The Truth About Coffee and Autoimmune Health with Dr. Vincent Pedre

The Case: 

• Samantha has Hashimoto’s and is struggling with extreme fatigue.
• She has a demanding job and 3 kids so she’s turned to coffee to stay awake and energized leaving her feeling wired and tired.
• She wants to feel better but is unwilling to give up coffee.

I could understand where she was coming from and I knew exactly where we had to look to solve her fatigue mystery without her having to give up coffee. 

The Link Between Coffee and Hashimoto’s

Coffee is a staple in many of our lives so it’s easy to overlook how it might be affecting us. Yes, coffee can have benefits, but for people with Hashimoto’s or thyroid issues, there’s more to the story. Dr. Vincent Pedre, a leading gut health expert and founder of Happy Gut Coffee, joined me on this episode to unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of coffee while shedding some light on Samantha’s case.

The Hidden Dangers of Coffee

One of the first things Dr. Pedre and I discuss is the hidden dangers lurking in many coffee brands:

1. Mold and Mycotoxins
   Up to 50% of coffee beans may be contaminated with mold or mycotoxins. Lower-quality beans, particularly those from bargain brands, are more likely to contain these harmful substances. Mold exposure can be especially problematic for people with Hashimoto’s, as it often exacerbates inflammation and immune dysregulation.
2. Pesticides and Chemicals
   Conventional coffee is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops, and these chemicals can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to leaky gut and even triggering autoimmune responses. It’s not something you can taste or smell, but it can wreak havoc on your health.
3. Heavy Metals
   Some coffee beans may absorb heavy metals, such as mercury, from contaminated soil. This is particularly relevant for thyroid health because mercury can interfere with thyroid hormone production and contribute to fatigue.
4. Microplastics
   If you’re drinking coffee from to-go cups or K-Cups, you’re likely consuming microplastics that leach into your coffee from the heat. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can further stress your hormones and thyroid.

Are You Sensitive to Caffeine?

I shared with Vincent that Samantha was drinking quite a bit of coffee just to get the energy burst she was looking for but almost immediately experienced a crash. This was a sign that she was a slow caffeine metabolizer, a trait shared by about 50% of the population. This led to her jitteriness, energy crashes, and disrupted sleep, exacerbating her fatigue.

Coffee’s Impact on Your Adrenal System: The Energy Rollercoaster.

Vincent explained that coffee is a major stimulant for the adrenal system, driving up cortisol and stress responses, which can leave you feeling more wired and exhausted over time. This is especially true for slow metabolizers like Samantha. For these individuals, even one cup can lead to prolonged effects, and when that initial energy boost wears off, they’re often tempted to reach for more coffee, creating a cycle of peaks and crashes.

For someone like Samantha, who already had thyroid issues, this reliance on caffeine can become an energy rollercoaster. Surprisingly, Dr. Pedre noted that reducing caffeine gradually can actually restore energy levels, even though it feels counterintuitive at first.

The type of roast also plays a role, with certain roasts potentially containing higher levels of contaminants. For anyone with Hashimoto’s or dealing with mold sensitivity, like Samantha, this can further complicate their health and contribute to their symptoms.

How Coffee Impacts Thyroid Health

For those with Hashimoto’s or other thyroid conditions, coffee can present unique challenges. Dr. Pedre shared how the chemicals and toxins in coffee might:

• Trigger autoimmune responses: Pesticides, molds, and heavy metals can stress the gut, leading to leaky gut syndrome and immune dysregulation.
• Disrupt thyroid hormone production: Mercury, for example, directly impacts thyroid function and hormone conversion.
• Contribute to inflammation: Microplastics and other toxins can spark inflammation, which is particularly problematic for those with thyroid issues.

Even the brewing process matters. Dr. Pedre emphasized the importance of choosing clean, high-quality coffee to avoid these hidden dangers.

Can Coffee Be Good for You?

Not all coffee is bad! As Dr. Pedre explained, coffee also has its share of benefits when consumed conscientiously.

