Hashimotos and gluten-free diet
tiger2411
Posts: 6
Hello All! I've been struggling with my weight since the tubal ligation after my daughters birth in 2011. I have been using MFP since that time and I have moments when I actually lose weight but then I regain in a big hurry. I've had hypothyroidism for the past maybe 10 years or so. I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos disease and my doctor hasn't talked to me about it other than to just say continue taking my levothyroxin daily and to only take half a dose on Sundays. I've been doing research and the only "treatment" I find is to go 100% gluten-free. Has anyone else been through this and if so anything you can share with me? Advice/support would be greatly appreciated! Also, is there a way to set my MFP to a gluten-free mode?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
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Replies
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Unfortunately the gluten-free thing is just a misunderstanding by the media of one preliminary study that found a relation between celiac disease and hashimoto's and concluded that if a person has either of them, they should be screened for the other. It did not mention in any way that if a person with hashimoto's randomly switches to gluten-free they will get better.. Sadly the only "treatment" is to take your medications and reduce your calorie intake and stick to it. It may take longer to lose weight, but if your dose is correct it will happen eventually.
I know this may not be what you wanted to hear, and my heart goes to you - I know exactly what it's like to have a condition that makes weight loss harder, but I just wanted to save you some disappointment.0 -
You can asked to be tested for celiac. The hashimotos diagnosis my daughter got (which no longer applies to her, thyroid function is now normal) was my first clue that led me to insist on her seeing a gi doctor& getting her tested. Her celiac diagnosis was positive, and since going gluten free for that, her thyroid is fine. Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease, as is celiac, & people who have one can sometimes have another.0
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Gluten-free is not necessary, but you might find low or moderate carb eating helpful.0
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I have hashimotos, was diagnosed about 4 years ago. I'm usually fine with the medication daily. However, the last month or so, every time I eat, I've been an absolute mess, especially when gluten is involved, so I've decided to go entirely gluten and dairy free for a bit and see what happens. Kind of trial and error to see what my overall well being is like (I've been super bloated to the point of physical discomfort after eating that lasts days, more tired than usual, more irritable, Etc.)
I haven't been tested for celiac, but every time I read up on hashimotos, seems the two are interrelated, so it's worth a shot.0 -
Be careful not to fall into the trap of replacing glutinous food with lot of high-calories gluten-free food. Gluten-free does not necessarily equal healthy, low-calorie or nutritious. It just means gluten-free.0
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Thank you all for your comments! I was really hoping I wouldn't have to give up gluten unless absolutely necessary! I'm also waiting on my autoimmune panels to come back. Drs are looking for lupus, sjogrens, sarcoidosis etc. I'll definitely ask to be tested for celiac though. Lately I have gotten horribly bloated and doubled over in pain usually when eating as well. I have a history of pancreatitis so Ive been stressed out hoping it's not happening again! Im just getting so depressed with all this, I was always around 126lbs before pregnancy and for the past almost 4 years I've gained and gained to over 190lbs. I have tried everything! Dieting, exercise, hCG, Plexus Slim (which really works, just pricey) I've been at 100 mcg of my thyroid medication for a year but it doesn't seem to make me feel any better at all.0
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lesliedias22 wrote: »I have hashimotos, was diagnosed about 4 years ago. I'm usually fine with the medication daily. However, the last month or so, every time I eat, I've been an absolute mess, especially when gluten is involved, so I've decided to go entirely gluten and dairy free for a bit and see what happens. Kind of trial and error to see what my overall well being is like (I've been super bloated to the point of physical discomfort after eating that lasts days, more tired than usual, more irritable, Etc.)
I haven't been tested for celiac, but every time I read up on hashimotos, seems the two are interrelated, so it's worth a shot.
