Hypothyroidism is characterized by elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.  When someone has an “overt” case of hypothyroidism, in addition to the TSH being high, the thyroid hormone levels will be low.  Many people have subclinical hypothyroidism, and this is when the TSH is elevated, but the thyroid hormone levels are fine.  Regardless of what type of thyroid condition someone has, the goal is to do more than just to lower the TSH.  In fact, one can argue that in most cases, the TSH is one of the least important markers to look at, although many medical doctors still rely on this alone.   But with that being said, when someone follows a natural treatment protocol we do want the TSH to eventually normalize.

Before talking about some of the reasons why your TSH levels might remain high, even after receiving conventional or medical treatment, it’s important to understand that you can’t rely on the lab reference range.  In other words, many times the TSH is within the lab reference range, but is outside of the functional reference range.  For example, Labcorp currently uses a reference range of 0.40 to 4.50 mIU/L.  However, many consider anything over 3.0 to be too high, and most natural healthcare professionals prefer the TSH to be between 1.0 and 2.0.

So with that being said, let’s go ahead and discuss seven reasons why your TSH might still be high:

Reason #1: Your thyroid antibodies are still high.  Most people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune condition that involves the immune system attacking the thyroid gland.  This damage is what leads to the decreased production of thyroid hormone, and this in turn causes the TSH to increase.  As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, sometimes the thyroid hormone levels will be within the lab reference range, even when the TSH is high.  In fact, most people with Hashimoto’s don’t even know they have this condition initially, as what frequently happens is that their TSH levels will be tested and are on the high side, and then the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and/or thyroglobulin antibodies are eventually tested, and when the TSH is elevated and one or both of these autoantibodies are elevated this is what leads to the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

There is thought to be a 3-legged stool of autoimmunity, which includes 1) a genetic component, 2) an environmental trigger, and 3) a leaky gut.  When someone has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, or any other autoimmune condition, there of course is nothing they can do to change their genes.  However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t reverse the autoimmune component by detecting and removing the trigger, along with healing the gut.  This admittedly can be challenging to do, but it is possible for those who are willing to take responsibility for their health.  And when the elevated TSH is caused by the autoimmune component of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the only way to lower the TSH is by reversing the autoimmune component, or by taking thyroid hormone medication.

Reason #2: Problems converting T4 into T3.  On a thyroid panel this might present as a high TSH, normal T4, and low T3.  And the reverse T3 is commonly on the high side, although not always.  As for why someone might have a conversion problem, there can be numerous reasons.  Some of the different factors which can affect the conversion of T4 into T3 include a selenium deficiency, liver problems, gut dysbiosis, stress, certain medications, and even inflammation.  I discussed these factors in greater detail in a blog post I wrote entitled “6 Factors Which Can Affect The Conversion Of T4 To T3”.

Reason #3: One or more nutrients important for the production of thyroid hormone are deficient.  These include iodine, tyrosine, and iron.  As a result, if someone has one of these nutrient deficiencies then this can lead to decreased production of thyroid hormone, which in turn will cause an elevated TSH.

Reason #4: Environmental Toxins.  There are tens of thousands of chemicals in our environment, and unfortunately we don’t know the short and long term impact of all of these on our health.  But we do know that certain environmental toxins act as endocrine disruptors, including bisphenol A (BPA) and flame retardants.  Other toxins which can inhibit thyroid hormone production and thus lead to an elevated TSH include bromide, fluoride, perchlorate, and even heavy metals such as mercury.  And while you can’t completely avoid these and other chemicals, you can do things to minimize your exposure to them.

This is especially true in your own home, as you can try to purchase mostly organic food, and use natural products.  You can also invest in a water purification system which also helps to minimize your exposure to these toxins.  And in addition to reducing your exposure to these chemicals, you can also support your detoxification pathways by eating an abundance of green vegetables, eating garlic, drinking plenty of water, along with some green tea, and perhaps even taking some supplements on an occasional basis to help with the elimination of toxins, such as N-acetylcysteine.

