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YouLookFab Forum » Topic: * https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:17:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Aida on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1200599 Fri, 21 Mar 2014 02:20:05 +0000 Aida 1200599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Way late to this thread (and I'd like to go back and read all the responses), but as you know I've got autoimmune hypothyroidism so here's my quick 2 cents. I haven't had the gluten test done, but I did switch to whole grains and eliminated most refined sugars along with eating plenty of veggies + less beef + not much bread anyway, my thyroid tests have stabilized pretty amazingly. After having to increase my med dosage annually the first 2-3 years I was diagnosed, after the food change I've been on the same dosage for three years straight now. A lot of it is paying careful attention to what my body metabolizes well and avoiding the things it doesn't (well, at least for the most part), which unfortunately took a whole lot of trial and error Mo on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1187660 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:15:49 +0000 Mo 1187660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Heh, I do too, TexStyle!  So many diet and nutrition books over the years.  Starting with Fit Or Fat by Covert Bailey back in the 80's.  Suddenly I knew about mitochondria and ATP, oh my!  Fascinating stuff.  But almost 20 hours seems long, even for corn.  I don't eat a lot of starchy carbs, but I don't avoid them completely either.  Might be worth experimenting a little to see how my belly responds.   texstyle on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1187654 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:10:25 +0000 texstyle 1187654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mo, I think corn is particularly hard to digest because we (humans) don't chew it enough and our digestive tracts can't handle the larger pieces of fiber in certain vegetables. The solution may be just to chew really, really well. And doing that probably would make most of us eat less as the chewing action better sends the signals to the brain that we are full. Or something like that. I read too much on nutrition. Mo on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1187610 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 14:42:08 +0000 Mo 1187610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Having had some serious bloating and gas many hours later from a large Olive Garden pasta lunch yesterday, I'm thinking I could use some digestive help, too.   TMI, but a little something that has been bothering me - when I was sick last weekend I saw corn that I'd eaten at least 18 hours prior when I threw up.  Surely food should not be sitting in my stomach for 18+ hours!  Maybe my middle age middle is really just bloat from food not properly digesting??  I dunno.    rachylou on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1185439 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:44:35 +0000 rachylou 1185439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ tex, I don't but I think I should. What's in your gut really has quite the impact. texstyle on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1185214 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:58:59 +0000 texstyle 1185214@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I wonder if any of you take beneficial bacteria on a regular basis? I've been reading more about it and have started taking some of these for immune boosting mainly. I can't say I have a bloating problem or sensitivity to foods in particular but I've been eating mostly organic for about the past 30 years and I was vegetarian for about 10 years. I now eat a little red meat, chicken, eggs, fish and mostly vegetables, some fruit, beans, whole grains and organic cheese/yogurt in moderation. I do have hypothyroidism and have taken Armour thyroid for about 10 years I guess. I'm at a very low dose now and have considered stopping. If you've taken antibiotics or eat most commercial meat which often has antibiotics, you likely need to replenish the bacteria in your gut from all I've read. I don't think you can do this with yogurt alone unless you ate quite a lot of it. I'm considering intermittent 5:2 day fasting as per Valter Longo recommends. I'm not overweight but I have gained over the past 10 years or so and I'd like to lose that "extra". His research suggests to eat normal on 5 days of the week and limit calories (for women) to 500 (that's the "fast" part) on 2 days a week for better health, to greatly reduce cancer risk and to lose unwanted body fat.  I'm going to try using a juicer for those 2 days to make it easier to keep the calories low but I think I will still eat an egg for breakfast and a small mid-day meal. Raisin on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1184779 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:31:28 +0000 Raisin 1184779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Through my research in trying to deal with my own thyroid issues I've come across something called the OAT (ovaries, thyroid, adrenals) axis imbalance. It has to do with the fact that the those 3 systems are closely linked and an imbalance in one can throw the others off. I have had hypothyroidism for several years and recently my troubles with endometriosis and also my kidneys.  So it's something that sort of seems like a good theory for me anyway.  In terms of gluten, I have drastically reduced my processed food intake over the past couple months, and this has included most grains.  