I have read a number of articles and heard from a number of friends with thyroid issues that either eliminating or reducing gluten can give the thyroid a much needed vacation. So after a fair amount of research, both online and at Whole Foods, I decided to take a week off from gluten. It definitely takes some planning but there are plenty of gluten free options.
Fruit and vegetables in their pure state are always gluten free. Unprocessed meats are nearly always gluten free. There are gluten free cookies, pastas, breads, soups, sauces and salad dressings out there. I even found a decent gluten free granola at Trader Joes. While I can’t have a beer, I can have wine. I even found that Aqui, one of my favorite local haunts, has an extensive and delicious gluten free menu.
This is not something I would choose to do on a long term basis because it is just too inconvenient. But what I have learned is that it is pretty easy to dramatically reduce the amount of gluten I eat with just a little practice. If I find at the end of the week that I have more energy, feel less bloated and feel the brain fog lifting that I have been in, I may opt for a gluten fast a few days each week.
The only downfall is that foods with gluten are high in fiber and have other essential vitamins and minerals, so be sure to supplement to make up for the missing nutrients!
Are you gluten free? Have you ever tried a gluten free diet for a period of time? Did you feel better? Was it too hard to do?
