gluten-free

Gluten-Free Update: Second Blood Work Readings

Time flies. As I’m writing this I’ve been gluten-free for over six months. It certainly isn’t the worst thing in the world. I much rather be gluten-free than dairy free. But, as you may recall, if you’ve been reading, I’ve been gluten-free with the hope that it will minimize the effects of an autoimmune disease called Hashimotos that attacks the thyroid causing hypothyroidism. Hopefully, by minimizing the Hashimotos, I can reduce the attack on my thyroid.

After two months gluten free my two Hashimoto’s antibodies had a significant drop of about 20-percent. Three months later I got my blood drawn again. This time the results were less stellar. One antibody was down another 5-percent and the other was up about 5-percent. Both were still lower than my original test that determined I had Hashimotos. Both are still out of the normal range, although I’m not sure they will go back to the normal range. The gluten-free goal is to […]

Gluten-Free Update: Second Blood Work ReadingsMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:28-04:00

Gluten Free: Hashimotos Antibodies

So I’ve been gluten free for about three months with as far as I know only one accidental gluten consumption. If you’ve read some earlier blogs you know that I went gluten-free because I was diagnosed with hashimotos and hypothyroidism. I didn’t want to have to go on medication for the rest of my life (my PCP’s suggestion) and so I thought I would try my naturopath’s suggestion (a gluten free diet). My blood work after being gluten-free for three months showed positive results. My thyroid was back in the normal range. And the antibodies for my hashitmotos (an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid) were down 20-percent. I can’t say for sure that this had to do with gluten. According to my PCP it’s completely random, which is typical of thyroid problems. They fluctuate. According to my naturopath it is probably a combination of being gluten-free, supplements, and the body being random. Either way I was happy with […]

Gluten Free: Hashimotos AntibodiesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:32-04:00

Gluten Free Gets Repetitive

It’s not really-gluten free’s fault. I get in this trap anyway, but I’ve been gluten free for over two months now and I’m finding that I’m starting to just eat the same foods that I know are safe over and over again. Indian and Thai food have become a favorite staple. Once a week I get a gluten-free pizza from Vito’s in Wethersfield.

I’m cooking the same foods—a sausage and kale soup, a cabbage soup (thank you to my clients for giving me these recipes). They are delicious, but I’ve been eating a lot of them. Gluten-free muffins are a regular at my breakfast table. I’ve always eaten muffins, but it used to feel more varied because I had so many types of muffins to choose from. I’ve only found two gluten-free ones that I like that I can buy in a store. I’ve eaten more nuts, apples and bananas than I want to think about. And I’m eating a lot more meat […]

Gluten Free Gets RepetitiveMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:32-04:00

Hashimotos: Why I’m Gluten Free

So my real reason for doing this two-month gluten free diet is because on February 16th I found out I have Hashimoto’s Disease. I feel silly saying it. It sounds made up. And in the scheme of so many things a person could have, it is nothing.

Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid, most likely resulting in hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). The first opinion I got thought I already had hypothyroidism. The second opinion was that I had subclinical hypothyroidism and need to monitor it every three months since my thyroid was functioning on the very low end of normal even though my pituitary gland was pumping out excess hormones to convince my thyroid to work.

The first opinion—a naturopath—suggested a gluten-free diet to try and keep the autoimmune disease at bay and therefore minimize the attack on my thyroid. The second opinion—my PCP and an MD—said there was nothing I could do and that I would end up with full blown hypothyroidism but it could be years down the road. I decided to take the advice of […]

Hashimotos: Why I’m Gluten FreeMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:35-04:00

Have Fun Gluten Free

I’ve been experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. When I have the time I actually really enjoy it. And I’ve had a lot of success. I bought Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s gluten-free cook book and only had one bad meal from it. The rest have been delicious. My favorite is a cherry and cocoa smoothie with avocado. It’s wonderful.

When I’ve gone out to eat I need to be very careful and I’ve ordered items I would never have gotten in the past. I’d never go out and order plain chicken and vegetables, but I did last week and it was really good. So far being without gluten is adding a little more variety into my diet.

And it’s fun. I’ve tried gluten-free pizza, gluten-free blueberry muffins, gluten-free dumplings. I’ll admit the pizza and the blueberry muffins are not as good as the ones I normally make, but it’s […]

Have Fun Gluten FreeMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:35-04:00