Thyroid issues? Or do you have mysterious fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, thinning eyebrows, food cravings, and hormone fluctuations?
There is a good chance that it’s your thyroid.
Are you aware that worldwide, more than 90% of all thyroid disease is autoimmune related…? Most commonly, Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Disease.
If you or a loved one has one of these conditions… you know how painful and debilitating they can be. I’ve been there myself and it’s No Fun! ☹
These autoimmune issues can cause sudden and dramatic weight changes, mood shifts, hormone imbalances, hair loss, dry skin, digestive issues, and very low energy levels.
And unfortunately, mainstream medicine doesn’t have much to offer in the way of relief or prevention.
I’ve had my own journey with thyroid health and it has been challenging. That’s why I’m so excited to help you prevent or properly address your thyroid issues.
There are so many supplements out there that claim to help, but do they really work? Unfortunately, many don’t.
That’s why I was so excited to learn about a natural, simple way to help offset the effects of autoimmune thyroid issues. It’s in alignment with one of my key values of using food as medicine.
There is no “magic bullet,” but there are things that really do help.
What Are Autoimmune Disorders?
All autoimmune conditions – from rheumatoid arthritis to multiple sclerosis to autoimmune thyroid – are the result of the body “attacking” itself. It’s a glitch in the system and the body mistakes the thyroid gland as a “bad guy” and tries to destroy it.
Doctors and researchers still aren’t sure what causes autoimmunity, but it’s thought to be a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and a trigger – like getting sick with a virus, for example. In my clinical experience, I’ve discovered that hidden food sensitivities, trauma, and gut issues alter our immune function and invite autoimmune issues to creep in.
When the body attacks the thyroid, it produces elevated auto-antibodies and hyperactive T and B lymphocytes that are reactive to thyroid auto-antibodies.
There are two different kinds of thyroid autoimmune diseases:
Hashimoto’s – where the thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism). And it is very common to bounce back and forth from hypo to hyper when you have Hashimoto’s.
Graves’ – where the thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism)
Autoimmune issues often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. There can be fluctuations in hormones and immune function that can cause the thyroid labs to flip flop and sometimes show low or overactive thyroid function.
Mainstream treatments for autoimmune thyroid are often pretty drastic – supplementing thyroid hormones for life, radiating (killing) it, or removing the thyroid gland altogether!
Understandably, a lot of people want to avoid these if they can…
The Superfood That’s Been Shown to Help!
New research has revealed a natural superfood solution that can provide relief to those suffering from autoimmune thyroid symptoms: Cordyceps!
Cordyceps are a type of mushroom that have been used medicinally for thousands of years. I first learned about it in an Asian medical school about 20 years ago. It tends to grow at very high altitudes and is rare. It’s been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits too.
Cordyceps is a very cool fungus, which is actually parasitic. It often grows on certain kinds of caterpillars, silkworms, or other insects.
Research has shown that cordyceps can benefit both those with Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease too.
In a trial of those with Graves’ disease, supplementing with cordyceps caused thyroid antibodies to decline by 40.06% (TPO antibody) and 46.94% (TR antibody).
The same trial found that, in those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, supplementing with cordyceps caused thyroid antibody levels to decline by 51.3% (TPO antibody) and 39.49% (TG antibody).
Declining antibody levels signify less autoimmunity or an improvement in the autoimmune thyroid condition.
This is HUGE news because it suggests that cordyceps don’t just treat the symptoms… they actually address immune function and balance.
The exact mechanism by which it works isn’t yet known, but for years, research has shown cordyceps and other medicinal mushrooms are potent immune modulators.
Most scientists think their immune-modulating abilities are due to a unique polysaccharide in mushrooms called beta-glucans.
Beta-glucans help mushrooms “prime” immune cells so they can fight pathogens better.
Some mushrooms have also been shown to increase NK (natural killer) cells in the immune system.
(And while more research is needed, this means cordyceps have the potential to help with any sort of immune dysfunction AND other types of autoimmune conditions, too!)
But Don’t Make This Mushroom Mistake.
Mushrooms are incredibly beneficial and powerful… which is why they’ve been part of my daily routine for years.
But there’s one big problem…
Mushrooms have to grow on something – and in the case of medicinal mushrooms, they’re usually grown on grains.
The problem is that instead of harvesting just the fruiting body, most growers harvest the mycelium AND the grain together, often not using the fruiting body at all. The grain and mycelium are then dried and ground up to turn into a supplement.
And that means the “mushroom supplement” you’re taking is likely 50% or more grain and often zero fruiting body, which you really want!
That’s why it is essential to be picky about the mushroom supplements you’re taking… don’t just grab any brand off the health food store shelf.
Be a label reader and informed consumer. Find an organic, grain-free, fruiting body mushroom supplement.
Buyer beware: Some formulas add 7-14 different mushrooms in them. We tend to think more is better, but with mushrooms, it may not be. Consider just using 1-3 mushrooms at a time. Don’t overwhelm your system with too much so that what you are taking is properly used.
If you’re still having thyroid issues, please reach out, I can likely help you. We can start with a Functional Blood Chemistry Lab Analysis to check All TEN markers of your thyroid health to discover the root of the imbalances. We can see if what you’ve been doing is working or now, and why; as well as what your body may need to find balance.
Blessings of Vibrant Health