Would you explain what the mechanism behind that would be? They have to do with completely different body systems...0 -
azulvioleta6 wrote: »lesliedias22 wrote: »I have hashimotos, was diagnosed about 4 years ago. I'm usually fine with the medication daily. However, the last month or so, every time I eat, I've been an absolute mess, especially when gluten is involved, so I've decided to go entirely gluten and dairy free for a bit and see what happens. Kind of trial and error to see what my overall well being is like (I've been super bloated to the point of physical discomfort after eating that lasts days, more tired than usual, more irritable, Etc.)
I haven't been tested for celiac, but every time I read up on hashimotos, seems the two are interrelated, so it's worth a shot.
Would you explain what the mechanism behind that would be? They have to do with completely different body systems...
I believe the theory is in an overall exaggerated bodily response, the (loose) correlation being a tendency for a percentage of people who have one autoimmune issue to also eventually develop another. In this case, the body would also be over-responding to certain proteins; the protein in question here being gluten, of course. I'm not supporting this theory; I really don't know.
OP, GF helps me tremendously with my symptoms but as others have said, does nothing for weight loss. I like to feel better so I stay GF. I want to be thinner so I consume fewer calories than I expend.
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »lesliedias22 wrote: »I have hashimotos, was diagnosed about 4 years ago. I'm usually fine with the medication daily. However, the last month or so, every time I eat, I've been an absolute mess, especially when gluten is involved, so I've decided to go entirely gluten and dairy free for a bit and see what happens. Kind of trial and error to see what my overall well being is like (I've been super bloated to the point of physical discomfort after eating that lasts days, more tired than usual, more irritable, Etc.)
I haven't been tested for celiac, but every time I read up on hashimotos, seems the two are interrelated, so it's worth a shot.
Would you explain what the mechanism behind that would be? They have to do with completely different body systems...
Here is the study that showed the correlation, but more is needed to study the exact mechanisms but it's thought to be genetic in nature. People with autoimmune diseases tend to be predisposed to other autoimmune diseases, but why these two are particularly correlated is still being studied.
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v13/i11/1715.htm0 -
If you suspect you have other autoimmune disorders than Hashimoto's, then talk to your dr and ask for additional testing. If you are seeing an endocrinologist, most probably these tests have already been done, if not, then see an endocrinologist.
If your only diagnosis is Hashimoto's, take your meds, recheck your numbers whenever the dr tells you to, and forget about it. It will never be cured, and will not really affect your life as long as you comply with dr's orders and take your meds as prescribed.
Going gluten free with your diagnosis alone, makes no more sense than going lemon free or milk free.
Here is a study analysing the link between celiac and hashimoto:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2111403/
As you can see, there is a correlation, but again chances are you do not have celiac.
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@aggelikik. I said I was waiting for the rest of my autoimmune panels from my endocrinologist. And based on your link the conclusion itself would make me want to start a gluten-free diet asafp! I already know I have several autoimmune disorders, why would I wait to see if I have celiacs too? You said to just take my meds and forget about it!? Umm, no! That would be a death sentence and I have far too much to live for to do that. Besides, what would be the harm in a person who isn't positive for celiacs to be on a GF diet? Our ancestors did it why can't we? Wouldn't it make sense to not eat out of a box and to not eat glue? This is not the negatively I was looking for and I don't need it in my life right now.0
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"The molecular composition of thyroid tissue is almost identical to that of gluten. So for those with Hashimoto’s, it’s a case of mistaken identity. Eating gluten can increase the autoimmune attack on your thyroid."
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I think one of the issues is that Gluten Free seems to be another "fad" that dieters are embracing as a cure-all who don't actually have celiac's disease. I'm an RN and my sister has Hashimoto's. Her primary care provider told her to try a GF diet. The thing is, she doesn't have celiac's disease. So why would she go GF? It is more expensive and sometimes she just wants to have a beer or a slice a bread without feeling the pressure of going GF. A link between Hashimoto's and celiac's has been suggested but not rigorously tested and is currently considered correlation not causation. But a web search will undoubtedly tell anyone that GF is the cure who saved someone's life who also has Hashimoto's. (Nothing like subjective examples to demonstrate scientific data /sarcasm.)
