What is hypothyrodisim?

What is hypothyrodisim? That my friends is a question I am always asked.

Side bustin': As I as searching for a GF Magazine (because somewhere in my lil' mind, i thought non existed prior to googling it...i came across a site that stated there are some medications not GF friendly. 

Web links as of 7/12/2010:
     Originating site: http://www.theglutenfreelife.com/articles/gluten-free-medications-list/
     Linked Site: http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/index.html
     .pdf file: http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/GFfoodlist.pdf

Back to what is hypothyrodism.

This is what i got from Kaiser Permanentes' website Drug Encylopedia for my particular medication Levothyroxine (currently 200mcg is my dosage). It does note that "this is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product."

Uses

Levothyroxine is used to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It replaces the hormone that is normally produced by the thyroid gland. Low thyroid levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is injured by radiation/medications or removed by surgery. It is important to have adequate levels of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream to maintain normal mental and physical activity. In children, adequate levels of thyroid hormone are important for normal mental and physical growth and development.This medication is used to treat other types of thyroid disorders as well (e.g., certain types of goiters, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer).

It also says how to use it.
 

How to use

Take this medication by mouth usually once a day on an empty stomach, 1/2 to 1 hour before breakfast, or as directed by your doctor. To prevent difficulty swallowing the tablet, take it with a full glass of water unless otherwise directed by your doctor. For children who cannot swallow whole tablets, crush the tablet and mix in 1 or 2 teaspoons (5 or 10 milliliters) of water, and give using a spoon or dropper as soon as possible after preparation. Do not store the mixture for later use. Do not mix crushed tablets in soybean infant formula. Consult your pharmacist for more information.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage based on your medical condition, your response to therapy, and your laboratory test results. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting with your doctor. Replacement therapy is usually taken for life. It may take up to 4-6 weeks before the full benefits of this medication take effect. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

As i've read and read about thyroid, endocrine disruptors, hypothyroidism patients should stay away from Gluten and Soy (go to wikipedia and type Goitren
 
OH goodness and the side effects.  Although it says the symptomes should dissappear...that's the key word...'should'.  It's never 100% because i have variations of these for the past 6years or so:
 

Side effects

Symptoms of low thyroid levels include fatigue, muscle aches, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, slow heart rate, sensitivity to cold, or dry brittle hair that tends to fall out easily. These symptoms should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. If they persist or become bothersome, notify your doctor promptly. Headache, nervousness, trembling, sweating, increased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss or insomnia may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. In rare instances, some hair loss may occur during the first few months of starting this drug. This effect is usually temporary as your body adjusts to this medication. If this effect persists or worsens, notify your doctor promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these very unlikely but serious side effects: chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures. An allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Drug Interactions....lucky for me this is pretty much the only prescribed medication I take....however take a look at the items in Rojo.

Drug interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use, especially of: warfarin, digoxin, estrogen products (including estrogen-containing birth control pills), diabetes medicines (e.g., insulin, glipizide, rosiglitazone), amiodarone, iodide (including radiographic contrast agents containing iodine), lithium, anti-thyroid agents (e.g., methimazole, propylthiouracil), androgens/anabolic steroids, glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone, prednisone), high dose salicylates (e.g., aspirin), phenobarbital, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, maprotiline, sertraline), cytokines (e.g., interferon-alpha, interleukin-2), growth hormones, ketamine, theophylline. Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients such as decongestants or caffeine that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products. Certain medicines may decrease absorption of this drug into your bloodstream. Therefore, take levothyroxine 4 hours apart from: calcium supplements, iron supplements, antacids, simethicone, orlistat, cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol, sucralfate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate. **Certain foods may decrease absorption of this medication when taken at the same time. Take levothyroxine separately from: soybean flour (soybean infant formula), walnuts, dietary fiber.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacis

**CHECK OUT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen 7/12/2010

Also look at Endocrine Distruptors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor as of 7/12/2010

So that's me.  I have hypothyroidism and above is the jist of it.  Later I'll share my fantastic story of how I diagnosed myself and a doctor said I wasn't doing enough and was calculating wrong.

