autoimmune thyroiditis

Can COVID-19 Trigger Hashimoto’s Disease?

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We have known since the early 1970s that infections can trigger autoimmune diseases and now we have an interesting hypothesis on the potential triggering of Hashimoto’s disease by COVID-19 infection.

A recent case study out of Singapore published in the Singapore Medical Journal entitled, “COVID-19 complicated by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis” presents an individual who developed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis after contracting COVID-19.

COVID-19 can cause a hyperinflammatory state in the body which is a potential recipe for developing autoimmune disease. The authors begin by pointing out the most current literature on COVID-19 connections to the autoimmune diseases antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Leaky Gut and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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There have never been any studies on leaky gut and Hashimoto’s disease but now we have a new study on this connection. Leaky gut was something rejected by conventional medicine despite the fact that papers on leaky gut date back to the 1970s. For many years functional medicine practitioners have been testing for it and treating it which has helped many patients overcome their chronic illnesses. There are currently over 500 published scientific papers on leaky gut so there is no doubt it exists.

Hashimoto’s Disease Improves by Eradicating Blastocystis Hominis

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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There is a new exciting paper on the connection between eradicating the intestinal parasite Blasctocystis hominis and improving Hashimoto’s disease. I previously reported this infection connection in a case study which revealed an individual with Hashimoto’s disease getting better after eradicating Blastocystis hominis. Case studies aren’t the strongest scientific proof of a particular therapy but now we have an excellent paper with three research groups including a much-needed control group.

Iodine and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The connection between iodine and Hashimoto’s disease has been one of the most requested topics that I cover, so I’d like to present the research on this topic, so we can set the record straight. Please be aware that none of this is my opinion but rather a detailed analysis of what the scientific literature currently presents.

Your body has about 15 to 20 mg of iodine and 70 to 80% of it resides in the thyroid gland. Iodine is transported into the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodine symporter or NIS. The thyroid peroxidase enzyme oxidizes iodine which is then integrated into thyroglobulin resulting in the production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates this process.

Your thyroid only needs 150 to 250 micrograms a day of iodine to function properly. Once iodine intake exceeds this range, hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease may occur in some individuals.

What are Optimal TSH Levels in Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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TSH is the current gold standard for diagnosis of hypothyroidism but are the current TSH levels optimal and how do they relate to Hashimoto’s disease? An excellent paper out of China entitled, “Using Hashimoto thyroiditis as gold standard to determine the upper limit value of thyroid stimulating hormone in a Chinese cohort” has shed some light on this important question which looked at the upper limit of TSH levels in relation to Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism.

The authors begin by stating that subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by “normal” T4, T3, Free T4, and Free T3 with an elevated TSH. And these patients have an increased risk of cholesterol abnormalities, heart disease, mental illness, and pregnancy complications even though their symptoms are relatively mild.

How Your Gut Microbiota Affects Your Thyroid

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Your gut microbiota has an intimate connection with your thyroid including connections with hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease. In this research review I’d like to cover a recent paper entitled, “Microbiota and Thyroid Interaction in Health and Disease” published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism by Eleonare Frohlich and Richard Wahl.

The authors begin by stating that the gut microbiota can act on thyroid function due to the region of where someones lives, their diet including iodine intake, obesity, age, sex hormones, and how autoimmunity can impact the microbiota. I was impressed to see them state that the gut microbiota is linked to autoimmune disease, estrogen, iodine, and obesity. Estrogen can be a key factor in Hashimoto’s disease and a healthy gut is required for optimal estrogen metabolism and excretion through the feces.

They also mention the connection between the gut and the liver in relation to thyroid hormone metabolism in both these organ systems. Your gut is key to properly absorbing and utilizing the thyroid medication that you’re taking and they mention this as well.

Ashwagandha, Hashimoto’s Disease, and Subclinical Hypothyroidism

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Ashwagandha is one of my favorite supplements for Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism and we have some excellent studies to support using it for these conditions.

The main study I’ll cover in this research review is entitled, “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial” published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. We’re already off to a good start just by reading the title which indicates that it is a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study so we know it is of the highest standard.

