Whenever I work with someone who has an autoimmune thyroid condition, one of the main goals is to suppress the autoimmune response.  After all, with conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, we’re dealing with an autoimmune condition which is affecting the thyroid gland.  And while it might be important to provide thyroid support, either in the form of thyroid hormone for hypothyroid conditions, or antithyroid medication or herbs for people with hyperthyroidism, these won’t do anything to address the autoimmune component.

This is what’s frustrating about working with most endocrinologists.  My goal isn’t to criticize endocrinologists, as while there are many who are close minded and don’t want to hear anything that has to do with natural treatment methods, there are some open minded endocrinologists as well. When I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease I saw an endocrinologist, and in addition to being very knowledgeable, she was also extremely polite, and she took a more conservative approach by recommending prescription medication over radioactive iodine.  But she didn’t recommend anything which would address the autoimmune component.  Of course I didn’t expect her to recommend anything to address the cause, as I realize doctors aren’t trained to do this in medical school.

The Challenges Of Finding The Trigger

Before one can even think about suppressing the autoimmune component, it is important to find out what has triggered the autoimmune response.   Once this has been accomplished it of course is necessary to remove the trigger.  I talk a lot about this during my webinars, articles, and blog posts.  So for example, if gluten happens to be the trigger, then one must remove gluten from the diet.  If a pathogen such as H. Pylori is the trigger, then this needs to be detected and eradicated.  If stress is the main factor then one needs to work on reducing the stress levels while improving their stress handling skills.  If a specific toxin triggered the autoimmune response then this toxin needs to be detected and then removed.

The problem is that there can be many different factors which trigger an autoimmune response.  But that’s what testing is for, right?  Well, testing can be valuable, but you can’t test for everything.  There are dozens of different tests available, and most people can’t afford to do all of them.  Fortunately this usually isn’t necessary.  However, some detective work usually is required, and in some cases it can be a challenge to determine what has triggered the autoimmune response.  So for example, I’ll frequently recommend a saliva test and the controversial hair mineral analysis, which combined will help to evaluate the adrenal glands, and to some extent the gut (by looking at secretory IgA), mineral imbalances, and toxic metals.  These all can be factors which can lead to the development of an autoimmune condition.

But there can be other factors as well.  Although toxic metals such as mercury can trigger an autoimmune response, there are other toxins which also can affect immunity.  And while there is comprehensive testing available to determine which toxins you might have built up in your tissues, there is no comprehensive test which will determine the levels of all of the different toxins.  Plus, everyone responds to toxins differently.  For example, two people might be exposed to the same amount of a specific toxin, yet one person might not have any reaction, while another person might go onto develop an autoimmune thyroid condition due to this exposure.  Of course the person who went onto develop an autoimmune thyroid condition probably had a genetic predisposition for the condition.  But as I’ve discussed in past articles and blog posts, not everyone with a genetic marker for Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis will develop these conditions, even when exposed to certain “triggers”.

How Do You Know If The Trigger Has Been Removed?

What happens once the trigger has been detected and removed?  Well, it depends on the situation.  For example, if gluten, or some type of intestinal pathogen caused a leaky gut which in turn triggered the autoimmune response, then this could get a bit complex. One first needs to remove the factor or factors which caused the leaky gut to occur.  So if gluten was the culprit, then this needs to be removed from the diet.  If H. Pylori was responsible for the leaky gut, then this pathogen needs to be eradicated.

However, just removing the factor which caused the leaky gut might not be enough, as you probably will need to do some things to rebalance the gut flora and repair the leaky gut.  On the other hand, if a toxin such as mercury triggered an autoimmune response, then one might only need to focus on reducing the levels of this toxin.

Assuming the trigger has been removed, the immune system very well might calm down on its own.  As a result, the person might notice a reduction in their symptoms and a decrease in thyroid antibodies.  However, while it’s great to see the thyroid antibodies decrease, one can’t rely on this alone, as the antibodies can fluctuate.  And just because someone has thyroid antibodies which fall within the normal reference range doesn’t mean that the autoimmune response has been suppressed.  This is why other factors need to be looked at, such as the secretory IgA.  Some people will do testing to see if the Th1 and Th2 pathways have been balanced, but this isn’t completely reliable.  The truth is that no single method by itself is reliable when trying to determine if the autoimmune response has been suppressed, which is why one needs to look at numerous factors:

• A dramatic improvement in the person’s symptoms
• Normal thyroid hormone levels
• Normal thyroid antibodies
• Normal secretory IgA
• Possibly balanced Th1/Th2 pathways
• In some cases one might also need to consider testing for an increase in intestinal permeability

Downregulating NF-kappaB Is Important

Last week I released a blog post entitled ” The Role of Cytokines In Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions“.  In this post I spoke about something called Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB), which is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.  When something triggers an autoimmune response, the immune system activates pro-inflammatory cytokines.  This will result in the activation of NF-kB.  Why is this important?  Well, this contributes to the inflammatory process, and chronic activation of NF-kB will help to perpetuate the autoimmune response.

The problem is that removing the trigger might not necessarily inactivate NF-kB.  So let’s revisit the previous example where gluten or H. Pylori caused the development of leaky gut syndrome, which in turn triggered an autoimmune response.  If someone eliminates the allergen or pathogen which caused a leaky gut, and then goes onto repair the leaky gut, NF-kB might still remain activated, which in the case with someone who has Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis will mean that the autoimmune response will still be active.  And so one needs to focus on downregulating NF-kB.

The good news is that there are numerous supplements and herbs which can help with this, which I discussed in the blog post on cytokines.  I focused on fish oils, vitamin D, turmeric, and resveratrol.  There have been clinical trials which demonstrated that these nutrients can help to downregulate NF-kB.  And of course one’s diet also plays a big role in controlling inflammation.

With that being said, some people who consult with me are already eating well, are gluten-free, and are already taking supplements such as fish oils, vitamin D, and possibly even turmeric.  Yet they might still be symptomatic, have high thyroid antibodies, etc.  Why is this the case?  In most cases, the reason why the autoimmune response is still active in these people is because the trigger hasn’t been detected and/or removed.  This can be frustrating, and I deal with this factor with some of my patients from time to time, as while I’m very successful in helping to restore people’s health back to normal, there are times when I’ve focused on a person’s adrenals, gut, hormones, toxins, and perhaps other areas, and yet the autoimmune component remains active.  Dealing with autoimmunity is very challenging, and for some people it takes more detective work than others to find out what the trigger is.

