Zoe Saldana, star of Star Trek Beyond, has announced that she has a common autoimmune disease known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Saldana’s mother and sister also have the disease, as do 22 million others in the U.S., making it the country’s most common autoimmune disorder. As a result of the illness Saldana has adjusted her diet, going dairy and gluten free, which she says is tough since she is a self-proclaimed foodie. “Your body doesn’t have the energy it needs to filter toxins, causing it to believe that it has an infection, so it’s always inflamed,” she said. “You create antibodies that attack your glands, so you have to eat clean.”
The Mayo Clinic website says Hashimoto’s disease causes the body’s immune system to attack the thyroid gland. Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid produces hormones that coordinate many of the body’s activities. The resulting inflammation often causes an underactive thyroid, leading to fatigue and sluggishness, sensitivity to cold, muscle aches and weakness, weight gain and depression.
According to the Hashimoto’s Healing website, the autoimmune part of the disorder makes everything a challenge, but eating is particularly difficult. No two people have the same version of the disease, and may be affected by other autoimmune, digestive, systemic or endocrine problems.
Hashimoto’s disease is usually simply and effectively treated with thyroid hormone replacement.