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1550026 tn?1299336082

Any other Hashimoto people grain-free?

In my exhaustive reading anything I can find on Hashimoto's it seems many are grain-free with the idea that grains can cause inflamation in autoimmune suffers, maybe not all but any way...I am eating buckwheat instead of rice or other nongluten grains I was using...my stomach seems less distended and that makes me happy...I have hated that pregant look for years. Will keep you posted.
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Are you giving up all these things because you are intolerant to them, or because you're trying to lose weight?  
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Avatar universal
Hi Jennifer,
I have Hashimoto's but have also gotten into Insulin Resisitance and Metabolic syndrome.  I am an RN so I tried the traditional medical path first.  After 3 Endocrinologists, I finally found a "functional medicine" doc.  She is an M.D. but medical and surgical solutions are not her first choice for treatment.
I did the micronutrient testing and discovered extremely low Bioitin levels which accounted for massive hair loss.  8mg of Biotin/day and now I only have normal hair loss! : )
I went on the 21 day sugar detox and lost NO lbs!  frustrating.  I am now working with a doctor of nutrition who is part of the "functional med team".    In addition to gluten free (NO grains - not buckwheat, quinoa, rice, corn, oats, etc), I eat no legumes, no sugar (use Stevia).
This was not enough so although I use almond and coconut milk, I have had to give up ALL dairy (CHEESE, oh no...).
All meats and fish are allowed.  One serving of fruit per day.  All veggies except white potatoes, corn and legumes.  Nuts and nut butter and seeds are also good.
I use almond and coconut flours and coconut oil for cooking and olive oil for salads.
Google "Paleo recipes" or Gluten free recipes for some great ideas.
Your kids will like the recipes prepared this way.
Good luck,
I'm on the journey!
Linda in Texas
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
There really are no foods that you need to avoid, because of your thyroid condition...  the gluten free theory, is simply that - a theory.  There are no scientific studies to back it up.

I don't know where all of this is coming from - you only need to avoid milk, if you are lactose intolerant...... you'd have to do testing to find out.

The worst thing about tomatoes is the acid they might produce in your stomach and if your thyroid levels are adequate that shouldn't be an issue.

Just because someone else has an issue with certain foods, doesn't mean that EVERYONE who has Hashi has those same issues...... I used to not be able to anything acidic, because I'd be up all night with acid reflux -- I, currently, eat anything I want and very rarely have stomach issues -- of course, I do have to watch what I eat, because of weight issues..

Best way to loose weight is to calculate daily calorie needs and go from there, focusing on veggies, lean meats, low/no fat dairy, whole grains, nuts, seeds etc.........  the key is watch portion sizes...... and get plenty of exercise.

Why did you have a Reverse T3 test done?  Who recommended it? And why can't you read it?  It's a ratio of FT3 to RT3, done at the same time.
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Avatar universal
I just happened on your site and find it very interesting.  I find that Endos not to be very helpful. They just tell you you're fat and say that the "pills" bring your thyroid back to normal, so you should be down to your correct weight; which isn't happening.  I went back to my GP instead of paying for "specialist" figuring he could read the same thing. I am not in agreement with the span they have out because everyone is different.  I forget, either I have Graves or Hasi, can't remember it's been so long. But it doesn't really matter, because I suffer from both, i.e. for example, if the one I have says I will have an intollerance to heat, I am the opposite; if it says you'll have dry skin, I am the opposite; low energy, I have such a high energy level (which masked my symptoms), until the tongue started to swell and the stupid GP never sent me for blood work, what a mess. The bottom line is that the endo does not go further by saying what foods to avoid (gluten), or whatever to help you get better.  I recently put on 10lbs, I am much overweight and know it. I also had a back injury which is preventing me from getting around, exercising, etc. After reading some of the articles here yesterday, I decided to try gluten free.  But am confused, somewhere, not here, I read that regular Milk, is OK to drink.  Why would someone say that if it was not OK?  In addition, I had a REVERSE T3 test done; read it was suppose to be very accurate; I can't read it and the test was very expensive. I also had a food allergy test done, nothing too specific, just a slight intollerance to everything I use in cooking, garlic, oregano, tomatoes, etc.  But what I didn't know, that I read here is tomatoes causes the belly bloat? What other foods should I be avoiding?
I did find and make a long time ago, A White Bean Soup recipe with escarole and it is fantastic; I made it last night, but threw in a tomatoe for a little color (not knowing I shouldn't be having tomatoes), but now have this huge pot of soup I will be eating all week.  My daughter found this book, Gluten Free articles and recipes which we've tried and there is also a GREAT Breakfast bar you make with coconut, dried cherries, etc., bake in the oven and cut up into travel size/snack size bars.  But again, what foods should I be avoiding for the "bloat?  I am under a lot of stress right now and started with IBM, but again, don't know if it is attributed to the stress, the 'bloat', or something else going on.
If someone has some good answers for me, my email address is
leeeeeeo   at   aol    Thank you so so much, I was very happy and healthy at 120lbs now I am 100lbs overweight and would like to start getting it off.
L.
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
It really is incredible that a substance can cause problems in so many people...I did miss pizza, fresh bread, baked goods made with wheat so much for a while but not anymore...and the gluten free this and that never seemed to be as good...so I am content with my buckwheat this and that and feeling better period!

