How Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism can effect your digestion
Up to 40% of those diagnosed with the autoimmune, underactive thyroid condition (Hashimotos hypothyroidism) have low stomach acid.
This can result in various digestive symptoms including ‘reflux’, gas, bloating, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), feeling full or tired after meals, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or just sensing your protein digestion is off. It can also contribute to low iron or vitamin B12 and/or anaemia.
Our ‘stomach juices’ contain betaine hydrochloride and pepsin. These are essential as they make the nutrients and amino acids (from our protein-containing foods) more bioavailable for us to absorb.
Studies have found that people with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) often have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) or achlorhydria (lack of stomach acid).
Having low stomach acid often leads to digestive symptoms in the short term, but it also puts one at a greater risk for many other health issues.
The effects of low stomach acid can show up within 30 minutes of a meal and/or contribute to issues within the rest of your digestive tract (as listed above).
We need optimal stomach acid to begin the vital process of digesting proteins and releasing minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamin B12 from our foods, so we can later absorb them in the small intestine.
We also need it to ‘sterilise’ our food, to keep our microbiome free of free-loaders/parasites.
Stomach acid also sets the stage for the right pH to trigger digestive enzymes and to trigger the right environment for a healthy microbiome within the lower digestive tract. What happens ‘up-stream’ in the stomach definitely affects what’s happening downstream in the small and large intestine.
If you have Hashimotos hypothyroidism - or even just an underactive thyroid without the autoimmunity component - check your gut.
If you have (had) iron &/or vitamin B12 insufficiences/deficiences that seem to take a long time to resolve - check your gut.
It’s important to remember that there’s a relationship between thyroid function and iron levels. We need healthy levels of thyroid hormones to make optimal stomach acid, which helps us absorb iron from food/supplement. And we need optimal iron to make said thyroid hormones!
If you feel you may be having symptoms of low stomach acid (far more common than having ‘too much’) you can try taking a HCl/digestive supplement with your meals as a trial for 1-2 weeks. Observe any changes to your digestion/symptoms, bowel habits and your energy levels.
Using digestive support supplement such as this* can be the missing link for getting on top of your iron and/or B12 deficiency, help ensure you’re getting the most nutrients from your food, and be part of a digestive/gut microbiome restoration protocol.
*Practitioner-grade product available from Naturopaths