The best thing to do is get tested for celiac's disease. If going GF makes you feel better then great. Could it be because you also have CD? Sure. Could it also be a placebo effect? Sure. As long as something works for you, it isn't anyone else's business what you do. But be very careful about taking things you read on the internet as scientific fact where no such thing has been established in the literature.
I wish you all the best and good healthy living!0 -
I have a dear friend who has both conditions.
Gluten free and she watches preservatives as well.0 -
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2009. Even though I faithfully took my prescribed levothyroxine dosage, my symptoms continued and I couldn't get my TSH levels in the appropriate range. Frustrated, I did some research and read the study that was referred to earlier. I asked my Doctor about it, and she said I should give going GF a try. When asked about getting tested, she indicated that the frequency of false negatives for that particular test is so high that the best test is simply to go gluten free and see how you feel. So, I did. It takes several weeks (and being very rigorous in reading labels, etc.), and it takes a while to stop missing your favorite comfort carbs, but it was worth it. I feel SO much better when I'm gluten free. While some may claim this as a "placebo effect," I highly doubt that a placebo could actually affect my TSH levels. They only stabilized at the appropriate levels once I went gluten free. Some on MFP are a tad judgmental and look down their nose at going gluten-free (or simply have no concept of how crappy you can feel with hypothyroidism, so they can't conceive as to how it might be worth giving up beer or bread to feel healthy again). Don't let that stop you from trying something to make yourself feel better. Maybe it will help your symptoms. Maybe it won't. Everyone is different. The only thing I DO know for sure is that you won't know until you try. Good luck!0
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I've had hashimotos since 2007 and I've never had any issues with gluten. I do find it a little bit harder to keep weight off but not impossibly so. As long as I stay active and maintain a fairly healthy diet I'm all set. My doctor has always believed that issues with gluten for individuals with hashimotos is usually caused by a different condition. Whatever works for your body though!0
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I have hashimotos and gluten seems to really bother me. I eat it and I get terrible tummy pains, bloating and gas. It's so apparent that it does not agree with me, After eating it I'm a walking sour gas factory/skunk farm0
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I have hashimotos and I feel better when I don't eat gluten. I have heard others say this so I believe there may be a connection. Maybe that means I'm just allergic to gluten idk. A blood test said no. I don't mean my stomach feels better...I mean in general.0
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I have Hashi's, celiac disease, and psoriatic arthritis for my trifecta of autoimmune disorders. For azulvioleta6, one autoimmune disorder sort of opens the door to others. I'm not sure of the science behind it, but my endocrinologist calls me an "autoimmune girl" and told me that some people are just like that.
I tend to eat slightly under my deficit to keep the scale moving, and am obviously gluten-free. I do moderate my carbs. I don't find it hard, though. I call what I do selective carbing. I only eat carbs that I really, really like. I find that when you're dieting they are fairly easy to cut down because they're calorie dense. You'll be eating smaller portions anyway. I split my macros so that I'm eating 40% carb 30% protein and 30% fat, and getting a lot of fiber.
I'm older and shorter, so the scale moves slower for me, but I've lost 28 pounds since November, and I'm happy with that.0 -
Hello All! I've been struggling with my weight since the tubal ligation after my daughters birth in 2011. I have been using MFP since that time and I have moments when I actually lose weight but then I regain in a big hurry. I've had hypothyroidism for the past maybe 10 years or so. I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos disease and my doctor hasn't talked to me about it other than to just say continue taking my levothyroxin daily and to only take half a dose on Sundays. I've been doing research and the only "treatment" I find is to go 100% gluten-free. Has anyone else been through this and if so anything you can share with me? Advice/support would be greatly appreciated! Also, is there a way to set my MFP to a gluten-free mode?
Thanks in advance!
