5 Fantastic Books That Got Me Started on My Healing Journey with Hypothyroidism

When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2008 I didn't know where to start. 

I started looking online for answers and rapidly ended up down a rabbit hole. 

I decided I needed to get some real books - you know the paper kind!! 

I ended up with 5 favourites and I'll tell you why (and what they are)

1. Why do I still have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal by Datis Kharrazian.

This book is very technical but you can skim through all of that or just read a couple of pages a day - and go straight to the testing chapters as I did. Then you can compare your tests and results against what Datis says they need to be. 

This book has so much thyroid information that it can be a little daunting but just pick and choose what you're most interested in and I think you'll find it very valuable for your own journey. Take it along to your Dr's Appointments.

2. The Autoimmune Solution by Amy Myers.

I got the hardcover in 2015 - not sure if it comes in paperback or not. So much in this book, I do now or have done along the way, and a lot I was already doing.

Although it's a great book with lots of information, I feel the title is a little misleading saying "reverse" your autoimmune disease as I don't feel that is always possible - even when we do everything right - especially with Hashimoto's.

Amy provides a meal plan too but being from New Zealand a lot of the ingredients were unfamiliar so I didn't use that part.

3. The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne.

I spent hours and hours a day and 6 months reading this book. Sometimes it was so overwhelming I'd fall asleep (granted I was tired all the time back then) but I liked it because while it was quite scientific and technical it has glossy pages and colour pictures! I'm a big kid at heart!

This book goes into great detail as to what is actually happening in your body with an autoimmune disease and how a paleo way of life can help. 

I really enjoyed learning the science behind the disease and how lifestyle and food choices can help. It's still on my living room coffee table although well faded by the sun now. 

4. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz.

I was pretty excited to get this book as it was someone who had cured their Hashimoto's. This book led me down another rabbit hole on what may have caused my Hashimoto's. Bacteria, Mercury, Infections... but I ended up realising that my family all has it so maybe it was nothing that happened to me but was more genetic predisposition.

The one important thing I got from this book was about Low Dose Naltrexone. I asked my Dr about it after reading how it helped Izabella and I have been on it ever since. Again the cover implies you can reverse your disease but I would argue not everyone - again. 

5. The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott.

The last of my top 5 books on Hashimoto's is not really about thyroid disease as such but a lovely cookbook for the AIP Diet (Auto-Immune Protocol). The book is beautifully illustrated with lovely big pages (I got the hardcover again).

Colour photos make everything look so yummy and it oozes kindness and empathy - not sure how a cookbook can do that - but this one does. It's like it knows what a shit show it is that we are going through and wants to help.

I lived off the recipes in here for a month while I eliminated some foods that I needed to. I couldn't eat everything in the book due to my personal allergies but most I could. 

So I hope you dig these books out and see what you get from them. I bet it will be something different. We all learn what we need to learn. 

Lastly, I wanted to mention my own book since we are on the subject!

I wrote it during Lockdown in 2020 and it was released earlier this year (2021). It's my own personal journey and findings that took me from exhausted and overweight to feeling amazing - despite still having Hashimoto's. I tried to write it in simple language so it's not too scientific word wise. But still brings in all my research over a 12-year trial and error period.  It's called Healing with Hashimoto's. 

What books have helped you on your hypothyroid journey?