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gluten food

Is Gluten the Root Cause of Your Thyroid Condition?

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP on January 12, 2018

Dr. Izabella Wentz / January 12, 2018

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As the gluten free diet has gained popularity in recent years, you may hear mixed messages about this… One expert may say that gluten is toxic to humans (and all living things), and many alternative health experts recommend gluten free as a “cure-all” for various diseases. On the other hand, conventional medicine experts will say that the gluten free diet is unnecessary and even harmful, unless you have celiac disease.

So what is a person to do, if they have an autoimmune thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

My readers often ask me: what about eating gluten free for people who have Hashimoto’s, but do not have celiac disease?

(Please note: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. However, most thyroid patients are not properly tested for it.)

In the following article, you’ll discover:

  • The connection between gluten, celiac disease, and thyroid disease
  • Should you be gluten free if you have Hashimoto’s, but not celiac disease?
  • Is it just American wheat that’s bad?
  • Is gluten the only root cause?
  • What to do if you’re already gluten free and not in remission
  • Is there harm to eating a gluten free diet?
  • What to do if you’ve been “glutened”
  • Do you have to stay gluten free forever?

My Personal Gluten Free Experience

When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I was already working as a consultant pharmacist helping people with complicated healthcare needs in getting better health outcomes. I knew that autoimmune conditions tend to co-occur and that having Hashimoto’s would put me at a greater risk for other types of autoimmune conditions, including celiac disease. In fact, I came across a study that suggested gluten could be a trigger for both celiac disease and Hashimoto’s. (1)

Celiac disease is known for creating gastrointestinal distress… I had numerous gut-related symptoms including bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and frequent stomach pains, in addition to the “typical” hypothyroid symptoms of brain fog, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, and cold intolerance! I also had “non-typical” symptoms like anxiety, palpitations, joint pain, carpal tunnel, allergies, and panic attacks that are sometimes associated with celiac disease, so I had my doctor test me for celiac disease.

While I wasn’t exactly excited about having a second autoimmune condition, I was hopeful that gluten and celiac disease would be my root cause and that getting the right diagnosis would help me feel human again. But the celiac test came out negative, and my doctor told me I didn’t need to bother with the gluten free diet.

As a result, I didn’t attempt the gluten free diet. Instead, I started thyroid medications, but continued to deepen my research into my triggers as many of my symptoms continued, despite taking thyroid medications.

The medications helped me feel less tired (my sleep went from 12+ to 11 hours per night), and I was also less cold (I no longer needed two blankets at night!), but the other symptoms remained.

Digging Deeper

About a year into my journey, I decided to dig deeper. I still had an interest in exploring whether diet could play a role in my condition. I learned about three distinct reactions a person could have to foods…

  • The celiac reaction – This is a reaction specifically to gluten, the protein found in wheat, that is mediated by the IgA branch of the immune system and results in damage to the intestines.
  • The allergic reaction – This is governed by the IgE branch of the immune system and results in immediate reactions like anaphylaxis, difficulty breathing, rashes, and hives (think hallmark reactions to peanuts or shellfish).
  • The Type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction – This is governed by the IgG branch of the immune system. Interestingly, Hashimoto’s is also a Type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

Most research has focused on celiac disease and IgE reaction testing, while IgG testing is still considered experimental.

I had already been tested for celiac disease as well as IgE food reactions, but both of those tests came up empty for me- so I decided to try IgG food sensitivity testing.

The tests revealed that I had IgG reactions to gluten, as well as to the dairy proteins, whey and casein.

At that point, my condition was only getting worse, despite taking higher and higher doses of thyroid meds.

With nothing to lose, I decided to give the gluten- and dairy-free diet a try.

To my complete disbelief and amazement, the bloating and stomach pains (a lifelong phenomenon), the irritable bowel syndrome (with me for almost 10 years at that point), and acid reflux (an unwanted guest for more than 3 years) vanished within three days!

I had previously been symptomatic despite taking proton pump inhibitors, Pepcid, Tums, and Pepto Bismol, and yet after three days of this diet, ALL of my symptoms were gone! I made a brave decision to try and stop my acid suppressing medications and guess what! The symptoms never came back.

That is, until a couple of months later when I got hungry at work and decided to try eating something at Panera. I didn’t realize the meal I had contained gluten and dairy until I found myself having acid reflux and doubled over in the bathroom with stomach pain (just like I used to have) within hours of my meal. That convinced me to stay away from gluten and dairy for long term.

As time went on, I saw more improvements in my health- the carpal tunnel went away, my panic attacks and anxiety resolved, and my thyroid antibody numbers (a potential marker of how aggressive the attack on the immune system is) were reduced.

I know skeptics will say, “Great, but you’re only one person… what about everyone else? What about me?”

While the research for IgE food reactions in Hashimoto’s is lacking, I want you to be aware of the important role of the other two types of reactions: celiac disease (IgA) and the Type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction (IgG) reaction.

Thankfully, there is now a lot of research about celiac disease and how it relates to Hashimoto’s and thyroid function.

I’ve also done some of my own research with over 2000 people with Hashimoto’s (with and without celiac disease) and have used IgG testing extensively, which I believe will support the role of Type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction (IgG) reactions with Hashimoto’s.

In this article, I’ll touch on the controversial concept known as “non-celiac gluten sensitivity,” which I personally believe could be an umbrella term that may one day include the Type IV delayed hypersensitivity reaction (IgG) I’ve documented.

What is Gluten?

But first, it’s important to understand just what gluten is. Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, and wheat. It’s a staple in the Western diet that you’ll encounter in most breads, cereals, and pasta. However, it can also be hidden in many other food products. For example, you’ll often see wheat flour added to many sauces and even chocolates! Many foods may often be cross-contaminated with gluten as well, including oats. (Did you know? Hidden gluten is everywhere and can actually be found in personal care products such as skin care!)

It’s important to know what gluten is, as it can create a toxic response in people with autoimmune disease, including those with Hashimoto’s.

The most severe form of gluten response is seen in people with celiac disease.

What is Celiac Disease?

An estimated 1 percent of people (about 3 million worldwide) have celiac disease. Those with celiac disease must stay absolutely 100% gluten free in both their diet and their lifestyle, or else they will have significant life-affecting symptoms.

For those with celiac disease, exposure to gluten triggers the release of zonulin, a chemical that signals the tight junctions of the intestinal wall to open up. This creates intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut), where toxins, partially-digested food particles, and microbes are allowed to pass into your bloodstream. The body’s immune system is then triggered to attack these invaders. Every time you consume the particular food, (gluten, in this case), your immune system is engaged again, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Research has actually shown that gluten triggers this issue in everyone, even those who don’t have celiac disease.

But those with celiac disease will also experience an autoimmune attack on the intestines with every bite of gluten. As mentioned above, this reaction is mediated by the IgA branch of the immune system and results in intestinal damage.

This attack destroys the villi, which are delicate, hair-like projections that cover the intestines. The villi are important as they help the body digest and absorb nutrients from food.

This destruction of the villi can result in a malabsorption of nutrients such as selenium, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s; as well as lead to issues relating to nutrient deficiencies such as fatigue, failure to thrive, anemia, osteoporosis, digestive issues, and autoimmune diseases.

Celiac disease is often referred to as “the great imitator,” as many of the symptoms of the disease mimic those of other diseases. It can go undiagnosed for a long time as it may be misdiagnosed as something else. Symptoms vary widely, with some people experiencing the classical severe diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, vomiting, and acid reflux, while others may not experience any gut issues at all.

Left undetected, people with celiac disease are at greater risk of developing intestinal cancer.