Exactly what I have done and yes it works listen to what other hypo people are saying here and not the ones that don't have it but like to tell everyone they are wrong anyway. The biggest things I can tell you are to drink healthy water lots of it. Chemicals found in city water have a negative effect on your thyroid mainly fluoride. Stay away from overly processed foods and inflammatory food (those are foods your body gives you clear signs its not happy with) and go for lots of walks. Feel free to add me as a friend.0 -
Hello All! I've been struggling with my weight since the tubal ligation after my daughters birth in 2011. I have been using MFP since that time and I have moments when I actually lose weight but then I regain in a big hurry. I've had hypothyroidism for the past maybe 10 years or so. I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos disease and my doctor hasn't talked to me about it other than to just say continue taking my levothyroxin daily and to only take half a dose on Sundays. I've been doing research and the only "treatment" I find is to go 100% gluten-free. Has anyone else been through this and if so anything you can share with me? Advice/support would be greatly appreciated! Also, is there a way to set my MFP to a gluten-free mode?
Thanks in advance!
Exactly what I have done and yes it works listen to what other hypo people are saying here and not the ones that don't have it but like to tell everyone they are wrong anyway. The biggest things I can tell you are to drink healthy water lots of it. Chemicals found in city water have a negative effect on your thyroid mainly fluoride. Stay away from overly processed foods and inflammatory food (those are foods your body gives you clear signs its not happy with) and go for lots of walks. Feel free to add me as a friend.
What? No. Too much Psuedoscience.
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@aggelikik. I said I was waiting for the rest of my autoimmune panels from my endocrinologist. And based on your link the conclusion itself would make me want to start a gluten-free diet asafp! I already know I have several autoimmune disorders, why would I wait to see if I have celiacs too? You said to just take my meds and forget about it!? Umm, no! That would be a death sentence and I have far too much to live for to do that. Besides, what would be the harm in a person who isn't positive for celiacs to be on a GF diet? Our ancestors did it why can't we? Wouldn't it make sense to not eat out of a box and to not eat glue? This is not the negatively I was looking for and I don't need it in my life right now.
You said your only confirmed illness is Hashimoto. Which is really as simple as "take a pill check your levels every X months, adjust pill if needed, live your life as usual". It is a vey very common illness, and it is not a death sentence unless you happen to live in an area where there are no drs and no meds.
Yes, there are tons of magic cures, diets, tricks etc. Same as there are a ton of magic cleanses for fat loss, magic cures for stretchmarks and so on.
It is not some exotic illness that really affects your life if treated properly. How do I know? Because I was first diagnosed 23 years ago and so do many women you meet every day and you could have never guessed they suffer from it. It is nto a death sentence!
As for celiacs, the link I sent you shows you have a 2-5% risk of having this too. Your chances of having diabetes with Hashimoto's is higher. Also your risk of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. You cannot panic for every single thing that could happen, and follow an appropriate diet, because you might end up with very few things left to eat. Which might be still ok, but it is going to overcomplicate your life over nothing.
If you have celiac you are going to manage it with the appropriate diet. This will not fix your hypothyroidism though.
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I am celiac and dieting is so much harder... As most foods that are gluten free are higher in sugar etc. Can anyone help suggest how to make it easier... I've lost 5lbs in nearly 80 days but got loads More I want to lose but need help and advice.... 0
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sarahbicknell2013 wrote: »I am celiac and dieting is so much harder... As most foods that are gluten free are higher in sugar etc. Can anyone help suggest how to make it easier... I've lost 5lbs in nearly 80 days but got loads More I want to lose but need help and advice....
I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 18 years ago. This was long before it was easy to find gluten free products on supermarket shelves. I had to order sub-par products online for years!
Over the years, I learned a lot. Some things are worth eating the gluten free substitutions for. Some things aren't.
There's a whole wide world of cuisine out there that never revolved around gluten-based ingredients. Find it. Naturally gluten-free foods like lean protein, dairy, beans, potatoes, rice, fruits, vegetables, nuts, gluten free oats... you can build a diet around those.
