Hello, this is Monica Reinagel, and you're listening to the Nutrition Deva

podcast. Welcome. This week we have a question from Jessica on whether people with thyroid disease might benefit from going on a gluten-free diet.

And now on with today's topic.

Jessica writes, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism several months ago.

There are many websites, blogs, and Facebook groups for people with hypothyroidism

that insist that you have to go gluten-free. Is this true?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

This is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system gradually destroys the thyroid gland.

As a result, the amount of circulating thyroid hormone in your body is too low.

And this can lead to everything from weight gain to hair loss to heart trouble.

If your doctor diagnoses you with Hashimoto's, he or she is probably going to

tell you that it's not that big of a deal. They'll write you a prescription for replacement

thyroid hormone and send you on your way. And if you ask about

whether there's anything you should be doing in terms of diet or lifestyle, they'll

probably tell you there really isn't. Once you get home of course you'll go straight to the

internet and there you will discover a vast community of fellow sufferers and

advocates along with tons of advice on diets and supplements for people with

Hashimoto's. You're also going to read lots of stories about people who went on

thyroid replacement hormone but continued to feel terrible until they went on a gluten-free

diet. It's absolutely true that people with one autoimmune disease are at elevated risk

for others. People with Celiac disease are more likely to develop

Hashimoto's and vice versa. And not surprisingly, Hashimoto's patients who also have

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