About a week ago, I had a patient that I’ve been working with who has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition that makes her have low thyroid).
she’s been suffering with all those low thyroid symptoms that you’re probably familiar with:
- depression
- having a real hard time losing weight
- cold all over, even in hot weather
- brittle and thinning hair.
Many months ago, I decided that part of her treatment plan was that she needed to be on a gluten-free diet. She has not been the best sticking to it. She’s been very, very close to getting kicked out of the program because I don’t have time to deal with that. I’m only going to work with people that are 100 percent committed to getting better and following what I tell them to do.
The last time I saw her, she was coming in to pick up a couple of supplements and she said,
“Dr. Clark, I was doing so well on my gluten free diet and then I was out of town, I kind of purposely cheated on my diet... and in a couple of hours my hands really started hurting. I am never going to go back to eating gluten again.”
She learned a very important lesson and I did to, as a matter of fact. I can tell people something like "don’t cheat on your gluten free diet."
I can tell them that a million times...but many people are going to have to go through the Pain Grinder multiple times before they finally get it.
Some people are going to have to experience pain and the symptoms getting worse again before they finally connect those two things in their brain and get it---
If I tell you to go on a gluten free diet, just go on the gluten free diet. Be 100 percent strict and sit back and enjoy the benefits of everything it’s going to give you.
Nearly 100 percent of the time, you’re going to feel better. It doesn’t really matter what the diagnosis is. You’re going to feel better.
When I’m dealing with these people that have autoimmune conditions, it’s extremely important--deathly important.
I’ve had to tell this lady before--this same lady that had to go to the pain grinder again--I had to explain this to her on one occasion--
"When you decide you're going to cheat and have a muffin. When you decide you're going to eat gluten...
...I want you to imagine a piece of your thyroid gland bursting into flame and never coming back again.
Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen to your thyroid."
She seemed to get it then, but obviously didn’t.
The problem with her is not unique – a lot of people don’t have overt symptoms.
That’s the issue with having a gluten problem. Most people think that it’s related to Gastrointestinal symptoms....“When I eat gluten I don’t get constipation or diarrhea, then I must be okay.” That's completely false--and misleading.
Same thing with this lady; she used to not have any symptoms that she could go by--- but now she does.
THIS IS DANGEROUS.
Now, when she eats gluten, her hands flare up.
That means her immune system has moved on from her thyroid. It’s ATTACKING other parts of her body.
Its' more important than ever that she go strict 1,000% gluten-free if she wants to remain feeling good.
By the way in the last six to eight months, she’s made incredible leaps in how she feels.. it's all at jeopardy if she goes back and eats the thing which is poison for her--gluten.
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Why Some People Must Cheat On Their Gluten Free Diet
© 2010 Dr. David Clark
THE PLACE FOR ANSWERS™
Dr. David Clark
Functional Neurologist
Diplomate College of Clinical Nutrition
Functional Endocrinologist
Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist
Vestibular Rehab Specialist
214-341-3737
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