Should you follow a gluten-free diet when you are ill?
I have Hashimoto’s, so can I eat gluten-containing foods? If not, which ones should I avoid?
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease in which chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland leads to hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid any substances that may additionally stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies.
About half of the people surveyed who have Hashimoto’s are allergic to gluten. Therefore, products containing this protein should be excluded from the diet in order to reduce the negative immune reaction of the body. These are pasta made of wheat flour, pearl barley and barley groats, wheat bread and all traditional cakes and cookies. Patients who were restricted in the wheat diet additionally lost unnecessary kilograms. In this case, there are two relationships, one is related to the reduction of gluten, while the other is related to the reduction of carbohydrate intake due to the exclusion of wheat products.
When planning the menu, the dietitian should take into account the patient’s general health, level of physical activity and the phase of treatment of the disease. With proper regulation of the level of thyroid hormones and well-planned pharmacotherapy, carried out under the supervision of a doctor, there is no need to exclude gluten. It is important, however, to control your carbohydrate intake.
Advice was provided by:
Gabriela Słowińska, a nutrition specialist from the SetPoint Dietary Clinic in Warsaw.
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