The Celiac and Thyroid Connection

Celiac disease can co-occur with Hashimoto’s. In fact, studies have estimated that between 1.2 and 15 percent of Hashimoto’s patients also have celiac disease! (2) Furthermore, the antibodies produced in celiac disease can cross-react with thyroid antibodies because they may share similar molecular structures, so molecular mimicry may be one of the reasons for the common co-occurrence of both conditions. (3)

When I first began to research lifestyle interventions that could improve my condition, I came across an Italian study focused on people who had subclinical hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and celiac disease, but who had not been following a gluten free diet.

As the gluten free diet is indicated for people with celiac disease, the diet was helpful for the study participants’ intestinal symptoms and helped them recover the health of their intestines. There were also improvements in thyroid function! The study found that when most of those with subclinical hypothyroidism were placed on a gluten free diet, their thyroid function normalized! 71 percent of people who had subclinical hypothyroidism (a mildly underactive thyroid) and who had strictly followed a one-year gluten withdrawal (as confirmed by intestinal mucosa recovery) saw a return to normal thyroid function.

Additionally, 19 percent of people who followed the gluten free diet were able to normalize their thyroid antibodies, no longer testing positive for Hashimoto’s. The researchers of the study concluded: “In distinct cases, gluten withdrawal may single-handedly reverse the abnormality.” (1)

In another study involving patients with Hashimoto’s and celiac disease, the average dose of levothyroxine needed (prior to the study) to treat patients with Hashimoto’s alone was lower than the average dose required to treat patients with both conditions (that is, Hashimoto’s and celiac disease). Furthermore, the study showed that when the Hashimoto’s and celiac disease patients went on a gluten free diet, their TSH levels decreased, along with the amount of T4 thyroid medication needed to achieve a targeted lower TSH level!

The study concluded that their TSH likely decreased because of better absorption of thyroid medications. This makes sense as untreated celiac disease can significantly impair medication absorption. However, I’ve also seen some patients with celiac disease and hypothyroidism wean off thyroid meds completely after going gluten free over the course of 3-12 months, so I suspect that some of the patients in the study also had a recovery of thyroid function that was missed by the researchers because the patients were not followed for a long enough period of time. (4)

In yet another study involving 104 Hashimoto’s patients, researchers found that 50 percent of patients with Hashimoto’s also had celiac-specific genes, putting them at risk for celiac disease. (However, it’s important to remember that though these people had the right genes, genes are not always our destiny- an environmental trigger is often required for the expression of celiac genes and for the condition to manifest.)

Testing for Celiac Disease

The risk for celiac disease increases if you have a family history of the disease, European ancestry, and/or a personal history of other autoimmune disorders.

There are several options to diagnose celiac disease. However, current testing is far from perfect, with blood-screening tests often coming back negative. Additionally, a person must be eating gluten to test positive for celiac disease! These are the current blood-screening tests available:

  • The Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies (tTG-IgA) test: This blood test is often used to diagnose celiac disease. If you are currently on a gluten free diet, a gluten challenge (which requires you to have eaten two slices of wheat-based bread over the course of 6 to 8 weeks) is often recommended prior to taking this test, to allow any antibodies to appear in your bloodstream. Unfortunately, this test may results in false negatives and false positives. (5)
  • IgA Endomysial antibody (EMA) test: This test is not as sensitive as the tTG-IgA test. It’s usually used for patients that are difficult to diagnose, but about 5-10 percent of those with celiac disease do not have a positive EMA test.
  • Total serum IgA test: This test checks for IgA deficiency, which is often associated with celiac disease. IgA deficiency can cause false negatives on tTG-IgA or EMA tests.
  • Deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP IgA and IgG) test: This test can be used to further screen for celiac disease in those who test negative for both tTg and EMA antibodies, as well as in those with IgA deficiency.

Please note, it’s possible for people with celiac disease to have negative test results, especially if they’re already following a gluten free diet.

The biopsy of the small intestine is considered the “gold standard” way to confirm a diagnosis and will find more cases of celiac disease than the blood tests. However, again, the person must be eating gluten in order for the biopsy results to be accurate.

A genetic test is a test for celiac disease that can be utilized without a gluten trial. Most people with celiac disease have the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes, and about 30 percent of all people have these genes. Please note, the genes only predict susceptibility, not whether the celiac disease is expressed. One can do genetic testing through various companies such as 23andMe to help determine if you are genetically at risk for developing celiac disease.

If you’re already gluten free and feeling better, I personally believe that your body’s own response to gluten is the best test to determine if you should be gluten free, and I am apprehensive about “gluten challenges” just to get a diagnosis. Specifically, this test is not recommended for pregnant women who have been gluten free, as they can precipitate a miscarriage. But even if you’re not pregnant, I believe in treating your body well and nourishing it!

I remember one of my readers with multiple autoimmune symptoms had started the gluten free diet. Within weeks, the diet resolved her symptoms, but in order to qualify for specialized health benefits in her country, she had to undertake a trial of gluten and was nearly hospitalized with intestinal bleeding during this trial!

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

After finding out that I had IgG reactions to gluten, as well as to the dairy proteins, whey and casein, I came across a condition known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).

With non-celiac gluten sensitivity, people have celiac-like reactions to gluten, yet they don’t test positive to the typical IgA celiac antibodies nor do they present the characteristic damage to intestinal cells seen in celiac disease.

However, research has shown that there are many correlations between those with thyroid disease and gluten sensitivities. For example, a 2002 study in the European Journal of Endocrinology found that 43 percent of people with Hashimoto’s showed activated mucosal T cell immunity, which is usually correlated with gluten sensitivity. (6)

While there is research to support this condition, the condition is considered controversial by conventional medical circles and conventional media. It seems that every other month, I see a headline in the news that supports the condition, followed by another headline that states that the condition does not exist!

The challenge, in my opinion, is that there is not one diagnostic test, nor even one cause, for non celiac-gluten sensitivity.

There could be numerous reasons why a person may react to wheat products.

Some of them include small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which results in an impaired ability to break down various food particles, including fructans. In fact, a recent study found that fructan, a food molecule that may be found in wheat, is to blame for NCGS symptoms, and not gluten. (7)

Histamine intolerance has also been tied to NCGS, (8) as have other types of reactions to food particles, including nickel sensitivity.

A recent review article of the available scientific literature proposed that gluten sensitivity may occur as a result of a specific type of gut imbalance (known as dysbiosis).

Leccioli and colleagues proposed that the root cause of gluten sensitivity may be due to a decrease in the gut bacteria Firmicutes and/or Bifidobacteria, which produce the anti-inflammatory, gut healing short chain fatty acid butyrate. This is a really interesting theory, as I’ve seen low butyrate levels in many of my Hashimoto’s clients who have taken the GI Effects Gut Test. (9)

I personally believe that NCGS is still an emerging concept that should be considered an umbrella term for the various root causes of reasons why a person may react to gluten-containing foods. I also believe that until science has a definitive answer, we should disregard the disempowering headlines that say gluten sensitivity is all in our heads and listen to our own bodies when a food does not agree with us!

I will tell you that my personal and clinical experience has shown that gluten sensitivity is one of the most significant triggers in Hashimoto’s. I base this opinion on the severity of symptoms that thousands of people with Hashimoto’s have reported, as well as the health improvements they experience once they remove gluten from their diets.

Survey Results Found Significant Improvements on a Gluten Free Diet

I often see articles and comments online ridiculing people without celiac disease for going gluten free to improve their health. I find this to be a very close-minded point of view, and quite frankly, a dangerous one as well.

While I’ve seen tremendous benefits in my own personal health as well as the health of many of my private clients using unconventional methods, the mainstream research and “evidence base” for eliminating food antigens in Hashimoto’s is still lagging… So I decided to create my own evidence base!

