Quitting sugar cures Hashimotos??

[infomaniac]

I don't know if any of you have heard of Sara Wilson who has a book out called "I Quit Sugar For Life". I have just been browsing her website and came upon this under the heading " Does quitting sugar heal autoimmune disease?"

...."So the simple answer is this: Quitting sugar has had the biggest impact on my AI, more so than my medication or any other medical fix (and, trust me, I’ve tried everything). In the past three years, I’ve been able to better manage my AI, but also – yes – heal and reverse the damage.

I have zero thyroid antibodies now.

I’m on the most minimal dosage of thyroxin.

My hormone levels have fallen back into the right range"

What do you make of that? Giving up gluten hasn't been that much of problem but giving up sugar? Totally?! If I knew for definite it would get me back to normal I think I would do it.

[puncturedbicycle]

What is her theory based on?

Surely this would mean that type a (autoimmune) diabetics following a sugar-free diet would automatically cure themselves of their diabetes - ?

As reluctant as I am to rain on anyone's parade (yk, I think if it won't hurt you then why not try it), it sounds like complete tosh to me but I am cynical about 'cures'.

[Marz]

I suppose we have to accept that sugar is a comparatively modern food when looking at the bigger picture of the history of man. We know that sugar has been described as poison by many. I think that restricting it in any diet is good but am not sure how it can reduce anti-bodies or bring hormones back into balance.... Also so many foods turn into sugar naturally. Not sure how I feel about this comment - but it is yet another thought

[dgleds]

I don't use sugar.&.haven't for years.....I use stevia. BUT sugar is in lots of things....I still have hypothyroid stuff and now mild lupus too;(

[beaton in reply to dgleds]

I'm in the same boat as you dgleds,no sugar on table or in cooking. I eat very few things that would be classed as having sugar in them. I still have Hashimoto's and other autoimmune illnesses. I can't lose weight either.

[dgleds in reply to beaton]

I think stress and maybe hereditary stuff causes most of it...BOY OH BOY! there is tons of stress in the world these days....oh and hormones, good ol" hormones..or lack of them...

[beaton in reply to dgleds]

[Hidden]

Hashimotos is known to swing anyway - who's to say that the lower dose of hormone Sara needs isn't due to a Hashi swing.

I think refined sugar is not great, however I've avoided it for 30+ years as I was brought up in a diabetic household and realised in my teens that added sugar was probably not good for anyone. I was the picture of health and wellness and then I became hypothyroid, diagnosed in early 2012, despite avoiding sugar for 30+ years! I also avoided 'hidden' sugar - any foods/drink with it added...

What I'm saying is, I agree that the intake of refined sugar should be as low as possible however I don't agree that it can cure all ills.

[carolr]

I was like wise brought up on low carbs. I am still over weight and diabetic.

Diabetes has been made out to be about food. It's not !

It seems about punishing us for being ill. By those who know best.

Type 2 diabetes is also alutoimmune.

In my case I produce too much cortisol.

I am given metformin which depleats vit B12.

[Jackie]

Hi I have not eaten sugar or anything with it on for 60+years. It certainly did not help my thyroid.,which i have had since about 5 years after no sugar etc.In fact I have been Diabetic too for several years now.

Less sugar is good, but if "normal" fruit etc important which contains sugar.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Mikiviki]

I did read part of this book. It is so similar to all the diets that exclude sugar and promote protein, fat, and other forms of vegetable protein. I am sure every author puts their slant on the diet but basically they resemble one another. Surely we know by now that sugar doesn't do is much good. And that healthy eating helps us feel better? I have an example ..my daughter in law's mum is 70, has a disliking of sweet foods so never touches desserts, she never over eats as she feels full and stops and is a picture of good health, energy and so on and so forth. We shouldn't need more books to tell us what we should already be aware of. (However I am a bit of a sugar addict myself)

[mountaingoat83]

I thought about buying that book, but then I decided that just eating healthily would be a better approach - everything in moderation. This link gives a different perspective which I found useful smh.com.au/lifestyle/dont-q...

[Apples]

If Sara Wilson is taking her meds then her her hormone levels should be in the right range, shouldn't they?

If she stopped, and after sufficient time for the thyroxine to clear out of her system her hormone levels were in the right range, why is she still taking it?

(I know that "right range" is not right for everyone, but the quote implies it is OK for Ms Wilson)

[infomaniac]

A lot of good points there ladies. It may have worked for her but it clearly hasn't worked for everyone. As in all things I think moderation is the key word-we all know we shouldn't be eating mountains of sugary processed muck but life is hard enough without a bit of chocolate or a glass of wine isn't it?

[Ivorheadache]

Hi all, I currently have this book on loan from the library. Sarah originally had Graves disease and then developed Hashimoto's. She was already on what most of the population would class as a healthy diet, eating what she used to class as healthy sugars like honey, fruit and dark chocolate. eating home grown fruit and veg and cooking from scratch meals (except when in uni) She doesn't appear to eat much fruit anymore an apple is 2-3 teaspoons, even a tomato is said to contain 1.5 teaspoons of sugar. A small pot of low fat yoghurt 6 teaspoons Her sugar intake is 5-9 teaspoons a day. If I lived alone I might? be tempted to try the 8 week dettox program but courgette cheesecake and Kale chips are a step too far for me!

[infomaniac in reply to Ivorheadache]

I agree with you Ivor (love the name by the way!). It is tempting to be rid of this hideous condition but life wouldn't be worth living would it?

[Hidden]

I have absolutely no added sugar in my diet, and it's been that way for decades and i have a string of diseases incl Hashimoto's.

[infomaniac in reply to Hidden]

Not fair is it? Some people can eat cr@p daily and don't suffer. I must admit though that the writer of this book takes it to extremes as she limits fruit to low sugar berries, has no alcohol, sweetens stuff with rice sugar (I think) etc so I think she probably deserves good health!

[eeng]

I suppose it's only a variant on the 'leaky gut' idea but with sugar as the enemy rather than gluten. (and probably less anecdotal evidence to support it).