Karen Frazier - The Hashimotos 4-Week Plan: A Holistic Guide to Treating Hypothyroidism

Copyright 2016 by Sonoma Press, Berkeley, California

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ISBN: Print 978-1-943451-06-7 | eBook 978-1-943451-07-4

For Etta, my kitchen mentor, and Jim, who has always encouraged me to listen to my inner voice.

H ashimotos disease is complex. It disrupts your bodily functions and toys with your emotions. Outsiders may not recognize your challenges because you dont look sick. Struggling to understand your symptoms can cause you to doubt the validity of your diseaseand yourself.

If youre like me, then youve probably received much unsolicited advice regarding your sudden weight fluctuations, plunging energy levels, and bouts of depression and anxiety.

Eat less, move more.

Just buck up and do it.

Focus on the positive.

Such well-meaning advice can be unhelpful and discouraging. Youve probably tried to follow it; I know I did, and ended up feeling like a failure for not living up to other peoples expectations. I thought of succumbing to my disease, but my inner voice kicked in and gave me some better ideas.

You, too, have a powerful inner voice, and I encourage you to listen to it. You, alone, know your strengths and limitations and, most importantly, your own body.

Throughout this book you will find inspiration and ideas to help you tune in to your inner wisdom. Youll learn to manage your Hashimotos holistically, on your terms. This book is an invitation to return to yourself and discover the inner power that can lead you to wellness.

CONTENTS

PART ONE
The Road to Better Health and Well-Being

PART TWO
Preparing Delicious Recipes

FOREWORD

The beginning of my journey with Hashimotos will probably sound familiar to you. In my 20s, I suddenly felt like an old woman. I had aches and pains. I was tired. And after rapidly gaining weight despite being petite my entire life, I was mildly depressed.

Like many Americans, I grew up on a less than healthy diet. I didnt know there was another way to eat. From the time I was a little girl, I had been plagued with digestive complaints, but no one ever wondered what could be wrong with me. Doctors just told me I had irritable bowel syndrome, and family members said I was emotional.

Amazingly, despite having no clear intention to do so, I began a healing journey when I devoted myself to yoga as both a student and instructor. Further study about the human body led me to a career in holistic nutrition. While studying to become a Master Nutrition Therapist, I finally uncovered what was wrong with me. At the age of 24, I asked my doctor for a full panel of thyroid tests. Although my doctor said I only needed a low dose of antidepressant medication, she acquiesced, and with my antithyroid antibody levels in the thousandsyes, thousandsI was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

My prescribed treatment plan was simple: take medication for the rest of my life to control symptoms. Like so many sufferers of Hashimotos, I struggled to feel better with this conventional approach. When I was 30, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. After suffering three miscarriages before having my two beautiful children, I became convinced that my seemingly unrelated health issues were connected to my thyroidand its dysfunction.

To better manage my disease, I took it upon myself to study the thyroid, the endocrine system, and the extensive nutritional needs of the body. My final project for nutrition school was an in-depth protocol of an anti-inflammatory food plan to reverse autoimmune disease. I devoted my nutrition practice, Family Nutrition Services, to helping people like me learn more about their natural options for managing Hashimotos through food and supplements. If you have the means to do so, I encourage you to find a qualified nutrition practitioner who can help you develop your own individualized nutrition plan. (This is especially true if you wish to take supplements, since their misuse can inadvertently worsen symptoms in some people.)