My experience going gluten free for hashimotos
Having suffered with autoimmune issues for 20 years and the symptoms that come alongside, changing my lifestyle, nutrition and exercise routine to accommodate and diminish symptoms has become the norm for me. However recently I made the final jump in my nutrition and decided to give up gluten. It seems like such a simple swap, but over the years it has felt daunting an overwhelming for me. I like to eat out, eat with friends and can rely on convenience food (albeit healthy). Including such a strict diet swap felt like an added stress to an already busy life.
According to a study by the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. ‘The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease.’ Read more here.
Why have I gone Gluten free for Hashimotos?
Gluten can trigger inflammation in the body, those with autoimmune disorders aready have high inflammation so reducing this is in best interest.
Gluten can affect the absorbtion of thyroid medication.
The body can sometimes mistake proteins in gluten for thyroid tissue, this can lead to an increase in attacks on the thyroid.
Things I have taken from going gluten free:
Its been far easier than I originally thought. My diet consist mainly of an assortment of fruit, vegetables, fish and chicken, so pretty gluten free day to day. Planning ahead certainly makes things easier. Prepping breakfast and lunch has made life easier, rather than wandering around the supermarket aisles trying to think of lunch on the go. My friends and family have been so understanding and welcoming of my new diet change too (which I hugely appreciate as I know it can be annoying to work around!) I have noticed a great improvement in my symptoms:
Less fatigue and therefore more energy
Better quality sleep, less waking throughout the night
Less water retention and feeling less puffy and bloated
Its easier to implement than you think! There are many alternatives out there and a whole food nutritious diet doesn’t rely on gluten to be successful
