We have learned much recently about how important it is to cultivate good gut bacteria, or “gut  microbiome” in order to better manage Hashimoto’s low thyroid. Spore-based probiotic supplements have been shown to especially boost your good bacteria. “Spore” comes from the word “seed,” and spore-based probiotics deliver spores of healthy gut bacteria that germinate in the small intestine. This enables the gut to colonize more healthy bacteria so you can heal leaky gut and dampen inflammation against the thyroid in Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

When scientists study primitive people in parts of the world where they have no access to modern foods, they find their guts have about 50 percent more diversity in gut bacteria than people living in industrialized areas. Scientists have found this lack of healthy gut bacteria is a factor in chronic health and brain problems, including depression and Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

Why do Americans have such poor gut bacteria? It is due to our traditionally low-fiber, junk food and fast food, antibiotic abuse, chlorinated water, environmental toxins, unrelenting stress, excess alcohol consumption, and medications reduce the diversity and amount of good gut bacteria. This allows “bad” gut bacteria to conquer the gut and cause health problems, such as leaky gut, chronic inflammation, brain disorders, and autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

What are some ways to develop good gut bacteria?

The most important is to eat lots of a diverse array of vegetables and fruits. Vary what you eat regularly, don’t eat the same produce over and over. Make sure and eat cultured and fermented foods. Be aware drugs such as antibiotics, NSAIDs, and heartburn medication can reduce the good bacteria in your gut.

Because the modern gut faces so many challenges, it’s helpful to take a probiotic regularly, especially if you have Hashimoto’s low thyroid. Consider adding spore-based probiotics to your routine for the following reasons:

• They survive the acidic environment of the stomach on their way to the intestines.
• They resist breakdown by digestive enzymes.
• They are heat stable and don’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.
• Some spores are antibiotic-resistant, which means you can take while taking antibiotics.

Once they arrive to the small intestine, spore-based probiotics germinate as long as you provide lots of plant fiber.

Spore probiotics help improve your health boosting the integrity of your gut lining, which contains gut bacteria and immune cells that protect the bloodstream from inflammatory bad bacteria, yeast, toxins, undigested foods, and other pathogens. This mechanism is a big factor in Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

One popular strain of spore-based probiotic, bacillus coagulans, is helpful for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease. It produces lactic acid, which protects the gut and improves immune resistance to viruses. It also lowers cholesterol and reduces symptoms of arthritis.

Ask my office for more information on how to support healthy gut bacteria, eradicate bad bacteria, and manage Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

How to learn if you have Hashimoto’s low thyroid

Many patients are not diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s until after several years and going through several doctors. It is a demoralizing journey richly illustrated in my book The Truth About Low Thyroid: Stories of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering With Hashimoto’s Low Thyroid Disease, through real-life stories from patients in my practice. Managing Hashimoto’s goes far beyond using thyroid medication as you must work to stop the immune system from attacking the thyroid. For more information on identifying and managing Hashimoto’s low thyroid, contact my office.

About Dr. Josh Redd, Chiropractic Physician — Utah, Arizona, New Mexico functional medicine

Dr. Joshua J. Redd, DC, MS, DABFM, DAAIM, author of The Truth About Low Thyroid: Stories of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering With Hashimoto’s Low Thyroid Disease, is a chiropractic physician and the founder of RedRiver Health and Wellness Center with practices in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. He sees patients from around the world who suffer from challenging thyroid disorders, Hashimoto’s disease, and other autoimmune conditions. In addition to his chiropractic degree, Dr. Redd has a BS in Health and Wellness, a BS in Anatomy, and a MS in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine.  He speaks across the nation, teaching physicians about functional blood chemistry, low thyroid, Hashimoto’s, and autoimmunity. You can join his Facebook page here.