Hashimotos Thyroiditis and the Gluten Free Diet
You would think that someone with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis would have already experienced the gluten free diet—especially since I had a post that told you all about it’s “failure” to make a difference in my disease. Well, a lot of time has passed since then and it has become painfully apparent that I really didn’t go truly gluten free. I thought I had by just avoiding obvious gluten sources, mainly wheat – especially in processed foods. However, what I now know to be TRUE gluten free is much, much different than what I had submitted myself to a few years ago. Back then, I am sure I was consuming things like soy sauce, salad dressings, marinades, and a host of other processed foods that could have easily (and likely were) contaminated with gluten! So, although my intentions were good and I was VERY good on the diet I planned out for myself, I now understand that it couldn’t have been a true gluten free diet given what I know and understand now. And I haven’t even mentioned the many ways I would have been cross-contaminated at restaurants and even in my own kitchen using cutting boards, utensils and pots and pans that would have been contaminated with gluten!
I am now entering the very essence of the true gluten free diet and what happens next will be the real test. But before my next post and the beginning conclusion of the true gluten free diet (defined in shortened form as the GF Diet for the rest of this post), I want to talk about some interesting by-products of eliminating most known common allergens from my diet as I have in the last 20-30 days.
On April 4, 2011, I embarked on a journey I had never taken before. I did it regularly, in part, meaning portions of this diet have been exercised over the years, but I have never done all the components at the same time. Here’s what I mean. I, through the instruction of my doctor, eliminated all common allergens from my diet including wheat, gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, all grains, preservatives, pesticides and basically ate a diet consisting of lean, pastured meats (no pork), and low glycemic fruits and vegetables with few allowed condiments. I don’t think I fully understood how this could be called a “repair diet” as it wasn’t filled with massive amounts of juicing or supplementation. (Some supplementation was taken but not in the mass amounts I would have expected.) Below is my account as to what that diet did for me.
On April 24, 2011, Easter Day, I was able to add in other foods once more. This concluded the diet mentioned above but ushered in the true gluten free and sugar free diet. So I began to add some foods in. I won’t go into detail as to which foods I added in and when, but I can tell you something wonderful that came out of the 20 day diet which I now understand much better. My body became used to the “clean” foods it was consuming and during this time I became “even” throughout the day. I say “even” meaning I no longer had “highs” and “lows” throughout the day. Before this diet and for as long as I can remember, I have had days that remind me more of a slow cargo plane, taking off s-l-o-w-l-y and while in the air, not moving too quickly but “getting the job done” and landing just as s-l-o-w-l-y in the evenings. In other words, it took me HOURS to gain energy in the day and maybe (if I was fortunate) I found energy mid-day and if I didn’t, I grabbed some caffeine in some way to get me moving. Then in the evenings, I would “crash” right after dinner, making after dinner chores either non-existent or done with great discomfort. During the 20 day diet, and after the 4-5th days, I began to feel like a jet plane; a fast “take-off” and an efficient “landing” in the later evenings. I found I was able to clean up the dinner dishes and have energy left to plan for the next day and even enjoy some relaxing (but not “falling asleep” relaxing) time with my husband before bed. The menu was not bad at all and I felt I wasn’t hungry or suffering cravings throughout the whole diet. Now that is not bad at all! A sample of my regular meals looked a bit like the picture below and as you can tell, I was not really suffering from lack of good food!
So, adding in the foods I chose after this 20 day diet gave me a “guide” which I never had before. I never understand which foods (or other substance) “could” be causing me my symptoms – mainly because my body was saturated with them! Now, I had some exciting introductions (I didn’t seem to react to brown rice and some other properly prepared grains) but I very quickly connected sulfites to my more serious symptoms! This was something I couldn’t pin-point before! So I am now trying to eliminate sulfites (I didn’t realize how hard that would be) and see if I can detect any other culprits as time goes by. I am trying to eat closely to the Nourishing Traditions way of eating but the main point of this next 2 month period is to identify culprits, not necessarily eat perfectly. After 2 months, I will take a test (or 2) that will help me fine tune my permanent diet which hopefully will include only foods that I am not reacting to. This is the most exciting journey I have taken in my quest for healing or minimizing my Hashimoto’s Disease! To me, it is straight forward, common sense; get the culprits out and feed the body good, nourishing foods for rebuilding the system. You can’t rebuild when the culprits are being ingested daily! Sadly, these “culprits” could be common, every day foods like dairy or soy in addition to the gluten, and without proper attention, you may never know what you are reacting to and in turn, will not heal. Now, I have found some other possible culprits but the sulfites were serious! I was having problems in my brain (inflammation) that would cause me to have serious bouts of instability, to the point I really felt I would pass out. I would have to sit up for hours waiting for the “attack” to pass. It could have been (hopefully I will avoid this now) an anaphylactic response to sulfites! I always saw a connection to tomato sauce and not sure if that is in response to the possibility of naturally occurring sulfites or MSG in cooked tomatoes. This is something I will find out as I go but I am determined to get to the bottom of these reactions so I can live without them.
