Diet for Hashimotos

[Petrahorse]

Does anyone have any advise on what diet can help reduce antibody levels?

Ive tried low histamine diet but this is very restrictive.

[purplespottycat]

I saw a functional medicine consultant recently and am on an elimination diet with a view to reducing inflammation (so presumably thereby reducing antibodies as well). I'll try and attach the plan here - it lists everything you can eat which is helpful (and really it's a lot like a Mediterranean type of variety, which I love!) rather than just the 'can't haves'.

Because it's a pdf, I can't attach. Instead, I've done a google search and if you follow this link, you can open/download a copy of both the comprehensive guide and the 2x A4 sheets which are much easier to follow on a daily basis.

experiencelife.lifetime.lif...

I thought it might be for 3-4 weeks, but my consultant has suggested at least 6 weeks to 3 months... The dairy is the biggie for me, but I've completed a week so far and did a load of batch cooking at the weekend to make my life a bit easier in the coming weeks - so once you get your head around it, it's not too hard. If you've been doing antihistamine already, should be pretty straightforward for you. Good luck!

[Petrahorse in reply to purplespottycat]

Thnk you so much. I will take a look. It's so hard to reach a balance between enjoying food and eating what works best

[greygoose]

You do know, don't you, that even if you managed to get rid of antibodies entirely - which is highly unlikely - you'd still have Hashi's, and it would still destroy your thyroid in the end. The antibodies are not the cause of the disease, they are the result of it.

[Petrahorse in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. Yes I know that Hashimotos is not something that will go away. I am hoping to make sure it takes as long as possible before it destroys my thyroid. 🙁

[greygoose in reply to Petrahorse]

But, that won't work, either, because it's not the antibodies that are destroying your thyroid. Some Hashi's people never ever have over-range antibodies, but their thyroid is destroyed just the same. As SlowDragon says below, the antibodies come along after the attack to clean up the traces of the protein TPO and Tg (hence TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies) that leak into the blood during the attack. So, I'm not even convinced it's desirable to reduce antibodies.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

A high percentage of Hashimoto’s patients find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

Before considering cutting gluten out, get coeliac blood test done just to rule it out

Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

Other triggers can be peppers, aubergine,

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

[Petrahorse in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you this is really helpful. I have been reducing my gluten intake but sporadically. I will look into a celiac test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Petrahorse]

No point testing for coeliac unless on high gluten diet (gluten at most meals) for at least 6 weeks before test

Only you can decide if that’s worth it

Have you seen improvements cutting gluten out

[Petrahorse in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I have noticed when I do have gluten I feel more tired. Headaches are constant and my stomach is more upset. I have cut coffee and tea down to only decaf and alcohol and chocolate very minimal ( once/twice a week )

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid results

Are both TPO and TG antibodies high

As greygoose has pointed out the antibodies are not the cause…..they are the hoovers cleaning up after autoimmune attacks

[Petrahorse in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just sent of to Medichecks for a full blood test for Hashimotos. Including b12 Folate and iron.

[Peanut31]

Hi,

I have Hashimotos and to help lower my antibodies results (this fluctuates) I cut out gluten completely.

This was over 5 years ago. I tested negative on a coeliac test, but, saw a nutritionist as I was having terrible bloating and stomach pain and my stool sample said my body wasn’t tolerating gluten.

Since that time I felt so much better, however, recently I’ve started again with bloating etc (also experiencing peri menopause) and coffee is the culprit, I was having six cups a day (I didn’t use too) this was discovered after seeing my nutritionist again, so I’ve cut back.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Titaniumfox]

Is there a reason why you would try a low histamine diet without being histamine intolerant? I say that as someone with Hashi's and also histamine intolerance (which developed a couple of years after my Hashi diagnosis). It is very restrictive and will limit your vitamins/mineral intake even further, so I'd suggest not doing that if you don't really have to.

I have tried both gluten free and dairy free diets and neither reduced my antibodies (I have both TPO and TG Abs) . They have now halved since I resumed dairy and no longer actively cut all gluten out of my diet (although I am definitely wheat sensitive - possibly have a wheat allergy - and am removing that currently). I suspect those antibodies were going to fall regardless of what I was or wasn't eating. Either way I don't focus on them but rather keep trying to improve my nutrition. I'm slowly reintroducing foods I had to drop due to histamine intolerance.