficial, the point here is that in some cases it might be even more important to take them AFTER the triggers have been removed and the gut has been healed.

This is just one of the many complexities of autoimmunity, and admittedly when a patient of mine has followed my recommendations, yet their antibodies haven’t significantly lowered, there are times when I will question whether all of their triggers have been found and removed.  But in some cases the triggers may have been found and removed, but the chronic activation of NF-kB is still present.  The challenge is that there is no way to measure NF-kB outside of a laboratory setting, and so if someone has followed a natural treatment protocol and their autoantibodies are still elevated, the practitioner and patient has to decide whether further testing is the best option, or if the person should instead do things to inhibit NF-kB.

What’s Your Experience With Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies?

If you currently have elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, or have had elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in the past, I’d love to hear if you have done anything to try to decrease them.  Did changing your diet help?  Perhaps there was another trigger you found that was responsible for your elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.  If you have elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies but haven’t had any success lowering them, feel free to share your experience as well.  Thank you!

Can Infections Cause Elevated Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies?

This time last week I wasn’t planning on writing a blog post related to viruses, but with a lot of people concerned about the new type of coronavirus I figured I’d go ahead and put this together.  The truth is that we’re all exposed to viruses, some more virulent than others.  In fact, before the most recent type of coronavirus was discovered, there were 6 other human coronaviruses (HCoVs) identified, and a few of them are associated with the common cold.  So there is a pretty good chance you have been exposed to a type of coronavirus.

That being said, some types of coronaviruses are highly pathogenic, which I’ll discuss in this blog post.  Human coronaviruses affect the respiratory system, and with the new type of coronavirus, there are now seven known human coronaviruses that have been identified:

• HCoV-229E
• HCoV-NL63
• HCoV-OC43
• HCoV-HKU1
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)
• Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
• 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

The first four coronaviruses listed above circulate in the human population, and are responsible for approximately one-third of the common cold (1).  However, in severe cases these viruses can cause life-threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis (2).  This is especially true in the elderly, children, and those with a weakened immune system.  Although these four coronaviruses are most commonly linked to respiratory illnesses, they also have been linked to enteric and neurological diseases (2).

SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are more virulent coronaviruses, and they share some similarities with the most recently identified coronavirus.  SARS-CoV first emerged in 2002–2003 in Guangdong, China, and resulted in a type of pneumonia marked by a fever, headache, and eventually the onset of respiratory symptoms such as cough and pneumonia, which later develop into life-threatening respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (3).  Similar to the most recent type of coronavirus identified, SARS-CoV was highly transmissible among humans, and as a result it quickly spread across 29 countries, infecting more than 8,000 individuals with a mortality rate of about 10% (4).

The MERS-CoV epidemic was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012.  It had similar clinical symptoms as SARS-CoV but with a much higher mortality rate of about 35% (5).  However, even though it had a higher mortality rate than SARS-CoV, it has been geographically limited to the Middle East.

What Do We Know About The Most Recently Identified Coronavirus?

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first detected in Wuhan, China.  Just as is the case with the other coronaviruses, it seems like it was initially spread from an animal to a human, but because it is spreading so quickly, and since not everyone infected has had exposure to animal markets, it seems as if it is highly transmissible among humans.  This shouldn’t be surprising when you consider that the other coronaviruses can also be transmitted from person to person.

As of 2/5/2020, at least 562 people have died in China, with 27,378 people being infected globally.  The United States has 12 confirmed cases of the virus, and many other countries have people who are infected.  The most common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.  Symptoms seem to occur anywhere between 2 and 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Can Coronavirus Affect Thyroid Health?

Since 2019-nCoV was recently identified it is unknown whether or not it affects thyroid health. But it’s worth mentioning that while SARS-CoV primarily affects the respiratory system, the research shows that a substantial number of patients with SARS developed abnormalities in thyroid function (6) (7).  However, there hasn’t been much research in this area, as a small study involving five SARS autopsies demonstrated the pathology of the thyroid gland.

The next question you may have is whether coronavirus can trigger thyroid autoimmunity.  I haven’t seen any evidence of any of the coronaviruses triggering Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s.  However, Th17 cells are associated with autoimmunity, and a 2018 study showed that MERS-CoV infection in humans is associated with an increase in Th1 and Th17 cytokines (8).  But once again, I couldn’t find any research that showed any direct relationship between any coronaviruses and thyroid autoimmunity, let alone other autoimmune conditions.

What Treatment Options Are Available?

In the conventional medical world there is no treatment available for coronaviruses, including the new type, which is why many people are panicking.  Don’t get me wrong, as I’m not suggesting that there is no reason to be concerned, but there is more than you can do than to just wash your hands frequently and minimize contact with others.

1. Improve your immune system health through diet and lifestyle factors.  Eat mostly whole foods, organic whenever possible.  Try your best to reduce stress in your life, and even if this isn’t possible you can still work on improving your stress handling skills.  Make sure you get sufficient sleep, as this is also necessary for optimal immune system health.

