| Celiac Disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder, | | | | symptoms but are still suffering every few |
| much like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid | | | | months and must return to have their medication |
| arthritis. Autoimmune disorders attack the body's | | | | "adjusted". This is all because of gluten! |
| own tissues: nerves, brain, gut, thyroid gland, etc. | | | | Did you know that gluten is also the culprit when |
| Think of an autoimmune disorder as a raging fire! | | | | it comes to the thyroid gland? Gluten and the |
| Every time you throw gasoline onto the fire, | | | | 'ever important' thyroid gland have a very, very |
| what is going to happen? MORE FIRE! | | | | similar molecular structure. When undigested gluten |
| Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is also an autoimmune | | | | mistakenly slips into the blood stream, the |
| disorder in which the body attacks and destroys | | | | immune system responds by destroying it. Gluten |
| its own thyroid gland. Persons suffering | | | | doesn't belong in the bloodstream but due to an |
| Hashimoto's exhibit both hypothyroidism and | | | | overly permeable intestinal wall (Leaky Gut |
| hyperthyroidism symptoms. Possible symptoms | | | | Syndrome) it can slip right through. As the |
| of Hashimoto's are: | | | | immune system marks gluten to be destroyed, it |
| feeling tired or sluggish | | | | also marks parts of the thyroid gland to be |
| cold hands and feet | | | | destroyed as well, since the molecular structure is |
| needing excessive amounts of sleep to | | | | so similar. Now, every time a person consumes |
| function well | | | | gluten, parts of their thyroid gland are being |
| gaining weight easily | | | | destroyed as well. Not only that, but the person's |
| unable to lose weight even on a low calorie | | | | thyroid symptoms are being ramped up due to |
| diet | | | | the "gasoline" being thrown on the fire. |
| heart palpitations | | | | I have come to see that most autoimmune |
| inward trembling | | | | patients are sensitive to gluten, but majority are |
| increased pulse or heart rate | | | | also sensitive to milk (casein), soy, yeast, and |
| insomnia and the list could go on... | | | | eggs. How do you know? Proper diagnostic testing |
| Although the disorder is the most common cause | | | | is needed to ensure that your body is able to |
| of hypothyroidism in the United States, many do | | | | consume such substances. |
| not test for it because a diagnosis is not going to | | | | All patients with a gluten intolerance or celiac |
| change the standard treatment protocol: to give a | | | | disease should be screened for an autoimmune |
| thyroid drug. | | | | thyroid disorder, just as all patients with an |
| So what do the two autoimmune disorders have | | | | autoimmune thyroid disorder should be screened |
| in common, besides being autoimmune? Well, a | | | | for gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Proper |
| majority of CD patients are also suffering from | | | | diagnosis is critical but proper treatment is even |
| thyroid symptoms. Many have been put on | | | | more crucial. |
| thyroid hormones to help regulate their | | | | |