Alcohol and gluten are dead to me, and it’s the white sourdough and croissants I’m missing most.
Turns out I've been self soothing with carbs for most of my life, the deeply satisfying slice of buttered sourdough is to be no more - well as I write it's been a few weeks. No gluten means no bread, cakes, pastry, pizza… waaaa! And I miss it, it has been making me sad, but i’m feeling like i’m over the hump, and you know what? I’m loads more energetic.
lunch game is on point..
And then there is the booze…
We all know that alcohol is a class one carcinogen and a neurotoxin- super bad news for gut and brain, all-round bad guy etc. So there is no surprise that I’m feeling good without it. My drinking days are over, and I feel really positive about that. I have had a great time at two social occasions where booze has played a major part and I’ve almost got giddy on the vibes, whilst drinking water. So I have no fears there. Enough feeling under-par. I’m enjoying the energy and I’m looking forward to the early mornings that these sober weekends will bring, and what I will do with them, (See my last piece here if you’d like evidence) feeling energetic, hydrated and calm. This is the positivity I’m trying to bring to the breadless situation, because I am excited to know how I will feel once my thyroid is working optimally again.
Which brings me to:
The why….
In Febuary I had a comprehensive blood test, organised by my fellow Nutritional Therapist, and most lovely friend, Bethany Horne- because we all need some help sometimes (you can find her here. ) And what It showed up was the start of an autoimmune fire. I was smokin! My thyroid gland is not working properly, with thyroid antibodies in my blood and very low levels of T3 pointing to an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism in the near future if i don't take action now.
The thing about gluten is its molecular structure is so similar to that of the thyroid gland, that if you have a leaky gut (In my case probably due to chronic stress) or an intolerance, the gluten molecules leak through into your bloodstream causing inflammation and a response from your immune system which mistakenly ‘sets to’ on your thyroid as well as the interlopers.
Our thyroid glands are responsible for metabolism, and problems often come to light at the same time as peri- post menopause. With some symptoms getting worse at this time. Quite possibly due to stress!
As I already knew, I have a marker in my DNA which is linked to connective tissue disorders, and my hands get so strangely cold that I get chill blains from being in any atmosphere below 18 degrees. It was a no-brainer to take drastic action, and take all of Beth’s advice which included no more gluten.
There are a lot of gluten free products available, but many contains lots of additives including various gums, which are no friend to your gut lining, and that is one part of me that I am committed to treating as well as possible. So I’m finding new ways. Making a lunch and snacking without bread is a bit more time consuming, but entirely possible and I know it will become second nature. I am eating more protein which fills us up, and helps us in other ways, lots of vegetables, quinoa, brown rice and sweet potatoes etc. Luckily I am well versed in the best nutrition plans.
Am I Pissed Off Tho?
YES! I have made such efforts to be healthy throughout my grown up life. I see working on my health span as a long term necessity, especially since I became a solo Mum 14 years ago. But that has come with a whole lot of chronic stress, including a tumultuous time last year when my Mum was failing, and we lost our rented home of 13 years, eventually found a new abode, moved (thankfully to a little bit of heaven here by the watery Bristol Channel) and that’s where I’ve let myself ‘go’. Because apart from some sporadic periods of meditation I have never really worked at stress management. And that has affected my gut, which has led to all of this.
We must do all the good things! I’m now working hard to do at least ten mins a day of breath work, or meditation, and practicing gratitude helps so much too. Simple, free, and utterly lovely.
The best thing about giving up the things that no longer serve you, is the outcome. And I’m here for that. With the support of Beth, and her amazing protocol I know I will get there.