Bedridden by Hashimoto’s, I Turned to Food for Healing Print 25 LikeDislike By hillary bergh Throughout my childhood, I suffered from psoriasis, various skin issues, extreme fatigue, digestive distress, migraines, mood swings, thinning hair, weak nails, and had trouble regulating my body temperature. I saw multiple doctors before I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition, in my teens. I was put on synthetic thyroid and estrogen hormones to manage my condition. While some of the symptoms were reduced, my skin and digestive issues became much worse.They all told me food was not a factorMy general practitioner, my endocrinologist, and my dermatologist all continued to tell me food was not and could not be a factor–which was a relief. I wanted to believe them because food was my life. My parents owned restaurants, and I was passionate about cooking and wanted a career in food. Little did I know then how I could use food to transform myself AND be an inspiration to others!The years passed – I went on to fulfill my dreams of going to culinary school, then baking/pastry school, and then obtained my business degree. Yet, I continued to be plagued by my health issues. I saw various western trained doctors over the years, took medications, used creams – yet saw no improvement, and more often than not, my symptoms worsened.Hit rock bottom, and started a strict elimination dietAfter a difficult relationship ended, during which I had also gained about 40 pounds and had increasingly painful symptoms. I got so sick that I was forced to spend weeks in bed, and was having increasingly painful symptoms. Finally, a very good friend covered the cost for me to see an acupuncturist for six months, four times per week. I was put on a very strict elimination diet and drank 4oz of a horribly bitter tonic after every meal. Within two weeks, I saw results that exceeded my wildest dreams!Getting better, reducing medsAs the six month mark approached, I noticed my nails getting stronger, my hair getting thicker, skin issues reducing, no headaches, lost all the accumulated weight, and had increased energy. I was able to reintroduce many foods, reduce my thyroid dosage, and eliminate my estrogen dosage. More importantly, I understood that I would be making bigger changes in my view of food and food allergies.Finding my life’s purposeSince then, I have received an integrative nutrition health coaching certificate and expanded my knowledge of food as healing. I have been able to combine this newfound knowledge with my culinary education and be a coach to others.I LOVE to eat avocados, pastured bison, beets (raw, steamed, roasted, fermented!), blueberries, coconut butter, watermelon, dry tart cherries, seaweed, and wild halibut. I AVOID gluten, soy (unless fermented), legumes/peanuts, nightshades, factory-farmed meats, and I avoid brassicas when having flare-upsIt is my life’s purpose to be an example and inspiration to others who are suffering. My health journey is an ongoing adventure and now I can enjoy the ride!Some of my favorite recipes are:5-Ingredient Brain Boosting Avocado Coconut Milk ShakeHealing Turmeric, Winter Vegetable and Bison StewDIY: Easy Fermented CauliflowerGinger Lime Chicken WingsDaikon and Watermelon Radish Salad with Sesame-Yuzu Vinaigrette
Cassie December 21, 2017 at 12:06 pmHi i really need help im feeling so ill with hashis now can bearly walk no energy and hv goiltre in my neck so much mre 2 …. the list is long…. really need help now…. x Reply ↓
Julia Winter July 7, 2015 at 8:47 amHillary you’re a hero!!! Thank you for sharing your story– your perspective on life is inspiring. How do you eat now to manage your condition? Reply ↓
hillary bergh October 28, 2015 at 6:45 pmhi Julia~ I continue to enjoy the same foods that provided the biggest benefit to me: avocado, coconut, grass fed meat, root veggies, mushrooms, seaweed, and berries. Happily, I’ve been able to reintroduce eggs and nuts/seeds so that has provided a lot more variety! Sorry for the delayed reply, I didn’t get a notification you had commented. Feel free to reach me directly hillarybergh at gmail dot com. Reply ↓
hillary bergh February 27, 2015 at 4:13 pmhi K’lyn~ it is a custom blend of herbs, mushrooms, and sometimes cicadas from my acupuncturist… the blend evolved over the years as we focused on each specific ailment… I now only drink it when I’m having a flare-up or get accidentally exposed to gluten or nightshades… a pic of one of the early blends is attached. Reply ↓
Jessica Espinoza’s Diet for Hypothyroid Hashimotos In this story, renowned chef and food blogger Jessica Espinoza shares her journey from growing up eating real food under the influence of her mother to eating sugar and junk food in her 20s. She tells us how she got back on the wagon of health...
2019 Sugar Detox Keto Meal Plan and Shopping List According to various health and government entities, sugar can be a highly addictive food substance. Binging and overconsumption of added sugars can cause obesity and harm your long-term health. At Further Food, we are dedicated to helping you on yo...
Weight Loss Stories and Walking Workouts to Stay Healthy with Leslie Sansone Unlike fitness trends that go in an out of style, walking is an act of motion that people have done for ages. Walking is a low-impact activity that humans learn to do as babies and continue to do throughout their lives. In this two-part article, you...
Holistic Daily Routine With Collagen It seems like collagen supplements are everywhere these days, from health and wellness shops to your local pharmacy. Have you ever wondered why so many people have started adding collagen to their routines? Are you interested in doing the same? If s...
Keto Friendly Fruits and Vegetables Are you trying the keto diet but aren’t sure what keto-friendly foods you can eat? Luckily, there are quite a few keto-friendly fruits and vegetables that can be consumed regularly in the keto diet. Read on to learn our recommendations for the top...
6 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Chocolate is a decadent treat we just love to eat. But besides tasting good, chocolate actually has some amazing health benefits that you need to know about! Read below to find out how this age-old guilty pleasure has actually been used to heal the ...