In summary, in order to suppress the autoimmune component of Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, it is necessary to find out what has triggered the autoimmune response, and then of course remove this trigger.  This could become complex when there are numerous factors involved.  And then once the trigger has been removed and the compromised areas of the body have been addressed (i.e. weak adrenals, a leaky gut, etc.), it is important to downregulate NF-kB.  Sometimes it can be a challenge to find out what is triggering the autoimmune response, which can become very frustrating to both the doctor and patient.

Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. But what exactly are cytokines? They are similar to hormones, and some sources actually classify them as a type of hormone. Either way, cytokines are immunomodulating proteins, peptides, or glycoproteins that are involved in cellular communication (1). They are regulators of host responses to infection, immune responses, inflammation, and trauma (2).

Certain cytokines play a pro-inflammatory role in autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In other words, these cytokines promote inflammation. Two examples of pro-inflammatory cytokines include Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). However, there are also anti-inflammatory cytokines, as these cytokines act in concert with specific cytokine inhibitors and soluble cytokine receptors to regulate the human immune response (3).

What Role Do Cytokines Play In Autoimmunity?

There is considerable evidence implicating that the actual destruction of thyroid cells in autoimmune thyroid conditions may be caused by different and multiple mechanisms, including auto reactive T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and cytokines (4). The most significant factor that is likely to be involved in the induction of autoimmunity is a defect or deficiency in the immune regulation, particularly a disturbance in the balance between the effector T cells and regulatory T cells that prevent the development of autoimmunity (4). In other words, dysregulation of cytokine production can play a big role in the development of autoimmune thyroid conditions.

Some people reading this are familiar with the Th1 and Th2 pathways. Each of these pathways consist of different cytokines. The Th1 pathway consists of T-Helper cells which include the cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (4). The Th2 pathway consists of B cells, and is characterized by the secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13 (4). High amounts of Th1 cytokines are commonly found in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (5), and thus Hashimoto’s is typically known as a Th1-dominant condition. Graves’ Disease is thought to be a Th2-dominant autoimmune condition (6).

Using Nutrients and Herbs To Balance The Th1 and Th2 Pathways Is Controversial

Some natural healthcare professionals will focus on balancing the Th1 and Th2 pathways. In other words, they will order a blood test to look for the presence of different cytokines in an attempt to determine if their patient is Th1 or Th2 dominant, and then give specific supplements or herbs depending on whether the person is Th1 or Th2 dominant. For example, if someone is Th1 dominant, they will recommend specific supplements and/or herbs to help stimulate the Th2 pathway. Similarly, if someone has a Th2-dominant condition they will do things in an attempt to stimulate the Th1 pathway.

You ideally don’t want to give anything that will stimulate the same pathway the person is dominant in. For example, the herb Echinacea supposedly stimulates the Th1 pathway, and thus shouldn’t be taken by someone who is Th1 dominant. And since most people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are Th1 dominant, this would suggest that most people with this condition should avoid Echinacea. Studies do in fact show that Echinacea does affect the Th1/Th2 balance (7), although this doesn’t mean that everyone who has a Th1 dominant condition needs to avoid Echinacea. While some people don’t do well when taking Echinacea, other people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis do fine when taking this herb. In any case, there is controversy over using nutrients and herbs to balance the Th1 and Th2 pathways, and for more information I would consider reading a journal article written by Dr. Parris Kidd entitled “Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease“.

Understanding Nuclear Factor Kappa B

Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB) is a transcription factor, and activation of NF-kB is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF alpha. In other words, when an autoimmune response is triggered, the immune system will activate pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn will activate NF-kB. This in turn will contribute to the inflammatory process. Some studies suggest that NF-κB can also have anti-inflammatory roles by directly inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory genes and by manipulating the expression or activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 (8).

NF-kB has often been referred to as a central mediator of the immune response, since a large variety of bacteria and viruses can lead to the activation of NF-kB (9). Some studies have shown that NF-kB may function more generally as a central regulator of stress responses, since different stressful conditions, including physical stress, oxidative stress, and exposure to certain chemicals, also lead to NF-kB activation (9). What’s important to understand is that the activation of NF-kB is a normal process, but it’s the chronic activation of this transcription factor which leads to problems.

Downregulating NF-kB Is An Important Factor In Restoring One’s Health

When someone has an autoimmune thyroid condition, one of the goals is to do things which will help to downregulate NF-kB. While the pharmaceutical industry focuses on developing anti-inflammatory drugs which inhibit NF-kB, there are natural supplements and herbs which have been proven to accomplish this and don’t come with the potential side effects of these drugs. I’ve discussed these supplements and herbs in different articles and blog posts, but let’s take a look at them again:

Turmeric. I think turmeric is a wonderful herb, as there are many clinical trials involving this herb, and you can read about many of the benefits in a separate article I wrote entitled “Turmeric and Thyroid Health“. While I frequently recommend this herb to help with inflammation and to downregulate NF-kb, there are many other benefits this herb has to offer.

Resveratrol. I also like resveratrol a lot, and just like turmeric, I have written a separate article entitled “Can Resveratrol Benefit People With Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?“. Resveratrol also has the ability to help with inflammation and can downregulate NF-kb.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Higher doses of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also help with inflammation and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines (10) (11). I recommend omega 3 fatty acids to just about all of my patients, usually in the form of fish oil supplements. Vegetarian sources such as flax oil and chia seeds can also be good sources of omega 3 fatty acids, although some people have difficulty converting alpha-linolenic acid into DHA and EPA.

Borage oil, Black Currant Seed oil, and Evening Primrose oil. These are all forms of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and can also help with inflammation and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (12) (13).

Vitamin D3. I’ve spoken about the benefits of vitamin D in numerous articles and blog posts. Vitamin D plays a huge role in controlling inflammation, and unfortunately most people I work with are deficient in vitamin D. This is true even for many people who live in sunny areas. Of course not everyone is deficient in vitamin D, but the only way to know for certain is through testing, and I recommend for just about everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition to have their vitamin D levels tested.

Ginger. I don’t speak about this herb too much, although there is evidence that ginger may act as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agent by blocking the activation of NF-kB through the suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha (14) (15). I suppose I’ll need to work on a future article entitled “Ginger and Thyroid Health”!

There are other agents which have the ability to downregulate NF-kb and pro-inflammatory cytokines, but these are some of the more researched ones. And of course I’m not suggesting that those people with an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis need to supplement with all of these. In just about all people I will recommend omega 3 fatty acids (usually in the form of fish oils), a source of GLA, and to supplement with vitamin D3 if someone has a deficiency. It also can be beneficial to include turmeric and/or ginger as part of one’s diet, or in some cases to take a supplement consisting of these herbs. In any case, hopefully you now have a better understanding as to what cytokines are, and what role they play in autoimmunity.