It is exciting to see so many stores and hopefully more restaurants catering to food allergies and especially gluten free needs. Trader Joes has made me happy as they now have a special labeling system for gluten free items. Over time, it will be become easier and easier to prepare gluten free meals and purchase gluten free foods from the store. Thank you Trader Joes and the others who are working hard to serve the growing community of gluten free shoppers and diners. PF Chang also gets a great big THANK YOU for catering to the gluten free community and supplying a dedicated kitchen station to their gluten free customers along with special plates and table condiments to make sure we are not cross-contaminated! You can see their gluten free menu here and click the gluten free menu once you get there.
I am hoping that my next post gives you a specific look at what is happening in a more direct way with Hashimoto’s. I have lost around 10 pounds but weight isn’t my focus. I want to heal and I know the weight will follow as I do.
I hope this post has encouraged you to eliminate common allergens and in the process begin to find your particular culprits. Life is too precious to be sick all the time if you can help it!
Here’s to healing!
Mo
26 Comments to “Hashimotos Thyroiditis and the Gluten Free Diet”
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Has your dr. ever tested for Celiac & gluten intolerance? Just wondering what the results were. My Endo is wishy-washy on the connection, but agreed to give me orders to have the bloodwork done. I don’t have any symptoms of Celiac/Gluten intolerance (but then again, I didn’t have any Hashimoto’s symptoms either — my diagnosis was based on routine bloodwork and the discovery of a thyroid nodule.)
Yes, I was tested positive for gluten intolerance. My doctor figures a celiac diagnoses would bring the same treatment so he feels as long as we know I have a gluten intolerance, just move forward with the gluten free diet.
I expect you will have a positive result on your gluten test. It will give you direction at least on something that others have linked to Hashimoto’s.
Take care,
Mo
I’ve been on Armour thyroid for 10 years (was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s) and in January 2011 we went gluten-, grain-, legume- and vegetable oil-free, and cut out processed sugars.
Need to emphasize here that with the exception of a little rice when eating Thai, we did faithfully not eat the above foods. There was no cheating. We really did want to get to the bottom of some niggling health issues.
In March, some eye pain that I’d been having off and on got worse; pressure in the eye, and sharp pains around the eye. An eye checkup showed everything normal.
In April, I read that ocular muscles and eye pressure can be caused by ingesting or producing too much T3, T4 and TSH, so started reducing my Armour dose. Each reduction took the eye pain away for longer and longer periods. It’s been a little over a month since I started the reduction, and May 13 I finally decided to take no Armour at all to see if the eye pain would go away. During the whole reduction time I have had no symptoms of low thyroid. Tomorrow I will see my endocrinologist as I do every year, and am curious what he will say … I knew this appointment was coming so decided to reduce the Armour on my own.
It would appear that our diet brought about some change that either reduced or eliminated my thyroid antibodies. Was it the gluten? Losing 18 pounds? Something else? Are they really gone? I don’t know yet.
I just decided to post here because I identified quite a bit with your quest to address food triggers and think that they are indeed vastly ignored by most doctors. I will try to remember to check back in with what the doc says and how this complete stoppage of Armour after 10 years of being on it unfolds.
To be fair, I think most doctors believe that their patients are NOT going to stop eating foods they love, so they treat and prescribe accordingly. Those of us who actually DO stop eating something have some real surprises in store.
How is it going? Just a heads up on something you might watch for … after 10 years on Armour thyroid for Hashimoto’s, and three months of truly gluten free, I started having symptoms of too much thyroid … eye pain and pressure. Gradually reduced dose over the next two months, and the pain receded, ’til finally I am taking no Armour at all.
After six weeks of taking nothing I will be tested for TSH and antibodies. So, I do believe that as one transitions away from gluten, a very dramatic shift in thyroid function can occur. I am now five months gluten free and will be interested in your results as well as what my tests show. Fascinating … but we do need to be aware and watch.
I started doing a GF diet about 2 months ago and was educated and careful. I had never had a problem with Hashi before, and just a week and a half ago I had my what I think is my first flare up of my thyroid and was diagnosed with HAshi’s. So I am not sure if it’s connected, probably not, but The GF diet didn’t do it for me, I actually noticed my problem in the midst of the diet. FOOD for thought.???
