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Best Hashimoto's book I've ever read

This book doesn't just tell how to treat Hashi, it gets to the roots of the things that trigger our auto-immune disease in the first place. This book doesn't look at Hashi as a thyroid disorder, but as an auto-immune disease and the possible triggers in our food/environment that could cause the antibodies to flare up.

I've been following some of Dr. K's advice for over a month, and I've got way more energy. I am no longer tired in the morning. I was before, even though my free levels were in the top 1/3. Dr. K. helped me to realize that coffee, green tea and gluten were triggering my antibodies. Now, that's not the same for everyone. He lists different groups, TH1 and TH2 dominant, and which group you are in depends on the treatment. I broke my diet and ate gluten (mocha chocolate brownies) five days ago, and I had a terrible swelling flare up. Never again.

I know some of the diet advice in this book may not be easy for some, but for me, it was a worthwhile change, so that I can live a healthy life.  

http://www.thyroidbook.com/

:) Tamra
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649848 tn?1534633700
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Avatar universal
have you tried the gluten free flour mixes? My daughter has hashi and I want to make her some snacks
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798555 tn?1292787551
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I have also had random bruising.  I found out that it can be caused by Vitamin D deficiency.  I later read in Dr Kharrazian's book that people with thyroid issues are often naturally unable to process Vit D.  I've started taking calcium and high dosage Vit D (1000 ius) daily and my bruising has stopped. Painful cramps in the legs are caused by lack of calcium, which won't have been processed if the body is Vit D deficient.
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Avatar universal
Hi, folks,

This discussion is now closed.  Please feel free to continue the discussion about Dr. K's book and gluten-free diets in the Alternative Therapies forum here: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Alternative-Therapies-/show/685
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Thank you so much for sharing such information...im going to buy the book and go gluten free starting now!
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BTW - Try Luna and Larry's coconut ice cream at Whole Foods and try almond or rice milk. :) T.
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Avatar universal
I tested negative for Celiac. I am still WAY better without gluten. I also had to give up cheese and milk, for now, and we'll see how I do in six months after the gut is more healed. I am now eating pure butter and doing fine, since it has little to no lactose. I am now eating blue corn, but still no regular corn or soy. Rarely soy, considering what it does to thyroid hormones. I cheat sometimes and have some chocolate with soy in the evening.

Don't you live in San Antonio? Geez, we're spoiled here for gf foods. We have many places we can eat and great grocery stores. We also have Alamo Celiac. Membership is $20 per year and they offer gf cooking classes. I got a free cookbook with my membership. They gave me a warm welcome when I told them I have Hashi. They know all about us and understand the Hashi/gluten connection.

You should have tasted the carrot cake I had for my birthday! Divine! It was from The Little Aussie bakery and totally GF and dairy free. Even my 'normal' relatives said it was the best cake they'd ever eaten.

We can get lots of gf breads, baking, flours, etc at HEB, Central Market and Whole Foods. We can eat at Chilis, The Outback, Macaroni Grill, The Melting Pot, Little Aussie, Pei Wei, PF Changs, Islamadora Fish Co off I-10, The Cove, etc...

Alamo has more restaurants and membership info:
http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddreviews.html

:) Tamra
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Avatar universal
I just finished the book and agree it was very interesting. I am a little confused- I had celiac gene test and it was negative. I should STILL give up gluten????
I tried last year for two months but did not notice a difference at that time. I was consuming corn, soy, dairy though.....
And now I can not drink milk at all. I can tolerate cheese in small amounts.. I was told I have  lactose intolerance, which has gotten steadlily worse. I had some ice cream for the first time in many months yesterday... am paying the price all night and into today.Won't do that again for a looooooooooong time.
And goats milk I tolerate a lot better. I did not see any info on goats milk in the book.
  I guess I am worried how to find both lactose free and gluten free foods.. that is a difficult task. Or do you not worry if it has trace amounts of lactose??? I know for gluten free it must be TOTALLY gluten free, not even a trace of gluten or your body reacts.
How about lactose?? Does it work in a similar way to reactions??
Thanks all.
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607546 tn?1222299144
Alot of your symptoms sound like what I felt during my Hyper stage. How much medicine are you on?  When is the last time you had blood work done?
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Avatar universal
The tongue could be due to candida. Are you eating lots of yeast or sugar? http://www.leakygut.co.uk/

I drink virgin coconut oil to control this. You can pick up a bottle at a health food store or Whole Foods.

The  bruises, sore neck and other symptoms may be due to vitamin deficiency. Please check your D, B12, Magnesium and iron. Hashis commonly have low vitamins.

Please post your Ft4 and FT3 levels as well as your current dose and brand of thryoid hormone pills.

The 24 hour saliva is the only accurate test for adrenals. The blood cortisol measures only one time of day and adrenals vary widely throughout the day. The 24 hour urine is a waste because we can't measure at which time of day the urine was taken.

Your symptoms could very well be adrenal, as this problem usually goes with Hashimoto's. Be aware that you may need more thyroid hormone. That's why it's important to get that FT3 and FT4 test.

