Nervous System, Toxins, and Your Thyroid
Hey, incredible women! If you’re struggling with thyroid symptoms like fatigue or mood swings from Hashimoto’s or Graves’, your nervous system and environmental toxins could be key players. As a certified nutrition specialist and licensed nutritionist, I’m here to explain how your nervous system supports digestion and how reducing toxins helps your thyroid. Let’s dive into simple ways to optimize both, based on nutritional therapy principles.
Nervous System and Digestion
Your nervous system, especially the vagus nerve, is like a superhighway connecting your brain and gut. It’s part of the “rest and digest” system, boosting digestion when you’re relaxed. Stress triggers “fight or flight” mode, slowing digestion and nutrient absorption, which can starve your thyroid and worsen symptoms like brain fog.
The Vagus Nerve’s Role
The vagus nerve signals your stomach to produce acid and your intestines to absorb nutrients like selenium. When stressed, this signal weakens, reducing nutrient delivery. For example, low selenium can increase thyroid inflammation. Relaxing before meals strengthens this connection.
Toxins and Your Thyroid
Environmental toxins like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS (from plastics, cans, or receipts) disrupt thyroid hormones and increase inflammation. A 2019 study found home-cooked meals lower PFAS levels by 5%. Poor digestion can trap toxins, stressing your thyroid. Supporting digestion helps remove them via bile.
Why This Matters
A calm nervous system and low toxin exposure ensure your thyroid gets nutrients and stays less inflamed, easing autoimmune flares.
Common Issues
Stress or toxin exposure can:
Slow digestion, limiting nutrients.
Increase inflammation, worsening thyroid symptoms.
Disrupt hormone balance.
Practical Tips
Try these to support your nervous system and reduce toxins:
Deep Breathing: Take 5 deep breaths before meals to boost vagus nerve activity.
Eat in a Calm Space: Avoid screens while eating.
Reduce Toxins: Use glass containers and avoid canned foods.
Choose Whole Foods: Try salmon or nuts.
Stay Hydrated: Drink water to aid detox.
Try Supplements: Magnesium or NAC for detox at www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com/dispensary (consult your doctor).
Why It Helps
A calm nervous system and lower toxins improve digestion, fuel your thyroid, and reduce symptoms like fatigue.
Work With Your Doctor
I don’t diagnose, but I can guide you with diet. Work with your healthcare provider to monitor thyroid levels and discuss stress or toxin exposure.
Take Action
Try deep breathing this week. Book a consultation at www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com. Visit www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com/dispensary. Reply for a custom tip!
How do you relax before meals? Comment below!
About the Author: I’m a certified nutrition specialist and licensed nutritionist, helping women with thyroid conditions feel vibrant. Visit www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com for more tips.
What Triggered My Hashimoto’s?
One of the most profound questions women with Hashimoto's ask is: "Why did this happen to me? What actually triggered it?"
It's a deeply human question. When your body starts attacking its own thyroid, it can feel like a betrayal—like there must be a reason, a moment, or something you could have avoided. The truth is, Hashimoto's doesn't usually stem from one single mistake or event.
It's almost always a combination: a genetic predisposition (the loaded gun) plus multiple environmental and lifestyle factors (the triggers that pull it). You didn't "cause" this—it's not your fault—but understanding the common root causes can empower you to take steps that calm the immune fire and help you feel better.
In functional medicine, we look beyond just treating symptoms with medication (which is still important!) and ask: What is driving the immune system to attack the thyroid in the first place? The framework often revolves around genetics + triggers + barriers like leaky gut. Many experts describe it as a "perfect storm" of imbalances that accumulate over time in susceptible people.
Below, I'll go deeper into the most common functional medicine root-cause triggers, with details on how they can spark or fuel Hashimoto's, plus real-world examples of how this plays out.
1. Gut Health and Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permeability)
This is considered the cornerstone root cause by many functional medicine practitioners—up to 80–90% of Hashimoto's patients show signs of gut dysfunction.