My hubby is diabetic and I used to fear that if i was I would not be able to give up sugar and here i am giving up a lot more than sugar and am fine. I think we underestimate our ability to adapt to lifestyle changes...and we're better than that. Well, we can be...man, I used to pound the candy and cookies and I mean pound...like an alcoholic but with sugary foods. I never thought I would get past that addictive behavior. And I have...do I miss that, at times...unwrapping Tootsie Rolls and gobbling them up...well, that used to be what i looked forward to as soon as i woke up...hahahaha....now I can't wait to make my cream of buckwheat. HA!

HAPPY EATING! HUGS AND LOVE
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219241 tn?1413537765
Just read your above posts. Reminded me, I haven't had a cold or flu or anything which is respiratory (apart from genetic asthma!) for many many years. I used to be a 'sickly child' Always got the latest cold, which would turn into bronchitis, and sometimes pneumonia. I was just thinking last night about the time I decided to give up gluten to see if that was my illness. (Didn't know I had thyroid disease but suspected it.) I remember I had a flu so bad I passed out on the floor for over 6 hours in the middle of our winter with no heater running.  I did that twice in the same day!
  
   That was over 15 years ago and I haven't been sick at all. Ok, maybe a minor sniffle or two, but no barking cough, or anything else like it I have seen others around me having.
  
  I think being gluten free has helped my immune system to be healthier in fighting off any viruses. I still have Hashimoto's that will never go away...(bugger!!! LOL!) but I think if the body is not fighting to maintain normal levels when gluten is in the bloodstream, then it can cope better when a virus attacks.