I used my outcomes research training to create a little survey that went a bit viral… In the summer of 2015, I developed a survey to assess the impact of various interventions on Hashimoto’s. Some 2,232 people with Hashimoto’s provided feedback as to the factors that seemed to make their conditions better as well as worse. Many food and non-food triggers were assessed, but I would like to focus in on gluten for this article.

First of all, it is worth noting that out of all who responded, only 3.5 percent had also been diagnosed with celiac disease. (This is consistent with the reported rate of celiac disease of 1-15 percent in people with Hashimoto’s.)

Yet, 86 percent of respondents who had gone gluten free reported improvements in digestive symptoms. I believe this re-confirms my earlier points- you do NOT have to have celiac disease to benefit from a gluten free diet!

Most readers said their gluten reactions had included gut issues like constipation, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, gas, nausea, and burning or burping from acid reflux, as well as brain-related symptoms such as headaches, brain fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and insomnia. And most felt better going gluten free.

In fact, 88 percent of people with Hashimoto’s who became gluten free felt better.

33 percent of respondents had a reduction in their thyroid antibodies on a gluten free diet. (As mentioned above, thyroid antibodies are considered to be a potential marker of how aggressive the attack is against the thyroid gland, and a lower number generally indicates a less aggressive attack.)

Along with feeling better and the reduction in antibodies, the biggest benefits seen in people with Hashimoto’s on the gluten free diet were more energy (in 67 percent of people), a better mood (in 60 percent of people), and a healthier weight (in 52 percent of people). As a pharmacist, I was surprised to see that more people reported improvements with the gluten free diets in these domains than they did with using thyroid replacement hormones!

The survey results mirrored the outcomes I had been tracking from my clients as well!

Based on my clinical experience and the results above, I firmly believe that the gluten free diet can be a very effective intervention for most people with Hashimoto’s, even in the absence of celiac disease.

Gluten and Intestinal Permeability

Another important point to make about gluten and autoimmune disease is that studies have shown that gluten induces intestinal permeability in all individuals, regardless of whether or not they have celiac disease. (10)

Why is that important?

It’s because Fasano and researchers have found that every case of autoimmune disease needs three things present to occur:

  • A genetic predisposition
  • An environmental trigger
  • Intestinal permeability

If one of the three things is missing, the condition will go into remission. (You can read more about this here.)

While we can’t change our genes (just yet), and while we don’t always have power over our triggers, we can always address the strength of our intestines and work on making them less permeable!

One obvious strategy to make intestines less permeable is to remove the substances that induce their permeability.

I find it is helpful to think of the intestinal permeability (commonly called leaky gut) reaction to gluten in terms of a spectrum.

On one side of the spectrum, some people may only experience momentary discomfort after eating gluten, such as brief bloating. On the other side of the spectrum, you will find people with celiac disease who suffer greatly, and even tiny amounts of gluten can cause significant damage to their intestines and symptoms for many weeks.

Is it Just American Gluten that’s Bad?

There are people all over the world who suffer from celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

I often hear people in the US claim that they only have problems with “American gluten,” and do not have problems when they travel to Europe and elsewhere- and can eat bread overseas.

However, gluten reactions that occur are seen as specific to local food proteins. Just as we locals react to the wheat here in the US, people in Europe and elsewhere can be sensitive and react to their own local wheat.

Furthermore, the prevalence of celiac disease in a large sample of the European population (Finland, Germany, Italy, and the UK) was found to be about 1 percent. (11)

Having consulted with clients from all over the world, I can attest that most Hashimoto’s clients feel better off wheat, no matter where they live! As such, being somewhere on the gluten intolerance spectrum is not just an American phenomenon.

The reason why a person who goes abroad may not react to the gluten there is because the proteins in foods are slightly different depending on where they are grown. Thus, the body may not immediately recognize the foreign proteins as something it should react to. In my experience, people may be non-reactive for up to 2 weeks to the local wheat, but longer term eating of wheat abroad will produce symptoms eventually, as the proteins are similar enough for the immune system to link them up and produce the same reaction.

Can Other Foods – Beyond Gluten – Be Triggers?

Yes they can! Other substantial food triggers seen in my survey include dairy (a large sensitivity for me!), eggs, sugar, soy, grains (corn, in particular), nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and peppers), alcohol, caffeine, nuts, and seeds.

In addition to cutting out gluten, the other most helpful dietary interventions were going on a sugar free diet (87 percent felt better), a grain free or Paleo diet (81 percent felt better), a dairy free diet (79 percent felt better), the Autoimmune Paleo diet (75 percent felt better), and the Low Glycemic Index diet (76 percent felt better). (I discuss much more about these common food sensitivities and dietary interventions, as well as the healing foods you can eat to help you feel better, in my book, Hashimoto’s Protocol.)

It is also worth noting that many dietary interventions received higher percentages of “feeling better” results than actual prescribed thyroid medications. While 43 percent of people reported feeling better on Synthroid, and 58.9 percent felt better on Armour*, 88 percent felt better on the gluten free diet.

As a pharmacist – and someone who advocates for the proper use of thyroid medication – I am obviously a supporter of physician-prescribed thyroid medications to help manage patient symptoms and their condition. But as a “detective” who works diligently to solve my own – and my clients’ – health puzzles, I also want to point out the tremendous benefits you can see by trying some of these food elimination strategies.

*Note: While Armour Thyroid does not have any gluten-containing ingredients, it is not tested for gluten content, and cannot be certified as gluten-free. Armour does contain sodium starch glycolate, which can be derived from wheat or corn.

How to Feel Better

So what can you do today to feel better?

I hope I have convinced you (or at least tempted you to do some of your own detective work to learn more :-)) that gluten is a common trigger for those with Hashimoto’s.

Based on all of the research and the results from 2,232 of my readers, I firmly believe that every person with an autoimmune thyroid condition should try removing gluten from their diet.

Even in those who do not have celiac disease or diagnosed gluten sensitivity, gluten causes intestinal permeability and can cause significant life-affecting symptoms. You owe it to yourself to at least try eliminating it from your diet… and let subsiding symptoms speak for themselves. You can always add it back if you do not feel any improvements.

IgG Gluten Sensitivity as a Trigger in Hashimoto’s

The studies of NCGS have not come up with conclusive opinions, or even diagnostic tests for gluten sensitivity on IgG reactions to gluten. However, I believe that Type IV Hypersensitivity (IgG) reactions are a critical piece of why gluten is a problem for many with Hashimoto’s. People with Hashimoto’s often present with numerous food sensitivities, and testing may show IgG antibodies to various food proteins. IgG antibodies are thought to be the same types of antibodies that target the thyroid gland in autoimmune disease. Thus, removing IgG reactive foods may attenuate the IgG response to the thyroid gland. These reactions can be tested via lab testing, as well as through an elimination diet.

Food Sensitivity Testing

Some people need to see that they react to a food “on paper” before they commit to making a change. I get it. I was one of them! If you are looking for that proof, I have found that IgG-based food sensitivity tests can be incredibly helpful in recognizing your food reactions and minimizing your symptoms!

Food sensitivities are very individualized, so you might be surprised to find some odd things you are sensitive to!

For me, I wasn’t just reactive to the usual suspects of gluten and dairy, but I had a reaction to pineapples and peaches too! They both triggered my acid reflux. It is also worth noting that I tested borderline for gluten intolerance (although I was positive for dairy protein intolerance), but felt much better after removing both from my diet. A follow-up elimination challenge with both foods confirmed my sensitivity to both.

