Diet

Can I ask do any of you follow a particular way of eating to help with your hypothyroidism? I've been doing some reading and have seen what foods are best to avoid and what are good to eat. I'm trying to make a diet plan to stick to, not necessarily a diet for weightloss more one to help the actual condition.

I have read a paleo style of eating is good. I have also read a vegan diet is great but I did a vegan diet for a month recently and felt very unwell with crashes in energy, more than usual.

[Jo1027]

I know eating dark greens are good for you. They're full of iodine, which in turn is good for your Thyroid.

Hope this helps

[Hidden in reply to Jo1027]

Thank you.

[Clutter]

Jingyd3,

Unfermented soy/soya is bad for thyroid so should be avoided. You don't have Hashimoto's so probably won't benefit from gluten-free diet unless you have coeliac disease or non-coeliac sensitivity to gluten. If you don't have digestive issues, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea it's unlikely you have either.

I avoid raw peppers and cucumber which give me indigestion or heartburn but I don't cut out whole food groups because excluding them allegedly made someone writing a book feel better.

The important thing is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein, vegetables and fruit cutting out anything you know upsets you. I'd ignore recommendations to exclude lots of food groups. It probably won't help your thyroid, unnecessarily restricts your diet and turns mealtimes into a misery.

[greygoose in reply to Clutter]

Excellent advice!

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Thank you.

I wanted to be vegan for the animals as I feel strongly about it but when I do within a week my crashes return badly. I've been eating more protein and eggs this week to see if it helps me.

I avoid soy and gluten. I've been gluten free for 5 months.

Thanks for the advice.

[LtAngua52]

I do a low carb high fat diet, mainly to reduce my high blood sugar. Has worked so far but don't really know what foods would help thyroid, other than a balanced diet. I wouldn't try vegan or vegetarian though, being hypo is already a risk factor for b12 deficiency. That's why I self inject b12.

[Hidden in reply to LtAngua52]

I wanted to be vegan for the animals as I feel strongly about it but my energy slumps. I've had to go back to fish, eggs and some yoghurt.

[LtAngua52 in reply to Hidden]

I know, I was a vegetarian for a few years in the 1990's for the same reason. It's a problem when b12 is only found in animal products. After being so ill for several years it's not something I can think of now. I hope you manage to sort things out.

[Hidden in reply to LtAngua52]

Thank you.

I take a good vitamin b12 supplement. As long as you supplement it, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Josiesmum]

I think a medium fat, lowish carb, low sugar Paleo type diet is healthy and good for keeping blood sugar stable, although I would favour including pulses, nuts and seeds for the protein and fibre if you can tolerate them. Food sensitivities are quite individual so worth considering an elimination diet. Gluten sensitivity is very common so may be worth trying a gluten free trial.

[Hidden in reply to Josiesmum]

I do find lower carb better than high carb like when doing a vegan diet.

[marigold22]

I have made a list of the ten nutrients the thyroid needs to function properly, taken from an article from this site. Then added the most common foods giving those nutrients. But apologies I can't find the complete article now.

"There are ten nutrients required for your thyroid to get from your brain creating TSH and stimulating your thyroid gland to produce T4 to T3 and then to activate your cellular metabolic rate. The ten nutrients are:

Protein - meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese

Magnesium - brazil nuts, almonds

B-12 - meat, fish, eggs – all animal products

Zinc - cashew nuts (also give iron) almonds

Iodine - baked potatoes including skins, milk, cod

B2 - almonds, oily fish, eggs, pork

Vitamin C - red or yellow peppers, berries, dark greens, peas

Selenium - brazil nuts almonds

Vitamin D - tablet 2000iU daily

Vitamin A - sweet potatoes, carrots, dark greens

"

[Hidden in reply to marigold22]

Great advice. Thank you.

[faith63]

my diet, is not for hypo, but for healing my immune system and finding out which food is driving my hashimotos. I am free of all grains, dairy, eggs, seeds and nightshades..nuts too.

[Geniler]

I have had Hashimoto's since 2010 and found that when I switched from Levo to Naturethroid and eliminated grains, dairy and sugar my life changed for the better. No more painful joints, migraines and I lost 13kgs in 6 months doing virtually no exercise other than walking. I eat fresh and organic where ever possible and no processed foods. So nothing comes in a box or bag. Lots of healthy fats, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, lots of spinach and colourful veggies and organic meat and fish in small portions. Not a lot of fruit, bananas and mango, raspberries and blueberries a couple of times a week.

[Hidden in reply to Geniler]

Sounds a perfect diet.