If you’re like me, the first time you heard of it, you may wonder why it’s called Hashimoto’s or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The name comes from Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, the physician who first described this condition in 1912. It’s also called autoimmune thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and damage. Autoimmune conditions are similar in that the body mistakenly attacks a part of the body or system. In this case, the damaged thyroid gland produces fewer thyroid hormones, resulting in side effects. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a common cause of hypothyroidism (or low thyroid hormones).
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is commonly associated with other autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and pernicious anemia (inability to absorb vitamin B12). Fortunately, anti-inflammatory dietary changes can benefit all autoimmune conditions, making it a great solution!
This article provides a helpful description of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and how an anti-inflammatory diet can help regulate your immune system, prevent further damage, and improve your overall well-being, along with practical steps for implementing the diet.
What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland:
- The thyroid gland is enlarged and overrun with lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell)
- This immune system attack irreversibly damages the thyroid cells and their ability to make thyroid hormones
- Results in an under-performing thyroid.
What Causes Hashimoto’s?
The development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is complicated. It reflects a complex interplay between genetic background and environmental triggers. This condition affects about 5% of American adults.
The condition most commonly affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, who are white, but it can affect people of all types. A family history of thyroid disease also increases your risk.
Environmental factors are thought to trigger autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible people. These triggers may include bacterial or viral infections, cigarette smoking, exposure to toxic chemicals, or even limited exposure to environmental factors (living in an almost sterile environment).
Dietary factors can also play a role. Excessive iodine intake, inadequate selenium intake, and gluten have been identified as potential contributors in some individuals. A Western-style diet (high in processed foods, fats, sugars, and salt, but low in fiber) further promotes inflammation and may increase susceptibility.
Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Cool and dry skin
- Coarse hair
- Loss of body hair
- Hoarse voice
- Edema or swelling
- Bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate)
- Muscle cramps
- Gall stones
- Constipation
- Low or depressed mood
- Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
- Weight gain
- Joint stiffness
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Fertility problems
Symptoms appear once the thyroid becomes too damaged and can no longer produce the needed thyroid hormones, resulting in low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism).
Related Health Conditions
Thyroid hormones affect every organ system in the body, so when imbalances occur, they impact the whole body. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and energy production, which is how your body uses food (carbs, fat, and protein) for energy and repair. Thyroid hormones also affect fertility and ovulation.
People with one autoimmune disease are more likely to develop another. One of those conditions is diabetes. Hashimoto’s does not cause diabetes, but they are connected. Type 1 diabetes (another autoimmune condition) often coexists with Hashimoto’s. Also, untreated hypothyroidism can slow metabolism, increase weight gain, worsen insulin resistance, and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
People with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have a higher rate of undiagnosed celiac disease, another autoimmune condition. Both conditions share common genetic factors. Research suggests that between 2 and 8% of people with Hashimoto’s also have celiac disease, compared with about 1% in the general population.
Screening for celiac disease in people with Hashimoto’s is wise when other symptoms occur (iron deficiency, GI symptoms, and family history). Likewise, thyroid function should be monitored in individuals with celiac disease.
Untreated hypothyroidism can damage other organs and cause:
- Goiters (enlarged thyroid gland, which is located near the throat)
- Heart problems (elevated cholesterol levels, heart failure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and enlarged heart)
- Fertility and pregnancy problems
- Myxedema (a rare complication where the body’s functions slow drastically)
Diagnosis and management of Hashimoto’s disease are essential to prevent further damage and complications. Screening for other autoimmune conditions can help you manage your overall health.
Practical diet and lifestyle changes + medical treatment = help you feel your best!
Can Anti-Inflammatory Diets Help?
Hashimoto’s is of personal interest to me due to family members who have this condition. I love to dive into the nutrition research as one tool to help manage any health condition.
Research suggests that a Western diet and lifestyle increase the risk of inflammatory and immune-related diseases through low-grade chronic inflammation, immune system dysregulation, increased oxidative stress, and gut bacteria imbalance. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, and are linked to poor brain and gut health.
