Gluten Free with Hypothyroidism

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  • 2aycocks
    2aycocks Posts: 415 Member
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    If you have Hashimotos Thyroiditis, then you would be advised to go gluten free. Gluten aggravates that condition, including causing inflammation in your joints. This info is per doctor's advice.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    edited May 2018
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    2aycocks wrote: »
    If you have Hashimotos Thyroiditis, then you would be advised to go gluten free. Gluten aggravates that condition, including causing inflammation in your joints. This info is per doctor's advice.

    What kind of doctor gave that advice?

    Gluten is only inflammatory for people with celiac disease, and even then it doesn't always cause joint problems. My celiac went undiagnosed until it went critical because doctors wouldn't test me for it -- they didn't think I had it because I didn't have joint pain. I got to the point of malabsorption because of that blunder. BTW, I was already on thyroid medicine for Hashimoto's at that time.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,108 Member
    edited May 2018
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    I am gluten free and diagnosed with its hashimotos. I was tested for celiac as well but don’t have it. They did find that I have a wheat germ allergy though. Since going gluten-free my joint pain and some digestive issues have improved. Removing the wheat, for me, stopped the strange rashes I kept getting as well

    Gluten free and dairy free diet were recommended to me when diagnosed with hashis

    Edited to add - going gluten free was not for weight loss for me. I gained my weight eating gluten free. Many gluten free substitutes are actually higher in calories
  • staraly
    staraly Posts: 54 Member
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    There is a growing body of research on autoimmunity other than Celiac Disease and the effects of gluten. So far, it's pointing to a strong connection, but more research needs to be done on what happens in every single one of the many autoimmune diseases when we exclude gluten, as well as for other immunity diseases, to determine what role diet would play in treatment plans and determine better diagnostic methods.
    I have hypothyroidism, histamine intolerance and Systemic Nickel Allergy along with other allergies. I don't have Celiac Disease (tested every which way including genetic and I can't have it) yet the improvements in my health with going gluten free are nothing short of miraculous.
    Gluten is a histamine releaser; that much is known. And high histamine plays havoc with our neurotransmitters and hormones. That is also known.

  • xFreudianSlip
    xFreudianSlip Posts: 45 Member
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    I'm hypo, no thyroid and hashimotos, only went gluten free because of celiac.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    Wheat is unusual because it has three parental strands in its dna. This gives rise to many more proteins than are found in all other living things. Gluten is only one of those potentially problematic proteins. It was the first to be identified as setting up health problems in the way of celiac, there are probably hundreds more proteins in wheat which also cause health issues.

    I'm interested in what staraly had to say because wheat as a histamine liberator had not passed by in my reading, yet, I've found pages now I have looked. As I said earlier I'm both histamine and salicylate intolerant, none complimentary bedfellows, hashi as a side salad. Low histamine is not low salicylate and vice versa. When I originally reduced my salicylate intake which also coincidentally impacted my histamine load, I had great relief from my tinnitus but gradually it came back, probably because my inner ears are too damaged.

    Salicylate is the way many/most plants, including fruits and veg protect themselves from moulds and mildews. Histamine is more an issue of a state of decomposition, for some even fresh cut meat is toxic, cold cuts are off the menu for more. It can be contamination of prep surfaces and more, cross use of knives etc. Both encompass reactions to everyday household chemicals! Histamine intolerance is closely tied to Mast Cell Activation, our bodies can make more mast cells in the hope of reducing the histamine load but when they break down they amplify the problems. Though improving one's production of the dominant DAO enzyme with b6 and vit C, can be helpful. According to Dr Sarah Myhill, UK, the stated dietary requirements of 30mg or there about's is enough to avoid scurvy the ancient sailors curse, but it is way too low for our human needs because we can't make our own, the ability was lost in evolution. Linus Pauling says we need much, much more.

