Could wheat really be causing hypothyroidism?

As much as I hate to admit it - because frankly, who wants to give up fresh baked bakery goods? I believe I have finally uncovered an issue I have been dealing with for YEARS and didn't realize it...

It's a long story, but let's suffice to say my endocrine system got totally whacked when I went on depo-provera in 1997 (the birth-control shot). I immediately gained 25 pounds in little over a month with no change to my diet or lifestyle but figured it would go away once the shot wore off.

Flash forward to 2004 where I have literally tried EVERYTHING that has come my way, ranging from atkins to body for life ato simple 'diet and exercise' (yeah right), slimming drinks, tea, detox, etc., etc... and NOTHING would budge the weight.

In 2005, I had my daughter Su Daerra and gained 75lbs (she was a big baby! 10lbs!) and lost 60 of the 75lbs but it took me an entire year to do it.

In 2007, I had my son and only gained 35lbs (still had the 15 left over from baby #1) but managed to loose all 35 pounds in approximately 6 weeks on a vegan raw food diet based on good food combining. Read Raw Food Detox Diet - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. After 6 weeks I decided that lifestyle was just too difficult and quit figuring I'd come back to it later (come on - it can take 3 days to make a meal!)

During this time, I tried more 'fads' - hcg (I know - I'm sorry, some of you LOVE that diet - it didn't work for me - or more precisely being a vegetarian on the diet didn't work), more juices, yoga, chiropractic.... really, everything that crossed my path.

Nearly at my wits end (not wanting to give up but not believing anything would work anymore either), I went to an office in Torrance, CA that specializes in thyroid and endocrine dysfunction. This was the first mainstream approach I'd looked at since the Dr.s had just kept telling me to eat less exercise more years earlier... Argh.

After nearly $1500 in tests we discovered my thyroid was under performing, not drastically so, but couple that with not enough progesterone, enough estrogen for three women and vitamin D levels that were quote "subterranean" - I figured we'd found the answer to what was wrong! Hallelujah!

3 months and $1000 in supplements and medications later, I discover my PMS is worse and it has done NOTHING for my weight. Can I please catch a break??

So, then my beloved chiropractor (Dr. Gary Arthur - Laguna Beach, CA 949-497-2553) suggested I read this book by Datis Kharrazian, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? The upshot is that for some people the wheat molecule somehow manages to interfere with the thyroid production chain and causes hypothyroid symptoms and makes matters worse for those suffering from Hashimoto's and other thyroid dysfunctions.

I'd always noticed that I got really sleepy after a heavy carb meal but thought that was pretty normal. I really didn't think I had an issue with wheat, but figured, what the hell, I've tried everything else and these meds aren't doing the job..

So, I quit the meds and went wheat free... the result?????

• My period snuck up on me these last two months because for the first time in nearly 3 years not only did my PMS not have me utterly depressed but it was literally undetectable!
• I used to get nauseous every morning if I didn't eat right away, and that's no longer happening.
• I do NOT have the 3-4pm afternoon slump like I have had for I can't even remember how long.
• I have more energy than I've had in YEARS,
• I feel great...

Which is leaving me with the energy to be active like I haven't been in a long time which no doubt will help lead to additional weight loss.

But just to be sure, we're going back on the raw diet in my household. It is absolutely, in my humble opinion, the best and healthiest way to eat and surely there's no coincidence that when I lost the weight after my son was born there was no wheat in that diet (no wheat in raw food). We'll be talking about Raw Food in an upcoming newsletter.

But thanks to this book, I'm wheat free going on 3 months and feeling better than I have in ages. I'll keep you posted as to how I do with the weight!

In the meantime, please check out this resource for yourself and/or your clients dealing with thyroid, weight or endocrine issues.

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