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Hello All! I've been struggling with my weight since the tubal ligation after my daughters birth in 2011. I have been using MFP since that time and I have moments when I actually lose weight but then I regain in a big hurry. I've had hypothyroidism for the past maybe 10 years or so. I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos disease and my doctor hasn't talked to me about it other than to just say continue taking my levothyroxin daily and to only take half a dose on Sundays. I've been doing research and the only "treatment" I find is to go 100% gluten-free. Has anyone else been through this and if so anything you can share with me? Advice/support would be greatly appreciated! Also, is there a way to set my MFP to a gluten-free mode?
Thanks in advance!
Exactly what I have done and yes it works listen to what other hypo people are saying here and not the ones that don't have it but like to tell everyone they are wrong anyway. The biggest things I can tell you are to drink healthy water lots of it. Chemicals found in city water have a negative effect on your thyroid mainly fluoride. Stay away from overly processed foods and inflammatory food (those are foods your body gives you clear signs its not happy with) and go for lots of walks. Feel free to add me as a friend.
What? No. Too much Psuedoscience.
Sorry no not everyone fits in the same box. A lot of people that have thyroid issues and they are not all the same but damn me If i feel better eating paleo or any other low grain diet. Damn me for doing me and sharing my experience and trying to make a helpful suggestion based on my experience with it and damn it if a lot of people here had a similar experiences. Were all wrong ya know...so you win.0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »sarahbicknell2013 wrote: »I am celiac and dieting is so much harder... As most foods that are gluten free are higher in sugar etc. Can anyone help suggest how to make it easier... I've lost 5lbs in nearly 80 days but got loads More I want to lose but need help and advice....
I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 18 years ago. This was long before it was easy to find gluten free products on supermarket shelves. I had to order sub-par products online for years!
Over the years, I learned a lot. Some things are worth eating the gluten free substitutions for. Some things aren't.
There's a whole wide world of cuisine out there that never revolved around gluten-based ingredients. Find it. Naturally gluten-free foods like lean protein, dairy, beans, potatoes, rice, fruits, vegetables, nuts, gluten free oats... you can build a diet around those.
How do you find dieting then with being gluten free? I eat a lot of things like rice and going down to basic ingredients but just find it so hard at times to manage when u do have to use the substitutes. Just wanna shed the wait I put on after I quit smoking but having celiac & lupus food & exercise is tricky.
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If I may share my own personal experience with Hashimoto's...I was diagnosed several years ago now, after my oldest was born. I've always had a pretty stable go with it once my meds were optimal for me. I was then diagnosed 2 years ago with another autoimmune condition called CREST syndrome (a form of scleroderma). I was going to do everything that the nutrition world says to do and went on a strict Paleo diet. I was seeing a chiropractor for my nutrition and supplements. My grocery bill was through the roof and I was completely stressed with this way of life, that was going to save me. I was already following a healthy diet, maintaining my weight with having Hashi's, but yet because I was told the gluten would keep driving my thyroid to a bad place , I went into fear mode. Well what good was fear and panic going to do for me? Nothing. So from a more spiritual perspective, I decided that I had enough of the Paleo thing, went back to my regular ways of eating, stopped seeing the chiro and stopped the supplements, but I started to work on the mind/body/spirit connection. I took care of my soul, began loving myself and stopped fearing the outcomes. The Gluten free diet and Paleo thing only lasted a few months for me before I decided to go back to my normal, healthy ways of living. So in these 2 years since my second diagnosis, I have dropped 3 doses with my levothyroxin, my thyroid is a normal size and I feel great! Diet and nutrition are always important and we need to be loving and caring for these bodies, but taking care of your soul is so important too.0
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I have had hashimoto's for a decade, but no other autoimmune diseases that i am aware of.
It's not a death sentence by any means, just take the pill, keep your tsh, free t3 and free t4 at the right levels, and work harder than normal to lose weight. Some people have no thyroid at all due to cancer and they just take the medicine too. You don't need a thyroid to live.