Reason #5: Thyroid hormone resistance.  When someone has thyroid hormone resistance the TSH will usually be normal or elevated, and the thyroid hormone levels are also frequently elevated.  This isn’t too common, and sometimes it will confuse medical doctors, as when the TSH is elevated it is typical to see the thyroid hormone levels on the low side.  This is similar to insulin resistance, which is when the cells are no longer responsive to insulin.  With thyroid hormone resistance, the thyroid cell receptors aren’t as responsive to thyroid hormone.  As a result, the thyroid hormone levels build up in the circulation, but because the body isn’t utilizing thyroid hormone the pituitary gland looks at this as if it were a thyroid hormone deficiency, and thus will continue to secrete TSH, which in turn signals the thyroid gland to secrete more thyroid hormone.  For more information on this condition I would check out my blog post entitled “Thyroid Resistance and Natural Treatment Solutions”.

Reason #6: Dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis.  Remember that thyroid stimulating hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland, and not the thyroid gland.  Under normal circumstances the hypothalamus communicates with the pituitary gland through thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and the pituitary gland will secrete TSH, which will signal the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.  However, if there is miscommunication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland then this can lead to an elevation of the TSH levels, even if the thyroid gland is perfectly healthy.  Unfortunately this isn’t something that is easily measured, and so it can be challenging to know if someone has HPT axis dysregulation.

Reason #7: Pituitary Tumor.  Fortunately this is rare, but some people have a TSH-secreting adenoma, also known as a thyrotropinoma.  This is usually benign, and like thyroid hormone resistance, the patient usually presents with an elevated TSH, along with elevated thyroid hormone levels.  The TSH secretion by thyrotropinomas shares many characteristics of other pituitary hormone-secreting adenomas, such as abnormalities in growth hormone and/or prolactin (1).

In summary, there are numerous factors which can cause elevated TSH levels.  Seven common reasons include 1) the immune system attacking the thyroid gland, 2) problems converting T4 into T3, 3) having a deficiency of iodine, tyrosine, or iron, 4) exposure to certain environmental toxins, 5) thyroid hormone resistance, 6) HPT axis dysregulation, and 7) having a TSH-secreting adenoma.  So the obvious goal should be to find out what’s causing the elevated TSH, and then to try to address the cause.  However, while it of course is desirable to have a normal TSH, it’s also important to understand that other markers can be even more important to look at, and therefore one should never just test the TSH alone.

Most people reading this are aware of the risks of bisphenol A, also known as BPA.  This chemical is commonly found in plastic bottles, but it’s also found in other materials as well, including thermal paper receipts.  While many people minimize their exposure to BPA by using BPA-free products, some don’t realize that “BPA-free” doesn’t equal “xenoestrogen-free”.  In fact, bisphenol S and bisphenol F are found in BPA-free products, and might be even worse than BPA, which I’ll discuss in this blog post.

But I’d like to start off by talking about bisphenol A.  Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly found in plastic water bottles, but there are many other sources as well, including food packaging, dental materials, healthcare equipment, thermal paper (i.e. receipts), as well as toys and articles for children and infants (1).  Due to its phenolic structure BPA has been shown to interact with estrogen receptors, and thus can play a role in the pathogenesis of numerous endocrine conditions, including male and female infertility, hormone dependent tumors (i.e. breast and prostate cancer), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and other metabolic conditions (1).  This is why it is labeled as being an “endocrine-disrupting chemical”.

In addition to interacting with estrogen receptors, numerous studies show that BPA can also have a negative effect on thyroid health.  One study showed that BPA may alter thyroid function, leading to thyroid abnormalities, including subclinical hypothyroidism and perhaps even thyroid nodules (2).  Another study showed evidence that BPA exerts a direct effect on the thyroid follicular cell (3).  Yet another study showed that BPA might penetrate the placental barrier and therefore affect the endocrine system of the fetus (4).

Structural Analogs To BPA

A structural analog is a compound that has a similar structure to another compound, with a slight difference.  However, it’s important to understand that even though structural analogs might be chemically similar, they can have different physical and biochemical properties.  There are numerous structural analogs to BPA, including bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) (5).