However, not all IgG tests are created equally – there are no defined standards in the IgG food testing industry, and some tests I’ve seen are highly inaccurate. They may show up with numerous false negatives (meaning you’ll still be eating foods that are causing inflammation in your body) and numerous false positives (meaning you’ll be left feeling overwhelmed and with nothing you can eat)! The test that I have found to be highly accurate for myself and my clients is the Alletess Lab food sensitivity test. If a food comes up positive on that test, I know that it is a reactive food for that person.

Alletess Lab works primarily through integrative and functional medicine physicians, so if you’re working with such a doctor, you can ask him/her to order the test for you. I’ve also worked with MyMedLab to offer Alletess Lab food sensitivity tests for people to self-order without a doctor’s prescription. The test kit comes with a little blood spot collection paper, and can be mailed to just about anywhere in the world! The results are also self-explanatory, so you don’t need a highly-skilled healthcare professional to interpret them for you. You either react to a food or you don’t!

MyMedLab offers two options to test for the most commonly eaten foods (including gluten):

  • 184 Food Panel
  • 96 Food Panel

The 96 food panel is a good one to uncover most food triggers. You’ll get a comprehensive report that identifies your sensitivities. I do recommend people repeat sensitivity testing on an annual basis for best results as reactions to foods can change.

I’ve used this test for hundreds of people with Hashimoto’s, and most do come up with an IgG gluten reaction. I hope to have the results published after my team and I have crunched all of the numbers!

Why an Elimination Diet is the Best Gluten Sensitivity Test

If you can’t afford food sensitivity testing, I have some good news for you. There is a test you can do that’s absolutely free, but it does require more work and paying attention. The elimination diet is still considered the gold standard for food sensitivity testing. Your body will always tell you which foods do not agree with it, but only if you listen to it very carefully.

Why are food sensitivities so difficult to pinpoint? One reason is because we keep eating the foods that our body is sensitive to. For me, I ate dairy and bread every day, never connecting those foods to my long list of symptoms. When you eat a particular food on a daily basis, it is difficult to connect that food to any symptoms you are having.

You might have joint pain, bloating, and acid reflux every day, but how would you ever connect that to the dairy you have always had?

As you continue to consume the food you are sensitive to, your body becomes depleted in its ability to protect itself from the antigenic food. The reactions become less specific and more chronic. Additionally, your body will become sensitive to more and more things.

That is why an elimination diet helps greatly. If you remove a particular sensitizing food for a few weeks, you should feel better and experience less bloating, reflux, and other digestion-related symptoms. And when you are exposed to that food again, your body will be able to produce a stronger, more specific reaction, which will allow you to recognize which particular food is problematic.

I always recommend an elimination diet where you avoid the food in question for 2-3 weeks. See how you feel, and then try it again to see if you react to it. Check out my podcast with Tom Malterre for more info about elimination diets!

What About Non-Food Triggers? (Other Root Causes)

If gluten is the sole root cause of your condition, you will likely see a complete remission of thyroid antibodies after you eliminate it from your diet, and your thyroid function may even return to normal within 3-12 months. If you don’t see such improvements, you will need to put your detective hat back on and dig deeper for other contributing root causes.

Along with gluten or other food sensitivities, you may also need to look at infections, environmental toxins, and even how you are managing stress – but getting off reactive foods almost always helps in the healing process.

In my survey of 2,232 people with Hashimoto’s, there were 9 great areas of learning beyond the issue of gluten intolerance, including supplements that had proven to be beneficial, the positive results of people using the medication Naltrexone in low doses, and the impact of stress as a trigger. You can read an overview of that here.

Once you find your food triggers, you will still need to help your digestive system heal by adding supportive foods and nutrients. In my survey, I found that incorporating healing foods also made people feel better. Homemade bone broth helped 70 percent of those that tried it, green smoothies helped 69 percent, and fermented foods helped 57 percent.

You may also need to focus on removing toxicity in your environment and supporting your body’s detoxification pathways. All of this is part of my 2-week Liver Support Protocol.

You can learn the step-by-step instructions for this highly successful reparative protocol in my book, Hashimoto’s Protocol. The book also covers many other important protocols such as gut balancing, adrenal recovery, addressing infections, stress management, and more.

Gluten Free Freedom

Up to 20 percent of people with celiac disease and Hashimoto’s can be free of Hashimoto’s within a year of going gluten free, and some may go into remission in as little as three months.

Moreover, up to 90 percent can be free of numerous, often lifelong symptoms!

Here are just a few comments from my readers and clients:

  • “[A] gluten free diet has helped me reduce antibodies almost to a normal range.”
  • “Going gluten free helped me tremendously. It took eight months to feel the difference, and now after two years, most of my symptoms are gone. Nothing to lose by going gluten free.”
  • “Since I went gluten free, my hair started growing back, my bloating and diarrhea [are] gone, [and I have] no more reflux either.”
  • “Going gluten free has helped my hair to start growing back after losing all my hair—even my eyebrows and eyelashes.”
  • “Gluten free and soy free for three months and I was able to lower my meds, and [my] stomach pain, alternating diarrhea and constipation, anxiety, and body aches [are] all gone!!”
  • “I’m gluten free and have brought my antibodies down to normal range. So thankful!”

Is there Harm to Eating Gluten Free?

Often, people worry about missing out on essential nutrients by removing gluten-containing grains from their diet. Fortunately, in many cases people actually absorb nutrients more effectively from their food when they remove gluten from their diet! In fact, I’ve seen multiple cases of iron/ferritin deficiency resolve on a gluten free diet. That said, there are some documented deficiencies that are reported on a gluten free diet, but the good news is that you can supplement accordingly.

One of the most common nutrients depleted in gluten free diets is selenium, which also happens to be a common deficiency in Hashimoto’s! To counter this, I recommend this selenium supplement.

Grain free diets can also result in a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), another common nutrient deficiency. (Read my full thiamine article for more information.) I recommend supplementing with Benfomax by Pure Encapsulations to ensure you’re getting enough of this vitamin.

Other vitamin deficiencies that may occur on the gluten free diet include vitamin A, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, vitamin D, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. If you’re also following the Paleo diet, you may be deficient in vitamin B7 and chromium as well. Again, testing for nutrient deficiencies and boosting your nutrient levels with supplements will help you maintain optimal vitamin levels!

Moving Forward… Gluten Free!

I know giving up gluten may sound daunting! It may take some work and some sacrifices to start cutting out gluten, but you are worth it. You only have your symptoms to lose and you can go back to your previous diet if the gluten free diet doesn’t help! I recommend giving it at least a month, though many people see the results in just a week. (I saw life changing results in 3 days!) Having a plan and some good substitutions will help, so I developed a quick start guide with some delicious gluten free recipes to help you ease into the transition. Click here to download my Thyroid Diet Quick Start Guide with Gluten Free Recipes.

Going gluten free is really one of the best things you can try when you have a thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, or Graves’ disease. Why not try it for a few weeks to see how you feel?

You can also join my community on Facebook, so you will be kept up-to-date on emerging research, new programs, free recipes, and helpful information. We are all in this together!

Do You Have to Stay Gluten Free Forever?

I would say generally with Hashimoto’s, most people should remain gluten free for long-term. That said, I have seen some people who have been able to reintroduce foods and seemingly don’t have any adverse reactions to gluten. In other cases, some people claim not to react to gluten, but have obvious gluten-related symptoms like joint pain, anxiety and Hashimoto’s flare-ups; and are in denial that gluten could be a trigger for them.

If gluten sensitivity is indeed caused by an imbalance of butyrate-producing bacteria, in theory, replenishing the beneficial bacteria could deem gluten sensitivity reversible. Some individuals have reported no longer reacting to gluten after taking the Megaspore probiotic.