When it comes to following a natural thyroid treatment protocol, probably the biggest challenge for most people is eating well.  However, while many people realize the importance of eating well, most people don’t do enough to manage their stress levels.  And a big reason for this is because most people don’t block out the time to manage their stress.  And since stress is a big factor in many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, it is essential for everyone with these conditions to block out some time to work on their stress handling skills ON A DAILY BASIS.

I’ve spoken about the importance of stress management in the past, and I’m sure this won’t be the last time I discuss this topic.  The reason I bring it up on a frequent basis is because I’ve seen people follow a natural treatment protocol and eat well, take good quality supplements, improve other aspects of their health, and yet not receive optimal results because they didn’t do a good job of managing their stress levels.  Obviously there is only so much one can do to reduce the stress levels in their life.  But even though many people are unable to modify the amount of stress they’re exposed to on a daily basis, just about everybody can improve their stress handling skills.

How Much Time Should You Dedicate Each Day To Stress Management?

You might wonder how much time you need to block out each day to work on your stress handling skills.  This will vary from person to person, as someone who deals with a great amount of stress on a daily basis will probably need to dedicate more time to managing their stress when compared with someone who doesn’t deal with as much stress.  Another factor to consider is one’s personality type.  Most people are familiar with Type A and B personalities, with a Type A personality typically being more “hard driving and competitive”, whereas a Type B personality is associated with being more “laid back”.  There are more than just these two personality types, and my goal isn’t to discuss these in this post, but I just want to point out that someone who has a “laid back” personality usually won’t be affected as much from the stress as some other personality types, and thus probably won’t need to spend as much time managing their stress.

The problem is that some people aren’t aware of the type of personality they have.  For example, some people might think they have a laid back attitude, but they really are more of a Type A personality.  As a result, they might not think that chronic stress is having an impact on them, even if it is a big factor with regards to their health.  So before you make the assumption that you don’t need to spend any time managing your stress because you have more of a Type B personality, you might want to carefully evaluate yourself, and perhaps even get the opinion of some family members and friends to help determine whether or not you really do have a “laid back” personality.

Regardless of the personality type or the amount of stress one deals with on a daily basis, in my opinion everyone should block out at least 10 to 15 minutes per day to work on stress management.  And those who deal with a good amount of stress each day and/or have more of a Type A personality will need to block out even more time to improve their stress handling skills.  These people might need to block out anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes a day to focus on their stress handling skills.

What If You Simply Don’t Have The Time To Manage Your Stress?

For many people it is a challenge to block out the time to manage their stress.  For example, some people will wake up early to go to work, won’t get home until the evening, and after eating dinner and spending time with the family they don’t have much time to relax for a few minutes, let alone take some time to manage their stress.  Another example might involve a stay-at-home mom who has a few young children, and blocking out time in this case can also be a challenge.  And even if she could block out some time, there is no guarantee that it would be uninterrupted time.

While it might be a challenge for some people to block out 30 to 60 minutes each day for stress management, most people can find at least 10 to 15 minutes per day to work on this.  It might mean waking up 10 to 15 minutes earlier, although if someone deals with a great amount of stress I think it’s more beneficial to either 1) work on stress management in the middle or end of the day, or 2) break up the stress management “sessions”.  For example, an ideal situation would be to dedicate 10 to 15 minutes in the morning to improving your stress handling skills, and then do this again in the afternoon, and then right before going to bed.  I realize this isn’t practical for some people, but doing this will help to start your day with a lesser amount of stress, and then if you have a stressful day it will allow you to spend some time during the day to work on this.  Then by working on your stress handling skills right before going to bed it will help you to end the day with a reduced amount of stress, which can help greatly for those who have a difficult time falling and/or staying asleep.

As I’ve discussed in other blog posts and articles, the adrenal glands are essential when it comes to managing stress.  Cortisol is known as the “stress handling hormone”, and while eating well and taking certain supplements can benefit the adrenal glands, the best way to keep your adrenal glands healthy and strong is by becoming an expert in managing your stress.  This is just as important as eating well, and perhaps even more important.  After all, we’re all going to deal with chronic stress, although some people will deal with a greater amount of stress than others.  In addition, you never know when an acute stress situation will present itself, and those who continuously work on improving their stress handling skills will be in a much better position to handle these situations when they do come along.  Whether it’s a trauma, an unexpected death of a friend or family member, or another acute stress situation, this is something that everyone faces during their lifetime.  And while our adrenals are equipped to handle these acute stress situations, many times these situations lead to prolonged, chronic stress, which our adrenals were not designed to handle.

What Can You Do To Better Handle The Stress?

For information on how to improve your stress handling skills I will refer you to an article I wrote in the past entitled “7 Stress Management Tips To Help Restore Your Thyroid Health“.  There of course are other things you can do for stress management which I didn’t list in the article.  The first three tips I give in this article are to 1) be aware of the impact stress has on your health, 2) eat a healthy diet, and 3) exercise regularly.  Doing these three things alone can help greatly when it comes to managing the stress.  But for many people this isn’t enough, and since many people underestimate their stress handling skills I think it’s a good idea to do other things to help manage their stress.

For example, you can block out 10 to 15 minutes one or more times each day and do some deep breathing and meditation.  If you don’t have experience with this then you might want to check out the website www.getsomeheadspace.com, as they offer ten free ten-minute meditation lessons.  May people aren’t familiar with biofeedback as a form of stress management, but this can also be a great way to improve your stress handling skills.  For more information on this I recommend visiting www.HeartMath.com, as they have videos you can watch to better understand how this might be able to help you.

In summary, managing one’s stress can be a big challenge when following a natural treatment protocol.  Many people have poor stress handling skills, and it is important to block out some time each day to work on stress management.  At the minimum you should block out 10 to 15 minutes each day to focus on this, although some people will need to dedicate more time on improving their stress handling skills.  The amount of time you need to spend on this will depend on how much stress you deal with on a daily basis, as well as your personality type.

I’d like to start out by wishing you a happy New Year!  For those who are following a natural thyroid treatment protocol in an attempt to restore their health back to normal, there are numerous factors which will play a role in accomplishing this.  For the first blog post of 2014 I will discuss five factors which are important in restoring one’s health back to normal.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that following the advice given in this post is all you need to do in order to restore your health back to normal, although I can almost guarantee that those people who do follow the recommendations given below will have a much healthier 2014.