  I have to say, I LOATHE being gluten intolerant. Here in Australia it is only just starting to be that supermarkets stock gluten free. It is expensive. I try to work around that problem by making my own food. I miss having a salad sandwich on soft fresh white fluffy bread....drooooooool......I do feel better without that gluten in my system though, that's fro sure!
Cheers!
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
First I would suggest cutting out sugar caffeine alcohol and give no gluten a try again...you can buy lettuce and frozen veggies are always on sale...bags of carrots are pretty cheap...avoid tomatoes they seem to contribute to inflammation...I know it is challenging and yes it seems expensive but i found it very expensive when buying all the gluten free stuff and now i just buy bluckwheat flour and groats, which you can grind into flour and  that saves money too. Cream of buckwheat is not that expensive or try oatmeal for breakfast...that is cheap...and it is better than wheat based cereals and baked goods...brown rice is better than white rice if you like rice...and cans of beans, all kinds are a good source of plant protein and can be bought cheaply or buy bags of dry and follow the directions.
I know it is overwhelming but for me it is worth it and i wish i had tried it all earlier in life and found out I had hashimoto's at a younger age but i didn't ...it is still never too late...it is hard to cook for kids and yourself when trying these things but I spent my childhood constipated so I could probably have felt better and been healthier back then if i had not eaten anything and everything...good luck. If I think of other ideas i will post them.
Helpful - 0
1448748 tn?1312956208
Good for you!  I find it hard to do this because I am poor to put it bluntly.  That stuff is expensive, isnt it, even fresh fruit and veggies in the quantities that this would require is expensive.  And I tried Gluten free for a week and it seemed to have absolutely no effect and had a test done to see if I had gluten intolerance, and No I didnt, but I want to try something that will help me, and I dont really know where to start, but I suspect food could be the culprit, so I am open to any ideas, that are not so expensive, and something more than a gluten free diet/and or something different than a gluten free diet.  I suspect I have some inflamation going on in my body since it hurts all the time, so I am trying to figure out , what I should try eliminating and what I can keep.  I also have 2 kids so, I have to also cater to them.  any suggestions?
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
I forgot to add that I do eat an apple a day and sometimes have unsweetened applesauce.
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1550026 tn?1299336082
I am not on just a gluten free diet...that is what i started on but the other eliminations help me with the inflammation and I felt bad after ingesting them... I imagine it is trial and error for everyone.

but what good question, Jennifer...lol...I am still overweight so I must be eating something.

Lately for breakfast I have been having cream of buckwheat with coconut milk and cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and vanilla. I have water to drink and decaf coffee with a little coconut milk.

Yesterday for lunch I had chicken chow mein (I did have some rice with it) when we dined out, water and decaf coffee.

I had 2 buckwheat cinnamon buns for a snack.

For dinner I made beef stew (thickened with tapioca flour) and a tossed salad. I had water and then decaf coffee.

I had spice tea in the evening.

The day before that I had the cream of buckwheat in the morning and taco salad (no tomatoes, cheese or salsa or corn chips), and for dinner we had boiled vegetables and ring bologna.

And the day before that I had the buckwheat hot cereal, plate of sliced beef and a tossed salad for lunch and homemade buckwheat ham and Daiya (fake) cheese pizza for dinner with a side of 3 bean salad.

I started writing everything down on March 1st so that is how I know what I had.

Today I am making up some buckwheat pancakes that i can have as pancakes or use like flatbread. And later on i will make some homemade buckwheat noodles in my pasta machine...why? because it is fun for me.

I blog at somefoodsarenotmyfriends.blogspot.com if that is of further interest to you.

I am sure this might not be for everyone, but it seems to be working well for me. I ate whatever i wanted to for the first 50 years of my life and felt lousy most/all of the time so for me these eliminations are not a big deal anymore...I just want to feel better...good...and improve my quality of life...Hashimoto's? I got you covered...you're not going to beat me down anymore.

More to come...thanks for asking, Jennifer. Good luck!
PS BTW I have not had a cold or flu or fever or respiratory or stomach upset in a long long time...this is huge for me...yes, I have an autoimmune disease which caused me to be hypothyroid but these common ailments seem to no longer be a part of my life and I suspect I have the eliminations to give the credit to.



Helpful - 0
1448748 tn?1312956208
I see all the foods that we cant eat on a gluten free diet, how about the foods we can eat?   You listed all sorts of things you cant eat, and when I think of eating those are all the foods I can think of, so whats left? can you give some examples of days of your menu?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have Hash's also with Chronic Lymes.
Can you please send me your recipe for buckwheat pancakes?
I eat brown rice and am gluten free. I don't eat tomatoes, potatoes (which are pro-inflammatory), soy, sugar, dairy products, nuts(I'm allergic), red meat and no alchol etc.
Look into potatoes. I subsituted it for Sweet Potatoes and Yams which are really not potatoes.
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1550026 tn?1299336082
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. Yes, I eat cream of buckwheat for breakfast, make baked goods with buckwheat flour and am feeling ter-ri-fic!
I avoid nuts too...I know it seems so limited...but it is worth it...avoiding substances that might potentially inflame my insides or be confused with thryoid tissue and cause a hashimoto attack...no thanks.

no tomatoes, limited potatoes, no grains, no soy, no eggs, no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, no casein, no raw cabbage or broccoli or cauliflower, no nuts, caffeine, no alcohol, no tea (herbal is ok)...I think that's it...wow...it's a lot BUT I feel good so it is well worth it.

somefoodsarenotmyfriends.blogspot.com is where i blog about my food issues/thyroid/hashimoto stuff.