I have found a huge improvement in digestion, and even my thyroid levels were the best they've ever been.  It's actually my hope to get off thyroid medication all together and heal my own body through proper nutrition.  I think some people tolerate gluten fine, but others do not, and unfortunately I'm finding I may be one that does not.  So far everything seems to be working better, but then again I am eating a ton of better, REAL food now too.   ETA - I also agree with Racheylou and feel that there are so many toxic, endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment.  Because of the fact that most of my issues are autoimmune or thought perhaps to be, I am really trying to avoid all toxic crap.  So that includes the processed food but I really got rid of all the toxic chemicals and makeup.  I guess it can't hurt to have less of it in my body, right? rachylou on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1184390 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 19:11:59 +0000 rachylou 1184390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think technically there is no such thing as "gluten allergy." There *is* wheat allergy and gluten *is* implicated in all sorts of other immunological problems - which for all intents and purposes amount to the same for the sufferer - but it's not quite the same as "allergy" in terms of what goes on below the surface. And sometimes people let the term allergy ride to encompass all the problems, and sometimes they really mean allergy when they say allergy. So I guess the thing is, read close and understand a benadryl isn't gonna help, if you know what I mean. The treatments you'll want will depend on root causes. Anyways, as I've now got 4 endocrine/autoimmune problems, I have my own theories. First, is the human-created environment filled with endocrine disruptors and so forth. All the fire-retardant on our clothes, in our furniture; all the plastic bottles and cans of ketchup; perfumes, a favourite holiday gift; processed soy; all the medicines we take and the tossed pills that leak into the environment at large; the pesticides ... Second is stress - and not the stress you feel, but all the stress reactions in your body. So much stress, and you burn out the system eventually. Stress from the disruption of biochronological rhythms with all our lights, sitting 10 hours a day at a desk and hoping an hour at the gym is gonna do something, etc. Third is highly processed food and fruit juice (but not table sugar; that's totally negligible), because these things hit your blood stream at a hundred miles per hour. Fourth is overwhelming plenty - constant eating, snacking, etc. Keeps the blood sugar even, but your body never gets a rest. Well, I could go on. Could talk about the invention of agriculture as the fall of mankind, too. Lol. Last comment - Oats are a no-go if you need to go gluten-free and not-so-hot if you are fighting diabetes. Not the same exact proteins, but very close and produce the same problems. Also, they are sooo slow on the bloodstream front, you are really taxing your system for an extended amount of time. You could be keeping your blood sugar even at the cost of your actual insulin-producing cells. Ok. Just my half-penny. ElleH on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues/page/2#post-1183985 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 06:19:14 +0000 ElleH 1183985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Also the test for Celiac is not considered to be very reliable if you test negative. Furthermore gluten & grains are still problematic even if you are not celiac. Do you remember when I first joined the big belly & muffin top I had? Have you noticed how much weight I lost & kept off? I did try to lose the weight through cleanses when I didn't know that it was caused by my allergies etc but when I got sick & changed my diet it was not to lose weight but my weight has stayed low, even though I eat lots of food & lots of healthy fats. My belly is much flatter most of the time these days. It is not my reason for new diet but it is a side benefit. ElleH on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1183980 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 06:16:04 +0000 ElleH 1183980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una I have been gone from the forum for a while, partly due to my own Hashimoto's Thyroiditis & also other life stuff so I don't know how much has already been discussed & I don't have time to read all the comments but please check out <a rel="nofollow" href="http://thyroidbook.com/blog/autoimmune-gut-repair-diet/">http://thyroidbook.com/blog/au.....pair-diet/</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thepaleomom.com">http://www.thepaleomom.com</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://chriskresser.com/thyroid">http://chriskresser.com/thyroid</a> Not just the pages I linked to but anything they have to say about your conditions. It is overwhelming to read this stuff, especially when sick & it was that way for me but I had to find a solution to my health issues. I think it has helped a lot. If you have Hashimoto's there is a closed Facebook group called Hashimotos's 411 & the sister diet related group is Elimination Provocation Diet. There are several diets recommended & it is overwhelming deciding which one. There is SCD, GAPS, FODMAPS & AIP. I decided on AIP & that is best outlined on Paleo Mom website. I chose that one because it is designed to heal the gut & also to avoid foods that cause inflammation. I also tested positive for Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is not uncommon to have more than one autoimmune condition