With that being said, here are five factors which can help greatly in restoring your health back to normal:

1. Eat at least five servings of vegetables each day. Just about everyone reading this knows that they should eat mostly whole foods while avoiding the refined foods and sugars.  But most people still don’t eat enough vegetables on a daily basis.  In fact, eating more vegetables is probably the most frequent piece of advice I give after reviewing the food diaries of my patients.  You want to eat a minimum of three to five servings of fresh vegetables each day, and ideally it should be at least five to seven servings on a daily basis.  I realize this might not be an easy transition for some people who are only eating one or two servings of veggies per day, but it is an important change to make not only in order to help restore one’s health back to normal, but also to maintain one’s health in the future.

I’ve mentioned in previous articles and posts how I use smoothies to add a few servings of vegetables per day to my diet, and I know many people reading this also have smoothies every day.  In fact, my average smoothie has approximately three servings of vegetables, and I have one or two smoothies each day.  In addition to this I try to have an additional one or two servings of vegetables with lunch and then again for dinner, and so on most days I’ll eat at least five servings of vegetables per day, and many days I will exceed this.  So if you’re not already eating at least five servings of vegetables per day then I would make this a goal for 2014.  I would also attempt to add a variety of different vegetables, as for optimal phytonutrient intake you want to eat a variety of different colored vegetables, as well as fruits.

2. Spend at least 15 to 30 minutes per day on stress management. In the near future I’ll be releasing a separate blog post on stress management, and so I won’t go into great detail here.  But this is yet another area that most people don’t focus enough on.  I do have some patients who tell me that they do things such as yoga or meditation for stress management, which is great.  But it’s important to be consistent, as while doing yoga a couple of times per week will help with managing the stress, you really do want to do something on a daily basis for stress management.  This is true even for those who already feel they do a good job of managing their stress without dedicating any additional time on improving their stress handling skills.  One problem is that many people think they do a good job of managing their stress but don’t do a good job.  Another problem is that some people currently don’t deal with a lot of stress in their life, but if an acute or chronic stressor were to come along they wouldn’t be prepared to handle it since they haven’t been in the routine of improving their stress handling skills.  So make it a goal in 2014 to block out at least 15 minutes per day to manage your stress, and 30 minutes per day would be even better.

3. Don’t underestimate the impact toxins can have on your health. This is yet another factor that most people tend to overlook.  Perhaps the reason for this is because most people know when they’re not eating well, and many people also realize that they aren’t doing a good job of managing their stress.  But from a symptomatic perspective it can be difficult to know whether toxins are adversely affecting your health.  Plus, with all of the toxins we’re exposed to I’m sure some people think there isn’t much they can do to avoid the negative impact these toxins have on their health.   While it is true that you can’t eliminate your exposure to toxins, you can still do a lot of things to reduce your exposure to them.  The home environment is a big source of toxins for many people, and in most cases this can be dramatically improved.  So another goal you should have in 2014 is to do a few things to minimize your exposure to toxins.  And if you haven’t done a liver detoxification then you might want to consider making this a goal as well.  In fact, even if you have done a liver detoxification in the past it still would be a good idea for most people to do another one sometime in 2014.  After all, since we’re continuously being exposed to toxins it makes sense to do regular detoxifications.

4. Focus on reducing the inflammation. Most thyroid conditions have an autoimmune component.  And autoimmunity is associated with inflammation.  In fact, chronic inflammation is associated with many different health conditions, and so one of the primary goals should be to do things to help lower the inflammation in the body.  Diet of course plays a big role in this, as eating a lot of processed foods causes inflammation.  Ideally you want to eat a diet consisting of whole foods and try to cut out common allergens such as gluten and dairy.  Omega-3 fatty acids can also help greatly with the inflammation, as can certain herbs such as turmeric and ginger.

But just eating well and taking supplements frequently isn’t enough to eliminate the inflammation.  For example, if someone has an infection such as H. Pylori, Candida, or another type of pathogen, then this needs to be addressed.  Chronic stress can also lead to inflammation, which is another reason why it’s important to improve your stress handling skills.  Having a leaky gut will cause inflammation, and this is common with autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

5. Try to keep a positive attitude. Although from time to time I talk about the importance of having a positive attitude, the truth is that I don’t bring this up enough.  Obviously one can have a positive attitude and not receive good results if they don’t eat well, do a poor job of managing their stress, etc.  But the reverse holds true as well, as if someone eats well, works on improving their stress handling skills on a daily basis, and does other things to improve their health, yet they constantly have a negative attitude, then this very well can affect their recovery.

I realize it’s not easy to have a positive attitude at times.  This is especially true when someone is dealing with a health condition such as a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid disorder.  I know from self experience that it’s difficult to have a positive attitude when dealing with such a condition, as when I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease there were times when I felt down, and perhaps even depressed.  But even though I didn’t know what the future would bring regarding my health I tried to remain confident that natural treatment methods would work.  Would I still have received good results if I had a negative attitude while following a natural treatment protocol?  Maybe, but I still believe that those people who are constantly negative are less likely to receive optimal results.

In summary, restoring one’s health can definitely be a challenge.  But those people who follow the advice given in this blog post will have a much greater chance of accomplishing this.   And while some people reading this post are already doing everything I mentioned, I’m sure many people aren’t incorporating all of these factors.  If this is the case then I don’t expect you to immediately begin eating five or more servings of vegetables per day, to block out 30 minutes to focus on stress management, etc.  If you can make these changes immediately that’s great, but if not then what I would recommend is to focus on something different each month.  For example, if you’re only eating a couple of servings of vegetables per day, make it a goal to increase the number of daily servings to at least five by the end of this month.  Then next month you can focus on blocking out time for stress management, and then the following month focus on minimizing your exposure to toxins, etc.  Whatever approach you take, the key is to go ahead  and take action, and if you do this then there is almost no question that you will experience some positive changes in your health.

We just went on a Disney Cruise, and so I couldn’t resist using the headline above. Although there was plenty of junk food on the Disney Cruise, I did try to eat a good amount of whole foods, and brought some healthy snacks onto the ship. I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t indulge every now and then, and probably more than I should have, and so I’m sure I can benefit from a prolonged liver detoxification!

Of course this time of the year many people will be ready to follow a detoxification program.  Between Thanksgiving and the holiday season, many people eat way too many “bad foods”.  I won’t go into great detail about this, and I actually discussed this in a previous blog post entitled “The Challenge of Eating a Healthy Thyroid Diet During The Holidays“.  Now that the holiday season is just about over I don’t know how much the information in that blog post will benefit you, but perhaps you can save it for next year.

Going on a vacation can be fun, but at the same time it can take its toll on your thyroid health.  First of all, it is more challenging to control the food you eat.  The key is trying to plan ahead, although it still can be challenging. 