How it triggers Hashimoto's: The gut lining is supposed to act like a selective barrier, letting nutrients in while keeping toxins and undigested food out. When it becomes "leaky" (increased intestinal permeability), larger particles slip into the bloodstream. The immune system—70–80% of which lives in the gut—mounts an attack against these "invaders." Through molecular mimicry, some of these particles resemble thyroid tissue, so antibodies meant for the foreign substance mistakenly target thyroid proteins like thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin. Over time, this sustains high thyroid antibodies and progressive thyroid damage.
Common causes of leaky gut:
Chronic stress (raises zonulin, a protein that opens gut tight junctions)
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin erode the lining)
Infections or antibiotics (disrupt microbiome balance)
Gluten and other irritants
Example: A woman in her 30s takes frequent ibuprofen for headaches, eats a high-gluten diet, and goes through a stressful divorce. These factors damage her gut lining. Undigested gluten particles leak through, trigger immune confusion, and boom—elevated TPO antibodies appear, followed by fatigue and hypothyroidism diagnosis.
Healing the gut (with bone broth, L-glutamine, probiotics, removing triggers) often lowers antibodies dramatically.
2. Food Sensitivities and Inflammatory Foods
Certain foods act like constant pokes to an already sensitive immune system.
How it triggers Hashimoto's: Food proteins can leak through a compromised gut (see above) and provoke immune reactions. The classic example is gluten: The protein gliadin has a structure remarkably similar to thyroid tissue. In genetically susceptible people (especially those with HLA-DQ genes linked to celiac or gluten sensitivity), eating gluten can trigger antibodies that cross-react with the thyroid. Dairy (casein), soy, eggs, and nightshades can do similar things via molecular mimicry or direct inflammation.
Example: Many women report their Hashimoto's symptoms exploded after years of daily bread, pasta, and cereal. One common story: A patient tests positive for gluten sensitivity (not full celiac), goes gluten-free, and within months her TPO antibodies drop from 500+ to under 100, with energy returning. Dairy is another big one—casein mimics thyroid tissue in some people, and removing it calms inflammation.
An elimination diet (removing top offenders for 4–6 weeks, then reintroducing) is a gold-standard functional medicine tool here.
3. Chronic or Hidden Infections
Infections don't just make you sick once—they can leave a lasting imprint on the immune system.
How it triggers Hashimoto's: Many pathogens have proteins that look similar to thyroid proteins (molecular mimicry again). The immune response to the infection spills over to the thyroid. Common culprits:
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV, the mono virus)—reactivates under stress and is found in higher levels in Hashimoto's patients
H. pylori (stomach bacteria)
Yersinia enterocolitica (from undercooked pork or contaminated food)
Herpes viruses, Lyme, or even dental infections
Example: A woman had mono in college, felt "off" ever since, then after a stressful job change, her Hashimoto's is diagnosed. Testing shows reactivated EBV. Or someone with chronic sinus issues or root canal history harbors low-grade infection that keeps Th17 immune cells (pro-inflammatory) revved up, driving thyroid autoimmunity.
Functional testing (stool tests, blood panels for viral titers) can uncover these, and targeted antimicrobials or immune support can help.
4. Environmental Toxins and Detoxification Burden
We're exposed to thousands of chemicals daily, and some directly interfere with thyroid function or immune balance.
How it triggers Hashimoto's:
Heavy metals (mercury from fish/amalgams, lead): Bind to thyroid receptors or enzymes, impair hormone production, and trigger oxidative stress/inflammation.
Plastics chemicals (BPA, phthalates): Act as endocrine disruptors, mimicking or blocking hormones.
Pesticides (glyphosate in Roundup): Disrupt gut microbiome and detoxification pathways.
Mold mycotoxins: Potent immune activators; many "mystery" Hashimoto's cases trace back to water-damaged homes.
Example: A woman who loves tuna sushi (high mercury) and lives in an older home with hidden mold starts feeling brain fog and fatigue. Testing shows elevated mycotoxins and mercury—after detox support (sauna, binders like charcoal/chlorella) and mold remediation, her antibodies and symptoms improve.
Reducing exposure (filtered water, organic food, glass instead of plastic) and supporting liver detox (Phase I/II with nutrients like milk thistle, NAC) are key strategies.
5. Nutrient Deficiencies and Imbalances
Hashimoto's doesn't develop in nutrient-rich bodies—deficiencies create fertile ground for autoimmunity.