The reason why I’m bringing this up is because many people realize that there are risks associated with BPA, and as a result they use BPA-free products.  For example, many people drink out of BPA-free plastic bottles, thinking that this is a safer option than drinking out of “regular” plastic bottles.  However, studies show that these structural analogs (BPB, BPE, BPF, etc.) have the same effects on the estrogen receptor and androgen receptor as BPA, and most of the alternatives are just as potent as BPA (5).

Admittedly there isn’t as much research on these structural analogs as there is on BPA, and I wasn’t able to find any studies showing a direct negative effect on thyroid health.  But the evidence that is available shows that these other compounds are endocrine disruptors like BPA, and I’m sure in the future there will be many more studies which show that it’s best to avoid products that include these chemicals.

What Can You Do To Minimize Your Exposure To These Chemicals?

So what can you do in order to avoid exposure not only to BPA, but to the structural analogs?  Well, in this day and age complete avoidance is very difficult, but here are a few suggestions to minimize your exposure:

1. Try not to drink out of plastic water bottles on a regular basis.  Obviously it would be best not to drink out of plastic bottles at all, but I realize that sometimes it might be difficult to avoid doing this.  For example, if you visit a different country with a questionable water supply, then I’d rather be exposed to the BPA in water bottles than to risk getting sick from drinking the water.

2. Minimize the use of other plastics.  For example, plastic wrap usually contains BPA, and perhaps some of the structural analogs.  Plastic food storage containers are usually another source, and you even want to minimize the use of plastic utensils.  Once again, I realize that completely avoiding all sources of plastic is probably not going to happen, but you want to do everything you can to minimize your exposure to these.

3. Don’t ask for a receipt every time you make a purchase.  Numerous studies show that thermal paper receipts (i.e. cash register receipts) can contain high levels of BPA (6) (7) (8).  Other sources may use thermal paper with BPA as well, including movie tickets.

4. Be aware of other “hidden” sources of BPA.     Other sources of BPA you might not be aware of include some canned foods, dental sealants (9), soda cans, and toilet paper.

In summary, bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly found in plastic bottles, as well as other materials, including thermal receipts.  BPA is labeled as an “endocrine-disrupting chemical”, and some studies show that it can also have a negative effect on thyroid health.  Although many people use BPA-free products, most of these people aren’t aware that these products might have chemicals that are similar in structure to BPA, such as bisphenol B, bisphenol E, bisphenol F, and bisphenol S.  So you want to try your best to minimize your exposure to BPA by not drinking out of plastic water bottles, minimizing the use of other plastics, not asking for a thermal paper receipt, and by being aware of other hidden sources of BPA.

Before I was officially diagnosed with Graves’ Disease I knew I was going to take a natural treatment approach.  Initially I found out I had hyperthyroidism from my primary care physician, and a couple of months later I saw an endocrinologist, who officially gave me the diagnosis of Graves’ Disease.  But even though I had planned on doing things naturally for my condition, at the time I was still skeptical as to whether or not following a natural treatment protocol would help.  After all, back then I didn’t know anyone with Graves’ Disease who had successfully restored their health through natural treatment methods.

Fortunately things worked out very well for me, as I was able to get into remission without taking any medication, and years later I have still managed to maintain a state of wellness.  And many of my patients have had success in restoring their health back to normal as well.  Not everyone is able to avoid taking medication such as Methimazole or Propranolol, but even when someone needs to take medication it is of course still possible to restore one’s health back to normal.  The problem is that most people who take the medication don’t do anything to address the underlying cause of the condition, as they simply hope and pray that they will get into remission while taking antithyroid medication.  And while some people do get into remission when taking the medication alone, this state of remission is usually temporary.

Unfortunately many people with Graves’ Disease choose radioactive iodine as a first option.  And in most cases it’s because the endocrinologist they were working with convinced them that this was the very best option.  When I saw an endocrinologist for my Graves’ Disease condition I was fortunate that she didn’t try to pressure me to receive radioactive iodine treatment.  Of course even if she did recommend RAI I would have refused it, and I didn’t take the Methimazole she prescribed to me.  But many other endocrinologists recommend radioactive iodine to every single one of their patients with Graves’ Disease, which makes me very sad knowing that most of these people could have preserved the health of their thyroid gland if they had just given natural treatment methods a try.