:) Tamra
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Avatar universal
I will be sure to check out that book! I was diagnosed with Hashimotos when I was 14 (I'm 36 now,) and I have been on a gluten free diet for the last two years (after experiencing terrible stomach issues for 5 years... docs told me I had IBS.) I felt so much better for a while, but something else is going on now, and it seems all too familiar. All of the usual tests are coming back as normal. I am wanting to check out my adrenal function since I am suffering from all of the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. I don't have medical insurance, so I am stuck going to a clinic where the doctors are unfamiliar with autoimmune disorders. Maybe you can share some of your wisdom with me? Have you have the adrenal labs done yet?

Here's a list of my current symptoms just in case they sound familiar to anyone...

Chronic fatigue & muscle aches (mostly in my neck and shoulders,) nausea (daily,) occasional vomiting, chronic diarrhea, heart palpitations, dizziness (almost fainting,) and chronic headaches that can last for several days. Also some other weird symptoms: a swollen & "furry" tongue, I am always covered in bruises, waking up with a very sore neck & spine, and lately I am really clumsy and feeling "spaced out."

Also, I have had a rash due to Tinea versicolor for the last 15 years on my neck, chest and back. It's a fungus that normally found on human skin, but causes a rash when it is abundant. It goes away with anti-fungal cream, but always comes back.

I'm at the point that I don't feel like going anywhere or doing anything, it's really bumming me out. I'm determined to get to the bottom of this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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798555 tn?1292787551
"I will do the gluten and dairy free diet next week, however I have read that is not healthy avoid gluten when one does not have celiac (I have been never been tested.)"

- You dont necessarily have to avoid all gluten to see if you will have health improvements. Read your labels, gluten is in everything, almost as bad as high fructose corn syrup, so its really hard to avoid entirely unless your eat bark.

Most everyone with some form of digestive issue will feel a little better when reducing gluten, not just eliminating it.

Once again, humans most likely are not designed to digest gluten. Think cave man would have bothered to eat wheat?

I still consume products with gluten, only less. When I had bad reflux (GERD), gluten free helped. But for me what kicked the reflux was actually T3. Lessened other hypo symptoms as well. Eliminating dairy milk helped me tremendously with digesting. I'm male, so no worries about calcium, also was tested, I'm fine there.
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988694 tn?1332359479
We women need calcium and milk is the best source for it. Years ago it was the norm to say that women did not need milk after their mid 20s, but research has said now that is better to continue having it all the time (calcium).

I think of my bones with every glass of milk or any other dairy I have. I do not want to take calcium pills.

I take lactose free milk and I use Truvia with it, it is good.

I will do the gluten and dairy free diet next week, however I have read that is not healthy avoid gluten when one does not have celiac (I have been never been tested.)
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Avatar universal
Hmmm, I'm wondering if they make gluten free probiotics. Thanks for the tips.

Rice milk does have its downsides, but it is a good alternative to those who have nut allergies and who can't drink dairy.

Soy is touted as this miracle veggie, and it's actually not good for us. I avoid it as much as possible.

:) Tamra
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798555 tn?1292787551
I used to eat a lot of pasta - it has gluten in it also. Ever wonder why pasta makes you feel stuffed?

I now by Tinkyada - its the best gluten free pasta out there, In many forms too. The other brands are just terrible tasting and mushy.
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798555 tn?1292787551
Goat milk has been around for eons in grocery, guess its easier on the stomach. Rice milk will turn to sugar in the digestive tract - its from white rice, a carb. Gluten is mostly from wheat. Bleached white flower is the worst type, its every where. Tamra can fill you in on Gluten details.

Taking pro-biotics at least every other day works wonders, but it takes time, cheap insurance for the gut. That and T3 made my nasty reflux go away (cross fingers).

I did have a celiac (Gluten disease) test back when I had bad reflux - tested negative, and bread does not seem to bother me. With some people its very obviously bad for them.
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734073 tn?1278896325
We had been using Almond Breeze  (unswetened vanilla) in my daughter's gluten free oatmeal (Bob's Red Meal Brand) and gluten free cereal.(she likes it okay on her cereal but not in a glass unless it is in a smoothie) However, we have now switched to the raw goats milk. My thought on the boxed Almond milk is that it is kept unrefrigerated on the shelf at the healthfood store, so it must have preservatives and other things in it to give it the shelf life (it's not just Almonds)? This is why I am now using the raw fresh goats milk instead. Google the benefits of goats milk compaired to regular milk. I hear what Lazy Moose is saying about mammals not needing milk after they are weened (my daughter's doctor says the same thing), however, this is easier for adults to go without than growing kids! So we don't over do it and use just a small amount each day of the goats milk. I would like to know both of your opinions on the goats milk, if you have any thoughts. As far as intestinal fungal overgrowth goes, I know that milk feeds it as it turns to sugar and sugar feeds fungus correct, so maybe I am just still aggrivating things intestionily, (though it does not seem like it symptom wise),  even with the preservative free, hormone free, vitamin/mineral/protein packed raw goats milk. It really does seem to be helping with her hunger spikes too! She seems more satisfied and "level".
The coconut milk is really good in the gluten free bread mix that I mentioned, however not so good in a glass to drink. We are not a fan of the rice milk either, unless used in receipes.  We do use coconut oil to fry our eggs. It is wonderful for this! Really yummy, you should try it! Try Truvia (Stevia) for your sweetener. It is good and not too expensive. My daughter's doctor said that the refined grains of today have 9X the gluten in them that there once was (compaired to when? I don't remember what she said). Exactly what is Gluten anyway? I did a little googling, however I am still not so clear on it? Spelt bread is not gluten free, however, many with gluten issues/ intolerences can digest it, as the spelt grain is not so refined, correct? Maybe the glutin amount is much less then the 9X more that the rest of the processed breads found at the store are. So many people think they are being healthy by eating whole wheat, however, this is really not so true, especially when you have thyroid/metabolism issues. Can't wait to read the book!
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Avatar universal
LazyMoose, I really hope you read this book. He lists 22 patterns of low thyroid function, so you can figure out which one you are. Dr. K. also says many of us should not be on dairy, but a dairy intolerance can be discovered in the elimination diet.