2. Enhance your immune system health by improving your gut microbiome.  In order to have a healthy immune system you need to have a healthy gut.  And so you want to do things to increase the health of your gut microbiome.  Not only is eating well important, but probiotic foods and supplements can help, as can prebiotics.  And of course try to avoid gut disrupting medications and other environmental chemicals, including antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and glyphosate.

3. Take colloidal silver.  Silver has antiviral properties, and while I couldn’t find any studies which showed that silver is effective against human coronavirus, I did come across a study that showed that it was effective against feline coronavirus (9).

4. Take resveratrol.  Resveratrol also has anti-viral properties, and one in vitro study showed that resveratrol effectively inhibited MERS-CoV (10).

5. Licorice root.  Glycyrrhizin, which is the active component of licorice root, has been shown to interfere with SARS-CoV replication (11).  However, the study showed that higher concentrations were needed, and it’s important to mention that glycyrrhizin can increase blood pressure, and so anyone with a history of hypertension will probably want to avoid taking licorice root.

6. Black elderberry.  Elderberry is commonly taken to help support the immune system for those who have the common cold, and so it shouldn’t be surprising that there is evidence that it might help with the replication of coronavirus (12).

What Happened With SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV?

Since these both are more similar to the recently identified coronavirus (especially SARS-CoV), you might be wondering what happened to these two viruses.  Well, I mentioned earlier that MERS-CoV has been contained in the Middle East.  As for SARS-CoV, this virus spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before it was contained (13).  And according to the CDC, since 2004 there hasn’t been any known cases of SARS reported in the world.

Do You Want To Learn More About Infections?

Since being diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2018 I’ve been more fascinated with all different types of infections, and I’ve decided to put together an “Overcoming Infections Masterclass” for those with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  If you want to be notified immediately when it’s released you can sign up for my “Overcoming Infections” VIP waitlist by clicking here.

Although many of my patients with hyperthyroidism take methimazole, or a different type of antithyroid medication (i.e. PTU, carbimazole), when I was dealing with Graves’ disease I chose not to take medication.  The truth is that in some cases it is a wise choice to take antithyroid medication, and the goal of this blog post is to discuss this.  I will discuss the benefits and risks of taking antithyroid medication, as well as the benefits and risks of natural antithyroid agents.  So the goal of this blog post isn’t to convince those with hyperthyroidism to take the same approach I did and avoid antithyroid medication.  In fact, while it’s great when people can manage their symptoms naturally, one reason why I decided to write this is because there are some people who probably should take the medication, but refuse to do so, and as a result are putting their health at risk.

If you’re interested in learning about the different types of antithyroid medications I’d recommend checking out an article I wrote in 2017 entitled “Comparing The Different Types of Antithyroid Medications”.  In the United States methimazole is usually prescribed by most endocrinologists.  If someone is unable to tolerate methimazole then Propylthiouracil (PTU) might be prescribed, although some people react to both types of antithyroid medication.  Another scenario when PTU is usually given is during the first trimester of pregnancy.

What Are The Benefits of Taking Antithyroid Medication?

So let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the benefits of antithyroid medication:

• Antithyroid medication is usually effective in helping to manage the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.  In most people with hyperthyroidism, antithyroid medication does a good job of lowering thyroid hormone levels, which in turn will help with the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including an elevated heart rate, palpitations, tremors, weight loss, loose stools, etc.
• Taking antithyroid medication can prevent many people from receiving radioactive iodine or thyroid surgery.  As you know, most endocrinologists recommend either antithyroid medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery to their patients with Graves’ disease and toxic multinodular goiter.  While all three of these options aren’t ideal, antithyroid medication is the least invasive of these, and many people have preserved the health of their thyroid gland by temporarily taking antithyroid medication.  So while it’s not offering a permanent solution in most cases, at the very least it can buy you time while trying to address the cause of the problem.
• Some people who take antithyroid medication will go into remission.  I just mentioned how antithyroid medication doesn’t offer a permanent solution, yet there are some people who take it and go into remission.  The problem is that many of these people who go into remission eventually relapse, and when this happens the endocrinologist is even more likely to pressure the person to receive radioactive iodine or surgery.  I realize that many people don’t know about natural treatment methods pertaining to hyperthyroidism, and so they’re just following the advice of their doctor and not trying to address the cause of the problem while taking the medication.  Of course most people reading this know that they should also be doing things to improve their health, and not just do things to manage their symptoms.

What Are The Risks of Taking Antithyroid Medication?

Now that you know some of the benefits of taking antithyroid medication, let’s take a look at some of the risks:

• Antithyroid medication frequently causes side effects. This is one of the primary problems with antithyroid medication, as while over the years I’ve had many patients take it without experiencing symptoms, I also have had a lot of patients who did experience one or more symptoms.  Some of the more common symptoms associated with methimazole/Tapazole include stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, skin rash/itching, headaches, dizziness, muscle/joint/nerve pain, swelling, and hair loss (1).  The symptoms are similar with other types of antithyroid drugs, including PTU (2).
• Antithyroid medication can cause an elevation of liver enzymes.  Both methimazole and PTU commonly cause an elevation of liver enzymes, which is an indication of damage taking place to the liver (3).  The three main enzymes commonly affected include alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). For more information on these enzymes you can check out my article entitled “How To decrease Elevated Liver Enzymes in Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease“.
• Antithyroid medication doesn’t address the autoimmune component of Graves’ disease.  While some people with Graves’ disease do seem to get into remission while on antithyroid medication, it’s not because antithyroid medication removes the autoimmune triggers and corrects the underlying imbalances.  In addition to lowering thyroid hormone levels, methimazole does have some immunosuppressive effects (4), and as a result, some people who take it might experience a lowering of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins, which are the antibodies associated with Graves’ disease.  The problem is that because it’s not addressing the cause of the autoimmunity, over time the person is likely to experience an elevation of these antibodies again, along with hyperthyroidism.
• Antithyroid medication doesn’t address the underlying cause of other types of hyperthyroidism.  If someone has a non-autoimmune hyperthyroid condition such as toxic multinodular goiter, taking antithyroid medication on a temporary basis may help to manage the symptoms, but just as is the case with Graves’ disease, it of course isn’t doing anything to address the underlying cause of the condition.

What Are The Benefits of Taking Natural Antithyroid Agents?

What I’d like to do is take a look at some of the benefits of natural antithyroid agents.  Bugleweed is the most popular antithyroid agent, and this herb is the most effective in lowering thyroid hormone levels.  L-carnitine also has antithyroid properties when taken in higher doses (i.e. 2 to 4 grams).  Lithium also has antithyroid properties.

• Natural antithyroid agents can help to manage the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.  When natural antithyroid agents effectively lower thyroid hormone levels it’s wonderful, as I know that when I took bugleweed it felt good to avoid taking medication while I was addressing the cause of the problem.
• Natural antithyroid agents don’t cause the same side effects as antithyroid medication.  This perhaps is the most important benefit of taking natural antithyroid agents, as side effects aren’t nearly as common as they are with antithyroid drugs.  This doesn’t mean that people never experience side effects, as it’s possible to react to any herb, and bugleweed is no exception.  And there are some people who experience side effects with other natural antithyroid agents (i.e. lithium).  But it’s still a lot less frequent when compared to antithyroid medication.
• Natural antithyroid agents usually don’t cause elevated liver enzymes.  This is yet another important benefit of taking natural antithyroid agents, as rarely does someone need to stop taking them due to the stress they’re putting on the liver.
• Mentally it feels good to avoid antithyroid medication.  As I mentioned earlier, when I took bugleweed for my Graves’ disease condition it felt good to avoid taking medication.  This isn’t meant to make those who are currently taking medication to feel bad or discouraged, as everything comes down to risks vs. benefits, and if someone has to take methimazole but at the same time they’re able to address the root cause of their condition then they should still feel pretty good about themselves.

What Are The Risks of Taking Natural Antithyroid Agents?

So let’s take a look at the risks of taking natural antithyroid agents:

• Natural antithyroid agents aren’t as effective as antithyroid medication.  There is no question that antithyroid medication is more effective in lowering thyroid hormone levels when compared to natural antithyroid agents.  For example, bugleweed is probably the most effective natural antithyroid agent for hyperthyroidism, and I see it work approximately 70-75% of the time.  But of course this means that 25-30% of the time it isn’t effective in lowering thyroid hormone levels.  Antithyroid medication such as methimazole is more likely to work, but as you know, it’s also more likely to cause side effects.
• Natural antithyroid agents don’t address the autoimmune component of Graves’ disease.  While it’s great to use natural antithyroid agents to lower thyroid hormone levels, just remember that it’s not doing anything to improve the health of the immune system for those who have Graves’ disease.  So you still need to find and remove the autoimmune triggers, as well as correct other underlying imbalances.
• Natural antithyroid agents don’t address the underlying cause of other types of hyperthyroidism.  Just as is the case with Graves’ disease, taking natural antithyroid agents don’t address the underlying cause of other hyperthyroid conditions, such as toxic multinodular goiter.

Choosing Between Medication and Natural Antithyroid Agents

So should you take antithyroid medication, or should you choose to manage your symptoms naturally?  Sometimes it can be a challenge to decide whether you should take antithyroid medication such as methimazole, or an antithyroid herb such as bugleweed.  As you know, when I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease I decided to take bugleweed, and if it didn’t help to manage my symptoms I would have considered taking methimazole.  Similarly, if one of my patients consults with me and initially they’re not taking anything to manage their symptoms, taking bugleweed is an option to consider.  Of course there is a risk they will take it and it won’t help, which means they might go a few additional weeks with an elevated heart rate.  But there is also a chance they can take methimazole and experience negative symptoms and/or an elevated heart rate.

It’s also important to mention that some people feel more comfortable taking antithyroid medication, and that’s perfectly fine.  If someone is taking methimazole and is doing well with it and it’s not causing elevated liver enzymes or a low WBC count then there’s nothing wrong with them continuing to take it.  Sometimes a patient of mine is taking methimazole when first consulting with me, and they’re doing fine with it, but they prefer to take bugleweed.  When this is the case I can’t tell the person to stop taking the antithyroid medication, but what some people do is to take both the methimazole and bugleweed at the same time, and the goal of doing this is to try to wean off of the methimazole sooner (under the guidance of their medical doctor).