HUGS
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
redheadaussie!

GOOD FOR YOU! YOU GO, GIRL! YUP! I am with you...we must overcome in ways that empower us to feel better about ourselves...YES WE CAN! HUGS!
Helpful - 0
219241 tn?1413537765
Good for you! I noticed a ton of weight fall off when I gave up gluten.
  For me today is not so good. I went on a big hike and I knew it would affect me today, but I am getting tired of not being out there so did it anyway. I decided this year was the Year of No Ecxuses. So, am doing stuff I normally say, 'Oh but I will be exhausted if I do that' I get exhausted anyway so why not do something fun in the getting!
Cheers!
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
Reporting in after a couple weeks of this grain-free with the exception of ingesting rice now and then...and it is really making a difference for me...I make buckwheat pancakes, hot cereal, bread, and even made homemade noodles today...it is making a difference and for me this has been amazing. I enjoy working with buckwheat and eating it too.
I have even lost a few pounds...so win win...I am taking my Levoxyl before bed still and that has helped me to not eat during the evening.
I do some exercises in the morning and in the afternoon try to take a walk.

I know it isn't easy to have hypothyroidism as a result of Hashimoto's disease but I am giving it my all...staying away from substances that cause inflammation and for me I am noticing a better quality of life...how are you all doing? And what are you doing to not exactly beat this disease but not let it beat you?



Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
One week grain-free and my stomache has been less distended...of course i did coincidentally have a colonoscopy last week so I might want to wait a few weeks and report back then...but I think it is helping me. How are you all?
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
AMEN sister...I get that we are stuck with having Hashimoto's for life and you are a perfect example of a person who has it, does not have your thyroid, and yet still has it...I am attempting to minimize the flare ups, if i might offer that as a way to describe the attacks...and improve my quality of life and for me it is by eliminating substances that don't agree with my insides and that has given me a better quality of life as a Hashimoto person. PEACE AND LOVE

somefoodsarenotfriends.blogspot.com

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219241 tn?1413537765
I went gluten free many years before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. At the time, it helped me feel better but only marginally. It was the underlying Hashi's not being diagnosed which caused MORE problems than having gluten in my diet. That is not to say, the gluten intolerance was fun!. The symptoms of eating any gluten were terrible! But the Hashi's was worse. In fact it was a year after stopping gluten that I really started to question, was it something else and not just gluten intolerance.

  Gluten free will not stop/cure/help the Hashimoto's. Hashimoto anti-bodies attack thyroid tissue and that is all. Gluten antibodies attack the intestine and that is all. You feel lousy on both counts as the antibodies are rampant and make you feel rotten (Think flu, your body sends out antibodies to kill off the bad germ, and your body feels like a war zone)
  MANY people who have Hashi's also are gluten intolerant, but they are not the same thing.  It seems the body when suffering one auto-immune disease sets itself up to not recognise the natural processes in our bodies. The immune system is very complex.

  I hate to say it, but my Hashimoto's (I had cancer and multi-nodules and large goitre) caused me to lose my thyroid. The damage was great and it was like a rock and too damaged to save. So even without the cancer in it, it was going bye bye anyway.
I still have high antibodies 3 years after my thyroid was removed.

  That is NOT to say that is the case for all Hashi patients. No way, no how! Some live the rest of their lives with their thryoids intact and do well on meds. It is highly individual, and no one should EVER read into one person's experience as the norm for everyone else.