Autoimmune Paleo Diet and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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We finally have a study specifically looking at the efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet, also known as the Autoimmune Paleo Diet or AIP, and Hashimoto’s disease. The exact title of the paper is, “Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as Part of a Multi-disciplinary, Supported Lifestyle Intervention for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis” by Abbott et al. Published in April of 2019 in the journal Cureus. I break down the study details below so you can better understand if this diet actually works for Hashimoto’s disease.

The Hashimoto’s Disease and SIBO Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Is there a connection among Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth also known as SIBO? Does Hashimoto’s disease cause SIBO or does SIBO cause Hashimoto’s? I’ll answer these questions in my latest research review below.

There isn’t a lot of research, only two papers actually, on the specific connection between Hashimoto’s disease and SIBO which I’ll cover in this article. There are more papers on the connection between hypothyroidism and SIBO without mention of Hashimoto’s and the basic conclusion of those papers is that hypothyroidism is connected to SIBO because gastric motility is decreased in hypothyroidism. Decreased gastric motility basically means the food you eat is moving through the bowels to slowly so bacteria can build-up in the small intestine.

Blastocystis Hominis Hashimoto's Disease

Can Blastocystis Hominis Cause Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Our discussion today revolves around a microscopic parasite called Blastocystis hominis, a case of hives and Hashimoto’s disease!

The case report was published in 2015 in The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. The report was entitled, “Eradication of Blastocystis hominis prevents the development of symptomatic Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: a case report. The case involved a singular subject who was suffering from chronic urticaria (hives), angioedema (skin swelling) and overly soft stools who also showed signs of Hashimoto’s disease.

But before we delve into more details, let me provide you with some basic background information.

Can Thiamine Improve Hashimoto’s Disease-Related Fatigue?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Are you doing everything right for your Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism but still experiencing fatigue? A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link and the b-vitamin thiamine is an important link in thyroid function and energy production that could improve Hashimoto’s disease-related fatigue. Restrictive diets like the A utoimmune Paleo D iet, gluten-free diet, and ketogenic diet can possibly lead to a thiamine deficiency if there isn’t enough variety in the diet. Once this important vitamin becomes deficient, a number symptoms can appear as well as sluggish thyroid function.

Healing Hashimoto’s Disease with Andrea Nakayama

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed Andrea Nakayama in a discussion about strategies for healing Hashimoto’s disease. We talked about her “3 Tiers to Epigenetic Mastery” and how they relate to Hashimoto’s disease and thyroid health. Within the 3 tiers we discussed stress, gut health, infections, micronutrient deficiencies, adverse childhood experiences, SIBO, reproductive hormones, goitrogens, iodine, and all the various diets that people are following these days.

Andrea is a clinician but also a Hashimoto’s patient so it was a real pleasure to get her insight and expertise on healing Hashimoto’s disease.

Hashimoto's Food Pharmacology Dr. Izabella Wentz

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology with Dr. Izabella Wentz

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interview Dr. Izabella Wentz about her new book, “Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology.” We had a great talk about Hashimoto’s disease, Dr. Wentz’s Hashimoto’s healing journey, foods that can help heal Hashimoto’s disease, green smoothies, bone broth, and some recipes that can help heal Hashimoto’s disease.

I highly recommend all of Dr. Wentz’s books and her new book will help you make food easier and healthier so you can heal your Hashimoto’s disease.

Should You Avoid Dairy if You Have Hashimoto’s Disease?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In the last several months, we’ve examined how certain supplements such as vitamin D, genistein, cordyceps and inositol impact Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Today, we’re going to investigate how dairy—in the form of lactose—affects Hashimoto’s disease. Specifically, I’m going to be addressing these two points:

1. How avoiding dairy helps Hashimoto’s disease

2. How dairy affects the absorption of thyroid medication

Cordyceps and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The Therapeutic Effect of Cordyceps on Hashimomoto’s Disease and Graves’ Disease

In 2016, a clinical trial was conducted in China that aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of cordyceps on Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.

The research paper was entitled, “Dual-Directional Effects of Corbrin Capsule on Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases” and was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Let’s find out what this research paper showed if cordyceps could help Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.

Optimal Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Levels

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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One of the most common questions I get is, “What are optimal Hashimoto’s thyroiditis antibody levels?” For years, many patients and clinicians have been chasing thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (TG) antibody levels in an attempt to get them as low as possible or even undectable as a measure of success. This can leave many people frustrated and stressed about their condition. Some individuals feel that these levels should become undetectable in order to consider the condition in complete remission. But is this entirely true or necessary?