The Risks of Uncontrolled Hyperthyroidism

While I can understand someone wanting to do everything they can to avoid taking medication, you also need to consider the risks of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. So if you happen to be dealing with hyperthyroidism and aren’t doing anything to lower the thyroid hormone levels, while you certainly can try taking a natural approach with an herb such as bugleweed, if this doesn’t work (and assuming the dosage was high enough), then you should consider taking the medication.

It’s also worth mentioning that some people refuse to take antithyroid medication but are fine with taking a beta blocker. This of course can help to lower the heart rate, which is very important, and some beta blockers also can affect the conversion of T4 to T3, which is also a good thing in someone who has hyperthyroidism. However, just keep in mind that elevated thyroid hormone levels also have a negative effect on bone density, and so if you’re taking a beta blocker and still have high thyroid hormone levels, you still should consider taking something with antithyroid properties. Once again, natural antithyroid agents are an option to consider, but if they aren’t effective, then you should consider taking the medication.

Whether you take methimazole, bugleweed, or something else, eventually the goal is to be off of all antithyroid agents.  I personally took bugleweed for approximately 9 months, and I haven’t been on it since 2009.  The duration of taking bugleweed of course depends on the person.  While I took it for 9 months, others need to take it for a shorter period of time, and there are some people who take it for a longer period of time.

What Have You Done To Manage Your Hyperthyroid Symptoms?

For those with hyperthyroidism, including Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and other types of hyperthyroidism, I’d like to know what you have done to manage your hyperthyroidism symptoms.  Did you take antithyroid medication such as methimazole, PTU, or carbimazole?  Or did you take natural antithyroid agents such as bugleweed, L-carnitine, lithium, etc.?  Perhaps you didn’t take anything with antithyroid properties, but took something else such as a beta blocker or motherwort.  Either way I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments section below.  Thank you!

2020 is here, and many people are already doing things to improve their health.  Most of this is centered around diet and exercise, as many are striving to eat a healthy diet, and of course the fitness clubs are usually packed in January and February.  While eating well and exercising regularly are both important, it’s also a good idea to focus on reducing your toxic load.  The truth is that eating certain foods can support detoxification, and even exercise can play a role, but there are other things you can and should do, which I’ll discuss in this blog post.

How do environmental toxins relate to thyroid health?  There are a few different ways.  First of all, healthy thyroid hormone levels are important for detoxification.  In addition, and as I’ll mention later in this post, phase 2 detoxification is important in order to detoxify thyroid hormone from the body, along with other hormones.  In addition, most of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place in the liver, and if the liver isn’t working efficiently due to an increased toxic load then this conversion can be negatively affected.  And finally, certain environmental toxins (i.e. mercury) can be a trigger for the autoimmune thyroid conditions Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s.

When it comes to reducing your toxic load, there are 3 things you need to focus on:

1. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins

2. Increase your elimination of environmental toxins

3. Support phase 1 and 2 detoxification

There is overlap between #2 and #3, and I must admit that supporting phase 1 and 2 detoxification can be complex, and my goal is to try to keep the information in this blog post easy to understand.  And so while I’ll talk about some of the basics of phase 1 and 2 detoxification, if you want to learn more about these in greater detail please check out part 1 and part 2 of my blog posts on “How To Optimize Detoxification”.  So let’s start off by discussing what you can do to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.

How To Reduce Your Exposure To Environmental Toxins

It makes sense that in order to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins, you need to be aware of the different types of chemicals you’re exposed to on a frequent basis.  To make it simple, there is indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution.  You of course have much more control over the environmental toxins you’re exposed to indoors, especially those inside your home, and so this will be your main focus, although I’ll also discuss some ways to minimize your exposure to outdoor air pollution (besides staying indoors!).

Different Sources of Indoor air Pollution:

• The food you eat.  Pesticides and herbicides are found in larger amounts in non-organic fruits and vegetables, hormones and antibiotics are commonly fed to livestock, eating too much fish can be toxic (especially larger fish such as tuna, king mackerel, and swordfish), and of course more and more foods are being genetically modified.  Glyphosate is another big problem, as this is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, and many processed/refined foods have glyphosate.
• The water you drink.  Try your best to avoid drinking tap water, as well as water out of plastic bottles.  Also, remember that just because something is BPA-free doesn’t mean that it’s free of xenoestrogens.  So if you regularly drink water out of BPA-free plastic bottles you should still switch to glass or stainless steel.
• The indoor air you breathe.  Of course there are a lot of different factors that can affect the air quality, some of which I’ll be discussing below.
• The cleaners and cosmetics you use.  These are yet another common source of chemical exposure, as there are plenty of chemicals included in cleaners, soaps, shampoos, shaving cream, toothpaste, etc.  The good news is that there are natural options for just about all of the cleaners and cosmetics you use.
• Carpeting.  Carpets contain numerous environmental chemicals, including VOCs and formaldehyde.  Even in low concentrations these chemicals can have a negative impact on your health.
• Mold.  Genetics plays a role as to how people will react to mold, as some people have difficulty eliminating mycotoxins produced by mold, which in turn can cause numerous symptoms.
• Dry cleaning.  Tetrachloroethylene is one of the common chemicals used in the dry cleaning industry.  According to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, “Exposure to very high concentrations of tetrachloroethylene can cause dizziness headaches, sleepiness, incoordination, confusion, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death”(1).
• New furniture.  Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) also known as flame retardants, are commonly found in furniture such as couches and mattresses.  Studies show that flame retardants can cause hormone disruption, thyroid cancer, and neurological toxicity (2) (3) (4).

