I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in Sept 2017. I am now on 10mg of Carbimazole per day. My T4 level is 14.7 (9-24). My TSH level remains supressed at 0.02 (0.34- 5.4). I've been feeling quite tired and have achy feet.
A friend and medic suggested I try the Autoimune Protocol Diet (AIP Diet) to allow the gut to heal and thereby reduce the levels of antibody. That sounded sensible advice - but its a tough diet where (basically) only meat, fish and some vegetables are allowed.
I'm finding it quite hard to get enough calories from this diet and after just a couple of days I've lost some weight. I am just 8st 2lb so I don't want to loose much more. I gather that a month is about the minimum on the diet before starting to reintroduce other foods carefully.
I'd like to know of the experience of others with this diet. Has it helped to reduce antibodies? Has it helped with general feelings of health? How long were you on it and how did the 're-entry' to a normal diet go?
I really need some positive messages to maintain motivation.
Penny
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Hi Penny, my husband has just been diagnosed with Graves and we are currently educating ourselves on AIP diet and hoping this could help him. I hope you get some positive responses. Will be following your posts.
Thanks for your reply - let me know how you get on as well. I'm sitting here trying to organise a meal plan for 5 days while we are away for my husband's birthday on the west coast with hellwalking and skiing. Is there such a thing as an AIP sausage? How do you get any carbohydrate at all???
I seem to be spending my time slaving away at the cooker to keep on top of this diet! Not sure I can cope with making sausages. I just made banana and coconut four bread which is quite tasty and reasonably filling.
Go to this link. forestandfauna.com/aip-pale.... I didn't have cassava flour so I used 100% conconut flour. Instead of coconut sugar I used a small amount of honey from our own bees. Its definaely not as good as fresh scones with cream and jam (my favorite) but it quite tasty ad fairly firm and floury.
I have been using olive oil Silver Fairy - but I just got some goose fat today so that might have a few more calories. Do you have other suggestions?
I haven't had T3 tested - it doesn't seem to be done around here. There has been no suggestion from the GP to reduce my carbimazole. I see the endo later this month so I'll ask about T3 testing and carbimazole dose.
In some places, it appears that only endocrinologists can order FT3 tests, especially if FT4 is within normal range. Do you know what your very first TSH/FT4 levels were, and what was your original dose of Carbimazole ?
I would also ask whether they have tested/intend to test your antibodies. Graves’ is not the only cause of an overactive thyroid.
I have Hashimotos, and I'm doing an Izabella Wentz protocol - it started with cutting out gluten, dairy, soya, sugar, then extended to avoid chilli, grains, legumes, and next week I start the full AIP diet, cutting out eggs and nuts etc.
I am dreading it a bit, but I've been looking at ways to help feel fuller too!
Some ideas:
Eat good fats like avocado and coconut. I'm going to have guacamole and carrot sticks a lot!
I'm going to try coconut & banana pancakes, but have no idea how this will turn out, as coconut flour usually weds lots of eggs
Eating more protein with meals
I'm going to ask my nutritionist about dried fruit, as I think I could make some protein balls using pea protein (which is allowed on AIP) and coconut oil.
Also look at things like "nice-cream" and stewed apples with cinnamon.
I think you may find it easier to increase calories by having a bit more olive oil too - it's calorie dense, but you can flavour it with lemon and herbs and drizzle it in salad or cooked vegetables.
Don't know if any of that helps, but figured I'd put it out there!
Hi Cooper27. I just dived straight in once I had decided to do it. I'll gradually reintroduce foods after a few weeks. I've done a lot of shopping in the past couple of days and bought more fish and meat than ever, ever before. It seems like I need some fish or meat with practically every meal. Even worse, it involved loads of plastic which I hate.
Like you, I'm also using coconut and avocado as well as olives - they all seem to pack a punch. I had a look at the ready made guacoamole and decided it couldn't be trusted. In fact all processed food needs treating with deep suspicion - which is why this diet involves a lot of cooking.
That's good advice to load the olive oil and to flavour it with lovely ingredients. I feel I need all the yumminess that can be found. Hope you're progression to AIP goes well. Let me know if you find any great recipies for cakes and treats!
I actually would rather have gone straight in with the full AIP diet, but it's just the way the protocol I'm doing is set out (there's a vitamin running alongside it). If it gets results, then I'm not complaining!
I forgot to mention olives, but they've become a staple too!
I've been making guacamole at home, it's easy enough - avocado, onion, lemon or lime juice, a little garlic powder and some coriander. Also just mixing avocado with tuna instead of mayo is good.
Definitely get what you mean about plastic. Our fridge is packed to bursting on food shop day, then it has nothing but a sorry looking lemon 7 days later 😂 we're binning 3+ plastic wrappings every meal.
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