Hi Annefnj,
My first thought on your comment about being diagnosed with Hashi’s during your gluten free diet is that antibodies generally come in cycles and the reaction to gluten can show up 3-6 months after contact. So, I would not yet assume the diet hasn’t worked for you.
What are your numbers? Are they high for Hashi’s?
Had you been tested for Hashimoto’s prior to the diet?
Hop over to the forum so we can troubleshoot there.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Mo
Becky,
Have you had your test yet after 2 months gluten free?
After reading your comment, I am convinced I need to check on my TSH more often during this transition. Thank you for the head’s up.
How strict have you been on the GF diet? We have found it quite challenging at times, especially when trying to eat out. I won’t go to any restaurant unless I’ve seen it on the Celiac forum or made sure the staff was knowledgeable about gluten free needs.
I’m thinking I need to make a gluten free forum area because this is truly beginning to look like a valid treatment for Hashi’s!
Looking forward to talking more with you!
Mo
Would LOVE to hear from you on the follow up of your doctor’s appt! Hope you come back and share. Also, if possible, join the forum where I hope to have a place where we can talk about the connection between Hashi’s and food reactions. I think there is way more in this area than doctors have wanted to admit in the past. I think it’s the patients that will eventually solve this mystery.
Mo
Hi! Just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment. My Celiac screen came back within normal levels. Nevertheless, I am working to cut grains out of my diet anyway, so we’ll see what effect that has, if any. I know gluten is in a variety of foods, but one step at a time.
I have two weeks to go before being tested again … that will be six full weeks taking no thyroid medication at all. After 10 years on Armour, this is all quite scary but exciting. Will check back in with you after the test. We are Paleo/Primal. No grains or legumes, and no veg oils like soy or cottonseed and such.
hey, thanks for the info. just curious why you chose meat in your anti-candida diet, versus vegan?
I’m 61 and just experienced my first thyroid “storm” in June. Has been scary and still awaiting more testing in two weeks. Palpitations, insomnia, lost weight, no body pain. My antibodies went up to 189! I am really new (under a year) to all of this, was diagnosed last fall (Hashimotos) and have no idea how long I’ve had it or the full impact on my life. Mostly I have been on synteheroid (levothyroxine and levothyronine) but recently switched to armour instead of the levothyroixide. One NP says I was overmedecated which precipitated the “storm” ~ anyone who has had this experience, would sure love to hear from you. I am obese (298) 5’6″ and have been overweight most of my adult life. Had a kidney XRay at 18 with first pregnancy and my body reacted to the die (iodine?), and I began gaining weight right after that. My 40 yr old niece was also just diagnosed with Hashimotos, and so I’m concerned about my granddaughter who also displays some of the symptoms at 23. What to do. I’m getting good medical care both from MD and NP, and reading (“Thyroid Power” by Shames & Shames), but still have a LOT to learn. The palpitations have gone down to a low roar with a thyroid tincture prescribed by the NP. Just hanging in there for two weeks to see what my lab results will be. Any good suggestions are appreciated. Thanks. Rainglogirl
So I just reread some of the above posts, and I’m gathering that when we address our food allergies (I’ve been off gluten, dairy for about six weeks), then the thyroid can kick in (is not suppressed), thus the additional medication can cause a thyroid storm??? This might be oversimplifying it, but trying to just understand in general what the connection is between food sensitivities and thyroid. Since last fall, I had just been ‘percolating’ along with the syntheroid, and then recently changed to Armour. At first I felt tired, so doc upp’d me to 1 grain instead of 1/2 grain, then all the fun started. The only other factor was I had a bad fall about a week before the “storm” and palpitations all started. It was also discovered that I might have been on too much VIT D, and so it will be tested again, along with my thyroid in about 2 weeks. Someone please respond if you get what I’m asking, thanks so much. rainglogirl.
Glad this blog is here, and hope someone has suggestions. I am continuing the gluten/dairy free and using the tincture when I need it. The hardest thing is the insomnia, I’m lucky if I get about 5 hours sleep a night. Can’t remember what 8 hours of sleep even feels like! Also, without the thyroid meds, I’m feeling cold, tired, grumpy, emotional, sluggish, and just doing what I can to combat that. Right now would be totally afraid to try any thyroid med until my labwork and doctor’s suggestion. Are there those of you who feel you can control the thyroid problem with your diet? (i.e. controlling food allergies?) If so, has anyone had the food allergy bloodwork, and what do you think of the results? (One lab is supposed to tell you about 70 food sensitivities). Pls Forgive my typos
Hi and thanks for your comment. I didn’t choose meat actually, I was given the diet to eat and it really was an allergy elimination diet, not really an anti-candida. I fine tuned it myself towards the end when I was seemingly having some candida symptoms. I am feeling so much better these days!