• Rich in antioxidants: Coffee contains polyphenols that act as prebiotics, supporting gut health and reducing inflammation.
• Improves focus and brain health: A moderate amount of clean coffee can boost concentration and even protect against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s.
• Enhances satiety: Coffee can help regulate appetite by stimulating gut hormones like GLP-1.

The key, Dr. Pedre said, is choosing coffee free of mold, pesticides, and heavy metals and limiting intake to avoid over-reliance. He also recommends a low-acid blend for anyone with low caffeine metabolization as it will provide a gentler energy boost. 

How to Find a Clean Coffee Option

If you’re a coffee lover unwilling to give it up (like Samantha) but are concerned about mold, pesticides, and other contaminants, it’s important to choose a coffee that prioritizes quality and safety. Dr. Pedre shared that there are a few good options including his Happy Gut Coffee brand. He explained that this coffee is tested by third-party labs to ensure it’s free from mold, pesticides, heavy metals, and glyphosate.

The beans are sourced from small farms in South America and undergo a micro-roasting process in the Hudson Valley. This method ensures even roasting without burning, which not only reduces bitterness but also preserves the coffee’s natural antioxidants. For those with sensitive stomachs, Happy Gut Coffee is a low-acid option, making it suitable for individuals prone to heartburn or acid reflux.

Dr. Pedre also highlighted that the dark roast used in Happy Gut Coffee contains less caffeine, making it ideal for slow metabolizers who are more sensitive to caffeine’s effects. 

The Coffee Addiction Solution for Samantha

To address Samantha’s fatigue and help her enjoy coffee without the negative side effects, we implemented a multi-step approach:

1. Switching to Clean Coffee: Samantha transitioned to mold-free, pesticide-free, and low-acid coffee, which eliminated many of the toxins exacerbating her symptoms.
2. Reducing Coffee Intake: Limiting coffee to one cup per day helped stabilize her energy and reduce jitteriness.
3. Addressing Thyroid Type: Samantha’s unavailable thyroid type was identified and supported through targeted interventions, including optimizing T4 and T3 levels. If you don’t know your thyroid type, listen to episode 170. 
4. Nutritional Optimization: Lab tests revealed that Samantha has suboptimal levels of B12 and iron. We corrected this with supplements tailored to Samantha’s methylation status.
5. Supplementing with Brain Boost: This nootropic includes Paraxanthine, GPC, Lion’s Mane, and Theanine. She took one at lunch after her morning coffee which provided her with caffeine-like clarity and focus without the jitters. 
6. More Movement: Samantha was not a fan of going to the gym but getting exercise is such a big part of solving energy issues. So, we got her walking. We even optimized the way she walked so that she was more engaged in the exercise and seeing better results. This is something I share in my 10-day Hashimoto’s Weight Loss course.

Solving the Caffeine-Fueled Fatigue Mystery

By addressing the root causes of her fatigue and making simple changes to her coffee habits, Samantha felt a big shift in her battle with fatigue. She was sleeping better, had more energy and mental clarity, and was able to accomplish more in the day. All of this without completely giving up the coffee she loved. In fact, coffee became more enjoyable because it was no longer a crutch she reached for out of desperation.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Samantha we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? 

Links:

Resources mentioned:

Jumpstart: A 10-Day Hashimoto’s Weight Loss Program Thyroid Mystery Solved Course

Suggested Products

B12 Iron happygutcoffee.com Brain Boost  – use the promo code Brain to get 10% off

Thanks to my guest Dr. Vincent Pedre. You can connect with him on Instagram or his website. Click the link to learn more about his clean coffee, Happy Gut Coffee. 

Related Podcast Episodes:

[Ask Inna] Why Your Thyroid Medication May Not Be Working and What To Do About It Hashimoto’s Disease and Mold Exposure: Symptoms, Testing & Solutions with Jason Earle Effective Strategies to Manage Inflammation and Reduce Hashimoto’s Symptoms with Dr. Tom O’Bryan 5 Pivotal Hashimoto’s Hacks: The Empowered Approach to Thyroid Health

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