Trying to reduce cholestrol while staying gluten free

[Witty1]

Hi I have Hashimoto disease so I decided to go gluten free about a year ago. I was on 100mg but now been reduced to 75mg all good. The other day I was sent to hospital with a possible TIA (small stroke) I had a CT and neck scan and nothing showed up? However the doctors despite this want to give me statins because my cholesterol was 6.5. I have heard that stress can be a factor in high cholesterol and I have had a lot of that over the last 8 months. I have refused statins but I do need to reduce my cholestrol. Can anyone recommend a good cookbook for lowering cholestrol and being gluten free?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Is this how you do your tests?

A year ago your vitamin levels were low.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Are you currently supplementing to improve these. Have they been retested since?

Vitamin D aiming to improve to around 100nmol

B12 and folate to top of range

Ferritin, eating liver or liver pate once a week to maintain levels

[Witty1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for your response. I believe my thyroid problem is under control. I take a probiotic which has helped heal the gut, hence reduction in thyroxine TSH below 1. My new dilemma is I don't believe I have had a stroke. Results so far do not point to stroke. But doctor wants me to start on statins to reduce cholesterol and that's not going to happen. I need a cookbook which is gluten free and aimed at lowering cholestrol.

[greygoose in reply to Witty1]

High cholesterol doesn't cause strokes, anyway. Your doctor just leapt on the chance of another statin prescription for which he gets funding points, or whatever they're called.

And cholesterol levels have little to do with your diet. Cholesterol is made in the liver. The more cholesterol you consume, the less the liver makes. The less cholesterol you consume, the more the liver makes. And, it makes it because the body needs it - it's what holds your body together, making cell walls and hormones and repairing arteries - yes, repairing them, not blocking them up. When you are hypo your cholesterol is high in the blood because of the low T3, which means that the body can't use cholesterol efficiently, so it mounts up in the blood. Do you know what your FT3 level is?

[Witty1 in reply to greygoose]

Hi yes it is 5 range apparently 4- 6.80

[greygoose in reply to Witty1]

So, just under mid-range. Could be a lot higher. How do you feel?

[Witty1 in reply to greygoose]

Thyroid wise I think I am ok. Need to reduce cholesterol through food and exercise. No way taking statins

[greygoose in reply to Witty1]

As I explained above, cholesterol levels have little to do with food, and exercise has no effect at all. In fact, too much exercise will reduce your FT3 even further, so your cholesterol will rise, not drop.

Cholesterol is made in the liver. The more cholesterol you consume, the less the liver makes. The less cholesterol you consume, the more the liver makes.

But, in any case, cholesterol is nothing to worry about. It doesn't do any harm and does do a lot of good. Lowering your cholesterol will lower your sex hormones and leave you vulnerable to hormone-dependant cancers, like breast cancer. Is it really worth it?

[Marz in reply to Witty1]

Strokes/TIA's can be linked to raised Homocysteine - much more of a marker than cholesterol. So what was your B12 result - if low then your Homocysteine and MMA could be high.

Loads of books and websites for Gluten Free if you have a google.

Optimal thyroid levels should reduce cholesterol. We need cholesterol for our brains by the way. Statins do not benefit women I have read. 😊

[Witty1 in reply to Marz]

B12 was 484 range (197- 771) I am trying to find a cookbook which covers both gluten free and low cholestrol. I have refused the satins

[shaws Administrator in reply to Witty1]

I am glad you've refused statins because a higher cholesterol is one of the commonest symptoms of hypothyroidism. As our dose increases cholesterol should drop.

healthline.com/health/thyro...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Witty1]

Witty1

Lyn Mynott posted this the other day

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Witty1]

Good you are now gluten free and probiotic often helps too

What supplements are you taking?

Recommended to test vitamin levels annually, plus as you have had Levo dose reduced, FT3 really needs testing

Often with dose reduction in Levo, vitamins drop even lower and then TSH drops too

Very, very many of us have to test privately in order to get FT3, antibodies and all vitamins tested

As Marz says, good idea to test Homocysteine and MMA if TIA is suspected. Neither of these tests are easily available on NHS

nutris.viapath.co.uk/pages/...

Using test of Homocysteine levels to check for low b12

b12-vitamin.com/homocysteine/

Good explanation on homocysteine

veganhealth.org/b12/hcy

Oral as good as injections

aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979...

B12 generally

drjockers.com/warning-signs...

Many hypothyroid patients have low B vitamins too and good B vitamins improve cholesterol

universityhealthnews.com/da...

[Witty1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I think I along with thousands will have to get an FT3 test again. I do t take any supplements

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Witty1]

You don't take any supplements at all?

Most Hashimoto's patients need regular supplements to maintain levels so that thyroid hormones can work well

Your B12 is just under 500, folate works with B12 so they need testing together

Low vitamin D extremely common with Hashimoto's

vitamindcouncil.org/hashimo...

Ferritin most often too low, but can be high, above range (can cause other issues)

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[Cooper27]

What are your latest Vitamin D levels? I read an article yesterday on vitamin D - it mentioned that when they supplemented deficient people with vitamin D, their cholesterol went down. I don't know if there's a direct link, but it's worth considering.

[Marz in reply to Cooper27]

Maybe the connection to inflammation which can happen in the arteries and cholesterol acts as a sticking plaster would on skin damage ! Ultimately becoming plaque. Dr Sarah Myhill talks about Statins having the same effect as VitD in her book 'Sustainable Medicine ' VitD is anti-inflammatory and a steroidal pro-hormone - so much more than a vitamin

[Witty1 in reply to Cooper27]

Iatest vit D 67.6 range (50-150)

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Witty1]

Needs to be at least high 90s for good health. Preferably 100-150.

[Cooper27 in reply to Witty1]

It could be higher - your level should be at least 80 to feel good. I'd suggest you supplement, especially as we're now going into winter.

My level was pretty similar to yours last time I tested - I've been taking 3000 IU every other day for the last month, and I'm now reducing to twice a week until March. I'd think you'd be ok with the same plan! I take the Better You vitamin D spray.

Edit: better you also offer a 1000IU spray, so you could do one spray of that per day if you prefer a daily supplement.

[Witty1 in reply to Cooper27]

Hi Cooper thanks can you tell me what you take to improve vit D what is Better you?

[Marz in reply to Witty1]

Better You is a brand - available on Amazon.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Witty1]

Widely available in high street health shops

1000iu or 3000iu spray

betteryou.com/dlux1000

Government recommends everyone should supplement vitamin D, October to April anyway

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

[Witty1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I will get some

[Cooper27 in reply to Witty1]

You can buy it in Holland and Barratts, or a lot of other health food shops. Liquid is better for vitamin D, as our bodies just absorb it better that way.

[Nannyval]

Try Speedwell tea 2cups a day down in a few weeks book by Maria TREBANS

[Jodiedebs55]

I know this post is 8 months old but my cholesterol is 8.3 and my gp said that's normal when hypo so wasnt at all concerned and grey goose advice is sound , exercise and healthy food wont alter the figures I'm 100% gluten free (often wonder why ) lol and I eat healthy and my cholesterol is still high , I try not to worry too much about it, hope you feel better by now 🤗