    Every time one reduces the breadth of one's diet the nutritional deficiencies increase. The modern western diet already depleted in so many essential vitamins and minerals, when one adds calorie restriction to the mix the depletions are amplified which can/will impact the mitochondria, Krebs cycle etc., depleting energy levels particularly in Me and Chronic fatigue Syndrome BUT energy depletion is a strong symptom in ALL autoimmune issues, which don't forget, hunt in packs, have one you will probably develop another.

    Now if I were to eliminate dairy, which I facilitated with digestive enzymes, dairy is hyper allergenic because of the casein (protein) and lactose (sugar), its also considered to be High oestrogen which is also bad for thyroid along with eggs also high oestrogen, so best eliminated, along with avoiding cruciferous veg and soy as advised by thyroid health specialists. Now wheat and other grains, I would probably be left eating simple lettuce leaves, possibly garden peas. Better still why don't we just stop eating and take all our nutrition through supplements.

    Lets get real, lets not panic, lets concentrate on what works for each of us as individuals. There are 300 if not more symptoms of autoimmune disorders why should we expect everyone's experience to be the same. Just because western medicine likes putting chemical plasters over each and every problem avoiding the underlying probably mitochondrial causes and rectifying those. Our bodies are interrelated systems not isolated functions they should be complimentary and not expected to operate in isolation.

    Just for the record, the knowledge of Histamine intolerance and Salicylate intolerance have not made it to my Dorset medical practice nor the local Endocrinology department, to them its beyond what they are expected to know. What is worse they think they know better than the Regional Immunology Service. When replicated nationally such damnable ignorance it causing damage to many. They do not advocate using digestive microbes when on antibiotics, nor do they suggest eliminations for autoimmunity.

    Please do not add to the harm your body is already under by adding unnecessary eliminations, just because....... you are told, its good, try it if it does nothing go back to normal.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    I've been doing more research since my earlier post. Reference Histamine Intolerance. I hope this may be of interest to Staraly

    Whole wheat does not liberate histamine, only the glutein, so if a whole grain product is used one should not have a histamine issue.

    Avoidance of histamine has been my first choice for self preservation. Products like DAOsin are recomended to reduce histamine levels, as are products containing quercitine. I've been suplimenting heavily with magnesium, because magnesium defficiency can be a precourser. I've come across something which may be effective, clays, which are said to work with histamine, as I assume activated charcoal does with flatulance. The clays have very fine pockets to absorpb and bind the excess histamine. I'd previously come across Bentonite Clay and now Zeolite, both it seems can be taken internally. I'm still chewing this one over, may be too radical for me. Much as I like the idea of reducing my histamine levels, I'm still going to give these products more consideration.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
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    staraly wrote: »
    There is a growing body of research on autoimmunity other than Celiac Disease and the effects of gluten. So far, it's pointing to a strong connection, but more research needs to be done on what happens in every single one of the many autoimmune diseases when we exclude gluten, as well as for other immunity diseases, to determine what role diet would play in treatment plans and determine better diagnostic methods.
    I have hypothyroidism, histamine intolerance and Systemic Nickel Allergy along with other allergies. I don't have Celiac Disease (tested every which way including genetic and I can't have it) yet the improvements in my health with going gluten free are nothing short of miraculous.
    Gluten is a histamine releaser; that much is known. And high histamine plays havoc with our neurotransmitters and hormones. That is also known.

    the current body of research (I posted a summary on the first page) is no where close to providing a strong connection - the research is giving only up to 7% commonality between celiac and hypo in the study groups
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    edited May 2018
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    2aycocks wrote: »
    If you have Hashimotos Thyroiditis, then you would be advised to go gluten free. Gluten aggravates that condition, including causing inflammation in your joints. This info is per doctor's advice.