How it triggers Hashimoto's:
Selenium: Essential for converting T4 to active T3 and for an antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) that protects the thyroid from inflammation. Low selenium = higher antibodies.
Vitamin D: Major immune regulator; low levels shift immunity toward autoimmunity.
Iron/Ferritin: Needed for thyroid hormone synthesis; low stores impair oxygen delivery and increase oxidative stress.
Zinc, B vitamins, omega-3s: All support immune balance and hormone production.
Example: A busy mom eats a restrictive diet, has heavy periods (low iron), and lives in a northern climate (low vitamin D). Her body can't properly regulate immunity or make thyroid hormone efficiently—autoimmunity flares. Supplementing targeted nutrients (after testing) often reduces antibodies and improves conversion of thyroid meds.
6. Adrenal/HPA Axis Dysregulation (Chronic Stress Response)
Stress isn't just mental—it's a physiological cascade that disrupts everything.
How it triggers Hashimoto's: Chronic stress dysregulates cortisol (high then often low). High cortisol suppresses TSH temporarily but increases inflammation and gut permeability. Low cortisol impairs immune regulation and T4-to-T3 conversion (raising reverse T3). Stress also depletes nutrients and reactivates latent viruses.
Example: A woman juggles career, kids, and caregiving—always "on." After years of poor sleep and coffee reliance, her Hashimoto's symptoms hit hard postpartum or during perimenopause. Many patients pinpoint onset to major life stress: divorce, loss, overwork.
Supporting adrenals (adaptogens like ashwagandha, rhythm restoration, mindfulness) can dramatically lower antibodies.
7. Hormone Imbalances or hormone shifts
One of the triggers I mentioned earlier that resonates with so many women is hormonal shifts—those big fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones that are a natural part of being female.
If you're nodding along because your Hashimoto's seemed to start or worsen around pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or even after starting or stopping birth control, you're not alone. This is a huge piece of the puzzle for why Hashimoto's affects women 7–10 times more than men, and why it often shows up in the 30s, 40s, or 50s.
Let's unpack why hormonal shifts can act as a trigger (or accelerator) for Hashimoto's, especially from a functional medicine perspective that looks at the whole hormonal ecosystem.
The Big Picture: Estrogen, Immunity, and the Thyroid
Estrogen isn't just about reproduction—it powerfully modulates the immune system. In general:
Higher estrogen tends to enhance immune activity (making it more reactive).
Progesterone (which rises during pregnancy and the luteal phase) tends to calm or suppress immune activity.
This push-pull helps women tolerate a pregnancy (the fetus is technically "foreign" tissue), but it also means women's immune systems are more dynamic—and in genetically susceptible people, more prone to tipping into autoimmunity when hormones swing dramatically.
The thyroid is especially vulnerable because:
It has estrogen receptors directly on its cells.
Thyroid hormone production and conversion are influenced by estrogen levels.
Big hormonal shifts can increase oxidative stress in the thyroid or alter immune tolerance.
When these shifts happen on top of other stressors (like gut issues, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic stress), it can be the "straw that breaks the camel's back," sparking or unmasking Hashimoto's.
Key Life Stages Where Hormonal Shifts Often Trigger Hashimoto's
Pregnancy and Postpartum
This is one of the most classic triggers—many women trace their diagnosis straight to this window.
During pregnancy:
Your body ramps up thyroid hormone production by 30–50% to support baby’s brain development and your increased metabolism.
Estrogen and progesterone skyrocket (estrogen can triple!).
The immune system naturally suppresses (via higher progesterone and other changes) to prevent rejecting the baby.
If you have underlying genetic risk or low nutrients (like selenium or iodine imbalance), this extra demand can strain the thyroid and create inflammation.
Postpartum:
Hormones plummet dramatically—estrogen and progesterone drop sharply within days of delivery.
The immune system "rebounds" aggressively as it returns to normal. In susceptible women, this rebound can overshoot, leading to autoimmune attack on the thyroid (postpartum thyroiditis, which progresses to permanent Hashimoto's in about 20–50% of cases).
Add in sleep deprivation, physical recovery, breastfeeding (which increases thyroid demand), and emotional stress, and it's a perfect setup.
