Is Gluten to Blame for Your Hashimoto’s?

If you have Hashimoto’s, you may have heard that gluten is automatically bad for your thyroid. The relationship between Hashimoto’s and gluten is more nuanced. Celiac disease occurs more often in people with Hashimoto’s and other forms of autoimmune thyroid dysfunction, making gluten avoidance essential for some people. However, research has not established that everyone with Hashimoto’s needs a gluten-free diet. (1,2)

In The Myers Way®, I remove gluten as part of Pillar II: Get Rid of Gluten, Grains, and Legumes. Understanding what the research does and does not show can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare professional about your individual needs.

Table of Contents

1. What Is the Connection Between Hashimoto’s and Gluten?
2. How Does Gluten Affect the Thyroid?
3. Should Everyone With Hashimoto’s Go Gluten-Free?
4. What Not to Eat With Hashimoto’s Disease
5. Look Beyond Gluten
6. FAQs

What Is the Connection Between Hashimoto’s and Gluten?

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system targets the thyroid. Celiac disease is also autoimmune; in celiac disease, gluten triggers the immune response that damages the small intestine.

The two conditions can overlap. UCLA Health notes that celiac disease occurs more often among people with Hashimoto’s than among people without it. (2) A 2026 review also describes shared immune and gut-related mechanisms that may help explain the association between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and celiac disease. (3)

If you have Hashimoto’s and persistent digestive symptoms, unexplained nutrient deficiencies, or another reason to suspect celiac disease, talk with your healthcare professional about testing before removing gluten. Starting a gluten-free diet beforehand can interfere with celiac testing.

My guide to testing for gluten intolerance and celiac disease explains these distinctions in more detail.

How Does Gluten Affect the Thyroid?

Gluten does not directly damage the thyroid in the same established way that it damages the small intestine in celiac disease.

Researchers are investigating several possible connections among gluten, the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier function, and immune signaling in Hashimoto’s. A recent review proposed mechanisms involving the gut-thyroid axis and immune cross-reactivity; however, the authors also emphasized that evidence for using a gluten-free diet in Hashimoto’s without celiac disease remains incomplete. (3)

I come back to two lines because they are true in practice: “The gut is the gateway to health.” “If your gut is not healthy, neither are you.” Your gut is the foundation of your whole body’s health because 80% of your immune system resides there. Without a healthy gut, you can’t have a healthy immune system.

That gut-thyroid relationship is why I consider intestinal health as part of the bigger picture. You can read more about the connection between gluten, gut health, and thyroid function. I also explore the science of the intestinal barrier and leaky gut on my podcast.

Should Everyone With Hashimoto’s Go Gluten-Free?

The scientific evidence does not currently support a universal gluten-free diet as standard treatment for everyone with Hashimoto’s.

A 2022 review concluded that existing studies did not provide sufficient evidence to routinely recommend gluten elimination for Hashimoto’s innin people without celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. (1) The newer 2026 review suggests potential biological connections yet likewise calls for stronger clinical evidence. (3)

This distinction matters. Going gluten-free with Hashimoto’s disease is often presented as a universal rule, yet individual responses and diagnoses differ.

Within The Myers Way®, removing gluten is foundational. I remove gluten, grains, and legumes because these inflammatory foods can damage intestinal cells, open the tight junctions of the gut lining, and feed harmful bacteria that can create gut dysbiosis. If you are exploring that approach, The Myers Way® Paleo Protein Vanilla provides a gluten-free protein option, while Organic Greens can complement a nutrient-dense diet.

For a broader discussion of nutrition beyond eliminating individual foods, I explore nutrient density and bioavailability on my podcast.

What Not to Eat With Hashimoto’s Disease

Research has not established one food list for everyone with Hashimoto’s, and UCLA Health encourages people to bring diet questions to their own medical team. (2) Within The Myers Way®, these are the inflammatory foods I recommend removing:

• Corn
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Gluten
• Gluten-free grains and pseudo-grains
• Legumes
• Nightshades
• Soy

Within The Myers Way®, Pillar II removes gluten, grains, and legumes. Gluten is found naturally in barley, rye, and wheat, so eliminating it requires reading labels carefully and watching for cross-contact.

If you choose to remove gluten, focus just as much on what you add to your diet. Prioritize nutrient-dense whole foods rather than replacing wheat products with highly processed gluten-free alternatives. My guide to going gluten-free with autoimmunity provides more context.

If you are looking for a place to start,  I recommend the Essential 4 Supplements for everyone from 1 to 101 years old: : a Complete Multivitamin, Fish Oils / Omega-3, Multi-Strain Probiotic, and Vitamin D with Vitamin K2. 

The Myers Way® Multivitamin can also provide nutritional support alongside a varied diet. Supplements should complement food, not replace it, and your healthcare professional can help determine what is appropriate for your individual needs.

Look Beyond Gluten

Gluten is one piece of a much larger Hashimoto’s picture. Gut health, medications, nutrient status, sleep, stress, thyroid function, and other health conditions can all matter.

That is why persistent symptoms deserve a comprehensive evaluation rather than automatically blaming one food. If you take supplemental thyroid hormone, do not stop or change your dose because you have changed your diet. Work with your healthcare professional to monitor your thyroid function and adjust care when appropriate.

FAQs

Is gluten bad for Hashimoto’s?

Gluten must be avoided if you have celiac disease, and some people have other forms of gluten sensitivity. Research has not established a gluten-free diet as standard care for everyone with Hashimoto’s. (1,3) Within The Myers Way®, I remove gluten because it can damage intestinal cells and open the tight junctions of the gut lining.

How does gluten affect the thyroid?

Gluten is not established as directly damaging thyroid tissue. Researchers are studying possible connections involving celiac disease, immune responses, the gut microbiome, and intestinal barrier function. These mechanisms remain areas of active research. (3)

Should I get tested for celiac disease if I have Hashimoto’s?

It is worth asking your practitioner about. Studies cited in a 2022 review found celiac disease in about 5% of adults and 8% of children with Hashimoto’s, compared with about 1% of the general population. (1) A 2026 review supports targeted celiac screening in Hashimoto’s, followed by individualized dietary guidance. (3) Get tested before going gluten-free, because removing gluten first can make celiac results less reliable.

What does research say about gluten-free diets and Hashimoto’s?

Research is mixed. Some small studies have reported changes in thyroid antibodies or other markers, while systematic reviews have found insufficient evidence to recommend gluten elimination universally in Hashimoto’s without celiac disease. (1,3)

What foods should I avoid with Hashimoto’s?

People with celiac disease must avoid gluten. Within The Myers Way®, I recommend removing gluten, grains, and legumes, along with other inflammatory foods such as corn, dairy, eggs, nightshades, and soy. Your practitioner or a registered dietitian can help you personalize these changes.

References

1. Szczuko M, et al. “Doubtful Justification of the Gluten-Free Diet in the Course of Hashimoto’s Disease.” Nutrients, April 21, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9101474/. Accessed September 16, 2026.
2. UCLA Health. “Hashimoto’s Disease and the Connection to Diet.” UCLA Health, March 9, 2026. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/hashimotos-disease-and-connection-diet. Accessed September 16, 2026.
3. Fan X, Li X, Fan Y, Fan Y. “Beyond Celiac Disease: The Potential Role of Gluten in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.” Frontiers in Endocrinology, May 1, 2026. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1811207/full. Accessed September 16, 2026.