because they leaky gut can cause all of them.  anne on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1180586 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 06:50:55 +0000 anne 1180586@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oats - Oh dear they have been a chief focus of my thought this last week. Ok - so in themselves oats are gluten free. But they are mostly grown and manufactured with wheat etc, and so are contaminated with gluten from them. But you can get special oats that have been grown/processed separately that don't have gluten in them. And so the celiac societies in, I think the US and Canada have said it is okay (obviously I am just coming at it from the celiac perspective). And I have a packet at home - I do love it. But in Australia the celiac society doesn't have recommend it because it does have another protein in it that in 20% of celiacs has the same effects as gluten. So I told DH not to buy any more. Especially since in my case, as I have said before, I don't even have any side effects to alert me. I'm not sure what you want to do with that info! I so get where you are coming from in having to always think about what to eat or not to eat. Shiny - no nightshades sounds ghastly. I know I'd miss potatoes and tomatoes the worst out of those you mentioned! catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1180580 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 06:26:17 +0000 catgirl 1180580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Shiny, that is what I have - preggo belly and discomfort/pressure. Next test is for fibroids which I had when pregnant and made it seem like I was having triplets. I am definitely eating healthier even though it seems all I do is think about what to eat or not eat. It is so confusing! I don't think it can hurt to cut sugar, bread and potatoes. Still eating oatmeal (is that a gluten free food?!) and don't think I could ever give up cheese. shiny on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1180304 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 01:30:43 +0000 shiny 1180304@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've got weird belly issues (swelling for no reason making me look pregnant) and can check off every last symptom for BOTH hypo- and hyperthyroid over the past two decades. And I have had every thyroid test under the sun, repeatedly. It may be autoimmune. It is not gluten. Because I've done the gluten-free thing. It's not that. For one thing, barley is amazing -- I feel awesome after eating it. And wheat? No problem if it's dense and unrefined and eaten in small doses of total diet. Dairy is also not a problem - honestly if I could choose only one food  group to eat the rest of my life, it'd be dairy - yogurt and cheese.  I am pre diabetic and have been for 20 years, managing by diet alone, the key is minimizing carbs, of any type. I eat an astonishing amount of fat, because I have to get the calories somewhere. Healthy fats. I feel best that way. Not because I cut out gluten. Because I reigned in the percentage of calories I'm getting from carbs in general -- simple or complex, gluten or not. I did the low-fat diet for years in my 20s and felt horrible on that. Because to meet calorie requirements, I had to load up on carbs. I was vegetarian then, so all my carbs were whole grains, but it didn't matter. But you see, it still wasn't the gluten. It was too many carbs and not enough fats. That said my doc's latest idea is that maybe I am "allergic"/intolerant to nightshades. I am supposed to try eliminating them and yes I did try but you think gluten is hard? Nightshades are worse! Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants. Try avoiding those. It's tough. And I said screw it. IF there's something to this, it's not a class of perfectly healthy natural whole foods. Maybe pesticides used to grow those foods... or something growing on them.. but I just ...can't imagine. At any rate, cut those out, there'd just be no joy in living. Okay maybe eggplants. But tomatoes? And peppers?? No way.  jenanded on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1180068 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:51:19 +0000 jenanded 1180068@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Celiac can be linked to hashimoto and thyroid yes but soy is linked to and worsens symptoms. High fat is good for bad thyroids... No matter what the docs say thyroid is the second major control centre for your body so you need to take care w food exercise sleep etc to feel good. Meds of course help stabilise and stop really bad things happening but they are not magic beans either... you need to use the lifestyle care to manage it... and it seems whatever works for each person... ironkurtin on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1179383 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 04:26:57 +0000 ironkurtin 1179383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I was tested negative for celiac, but my blood sugar is so much more stable --and my digestive issues seem calmer -- without processed carbs that I just don't eat them anymore. I don't know about thyroid, sorry. I'm also sorry to hear you suddenly have health issues. Do you think it's related to job stress? Good luck!!! Helenedith on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178917 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 22:15:21 +0000 Helenedith 1178917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ There is a lot of information available on the web to sift through before deciding what is the right response for you One website I found helpful is <a href="http://www.wheatbelly.