How can I improve good bacteria in my gut? I'm ... - Thyroid UK

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How can I improve good bacteria in my gut? I'm hypothyroid and low Ferritin...

imsotiredallthetime profile image

I recently had an intolerance and sensitivity test done and no surprises but it came back that my gut biome was seriously lacking in 3 good bacterias.

I started a gluten free and lactose/milk free diet on Monday of this week. So good so far but wondered what to do next or should it resolve on its own now I've made changes.

Awaiting results of vitamins, thyroid and iron panel from Thriva to come back.

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imsotiredallthetime
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14 Replies
Hypopotamus profile image
Hypopotamus

Make and drink water kefir.

userotc profile image
userotc

As well as probiotic foods/drink such as kefir, there are probiotic supplements. Based on replies today to my post in Kidney Disease section, I suspect there may be some sceptism about them but unsure why as it's established treatment.

Mostew profile image
Mostew in reply to userotc

Yes probiotics are good . There will always be a difference of opinion though. It’s best we try things out for ourselves as we all react differently.

“One mans meat is another woman’s poison”!!!

asidist profile image
asidist

not sure which strains you’re looking to grow but you could try different probiotic foods one at a time to see which ones suit you. kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir etc. personally i only do well with yogurt but i seem to be an exception among those i know. keep in mind different brands of the same type of product may carry different strains of bacteria. prebiotics such as pectin in fruit help to establish the bacteria. adequate levels of nutrients like vitamin d, magnesium, etc also support a healthy gut microbiome. best of luck

EyeandDry profile image
EyeandDry

Probiotics have been a huge turnaround for my autoimmune issues. I have Sjogrens, and Hashimotos with some other weird non specific stuff as well. I focus on a pure foods diet (no sugar or gluten), preferably organic with no pesticides etc, and chiefly anti inflammatory. I was a sceptic until I began to feel so much better, with better blood results over time. I focus on gut enzymes, lactobacillus reuteri, lactobacillus rhamnosus and other digestive strains. There’s lots of good reputable research regarding the gut/thyroid relationship. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27

Probiotics and prebiotics. You can eat fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir/kombucha drinks. You can also take probiotics.Prebiotics are just foods with a good fibre source, but especially onions, slightly green bananas and I think cold potatoes count too.

Just be aware shop bought fermented foods can often be pasteurised, so you may need to buy from health food stores to get raw stuff (although I noticed Waitrose were selling some, and have also found some in Polish shops).

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Cooper27

Meant to ask for the name of the test you used?

imsotiredallthetime profile image
imsotiredallthetime in reply to Cooper27

sensitivitycheck.com/

NIKEGIRL profile image
NIKEGIRL

I would recommend a probiotic. 50 billion count is really high. Don’t buy the same one. Changing brands each time is good because each brand has different strains.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Here's a link with lots of references to probiotic and fermented drinks that could be of interest :

traditionalcookingschool.co...

Serendipitious profile image
Serendipitious

Make your own fermented foods at home. Sauerkraut is very easy to make. Also eat a variety of rainbow coloured plant based foods. Tim Spector has been speaking about this a lot recently. He’s a medical doctor and now a Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Head of the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London. He’s a leading expert on the gut microbiome whose work has transformed what we know about nutrition and health.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podca...

serenfach profile image
serenfach

I dont know about how to increase your gut bacteria, but when the bacteria in my septic tank is low, I chuck in a dead rat. This may not work for you, of course, but I hope it made you smile. :)

Morning guys.. So update. I bought some probiotic dairy free drinks.. Oat milk and mango.. After having one this morning (and nothing else!) I had terrible bloating and felt so uncomfortable. Then I read that the drink isn't gluten free referring to the oats 🤦‍♀️. I thought oats were OK..?? Maybe I just have an intolerance to oats as well...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to imsotiredallthetime

Oats are gluten free.....but only if grown on land not previously had gluten containing crops ....and must be milled in gluten free mill

Some people who are gluten intolerant can’t tolerate certified GF oats either

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