I’m still studying the phenomenon of reducing gluten reactions and improving digestion, and I’m hoping to get to the bottom of it.

(This will be the focus of one of my future books- I generally spend about 3 years on research and testing, and one year or so in writing before I publish a book on a topic or give a definitive opinion!) But for now, I would say that long term avoidance of gluten is going to be best for most people. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive any future updates!

What to do if You’ve Been Glutened?

Prevention

How many times have you been to a restaurant that was supposed to be safe to eat at, only to discover you’ve been glutened? Depending on the person, the effects can last from a few hours to a few weeks. One supplement that I’ve found to be helpful in uncertain situations is Gluten/Dairy Digest. Gluten/Dairy Digest contains enzymes that assist in breaking down gluten and dairy proteins and can help to lessen reactions to them. These enzymes can be very helpful for those with gluten and dairy sensitivity in times where you’re concerned about cross-contamination or when you’ve accidentally consumed something you shouldn’t have.

Other digestive enzymes may also offer some protection by helping to break down difficult proteins like gluten. Betaine HCl and pepsin are naturally occurring components of the gastric juices that support our digestion by breaking down protein bonds in our food so their nutrients are easier for our intestines to absorb. They can also help us break down gluten particles. You can learn more about the benefits of betaine with pepsin, and how to find out the appropriate dosage for you, here.

Unfortunately, enzymes only work when you take them with the offending food. Furthermore, while they can minimize the reactions to gluten and dairy, they are not likely to completely eliminate them. So, I don’t recommend trying to eat a pound of cheese or a loaf of bread just because you’re taking this type of supplement.

After the Exposure

  • Magnesium citrate – Magnesium is something that I recommend taking daily for most people with Hashimoto’s, as getting adequate magnesium from a standard diet can be difficult, and symptoms are often confused with those of other conditions. Taking additional magnesium in cases of accidental exposure to foods that you’re sensitive to will ensure that your bowels are moving properly and will support a healthy detoxification process.
  • Physicians Elemental Diet – After you’ve been exposed to foods that you are sensitive to, one very important step in recovery is giving your digestive system time to rest. The best way to do this is through a period where you do not consume any solid foods, which will allow the inflammation to die down. The tricky part is, if you’re not consuming enough foods, you can wind up feeling tired and drained. One way to prevent this from happening is to use a special formula, like the Physician’s Elemental Diet, designed to provide the body with the nutrients it needs while allowing your intestines to repair. Please note, Integrative Therapeutics has removed distribution of this formula from retail channels, as it is an FDA regulated medical food. As always, I do recommend working with your personal health care provider to ensure this (or any other) intervention is appropriate for you. However, if you and your practitioner are having trouble obtaining this elemental formula, Dr. Siebecker’s homemade Elemental Diet may be a suitable alternative
  • Lemon Water – Drinking this first thing in the morning and throughout the day will help increase and support your stomach acid, as well as your liver detox pathways. It will also assist in the removal of toxins to help your body recover faster from accidental gluten exposure.
  • Bone broth – While gluten and dairy exposure can lead to a leaky gut by perforating the walls of the intestines, bone broth can help soothe the gut and heal the damage. The gelatin in bone broth helps to seal the junctions in the intestines so they are no longer permeable. That way, gluten and dairy particles, as well as other food particles and toxins you may be sensitive to, can no longer pass through the intestinal wall. (In addition to boosting gut health, bone broth has many other benefits: boosting immunity, relieving joint pain, increasing energy, improving digestion, and giving you a more youthful appearance. You can find how to make my own version of bone broth here!)
  • Epsom Salt Bath – Taking a daily hot Epsom salt bath is not only a wonderful way to relax and de-stress, it’s also a great source of magnesium. The magnesium will stimulate the bowels and help your body eliminate toxins. All you need is 1 cup of Epsom salts in a bath of hot water.
  • Activated charcoal – Activated charcoal is an amazing supplement that binds up toxins and can minimize food reactions. I recommend taking 1-3 capsules at bedtime, at least 4 hours away from other medications or supplements (to avoid impairing their absorption), to help detoxify from food reactions. Additionally, I recommend supplementing with magnesium when taking activated charcoal because it can cause constipation, and it’s important to keep the stools and toxins moving out of the body.

 

References

  1. Sategna-Guidetti C, Volta U, Ciacci C et al. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in untreated adult celiac disease patients and effect of gluten withdrawal: an Italian multicenter study. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2001;96(3):751-757. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03617.x.
  2. Lerner A, Jeremias P, Matthias T. Gut-thyroid axis and celiac disease. Endocrine Connections. 2017;6(4):R52-R58. doi:10.1530/EC-17-0021.
  3. Vojdani A, Tarash I. Cross-Reaction between Gliadin and Different Food and Tissue Antigens. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 2013;4(1):20-32. doi:10.4236/fns.2013.41005.
  4. Virili C et al. Atypical celiac disease as cause of increased need for thyroxine: a systematic study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2012;97(3):E419-E422. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-1851.
  5. Celiac Disease Foundation. Screening. Celiac Disease Foundation. https://celiac.org/celiac-disease/understanding-celiac-disease-2/diagnosing-celiac-disease/screening/#O8ai1iT6IsODzqfu.99. Accessed December 28, 2017.
  6. Valentino R, Savastano S, Maglio M et al. Markers of potential coeliac disease in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. European Journal of Endocrinology. 2002;146(4):479-483. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1460479.
  7. Skodje G, Sarna V, Minelle I, et al. Fructan, Rather Than Gluten, Induces Symptoms in Patients With Self-reported Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Gastroenterology. 2017;S0016-5085(17):36302-36303. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2017.10.040.
  8. Schnedi W, Lackner S, Enko D, Schenk M, Mangge H, Holasek S. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: people without celiac disease avoiding gluten-is it due to histamine intolerance? Inflammation Research. 2017. doi:10.1007/s00011-017-1117-4.
  9. Leccioli V, Oliveri M, Romeo M, Berretta M, Rossi P. A New Proposal for the Pathogenic Mechanism of Non-Coeliac/Non-Allergic Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity: Piecing Together the Puzzle of Recent Scientific Evidence. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1203. doi:10.3390/nu9111203.
  10. Hollon J, Puppa EL, Greenwald B, et al. Effect of Gliadin on Permeability of Intestinal Biopsy Explants from Celiac Disease Patients and Patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Nutrients. 2015;7(3):1565–1576. doi:10.3390/nu7031565.
  11. Mustalahti K, Catassi C, Reunanen A, et al. The prevalence of celiac disease in Europe: results of a centralized, international mass screening project. Ann Med. 2010;42(8):587-95. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2010.505931.
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Filed Under: Autoimmune, Diet, Diseases, Gut, Medication, Recovery, Resources, Supplements, Symptoms, Uncategorized Tagged With: Antibodies, Autoimmune Paleo, Food Sensitivities, Gluten-Free, Hashimoto's, Healing Your Gut, IBS, Leaky Gut, Lifestyle Interventions, Low Stomach Acid, Nutrient Depletions, Paleo, Recommended Resources

Dr. Izabella Wentz

Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP, is a clinical pharmacist, New York Times Bestselling Author, and a pioneering expert in lifestyle interventions for treating Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

She received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy at the age of 23, and has worked as a community pharmacist, a clinical consulting pharmacist, as well as a medication safety pharmacist. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and holds certifications in Medication Therapy Management and Advanced Diabetes Care.

Dr. Wentz has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in 2009. As a patient advocate, researcher, clinician and educator, she is committed to raising awareness on how to overcome autoimmune thyroid disease.

