Diet and the Thyroid-Fertility Connection

FIRST SOME NEWS
If you missed our TCM/TV webinar on Eating for Fertility, you can still watch it here (it will open in a new window and start to play): http://prodseminars.na4.acrobat.com/p60758263/

Finally, we'll be going on vacation to Costa Rica soon. Can't wait! We definitely could use a nice, relaxing break. Look to catching up with you when we get back (although I'll still be posting here).

THE THYROID FERTILITY CONNECTION AND NATURAL SOLUTIONS
We are honored today to have our advisory board member, Karen Reynolds, L.Ac., M.S., R.N., of Balanced Restored Center, write a guest blog for us on the topic of thyroid function, how it impacts fertility, and the dietary solutions that can make the difference. This is part 3 of a 3-part series.

Part 1: Hashimoto's Disease
Part 2: Hypothyroidism

Part 3: Dietary changes and supplements to support women's thyroids (posted here!)

PART 3: Here is Karen's blog post.
 
In Parts I & II, I discussed the typical signs and symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, the biophysiology of these instances, and some helpful lab tests used to evaluate your thyroid function.

This section will give you some practical nutritional and supplemental tips to support your thyroid function and in turn your fertility.

As I’ve noted in Parts I and II, one of the biggest, life long practices, which benefits your fertility health, your immune system and your thyroid health, is to cut gluten out of your diet. The amazing and wonderful thing about our modern world is there are so many quality, gluten-free alternatives easily available. One of my patients recently traveled to Nigeria and she even found gluten-free bakeries and alternatives there! Next time you are in a restaurant, ask if they have a gluten-free menu. You may be surprised to find that more and more establishments are providing gluten-free options. One local pizzeria in my town even has a gluten-free pie and gluten-free beer.

I love Tinkyada brown rice pastas. These products are readily available online and in most health food stores. The consistency and flavor is practically seamless compared with traditional wheat based pasta.

Next I want to discuss some basic and inexpensive supplements that benefit everyone not just women seeking to fall pregnant. However, if pregnancy is your goal, this is important.

A majority of today’s population is Vitamin D deficient. We tend to think of Vitamin D as necessary in the body for strong bones. This is true. However Vitamin D is vital for immune health, reducing inflammation, and helping to regulate how certain genes are activated or inactivated in the body. How does this affect you and your fertility?

As I discussed in Part I, Hashimoto’s disease of thyroid is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune issues of all types are greatly influenced by challenges to the immune system and levels of inflammation in the body. Having adequate Vitamin D in your body will temper autoimmune flares, support your immune system and help to lower inflammation. In essence it will allow your system to go about the business of baby making as opposed to putting out fires. Acupuncture, which is my specialty, is also known to reduce inflammation and improve immune status. Combining acupuncture with diet and life style changes greatly enhances your fertility.

In my acupuncture fertility practice, I routinely check and monitor Vitamin D levels. This is easy, inexpensive and vital for your health. The Vitamin D council recommends maintaining a serum Vitamin D level of 50-80ng/L and supplementing each day with 4,000-5,000 IU/day of cholecalciferol. Avoid ergocalciferol as studies show that it is not effective in raising Vitamin D levels. For more information, see www.vitamindcouncil.org.

Listed below are some foods naturally highest in Vitamin D. You can incorporate these selections into your daily diet to improve your Vitamin D intake.

• Mushrooms, potatoes, spinach
• Vitamin D fortified orange juice
• Soymilk
• Herring catfish, mollusks oysters, salmon, halibut
• Col liver oil, sardine oil.

My recommendations for my patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease include daily:

• Vitamin D supplementation
• Fish oils
• Glutathione (topical cream)
• Superoxide dismutase (topical cream)
• Gluten-free diet

Note: You can also get vitamin D from sunshine. Twenty minutes in bright sunshine (without sunscreen) yields about 10,000 IU. However, if you are at high risk for skin cancer or have fair skin, this is not a good option. Check with your dermatologist for concerns about the sun’s harmful effects on the skin. I have found that most people don’t get enough sun exposure and require supplementation.