Western diet components:
- Excess calories
- High trans fat intake (processed foods)
- High processed food intake (pre-packaged and fast food)
- High fatty animal protein (processed meats, red meat, fried foods, and high-fat dairy)
- High salt and added sugar (particularly sugar beverages)
- Low fiber (minimal fruits, vegetables, beans, and high-fiber grains)
The negative effects of the typical American diet have spurred research to investigate the possible links between nutrition and autoimmune conditions and how they may prevent or counteract inflammation and autoimmunity. There is no single “magic” diet that cures Hashimoto’s (and other diseases), but nutrition approaches that may improve thyroid markers.
The Mediterranean Diet is a plant-based eating pattern recognized for its well-researched anti-inflammatory effects, thanks to its high content of foods naturally rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Mediterranean Diet (Anti-Inflammatory) components:
- High intake of vegetables, legumes, fresh fruits, nuts, and whole grains
- Healthy fat source (olive oil)
- Moderate consumption of red wine
- Low to moderate intake of animal products (dairy, poultry, and eggs) with a focus on fish
- Limited red meat and processed meat
- Minimal added sugars and sodium
This eating style improves gut bacteria balance and protects against diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions. Research on Hashimoto’s is still emerging, but it’s logical to expect that this no-risk eating pattern would be beneficial for this condition and overall health.
A gluten-free diet is also being researched due to the increased risk of celiac disease in individuals with Hashimoto’s disease. Routine gluten elimination isn’t universally recommended unless celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity is confirmed. It may be an unnecessary burden to add this restriction and may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies if adequate gluten replacement food sources are not used.
Here is a table listing possible nutrition approaches and a quick synopsis of the research:
| Nutrition Topic | Study Title | Size and Type | Key Findings |
| Diets: Anti-inflammatory Mediterranean Diet Mediterranean + Gluten-Free Gluten-Free Low-Carb Diet | The association between dietary inflammatory index and dietary total antioxidant capacity and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (2024) | 230 adults A case-control observational study compared people with Hashimoto’s and those without. | Diets with higher anti-inflammatory properties were associated with lower rates of Hashimoto’s. |
| Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index and Thyroid Function in Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis | 149 adults Observational study of people with Hashimoto’s. | People consuming a pro-inflammatory diet had worse markers for inflammation and thyroid function compared to those eating the most anti-inflammatory diet.. | |
| Effect of Mediterranean diet on quality of life and disease burden in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis | 40 female adults with Hashimoto’s were randomized to two groups: hypothyroid taking medication (levothyroxine) or normal, functioning thyroid with no medication Both groups were started on a Mediterranean Diet and reduced goitrogenic foods. | Both groups experienced improvements in thyroid markers, inflammation, BMI, cholesterol levels, and overall quality of life. The hypothyroid group saw greater improvements in thyroid markers. | |
| MRI quantitative assessment of the effects of low-carbohydrate therapy on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis | 40 adults with Hashimoto’s were split into a low-carb diet (12-15% carb, 50-60% protein, 25-30% fat) vs. a normal diet (for 6 months | The low-carb group has significant reductions in thyroid water content (suggesting less inflammation) and lower autoantibodies from the thyroid (better controlled Hashimoto’s). | |
| Evaluation of the Effect of Gluten-Free Diet and Mediterranean Diet on Autoimmune System in Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis | 40 people with Hashimoto’s were randomized into four groups: Gluten-Free, Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean + Gluten-Free Diet, and a control diet for 12 weeks. | Thyroid markers improved the most with the Mediterranean group. Body weight, BMI, and waist circumference decreased in all but the control group. The gluten-free diet showed the most significant improvements in body weight changes. | |
| Effects of Dietary Habits on Markers of Oxidative Stress in Subjects with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Comparison Between the Mediterranean Diet and a Gluten-Free Diet | 45 adults with normal, functioning thyroids were randomized to three groups: Mediterranean Diet, Gluten-Free Diet, or Free Diet for 12 weeks | The Mediterranean Diet group shows significant improvement in antioxidant markers. The gluten-free and free diet group had no improvements in these antioxidant markers. No groups saw changes in thyroid markers. | |
| Selenium | Selenium Supplementation in Patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials | Systematic review of 35 studies involving over 3,000 adults to assess the impact of selenium supplementation on thyroid function. Most studies used 200mcg/day of selenium yeast or sodium selenite for 3-6 months. The upper limit for selenium is 400 mcg/day for adults. | In people with Hashimoto’s without medication (levothyroxine), selenium was effective at improving thyroid markers. For people already on medication, it wasn’t clear if there was a benefit to thyroid markers. Both in people on medication and without, markers of immune activity were decreased with selenium. |
| Vitamin D | Impact of Vitamin D on Immunopathology of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: From Theory to Practice | Review article examining evidence for how Vitamin D is involved in Hashimoto’s and if supplementation can improve thyroid function. | Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with Hashimoto’s. Testing vitamin D levels is reasonable, and supplementing if there is a deficiency. Supplementation to optimal vitamin D levels may help lower markers of immune activity, particularly in earlier or milder forms of disease. Harder to determine if supplementation helps once Hashimoto’s is more advanced or if medication (thyroid replacement) is already in use. |
Big-Picture Takeaways From the Research:
The short answer is yes, anti-inflammatory diets can help with Hashimoto’s, but the research is still emerging. However, it’s a no-risk, full-reward solution.