Dr. David Brady Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this episode of The Dr. Hedberg Show, I interviewed Dr. David Brady about the new GI-MAP stool test by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. We discussed many topics including autoimmune disease, stool testing, stealth infections, gut infections, the gut microbiome and much more. This is the stool test I use in my practice to identify bacterial dysbiosis, viruses, parasites, yeast, and overall digestive health.

Shannon Garrett Hashimoto’s Disease Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview on The Dr. Hedberg Show, I had a great time talking to Shannon Garrett about Hashimoto’s disease.

We started by talking about Shannon’s personal journey with Hashimoto’s disease. And then we got into how stress triggers Hashimoto’s disease as well as emotions and early adverse life events in childhood and how they connect to autoimmune disease as an adult.

Hypothyroid Mom – Dana Trentini Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this podcast episode I interview Dana Trentini, the founder of the well-known Hypothyroid Mom blog. I really enjoyed our talk, in particular discussing thyroid issues with someone who is so passionate about thyroid health.

Dana Trentini created the thyroid advocacy blog Hypothyroid Mom. Dana launched her blog on October 1st, 2012, in memory of the unborn baby she lost due to hypothyroidism. She set out on a mission to learn all she could about hypothyroidism and to share her discoveries with people around the globe. Dana has since been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic.

The Gut Thyroid Connection

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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The gut-thyroid connection is one of the most important and overlooked aspects of healthy thyroid function. Did you know that many diseases can be traced to a breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract? 70 percent of your immune system resides in this area – your gut, and the GI tract has many important functions for your health including digestion, nutrient absorption, elimination, detoxification, hormone metabolism and energy production. 99% of the neurotransmitters in your body are actually created in the intestine (part of your GI tract), and every brain chemical known as a neurotransmitter is found there. This means the GI tract, or gut, plays a very important role in achieving optimal thyroid health.

Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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Understanding the importance of gluten and Hashimoto’s disease may be the key factor in healing your thyroid.

The Link Between Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

Has your doctor talked to you about the link between gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease? Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune condition that causes 90% of all cases of hypothyroidism. Gluten is a combination of proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt and many others. Ongoing scientific research indicates that there is a dangerous link between eating foods that contain gluten and Hashimoto’s disease.

The hard truth is that gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease are a destructive combination. If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you need to completely avoid gluten to avoid triggering autoimmune attacks on your thyroid gland. However, you may not have to avoid gluten forever but this depend on a number of factors.

Thyroid Nation Dr. Hedberg Interview Hashimoto's Disease and Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease Thyroid Nation Radio Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was recently interviewed by Diana Bowman on Thyroid Nation in a discussion about Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism

Diana : Hi everybody! Welcome to the third week, episode three, of Thyroid Nation Radio Talk Show Live and Podcast. I’m Diana Bowman, founder of thyroidnation.com.

Tiffany: And I’m Tiffany Mladinich [SP] of gratefulgarden.biz.

Diana: Also known as Diana and Tiffany, bringing you the voices of thyroid advocates, clinicians, bloggers and thyroid thrivers everywhere. In just a few minutes, we’ll be talking live with Dr. Nikolas Hedberg [SP]. I know that, I for one, am really excited. We’ve had kind of a working relationship, Dr. Hedberg and I, over the last, I don’t know, seven or eight months. I have lots of articles of his on my site, which are fabulous. Tiffany, I’m excited. Are you excited?

Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism Radio Interview

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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I was recently interviewed by The Natural Nurse – Dr. Ellen Kamhi discussing Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism on the Progressive Radio Network. This was one of my favorite interviews and I really enjoyed talking to Dr. Kamhi.

Here is a list of the topics we discussed during the interview:

What got you started in working with patients who have thyroid disorders?
Why do so many people suffer from a thyroid problem?
What are the most common causes of thyroid disorders?
What tests should patients ask for from their doctors to uncover the underlying causes of their thyroid problem?
There are many types of thyroid medication, what are the best choices available today?
Is iodine a safe and effective supplement for those with Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism?
When is a gluten-free diet the best option for someone with a thyroid problem?
Can you tell us why vitamin D may not be the best option?
If you have an underlying infection that is driving your Hashimoto’s disease, what are the best treatment options?
What is the best diet for someone with a thyroid disorder?
Do people need to worry about goitrogens in foods?
Please tell us more about leaky gut syndrome and some strategies to heal the digestive system.
How does hormone replacement affect thyroid function?
How does stress and the adrenal glands affect thyroid function?
What are some of the most effective supplements for someone with Hashimoto’s disease?