Real-life example: A woman sails through pregnancy feeling great, but 3–6 months postpartum she’s exhausted, losing hair, anxious, and gaining weight despite breastfeeding. Labs show high TPO antibodies and hypothyroidism—classic postpartum-onset Hashimoto's.
Perimenopause (Usually 40s to Early 50s)
This is another peak time for Hashimoto's onset or flare-ups.
What's happening: Ovaries become less consistent, leading to erratic estrogen levels—sometimes very high (estrogen dominance), sometimes crashing low. Progesterone often declines steadily.
How it affects the thyroid:
High estrogen increases thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), which binds up thyroid hormones, making less "free" hormone available (you can feel hypothyroid even if TSH looks okay).
Fluctuations stress the HPA axis (adrenals), raising cortisol erratically and impairing T4-to-T3 conversion.
Estrogen swings can increase inflammation and immune reactivity.
Example: A woman in her mid-40s starts having irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood swings. Suddenly her longstanding "mild" thyroid issue explodes—antibodies soar, and she needs a higher dose of levothyroxine. Many women say, "It felt like everything fell apart overnight."
Other Hormonal Influences
Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy: Synthetic estrogens can raise TBG and alter immune balance. Some women develop Hashimoto's shortly after starting the pill, especially if they have genetic risk. Stopping hormonal birth control can also cause a rebound shift.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis: These involve estrogen dominance or insulin resistance, which can indirectly fuel thyroid autoimmunity via inflammation.
Interplay with adrenals: Chronic stress (cortisol dysregulation) amplifies everything—cortisol and thyroid hormones compete for resources, and stressed adrenals can worsen hormonal swings.
Why Functional Medicine Pays Close Attention to This
Functional practitioners don't just say "it's hormones—deal with it." They test deeper:
Full thyroid panel (TSH, free T4/T3, reverse T3, antibodies).
Sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone—ideally via DUTCH dried urine test for metabolites).
Cortisol patterns (saliva or urine over a day).
Then support with lifestyle: blood sugar balance (to stabilize hormones), adaptogens (like ashwagandha or maca for adrenal/hormone support), seed cycling, or bioidentical hormones if needed.
You're Not Alone, and There's Hope
These triggers often overlap—one leads to another (stress → leaky gut → food reactions → nutrient depletion). That's why functional medicine uses comprehensive testing and personalized plans.
The empowering part? Most of these are modifiable. Thousands of women have lowered antibodies, reduced meds, and reclaimed energy by addressing their unique combination of root causes with guidance from a someone like myself.
If you're listening and thinking "This sounds like me," start gently:
Prioritize sleep, eat whole foods, manage stress, and consider testing for gut issues, nutrients, or toxins. Work alongside your doctor—medication is still crucial for many.
You're not broken. Your body is sending a signal that something needs attention, and you have the resilience to respond. Healing is possible—one step at a time. If any of this sounds like you and you need some help figuring it out, you can email me or go to the contact page at the bottom of my website and fill that out. Then we can schedule a call to see if we are a good fit.
How Macronutrients Fuel Your Thyroid
Hello, fabulous women! If thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s or Graves’ leave you tired or foggy, your digestion of macronutrients—carbs, proteins, and fats—could be a game-changer. As a certified nutrition specialist and licensed nutritionist, I’m here to explain how these nutrients support your thyroid and how to optimize their digestion. Let’s dive into simple ways to fuel your thyroid, perfect for home-cooked meals, based on nutritional therapy principles.
Macronutrients and Your Thyroid
Your thyroid needs energy from carbs, proteins, and fats to produce hormones like T3 and T4. Digestion breaks these down into usable forms:
Carbohydrates: Turn into sugars for energy.
Proteins: Become amino acids for hormone production.
Fats: Carry vitamins like D for thyroid health.
Proper digestion ensures your thyroid gets these nutrients, reducing symptoms like fatigue.
Carbohydrate Digestion
Carbs start breaking down in your mouth with saliva’s amylase enzyme, turning starches into sugars. In the small intestine, pancreatic enzymes finish the job, absorbing glucose to power your thyroid. Poor carb digestion, like from rushed eating, can limit energy, worsening brain fog.