How to Kick Start Your Metabolism: Gluten Free Yes, No and Alternamtive Foods

Simple Ways to Kick Start Your Metabolism Detox Diet

Recommendations:

Pay careful attention to labels, buy foods which have minimum processing and preservatives.

Avoid anything which has a hydrolyzed ingredient, MSG, yeast extracts, corn syrup, evaporated cane juice etc.

 Again check labels for amounts of added sugars. Don’t eat while dehydrated….drink water first. This will help you from slipping and eating something sweet or from the “no” list.

If you have a thyroid problem, I suggest staying away from Soy and Gluten as much as possibe.  I was reading up on this (because I have a low metabolism due to underactive thyroid) and click on the following:  Article #1  and/or Article #2

Now, I'm not saying I have Celiac Disease but I feel a lot better Gluten free, my skin is clearer, I'm less bloated, I have more energy and i lost a lot of weight.   Also I will be posting something on Edocrine Distrupters AND Goitrens. BAD BAD BAD! for Thyroid issues or persons with any other Auto-Immune Diseases.

Foods prohibited on a gluten-free diet:

Any bread, cereal or other food made with wheat, rye, barley and oat flours or ingredients and byproducts made from those grains.

Processed foods containing wheat, gluten-derivatives, or thickeners. These foods include hot dogs, ice cream, salad dressings, canned soups, dried soup mixes, non-dairy creamers, processed cheeses, cream sauces, and hundreds of other common foods.

• Alcohol
• Any breads or wheat products such as wheat tortillas
• Anything that does not say GLUTEN FREE on the packaging
• Barley, bulgur, couscous, kamut, Oatmeal/oats, rye, spelt, wheat, sprouted wheat
• Beef (all kinds)
• Butter
• Caffeinated beverages (Soda’s of any kind, & Coffee)
• Canola oil
• Cheese (all kinds)
• Deli Meats
• Dried Fruit
• Fruit Juices, all fruit juices
• Ham
• Hot dogs and buns
• Miso
• Oatmeal/oats
• Peanut Butter
• Pistachio’s and Peanuts
• Sausage
• White Flour Foods – Pasta, Bread, White Rice

  

YES FOODS

BEANS & GRAINS – All Beans, Amaranth, Brown & Wild Rice, Brown Rice Pasta, Buckwheat, Corn Tortillas, Edamame, Millet, Quinoa

BEVERAGES – All Unsweetened: Water, Soymilk, Rice Milk, Green & Herbal tea, Coconut Milk/Water

DAIRY – Eggs, Milk (Fat Free – 2%), Yogurt (Plain, Low/Non Fat & Unsweetened) ( I Love using Greek Yogurt Fat Free Plain from TJ's and I have recipes for dips too.)

FRUIT – Berries (Fresh & Frozen good for shakes & Breakfast Options), Fresh Fruit (all kinds; keep Grapes & Watermelon to a minimum due to sugar content)

PROTEIN – Chicken Breast (Organic, No Skin), Cornish Hen, Lamb, Fish/Seafood (Any kind), Turkey

SNACKS – Hummus, Gluten & Wheat free bars, Gluten & Wheat Free Cereal (WF has a great selection of Gluten Free Cookies, especially the Pecan Cookies)


SPICES/EXTRAS – Almond Butter, Dark Chocolate (1oz & must be over 80% Dark), Flax Seed, Honey, Nuts (Fresh & Raw only...NO Peanuts or Pistacios), Olive Oil, Salsa (Homemade, if store bought make sure it’s wheat & gluten free), Sesame Seeds, Vegetable Soup, Wheat & Gluten Free crackers

VEGETABLES – All, Avocado, Edamame, Olives

 NO Foods Alternatives:

Alcohol

  Well there is no alternative so just stay away from the hooch.