You are right about dairy. We're not cows, so why do we drink their milk? Almond milk is great. I use it for my gluten free cereals. Coconut ice cream is awesome, too.

Refined sugar and artificial sugar is bad stuff, too. So is high fructose corn syrup. I do NOT use Splenda anymore or refined sugar. I've heard great stuff about Stevia (pure, not a blend) but it's so darned expensive.

As far as gluten is concerned, we are not rabbits. Our ancestors ate protein. That's what our stomachs are designed to eat. Gluten free dieting has become a trend for those who don't have Celiac disease, but who just want to live healthier lives. Gluten free foods have taken off in sales, making it easier for me to find GF foods in my local grocery store. I think that in the next few decades, more people will opt out of gluten.

:) Tamra
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798555 tn?1292787551
I know someone who had hypothroid (but not Hashimoto) and gluten intolerance. When they finally gave up gluten, thyroid levels got better and weight was also lost.

Its kind of a what came first deal for some. I did go gluten free for three months and thyroid did not improve. So my 'cause' for antibodies is not known to me.

My digestive DID improve after T3 was added, and GERD went away then.

But many hypos (Hashi or not) have digestive issues and are not aware of it. Many digestive issues are given names, so people dont look for the cause, which might be thyroid. And how many people have ever taken saliva PH (related to digestive PH)?

Bottom line, hypos need to eat somewhat healthy. Take a simple pro biotic daily (you will notice after a few weeks). Eliminate the junk food. Diet pop is ridicules, and an addiction in the US -Its all chemicals.

One comment about adults drinking milk. We are mammals. Non-human mammals stop consuming milk when weened. It is not natural for full grown mammals to consume milk, fact. So why do we? Almond milk rocks.

If this guy truly thinks he knows antibody causes, Its worth reading. But I'll be hypo for another month at least, and reading is like a sleeping pill then!
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Avatar universal
He's right that many of us Hashis do not need the hormone - as long as we get our diagnosis early in the disease, which rarely happens. I am now under the care of a doctor who trained with him, and he agrees that many of his patients, who are caught early enough before the thyroid  tissue is destroyed will not need the hormone once the auto-immunity is turned off. However, as is the case with me, my doctor and I agree that I will most likely need hormone because my thyroid is so damaged; however not as much as before. This has proven to be true as I am now on less hormone.

I trust that you've had the TGab and TPOab antibody tests to confirm that you are not a Hashi. Occasionally, the antibodies fluctuate, and a repeat test is necessary to make sure you don't have Hashi. However, if you go gluten free, the test might be negative. Get the antibody tests before going off gluten.

:) Tamra
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988694 tn?1332359479
I do not have hashimotos( but I am hypo), but I bought the book because somebody suggested it here at the forum.

One thing that scared me is on page 93 (chapter highlights) where he says that "the mayority of people with hypothyroidism do not need thyroid hormone. In fact, medication can make hypothyroidism irreversible."

I am still procesing that information.

One thing that I liked was his anti-inflammatory diet.   My stomach is always upset, I am bloated all the time, have reflux and allergies.

I would like to try this diet for about three weeks (no gluten, no lactose) and see if I feel better.

I'll start next week, I am celebrating these days and I want to eat ALL what I like (and can)

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Avatar universal
You won't be disappointed. This book is amazing and totally changes the way I've viewed thyroid disease. It's not just about treating the hormone levels. It's about treating the underlying auto-immunity. Just look at me. I've given up gluten and now I need less hormone. I've cut back the Cytomel from 10 to 2.5 and I'm still hyper. I have a leftover bottle of a lower dose of Synthroid. I will try it tomorrow and see if my hyper symptoms get better.

Have you tried almond milk as well? I just love it. Coconut milk is high in protein, but I don't like the flavor as much. My friends use it in their protein shakes. Also, coconut ice cream is divine!

****

:) Tamra
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734073 tn?1278896325
Just read a little on line. Liked what I saw so I just now ordered the book from Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation!
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