I have greatly enjoyed sharing this information and I look forward to providing you with future posts. In my acupuncture clinic, I specialize in the treatment of fertility of both men and women, women’s health, and functional endocrinology. More of my fertility patients have thyroid issues than those who do not; so this is a treatment passion of mine. Drawing from my 20 years of experience as an ICU RN, I make extensive use of lab testing. I also utilize acupuncture, antioxidants, dietary changes and nutritional supplementation to optimize health, wellness and vitality for the amazing women and men who I have the great honor to treat.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at: kreynolds@balancerestored.com

Balance Restored Center for Integrative Medicine

600 Miller Avenue

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Ring: 415.381.8500 Ext. 4

See my blog for additional information.

photo by: http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/29/vitamin-d-and-fish-oil-time-to-put-up-or-shut-up/

Can Gluten Cause Fertility Issues?

I have already written about wheat (which contains gluten) and why it needs to come out of your fertility diet in a previous blog. To recap: wheat is, first of all, hard to digest. “It’s like Velcro on your gut,” a chiropractic doctor at a naturopathic clinic told me yesterday. In addition, if you’re sensitive to it—and a large percentage of people are, many without knowing it—wheat can cause all kinds of problems and affect thyroid function. All of this is not good for fertility.

But what about gluten? Gluten is a type of protein found in rye, barley, all types of wheat (including the more easily digested spelt and kamut), and sometimes oats. Gluten-free diets are all the rage lately. For fertility, do we need to give up those grains too?

If it turns out you have celiac disease, the answer is absolutely yes! Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which gluten, when consumed, causes damage to the small intestines so that food is not properly absorbed—meaning you don’t get the important nutrients your body needs to function. And if you’re not getting important nutrients, your fertility (and your health) is definitely, negatively affected.

In an online article on the topic, the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is quoted as saying, “Any individual who has experienced persistent miscarriage or infertility where a medical cause could not be found needs to be tested for celiac disease.”

Symptoms are varied. If you are suffering from ongoing digestive issues or just want to rule out celiac disease, talk to your doctor, nutritionist, or naturopathic doctor about getting tested for it. I would not recommend self-diagnosing on this, as symptoms might also be caused by something else.

Celiac disease, however, is not that common. Less than 1% (1 in 133) are affected.

Gluten sensitivity, however, is another story. I’ve read that as many as 1 out of 2 people may have a sensitivity to gluten and not even know it. This “hidden sensitivity” may cause anemia, abdominal pain, bloating and gas, depression, diarrhea and constipation, fatigue—symptoms that may also be the result of something else, by the way. While celiac symptoms tend to be pronounced, sensitivity symptoms tend not to be as apparent.

Melissa Diane Smith, a nutritionist and author of "Going Against the Grain," spoke about the link between gluten sensitivity and infertility at a conference on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), asserting that gluten sensitivity is the leading cause of recurrent miscarriage.

Now, before you go and strip your cupboards of anything gluten-like, keep the following in mind. If you are concerned you may have a sensitivity to gluten, or you just want to rule it out: get tested! And talk to your doctor or naturopath about it. If it turns out you do – then it’s important to avoid gluten (I would eliminate it!). But if you don’t have a sensitivity to gluten, I (personally) wouldn’t just cut out gluten. My feeling is that you don’t want to lose out on the valuable nutrients that comes with certain grains. Plus, giving up wheat is hard enough; going gluten-free is even tougher.

Also, keep in mind that by eliminating wheat, you’ll be cutting out a lot of gluten already because wheat, wheat flour and it’s other derivatives are found in seemingly everything!

Finally, when I was given a 2% chance of conceiving and put myself on a fertility diet, I did not eliminate gluten, although I did of course cut out wheat. But I also never had any of the symptoms listed earlier (not consistently) and had no reason to suspect I had any problem with gluten.

The choice of course is up to you. Here are some good links to learn more about the topic and help you make informed decisions (the first two are specific to fertility):

http://www.pregnancy-info.net/dont-touch-that-bagel.html
http://ow.ly/1bhAh
http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C341265.html
http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=34
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gluten.htm

(Keep in mind I’m not a medical doctor; I provide information on this blog for educational purposes. We’re all responsible for our own health and well being!)