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease Podcast

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

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In this interview I discuss Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease with Linda Lizotte.

Linda: This Linda Lizotte, I’m the co-founder of Designs for Health, nutritionist and I’m happy to interview Dr. Nikolas Hedberg tonight. Let me tell you a little bit more about his background. Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, he’s a D.C., D.A.B.C.I. He’s a board certified chiropractic internist by the American Board of Chiropractic Internist. His practice is in Asheville, North Carolina where he focuses on autoimmune thyroiditis.

What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

In this video I answer the question, “What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?”

Well, welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and today I’m going to be talking about all the different causes of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. So Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is the most common autoimmune disease in the world. And it’s also the number cause of hypothyroidism in the world. One of the things about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is that conventional medicine doesn’t really recognize Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as a major problem. And what I mean by that is that if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the treatment is going to be the same for you if you just have hypothyroidism and don’t have an autoimmune disease.

What’s the Link Between Thyroid and Hair Loss?

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

The connection between the thyroid and hair loss may not be immediately clear. But hair loss, sometimes known as alopecia, is one of the classic symptoms of low thyroid or hypothyroidism, along with fatigue, weight gain, constipation, depression, muscle or joint pain, sensitivity to cold and a number of other problems.

The link between a low functioning thyroid and hair loss, and all the other symptoms named above, is that they are all related to a decrease in energy production or metabolism. The thyroid gland produces hormones that control metabolism. When your thyroid gland is damaged, either by an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s Disease or any of the other many causes of hypothyroidism, it does not produce an adequate supply of the hormones your body needs to produce energy necessary for normal bodily functions.

Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Below is a transcript of the video on Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders:

I want to welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nikolas Hedberg and tonight we’re talking about herbal medicines for thyroid disorders. Let’s go ahead and bring out that slide show.

Thank you everyone for coming. We just started doing these webinars a few months ago and I’m going to be doing more and more of them. I think that these are great way to educate everyone on different topics.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Webinar

by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg

Okay. Well, welcome, everyone to this Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Webinar. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight we’re talking about Hashimoto’s Thyroid. Like I was saying previously, last year I did a lot of teleconferences, but I wanted to open it up, so you could have some visuals as well so you could see some PowerPoint slides. I’m going to talk a little bit and go through the slides and then we’ll do some questions at the end. You can do that by just typing your questions into the chat window on the little Start Meeting screen that you’ll see on the right, and then I’ll be able to answer your questions that way.

Can COVID-19 Trigger Hashimoto’s Disease?

Leaky Gut and Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s Disease Improves by Eradicating Blastocystis Hominis

Iodine and Hashimoto’s Disease

What are Optimal TSH Levels in Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism?

How Your Gut Microbiota Affects Your Thyroid

Ashwagandha, Hashimoto’s Disease, and Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Autoimmune Paleo Diet and Hashimoto’s Disease

The Hashimoto’s Disease and SIBO Connection

Can Blastocystis Hominis Cause Hashimoto’s Disease?

Can Thiamine Improve Hashimoto’s Disease-Related Fatigue?

Healing Hashimoto’s Disease with Andrea Nakayama

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology with Dr. Izabella Wentz

Should You Avoid Dairy if You Have Hashimoto’s Disease?

Cordyceps and Hashimoto’s Disease

The Therapeutic Effect of Cordyceps on Hashimomoto’s Disease and Graves’ Disease

Optimal Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Levels

Dr. David Brady Interview

Shannon Garrett Hashimoto’s Disease Interview

Hypothyroid Mom – Dana Trentini Interview

The Gut Thyroid Connection

Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

The Link Between Gluten and Hashimoto’s Disease

Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease Thyroid Nation Radio Interview

I was recently interviewed by Diana Bowman on Thyroid Nation in a discussion about Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism

Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism Radio Interview

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease Podcast

In this interview I discuss Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease with Linda Lizotte.

What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

In this video I answer the question, “What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?”

What’s the Link Between Thyroid and Hair Loss?

Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders

Below is a transcript of the video on Herbal Medicines for Thyroid Disorders:

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Webinar

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