It’s been a year and I’ve been completely off grains. If you were to tell me even a month ago that I would support this kind of dieting (or should I say way of life), I would’ve probably thought you were crazy. What has changed for me? This is the book that’s changed my life!
Wheat Addiction and Reasons to Choose A Grain Free Life
About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, a autoimmune form of hypothyroidism. The diagnosis took me by surprise; nobody in my family suffered from thyroid diseases nor have I led an unhealthy lifestyle for me to get something like that. Studies show that around 20 million people in America are suffering from thyroid disease. Moreover, Levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, is the 4th highest selling drug in the U.S.
So after two weeks of having non stop headaches, I finally went to the doctor. I had some blood work done and couple of days later received a dreadful phone call from my doctor. I honestly did not know how to react, nor did I know anything about the disease. As a standard procedure for Hashimoto patients, the doctor put me on thyroid hormone replacement meds. I’ve been on the medication for 8 years now. To be honest with you, I never really questioned the diagnose or the treatment. I trusted the doctor like everybody does. I blame myself for not looking deeper into the root of the problem, though I only started getting into the holistic way of life recently. I have to say, I get more and more disappointed with doctors and their standard response to everything. In most cases they don’t really try to get to the root but instead cover up the aftermath (treating the symptoms instead of curing the disease). Unfortunately, the problem does not go away.
Why I’ve chosen The Paleo Diet
Some time ago, my friend introduced me to the Paleo diet. In short, the Paleo diet is the diet of our ancestors which emphasizes the time people were hunter-gatherers. The diet is high in animal fat and proteins and low in carbohydrates. Getting rid of grains and other agricultural products that were introduced in human history relatively recently, is the main keys of the diet. Research points out that grains are not well processed by the body, nor are they as nutritionally beneficial.
So, one research result after another has led me to many scientific articles on the correlation between gluten intolerance and thyroid diseases. Foods that contain gluten (both whole grains and flours) contain substances that inhibit nutrient absorption, damage our intestinal lining, and activating a potentially destructive autoimmune response. And since hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, this correlation only makes sense.
I realized if I don’t get to the root of the problem, my immune system will keep attacking my thyroid gland. So, as a result, I’ve decided to go grain free and challenge myself to stay off gluten. I’ve been feeling better than ever!
Give it a try!
The Paleo Diet Revised: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat
