Gluten free or not

[Sandra49]

Does anyone know if it's advisable to be gluten free if you are hypothyroid . I have hypothyroidism and have done a home test for gluten intolerance and it came back negative. So does that mean to go gluten free wouldn't benefit me.

Thanks. Sandra

[Marz]

The decision is yours. Do you have any symptoms that may suggest that your gut is not quite as it should be ? Most tests are a little unreliable when it comes to Gluten. You may want to look at the American ones done by Cyrex Labs and now covered in the UK by Regenerus Labs. Many more things are tested in each Array - I think they are called.

You can be gluten sensitive without being a coeliac. May I suggest you try it for a month or so and see how you feel. It is not necessary to be gluten free with Hypothyroidism - but many with High Anti-bodies - as in the case of Hashimotos - have reported an improvement in their general health and in the reduction of anti-b's.....

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2005 and only decided to improve my diet last December and go completely Gluten Free - ( there have been slip-ups ) I listened to the Gluten Summit on-line - presented by Dr Tom O'Bryan - where different people from different disciplines talked about gluten. It convinced me Have not checked my anti-bodies to see if there has been improvement - just know all the aches and pains in the joints and beyond have faded....

From what I have read and learned from others I do believe that gluten is a problem for many people with inflammation anywhere in the body. Gluten molecules can adhere to the gut lining - creating inflammation and then a minute lesion. They can then pass through and challenge the immune system. Healthy guts are important for the conversion of T4 into the Active T3....around 30% I believe takes place in the gut ... I need to check that figure....

There are of course others here who say that being gluten free made absolutely no difference. However we cannot see what is going on inside us unfortunately Most people who are Hypothyroid have low vits and minerals - which also suggests mal-absorption or unhealthy guts

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

Hi thanks for your reply . I don't have much problems with my gut , just constipation sometimes . But it's the other symptoms , like brain fog , exhaustion , allergies , insomnia , anxiety that is really bothersome . That's why I was wondering if gluten free might help , will try anything.

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

From reading an earlier thread from your recent post I can see that your B12 is VERY LOW ! It will take some time for the B12 to work - possibly about 3 months. Are you taking a GOOD B complex with the B12 - one that includes good levels of Folic Acid. You may need to take an occasional Folic Acid tab on its own to give things a boost. They work together in the body and it is important all the B's are in balance.

How was your VitD ? How are you after reducing your T3 - as that can be causing anxiety if your are over medicated. I think Clutter suggested you reduce T3....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Look forward to your comments....

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

Hi, thanks for your reply . I've started a b12 supplement . I'm not taking b complex for the one reason , I have a problem swallowing tablets and they are all pretty big . I haven't been able to find one that is easy for me to swallow . Silly I know but I just can't swallow big tablets .

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

You can buy a pill cutter very cheaply - which supplement are you taking and how much ? Sorry lots of questions - but Low B12 is a common problem here on this forum so have learnt a great deal from others

VitD levels ? How are they ?

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

I'm taking b12 methyl cobalamin 5mg daily also 3000mg bit d , I've never had my.vit d levels checked

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

vitamindcouncil.org Full of information - it's an American site though.... VitD is critical to well being and it is important to have optimal levels as D3 is needed in every cell of the body - all 10 trillion - that's an awful lot of VitD

[butcher3 in reply to Sandra49]

Hi Sandra , i went wheat free this Aug & after 3 weeks i could not believe how much better i felt , brain fog really lifted for me. I have accidentally eaten wheat twice since then & paid a high price the following days , aching all over , headaches etc etc. When you know if it affects you you will never be tempted to eat wheat again. However that is just part of being Hypo for me & I'm still searching for help. Give wheat free a go & then maybe try gluten free if you get a good result .. thats my next step. All the best.

[Sandra49 in reply to butcher3]

Thanks , I will try gluten free , I tried before but only lasted a week , it's so difficult especially when eating out , and gluten free food is so expensive.

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

Mushroom Omelette for breakfast - fruit mid morning - salad for lunch with whatever - and veg or fish with veg for supper. I live in Crete and the food abounds - especially delicious pastries ! I have managed to be GF for almost a year...and glad that I did it. Something had to be done about my anti-bodies so am hoping for an improvement... I do not buy any GF foods as they are often full of other processed nonsense....best to make your own. I make a pancake with Chick Pea Flour and water with a variety of seasonings. I then cover them in various spreads I make.

I find eating out easier as there are more choices on the menu than in my fridge !!

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

Thanks for that . I am addicted to bread i will try one of those gluten free bread mixes . Do you feel any better being gluten free ?

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

Check the other ingredients - sometimes they have less than pleasant ingredients..... only from what I have read from other posts here....good luck !

