January is Thyroid awareness month

Thyroid autoimmunity is the most prevalent and dominant autoimmune condition. Understanding the gluten-thyroid connection can lead to better symptom management with diet and lifestyle.

Functions of the Thygroid Gland

Though it weighs only about an ounce, the thyroid is responsible for functions that have a major impact on one’s health. It maintains body temperature, controls the rate of energy production (including oxygen use and basal metabolic rate), regulates the skeletal and muscular growth of children, and heavily influences brain chemistry. Additionally the thyroid gland has major influence in many other areas.

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Topics: Cyrex Labs, gluten, autoimmune thyroid, thyroid hormones, autoimmunity, Thyroid Challenges, gluten sensitivity, gluten cross-reaction, gluten cross-reaction, Wheat

One of the most common but least understood triggers for autoimmunity is molecular mimicry, also called cross-reactivity. 

This post will serve as a basic primer on cross-reactivity so you understand how important it is.

When your immune system reacts to a hostile invader, whether it's a virus or an inflammatory food, it tags the antigen with antibodies so it can more quickly recognize it in the future.

Cross-reactivity happens when the immune system confuses tissue in the body with the tagged antigen because they are similar in structure. As a result, it attacks and destroys that tissue as well. This self-attack is called autoimmunity.

For example, if you are sensitive to gluten, your immune system has created antibodies to gluten. These antibodies tag gluten to alert the immune system to destroy it every time you eat it — even if you ingest a tiny amount. This is an inflammatory response.

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Topics: gluten sensitivity, Immune System, autoimmunity, gluten sensitivity, gluten cross-reaction, gluten cross-reaction, antibody