  Eat well, live well, recognise the good and bad days and live around them, that's the life of a Hashimoto patient.
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
thanks Danie...every time we share we start to understand and learn. So again, thanks.
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215461 tn?1331862765
I have went gluten free due to hashimotos, and I was having an allergy to everything.  If I accidentally get glutened now I get really sick.  I have been going through a hashimotos health crisis in the last 6 months.  I would say that I don't think gluten free has helped the hashimotos, but it must have helped it a little because I barely take any of my meds now.  I read the book saying it was helpful, but again, I'm not sure it really helped me.  The people here are really helpful and can get you on the right track to taking meds and getting you feeling where you need to be.  Take care.
Helpful - 0
1550026 tn?1299336082
I have been gluten free for years, even before I even knew I had a thyroid problem so it is not a sacrifice...I used to have red itchy blisters on my face and headaches and migraines and could not sit still and stomach problems and without gluten those things (except stomach issues) have disappeared from my life and I will never ingest gluten again.
I don't do alcohol, but hadn't for years so that again was no sacrifice and eliminating caffeine was no bigggee...sugar was hard but I have not had candy for six months and I was a candyaholic so that was hard...and so it goes...no soy, no eggs...and now no grains...and the distended stomach situation is better...so for me it works.

Getting late...good night everyone. HUGS
Helpful - 0
1299122 tn?1281040416
I have tried the gluten-free food plan a couple of times (short term) and I did feel better although I'm not sure (and don't think) the "feel better" was related to my auto-immune condition (hashis) Gluten is a protein founf in many grains that give dough & other products their elasticity. The thought that gluten free may be better for hashis people,is that the molecular structure of the proteins in gluten are similar to that of the thyroid tissue. The antibodies that attack the thyroid are increased because 60% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract according to Datis Kharrazian also known as Dr. K and explained in hos book "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal?" I bought the book but am undecided about his medical opinions. It seems to be quite controversial on this forum - the gluten issue.
But you know, this is a journey to wellness and I like to read what others have to and consider it myself.
On another note - I thought rice was gluten-free. I used rice or quinoa spaghetti during my gluten-free test periods.
Something else I do to help alleviate the constipation that often afflicts me regardless of my good labs is using scented epsom salts in my bath (in addition to taking adequate magnesium with my calcium)
I believe that one of the causes of weight gain with hypothyroid is our sluggish digestive systems in addition to the metabolis slow-down of every cell in our body.
Also...scented epsom salts is a nice way to pamper ourselves - heaven knows we need those relaxing moments!
Now to get back to your question - I do believe going gluten-free or even reducing it, as well as eliminating (or reducing) refined sugar & processed foods do have a positive impact on anyone - hashimotos patient or not. Although I do eat gluten containing foods from time to time, I remain cautious, and try to not eat it on a daily basis to give my digestive system a break.
Not everyone will agree, but thats what I do : )
Helpful - 0
798555 tn?1292787551
I am not being condescending at all, we all learn here. I'm trying to help you understand. I knew very minimal about thyroid care when I was Dx'ed, still learning today. At one point a doc gave up on me saying I had Fibromyalgia, with there is no lab test to confirm. People here helped me, by telling me what I didn't know. I learned that my Hashimotos condition was under treated since Dxing 10 years prior.

It is very unfortunate that we need to learn about this disease before we hand our health over to doctors. Many people are not aware that is our right to get copies of labs. This is help full for you to have copies of labs.

Many, including myself, found the details of thyroid disease confusing at first. It can be info overload compared to what the doctors tell us. I am surprised at your doctors explanation on the decision. The nodule must have been substantial in size.

Hoshimotos itself, if treated properly (not many docs know how to treat all Hashi patients) is a livable condition with thyroid intact, not usually a justifiable reason for removal.

There are many details that help with feeling better. One is for your doctor and yourself to track your Free T3 levels. For many that is the answer to feeling better as many doctors do not even test this, as they might be un-informed them selves. Many doctors over look many solutions to treating  thyroid disease.

I do know someone with gluten intolerance, and gluten effected her thyroid hormone out-put. She does not have Hashimoto, had non-autoimmune hypothyroid from gluten. With her, no gluten, no hypo.

Peace also,
: )
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