I will say though, that some dr's think as soon as your TSH level is below 4 or 5, or whatever the highest range they use is, that you are fine and healed. I still had hypo symptoms until i got it below 1. That's just me, everyone is different. Most Dr's will also only prescribe synthroid/levothyroxine, but I never felt good on those. I take armour thyroid and feel so much better.
As far as gluten free, if you try it and it makes you feel better and you lose weight and can stick to it, go for it. It's not necessary to treat hashimoto's, but obviously if you find out you have celiac's then there is your answer.
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Hello All! I've been struggling with my weight since the tubal ligation after my daughters birth in 2011. I have been using MFP since that time and I have moments when I actually lose weight but then I regain in a big hurry. I've had hypothyroidism for the past maybe 10 years or so. I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos disease and my doctor hasn't talked to me about it other than to just say continue taking my levothyroxin daily and to only take half a dose on Sundays. I've been doing research and the only "treatment" I find is to go 100% gluten-free. Has anyone else been through this and if so anything you can share with me? Advice/support would be greatly appreciated! Also, is there a way to set my MFP to a gluten-free mode?
Thanks in advance!
Exactly what I have done and yes it works listen to what other hypo people are saying here and not the ones that don't have it but like to tell everyone they are wrong anyway. The biggest things I can tell you are to drink healthy water lots of it. Chemicals found in city water have a negative effect on your thyroid mainly fluoride. Stay away from overly processed foods and inflammatory food (those are foods your body gives you clear signs its not happy with) and go for lots of walks. Feel free to add me as a friend.
What? No. Too much Psuedoscience.
Sorry no not everyone fits in the same box. A lot of people that have thyroid issues and they are not all the same but damn me If i feel better eating paleo or any other low grain diet. Damn me for doing me and sharing my experience and trying to make a helpful suggestion based on my experience with it and damn it if a lot of people here had a similar experiences. Were all wrong ya know...so you win.
Chill. I'm glad you found a way of eating that you like. But the water thing, bro? Really? Step away from Mercola.
Taking all sarcasm away from my voice, I have three autoimmune conditions and played for years with eating various ways, including paleo BEFORE Cordain even wrote his first book (Neanderthin came out in the 90's) trying to feel better.
I've learned a few things on the way.
One of the hard truths is this: the only concrete thing you can do to make yourself feel better is exercise and not carry extra weight to tax your body.
That's about it. Oh, and develop good sleep habits. Everything else is just placebo effects.
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sarahbicknell2013 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »sarahbicknell2013 wrote: »I am celiac and dieting is so much harder... As most foods that are gluten free are higher in sugar etc. Can anyone help suggest how to make it easier... I've lost 5lbs in nearly 80 days but got loads More I want to lose but need help and advice....
I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 18 years ago. This was long before it was easy to find gluten free products on supermarket shelves. I had to order sub-par products online for years!
Over the years, I learned a lot. Some things are worth eating the gluten free substitutions for. Some things aren't.
There's a whole wide world of cuisine out there that never revolved around gluten-based ingredients. Find it. Naturally gluten-free foods like lean protein, dairy, beans, potatoes, rice, fruits, vegetables, nuts, gluten free oats... you can build a diet around those.
How do you find dieting then with being gluten free? I eat a lot of things like rice and going down to basic ingredients but just find it so hard at times to manage when u do have to use the substitutes. Just wanna shed the wait I put on after I quit smoking but having celiac & lupus food & exercise is tricky.
Congratulations on quitting smoking!
Exercise can be tricky for me too. I have my share of medical conditions too: chronic migraines, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia. So my exercise schedule is hit and miss. When I can manage to do it, it helps a lot.
I do find that cutting carbs to a moderate level helps with fatigue levels, so I keep them to 40% of my diet. That eliminates some of the decision making I have to make with celiac disease, because I only keep my favorite things on the menu.
Let me start by asking you where you find yourself using the substitutes most. That might be the best place to find the answer to your question.
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