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.wheatbelly.com</a> catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178878 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 21:59:33 +0000 catgirl 1178878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ AM, that is good to know! I like real food so processed replacements do not appeal! I can cook a lot of Indian dishes that are nutritious and naturally gluten free (lentils, curries, etc) and I'm hoping that will help me out. I am not a big fan of substitutes and am not sure they are always healthier. Thank you! AviaMariah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178869 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 21:50:05 +0000 AviaMariah 1178869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I didn't have to time to read through everyone's answers to you so I'm probably repeating a bunch of what they said.  I figured out I was gluten intolerant about 2 years ago.  I had been having stomach pains after eating for quite a few years  and just couldn't figure out what was causing it.  I had tried giving up gluten quite a few times but after 2 or 3 days I would give up because I didn't feel any better and it was HARD (I had withdrawal symptoms!).  Finally I determined that I was going off for a month.  I can't remember exactly how long it took before I realized I was feeling better, but sometime in that month.  But when I really realized the difference is when I would "test" the theory and end up miserable again.  I also got rid of other smaller symptoms, like brain fog, lethargy, a skin rash on my face.  I had less arthritis symptoms in my joints.  There are others but I tend to forget.  :)  My suggestion for your diet is not to try eating gluten free replacement items.  You will quickly get depressed because most do not taste like the real thing.  Also, stay away from prepared meals/food because most of those have gluten (I think it's used in preservatives).  Focus on eating a piece of meat, veggies, fruit, dairy, nuts.... It was quite an adjustment for the first year but I hardly think about it now. Good luck!! ETA - since I don't have Celiacs I can get away with "cheating" now and then, usually without any, or much, symptoms.  Because of this, I decided that I was not going to make myself crazy byt reading every single label.  I just stay away from the obvious gluten items, eat pretty clean and don't worry about things like soy sauce.  This has worked pretty well for me.   There is also a difference between gluten allergy and gluten sensitivity.  It's been awhile since I researched it but I think an allergy can be tested for and a sensitivity can't (except for elimination diet).  Also, with a sensitivity you can get away with eating small amounts and some people can actually go back to eating gluten somewhat normally after a period of time.  Don't quote me on any of that.  :) catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178706 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 19:45:12 +0000 catgirl 1178706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Sona and Isabel and everyone else! As I said I don't think Celiac is the issue, nor do I know that gluten is. But I think a trial run will help me pay more attention to what I eat and track it, if nothing else. Sugar is another thing that I eat mindlessly. Having some guidelines may work better for me that just a general "eat better" regime. Xoxo Sona on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178639 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:26:52 +0000 Sona 1178639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The blood test- transglutaminase only tests fro true gluten allergy most often celiac disease. Gluten sensitivity is far more common.With respect to Isa and others I will still say that doing the test is unnecessary. In 13 years of practice I have seen maybe 5 patients with celiac disease. However many more of my patients (and I tried it myself as well) feel much better with regards to energy and abdominal bloating, etc when they decrease the amount  of gluten in their diet. Astrid on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178289 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:45:31 +0000 Astrid 1178289@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Isabel. A while ago I read a great article in the Zeit Magazin about gluten hysteria (and other things like fructose and lactose) and how the food industry feeds that hysteria more and more in Germany. They actually said it has been an even bigger thing in the US, with every third person wanting to eliminate Gluten even if they could eat it without a problem. Of course there are people who really are allergic, but that's a very small percentage. And the people who are "sensitive" might not be sensitive when it comes to gluten, but actually when it comes to ATI, like new research suggests. That you loose weight when you cut gluten isn't remarkable either, because when I remember right it just means less glucose intake. The article talked about the placebo effect of quitting gluten - most people just eat more mindful and less when they cut it and that makes the most difference. There were also doctors coining a term like "morbus google" - the internet is full of incorrect information on this and not specific enough diagnoses and the diet industry is happy. If you actually worry about celiac's desease, they said you could now do genetic testing to get a clear diagnosis and that they actually suspect that some of the earlier diagnoses might be wrong. Our body is complex, most of the time it's not as easy as just quitting one thing. catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178228 