Protein Digestion
In your stomach, hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin break proteins into amino acids, which the small intestine absorbs. Amino acids like tyrosine are key for thyroid hormones. Low stomach acid, common in thyroid issues, can reduce absorption, worsening symptoms like hair loss.
Fat Digestion
Fats are digested in the small intestine, where bile and pancreatic lipase break them into fatty acids. These carry fat-soluble vitamins (D, A, K, E) to support thyroid function. Poor fat digestion, often from low bile, can limit these vitamins, increasing inflammation.
Why Digestion Matters
Efficient macronutrient digestion ensures your thyroid gets:
Glucose: For energy.
Amino Acids: For hormone production.
Vitamins: For inflammation control.
Poor digestion can starve your thyroid, worsening autoimmune flares.
Common Issues
Issues like low stomach acid, bloating, or poor bile flow can impair macronutrient digestion, reducing nutrient delivery and stressing your thyroid.
Practical Tips
Try these to boost macronutrient digestion and thyroid health:
Eat Balanced Meals: Combine carbs (sweet potato), proteins (chicken), and fats (avocado).
Chew Slowly: 20-30 seconds per bite.
Reduce Stress: Take 5 deep breaths before meals.
Limit Processed Foods: Choose whole foods.
Stay Hydrated: Drink water between meals.
Try Supplements: Digestive enzymes or bile salts at www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com/dispensary (consult your doctor).
Why It Helps
Proper macronutrient digestion fuels your thyroid, reduces inflammation, and eases symptoms like mood swings.
Work With Your Doctor
I don’t diagnose, but I can guide you with diet. Work with your healthcare provider to monitor thyroid levels and discuss digestion issues.
Take Action
Try a balanced meal this week. Book a consultation at www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com. Visit www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com/dispensary. Reply for a custom tip!
What’s your favorite balanced meal? Comment below!
About the Author: I’m a certified nutrition specialist and licensed nutritionist, helping women with thyroid conditions feel vibrant. Visit www.outofthewoodsnutrition.com for more tips.
Why High Antibodies but Normal Hormones?
Your thyroid is still doing its job – making enough hormones – even though your immune system is poking at it (the antibodies show that low-grade attack is happening).
Think of it like this:
Antibodies are like warning lights on your car dashboard. They say "hey, something's off – the immune system is mistakenly targeting the thyroid."
But the engine (thyroid) is still running fine for now. It's compensating by working harder to keep hormone levels normal.
This early phase can last months or years. The attack is slow – inflammation builds quietly, but not enough yet to tank hormones.
It's common! Up to 10–20% of people (mostly women) have positive TPO antibodies without hypothyroidism. Risk goes up with age, family history, stress, or other autoimmunity.
In functional medicine, we see this as a sign to act early – the attack is on, and progression to full hypothyroidism happens in many (about 2–5% per year convert).
Why Prescribe Thyroid Meds If Hormones Are Normal?
This is controversial – not all doctors do it!
Conventional view: Most wait until TSH rises (subclinical hypo) or full hypothyroidism hits. Guidelines (like American Thyroid Association) say no meds if truly euthyroid and no symptoms/goiter.
When some prescribe anyway:
If symptoms are strong (fatigue, brain fog, coldness) despite "normal" labs – meds can ease them by giving the thyroid a rest.
To prevent progression – low-dose levothyroxine might reduce antibodies or protect remaining thyroid tissue (some small studies suggest this).
Risk factors: Pregnancy planning (antibodies raise miscarriage risk), big goiter, or very high antibodies.
But many experts (especially functional) say: Hold off on meds if hormones truly normal. Focus on lowering antibodies naturally first – diet (gluten/dairy-free), selenium, gut healing, stress relief. This can slow or stop the attack without meds.
If antibodies are mild (like 19–100 range), and no symptoms? Often just monitor labs every 6–12 months.
You're catching it early – that's awesome! Lifestyle changes now can make a huge difference in keeping hormones stable longer.
Can Hashimoto’s Really Go Away – Or Is It Stuck With You Forever?
One of the biggest questions women with Hashimoto’s ask is: “Is this a lifelong thing, or can it ever get better – like, really better?”