The Problem With Receiving Radioactive Iodine As A “First Resort”

But why shouldn’t radioactive iodine be the first treatment option?  After all, hyperthyroidism can be a very scary condition to deal with.  After I found out I had hyperthyroidism I not only was in a state of disbelief, but I also was terrified.  And this was without an endocrinologist telling me that if I don’t get my thyroid gland “nuked” there is a chance I would experience a thyroid storm, or perhaps even a heart attack.  The obvious “benefit” of radioactive iodine is that it usually will eliminate hyperthyroidism, and thus will remove the risk of having a thyroid storm, along with other conditions associated with an increased heart rate.

Of course the downside is that radioactive iodine doesn’t do anything to address the autoimmune component of Graves’ Disease.  After all, it’s easy to forget that Graves’ Disease isn’t a thyroid condition, but instead is an immune system condition that affects the thyroid gland.  And while it’s important to manage the hyperthyroid symptoms, receiving radioactive iodine won’t do anything to improve the health of the immune system.  The research clearly shows that someone with one autoimmune condition is more likely to develop another autoimmune condition in the future.  And so it is very important to try to reverse the autoimmune component of Graves’ Disease, and not just focus on managing the symptoms.

How Do You Find The Underlying Cause?

It admittedly can be a challenge to determine the underlying cause of your Graves’ Disease condition.  The primary key is to try to detect the trigger or triggers which are responsible for the development of the autoimmune response.  Some common examples of triggers include stress, infections, food allergens, and environmental toxins.

There are many things you can do on your own to improve your health, such as clean up your diet, do a better job of managing your stress, and minimizing your exposure to environmental toxins.  However, it can be difficult to restore your health on your own.  This is why I think it’s wise to consult with a competent natural healthcare professional who has experience working with Graves’ Disease patients, as this will give you the guidance that you need.

On that note, in the near future I will be releasing an online group coaching program for those who have Graves’ Disease.  This new program for Graves’ Disease will be an affordable self-management/group coaching program.  Although I do think it’s a good idea for those with Graves’ Disease to work one-on-one with a competent natural healthcare professional, I realize that not everyone will choose to do this.  And even if you are currently working with a natural healthcare professional I’m sure the information provided in this program will only further help to optimize your health.

If this is something that sounds good to you I would recommend getting on my Reversing Graves’ Disease VIP priority notification list.

Click Here To Join The Reversing Graves’ Disease program VIP Priority Notification List

Lately I have been getting a lot of questions regarding essential oils.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an expert in this area, although recently I have done a good amount of research on essential oils, and I figured it was time to write an article on this topic.   As I discuss these essential oils, you’ll notice that many of them have similar benefits.  For example, many of the essential oils I discuss have anti-inflammatory properties, which can greatly benefit people with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  However, this doesn’t mean that if you have an autoimmune thyroid condition that you need to take all of the essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties.

It’s important to understand that while numerous essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties, most of them have other benefits as well.  And so while there might be some overlap between different essential oils, no two oils are exactly alike.  And not everyone will respond the same to each essential oil.  For example, one person might have a favorable response to myrrh oil, but when someone else tries it they notice that it doesn’t seem to help too much.  Of course not having a positive experience with one essential oil doesn’t mean that other essential oils won’t be beneficial.  And it’s also important to understand that the quality of the essential oil is important.

What I’d like to do now is discuss five essential oils that can benefit many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, as there are many other essential oils that can be beneficial, although the ones listed below have a good amount of research supporting their benefits.

1. Lemongrass.  Although there are numerous ways in which lemongrass can benefit one’s health, with regards to those with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, lemongrass is especially useful for its anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects.  One study showed that lemongrass oil inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1 beta and IL-6 (1).  Another study concluded that lemongrass essential oil and its constituents (citral and geranial) may be a therapeutic candidate for allergic and inflammatory diseases (2).  It also appears that lemongrass essential oil may have anticancer activity (3).  Another study showed that lemongrass essential oils has antifungal effects against Candida albicans,  C. tropicalis, and Aspergillus niger (4).