For the last blog post of 2013 I figured I’d list 10 things you need to do in order to have a “healthy” vacation.  Following these tips will make it easier to eat a healthy diet, manage your stress, and minimize your exposure to toxins while traveling.

1. Whatever you do, don’t go on a cruise. Is a cruise relaxing?  Very much so.  But you really do need to have a lot of willpower to avoid all of the “free” junk food.  Of course it’s not free, as it’s part of the fee you pay for the cruise, but for those who have never been on a cruise there is food EVERYWHERE!  With that being said we’re already planning our next cruise.  I will say that while there is plenty of junk food available, there is also plenty of whole foods to choose from.

2. If traveling during the holidays, visit a place that nobody else visits during this time. For example, you can visit Idaho or North Dakota (for those reading this who live in these states, I’m not suggesting that they aren’t nice places to live or visit, but they aren’t places which typically draw large crowds during the holiday season).

3. If you have children, consider sending them on vacation while you stay home. Better yet, drop them off at a friend’s or relative’s house and go on vacation without them.  Don’t get me wrong, as I love my children, and this vacation wouldn’t be the same without them.  But driving eight hours with two young children from Charlotte to Orlando and then back to Charlotte can be very stressful at times.  And of course we’ll be driving another eight hours back to Charlotte in a few days.

4. Camp out instead of staying in a hotel. There are way too many toxins in a hotel room.  Just the toxins in the carpet alone is reason enough not to stay at a hotel.  Another option is to call around and find a hotel that has hardwood floors.  Just make sure they’re natural hardwood floors.

5. If you insist on staying at a hotel, bring along an air purifier.  This of course won’t help completely with the toxins, but having an air purification system will help to minimize your exposure to toxins while you’re in the hotel room.

6. Make sure to bring all of your own food and never eat out. To make things easier, when planning your vacation I would try to make sure you’re within driving distance of a health food store.  This way you can purchase your own food throughout the vacation.  It’s also a good idea to stay at a place where they have an oven so you can cook healthy meals every day.

7. Block out at least one hour each day to meditate. Even though you’re on vacation you ideally want to do more than one hour, as two or three would be even better.  I would recommend meditating one hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon, and one hour right before going to bed.

8. Don’t forget to exercise while on vacation. I would recommend to exercise every other day.  Do at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, and some light weightlifting as well.

9. Go to bed every night by 9pm. Most people who go on vacation stay up past their bedtime.  But since you’re trying to have a healthy vacation you want to go to sleep earlier.  I would try to get at least ten hours of sleep each night.

10. Heck…life is short, so forget all of the advice I just gave! Even though I want to encourage you to have a healthy vacation, you also need to enjoy your vacation.  This doesn’t mean you should eat loads of junk food all of the time while on vacation.  Eat well most of the time and indulge every now and then, try to manage your stress, and do what you can to minimize your exposure to toxins.  And make sure you do a thorough liver detoxification once you’re back home.

Okay, so this post wasn’t quite as humorous as David Letterman’s top ten list, but I tried my best.  Either way, I’d like to thank you for reading my articles and blog posts, and I look forward to sharing more valuable information with you in 2014.

The parathyroid glands are located on the back side of the thyroid glands, and are responsible for producing parathyroid hormone. This hormone plays an important role in the regulation of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. When calcium levels are low, the body responds by increasing the secretion of parathyroid hormone, which in turn increases the calcium levels in the blood. Hyperparathyroidism involves the excess production of parathyroid hormone, which in turn is due to overactivity of one or more of the parathyroid glands. From time to time I’ll have someone ask me “Is there is a natural treatment solution for hyperparathyroidism?”

In order to answer this, it’s important to look at the reasons why someone might develop hyperparathyroidism. There are two types of hyperparathyroidism.

Primary Hyperparathyroidism. This is the most common cause of hypercalcemia (1). The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is confirmed in the presence of hypercalcemia and either normal or elevated parathyroid hormone levels (1). The most common cause of this is due to an adenoma, which is a benign tumor. On rare occasions a malignant tumor is responsible for this condition. Hyperplasia (enlargement) of the parathyroid glands can be another cause of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. This is usually the result of another condition which lowers the calcium or vitamin D levels. Frequently it is associated with chronic kidney disease. The kidneys help with the conversion of vitamin D to its biologically active form, which is known as calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). If someone has kidney disease, then both the vitamin D and calcium levels can drop, and because of this the parathyroid glands will try to compensate for the decrease in the levels. In addition, when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls, the phosphorus clearance decreases significantly, leading to hyperphosphatemia, and this is thought to be the principal cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism (2).

How Is Hyperparathyroidism Diagnosed?

Symptoms can be caused by damage to the organs from high calcium levels in the blood, or by loss of calcium from the bones, and can include bone pain, depression, feeling tired or weak, increased urine production, kidney stones, nausea and loss of appetite (3). However, in many cases hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed before any symptoms develop, and one of the main findings is a high serum calcium level on the blood test. This doesn’t mean that everyone who has a high serum calcium level has hyperparathyroidism, but when someone does have elevated calcium levels then it usually is a good idea to do a retest of the serum calcium, and in addition, to test the levels of parathyroid hormone, which are frequently increased as well in hyperparathyroidism.

What Is The Conventional Medical Treatment For Hyperparathyroidism?

Surgery is commonly recommended for those with primary hyperparathyroidism, and is advised in the presence of significant hypercalcemia, impaired renal function, osteoporosis, and in individuals younger than 50 years of age (1). However, if the calcium levels aren’t too high, renal function isn’t impaired, the bone density is normal, and the person isn’t experiencing any symptoms, then the medical doctor might take a more conservative approach. Medical management of mild disease includes using bisphosphonates, hormone replacement therapy, and calcimimetics (4). In some cases they won’t intervene and might just regularly monitor the serum calcium levels and bone density, and of course have you monitor your symptoms.

When surgery is indicated, the success rate is high, although rare complications include recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and hypoparathyroidism (5). At times it can be challenging to find the adenoma, and when this is the case then cervical exploratory surgery might be required (6). While in the past subtotal and total parathyroidectomies were common, these days more and more people with hyperparathyroidism undergo minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP), which increases the chance of the person avoiding permanent hypoparathyroidism (7).

With secondary hyperparathyroidism, if the cause is due to a vitamin D deficiency then having the person supplement with vitamin D usually will be the recommended treatment. If the person has chronic kidney disease then this of course needs to be addressed. Just as is the case with primary hyperparathyroidism, phosphate binders and calcimimetics might be used in some cases. A parathyroidectomy is also a possibility in severe cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism (8).