Recent Posts

  • Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
  • Iodine: Good or Bad for Thyroid Health?
  • The Missing Link to Thyroid Fatigue
  • Top 9 Takeaways From 2232 People With Hashimoto’s
  • New Year, New Lessons

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kasia says

    January 14, 2018 at 3:11 AM

    Źle reaguje na nikiel, czy powinnam wykluczyć z diety produkty które go zawierają? Czy to może być wyzwalaczem mojego Hashimoto? Pozdrawiam.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 14, 2018 at 11:48 AM

      Kasia – thank you for following this page. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms.

      FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid

      CLINICIAN DATABASE
      https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html

      FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
      https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

      Reply
  2. Chandan Fraser says

    January 14, 2018 at 11:44 AM

    Hi Isabella,
    Many thanks for everything you do!
    One question around gluten-free that is rarely addressed, is about whether it’s ok to eat organic, local, ancient, non GMO, non-industrial, varieties of wheat.
    Also another not-addressed subject, is people (like me) who have Hashimoto’s hypothyroid but do not have a weight problem, on the contrary, need to put on weight.
    I would be very grateful if you could address these issues…
    Many thanks !!!
    Chandan Fraser

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 14, 2018 at 11:52 AM

      Chandan – thank you for following this page and my research. Most people with Hashimoto’s will experience weight gain, and so of course that’s what gets the most focus, but some people actually experience weight loss, or they can’t keep their weight on. This is especially problematic when a person has multiple food sensitivities and needs to adhere to an autoimmune diet that restricts foods. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

      1. Get a calorie counting app like My Fitness Pal on your phone, to help you keep track of your daily calories. Eating real food can be more filling than eating simple carbohydrates and you may not be getting enough calories. Use the app to figure out your target weight and the number of calories per day you need to get there.
      2. Supplement after dinner with The Root Cause Building Smoothie: 1 avocado (300 calories), 1 cup coconut milk (150 calories), 1 banana (100 calories), 2 egg yolks (100 calories, if tolerated), 1 scoop of protein of beef/pea protein (60 calories) – You can also add cooked sweet potatoes if you need more carbs.
      3. Get tested for gut infections. Gut infections can prevent the digestion and assimilation of foods, leaving you underweight and malnourished. The 401H test or GI Effects test are my go to tests.
      4. Get your adrenals tested with an adrenal saliva tests. In some, stressed adrenals may actually lead to poor absorption of foods.
      5. Be sure that you are not over medicated.
      6. Work on reducing your antibodies with a selenium supplement
      7. Stress reduction, when we’re stressed we don’t digest.
      8. Add coconut oil in your beverages, this can add extra calories in your day
      9. Avoid caffeine, it can make you less hungry and stress out your adrenals.

      In case you would like to read more, here are the links to my books:
      Root Cause: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol (this is my latest book): https://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-Symptoms-ebook/dp/B01HXK6GVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505933035&sr=8-1&keywords=hashimotos+protocol+izabella+wentz

      Reply
      • Chandan Fraser says

        January 16, 2018 at 3:02 AM

        Thank you so much for the helpful info about putting on weight !
        Please however could you answer the first part of my message, which was :
        ‘One question around gluten-free that is rarely addressed, is about whether it’s ok to eat organic, local, ancient, non GMO, non-industrial, varieties of wheat.’

        Many thanks again,
        Chandan

        Reply
        • Dr. Izabella says

          January 17, 2018 at 10:25 AM

          Chandan Thanks for your question! I am collecting suggestions of different research projects and I will add this to my list of future article possibilities. I would love to hear more about your experiences here on this page! 🙂

          Reply
          • Chandan Fraser says

            February 4, 2018 at 12:18 PM

            Thanks. I hope it’s not too late to respond. I stopped gluten a couple years ago (I have Hashi and have your book Hashi Protocol) but I’m losing too much weight and am starting to re-introduce ancient local organic varieties of wheat with no bad effects. Also I make my own bread with rye sourdough, lots of different gluten-free flours as well as a bit of organic spelt. So I’m not following your protocol exactly. So many people say gluten-free, but don’t address the question of ancient/local/organic varieties. I don’t seem to have any ill-effects from it, so I would love to have your opinion… much appreciation

          • Dr. Izabella says

            February 6, 2018 at 12:21 PM

            Chandan – thank you for following this page. For questions pertaining to the protocols please contact my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you. <3

  3. Shasha says

    January 14, 2018 at 6:36 PM

    Tests may not work to diagnose Celiac. If a hair test shows low minerals and high heavy metals…then the intestines may not be absorbing well and the liver may not be detoxing well. Gluten may hurt most people. 100% no gluten/GMO may help heal the gut lining. LDN may help block hidden gluten. Eating gluten may make more attacks on the thyroid. Cheating may make a person go down a notch and not recover from it. It is not enough to take thyroid medicine. A person needs to fix the root cause…gluten usually and stop more destruction of the thyroid and other glands/gut lining/brain/body. A Zyto scan showed my thyroid was 1/2 not working and pituitary was not working 98% which is wear TSH is made. TSH should not be used since it may just mean the pituitary is also hurt by gluten. Going by symptoms for thyroid medicine is needed. Mitochondria may also be hurt. A person should avoid Cl/F/Br/uncooked cruciferous family/soy and more. Zn/Se/enough iron/probiotic/Vit B12/Vit A/Mn and more may help the thyroid work better. Some people are low in iodine which a hair test shows. Taking iodine with Se may help. Se may help stop attacks on the thyroid along with Vit D3/sunlight/no gluten etc. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats/corn/rice which may cause autoimmune attacks. When gluten hurts the gut lining…intestines may not absorb the nutrients needed also to make the thyroid and other glands work right and make cells work right.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 15, 2018 at 4:39 PM

      Shasha – thank you for following this page and sharing what has worked for you. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Cheryl says

    January 14, 2018 at 11:00 PM

    Fantastic Article!
    I also noticed a remarkable improvement within three days of going gluten-free.
    Before that I felt so bloated I could hardly sleep at night. I was in such deep psychological pain all the time that I prayed to die! That feeling completely lifted in my third day of being gluten-free! I have been gluten-free for 2 years now and the feeling never came back- not even once. My digestion also improved, with uncomfortable bloating being rare instead of part of my daily routine.
    Cheryl

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 15, 2018 at 4:38 PM

      Cheryl – thank you so much for your support! <3 I'm looking forward to seeing your progress here.

      Reply
  5. K S Mak says

    January 15, 2018 at 7:08 AM

    Would sprouting the wheat grain reduce the gluten content? How about fermentation – bread made using sourdough method of leavening?

    Reply
  6. Wanda says

    January 18, 2018 at 9:28 AM

    I have Hashimoto’s and have reactions to gluten, dairy, soy and get severe joint pain eyes swell and can hardly move and just feel like I am about 100 years old at times instead of the 50 that I am. I do well for a few weeks and not eat things that I should not and get to feeling really good then cheat again and go through the whole pain process again. Self inflicted!! So hard to stay Gluten free but I just know that I have to do it! My question is If I can stick to staying GF can I just try that for like a year before I go to a Doctor and they want to put me on medication? I really don’t want to be put on any medications so can I have Hashimoto’s and not take medications?

    Wanda

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 18, 2018 at 10:43 AM

      Wanda – thank you for following this page. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. Through my research I’ve found that a good percentage feel better off gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.

      10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients

      TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/

      Reply
  7. Dawn says

    January 18, 2018 at 11:48 AM

    Great article, with substantiated information. Thank you for providing this!