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

Sorry didn't answer your question - do I feel better ? I think the answer is yes - take a look at my edited profile and you will see I have had a complicated journey. So much overlaps and I ignored so much on the way - too busy coping with life ! Retirement has given me the chance to focus and be well. Only recently I realised all the aches and pains had abated from the joints and in the soft tissue around them. As I live in Crete - the warmth of summer always improves things - but this is more than just an improvement. When I recently ate something by mistake - the aches and pains came back and I did not feel good. So have decided to stick with it - and it will be a year this December.....fingers crossed now the damper cooler weather has arrived that things stay as they are....

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

I'm glad your feeling better on the gf diet ,I will definitely start it next week . Thanks for your reply .

[Daisy77 in reply to butcher3]

I have done the same with the same results only I gave up cows milk too. I am having fun with baking in a new way. I just made buckwheat (gf) muffins and they were delicious. Also my gf pastry is far better. I make it with cornmeal and rice flours.

[Daisy77 in reply to Daisy77]

That was in response to butcher 3's post...

[RustyMary in reply to Daisy77]

Daisy, would you pm me some of your recipes? I have just (yesterday!) gone gf on the advice of my nutritionist, and I am struggling with the idea - I love baking and don't want to stop! Many thanks...

[Daisy77 in reply to RustyMary]

Hi RustyMary, I think you will find it is the best thing you ever did...I used to look as if I was 7 months pregnant after eating wheat. I initially cut out the wheat and dairy, plus coffee and onions. I began my baking using a really good book called "How to cook for food allergies" by Lucinda Bruce Gardyne. She explains how to substitute gluten free ingredients, and her recipes show what to use depending on what you are giving up. Very easy to understand, and in no time you will be substituting things in order to make your favourites. The muffins, btw, came from the back of the buckwheat flour bag! Doves farm also have recipes on their website. Pastry with cornmeal and rice flour is to die for...far better than I have ever made.

It was a bit daunting at first, but I am having fun with it now and would NEVER go back.

Let me know how you get on.

D. xx

[RustyMary in reply to Daisy77]

Daisy, I promised to let you know how I was getting on with my GF diet, but I've only just found this thread again! Thanks for your advice. I've been GF since the beginning of October and haven't looked back. I made a GF Christmas cake and mince pies using the same recipes but using GF flour instead of ordinary flour, and they were at least as good as usual. I've got no interest in eating bread, cakes, biscuits etc and my digestive system is functioning much better. I've even just had my first cold virus for 3 years, which I'm taking as a sign that my immune system is settling down a bit.

Hope all is going well with you, RustyMary

[Daisy77 in reply to RustyMary]

Hi RustyMary, so good to hear from you. I am glad you are doing well on the GF diet. I am too, and I would never go back to eating wheat etc. In fact, I did eat a sandwich when we were away a couple of months ago as there was nothing else, and my tummy blew up like a lead balloon! I looked 8 months gone!! I have also found that magnesium helps the digestive system a lot, and some people are short of stomach acid, so I take Betaine HDC occasionally.

I just had cateract surgery on the first eye last Wednesday. I was scared to death, but it turned out to be an easy and painless op. My sight is improving daily. Good news, eh!

Daisy

[RustyMary in reply to Daisy77]

All great news Daisy! Keep well!

[donna8077]

Technically from what you've posted you do kinda have gut issues. A bit of constipation isn't normal, we are all told it is or somehow we think it is because so many of us suffer from it that we think it's just a natural response to ageing.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in July, and knew it was Hashimoto's but my GP refused to diagnose it fully. I went gluten free after the last bloods they would take and haven't looked back. I'm not actually on an thyroxine because I need to address so many potential deficiencies before they will work properly.

I can honestly say I feel a million times better without gluten, I've also cut out soya and dairy. It's hard work, you sometimes rely on protein for meals but once you get the hang of it your body will thank you.

I'm also on a raised dose of D3 daily 5000ui. I missed it once about a fortnight ago and boy did I regret it! You need to be monitored when you take D3 though as you can over-dose on it. But I was on 2500ui for over two years and never went above 80 on the range. I have read you need to be 125 or slightly above to be optimal. This does create brain fog if you are deficient.

Have you thought about having your antibodies checked? If either of these are raised then your decision is really made for you. Gluten free usually lowers these, sometimes in combination with other things like grains, soya and dairy.

Just had a thought. If you are struggling finding things to eat and you are willing to really do this there are thousands of recipes online that will help you. Lots of diets like paleo, GAPS and SCD are gluten free and there are bloggers regularly posting up scrumptious food!

[Sandra49]

Thanks Donna , I will definitely be going gluten free .

My gp has never checked my vit d or antibodies . Do you have to request these tests ?

[Marz in reply to Sandra49]

Yes you have to request them - the anti-bodies are Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg. If your Doc will not test VitD it is quite inexpensive to have it done privately at City Assays in Birmingham - by post....

[Sandra49 in reply to Marz]

Thanks

[Ruthi]

Holland and Barrett do a liquid B complex.