17/04/2021
About 20% of people with celiac disease have thyroid antibodies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Research has found that people with autoimmune thyroid diseases have an increased risk of developing celiac disease, AND, people with celiac disease have an increased risk of having autoimmune thyroid disease⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Given these risks, some experts recommend that patients with AITD should be routinely screened for celiac disease and vice versa⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So what is the relationship between gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and Hashimotos?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📍MOLECULAR MIMICRY: the protein within gluten, called gliadin, is molecularly very similar to the thyroid gland. When gluten enters the bloodstream from the digestive tract (which happens due to leaky gut) and the immune system is already prepared to attack the thyroid, the body then reacts and attacks, making symptoms worse.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📍GENES: Another reason is the fact that they share specific genes. The gene variants that make you more susceptible to developing autoimmune endocrine diseases like AITD, DR3–DQ2 and/or DR4–DQ8 are the same ones that predispose you to celiac disease.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Studies have found that a gluten-free diet can reduce thyroid antibodies TPOAb and TbAB and increase serum levels of vitamin D (PMID: 30060266)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Some benefits of a gluten-free diet:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Healing your gut could increase absorption of your thyroid meds⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Could reduce medication dose due to increased absorption ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Decreasing symptoms related to celiac disease or sensitivity, such as fatigue, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, joint pain, depression, and anxiety⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Decreased inflammation in your thyroid gland⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Increased absorption of all nutrients⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The good news is that the right diet and lifestyle choices can work wonders when it comes to treating and healing the thyroid!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀..⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Have you gone on a gluten free diet?