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 05:33:00 +0000 catgirl 1178228@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you so much for all the info! I do not think I have celiac nor does anyone else at this point, just that m thyroid issues may be tied to gluten after reading some info about it. I don't intend to change anything that radical as I already eat little bread and cereal which seems to be the main culprits. I do want to cut back and see if it helps the bloating and weight gain. I will proceed with caution and accept any and all advice! E on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178227 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 05:30:46 +0000 E 1178227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I used to be gluten intolerant, for about 2 years, and this was before it became a 'thing,' so it was pretty much a nightmare (I had to cook everything from scratch & going out to eat in a restaurant was like researching a PhD, especially since I'm also a vegetarian). Every time I accidentally ate or drank something contaminated (one time, it was mustard that was the culprit! ugh!), I'd immediately know because my digestion would go haywire-at the risk of tmi, this involved gas, diarrhea, terribly cramping, etc., while the rest of the time it was fine. There is a *huge* difference between deciding not to eat wheat products and having to worry about any speck of gluten/cross-contamination in your food (just as one example: french fries are never safe, because they're fried in the same oil as breaded things). Obviously, it was worth it for me to go through all of that hassle, because the haywire situation was even worse (I didn't notice any changes in energy level but I've got other health issues that would have affected that), but it was hard. Really hard. I had to think about food WAY more than I wanted to and plan my meal times like a general, carrying snacks on an outing because I couldn't just 'pick something up.' And I've never felt deprived/struggled with eating as a vegetarian who eats vegan much of the time, so it's not as if I'm not familiar with dietary restrictions. Towards the end of the 2 year period, though, my digestion started having problems all the of time whether I was eating gf or not, although it still worsened if I ate gluten (although the blood test for celiac's came back negative). I was then diagnosed with RA, so my doctors put me on a couple rounds of oral steroids, and I noticed I could suddenly eat gluten without any ill side effects. I thought once I was off the steroids, I'd have problems again, but somehow I'm magically able to eat gluten without any of the issues I used to experience. My digestive system is still a mess, but it's not gluten related (I did another elimination diet just to be sure). I'm thankful for this pretty much every day, as it makes my life so much less complicated. I wouldn't do it if you don't have to. (Also, none of my doctors have suggested a gf diet would help with my many autoimmune problems, for what it's worth.) None of that is to discount all of the people who have experienced great benefits from going gf! Just thought I'd share my experience; it never helped me with pain and energy problems (which I have in droves, both for autoimmune and other reasons), just digestive ones, and it was a lot of work. Worth it, but not a walk in the park. Nowadays it's much easier to find gf options, so it wouldn't be quite as much work, but it is a significant lifestyle change. Especially if you enjoy trying out little independent 'ethnic' restaurants or microbreweries or that sort of thing. anne on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178198 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 04:13:20 +0000 anne 1178198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Isabel took the words out of my mouth. I think you should have the blood test for celiac disease before you change your diet. (I don't have any info on the thyoid thing - will just speak about the gluten issues) As you may have read in my off topic threads over the last few months, I was recently diagnosed (by a gasterentologist) with celiac disease. My only symptom (apart from the damage shown in the biopsy) was anemia. Prior to this I thought people with celiac were severely malnourished or suffering in the way Froggiebecky mentioned. BUT I learnt this is not necessarily so. Of course gluten can cause problem apart from celiac, but I think it would be better to try an elimination diet and see if you improve _after having a test_. The reason being that the test may give a false result if you have already eliminated gluten. On my thread there were many people who said they mostly eliminated gluten but were alright with small amounts. If you do have celiac you will not be alright, and you need to be vigilant about cross contamination and very small amounts. I don't (at this point anyway) have any reaction to eating gluten but because I got the diagnosis I know I have to be super careful. And for what is is worth, since I stopped eating gluten (on Feb 13, so this is all very new to me) I don't actually feel any better (not that I felt bad before) I haven't lost any weight and though I never thought my bloating etc was anything other than what anyone would experience from time to time, it has got a bit worse.This is probably from teething issues with the new diet, and I need to experiment more with replacing the fibre I used to get from whole wheat. Am off to have a blood test today to see what deficiencies the celiac may be causing, and soon also to have a bone density scan. Oh and in Australia at least you can find gluten