Can Natural Treatment Methods Help with Hyperparathyroidism?

As for whether natural treatment methods can help with hyperparathyroidism, it depends on the cause. In cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, following a natural treatment protocol probably isn’t going to help much. However, keep in mind that this isn’t my area of expertise, as my practice focuses on thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, and not parathyroid issues. If someone has hyperparathyroidism which is caused by an adenoma, and they want to give natural treatment methods a try, then they might want to look into methods such as the Gerson Therapy, which can help with many different health conditions, and can be especially successful when dealing with adenomas and carcinomas.

If someone has secondary hyperparathyroidism then this stands a greater chance of being helped by following a natural treatment protocol. However, if someone has hyperparathyroidism due to chronic kidney failure then certain precautious need to be taken, such as eating a low protein diet. Whether or not you have primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, if you’re interested in trying to treat it naturally then in my opinion it’s best to work with a natural healthcare professional.

In summary, hyperparathyroidism involves the excess production of parathyroid hormone, and there are two different types. Primary hyperparathyroidism is frequently caused by an adenoma, although in some cases it can be caused by a malignant tumor or hyperplasia. Secondary hyperparathyroidism can be caused by a vitamin D deficiency, and is frequently caused by chronic kidney disease. There is a greater chance of people with secondary hyperparathyroidism being helped by following a natural treatment protocol, although it still might be worth looking into natural treatment methods for those who have primary hyperparathyroidism. This is especially true for those who are asymptomatic and/or only have slightly elevated serum calcium levels.

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is “how can I find a natural endocrinologist?”  Some people who ask this question are actually trying to find out how to find a natural healthcare professional who focuses on endocrine conditions.  However, others are hopeful that they can find an endocrinologist who will treat their patients naturally.

The truth is that it is rare to find an actual endocrinologist who focuses on natural treatment methods.  This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but I wouldn’t count on finding a local endocrinologist who has a great deal of knowledge about eating well, nutritional supplements and herbs, eliminating toxins, etc.  Unless if you get lucky and happen to have a natural-minded endocrinologist in your area, usually the best case scenario is finding an endocrinologist who is open to you working with a DIFFERENT healthcare professional who focuses on endocrine conditions.

I’ve consulted with numerous patients whose endocrinologist wasn’t supportive of natural treatment methods.  I’ve even had a few patients who told me their endocrinologist threatened to dismiss them from care if they continued to follow a natural treatment protocol.  So while it is rare to find an endocrinologist who recommends natural treatment methods, it also is a challenge to find such a doctor who is even open to the idea of one of their patients trying to get to the root cause of the condition.  Of course this comes down to their training in medical school, as they don’t receive any training with regards to nutrition, supplements and herbs, detoxification, etc.

Here’s An Alternative Option To Consider

Although you’re unlikely to find a local endocrinologist who recommends natural treatment methods to their patients, if you prefer to work with a medical doctor then you might be able to find a holistic medical doctor who has a good amount of experience dealing with endocrine conditions.  Most holistic medical doctors work with different types of conditions, but many see a good amount of people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  An example of this is Dr. David Brownstein.  I’ve mentioned him numerous times on my website, and actually interviewed him in the past in a blog post entitled ” An Interview With Dr. David Brownstein On Iodine and Thyroid Health“.

To my knowledge Dr. Brownstein doesn’t exclusively work with endocrine conditions.  But he sees a good amount of people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, and has even written a book on the topic.  I’m not suggesting that you consult with Dr. Brownstein, although if you live in Michigan then perhaps this is an option.  There of course are other medical doctors in practice who take a more natural approach with their patients, and perhaps even one practices nearby where you live or work.

Holistic Medical Doctor vs. Other Types of Natural HealthCare Professionals

The main advantage of seeing a holistic medical doctor is their ability to prescribe medication.  So for the person who has hyperthyroidism and needs to take antithyroid medication, then the holistic medical doctor will be able to write a prescription for this.  Similarly, someone with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis who needs to take thyroid hormone can also receive a prescription if working with a holistic medical doctor.  While just about all endocrinologists will recommend synthetic thyroid hormone (i.e. levothyroxine) to their patients with hypothyroid conditions, many holistic medical doctors are open to writing a prescription for natural thyroid hormone (i.e. Armour or Nature-Throid).

Other than the ability to write prescriptions there really isn’t any advantage of seeing a holistic medical doctor when compared to a different type of natural healthcare professional (keep in mind that in some states naturopathic doctors can write prescriptions for certain medications as well).  I’m sure many people feel more comfortable seeing a medical doctor due to their extensive training.  Just remember that this extensive training doesn’t involve anything that has to do with actually healing the body.  And most holistic medical doctors will admit to this, as they have received their training outside of medical school.  I commend those medical doctors who have taken the initiative to do more than just manage the symptoms of their patients.

If you do decide to see a holistic medical doctor, just make sure you look at his or her credentials AFTER they graduated from medical school.  In other words, what additional training did they receive once they became a medical doctor?  Did they just attend a couple of nutritional seminars, or did they dedicate hundreds of hours to better improve their knowledge?  Perhaps they have some additional credentials to prove this.  For example, the Institute of Functional Medicine has a certification program that many medical doctors have gone through.  I’m not sure if I would choose a medical doctor based on them having this certification alone, but if they have achieved this certification and in addition to this they have gone through additional training, then perhaps this is someone to consider working with.

In the future I plan on writing another post where I will discuss the different types of natural healthcare professionals.  This will include naturopaths, chiropractors, holistic medical doctors, acupuncturists, and other natural-oriented professionals.  The truth is that many of these natural healthcare professionals can help people with endocrine conditions.

In summary, while it is possible to find an endocrinologist who focuses on natural treatment methods, in most cases it will be very difficult to find one in your area.  But if you have your mind set on working with a medical doctor then you might have success finding a holistic medical doctor who isn’t an endocrinologist, yet has experience dealing with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  If you’re looking to choose a medical doctor mainly because they can prescribe medication (i.e. synthetic or natural thyroid hormone), remember that some states allow naturopathic doctors to prescribe medication as well.  While there are some excellent holistic medical doctors out there, just keep in mind that many other natural healthcare professionals have a good amount of experience with endocrine conditions.

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have enjoyed my articles and blog posts this past year, and there will be more to come in 2014!

