How Bread Might Be Wrecking Your Thyroid

Last month felt like “thyroid month” in my practice. Almost every new client who came through my door had thyroid issues — Hashimoto’s, Graves, abnormal labs, unexplained fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, or brain fog.

When the same theme shows up again and again, I know it’s time to talk about it. And one big piece of the thyroid puzzle that kept coming up? Removing gluten.

Naturally, my clients wanted to know: Why?

So let’s dig into it — and more importantly, let’s talk about what can actually change in your life when you take this step seriously.

What You’ll Learn in This Blog

• Why thyroid issues and gluten go hand-in-hand for so many people

• The difference between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

• How gluten can confuse your immune system and trigger thyroid attacks

• The wide variety of symptoms gluten can cause — digestive and beyond

• Why testing isn’t always the full story

• How a 30-day gluten-free trial can change everything

The Gluten–Thyroid Connection

Gluten contains a protein called gliadin. Gliadin closely resembles an enzyme in your thyroid called tissue transglutaminase.

For someone with thyroid antibodies, this similarity can confuse the immune system. Instead of only reacting to gluten, it may start attacking thyroid tissue as well. This process — called molecular mimicry — can drive ongoing thyroid damage.

Translation: every bagel, piece of pizza, or slice of bread might be fueling an immune attack on your thyroid.

Celiac Disease vs. Gluten Sensitivity

• Celiac disease: gluten directly damages the small intestine. Left untreated, it can cause anemia, infertility, osteoporosis, neurological issues, and more.

• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS): gluten doesn’t damage the gut lining in the same way, but it still triggers inflammation and symptoms that are very real.

Both conditions create ripple effects throughout the body — many of which mimic thyroid dysfunction.

Symptoms You Might Notice

• Digestive: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain

• Neurological: brain fog, migraines, tingling or numbness in hands/feet, dizziness

• Systemic: fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, swelling

• Hormonal/Thyroid: hair loss, cold hands/feet, weight changes, irregular cycles, mood changes

And here’s the hopeful part: when clients remove gluten, many of these start to improve. Suddenly they’re sleeping better, thinking more clearly, losing weight they couldn’t budge before, and showing up with more energy for their families.

Why Testing Isn’t the Full Story

Bloodwork and biopsies can be helpful — but they don’t always show the full picture.

• Gut damage can be patchy and missed.

• Antibody levels may read “normal” even when symptoms are screaming.

• If you’ve already reduced gluten, your labs may look falsely reassuring.

➡️I’ve had clients whose tests didn’t “prove” anything, but whose lives changed dramatically once gluten was removed. Within weeks, their fatigue lifted, their skin cleared, and the brain fog they thought was just “part of life” disappeared.

That’s why your symptoms matter as much as your labs. Your body’s signals are worth listening to.

Gluten, Cognitive Health, and MTHFR (Coming Next)

Gluten doesn’t just affect your thyroid. For many, it impacts the brain — worsening anxiety, depression, and cognitive symptoms. If you also carry MTHFR genetic variations, you may feel this even more strongly.

This connection deserves its own deep dive — which is why my next blog will explore Gluten, Cognitive Health, and MTHFR.

So, Should You Go Gluten-Free?

If you have thyroid antibodies or abnormal labs, gluten may be quietly undermining your health. Removing it can:

• Calm your immune system → less attack, more healing

• Lower inflammation → better digestion and absorption of nutrients

• Stabilize thyroid function → improved energy, mood, and focus

The best way to find out? Commit to 30 days completely gluten-free. Track your sleep, mood, energy, and digestion. Most clients are shocked at how much shifts once gluten is truly gone.

Final Thoughts

Gluten isn’t “just bread.” For many people with thyroid issues, it’s a daily trigger keeping them stuck in fatigue, brain fog, and frustration.

Imagine what it would feel like to:

• Wake up with energy

• Think clearly at work

• Stop dreading the scale or the mirror

• Feel like yourself again

That’s what’s possible when you take gluten out of the picture and give your thyroid the chance to heal.

If you’re ready to see what’s on the other side of “just bread,” start with 30 days gluten-free. And if you want guidance, I’d love to walk with you through the process.