    Not necessarily. Maybe your doctor says that, but it's not universal. And it's especially not universal if you don't have any indicators for eliminating gluten, such as having celiac.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,444 Member
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    I have hashimoto and pernicious anaemia, two autoimmune disorders. I have no problems whatsoever eating gluten, and I was tested for coeliacs and it was fine as well. I guess if you have one ai disorder the chances of having at least a second are somewhat elevated. But there's no reason to not eat gluten if you don't have any problems eating it. Why make your life more difficult? CICO still works with hashimoto though weight loss can be masked by elevated water weight, which is common in hashi, and also other ai disorders.
  • Lyrica7
    Lyrica7 Posts: 88 Member
    edited May 2018
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    I see a leading rheumatologist at the University of Illinois and she has had me try gluten free as I have an autoimmune disease and my sister also died from sarcoidosis. I do not have celiac disease but cutting gluten helped with my inflammation. She is a top researcher in the US and in her experience gluten free can help a lot of people by reducing their inflammation. She said research is still new in the area of autoimmune disease and food triggers. I am glad I listened to her it has helped me.
  • MikePfirrman
    MikePfirrman Posts: 3,307 Member
    edited May 2018
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    Fuzzipeg wrote: »
    I've been doing more research since my earlier post. Reference Histamine Intolerance. I hope this may be of interest to Staraly

    Whole wheat does not liberate histamine, only the glutein, so if a whole grain product is used one should not have a histamine issue.

    Avoidance of histamine has been my first choice for self preservation. Products like DAOsin are recomended to reduce histamine levels, as are products containing quercitine. I've been suplimenting heavily with magnesium, because magnesium defficiency can be a precourser. I've come across something which may be effective, clays, which are said to work with histamine, as I assume activated charcoal does with flatulance. The clays have very fine pockets to absorpb and bind the excess histamine. I'd previously come across Bentonite Clay and now Zeolite, both it seems can be taken internally. I'm still chewing this one over, may be too radical for me. Much as I like the idea of reducing my histamine levels, I'm still going to give these products more consideration.

    I've read about a lot of the same things you've talked about and came out of it with a different take, to be honest (and respectful). My wife was diagnosed with a possible histamine intolerance too. Some believe that Histamine Intolerance could be an imbalance of H Pylori, a common bacteria that is prevalent in the Microbiome. Yet everyone I hear about (and the bloggers) with Histamine Intolerance stay away from cruciferous veggies and cabbage. The problem with that is one of the best treatments for H Pylori overabundance is cabbage juice. In old prison systems, if someone had a peptic ulcer, they gave them cabbage juice and it cured it. Guess what causes Peptic Ulcers? H Pylori overabundance.

    Perhaps it's die off that makes people incredibly sick from cruciferous veggies, not a Histamine Intolerance? Just something to think about.

    My wife gave up dairy around two years ago because a Holistic doc told her to. I'll admit, she had some REALLY nasty reactions to dairy. Recently, though, if she eats peanuts/tree nuts, she has either like a Histamine reaction or a Nut Allergy reaction. This is really recent and she now has to have an EpiPen.

    There have been recent studies with one strain of Lactobacillus bacteria (commonly found in yogurt) that have been given to kids with peanut allergies and they've had tremendous success (some go from very reactive to no reactions for four years -- it's very promising!). I wonder if elimination of the dairy (and the certain Lactobacillus strain) lead her to be sensitive to nuts.

    I honestly think that when you eliminate one thing, you can create other problems that aren't fully understood yet. I went Gluten free with her (for support) and now when I eat gluten, ironically, I get sicker than her. I never had issues with gluten before. I think my body stopped producing whatever enzyme was necessary to digest gluten.