The mitochondria have a number of important functions in a cell, and the most well known function involves the production of Adenosine triphosphate, which is also known as ATP.  In fact, most of the ATP is generated inside of the mitochondria.  ATP is created from the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats, and involves a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.  The goal of this post isn’t to discuss in detail the function of the mitochondria, but instead is to demonstrate how important they are to one’s thyroid health, and overall health as well.

But why is ATP important?  In addition to its well established role in cellular metabolism, extracellular ATP and its breakdown product adenosine exert pronounced effects in a variety of biological processes including neurotransmission, muscle contraction, cardiac function, platelet function, vasodilatation and liver glycogen metabolism (1).  ATP also plays an important role in DNA and RNA synthesis (2).

Certain coenzymes are important for the formation of ATP.  In order for these coenzymes to work efficiently, they require an adequate supply of certain nutrients.  This is one of the many reasons why eating well is extremely important to one’s overall health.

Although the mitochondria are essential for life, they constitute the greatest source of reactive oxidants.  They also contain heavy metal ions such as iron and copper, and all of this favors the formation of free radicals.  Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons, and in this state they are very reactive and can cause damage to our cells.  Fortunately the body produces antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage, and of course many people get antioxidants in the food they eat and/or the supplements they take.

The primary cause of cell death is a depletion of cellular ATP.  Mitochondrial function does deteriorate as one gets older.  It was proposed that the maximal life-span is mainly an expression of the genetic control over the rate of oxygen utilization, and that the rate of mitochondrial damage produced by free radical reactions increases with increasing oxygen consumption, which ultimately causes cell death (3).  So while oxygen is of course necessary to survive, aerobic metabolism is what leads to the formation of these free radicals.

Other Factors Which Lead To Mitochondrial Damage

As I mentioned earlier, free radicals are produced by the mitochondria.  So essentially the free radicals produced by the mitochondria are responsible for their own damage.  How does this happen?  Well, during oxidative phosphorylation, normally all of the oxygen consumed is converted in mitochondria to something called the superoxide radical.  Superoxide is then transformed to hydrogen peroxide by certain enzymes.  When these enzymes are unable to convert the superoxide radical to hydrogen peroxide, this causes oxidative damage.  Mitochondrial damage in turn can lead to the development of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha.

One also needs to keep in mind that certain nutrients are important for the mitochondria to function normally.  As a result, if someone eats a lot of refined foods and sugars, thus resulting in a deficiency of those nutrients important for mitochondrial function, then this can result in mitochondrial decay (4).

Certain toxins can also cause mitochondrial damage.  For example, one study showed that thimerosal-derived ethylmercury (which is used as a preservative in certain vaccines, skin test antigens, and tattoo inks), inhibits mitochondrial respiration and leads to an increase in the formation of superoxide (5).  The study found a five-fold increase in the levels of oxidant damaged mitochondrial DNA after Thimerosal treatment.

There is also evidence that certain pathogens can cause damage to the mitochondria.  For example, one study showed that Clostridium difficile can cause damage to the mitochondria (6).  However, this was conducted on hamsters, and it is unknown if the same effect takes place with humans.  There is also evidence that an H. Pylori infection can cause mitochondrial damage (7)

The Importance of Thyroid Hormone For The Health of The Mitochondria

It has been known for a long time that thyroid hormones act directly on mitochondria, and thereby control the transformation of the energy derived from oxidations into a form utilizable by the cell (8).  Those with hypothyroid conditions consume oxygen more slowly because the mitochondria respire slowly.  On the other hand, those with hyperthyroid conditions consume oxygen faster because the mitochondria consume oxygen faster.

One study I came across discussed how hyperthyroidism is associated with tissue oxidative injury (9).  In other words, hyperthyroidism can lead to an increase in mitochondrial damage.  However, the same study discussed how thyroid hormone can activate mitochondrial mechanisms which provide protection against tissue dysfunction.  So while having an excess amount of thyroid hormone isn’t a good thing for the health of the mitochondria, having healthy levels of thyroid hormone can help to protect the mitochondria from damage.

Another study I came across looked at the effect of thyroid hormone on the mitochondria (10).  The article discussed how thyroid hormone status has a profound impact on mitochondria, and that thyroid hormones stimulate mitochondriogenesis and increase cellular oxidative capacity.  So what this is saying is that thyroid hormone is important for the formation of mitochondria, and also increases the cells capacity to utilize oxygen.

How To Improve The Health Of The Mitochondria

I recently attended the International Conference on Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, and they dedicated an entire day discussing how to improve the health of the mitochondria.  One of the presenters was Dr. Matthew Hirschey, and he spoke about how caloric restriction can help to improve the health of the mitochondria, which in turn can increase lifespan.  This has not yet been proven in humans, although it has been proven with many different species of animals.  So while one wants to eat well, it also is important not to overeat, which of course many people have a tendency to do.

During the presentation Dr. Hirschey spoke about how Okinawa, Japan has the world’s longest life expectancy, and a low rate of chronic health conditions which are related to the aging process.  Although genetics can play a role in this, Dr. Hirschey also mentioned how they tend to eat until they are 80% full, whereas it’s common for people who live in other countries (including the United States) to eat until they are close to 100% full.  This of course is common when going out to eat, as many people will start off with a high carbohydrate appetizer, have a big meal, and even though they are stuffed will “make room” for dessert.

Regular exercise is also important for optimal heath of the mitochondria.  It seems that an age-associated decline in mitochondrial function contributes to insulin resistance in the elderly (11), and studies have shown that there is a robust improvement in skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and function in response to an achievable program of moderate intensity physical activity (12). Another journal article discussed how the cardioprotective effects of exercise might be mediated, at least partially, by redox changes and include the up-regulation of mitochondrial chaperones, improved antioxidant capacity, and/or elevation of other protective molecules against cellular death (13).  More research needs to be done in this area, but the evidence is strong that engaging in moderate exercise on a regular basis improves the health of the mitochondria.

Certain nutritional supplements can also help to improve the health of the mitochondria.  Some of these include Acetyl-L-carnitine, CoQ10, resveratrol, lipoic acid, and omega 3 fatty acids.  This doesn’t mean that everyone should take all of these.  While I recommend for just about everyone to take an omega 3 fatty acid supplement, not everyone needs to take these other supplements I listed.  However, I do think it’s worth reading a blog post I wrote entitled “CoQ10 and Thyroid Health“, as many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions have depleted CoQ10 levels.   There is also evidence that improving the vitamin D status of those with a vitamin D deficiency can help to improve mitochondrial oxidative function (14).

