Eat + Enjoy + Restore
Your immune system lies in your gut, literally! Think of your gut as a home to trillions of microorganisms working hard to keep everything in balance. Your gut microbiome is the backbone of your digestion, nutrient absorption, and most importantly, your immune system. Ever wondered […]
As a gut-health dietitian, I often emphasize the importance of understanding how our diet choices, including the types of foods and when we eat them, influence our overall well-being. Today, we will explore the intricate world of macronutrients and specific dietary approaches—like the low-carb/Keto diet […]
Welcome back to our in-depth exploration into the fascinating world of thyroid and gut health! In Part 1, we examined the intricate relationship between your thyroid and gut, covering conditions like Hashimoto’s Disease and hypothyroidism.
But diagnosing the issue is only the first step on your journey to holistic wellness. Now it’s time to lay out a practical roadmap that integrates cutting-edge scientific research with tried-and-true healing practices.
Let’s dive in!
Your first stop on the path to wellness is partnering with a medical doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for your thyroid condition. Blood tests like TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies can give a comprehensive picture of how your thyroid is functioning.
Once you’re diagnosed, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to help balance your thyroid hormone levels. Remember, achieving optimal thyroid levels will have a ripple effect on your gut health, making it easier to treat issues like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and gut inflammation.
If you’ve been struggling with symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, or irregular bowel movements, the odds are high that you’re dealing with SIBO or other gut inflammations. More and more research shows that the bacteria in your gut have a big impact on thyroid diseases. The bacteria can trigger immune responses, change the way thyroid hormones work, and impact how well your body absorbs important nutrients. But we’re still not sure exactly how this all happens, or which specific bacteria might be causing thyroid problems.
Treatment options may include antimicrobial therapy, herbal supplements, and dietary adjustments such as following a FODMAP Elimination Diet.
As a gut-health dietitian, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of prebiotics and probiotics. These can help to restore a healthy microbiome, which is a key player in both gut health and thyroid function. Additionally, I use the Mediator Release Test (MRT) while working with my clients. It’s a top-of-the-line blood test used to test your body’s reactions to over 170 foods and chemicals with an astounding accuracy rate of 94.5%. If you’re curious about how Micronutrient Testing could benefit you, click here to discuss the Mediator Release Test and its capabilities.
Nutrients like Selenium, Iron, Zinc, Iodine, and Vitamins A, D, and E play pivotal roles in thyroid hormone production and conversion:
Selenium is a crucial mineral that your body needs for a healthy immune system and thyroid. Your thyroid actually has the most selenium out of any organ in your body. If you don’t get enough selenium, it can mess with how well your thyroid works.
If you have thyroid problems, you might also have low levels of selenium. Some research suggests that in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases, selenium supplementation may reduce levels of antithyroid antibodies, improve thyroid structure, improve thyroid metabolism, and improve clinical symptoms.
Iron also plays a role in how well your thyroid works. If you don’t have enough iron, it can affect the making of thyroid hormones, even if you’re getting enough iodine (another key ingredient for thyroid hormones). Lack of iron can lead to problems like hypothyroidism, where your thyroid doesn’t work as well as it should.
Iron and iodine often work together in the body. In fact, some studies show that taking iron and iodine together is better than just taking iodine, especially in areas where people don’t get enough of these minerals.
Iodine is a key ingredient your body needs to make thyroid hormones. Most of the iodine in your body is stored in your thyroid gland. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it messes with the good bacteria in your gut and makes it harder for your body to absorb iodine. This is a two-way street; not absorbing iodine well can also worsen IBD.
If you don’t get enough iodine, you could end up with a swollen thyroid (goiter), thyroid nodules, or even thyroid cancer. But too much iodine isn’t good either. In some cases, it can even cause thyroid issues, either making it less active or overly active, depending on your health situation.
Vitamin D can do more than just keep your bones healthy; it also plays a role in how your immune system functions. This is why it’s thought to have an effect on your thyroid, especially in controlling overactive immune responses that can harm the thyroid.
Some studies have found that people with hypothyroidism often have lower levels of vitamin D compared to healthy people. However, it’s still unclear if low vitamin D levels cause hypothyroidism or if they are just a result of having the disease. Even though not all studies agree on this, because vitamin D supplements are fairly cheap and have minimal side effects, it might be a good idea to monitor vitamin D levels in people with thyroid issues like hypothyroidism.
That’s where Micronutrient Testing comes into play. In my Restore Program, I use SpectraCell’s Micronutrient test which measures 31 vitamins, minerals, amino/fatty acids, antioxidants, and metabolites – and how they affect cellular function in a person!
An often-overlooked aspect of gut health and thyroid wellness is caloric and macronutrient balance. Extreme diets can exacerbate gut inflammation and throw your thyroid hormones out of whack. It’s essential to ensure you’re getting a balanced mix of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in addition to adequate caloric intake to support both thyroid and gut health.
Adaptogens are natural substances that help your body adapt to stress, a frequent culprit in both thyroid and gut health issues. They mainly target three key glands— the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands— to maintain your body’s balance, known as homeostasis.
When stressed, these glands control the release of hormones like cortisol to help you manage. However, too much cortisol can disrupt this balance, affecting systems like your neurological and immune systems.
