Food glorious food.: So I know about foods to... - Thyroid UK

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Food glorious food.

kjc1tisdell profile image
11 Replies

So I know about foods to avoid if you have a thyroid problem. However does this still apply when your thyroid is dead. I was under the impression you still avoid these foods because it interferes with you medication.

I had hashimotos graves. I was told by my gpthat all my problems would be over. Not so. That antibodies would die to. However some one else told me that killing the thyroid does not get rid of the autoimmune problem and that the antibodies remain forever.

so do you still have to avoid all the immune irritating foods.

should we be gluten free if not diagnosed with celiac disease as Dr Chris Steele says. Or is it just wheat we need to cut out as these are two separate things.

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kjc1tisdell
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11 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

What foods are you talking about? The only 'food' that can interfere with 'medication' - albeit in an indirect way - is unfermented soy. That can impede the uptake of thyroid hormone by the cells. But, then, no-one should be eating unfermented soy, because it causes all sorts of problems!

As for antibodies, you say you had both Hashi's and Graves antibodies. As far as I know, the Hashi's antibodies die off when the gland is gone, but the Grave's antibodies linger on, and can attack other things. If you feel that being gluten-free helps you in any way, then continue being gluten-free. If it doesn't, then eat gluten. I believe, though, that is you go back to eating gluten, you will soon know if it's been helping or not.

kjc1tisdell profile image
kjc1tisdell in reply togreygoose

So does this mean I can eat what I want.

I saw your reply about soy products years ago.

does this include soy milk. Everyone seem to have jumped on the band wagon of soy milk. But I always avoided it because of the estrogen properties and thought it could interfere with meds. However if I'm low on estrogen should I Take it.

it's important because I have had problems with incontinence during menopause I was told to by uresromel so I wondered how could this tablet stop incontinence and of course the active ingredient was soya.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tokjc1tisdell

No, on no account should you take soy milk. It is unfermented. Soy flour, soy protein, soy oil... all to be avoided. What you need is bio-identical estrogen, not soy products of any kind.

The people that produce soy are very good at marketing - they are the same people that used to grow tobacco, and you know how they managed to persuade us to smoke! They have done the same for soy, persuaded people that it's a health food, and good for you. Let's just say it's about as good as tobacco for your health!

The incontinence is probably due to muscle weakness, which is probably due to being under-medicated for your thyroid. Incontinence is a hypo symptom.

You can, and always have been able to, eat what you like, and what likes you. If you find something disagrees with you, stop eating it. But, apart from soy, there are no forbidden foods. Well, it could be argued that soy isn't even a food...

kjc1tisdell profile image
kjc1tisdell in reply togreygoose

Thankyou for your very straight forward reply I really apreciate your advice . I agree I'm not incontinent when I medicate myself only when GPS go with the tsh result thenI go inco tinent. Thanks. What is the difference between hashimotos and graves autoimmune I thought they were the same thing as either way you end up with no thyroid.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tokjc1tisdell

Oh, no, not the same thing at all. Hashi's is when the antibodies slowly destroy the gland, and, as the dying cells release all their hormone, you got temporarily 'hyper', then go hypo again.

With Grave's, the antibodies stimulate the gland to make too much hormone, so you are continually hyper. However, you can go into remission with Graves, and I don't think the gland is destroyed. It is only removed when the hormone-reducing drugs don't work for someone. You don't always have to lose your gland.

It's not normal to remove a gland because of Hashi's. There are other ways of controlling the antibodies. But, endos sometimes tell you you have to have your gland removed, because they can't be bothered to try and treat you properly.

kjc1tisdell profile image
kjc1tisdell in reply togreygoose

This is the problem I was not really told or informed of which I had. I think I had hashis as I felt I was over and under. However my mother has hashis. But her brother and my grandmother had graves disease. My brother has panesia anaemia. Celiacs disease and is now gluten free and I think he has an undiagnosed thyroid problem but GPS insist he hasn't and he hasn't got a single hair on his body. Not on his arms legs or head.

so I'm confused. After nine years without a thyroid gland still struggling but I have an appoint ment with herrhogg doctors in April so hoping to be helped.

Thank you for your reply.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tokjc1tisdell

As you live in the UK, you have a legal right to copies of your blood test results. I would suggest you and your family members all get hold of them, to see what's really going on, and if the right tests have been done.

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear in reply togreygoose

I have only just become aware that all the sliced bread, much of it from popular brands such as Warburtons and Hovis, contains soy flour! Why do we have to resort to having to minutely scrutinise every ingredient in food? A loaf of bread use to contain just flour, yeast, lard, salt and water... Now it has an ingredient list as long as your arm! Needless to say, I shall be making my own bread from now on using just flour, fresh yeast, lard, salt and water! Tastes a lot better too! 😊

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toZephyrbear

Soy flour is cheaper. It's always down to money. They don't care about our health. And it doesn't have to be sliced bread, either. It's very difficult to find any bread that doesn't contain soy flour in the UK - even Marks and Spencer use soy flour! And they use palm oil, so really not a great thing to buy!

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear in reply togreygoose

I've never been fond of the cotton wool stuff they pass off as bread these days, but needs must when the devil drives and you're in a hurry... But I'm making my own now, so I know exactly what goes into it!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toZephyrbear

Best way!

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