From a regular doctor’s view, Hashimoto’s is often seen as chronic. You manage it with thyroid meds forever, because the immune attack damages the thyroid over time.
But in functional medicine, where we look for the root cause of your condition, we see it differently – and the answer is hopeful:
Yes, Hashimoto’s can go into remission for many people!
It’s not always “forever.” Lots of women lower their antibodies (sometimes to zero), feel amazing, and even reduce or stop meds (with doctor help, of course).
What Does “Remission” Mean for Hashimoto’s?
It’s not a full “cure” (your body might still have the tendency), but it’s like the fire goes out:
Antibodies (like TPO) drop way down or become undetectable.
Thyroid works normally (good TSH, Free T3, etc.).
Symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight struggles, and cold hands disappear.
Some people need little or no thyroid medicine.
Thyroid ultrasound shows less inflammation or damage stopping.
A 2025 review showed about 20% of people get spontaneous remission with no big changes to their life. But with changes to diet and lifestyle you have way higher chances!
The Paper Basics
Title: "New insights into the phenomenon of remissions and relapses in autoimmune diseases and the puzzle of benign autoantibodies in healthy individuals"
Published: May 9, 2025 (open access on PubMed Central)
Main Idea: It explores why some autoimmune diseases flare and calm down. The key is the balance between how fast your body destroys tissue (from the immune attack) and how fast it recovers/regenerates.
For Hashimoto’s there is slow thyroid cell turnover – cells divide only about once every 10 years, so remission is possible but is rare compared to disease in faster-healing tissues.
What It Says About Remission Rates in Hashimoto’s
The paper highlights some studies:
In one group of 92 adults with Hashimoto’s treated with levothyroxine, 24% went into remission. That means they stayed euthyroid (normal thyroid function) for 1–8 years after stopping meds. (from a study by Takasu et al.).
In kids with overt hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s (followed for about 8 years), 16% stopped therapy and stayed in remission.
These aren’t fully “spontaneous” (no changes at all) – treatment helped lower the attack enough for recovery to win. But it shows remission happens more than people think.
The authors say true spontaneous remission - meaning there was no treatment, is rare in Hashimoto’s because thyroid recovery is slow. But if inflammation drops naturally or from diet and lifestyle changes then surviving thyroid cells can ramp up and make up for the losses.
Immunosuppressants (like corticosteroids) might help mild cases of Hashimoto’s by decreasing destruction, giving recovery a chance. This would be a last resort in my opinion. I’ve mentioned before that I had to go on LDN in 2025 because my immune system took a hit from covid and it has improved my quality of life significantly. There is no shame in that- sometimes you need the prescription meds to get you better.
This backs the hopeful view: Calm the immune fire with diet, nutrients, gut healing, and give your thyroid a chance to recover.
Why Remission Is Trickier in Hashimoto’s
The thyroid is a slow healer! Thyroid cells (thyrocytes) divide about once every 10 years, only around 5 times in an adult lifetime. That means low natural regeneration.
In Hashimoto’s:
The main damage comes from T-cells (immune attackers), not antibodies. Antibodies like TPO are more like markers – common even in healthy people with up to around 30% having them without issues or symptoms.
Remissions/Relapses Explained
High-recovery diseases (e.g., alopecia areata/hair loss patches, early multiple sclerosis/RRMS, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune pancreatitis): Fast tissue healing allows full remissions and relapses. Symptoms come and go.
Low-recovery diseases like advanced Type 1 diabetes, severe Graves’/Hashimoto’s, androgenic alopecia/balding all have slow or no regeneration – damage is permanent, no true cycles.
Hair follicles regenerate fast (alopecia areata often remits). Thyroid cells? Super slow (divide once every ~10 years) – harder remission.
Benign Autoantibodies in Healthy People
Why do healthy folks have autoantibodies (like in Hashimoto’s) without disease?
If tissue recovers fast, low-level attacks don't cause symptoms (autoantibodies are “benign" meaning they don’t cause any damage to the tissue. ). T regulatory cells create a balance that keeps these antibodies benign. When this changes is when triggers like stress, gut issues, toxins, poor diet break the tolerance and the T cells go rogue, antibodies rise and damage to tissue begins.
In low-recovery tissues, autoantibodies are rare in healthy people and linked to progressive disease.
