Question: Is Fish Oil Good for Hashimoto’s Disease?
Answer: Fish oil is proving to be protective for brain health in those with Hashimoto’s disease.
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Is Fish Oil Good for Hashimoto’s Disease? In the past, low-fat diets were touted as “the way to lose weight!”, but they are finally being exposed for what they are… not being very beneficial to you health! In the case of your brain, a low fat diet could be a very bad thing. Your brain is primarily made of fat, and as you can imagine, fats are vastly important for brain function. Some studies suggest that fish oil can decrease brain based inflammatory chemistry, and be protective of brain neurons (brain nerve cells), this is particularly important with Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s and it’s subsequent inflammatory (cytokine) surges are associated with the rare brain disorder Hashimoto’s encephalopathy.
What do fish oils actually do? Healthy fats derived from fish oils, olives, nuts, seeds and avocados have been recorded as dampening inflammation in the brain, providing protection for neurons and enhancing communication between neurons. The omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA dampen inflammation and support brain health and function; fish oils are very high in both of these.
These functions further help in managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism: the EPA from fish oil modulates the immune system and buffers inflammation, while the brain and nervous system receive protective effects from DHA.
Fats are the principal structural constituents of the brain, especially within cell membranes that serve as communication pathways between neurons. The fats you eat determine a significant portion of your brain performance. You should always aim for healthy fats while avoiding trans fats, which may inhibit brain health and function.
Not only that, but trans fats are highly inflammatory. It is doubly important to avoid these when managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.
Brain Health – Gluten As a Factor in Schizophrenia and Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy
Promoting brain health with fish oils and other essential fatty acids is just one important preventative tool – eliminating gluten and dairy from your diet will help further.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and has been observed to contribute to various cases of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenics display a higher sensitivity to gluten, according to research, while casein (the protein in dairy) is also linked with the disease.
Highly correlative results have been observed between symptoms in early-onset schizophrenia and the removal of gluten and dairy from the diet. Symptoms improved with the removal of these, and subsequently worsened when these were then included back in the diet.
In fact, one particularly intelligent study from the 1960s demonstrates empirical evidence of this correlation across Europe and the United States. The study found a decline in hospital admissions for schizophrenia across these countries, following the rationing of wheat during World War II.
Gluten is clearly linked with Hashimoto’s. People suffering from the thyroid disease are strongly recommended to avoid it, along with other inflammatory agents such as those found in dairy products.
Schizophrenia represents a complex and dynamic disease. While there are no clear-cut answers, preventative measures have been identified with significant results. This is especially the case if Hashimoto’s has already been diagnosed, to help lower the likelihood of developing Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, which may present symptoms similar to schizophrenia.
If you are struggling with “brain fog,” or memory issues, and have Hashimoto’s the fish oil may be an important nutrient to add to your diet. If you are interested in getting guided assistance, Dr. Shook can help you with testing to determine your specific needs including: specific dietary sensitivities that need to be removed, customized nutraceutical recommendations to support your healing, and advanced tests to determine triggers (yeast overgrowth, dysbiosis, parasites) and imbalances (hormones). If you would like one-on-one support, or guideance, please contact our office, or visit our “patient application” page.
I hope this helps you! Have a wonderful day!