To summarize these findings, thyroid hormone is important for the health of the mitochondria.  As a result, someone with a hypothyroid condition will have problems with the production of ATP.  Remember that ATP is important for energy production, and so a decreased production of ATP can lead to a decrease in energy, which is quite common with hypothyroid conditions.  But as I mentioned earlier in this post, ATP is also important for proper neurotransmission, muscle contraction, cardiac function, platelet function, vasodilatation and liver glycogen metabolism.  And so having a hypothyroid condition can affect all of these functions. On the other hand, a hyperthyroid condition can lead to an increase in mitochondrial damage.  Some of the factors which can help to improve the health of the mitochondria include caloric restriction, regular exercise, and taking certain nutrients such as magnesium, fish oils, the B vitamins, vitamin C, lipoic acid, and CoQ10.  Obviously taking supplements isn’t a substitute for eating well, as eating a diet consisting of mostly whole foods while avoiding the refined foods and sugars is essential for optimal mitochondrial health.

Most people who consult with me for the first time are aware of the importance of eating a healthy diet.  Many of these people have already made some wonderful changes, as it’s not uncommon for me to consult with someone who is gluten free, dairy free, avoids refined foods and sugars, etc.  Of course there are also people who know they need to eat well, but haven’t yet made the necessary changes.

While people should strive to eat healthy most of the time, if someone begins a natural treatment protocol it is extremely important to be strict.  Every now and then in my articles and blog posts I discuss how I’ll indulge every now and then, as I’ll have a slice of pizza or dessert, or eat something else that I normally wouldn’t eat.  However, when I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and followed a natural treatment protocol I was very strict.  I began following a natural treatment protocol during the fall, which means that I eventually had to deal with the holiday season.  I also had a birthday during this time, and it admittedly was tough not having any birthday cake!

For those people following a natural treatment protocol in an attempt to restore their health back to normal, it is important to avoid the temptations that the holiday season might bring.  While many of the patients I work with do a great job of eating well, some people fall off the wagon as soon as Thanksgiving arrives, and many don’t get back on track until after the New Year.  I’ve had patients who were doing a wonderful job of following their diet for numerous months until the holiday season arrived.

Why Is It So Difficult For Many People To Eat Healthy During The Holiday Season?

One of the big problems with holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas is that many families and friends get together for meals.  This makes it extremely difficult to avoid the temptations, unless if perhaps you’re the host of these gatherings.  But even in this case this can be a challenge, as chances are most of your guests won’t be expecting a gluten free , low-carbohydrate meal, along with healthier dessert choices (i.e. fresh fruit).  Some people will prepare unhealthy foods for their friends and family members but will avoid eating them.  But for some people, it is very difficult to resist these foods.  If I had the temptation of pecan pie when I followed a natural treatment protocol I’m not sure if I would have been able to resist having a small piece!

Speaking of which, last year around Thanksgiving I had a couple of patients ask if it was okay to have a slice of gluten-free pecan pie.  If someone has just started a natural treatment protocol then it’s probably best for them to avoid these types of desserts, even if they are gluten free.  On the other hand, if someone can’t resist the pecan pie, then of course I’d prefer them to eat a gluten-free version.  But overall it’s best to stick with eating whole foods when someone is restoring one’s health back to normal.

But what about those people who have already restored their health back to normal?  Well, if someone has already restored their health back to normal and then eats a few bad meals or desserts during the holiday season this usually won’t cause a problem.  So for example, if someone eats some unhealthy food on Thanksgiving day, and then again at a holiday party, and one more time for a Christmas or Chanukah dinner, in most cases this won’t cause any long-lasting problems.  On the other hand, the person who eats junk food just about every day from Thanksgiving to New Years Day is more likely to encounter problems, and might even suffer a relapse.

What Can You Do To Avoid The Temptations?

When it comes to avoiding the temptations which come along with the holiday season, it really comes down to one’s mindset.  For example, I grew up eating mostly junk food, and even though I was eating much healthier before being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, I was far from perfect.  But as I mentioned before, once I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease I was pretty strict.  And the main reason for this was a change in my mindset, as I just told myself that I was going to do everything I could to restore my health back to normal, and this included avoiding junk food until I had restored my health.

For other people it might be a greater challenge to make these changes.  For example, if someone works at a corporate job where they constantly have junk food available for the holidays and/or have holiday parties, then this can admittedly be challenging.  Similarly, if you do dinner at the house of a family member or friend who prepares a dinner consisting of plenty of carbohydrates (i.e. mashed potatoes, pasta, pastries and other foods you should avoid), this also can be a challenge when you’re constantly around these foods.  Of course you can simply plan to stay home for the holidays, which I realize might mean breaking a tradition, but when it comes to your health it is worth it.

With the corporate job example it could be a greater challenge, as I don’t know of anyone who quit their job due to the constant exposure of unhealthy food during work.  However, in this case you just need to make the decision that you will avoid all of the temptations and do whatever is necessary to restore your health back to normal.  And if you need a little bit of motivation I’ll tell you a personal story that some people reading this have already heard.

When I was a student in chiropractic college I went on my first liver detoxification program under the guidance of another healthcare professional (my nutrition instructor from chiropractic school).  I forgot exactly how long the detoxification was for, but it was at least one month in duration, and I had to avoid all processed foods, and initially had to avoid eating meet.  So I was able to eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and I think a small amount of grains, although I can’t remember for sure.  This was pure torture for someone who was used to eating plenty of processed foods on a daily basis.  In any case, I attended chiropractic college right outside of Atlanta Georgia, and during the detoxification I wanted to attend a seminar which took place in Orlando Florida.  I went with a friend, whose parents lived in Daytona Florida.  And so on our way to Orlando we stopped by his parent’s house and spent the night there.

We arrived right around dinner time, and I remember his father saying  “Let’s go out for pizza”.  Just like many other people, I loved pizza (and still do).  And if there was one big weakness of mine, it was pizza!  To make a long story short, I went to the pizza place with my friend and his family, and I ate a plain salad (no dressing, no croutons, no parmesan cheese, no chicken) while everyone else was eating pizza.  I realize for many people this isn’t a big deal, but at that time it was extremely difficult for me to avoid this temptation.  The reason I brought up this story was to provide some motivation, as if I was able to avoid pizza that night, there is no question that anyone reading this can avoid the temptations of the holiday season (yes, even pecan pie!).

In summary, without question it can be a challenge to avoid eating junk food during the holiday season.  For those people following a natural treatment protocol, it is very important to try to eat well during this time.  But it also is important for those people trying to maintain their health.  In order to avoid these temptations, the best thing you can do is to change your mindset and make the decision that you are going to eat healthy, and under no circumstances will cheat.  And you also want to try your best to avoid those situations where you will be surrounded by these unhealthy foods.