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 19, 2018 at 6:12 AM

      Dawn – Thank you for your support! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Tanya says

    January 21, 2018 at 8:00 PM

    Thank you for this excellent and thorough information.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      January 22, 2018 at 3:25 PM

      Tanya – you are very welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Fred Anderson says

    February 2, 2018 at 9:56 AM

    Dr. Wentz,
    Thank you for your research, hard work and the willingness to share it. I have been diagnosed with HT very recently (1/16/18) due to blood panel results. I was advised to go gluten free, take a vitamin D supplement, as my D level was extremely low on the test, and started on 50 Mcg Levothyroxine. I have been doing my best at refraining from gluten but it seems that from reading about it that it is going to be hard to be 100% gluten free. If gluten still manages to sneak in unbeknownst to me, will it make a marginal difference in my health? Say I can consistently avoid it 90% to 95% of the time, will the small percentage I come in contact with have too much of a detrimental effect that it can hijack my treatment?
    I have also bought a selenium and B complex supplement to take to help out.
    Thanks,
    Fred

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      February 6, 2018 at 12:19 PM

      Fred – thank you for following this page. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?

      Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply
  10. Jamie Thompson says

    February 7, 2018 at 2:46 PM

    Dr. Izabella,
    I took a food sensitivity test bought from a Dr. in my area and did the blood work and it came back with showing nothing on it for me. It was both the IgA and IgG. Just wondering what your comments would be on this.
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 9 years ago and have been on levo since. 15 years ago I was told I had an enlarged thyroid and did an ultrasound but results changed from goiter to nodules, but at the time my TSH numbers were normal. Just 5 weeks ago I found out I have Hashimoto’s. I had asked my doctors for years what type I had and was always told it doesn’t matter. Typical! I’m very frustrated that I wasn’t allowed or offered a simple test years ago to find out and start the journey of healing myself.
    I am planning on starting the elimination diet soon but still going through literature to try and understand everything better before I start. Since finding out I have hashimoto’s I have tried to eliminate gluten, still learning all the may contain gluten. Do you have a list of what to avoid or check for gluten in? It may be in your books, I’ll have to double check.
    Thank you for all your research and information that you have shared with all of us dealing with the same things! I really appreciated it and think it’s amazing that you used yourself to test theories and have then shared them with us.
    Looking forward to hearing back from you and your comments on my food sensitivity test. thanks again for taking the time to help!
    Thanks!
    Jamie

    Reply
  11. Lilly says

    March 3, 2018 at 6:52 AM

    Thanks for your book. It truly saved my life. I have Hashimoto since 5 years now, and I always had week long episodes where I was so tired that I could not leave the couch. For some reason I never could take thyroid medication. Made me even more weak and dizzy. I went to several thyroid doctors, noone knew why those thyroid medication would make me so tired and dizzy. I tried out all different kinds of thyroid medication, but I felt dizzy and tired with all of them … . Even taking only 10 mikrograms per day would weaken me. Then I went to an endocrinologist and she tested me for adrenal fatigue. My cortisol was a little bit low but not so low that she would diagnose me with adrenal insufficiency. ACTH test was normal tough. She gave me low doses of cortisol but that made me dizzy too , so I could not take that medication either. No doctor could help me with my extreme fatigue. After 5 years of being half dead I somehow found out about your book and after reading it I started with glutenfree and dairy free diet, supplemented with a couple of vitamins and minerals, startet to take probiotics and occassionally ate sauerkraut . After only 3 weeks I felt like a human again. I could go outside for a walk without feeling too tired. I could even do a little bit of sports, and I even had the energy to see friends again. After 3 months I felt really good, but still now my TSH is around 5 and I still can’t take my thyroid medtication, because it makes me tired and dizzy. So now I try to strengthen my adrenal gland with adaptogens and see what happens. I am so glad that I found out about all of this no other doctor would tell me about. Thank you so much for your book, I am recommending to every Hashimoto patient I know!. Greetings from Austria.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      March 5, 2018 at 4:05 PM

      Lilly – thank you so much for your kind words and support! Most people with Hashimoto’s are likely to have numerous signs of adrenal dysfunction as a result of chronic stress and anxiety. This may worsen symptoms such as feeling overwhelmed, as well as a reduced ability to handle stress and make decisions. Adrenal hormone imbalances may also exacerbate other symptoms such as feeling tired despite adequate sleep, difficulty getting up in the morning, increased effort required for everyday activities, low blood pressure, and mental fog.
      If any of these symptoms sound familiar, I recommend trying Rootcology’s Adrenal Support™, which contains a combination of herbs and nutrients known for rejuvenating the adrenals and promoting healthy cortisol levels, so you can lower your stress levels, improve your stress-coping abilities, and say goodbye to adrenal fatigue!

      https://rootcology.com/products/adrenal-support

      Reply
  12. Paula Dudley says

    June 29, 2018 at 3:13 PM

    Hello ,I have been gluten free for a few years and my antibodies have reduced by half. I just wonder what your thoughts on Oats were yes or no ?

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM

      Paula – thank you for reaching out. If you tolerate gluten free oats then it is certainly an option, but using an elimination diet can help to show you if you are reacting to the foods you commonly eat. These articles should give you some further pointers:

      ELIMINATION DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      SIBO
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/sibo-prevent-remission-hashimotos/

      Reply
  13. Rachael Nelson says

    July 9, 2018 at 4:56 PM

    Hi. Thank you so very much for all of your research and sharing it with us. I’ve learned so much more from you than all of my doctors. I’m so grateful for your knowledge!
    After being sick for about 5 years, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. While I have around 30 symptoms, debilitating fatigue is probably the worst. I am currently doing your protocol from your book and plan to dedicate the next year to the full elimination diet and slowly reintroducing foods. I also have many of the suggested vitamins.
    My question is about gluten. Before my diagnosis I tried to find my own solutions. I was gluten free for a year. I felt no better at all. When I reintroduced gluten I had no bad reactions. I felt the same with or without. Although I was significantly happier with gluten in my life. I am now on levothyroxine which doesn’t help at all and makes me feel a little worse actually. And the only change since going gluten and dairy free ( and more- I am in the adrenal section of the protocol now) is that I am miserable. I am just as tired, joints still hurt, still have gerd and dizziness and all the others. I am completely dedicated to heeling my gut and doing everything in my power to stay healthy and fight this. But the thought of a lifetime with out bread and cheese ( my most favorite foods) really really upsets me since I don’t feel better at all without them. It’s a frustrating sacrifice. I’m upset about it daily. As silly as that may sound.
    My question is that after another year gluten and dairy free, if I reintroduce them and feel the same- how detrimental is that to my thyroid health? I have tested negative for celiac with endoscopy and colonoscopy. I don’t want to hurt myself but would love your opinion on an occasional sandwich or a piece of pizza a few times a year? The thought of forever without is overwhelming but I don’t want to cause setbacks.
    I would greatly appreciate your opinion on reintroduction. Is it possible??
    Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      July 13, 2018 at 1:50 PM

      Rachael – thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your journey with me. <3 I understand how hard this is. We know that intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut) is present in every case of autoimmunity and often precedes the development of Hashimoto’s. Symptoms of leaky gut may include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, many people develop IBS 5-10 years before an autoimmune diagnosis. I was one of them and didn’t take my gut health as seriously as I should have. Gut problems are often caused by infections like H. pylori, parasites like Blasto, SIBO, an imbalance of bacteria, and enzyme deficiencies or food sensitivities (especially to gluten, dairy, and/or soy). Even stress can be a factor in gut permeability. Three things MUST be present in order for autoimmunity to occur ...
      1. Genetic predisposition
      2. Environmental triggers
      3. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
      Developing autoimmunity is like a three-legged stool, all of these factors must be present for autoimmunity to occur! When you remove one of these, you can prevent or stop autoimmune disease. While we can't change genes, if we know the trigger, we can remove it and we can heal the gut. Here are some links which might help:

      REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/

      IS HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM GENETIC?
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-genetic

      WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut/

      Reply
  14. Krystine Watterson says

    July 16, 2018 at 3:49 PM

    Hi Izabella, I recently got my results from the Alletesss intolerance testing. I have quite a few reactions. Some were surprising, others were not. My question is do you personally avoid all of them or depending on their ratings (i.e. 1’s, 2’s or 3’s) I read somewhere that only 2’s and 3’s need to be avoided. What is your experience with that? Thanks, Krystine

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      July 18, 2018 at 10:02 AM

      Krystine – thank you so much for reaching out. Please email my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Jhannea says

    July 20, 2018 at 3:13 PM

    Thank you for your informative website! I’m just about to start the adrenal protocol and have been gluten free the last 2-3 weeks now. I do not have obvious gut symptoms, but just overall feel like I should have more energy. I’m really not bad off yet in terms of symptoms. I can function ok, but want to be at my best to keep up with my 4 kids. My thyroglobulin is 21 IU/mL and lab range is normal up to 3.9. My TSH was the highest ever in June at 3.74 uIU/mL. Knowing I have Hashimoto’s now I want to try to determine what my triggers are and reduce the attack on my thyroid before things worsen. My question is, do I need to have a gluten free kitchen? My daughter likes to bake now and then and I have to help her work with gluten flours. I also handle gluten bread when making sandwiches for my kids most days. My sister-in-law has Celiac and needed to have a gluten free kitchen. Is this the case for Hashimoto’s too?
    Thank you so much for helping me to help myself through your books and website,

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      July 21, 2018 at 3:32 PM

      Jhannea – thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey with me! <3 I wish I could give you more direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise you to ask your trusted clinician who’s care you are under. <3

      Reply
  16. Mariah Martinez says

    September 27, 2018 at 9:17 AM

    Hi Dr. Izabella! I love your work and am so grateful I found it so early in my Thyroid journey. I am wondering if you have any optimal reference ranges for the IgA and IgG results? I have been tracking my thyroid panels and antibody levels on my own with my PCM for about a year. I saw an Endocrinologist, whom looked at my 3.74 TSH & ultrasound and said I was fine, nothing to worry about and an OB would be better to talk to about stress and hormones. I’ve had to wait for months for an appt with a new endo, hoping this one will be better informed on up to date tests and optimal ranges vs. standard ranges. I keep track of everything and went gluten-free on my own recently due to family history of Celiac’s and my results. I feel better and am trying to transition to AIP diet as well. My biggest question is about the reference ranges for the IgA&G tests as I can’t seem to find much on optimal IgA&G. Thank you for you work & time!

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      September 27, 2018 at 9:20 AM

      Mariah – thank you so much for sharing your journey! I am happy to hear you are better! <3 Please email my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you.

      Reply
  17. Connie says

    February 2, 2019 at 11:06 PM

    Hi Dr. Izabella, i felt much better on a gluten free & dairy free diet. My TPO Antibodies decreased from 26 to 14 in 3 months when taking selenium as you recommended. TSH: 3.84; free t4: 1.4; free T3: 3.1. Are my thyroid levels are all in optimal range? Should I take Gluten/diary digest before, with, or after meal?

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      February 5, 2019 at 8:41 AM

      Connie – thank you for reaching out. Most people feel best with a TSH of around 1 or lower and with a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper half of the range. It is expected that your TSH will be very suppressed when optimal on NDT medication. How much thyroid replacement therapy is needed is unique and different for each person, so it’s important to work with a functional medicine practitioner or a doctor, who can closely monitor your dosage and your progress. I’ve found Gluten/Dairy Digest to be helpful in uncertain situations. Gluten/Dairy Digest contains enzymes that assist in breaking down gluten and dairy proteins and can help to lessen reactions to them. These enzymes can be very helpful for those with gluten and dairy sensitivity in times where you’re concerned about cross-contamination or when you’ve accidentally consumed something you shouldn’t have. While they can minimize the reactions to gluten and dairy, they are not likely to completely eliminate them. So, I don’t recommend trying to eat a pound of cheese or a loaf of bread just because you’re taking this type of supplement. Here is a research article which might help further:

      TOP 10 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/

      Reply
  18. Rebecca Brindle says

    February 11, 2019 at 9:45 PM

    Hello! I definitely have reactions to wheat. However, I have found that I can tolerate sourdough with no issues. I assume it has to do with the starter bacteria. My question is: if I don’t react to it, is it safe to eat or should I assume that it is causing the same damage as regular wheat just with fewer symptoms?

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      February 15, 2019 at 3:18 PM

      Rebecca – thank you for reaching out and sharing. Until you eliminate the foods from your diet, it will be nearly impossible to correlate your symptoms with a food. This is because food sensitivities can take up to 4 days to manifest. You will only notice that you are reacting to the food if you withdraw it for a time-period of at least 3-4 days. The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the elimination diet. In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can try a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going through an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting!

      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply
  19. Rasha says

    December 17, 2019 at 2:30 AM

    Hi Dr. Izabella,
    Thank you for the article.
    I discover that I’m hypothyroid since 2009 and since this time I’m taking the medicine, I have all the symptoms, such as; IBS, Brain fog, fatigue, hair loss, cold intolerance, joint pain, weight LOSS, and anxiety.
    I tested Celiac, and biopsy shows positive while the blood test shows negative but at the same time I’m at high risk (according to the results). The doctor says that the blood test is more accurate than the biopsy (!!).
    my question is; why when I start following GF diet I don’t feel comfortable and I’m bloating all the time also having severe constipation? noting that I already stopped dairy products a long time ago.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella says

      December 17, 2019 at 7:20 AM

      Rasha – thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey. <3 I understand how frustrating and hard this can be. We know that intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut) is present in every case of autoimmunity and often precedes the development of Hashimoto’s. Symptoms of leaky gut may include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, many people develop IBS 5-10 years before an autoimmune diagnosis. I was one of them and didn’t take my gut health as seriously as I should have. Gut problems are often caused by infections like H. pylori, parasites like Blasto, SIBO, an imbalance of bacteria, and enzyme deficiencies or food sensitivities (especially to gluten, dairy, and/or soy). Even stress can be a factor in gut permeability. Here is an article you might find interesting.

      6 DIFFERENT ROOT CAUSES
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-different-hashimotos-root-causes/

      Reply
  20. Emily says

    February 9, 2020 at 1:58 AM

    Hi,
    After doing a IgG test, my elevated foods included milk, gluten and eggs. My soya bean level was normal.
    I notice that a lot of the recipes are soy free but not egg free.
    Do i listen to my food panel and cut out eggs and use soy as an alternative or would you recommend the opposite. I also try and avoid nuts due to my partner being allergic (almonds are his worst which means no almond milk for me)
    I’ve had Hashimotos since I was 7 (which is 17 years ago now) and I am finally trying to take a step towards improving my symptoms.

    Reply
    • Dr. Izabella Wentz says

      February 17, 2020 at 7:20 AM

      Emily – thank you for reaching out. <3 The most common food sensitivities found in people with Hashimoto’s are gluten, dairy, soy, grains (corn, in particular), eggs, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), nuts, and seeds. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto's), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten? Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto's into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are some articles you may find helpful:

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO'S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      HOW AVOIDING SOY CAN BENEFIT HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/soy-and-hashimotos/

      Reply

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