Gluten Free PSA #6: Take Care of Your Thyroid

The thyroid gland. As one of the body's largest glands, this little butterfly shaped guy sits in your throat, carefully controlling your metabolic rate, making invaluable proteins, and determining how sensitive your body should be to other hormones. 

And wouldn't you know it, researchers in Sweden have recently discovered that individuals with celiac disease are at a three to four times increased risk for developing thyroid disease -- and vice versa, those with thyroid problems are at the same risk for developing celiac disease. This includes all thyroid problems: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, and autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease). 

This study was written up in the October, 2008 edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. To read the full article, please click here. And take care to take care of your thyroids!