Going gluten free

[Blue9]

Hi my GP I saw today suggested I go gluten free to reduce TPO antibodies for Hashimotos. Is this easy to do and can it be done affordably? Thankyou

[Nanaedake]

Yes, gluten free is affordable.

If you buy fresh food rather than pre-packaged food called gluten free then it's a good affordable diet.

I don't have antibodies so I don't need to be gluten free but I've pretty much cut gluten out of my diet as I'm on a low carb high (good) fats diet. I buy fresh vegetables and fruit, meat and fish. I eat dairy products and eggs. I cook lots of one pot meals that are quick and easy because I work full time.

I've cut out bread and eat egg, bacon or fish for breakfast. I use a little Japanese soy sauce for flavour in stir frys. Japanese soy sauce is gluten free whereas Chinese soy sauce is not gluten free. I use balsamic vinegar and olive oil on salads. I make my own salad dressings. They keep in the fridge for a week. I eat lots of home made soups and thicken them with a little cream.

If you buy the vegetables that are in season, use pulses and buy a mix of cheaper meats as well as the occasional more expensive red meats then it's a budget way to live.

I find the cheaper supermarkets stock a good range of fresh veg. You can use herbs and spices to make your meals more varied.

I'm amazed that your GP has suggested going gluten free. Perhaps the message is getting though to GP's at last, or perhaps you just have an amazing GP, second good news story tonight!!

[Cooper27]

How easy it is really depends on how much gluten you already consume. Our diet was quite low on things like bread, which made it a little easier, but the main hassle is relearning which foods you like all over again. We recently went GF and our food shop is a little more expensive at the moment while we keep trying new things, but I expect it will tail off.

Like nanaedake says, it is actually not that much more expensive if you cut out gluten products, and don't just go straight for the gluten free alternative. Using more vegetables & baking your own will help you.

I also find some products in the gluten free section are there to dupe you - for example, pesto in the GF section is about £4 a jar, but the ingredients in regular pesto are virtually the same (still GF), and it costs half as much.

[Kevz3016]

Hi Blue 9, my antibodies were over 500 3 months ago and I have been gluten free since then and feeling much better for it, it's easier than you think we actually don't eat that much be careful with sauces and vinegars, caught me out.

I have an antibody blood test booked for this week, I'll let you know if it's lower than 500.

Kev c

[Rmichelle]

I too are gluten free as i have hashis and are celiac, i have found it very easy and affordable and like mentioned by others meat veg fruit potatoes fish are all naturally gluten free. I do but gluten free brands aswell for treats like biccies and cakes and also ready meals and these i find are reasonable but asda, morrisons, sainsburys do all gluten free stuff. You can also buy conventional branding foods but you have to read all ingredients to look out for all gluten, i find the real hard bit is eating out for gluten free menus and the biggy is putting your trust in someone else not to cross contaminate your food, so we dont eatvout very often now. Also pots pans and oven cooking trays make sure you have your own! Just little things reallt like making sure chopping boards are wiped throughly if normal foods have been on them,i buy my own butter now as i was always finding bread bits in the tub from my hubby making a sandwich-its extreme but i have to be.😨 good luck.