How To Reduce Your Exposure To Indoor Air Pollution

The obvious way to reduce your exposure to indoor air pollution is to address the sources listed above.  Eat organic food, drink purified water and/or a good quality spring water out of a glass bottle (i.e. Mountain Valley Springs), use natural cleaners and cosmetics, etc.  If you have carpeting then consider replacing it, although I realize this isn’t always an option.  If you bring home dry cleaning don’t immediately put it in your closet, as ideally you want to let it air out first.  You might also want to consider using an organic dry cleaners.  If mold is an issue then remediation might be necessary, or in some cases moving might be the best option.  If you have new furniture you probably won’t rush to replace it, but if you’re thinking about purchasing new furniture in the future then consider purchasing more natural furniture.  For example, if you’re looking for a new mattress, there are natural and organic mattresses to choose from.

If there is a lot of indoor air pollution that you can’t address, then look into getting an air purification system.  An example would be if you happen to be renting, and therefore replacing the carpeting isn’t an option.  Blueair and IQAir are examples of good quality HEPA air purification systems.  Also look into getting one or more house plants, as the research shows that they can remove indoor air pollutants (5). If mold is an issue then getting an air purification system and/or house plants isn’t going to help much, but these can be good options for other sources of indoor air pollution.  One more thing I should mention is to not wear your shoes inside your home, as this can make a big difference.  In fact, one study showed that when shoes were worn inside the homes, heptane, acetic acid, nonane and styrene concentrations were statistically higher than that when shoes were out of the homes (6).

Now let’s take a look at some of the different sources of outdoor air pollution:

Different Sources of Outdoor air Pollution:

• Transportation: cars, buses, trucks
• Fuel consumption in stationary sources
• Industrial processes
• Solid waste disposal
• Chemical dumps
• Aerial spraying of farms
• Forest fires

How To Reduce Your Exposure To Outdoor Air Pollution

While you obviously won’t be able to completely eliminate your exposure to these outdoor air pollutants, there are a few things you can do to reduce your exposure to them.  First of all, for those who walk, jog, or ride a bike on a busy road, consider doing this in a park or a greenway so that you aren’t constantly inhaling the fumes from the cars and trucks while exercising.  I realize this might be an inconvenience, but it’s your health we’re talking about.  Another thing you can consider doing in the future is to move to a different location.  For example, if your home is located near a busy road or highway, you need to consider the negative impact this will have on your health over the years.  Even if you spend most of your time indoors you’ll still be exposed to the fumes from the cars and trucks passing by, and if you have a porch or backyard and spend time there the chemicals will have an even greater impact on your health.

Landfills are another source of outdoor air pollution.  Landfills generate different kinds of toxic chemicals which include carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, xylene, dioxin, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (7). And research shows that people living closer to landfills experience more medical conditions when compared to those living far away from landfill sites (8) (9).  So this is yet another example of how the location of your home can contribute to your increased toxic load.

Let’s Not Forget About Heavy Metals

In order to reduce your toxic load you also want to reduce your exposure to heavy metals, including mercury, aluminum, lead, arsenic, and cadmium.  Many people still have mercury amalgams, and thus should consider working with a biological dentist (you can visit the website IAOMT.org to find one), as they will take the proper precautions to remove them.  Fish and vaccines are other common sources of mercury.  Aluminum is another toxic metal that is commonly high, and many people are exposed to aluminum through cooking with aluminum pots and pans, consuming food and beverages from aluminum cans, cooking with aluminum foil on a frequent basis, and using deodorants that have aluminum.  Some sources of lead exposure include cigarette smoke, tattoos, lead-based paints, and ceramic glazes.  Arsenic exposure is also common, as it’s found in foods such as chicken (due to the feed) and brown rice, in the drinking water, and it’s also found in pesticides and herbicides.

How To Increase Your Elimination Of Environmental Toxins

While you want to do everything you can to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins, the truth is that you still will be exposed to chemicals inside and outside of your home.  So you also want to do things to increase your body’s elimination of environmental toxins, and here are four things you can do to help with this:

1. Support glutathione production through food and supplementation.  I’ll briefly mention glutathione when discussing phase 2 detoxification, as one of the pathways involves “glutathione conjugation”.

2. Stay well hydrated.  Drinking plenty of water can help with the excretion of toxins.

3. Incorporate infrared sauna therapy.  Although sweating in general or during exercise can help with the elimination of toxins, sauna therapy seems to be more effective.  Steam saunas and dry-heat saunas can also aid in the elimination of toxins, but apparently infrared saunas utilize a unique heating element that makes it more effective.  More healthcare practitioners recommend far-infrared sauna therapy to their patients, although there are some practitioners who claim that near-infrared has the greatest tissue penetration.  I personally have used a far-infrared unit for over four years and have been happy with it.