Dietary changes can help downregulate inflammation and support thyroid health and function, plus support overall health and well-being.
The CDC reports that about 129 million Americans have at least one major chronic disease, or almost half of the U.S. population. Among older adults, this figure increases to over 85%, with at least one chronic condition.
An anti-inflammatory diet is proven to improve these chronic diseases (heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cognitive decline, cancer risk, and more) that so many of us have.
So why not implement parts (or all) of the anti-inflammatory diet into your life? Here are some tips for managing Hashimoto’s and incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet into your daily routines.
Managing Overall Health with Hashimoto’s
Medicine and lifestyle changes are practical management tools for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Here are some key takeaways for managing your thyroid health:
- An anti-inflammatory diet has been shown to have positive effects, but remember it is not a substitute for thyroid hormone replacement (often levothyroxine). Diet is a supportive strategy to help you feel better, reduce inflammation, improve thyroid function, reduce future damage, and prevent other medical conditions.
- The thyroid gland and its ability to make thyroid hormones are irreversibly damaged. You will likely require lifelong levothyroxine medication to ensure your body receives adequate thyroid hormone, which can help reduce side effects on all body systems. Work with your health care provider to manage your dosage and monitor thyroid hormone levels.
- Consider being screened for celiac disease or gluten sensitivities since these two autoimmune diseases are genetically associated. A gluten-free diet will further help individuals with Hashimoto’s and celiac disease.
- Regular physical activity benefits thyroid health. In a randomized controlled trial of 60 women with hypothyroidism; aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise programs all improved thyroid function and quality of life. Notably, resistance training led to the most significant improvements in thyroid function, while the combination of aerobic and resistance exercise produced the largest gains in overall quality of life.
- Consider selenium and/or Vitamin D supplementation. Selenium-rich foods include Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, tuna, cod, salmon, chicken, and eggs, all of which are components of an anti-inflammatory diet. Vitamin D-rich foods include salmon, sardines, trout, egg yolks, and certain types of mushrooms (many of which are also recommended on the anti-inflammatory diet).
- Finally, stay on top of your blood sugar levels. People with Hashimoto’s may experience altered glucose metabolism, which can contribute to insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and eventually metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Research has shown that individuals with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s have higher rates of insulin resistance and impaired glucose intolerance than healthy controls.
Annual blood sugar screening (like the A1C test, which reflects your average blood sugar levels over the past three to four months) can help detect early signs of prediabetes.
Takeaways
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis develops from a mix of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers, leading to progressive thyroid damage and reduced thyroid hormone production.
While the condition itself cannot be prevented, nutrition and lifestyle changes, including an anti-inflammatory diet, may help improve symptoms and overall thyroid health. Early diagnosis, combined with supportive nutrition, can significantly impact long-term management of Hashimoto’s (and many other health conditions).
You can’t change your diagnosis, but you can change your daily habits, starting with your next meal. By focusing on anti-inflammatory foods and steady blood sugar, you can get UNstuck and support your thyroid health.
Read more about the Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Foods I recommend eating each week.
You might also be interested in the 10 Best Anti-Inflammatory Snacks to Buy or my free Printable Anti-Inflammatory Diet Food Lists (PDF Download) to help you with your next shopping trip.
Let’s get UNstuck and stay UNstuck!