2. Myrrh.  Some sources claim that rubbing two or three drops of myrrh oil on the thyroid gland on a daily basis can help support thyroid health, especially in those with hypothyroidism.  I couldn’t find any research showing that myrrh can directly benefit thyroid health.  However, in most cases it won’t hurt to give this a try, and if anyone reading this has noticed an improvement in their thyroid health by using myrrh oil please feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.  Perhaps the improvement is due to the anti-inflammatory effects of myrrh, as the research does show that myrrh can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (5) (6), which can help reduce the autoimmune response, and this in turn might benefit people with autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

3. Frankincense.   Frankincense is one of the main essential oils used for immune system health.  This is mainly due to the boswellic acids, which are the active compounds of frankincense (7).  The chemical structure of boswellic acids is similar to steroids, although their actions are different from most painkillers and NSAIDs (7).  Although I couldn’t find anything in the literature which shows that frankincense has a direct effect on thyroid health, just as is the case with myrrh oil, some people claim that rubbing frankincense oil directly on their thyroid gland has helped to improve their thyroid hormone levels, and in some cases even shrink thyroid nodules.  I can’t say that I have patients who have experienced this, but if anyone reading this has had a positive experience with frankincense that relates to thyroid health then please share your experience in the comments section below

But even if frankincense doesn’t have a direct effect on thyroid health, because most thyroid conditions are autoimmune, then using this essential oil can arguably help people with both Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  One specific study showed how the boswellic acids in frankincense can help to reduce Th17 cytokines, which are a factor in autoimmunity (8).  The same study showed that it can also increase regulatory T cells, which help to suppress autoimmunity (8).  Another study showed how one of the boswellic acids in frankincense is a potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, which is an enzyme responsible for inflammation (9).  In addition to helping with inflammation, frankincense might also benefit people with brain and memory conditions, along with asthma, skin conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and cancer (10).

4. Geranium.  This essential oil has numerous benefits, but with regards to those people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, its anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects are two of the more important properties.  A few studies reveal the anti-inflammatory effects of geranium essential oil (11) (12).  However, I would rely more on the other essential oils I have discussed thus far for inflammation, and would recommend this essential oil more for helping with candida infections, which is a common problem with my patients.  One study showed that two of three geranium oil constituents (geraniol and geranyl acetate) exhibited anti-candida activity (13).  Another study showed that the vaginal application of geranium oil or its main component, geraniol, suppressed candida cell growth in the vagina and its local inflammation (14).  Another study showed that the essential oil not only resulted in the complete inhibition of Candida albicans, but it also showed anti-microbial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (15).

5. Lavender.  This probably is the most well known of the essential oils I have discussed.  And lavender has many different benefits.  One study showed that lavender can protect against diabetes and oxidative stress (16).  Many know that lavender has a calming effect, and one study showed that lavender aromatherapy had a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women college students (17).  Many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions have sleep issues, and so lavender oil might help in some of these cases.  Lavender also has anti-inflammatory effects, as a study showed that lavender essential oil inhibited inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides (18).  Another study showed that lavender has antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects (19).  There is also evidence that lavender has antimicrobial effects (20), and also has antifungal activity (21).

Other Essential Oils:

Although I focused on five specific essential oils in this blog post, this of course doesn’t mean that other essential oils can’t be beneficial to your health.  Other commonly used essential oils include melaleuca (tea tree oil), peppermint oil, clove oil, thyme oil, lemon oil, and marjoram.

How Do You Apply These Essential Oils?

When I first started learning about essential oils, one of the first questions I had was “how do I apply the essential oils”, and “what dosage do I use?”  In most cases you need only a very small amount of essential oil for a therapeutic effect to take place.  For example, one or two drops of these oils is frequently all someone needs.  Essential oils are usually diluted with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil.  Other examples of carrier oils include avocado oil, sesame oil, and evening primrose oil.  Using the carrier oils reduces the chances of skin irritation occurring when the essential oils are applied topically.  And in case if you were wondering, diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil shouldn’t alter its therapeutic properties.