 4. Consider doing coffee enemas.  Unlike everything I’ve discussed so far to help with the elimination of environmental toxins from the body, I can’t say that I personally do coffee enemas.  And while some practitioners don’t advocate coffee enemas due to the lack of published research, this doesn’t mean that they can’t be of benefit.  For example, Gerson therapy is a well known natural treatment regimen for cancer, and they aggressively use coffee enemas to help restore the health of people.  It’s important to understand that coffee enemas are not primarily used to empty the bowels, as they supposedly help support liver detoxification by increasing glutathione production.

I’m sure some people reading this are wondering if colon hydrotherapy can effectively remove toxins, and the answer is “yes”.  However, just as is the case with coffee enemas, there is controversy over the use of colon hydrotherapy.  The late Dr. Walter Crinnion was an expert on detoxification, and he is the author of the book “Clean, Green, and Lean”.  He was also my instructor for a detoxification and biotransformation class I took while going through my masters in nutrition degree, and he told us that if there was only one method he can use to remove toxins it would be colon hydrotherapy.  However, some are concerned about whether colon hydrotherapy has a negative effect on the gut microbiome.

Should Binding and/or Chelating Agents Be Used?

While it’s important to support phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification, sometimes it can be beneficial to use certain binding and/or chelating agents. This especially can be beneficial for heavy metals. For example, if someone is trying to detoxify mercury (i.e. after getting their mercury amalgams removed), they might choose to eat cilantro and/or chlorella to bind to the mercury, and perhaps take NAC or alpha lipoic acid. There are also prescription chelating agents such as dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and dimercaptopropane 1-sulfonate (DMPS). Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is another prescription chelator that is more commonly used for lead and cadmium. These prescription chelating agents can be taken orally or administered intravenously.

Getting back to some of the natural agents, silica can help bind to aluminum. Modified Citrus Pectin can help with the excretion of cadmium and lead. Zeolite and bentonite clay can not only bind to heavy metals, but to mycotoxins as well. The same is true with activated charcoal.

I need to let you know that there are risks of taking some of these agents…especially prescription chelating agents. One concern is redistribution of the heavy metals in different areas of the body. For example, one case report involving a person who received intravenous EDTA showed that they exhibited increased tissue lead burden after treatment (10). This is why it’s important to have healthy glutathione levels when doing any type of chelation therapy.

Another concern is the loss of minerals. For example, one study showed that EDTA chelation not only causes the excretion of lead and cadmium, but zinc and calcium as well (11). While taking a multimineral supplement is a good idea when using such chelating agents, this is yet another reason why it’s wise to work with a healthcare practitioner.

Support Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification

Phase one detoxification involves the liver transforming fat soluble compounds into reactive intermediates, and in phase two these reactive intermediates are turned into water soluble molecules that are excreted in the bile and feces.  Cytochrome P450 enzymes play an important role in the biotransformation process, and while genetics can affect these enzymes, certain nutrients, herbs, and drugs can speed up or slow down these enzymes.  I discuss the specific nutrients in the blog posts I wrote on ” How To Optimize Detoxification”.  Having healthy levels of antioxidants is important for phase one detoxification, and of course you want to do as much as you can through diet (i.e. fruits, vegetables, green tea, etc.), but sometimes supplementation is necessary.  In the ” How To Optimize Detoxification” blog posts I also talk about downregulating the phase one enzymes through nutrients and herbs such as resveratrol, polyphenols, pomegranate, and garlic.

As for phase two detoxification, there are six different pathways:

1. Glucuronidation.  This pathway actually plays a role in the detoxification of thyroid hormone, along with other hormones.  Triiodothyronine (T3) influences some of the enzymes involved in this pathway.  In addition to thyroid hormone being important for glucuronidation, some of the nutrients and herbs that support this pathway include omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, quercitin, curcumin, milk thistle, and hawthorn.

2. Sulfation.  Vitamin B6 and molybdenum are important cofactors, and a deficiency in either one of these can lead to food or chemical sensitivities.

3. Methylation. I’ve written a separate article on this topic entitled “Methylation, MTHFR, and Thyroid Health“.  But I’ll say here that three important nutrients that support methylation include folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.

4. Glutathione Conjugation.  I already discussed how to increase glutathione levels above.

5. Amino Acid Conjugation.  This pathway requires amino acids such as glycine, taurine, and glutamine.

6. Acetylation.  Nutrients which support this pathway include vitamin C, B1, B2, B5, magnesium, and lipoic acid.

Once again, if you want to learn more about phase one and phase two detoxification I’d check out the following blog posts:

How To Optimize Detoxification Part 1

How To Optimize Detoxification Part 2

What About Electronic Pollution?

Electronic pollution, including electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is without question a concern, and this deserves its own blog post.  Over the last couple of years I’ve learned a great deal about electronic pollution, and so while I have written about this on a very basic level in the past, I definitely feel the need to come out with an updated blog post on this, especially with the advent of 5G.