    I do technical consulting work and I'm paying very close attention to a lot of start-ups in the Microbiome space and read articles all the time that come out by R&D people (and the Venture Capital groups/managers that back these companies). The only thing clear to me is the more they learn, the less they know. I think there are a ton of Holistic "blogs" out there that speak in terms of certainty that really are just conducting wild guesses. You alluded to the fact that you have no choice because conventional docs are in the dark on some of these issues and it's really up to us to take control of our health, but I'm not sure in some cases that it's not the blind leading the blind.
  • Lyrica7
    Lyrica7 Posts: 88 Member
    edited May 2018
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    There are many proteins in wheat and gluten may not necessarily be a trigger but one of the other proteins may be the cause.
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
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    I'm hypothyroid, and I tried going GF for a time. It didn't really make me feel any better, as all the paleo folks promised, and I really like sandwiches, so when I discovered there was no benefit for me, I had me a ham sammich. YMMV, so give it a try and see if it does you any good. If it does, great. If not, well, you haven't really lost much more than a month or two of going without bread and cake. I say you might as well give it a shot.
  • shaumom
    shaumom Posts: 1,003 Member
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    re: OP's original question - I have celiac disease, and I was on the high end for my thyroid numbers, but just low enough that the doc and I agreed we would watch it and see if I might need to be put on meds.

    After going gluten free, my numbers dropped down to better levels. So at least in my case, the celiac disease seemed to be impacting my body's ability to regulate my thyroid. I have a family where hypothyroidism is present on both sides, as well.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    Thank you. My issues do not extend from h pylori, thank you. I'm relieved your wife has achieved benefits from her eliminations. Though I'm very sorry she now needs an eppi pen. Nuts are high salicylate and histamine. Most fermented foods are histamine drivers. We are all different and what works for one does not work for another. Liver toxicity come high on the possible contributors to Histamine intolerance. The brain uses some 20% of the bodies available energy, where as the liver uses up in the region of 27%. There are so many cross referencing factors in endocrinology. One needs to do one's own research, which is why the long list of necessary things, seemingly for all "to avoid" for thyroid conditions is so ridiculous and yes will probably make a sad situation much worse.

    I know the pitfalls of reading any odd bods rants on line. I keep to medical, qualified persons work. I know there is a tendency for people to try to make money from others problems. I'm relieved for this one reason, I live in the UK we have different standards to you in the US. My eliminations are covered by medical standard supplements, practitioner grade. 5 years ago I could not even take vit c with or without bioflavonoids. I never say you must give up this or that or anything else. I quoted the time scale it took for me to feel an improvement from dairy so others might think if nothing happens after 4 days, Its doing nothing form me"! Then not go on adding more insults to their systems. I know going without a broad diet is detrimental to most regular persons which is why I say, think about things, do research and try if it seems good and if it does nothing go back to normal. Free will. BTW I will not be using the clay, I have found one or two medical comments which say it can have similar effects to asbestos.

    There are so many prescribed and over the counter medications which mess with the microbiome, not least female contraception, dental amalgams, antibiotics and chemicals used to clean our drinking water, down to the common aspirin or paracetamol with umpteen different binders. Some of us are more susceptible than others. I believe western medicine is at a crisis point because they look for more chemicals to put plasters over each and every symptom without looking for the underlying causes.

    WE are all different and we need to be responsible for our own health. The last time I consulted a doctor for my arthritic flare the gel he prescribed had me bed bound on one dose. I'd told him the salicylate pain pathway was severely compromised, he had to fill his boxes. I'm glad I don't live alone. The practice gets funding for my being on their list, I pay for things which help me. Oh, the chlorinated water in the hydrotherapy pool set me back months.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,444 Member
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    shaumom wrote: »
    re: OP's original question - I have celiac disease, and I was on the high end for my thyroid numbers, but just low enough that the doc and I agreed we would watch it and see if I might need to be put on meds.

    After going gluten free, my numbers dropped down to better levels. So at least in my case, the celiac disease seemed to be impacting my body's ability to regulate my thyroid. I have a family where hypothyroidism is present on both sides, as well.

    Are your thyroid levels still under observation? With early hashimotos people often have periods with good thyroid tests and periods with not so good ones. That was the reason it took me years to get diagnosed. I had one poor test. Gp decided to retest three months later and all was fine. So no, me not feeling all too well cannot be due to thyroid. A year later felt miserable. Thyroid levels poor. Another test 3 months later and all was fine.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    Thyroid numbers are known to change with the weather a fact which gets forgotten.

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