Overall, adaptogens could be a useful addition to your thyroid treatment plan because they help manage stress and inflammation. Adaptogens may especially benefit those with Hashimoto’s disease by stabilizing hormone production and reducing inflammation in the thyroid. However, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you’re already on medication for thyroid issues or other health conditions.
The intricate interplay between your thyroid and gut health requires a nuanced approach for effective treatment. By working closely with your healthcare team and incorporating these holistic practices, you’re not just putting a band-aid on the problem—you’re promoting systemic health and wellness!
If you’re committed to reclaiming your health and want a personalized game plan, click here to schedule your free call. On this call, we’ll review your current symptoms, prior medical history, and craft a comprehensive strategy to help you overcome your digestive, energy, pain, and inflammation issues.
As a gut-health dietitian, I’ve always been passionate about connecting the dots between various aspects of your health. Today, we’re going to talk about a subject that doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves—the important relationship between your thyroid and your gut health. Your thyroid, that […]
Welcome to the world of nutrition, where each nutrient plays a unique and essential role in our health and wellbeing. Today, we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of protein! This isn’t just about muscle gains or fitness fads; it’s about uncovering the deeper roles […]
Isn’t it mind-blowing how our gut microbiome—yep, the trillions of microbes in our gut—can impact our overall health? With new insights popping up, researchers are shining the spotlight on diets that can help improve our gut health and ease symptoms of digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One diet that’s bouncing back on the health radar is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD).
Despite being an oldie (but a goodie), the SCD is making waves again, thanks to its promising benefits for digestive health. So, I thought, why not unravel the mysteries of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet together? In this handy guide, we’ll chat about what SCD is, who might want to give it a go, and its potential pros and cons. Buckle up, it’s time for a deep dive into the world of SCD!
Alright, first things first: what is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? The SCD is a grain-free, low-sugar, low-lactose diet initially developed by Dr. Sidney Haas in the 1920s as a treatment for celiac disease.[1] Its efficacy for managing IBD was popularized by Elaine Gottschall in her 1987 book “Breaking the Vicious Cycle,” following her daughter’s positive experience with the diet.[2] While there are numerous anecdotal success stories, scientific research into the SCD as a treatment for IBD is still in the early stages, with preliminary results indicating potential benefits for patients.[2]
Simply put, SCD is all about choosing carbs with specific molecular structures—more on that in a bit! The main idea is to enjoy natural, unprocessed foods, leaving complex carbs and refined sugars on the shelf.
Originally intended for people with celiac disease, SCD is now seen as a handy dietary tool for various gut-related troubles like Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Cystic fibrosis, Diverticulitis, and the ever-common Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).[1] Plus, some studies suggest it could even help those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), thanks to the strong connection between our gut and brain health.[1]
The principle is that complex carbohydrates can encourage harmful bacterial growth in the small intestine, particularly for those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).[3] This can lead to inflammation and nutrient absorption issues. SCD aims to curb this issue by cutting out all carbohydrates with two or more linked sugar molecules, including di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides.[3] Instead, it permits carbohydrates with single sugar molecules (monosaccharides), which are easier for the digestive tract to absorb.[3]
As hinted by its name, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is all about limiting certain carbs, and the reason lies in their molecular composition. The SCD labels any food or food additive carrying two or more chemically bonded sugar molecules as “illegal”. To get scientific about it, if a food contains disaccharides, oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides, it’s going to make the SCD’s “do-not-eat” list. Here are the main groups of foods to avoid while following the SCD:[2]
On the other hand, the foods approved by the SCD are collectively referred to as “legal.” Most of the foods on this list are unprocessed, whole foods that don’t offer many complex carbs. The main sources of approved or “legal” carbs in the SCD come from the monosaccharides glucose, fructose and galactose. These approved foods include:[2]
Like any dietary approach, the SCD has its strengths and weaknesses:[1]
Pros:
Cons:
If you think the Specific Carbohydrate Diet could be beneficial for you, it’s important to know the stages of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Remember, it’s not a race! You may stay in each stage for a few days or a few weeks—it all depends on how your body responds. Here are the different stages:[1]
Introduction (to be followed for no more than 2-5 days):
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Stage 4:
Stage 5: Maintenance
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a promising approach for those struggling with certain digestive disorders. However, it’s important to remember that each person’s needs are unique, and what works for one individual might not work for another. Therefore, it’s recommended to seek professional guidance from a Registered Dietitian before making significant dietary changes.
If you suspect you have a gut health issue but aren’t sure if the SCD is right for you, consider comprehensive gut health testing to help guide your dietary choices. This can provide a clearer picture of your gut microbiome and help identify potential triggers for your symptoms. That’s why in my practice I use The Mediator Release Test (MRT). The MRT is an endpoint test that provides the most comprehensive information on the market for reactive and non-reactive foods and chemicals. Currently, MRT tests 170 different foods and chemicals!
Similar in premise to the SCD, the Low FODMAP diet is another dietary strategy that aims to improve gut health. While the SCD focuses on the molecular structure of carbohydrates, the FODMAP diet focuses on reducing short-chain carbohydrates that are hard to digest and can lead to gastrointestinal distress. Both diets aim to create a more balanced gut environment and reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.
Ultimately, a healthy diet is one that is sustainable, enjoyable, and meets your individual nutritional needs. Whether that’s the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, the low FODMAP diet, or a different approach entirely, the most important thing is that you’re taking steps towards better health!
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