Going Dairy Free to Reverse Hashimoto’s
Inside: If you're looking for a way to reverse your Hashimoto's disease, going dairy-free may be the answer. Find out how cutting out dairy can help improve your thyroid function and help you feel better.
Do you know most of your symptoms of Hashimoto’s can just vanish by going Dairy Free?
Yes, you heard it right! Most people suffering from Hashimoto’s are sensitive to dairy products. Hence dairy intake may cause different reactions in the body.
It may be gut reactions like bloating, diarrhea, and acid reflux or lung reactions like coughing, asthma, sinusitis, postnasal drip, and mucus or skin reactions like eczema, rashes, and acne. It happens because cow’s milk contains proteins called casein and whey which are considered foreign invaders by the person suffering from intestinal permeability.
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Hence, the body makes antibodies against those proteins to protect itself from what it perceives to be a threat. This kind of reaction is known as Type IV Delayed Hypersensitivity reaction. It is the IgG Branch of the Immune System that reacts in this case while there is another kind of food reaction known as IGA Food Reactions which takes place in the intestine.
It creates irritation and inflammation in the intestinal tract whenever certain foods are consumed which causes reactions. This damages the intestine and eventually makes it incapable to absorb nutrients.
Also, it increases the risk of autoimmune diseases and cancer and also boosts the aging process due to increased intestinal permeability. It may be asymptomatic or causes symptoms like diarrhea, loose stools, constipation, acid reflux, malabsorption of nutrients from foods, and increased intestinal damage along with IBS, gas, nausea, skin rashes (including eczema), acne, respiratory conditions such as asthma, nasal congestion, headaches, irritability, and vitamin/mineral deficiencies.
Dairy protein, egg, Gluten, and soy protein are some of the IgA intolerances that are extremely common in those with Hashimoto’s.
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It is also observed that continuous intake of dairy products after being IgA Intolerance makes the situation worse as these people continue to damage their intestines with every intake of restricted foods. Hence, it makes the intestine incapable of absorbing vital nutrients and makes people malnourished and nutrient depleted.
It is not surprising that every person who is suffering from Hashimoto’s has some level of Intestinal Permeability. This makes casein and whey proteins to be considered Foreign Invaders and all the problem starts from here! The immune system creates IgG Antibodies to protect itself which in turn worsen the conditions of Hashimoto’s and Thyroid.
Hence, people with Hashimoto’s have both IgG and IgA Food Reactions along with intolerance of Lactose which makes it very important for them to go for Dairy Free Diet to improve their Hashimoto’s condition and symptoms.
Once they adopt Dairy Free Diet, they can see noticeable results in their TSH Levels that drop significantly. Quitting Dairy Products has also shown a remarkable improvement in absorption of medication in patients with Hashimoto’s due to restriction of lactose.
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Therefore, it’s high time that people suffering from Hashimoto’s and Thyroid should understand that the consumption of Dairy Products can prevent thyroid hormones from working, while also causing an autoimmune attack on thyroid tissue.
Although it’s quite difficult to know which product is exactly causing the reaction in the body because when there is a food sensitivity and that particular food is consumed daily, the body cannot give a specific reaction as it gets depleted in its ability to produce stronger reactions. Hence, its reactions become less specific and more chronic over time.
But once you stop the intake of a specific product for a few weeks, you can see noticeable results and feel better. There will be less bloating, less acid reflux, normal bowel movements, more energy, etc. After a certain period, if you consume the same food, your body will react more strongly and give a specific reaction that will help you to know about certain food sensitivities.
Hence, people with Hashimoto’s should eliminate dairy products for at least 2-3 weeks and check out the improvement in the symptoms by that time.
Initially, it will be quite difficult to completely get Dairy Free as you may witness withdrawal symptoms. This is because when dairy is digested, opioid peptides called casomorphins are released into the gastrointestinal tract and taken up into the bloodstream.
These opioid peptides are considered exorphins, as they have morphine-like effects on the brain. It means it has addictive properties because of which people generally get withdrawal symptoms once they adapt to a dairy-free diet.
But over time, it will be replaced by diminishing the symptoms of Hashimoto’s. You will notice an improvement in your Joint Paints, less bloating, and elimination of acid reflux.
All the benefits will make going Dairy Free totally worth it because your body will be happy to not receive such food products that disturb the whole ecosystem. Hence, it will create a great difference in your health.
Also, there are ample alternatives available in the market that are tasty and Dairy Free. Some of the substitutes that you can opt for to satisfy your Dairy Cravings are:
- Coconut Milk, Almond Milk, and Rice Milk are great substitutes for Cow’s Milk.
- Many available brands in the market make gluten, dairy, and soy-free “cheese” that can be used in place of cheddar, mozzarella, and Pepperjack cheese on pizzas.
- For Cream Cheese, you can prepare it at home by soaking 1 cup of cashews in water overnight, then blend them with ¼ cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a blender
- Satisfy your cravings for ice cream by having an ice cream made out of coconut milk. Some brands are making various flavors of ice cream with coconut milk. Also, making ice cream out of frozen bananas is a good option.
- Duck Fat and Coconut Oil work best as an alternative to butter.
- Dairy Free Coconut based yogurts are a great substitute for Milk Based Yogurts.
- Tasty gluten, dairy, and soy-free pizza are also available in the market. Opt for it whenever you are craving Pizza.
- Pea Protein and Beef Protein is a good substitute for whey proteins in shakes.
- For sour cream, make a purée of cashews and lemon juice or use coconut milk with high-fat content, such as coconut cream.
Following a diet with such substitutes will definitely help you to completely adopt Dairy Free Diet and yield amazing results with it. You will feel better with each passing day and your symptoms of Hashimoto’s will be gone giving you a big relief.
Hence, eliminate all dairy, including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, and certain protein powders from your diet and it will significantly help you out with the reversal of Hashimoto’s.
Suffering from a chronic disease like thyroid, gut problem, weight issues, autoimmune issues, etc... is not easy. Dr. Gupta is a certified Functional Medicine Physician and his personalized plans have helped thousands of people to reclaim their health back.
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About Author
Dr. Anshul Gupta MD is Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician, with advanced certification in Functional Medicine, Peptide therapy and also Fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine.
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