As I mention in the introduction to my book, poor thyroid function is like the engine light in your car turning on - it's an indication to open the hood, investigate the engine, and repair what's wrong. You don't want to just take a drug or a supplement that will make the engine light go off.The gut-thyroid connection can be a vicious circle as hypothyroidism causes poor digestive health, and poor digestive health may cause hypothyroidism. This is why it's so important to appropriately manage Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, which involves more than finding the right thyroid medication. For the most part however, America's addiction to processed foods, sweets, and stressed-out lifestyles leaves most people in need of some serious gut repair.
How poor gut health impacts the thyroid
For 90 percent of Americans, hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's, an autoimmune thyroid disease. Since most of the immune system is situated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, poor gut health is a significant factor in triggering and exacerbating autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's. An important step in taming Hashimoto's is to repair gut health.
Conversely, appropriately managing Hashimoto's and restoring thyroid function can help improve digestive function. Studies show both T4 and T3 protect the intestinal lining from ulcers. Studies also show hypothyroidism can cause intestinal permeability, or "leaky gut," which allows undigested food into the bloodstream and instigates an immune attack. These are examples of the thyroid-gut vicious cycle and how you may need to go after both fronts at once.
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