What Have You Done To Reduce Your Toxic Load?

I’m sure many people reading this have done things to reduce their toxic load, and so please feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.  What have you done to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins?  What have you done to increase your body’s elimination of environmental toxins?  Whether your experience was positive or negative I’d love to hear from you.

Some people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions experience joint and/or muscle pain, and the goal of this blog post is to discuss some of the most common causes, along with natural treatment suggestions.  I should mention that of the “7 causes” listed below, some of them can cause both joint and muscle pain, while others are more likely to cause either muscle or joint pain.  For example, certain infections can cause muscle and/or joint pain, whereas nutrient deficiencies are more likely to affect the muscles, but usually don’t result in joint pain.  In any case, whether you have joint pain, muscle pain, or both of these I do think it’s a good idea to read this entire blog post.

So let’s take a look at 7 common causes of joint and muscle pain:

1. Thyroid Hormone Imbalances.  Although I can’t say that most of my patients with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s experience joint and/or muscle pain, some people do.  And while low thyroid hormone isn’t always the primary cause of joint and/or muscle pain, it’s a factor that shouldn’t be ignored.  There is a condition called “hypothyroid myopathy”, but keep in mind that this is much more common in those people with “overt” hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone levels below the lab reference range).  Many people with Hashimoto’s have thyroid hormone levels that are less than optimal, but not low enough to result in muscle pain and weakness.

It’s also important to mention that people with hyperthyroidism are more likely to develop adhesive capsulitis, also known as “frozen shoulder” (1).  I actually wrote a separate blog post on this entitled “Is Hyperthyroidism Causing Your Frozen Shoulder?”  Another thing I should mention is that for those with hyperthyroidism who are taking antithyroid medication such as Methimazole, sometimes this can result in joint pain (2).

2. Arthritis.  This of course is a very common cause of joint pain.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, and as I’ve mentioned numerous times in the past, someone with Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is more likely to develop other autoimmune conditions.  One study showed that there is an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction among those with rheumatoid arthritis (3).  Another study looked at the prevalence and risk of other autoimmune conditions in those with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s, and found that rheumatoid arthritis was the most common coexisting autoimmune disorder (4).  It’s worth mentioning that infections can potentially cause rheumatoid arthritis, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Proteus mirabilis, and Epstein–Barr virus (5).

The Relationship Between Arthritis and the Gut Microbiome

It’s also important to mention that a few studies show a correlation between a disrupted gut microbiome and both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis (6) (7) (8).  So while many people associate arthritis with “old age”, having a healthy gut microbiome can be one of the main factors preventing you from developing both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

There is also some research that shows a possible connection between environmental toxins and arthritis.  One study showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in serum samples of those with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy control individuals differed significantly, as it showed that heavy metals may contribute towards the development of rheumatoid arthritis (9).  Another study found a significant positive, linear association between the persistent environmental contaminant Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and reported diagnosis of osteoarthritis (10).  Yet another study showed an association between exposure to some pesticides (including glyphosate) and rheumatoid arthritis in male farmers (11).

3. Infections.  This is an overlooked cause of both muscle and joint pain.  Lyme disease is notorious for causing migrating muscle and joint pain, but other infections associated with bacteria can also cause joint pain, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12).  Viruses can also cause joint pain, including parvovirus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and Epstein-Barr (13).  The research shows that some people with “viral arthritis” will have positive rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies, but mentions that viral arthritis is milder than osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (13).  There is also some evidence that certain parasites can cause reactive arthritis, including Blastocystis hominis (14) (15).

Earlier I mentioned that having a disrupted gut microbiome can be a factor in the development of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  Well, a healthy gut is also necessary for a healthy immune system, which is necessary to keep infections in check.  This is one reason why you want to do everything you can to improve the health of your gut.

4. Trauma.  Of course trauma can cause muscle and/or joint pain, and while the connection is usually made between muscle and/or joint pain and major traumas (i.e. a car accident), sometimes minor traumas are overlooked as potential causes.

5. Nutrient Deficiencies/Exposure to food allergens.  Eating a healthy diet will reduce the chances of developing muscle and/or joint pain for multiple reasons.  First of all, certain nutrient deficiencies can make it more likely that you will experience muscle pain.  While muscle cramping is common with a magnesium deficiency, a severe deficiency in this mineral can sometimes lead to persistent and severe pain (16). Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies can cause abnormal muscular function, including pain and weakness (17).  Although a potassium deficiency can cause muscle cramps, while doing research for this blog post I came across a case study which showed that a patient developed painful muscle cramps due to overeating mangos, and the author suspected this might be due to an excess of potassium (18).  Of course it’s also possible that the person had a food allergy or sensitivity to mangos, which in turn resulted in muscle cramps.

I’ve had some patients whose joint and muscle pain resolved upon eliminating gluten and/or dairy from their diet.  And so if you have muscle and/or joint pain and nothing you’ve tried has worked to eliminate the pain, in addition to considering the other factors I discussed in this blog post, make sure that you follow an anti-inflammatory diet for at least 30 days to see if this helps.

