If you are gluten intolerant, you should check your body temperature to see if it is consistently low, which is an indicator of low metabolism. There is a good chance that your gluten intolerance is linked with low thyroid function, which can cause low body temperature and low metabolism.
Here’s how it works: Gluten intolerance or allergy (celiac disease) and autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s share a common genetic predisposition. That means the same faulty genes cause both problems. So if you have celiac disease, your risk of also having an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is tripled. (The risk for Wilson’s Syndrome is probably much higher.) Gluten can cause the junctions between your intestinal cells to become wider. This enables large molecules that should stay in your gut to make their way into your blood stream. Your body can recognize these molecules as foreign toxins, leading to an autoimmune response. One way your body has of fighting foreign toxins in the body is through glutathione, a natural anti-oxidant. If your glutathione is used up fighting foreign toxins then there will not be enough glutathione left to protect the body from oxidative damage, which can also lead to autoimmunity. Low glutathione in the thyroid cells is thought to be one of the main mechanisms of thyroid damage and autoimmunity.
To check for low thyroid function, get your blood TSH levels checked and check your body temperature. (For complete instructions on how to take your body temperature accurately, see “How are body temperatures measured”.) If your body temperature is consistently below 97.8 F (36.56 C) chances are good you have slow metabolism. (If it is consistently low despite having normal thyroid tests, you have a condition called Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome.)
Low metabolism is often caused by low levels of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. Some people have trouble converting T4 to T3, a problem many doctors simply don’t recognize and that the standard thyroid tests can’t pick up.
People with Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome often have subtle symptoms of low metabolism but are told their thyroid is fine. They feel better–and their body temperature returns to normal–when they take a small dose of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone.
You can discuss taking a course of T3 (active thyroid hormone) with your doctor. Your doctor can call us at 800.420.5801 to get more information about how to use T3 and to discuss your individual case. The object of T3 therapy is to normalize your oral body temperatures to average 98.6 F. (37 C.) during treatment. Herbs, good nutrition and lifestyle changes (like more sleep!) can help support healthy temperatures that are already in the normal range.
People can also have subclinical celiac disease, which means that their condition does not show up on standard tests. And they can have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a condition that has no good blood tests for diagnosis.
If you think you might be one of these gluten-sensitive people, simply avoid gluten for a few months and see if you start to feel better. Many people do and enjoy life much more on a gluten-free diet. Interestingly, some research shows that in people who are gluten sensitive, a gluten-free diet may reverse symptoms of hypothyroidism that don’t show up on blood tests!
REFERENCES
Ch’ng CL, Jones MK, and Kingham JGC. Celiac Disease and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Clin Med Res.2007 October; 5(3):184-192.
Mainardi E, Montanelli A, Dotti M, et al. Thyroid-related autoantibodies and celiac disease: a role for a gluten-free diet? J Clin Gastroenterol 2002-35:245-248.
Sategna-Guidetta C, Volta U, Ciacci C. et al. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in untreated adult celiac disease patients and effect of gluten withdrawal: an Italian multicenter study. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96;751-757.
Great article. On the eating Gluten free; it’s easier than people think AND I’ve been baking with coconut flour, best alternative I’ve come across yet- get “Cooking with Coconut Flour” by Bruce Fife, great book.
Months ago my face started breaking out in welts, tiny red spots that would disappear and reappear in the morning, then afternoon- kooky. I was diagnose with Hashimoto’s years ago, have a super low metabolism & have to watch every thing I eat (less than 1200 cals a day and 20 grams of carbs or I gain over night).
Unfortunately T3 therapy is expensive and insurance balks at covering it but it was the ONLY protocol that raised my temps from an avg. of 97.3 to 98.4 and sometimes 98.6.
Keep up the good work!
I cannot tell you how many times I tried going off of wheat products but it wasn’t till I was diagnosed, 20 years later, with celiac that I gave up wheat and nothing changed. I gave up dairy as that is a cross reactor and nothing changed, I gave up all grains as I was reacting to them also (Lectins). Potatoes, peppers, eggs and all beans and legumes. 9 months later I was still no better. Dr. suggested any medications and I spent two days on the phone to find out my T-3 had starch and dairy. My T-4 also had food starch and dairy. I pay more to get compounded meds and I started feeling better in 2 weeks. I now have more energy than I have in 20 years.
Don’t assume it is always easy to give up gluten, it is not. One product can make the difference and “food starch” often means wheat flour. I am happy for those who just have to give up the obvious wheat products but for some of us it is not so easy. If I had known this years ago, I would have gotten better sooner.
Congratulations on your success. Thanks for sharing :)
I’ve lived my whole life with this celiac crap.. it’s a total nightmare, in every sense of the word!! The worst part is having no support from those close to you, due to doctors being such huge retards and treating symptoms instead of actually using their brains and ordering a igg blood test.. thank the Lord there are wonderful folks who share info. Osteopaths are the bomb! !! Practicing doctors are a joke!!!!