free soy (not tamari) Isabel on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178151 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 03:28:29 +0000 Isabel 1178151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, it was recently announced that only 1.6% of the population is actually gluten allergic and only 6% with gluten sensitivity. I have never heard of an association with the thyroid specifically. I understand that the gluten allergy test is rather straightforward. Please do that before embarking on something that may not help. I just looked into it. Apparently there was a small study done recently that showed that people with thyroid issues are 2.6% more likely to have celiac disease than the control groups. But not all people that have celiacs have thyroid problems. I know that there is a lot going on right now with autoimmune studies and connections to gluten. But the truth is that society has been wheat based forever ( it seems ). So it is really hard now to know if these issues are truly gluten or all the pollution or the other food additives or......we just don't know. The chances that it is ONE thing that is causing all these issues is very small. Just like we found out after the human genome was sequenced, we still don't know much. Things turn genes on and off. Some things mutate DNA...it is very complicated. You should really be tested before radically changing your diet, IMHO . : ) Good luck !! Laurinda on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1178057 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:49:55 +0000 Laurinda 1178057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>I have had hypothyroidism treated with T4 meds for the past 12 years, but I don't know if I have Hashimoto's. Starting four years ago I cut way back (98%?) on sugars and starches including wheat and over three months I was able to lose 15 lbs that would not budge with years of low-fat low calorie dieting. Best of all my 'touchy tummy' symptoms that bothered me a few days each week disappeared immediately. A recent antibody test for gluten sensitivity came back negative so either I am gluten free enough to not be producing antibodies, or I have some other type of gluten sensitivity. Cutting out gluten had minimal to no effect on my thyroid at least as far as my still needing T4 meds.   If you have access to Scientific American, this is a fascinating read: Fasano A. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/celiac-disease-insights/">Celiac disease insights: clues to solving autoimmunity</a>. Sci Am. July 27, 2009. </div> Classically Casual on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1177976 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 23:34:47 +0000 Classically Casual 1177976@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My advice would be to eliminate gluten for awhile, and see how you feel. I finally realized that gluten was causing inflammation for me. Skin breakouts, gum pain, joint pain all either disappeared or diminished after cutting out gluten. And there's so much gluten free stuff available, it's not that restrictive. I get gluten free pasta at Costco for when I have a pasta craving. I miss sandwiches, but that's about all. I read somewhere that European wheat is still the good product that American wheat used to be.. Just realizes I've duplicated Sona, sorry! Suzanne (ambergreen) on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1177950 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 23:01:23 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1177950@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's not for medical reasons, but I've gone basically primal (= paleo plus dairy) because of what I've heard about optimal nutrition and metabolism over the past couple of years. My ancestors on both sides hail from dairy cultures, so I'm OK with it. I avoid bread and pasta but for once in a blue moon. It doesn't bother me per se but I'm pretty sure that eating that kind of carb was what had been causing me terrible, constant hunger and blood sugar-related mood swings. Goodbye to all that and hello to plenty of good saturated animal and vegetable fats! I agree with Caro that Chris Kresser is a good source for smart science on all of this. PS, soy sauce could be an easy one: tamari does not have wheat in it. Sona on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1177949 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 23:01:19 +0000 Sona 1177949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Bottom line: everybody feels better off gluten. I would try going gluten free and see how you feel. Energy levels get better almost across the board and a "happier abdomen" is reported by most. Try it and see how you do. Caro in Oz on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thyroid-and-gluten-issues#post-1177930 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 22:32:16 +0000 Caro in Oz 1177930@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes unfortunately! Long involved story with lots of battles with conservative doctors but since going completely grain & dairy free (it isn't just gluten for me) I've started to drop some weight & feel much better on a much lower dose of meds. I'm about six weeks in & I'm hopeful my test results will keep improving & I'll be able to cut out the thyroid medication completely. This has been a truly amazing revelation for me.  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.glutenfreeschool.com/2013/09/03/gluten-free-low-thyroid/">http://www.glutenfreeschool.co.....w-thyroid/</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection">http://chriskresser.com/the-gl.....connection</a>