For Hashimoto’s: Anti-TPO/Tg antibodies are common in healthy women (30%) but mostly harmless – real damage is from T-cells, not antibodies. Antibodies when high, show active autoimmunity and are predictors for progression to hypothyroidism. Sometimes their job is to flag bad cells for other cells to come in and clean them up or get rid of them and sometimes they signal the T- cells to start destruction. The antibodies themselves are not what is destroying tissues. The cytotoxic or cell toxic T cells are what go into the thyroid tissue and directly damage or kill off the cells. Other T cells called helper T cells (Th1 or Th17) cause inflammation, recruit more attackers, and amp up the whole process of destruction.
Key Takeaways for Us
This paper says Hashimoto’s is "low recovery" – so full relapse-remission cycles (like in MS or rheumatoid) are unlikely. But reducing the immune fire by finding your root cause and working on diet, nutrients, and gut fixes can tip the balance toward remission by protecting remaining cells.
It's hopeful science backing what many experience with root-cause work!
The Big Balance: Destruction vs. Recovery
Think of your thyroid like a garden being attacked by weeds (immune cells).
If weeds grow faster than the garden regrows → damage builds (hypothyroidism worsens).
If weeds slow/stop and plants recover → garden heals (remission).
Thyroid cells grow super slow (divide only once every 8–10 years in adults). That's why full regeneration is tough – slower than in other tissues like skin or liver.
Remission often comes from stopping the attack so remaining healthy cells compensate (make enough hormones). In kids or early cases, some real regrowth happens (seen on ultrasound).
Calming the Immune Attack
Functional medicine shines here: Remove triggers to lower antibodies and inflammation.
Drop in antibodies (TPO/TgAb) → Less destruction. Gluten-free diets, selenium, and gut healing often cut antibodies fast.
Restore immune balance → More "regulatory" cells (like peacekeepers) calm overactive attackers. Stress relief, nutrients (vitamin D, zinc), and fixing leaky gut help this.
Helping Remaining Thyroid Cells Work Better
Even without new cells, survivors can ramp up:
Better T4-to-T3 conversion most of which happens in the liver, some in your gut, and in other tissues. When you have good conversion you will have no brain fog, you will be warm, and your metabolism is ramped up. 80% of your T3 comes from converting T4 to T3.
Stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies and liver or gut problems can affect conversion - something else that affects conversion is fasting or calorie restriction as well as cold exposure and aging. Making diet and lifestyle changes may not be enough here - you may need a T3 medication as well.
Less oxidative stress (damage) from antioxidants.- the biggest culprit here can be the actual peroxide that your thyroid makes when it makes T4 and T3. We also make enzymes that neutralize it but in active autoimmunity or stress or inflammation or all three, the immune attack creates a demand for more thyroid hormone creating more peroxide and oxidative stress.
Inflammation also adds more free radicals to the picture causing more cell damage or rust in the cells, the mitochondria (our energy factories in the cell) and the enzymes needed to make things happen around thyroid hormone production and conversion. This leads to fewer healthy cells making hormones, poor conversion from T4 to T3, more inflammation ( a vicious cycle), higher levels of antibodies and more damage to the thyroid gland.
Less oxidative stress means less cell damage and more cells survive the autoimmune attacks, it boosts energy production, improves thyroid conversion, calms inflammation, supports recovery.
In studies, 16–24% of treated adults (and more kids) recover enough function to stop meds temporarily.
Emerging Ideas (Future Stuff)
Stem cells → Might help regenerate tissue (early research exciting but currently mostly animal studies exist.). There is some thought that these stem cells could regenerate thyroid tissue which has been done in mice but not in humans yet. There are some human studies in thailand and the Cayman islands that have reported improved symptoms, lower antibodies and improved thyroid function in Hashimoto’s. There has been some lab studies done where they have used pluripotent stem cells from skin cells that were reprogrammed to make working thyroid follicles so that provides some hope for the future that we may be able to regenerate our own thyroid tissue.
Drugs like low-dose naltrexone → Calm immunity in some.
Bottom line: Remission works best early, by slowing destruction and supporting recovery. Functional fixes (diet, nutrients, lifestyle) boost your odds big time!