In summary, essential oils have some wonderful benefits, and you might want to consider incorporating them.  Myrrh oil and frankincense are two of the more well known essential oils with regards to thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  And while some claim that they have a direct effect on thyroid health, the research shows that they have a greater effect on immune system health.  I also discussed the benefits of lemongrass, geranium, and lavender, although there are many other essential oils which can benefit your health.  I’m admittedly still learning about essential oils, and if you are interested in learning more about it then you might be interested in attending the free online essential oils summit.

For those people with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis who are following an autoimmune paleo diet, one of the biggest challenges is to find snacks that are autoimmune paleo friendly.  And so I figured I’d put together a brief post listing some of snacks that are fine to eat for those who are following an autoimmune paleo diet.  This is an incomplete list, but for many people, the snacks I include in this post will make it much easier to follow an autoimmune paleo diet, and of course if you have other AIP-friendly snack suggestions please feel free to share these in the comments section below.

One thing to keep in mind is that while the snacks I have listed below are safe to eat for most people with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, this doesn’t mean that it’s okay to overindulge in these snacks.  It’s easy to eat too many servings of fruits, sweet potato chips, and other snacks.  With regards to fruit, I would make sure to eat at least twice as many vegetables as fruits, and in many cases it’s a good idea to limit your consumption to two or three servings of fruit per day.

But how about other snacks such as plaintain chips, sweet potato chips, tiger nuts, etc?  This does depend on the person, but in most cases you will want to eat no more than one or two servings per day of these other snacks.  I realize this might be challenging to do, but one tip is to divide the snacks into smaller portions every night or morning.  So for example, if you purchase a bag of sweet potato chips or coconut flakes and if you eat them directly out of the bag then of course it’s more challenging to keep track of how much you’re eating, and before you know it you might end up eating half the bag.  On the other hand, if every night after you eat dinner you take a few minutes to portion your snacks into smaller servings then you are less likely to overindulge.

With that being said, here are nine AIP-friendly snacks:

1. Plaintain chips or crackers

2. Sweet potato chips

3. Kale chips

4. Coconut chips or flakes

5. Unsweetened coconut yogurt

6. Tiger nuts

7. AIP friendly beef jerky

8. Baby carrots and other vegetables

9. Certain fruits (i.e. apple, pear)

Preparing Your Own Snacks vs. Purchasing “Pre-Packaged” Snacks

When it comes to certain snacks such as fruit or baby carrots there shouldn’t be too many questions regarding where to purchase these foods, although I realize that not everyone will have access to organic fruits and vegetables.  But other than fruits and veggies, you will have the option of preparing your own snacks, or purchasing pre-packaged snacks.  Of course it is always best to prepare your own snacks whenever possible, as this will give you full control over the ingredients.  For example, there aren’t too many brands which carry unsweetened coconut yogurt, and most brands that are available have ingredients which might be problematic for some people.  On the other hand, I realize that many people would prefer not to prepare their own coconut yogurt.

The same concept applies with other snacks.  For example, you of course can prepare your own sweet potato chips, and if you are willing to do this then that’s great.  However, there is a brand I recently came across called “Jackson’s Honest” that has sweet potato chips with coconut oil, and there probably are a few other healthier brands that I’m not familiar with.   Although I personally don’t like beef jerky, the company “EPIC” has both beef jerky and protein bars which consist of 100% grass fed bison and beef.  Just keep in mind that not all of their products are AIP-friendly, as some of them include seeds.

It was only recently that I had the opportunity to try tiger nuts, as I was in a Whole Foods Market in New York that carried the brand Organic Gemini.  And so I decided to purchase a bag, and I must admit that I wasn’t crazy about them at first, but after awhile I got used to them, and now I really do enjoy them.  Unfortunately, they don’t offer tiger nuts at our local Whole Foods Market in Charlotte NC, but I order them online directly from the company.  Not only do I find that they make a good snack, but they are an excellent source of fiber, which is important for anyone following an autoimmune paleo diet, as some of the best sources of fiber (i.e. nuts, seeds, beans) are excluded from an autoimmune paleo diet.

What Is Your Favorite AIP-Friendly Snack?

Please feel free to share your favorite autoimmune paleo-friendly snack in the comments section below.  This can be from the list I included in this post, but of course if there are any other snacks you recommend which are AIP-friendly please feel free to share this with everyone as well.