Hashimoto's and Paleo

[Chrys]

Has anyone here recovered significantly from Hashimoto's significantly with the Paleo diet?

[startagaingirl]

Hi Chrys,

I am wondering about your question - as in please define what you mean by "recover" from Hashis? Hashis cannot be cured but can be controlled in terms of reduction of activity demonstrated by reducing anti-bodies. Once your thyroid is damaged it doesn't regenerate so you will always be hypo no matter what you eat. Having said that, if you mean weight loss, then I seem to recall several people mentioning paleo (is the auto-immune one slightly different?) helping with this, but only when optimally medicated. There was also a very good, comprehensive post about the ketogenic diet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Try searching for Paleo in the search box at the top right of the screen and see what else pops up.

Gillian

[Chrys in reply to startagaingirl]

Other sources suggest that anti-bodies can be reduced to almost zero with various diets, e.g. Paleo, and gluten/dairy free, and I was interested to know what level of success has been achieved with it. (Yes done the Paleo search both here and on many other sites.)

[milupa]

Hi Chrys -

when I finally had my antibodies tested they came back as mildly over range. My enlightened doctor thought that the years I spent cycling between what I now know were hypo and then hyper symptoms proved that I had Hashimoto's but that my antibodies were lowish because I had been glutenfree for a while. I still felt awful so switched to paleo/primal. I felt better, together with T3 my digestion, skin and hair loss problems improved. I then spent a year on autoimmune paleo. Joint pains and swellings got better. I am now reintroducing foods but I will forever be grain, nightshade and sugar free.

So from me it's a thumbs up, but it depends on the severity and multitude of symptoms whether it is worth the hassle, cost, time and limitations to your social life...

Let us know how you get on!

PS I love a keto paleo diet, but because I have mild Addison's or hypoadrenalism (my doc's words) I cannot stay on it for long.

[Chrys in reply to milupa]

Thanks Milupa, useful result info.

[OllyJ]

Hi,

Little over 4 months ago I virtually couldn't leave the house because of my under active thyroid symptoms (caused by Hashis).

In despair I started the Ketogenic diet and within a couple of months I had absolutely no low thyroid symptoms. The change has been amazing. The side affect of this diet is a leaning up of my body so I've also dropped over 20kg of body weight ( whilst maintaining my strength).

I'm 46 six but now feel as well as when I was in my 20s. That's no exaggeration.

If you want to read some more try 'The art and science of low carbohydrate living' by Volek.

Olly

[Chrys in reply to OllyJ]

Thanks Olly, must look at that one also.

[BeansMummy]

I don’t follow the Paleo diet as such as it doesn’t suit me (as a strict vegetarian). However, I have been seeing a private nutritionist, and have seriously overhauled my diet – and am gluten, soya and sugar free, and have to avoid certain other foods as they upset my gut. It has very definitely helped me enormously as I had a multitude of gut issues, including candida, SIBO, gut infections, and some serious nutrient deficiencies (possibly due to malabsorption).

I realise now that it is so important to treat the body as a whole, but it can be a big step to take to do what I did. However, I was so unwell and had no life, and getting no help from my doctor, and I had nothing to lose by trying it. It has definitely made a big difference to my health.

If you can’t get on with a diet change, don’t like it or it makes no difference, you don’t have to carry on anyway. It isn’t written in stone.

[Chrys in reply to BeansMummy]

Very true, and my wife has only recently started completely gluten free, and now dairy free. But it makes life very difficult.

[VickyWhitlock]

Hi, I haven't tried paleo yet but have had massive success with going gluten free. I have a number of stomach issues so am also dairy free for now. I would advise anyone to try gluten free and I can also recommend low sugar as I have noticed a big impact on my symptoms with sugar. However I can't give up my glass of wine yet

Another thing I find is that when I looked at paleo it seemed really huge to take on. Having done gluten and dairy free for the last six months, it wouldn't feel like such a big step. But you mustn't buy masses of manufactured gluten free stuff as the chemical and sugar content is high. Instead try to keep your diet simple. That would be my advice! Good luck x

[Louisesymons]

Yes amazing difference ! Came to the diet from American doctor as English consultants have no idea.

I started getting bad blurred vision and dizziness, felt awful and desperate to lose some weight. English consultations never mentioned diets etc or and really had given up on me.

In desperation I trawled the internet ...he said go onto AIP diet. Very strict at the beginning but worth it. All thyroid issued cleared up ...dropped over a stone in weight. He gave me vitamins from the states as we have no regulation over here. He found my folic acid was too low too. I look and feel amazing back to my old self after 10 years of awful.

It's a very gradual process and you start re introducing foods and see if you have any reactions to them. I have a very sudden reaction to potatoes ...dizziness came straight back etc. He says going forward no dairy or gluten but it could be other things too!

Basically Hashimotos is an autoimmune disorder of he gut! You have to heal the gut to help yourself.

Go to AIP diets usually American sites.

Give it a go it might transform your condition!

[Chrys in reply to Louisesymons]

Thanks Louise, very helpful.

[Amazon07]

I know a number of people that had great success managing Hashi's with Paleo. I'm paleo and hypo (not Hashi's) I've been gf for 20 years and paleo for over 3 years and I think it helps a lot!