Any breads or wheat products such as wheat tortillas
  Whole Foods has Brown Rice Tortillas and Gluten Free Bread (it's kinda dense so I just stayed away from the bread period).  If I did have an urge, for a burger I'd use the Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame bread which is really good and you can freeze portions you do not use.  Corn Tortillas are the best and are on the YES food.  GF Bread options are not available yet at Trader Joe's. 

Anything that does not say GLUTEN FREE on the packaging
  Just stick to Gluten Free.

Barley, bulgur, couscous, kamut, Oatmeal/oats, rye, spelt, wheat, sprouted wheat
  I've used a mixture of Amaranth & Millet as an alternative to a nutty flavored kind of breakfast meal.  You can also use Quinoa which is high in Calcium (1 Cup cooked is equivalent to the calcium in 1 gallon of Milk.)

Beef (all kinds)
  I know, I know but just stick with this.

Butter
  I sometimes would use Vegan butter.  It's not processed and still taste really good. I use Earth Brand or Earth Something from Whole Foods.

Caffeinated beverages (Soda’s of any kind, & Coffee)
  I kicked the Soda habit long ago but Coffee was hard but it's better you have less of an addition to it for the mornings.  I switched to Tea and used flavor infused honey sticks (from Target) for my tea or Agave Nectar as a liquid sugar substitute (you can get this for $2.99 approx at Trader Joe's).

Canola oil
  Not a problem since I love Extra Virgin Olive Oil so much that I take 1TBSP with lemon juice in the AM when doing gluten free.  Helps your digestive system and your skin looks FABULOUS!

Cheese (all kinds)
  Two words: Whole foods.  They have vegan and Almond Cheese (cheeder, Mozzarella and American).  You really don't notice the differnce.  It may take a little longer to melt but the taste is really the same and it's NOT PROCESSED like other cheese.

Deli Meats
  Anytime I want Deli Meats, I just think of how Head Cheese Deli Meat is made.  Processed and chopped.  Not for me.

Dried Fruit
  Fresh is better.

Fruit Juices, all fruit juices
  I admit around the time I have my montly visitor I CRAVE all the bad things.  So i do splurge in the occasional Orange Juice to calm down my cramps.  But during Gluten free times....I measure my cups.  I dont chug it out of the jug like a sailor.


Ham
  I love me some ham..Ham Sammich's, hambones, hamhocks.  JK.  I do like ham but I don't love it like a newborn baby so go without it.

Hot dogs and buns
  Well there goes my bread pudding.

Miso
  I love me some Miso Soup, but stick with the plan man!

Oatmeal/oats
  I switched to Amaranth and Millet.  It may be an acquired taste but it's really good and filling!

Peanut Butter
  Almond Butter, Cashew Butter and other butters (but not butter butter) seemed to work for me.  I would spread 1 TBSP Almond Butter on a Brown Rice Cake (TJ's and WF) with fresh fruit is a good snack.

Pistachio’s and Peanuts
  I never liked Peanuts anyhow and Pistacio's hurt my braces.  I buy the snack packet sized nuts from TJ's in Almond or Walnut and I don't have to measure and they are not on the NO list.

Sausage
  I will keep my dirty mouth shut.  I love sausage though.  (I willl keep my dirty mouth shut).  I switched to sticking to Turkey. Turkey Sausage, Turkey Bacon, Turkey Ground.

White Flour Foods – Pasta, Bread, White Rice
  Pasta: Brown Rice Pasta, Corn Pasta, Quinoa Pasta (WF and TJ.  TJ has cheaper Brown Rice Spaghetti Pasta, Fusili and Penne).
 
  Bread, this was covered earlier.  They need to come up with a not so dense form.  HOWEVER, however, they do have these AWESOME "Cream Biscuits" at WF that are great to crumble up as an alternative to mashed potatoes, or you can split in half and toast it and taste great with vegan butter or plain or as a bkfst sandwich with turkey and eggs/egg whites. 
 
  White Rice well, I swtiched to Brown Rice and Quinoa.  I have a great recipe for Carmalized Onions with Spinach and musroom that goes great with Quinoa or Brown Rice.  Plus no need for Soy Sauce so less sodium in your diet! YAY!