Diet & Nutrition for Health

• Diabetic Diet
• Anti-Inflammatory Diet
• Low-Iodine Diet
• Autoimmune Diet
• Hashimoto’s Disease
• Graves’ Disease
• Recipes

While there’s often no definitive answer to what causes many autoimmune diseases, we do know that food can play a major role in helping you feel better and in healing your body. Autoimmune diseases can be overwhelming and frustrating and their symptoms debilitating, but food can be your tool. Read on to learn how a healthy diet and the avoidance of key triggers can transform your well-being and boost and balance your immune system.

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Diabetic Diet

If you’ve got diabetes or pre-diabetes, a healthy-eating plan will help you control blood sugar (glucose) levels and heart disease risk factors and manage your weight. Remember that extra calories and fat cause your body to create an unhealthy rise in blood glucose which can lead to serious problems, such as hyperglycemia which can turn into long-term problems with your nerves, kidney, and heart.

We recommend you meet with on of our dieticians who are experts in designing diet plans based on your health goals. A typical diabetes diet consists of three meals a day at regular times, and we can help you find healthy carbohydrates, fiber-rich foods, heart-healthy fish, and “good” fats that you enjoy.

And most often, a diabetic diet is also a weight loss diet as well!

Foods to Avoid

• Sodium
• Trans fats, found in baked goods, processed snacks, margarine, shortening
• Saturated fat, such as beef, hot dogs, butter, bacon, sausage
• Cholesterol, found in high-fat dairy products and animal proteins, egg yolks

The best way to keep your blood glucose level under control is by embracing a healthy diet. And if you’d like to lose weight, a diabetes diet is sure to do the trick. Remember to focus on eating generous helpings of fruits, vegetables, and fiber and smaller amounts of dairy products.

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Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Inflammation is a natural, healthy way your body protects itself against injury, illness, or infection. But when it occurs on a chronic basis, you may develop an autoimmune disease. Lifestyle factors, such as unhealthy eating, drinking alcohol and sugary beverages, excessive stress, and little exercising, can increase inflammation. Food choices can play a significant part in the influence of the level of inflammation in our bodies which means diet can directly impact your level of inflammation.

When it comes to foods that contain anti-inflammatory potential, look for those with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and spices and herbs that help to alleviate inflammation.

Foods that Cause Inflammation to Avoid

As you seek to eat that which will reduce inflammation, you may want to minimize the amount of food you consume that have omega-6 fatty acids because they tend to increase the body’s production of inflammatory chemicals. They do, however, help regulate metabolism, promote brain function, and maintain bone health, so don’t steer clear of these foods altogether. Just be mindful of what you’re eating, and work to find a balance. High-glycemic-index foods are another inflammation kick-starter that you’ll want to avoid.

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Low-Iodine Diet

If you’re preparing to undergo radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer, following a low-iodine diet for at least 2 weeks beforehand and during treatment will make your thyroid more receptive to the radioactive iodine.

For your radioactive iodine treatment to work effectively, it’s important to plan ahead and prepare carefully so you can make the most of your low-iodine diet. When you come in for a consultation, we’ll give you further details on how to make your diet a success.

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Autoimmune Diet

If you’re struggling with an autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, IBD, type 1 diabetes, or psoriasis, an adjustment in your diet can improve the way you feel. Your immune system has the tendency to produce antibodies that attack healthy cells and tissues rather than fight infections, and your diet can promote gut health and reduce inflammation and autoimmune disease symptoms.

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a diet that resembles the paleo diet as far as foods you’re allowed to eat and the ones you should avoid. It reduces inflammation, pain, and other symptoms by healing your leaky gut, damage to the gut barrier which can lead to increased intestinal permeability.

How does the AIP work? There are two phases, and the first is the elimination phase. During this phase, you’ll want to avoid seeds, nuts, grains, eggs, certain vegetables, legumes, tobacco, oils, coffee, alcohol, refined, processed sugars, and any other food that causes gut inflammation and imbalances between levels of good and bad bacteria in the gut.

Focus on consuming fresh, nutrient-dense foods and foods that are minimally processed. In addition to adjusting your intake, AIP emphasizes making a change in lifestyle habits, like sleep, stress, and exercise. This first phase can last anywhere from 30-90 days.

Once you’ve seen noticeable improvements, you can move on to the reintroduction phase in which the previously avoided foods can be reintroduced. As you slowly work back in the eliminated foods, the goal is to identify which foods were contributing to your symptoms. When you discover a food that triggers symptoms, make sure to avoid it.

If you’re interested in giving the AIP a try, we recommend you do so with the help of one of our qualified health professionals to make sure you are meeting all your nutrient needs in each of the phases. We look forward to helping you get control of your autoimmune disorder so you can be your healthiest, happiest, and most comfortable self.

Remember that AIP should be prescribed and monitored by a professional, so call us today to schedule an appointment and get started!

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Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s disease is one of the most common thyroid disorders, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid by causing insufficient hormone production, and its symptoms can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. However, diet and lifestyle modifications can dramatically improve symptoms by lowering antibody levels and improving thyroid function.

Since every person with Hashimoto’s disease experiences its symptoms differently, it’s best if you come in to see us, so we can fully evaluate your condition and create a customized treatment plan that benefits you most.

Many people with Hashimoto’s disease have celiac disease as well, but regardless, evidence has shown gluten-free and grain-free diets to be advantageous to those with Hashimoto’s disease.

Studies have also shown the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet (explained above) to have a significant effect on the quality of life of a person with Hashimoto’s.

Lactose intolerance is very common among those with Hashimoto’s disease.

Inflammation is often an impetus to Hashimoto’s disease, so focus eating anti-inflammatory foods, such as vegetables, fruits, spices, and fatty fish.

Finally, a nutrient-rich, whole food diet will help to improve your health, lower your weight, and reduce your symptoms.

If symptoms are flaring up, avoid dairy, follow a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet, and go gluten-free. These are a few excellent ways to improve those symptoms and your overall health. Our healthcare providers specialize in autoimmune diseases and are skilled and equipped to help you find a dietary pattern that more specifically suits your needs.

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Graves’ Disease

Common symptoms of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, consist of brittle bones and extreme weight loss. So, diet and identifying food allergies and sensitivities can play a major role improving these symptoms. Foods that may exacerbate Graves’ disease symptoms are those with gluten, excessive amounts of iodine, like some bread, salt, or some dairy products, and some animal products.

Foods rich in specific nutrients can help reduce symptoms. Look for calcium-rich foods, such as almonds, okra, broccoli, sardines, and kale.

Foods high in vitamin D help your body absorb calcium, so consume plenty of tuna, salmon, mushrooms, sardines, and cod liver oil.

Magnesium also helps the body absorb calcium, and, at the same time, a magnesium deficiency can make Graves’ disease symptoms worse. Look for avocados, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, legumes, cashews, and Brazil nuts to maintain a magnesium-balanced diet.

When those with Graves’ disease become deficient in selenium, they can develop a thyroid eye disease that causes bulging eyeballs and double vision. This antioxidant and mineral is found in mushrooms, sunflower seeds, sardines, Brazil nuts, and brown rice.

Diet can reduce or alleviate symptoms brought on by Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. Our experts can help you identify food sensitivities or allergies and the specific nutrients that your body needs to manage flare ups and annoying symptoms. Call us and schedule an appointment today.

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Recipes

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