What are the best supplements to take for Hashimoto’s disease? This is such an important question. Hashimoto’s is a real thing, it’s an autoimmune condition, and all too often people think that thyroid medications are the only solution.
In this article, I want to help you consider some natural solutions to safely heal and recover from Hashimoto’s (and which supplements can play a key role). I hope you will join me on today’s journey!
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Named after the doctor who found the disease, Hashimotos’ is an autoimmune state in which the body’s immune system is damaging structures within the thyroid and leaving it less able to function properly.
What we have learned is that this causes symptoms in two ways:
These structures that exist within the thyroid are not limited to the thyroid. The same chemical compounds and proteins, when they are being attacked by the immune system, a lot of other stuff is being attacked, too.
In many ways, this causes a fundamental upset in the chemistry of the body. While that does correlate to the long-term slowdown of the thyroid, but the degree to which the thyroid slows down is not very common at all.
Key Insight: People often work at trying to boost thyroid hormone through medication alone, but the real core problem here is the autoimmunity. We have to solve for that.
The purpose of supplements for Hashimoto’s are to do three things: lower autoimmunity in the body, heal the thyroid, and lower antibodies. Let’s break down each of these…
1. Thyroid-Specific Multivitamins
Your needs when experiencing Hashimoto’s differ from your needs otherwise.
That’s why I created a whole line of Thyroid-Specific Formulations for this exact reason. 26 Years of experience, and over 100,000 patient visits – taught me that most thyroid supplements have ingredients that work against my patients’ thyroid results. You don’t have to use my line of Thyroid Specific Formulations.
No matter what brand you take. Here’s what you want to look for.
While there are a lot of supplements that work fine generally, they won’t work as great when you have thyroid disease. One of the biggest examples here is iodine.
This is because, in the case of Hashimoto’s, the things that the body attacks includes:
Thyroglobulin is a protein which we use to store iodine. The more iodine there is, the more it is irritated. Thyroid peroxidase’s job is oxidizing iodide into the more active iodine. When there is too much there, the body blocks it.
Another big thing to think about is synthetic B6. There is lots of data saying that if people are suffering from thyroid disease, they simply cannot activate it well enough (their liver cannot convert it). This can result in a lot of nerve pain, anxiety, tremors, fatigue, and more.
The last big thing to mention is synthetic folate. Almost universally, those with thyroid disease have been found to have variations in how they metabolize folic acid compounds. This can manifest in a host of digestive symptoms and higher risks of colorectal cancer.
Key Insight: Essentially, we can’t responsibly say that all hormones work when it comes to benefits, but that hormones are different when it comes to the side effects.
You need these. Essential fatty acids are great because they help regulate immunity and lower inflammation. The trick is that the most biologically active versions of fatty acids come from fish oil, and they can easily be laden with iodine.
In thyroid-specific formulations, we only use fish oils which are assayed to be low enough in iodine and safe enough in appropriate amounts.
Vitamin D is critical. The body needs it in different amounts, and so you can easily get too much. While you don’t want to be deficient, you also don’t want to be in an excess.
When there is too much, the body raises levels of calcium which can drive calcification reactions which are problematic for thyroid disease.
Magnesium is a critical micronutrient that is commonly low with autoimmunity and worsens the entire process.
Those with thyroid disease are at a greater risk for bone loss, so calcium can play a key role here in mitigating that risk.
But, calcium can also disrupt the absorption of thyroid medications when used in the wrong types and the wrong timing.
In Hashimoto’s disease, it is crucial to calm the immune response. Antibody Support is made for that exact purpose. It is a blend of a special subspecies of nigella (also called black cumin), clinically proven to lower thyroid autoimmunity.
Combined with inositol and selenium, all three of these have been independently proven in human studies to have a positive effect on calming overall immune response (while decreasing the symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease).
There is a high rate of thyroid nodules present in those with thyroid disease. That is important because 3-7% of these nodules are cancerous, and develop into thyroid cancer.
As it happens, thyroid cancers have seen the fastest increase amongst women in North America and are more common for those with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Nodule Control can be a big player here and can help heal thyroid nodules naturally.
Some optional supplements for Hashimotos’ include:
I made Thyroid Daily as the core blend of micronutrients. Everything in there, the amount, type, quantity, is made specifically for those with autoimmune thyroid disease. That combined with Omega Pure and Calcium Magnesium makes the daily reset bundle.
Those are foundational micronutrients for anyone with thyroid disease. I did that because it remains important that you get the right amount of micronutrients, and not too much at once, so that you can see the maximum benefit in a host of different ways.
These things work in a lot of ways by desensitizing the body to the inflammatory effects of iodine. So, it stands to reason that if you have less iodine coming in, your body is going to heal and things will work even better.
That is why all these steps are best accomplished in the context of the Thyroid Reset Diet. This is not to avoid all iodine, but it puts you in that sweet, safe iodine window. This gives you the highest chance to heal, recover and maintain good health.
The best supplements for those with Hashimoto’s disease are the ones made with intention. Targeted nutritional supplements can provide valuable support for those with autoimmune thyroid disease.
They help regulate the immune system, lower antibodies, support thyroid health, and reduce the impact of the disease.
To learn a bit more about the Thyroid-Specific Formulations I have crafted, you can check out the full selection here. Or, take the Thyroid Quiz today to get a real read on your current health, where things stand, and where you should head next.
P.S. Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you now:
Dr. Alan Glen Christianson (Dr. C) is a Naturopathic Endocrinologist and the author of The NY Times bestselling Hormone Healing Cookbook, The Metabolism Reset Diet, and The Thyroid Reset Diet.
Dr. C’s gift for figuring out what works has helped hundreds of thousands reverse thyroid disease, heal their adrenals, and lose weight naturally. Learn more about the surprising story that started his quest.