Hi Rainglogirl! Yes, I have heard of the food allergy blood work and I too really want to get that done! I have suspicions over many foods but would love to have a “for sure” so I know which ones to eliminate. That is a goal of mine. For now, I am set to do the cross-reactivity test for gluten in other grains and can’t wait to get that done next month.
As far as your thyroid goes, do you know where you are at on your TSH? Are you currently under the care of a good natural doctor? If not, consider checking out mine who is very reasonably priced and will do consults and testing online and over the phone. I really recommend him! He could look at the “whole picture” based on what tests you have and what you might need to get a better idea of what your next step would be. Hope your get to your answers soon! Mo
Hi Rainglogirl, I think you are right on in your thoughts but I am sure it is more complicated overall. But you are on the right track. It is very hard to work this out with a traditional doctor (for those who really want to address diet) so I truly recommend a “functional medicine” doctor. See my post “Can Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis be Reversed” to see a video my doctor did on this. (if you haven’t yet)
Basically, when your body is not being bombarded with allergens and your gut is not leaky and working improperly, true healing can take place. Getting rid of the “irritants” is the first call to action.
Hope this helped. Mo
Definitely look into this podcast Rainglogirl. It will help a bit in sorting through what I think you are trying to figure out:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/undergroundwellness/2010/07/08/gluten-sensitivity-and-celiac-disease-with-dr-thom
MeliD, in an anti-candida diet, you want to reduce not just sugars but carbs that would eventually feed the candida in the system. This basically means not only no dairy but also no grains. When I was on the body Ecology Diet (for starving out candida), the only grains allowed were millet, quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth – and the last two aren’t proper grains, come to that. Legumes weren’t permitted, neither were other starchy veg like corn (which is a grain anyway) or even carrots except in very small quantities.
On a diet like this, there is literally no other way to get enough high-quality protein to keep functioning if you’re vegan. Animal protein is an absolute necessity, as is good fat (a lot of which comes from animal sources like fish and meat) and cholesterol (eggs are a terrific source of cholesterol, which is VITAL for proper nerve function, and in Hashimoto’s patient especially the last thing we need is to have anything else compromised!).
I’ve been eating mostly Paleo now for nearly a month; the last thing to go is the beer, which will take me pretty much gluten-free entirely. Hoping to convince my HMO to do the bloodwork to confirm a gluten intolerance, but avoiding it on my own has given me better health AND an 8-pound weight loss without breaking a sweat.
Why are you eliminating legumes? I have been GF for a few months now and I have been eating a lot of beans.
jschuerman – re: avoiding legumes – this is just because at the time of this post, my digestion was compromised heavily by a diagnosed “leaky gut” and beans are known to be difficult to digest, even, at times, for the healthy gut when not prepared properly (soaking, etc.). The book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon explains this very well if you are interested in the history behind healthy food preparation. (maybe you are already aware of this, however). I will do a repeat intestinal permeability test this fall to see if the leaky gut has improved and this will help me determine what diet is best for me. Since this post, however, I have added in gluten free grains and followed up with a test for common cross-reactive foods that has helped me understand what I can include in my diet occasionally and what is best not to. I will be posting on that soon. I hope this helped answer your question. Here’s a decent post on this issue too: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/beans-legumes-carbs/ Also, I am very sorry for the very late reply. Thank you for your comment!
Thanks Maureen.
How did you get tested for gluten intolerance? Did you have a blood test or a stool test? Wondering which has the more correct results? I have had Hashimotos for 15 years and feel like my life is slipping away, need some serious help here, Just recently learned of the gluten free diet.
I learned about 6 months ago that I am Hashimotos positive. The best thing is that I work for a doctor who understands this!
While I am not gluten free yet (we call it gluten seldom at work), it is one of my goals to get there, and soon.
I am glad to see your blog. As someone who has been tired of being tired, it give me hope and another ember in my fire to get gluten free.
You won’t regret it. I am a NEW person due to the gluten free diet. Now, my next goal is to go very low carb to finish the weight loss but as far as symptoms from gluten go, I am only feeling it when there is accidental exposure to gluten and believe me, I am a fanatic about keeping gluten out of my life and really work on protecting myself against cross-contamination but that is truly the hardest part. I’m cheering you on! You can do it! Let me know how you are doing. I have a Facebook page you can find on the side of my blog/site.
Hi Lisa! I am so sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. Life has been busy. I KNOW how you feel. Please check out my post on “Can Hashimoto’s Thyroitis be Reversed?” and you will find some encouraging news. Also, you can check out my gluten free journey through searching through my gluten free postings and see how much test results have consistently made improvements just by going gluten free. So there IS hope.