6. Overtraining.  There are many negative consequences of overtraining, and muscle and joint pain is one of these.  While it’s not unusual to be sore a day or two after an intense workout, it’s not normal to have pain persist for a week or longer.  As I discussed in past blog posts, overtraining also puts a lot of stress on your adrenals and immune system.  So while I definitely encourage people to exercise, make sure you don’t overdo it.

8. Poor posture/sleep habits.  Since I’m a chiropractor I felt the need to mention this, as having poor posture and/or sleep habits can lead to muscle pain.  I actually experienced this recently, as this past summer I went on an 11-day road trip with my older daughter and I forgot to bring my own pillow.  The pillows I used during this trip were horrible, and by the time we arrived home my neck was in a great deal of pain.  I’m sure it didn’t help that we went on a lot of roller coasters on our trip, but I think the pillows were a greater culprit, and this is the case with a lot of people.  Similarly, some people have low back pain due to the mattress they’re sleeping on.

Unfortunately many people sit all day…even those who work from home, and this can put a lot of stress on your neck and back.  But what can you do if you have to spend a lot of time on your computer?  I’ll discuss some tips below.

Is There A Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and Thyroid Health?

I didn’t list fibromyalgia as one of the causes of muscle pain in those with thyroid conditions, but without question some people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions also have fibromyalgia…most commonly those with Hashimoto’s.  In fact, a 2017 journal article mentioned that the prevalence of fibromyalgia is approximately 2-7% in the general global population and is 30-40% in those who have Hashimoto thyroiditis (19)!  This topic deserves its own blog post, and perhaps I’ll expand on this in the future, but I did want to briefly mention it here since fibromyalgia is so common.

Natural Treatment Solutions For Joint and Muscle Pain        

Correct any thyroid hormone imbalances.  If low thyroid hormone levels are causing muscle and/or joint pain, many times correcting this imbalance will eliminate the person’s pain.  However, the same can’t be said for most people with hyperthyroidism who have a frozen shoulder.  In other words, lowering the thyroid hormone levels many times won’t resolve the person’s shoulder pain and lack of mobility.  Once again, for more information I would read the blog post I wrote on this.

Address arthritis.  So how do you address conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis?  Well, in severe cases the damage caused from arthritis might not be able to be completely reversed, but this doesn’t mean that nothing can be done for the autoimmune component. Just as is the case with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s, the goal is to do everything you can to improve the health of the immune system.  If you have any type of immune system condition you want to eat a healthy diet and do other things to improve your gut microbiome health, address any infections, reduce your exposure to environmental toxins, etc.

Eradicate infections.  The truth is that not all infections can be completely eradicated.  For example, Epstein-Barr can’t be eliminated from your body, but you can do things to get it back into a dormant state.  It’s a similar situation with chronic Lyme disease.  For more information on Epstein-Barr and Lyme disease I would check out some of the blog posts on my website.

Correct nutrient deficiencies.  While eating a healthy diet is important for maintaining healthy nutrient levels, doing this alone usually isn’t sufficient to correct nutrient deficiencies.  Supplementation is almost always required.  In addition, it’s important to correct the cause of the nutrient deficiencies.  Poor absorption due to numerous factors can result in nutrient deficiencies.  Certain medications, including birth control, can result in nutrient deficiencies.

Minimize exposure to common food allergens.  Eating any type of inflammatory food can potentially cause muscle and/or joint pain.  And even if gluten, dairy, or another food allergen isn’t responsible for your muscle or joint pain, these allergens can negatively affect your health in other ways (i.e. can cause gut inflammation).  And if this is the case it will be very challenging to achieve an optimal state of health.  So if you haven’t done so already you might as well clean up your diet and take a break from the common food allergens.

Reduce your toxic load.  I mentioned how antithyroid medication can sometimes cause joint pain, and I also discussed the relationship between certain environmental chemicals and arthritis.  As a result, you want to do everything you can to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.  Also, if you began experiencing muscle or joint pain shortly after starting a medication, it’s possible that this is responsible for the pain.  This might seem obvious, but sometimes the person doesn’t make the connection, especially if they don’t experience muscle and/or joint pain until a few days or weeks after starting the medication.

Don’t overtrain.  While regular exercise is important, please don’t overdo it.  If you’re not sure if you’re overtraining then it probably is best to work with a certified personal trainer, even if it’s just for a single session.

Improve your posture and sleep habits.  If your job involves sitting for prolonged periods of time there are a few things you can do.  First of all, try to take frequent breaks.  Set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind you to get up and walk around, or at the very least stand up at your workstation and stretch.   Another option is to invest in a standing desk, or you can take it a step further and get a treadmill desk, which is what I have.  Proper ergonomics is important, as you want to make sure the top of your computer screen is at eye level, make sure you have a ergonomic-friendly chair, and adjust your keyboard to a height where your elbows are bent approximately 90 degrees.

What’s Your Experience With Muscle and Joint Pain?

Have you experienced muscle and joint pain due to any of the factors I discussed in this blog post?  If so, please feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.  If you’re still experiencing muscle and/or joint pain please let me know!  And if you have dealt with muscle and/or joint pain but it’s a thing of the past please let me know!  Thank you!