Is anyone here vegan and hypothyroid?
Vegan and hypothyroid: Is anyone here vegan and... - Thyroid UK
Vegan and hypothyroid
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Hallebear
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hi there, Just to check, are you supplementing B12? Also, are you making sure you have enough of other things your thyroid needs such as iodine in your diet?
Yes supplementing with B12. I really don’t understand the iodine needs. There seems to be so much conflicting evidence and I don’t know what my levels are. I am due to be tested soon so I will ask them to do that.
Hiya yes it's complicated, but body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. Problem is it's hard to test and supplement as too much is not good either so maybe look to see about increasing it your diet somehow? You could switch to iodized salt maybe. Organic veggies have a higher chance of not being depleted although still no guarantee. I don't know enough to be honest so you'll have to see where else you might be able to find it. I'm sure some of the vegan sites would have some good advice.Selenium is a must though so maybe three brazil nuts a day - some like the M&S ones are marked as being high in selenium 
No, but my diet has no meat or dairy and I've cut back enormously on fish now with a view to stopping it completely. To bring in replacement protein, I've reintroduced soya after being gluten, soya and dairy free for two years. But to be honest, I'm really not well at present and suspect soya.
There’s so much conflicting evidence about soya isn’t there. It depends who wrote the paper and who was paying them to do it. I’ve always used soya milk and eaten tofu and love it. I’ve recently changed to Alpro Oat milk and I prefer that. From what I’ve read it seems that you are ok to have soya if it’s 4 hours after your medication and that you don’t have excessive amounts of it. So I’m not cutting it out but I won’t be having it until after midday. I’m only recently diagnosed so I’ll have to see how I get on. I hope you feel better.
I’m vegan and gluten free to add another dimension. I supplement with B12. I belong to the vegan association and find the information on their website helpful. I prefer to say I eat a plant based diet as it’s all too easy to get sucked into eating vegan convenience foods. My husband and I cook from scratch and enjoy the variety of tastes and colours. All of my stomach issues have completely disappeared and I feel so much healthier. Shopping takes a bit longer (at the beginning) because of label checking. But if you eat mainly fresh veg and fruit and ignore the ‘vegan treats ‘ it’s not an issue. My only regret is, I wish I had gone vegan years ago. I’ve been vegetarian for many years but my love of cheese, milk and eggs did me no favours, hence my switch to being a vegan. I have to scrutinise all material goods before I buy to ensure no animal products or testing on animals has taken place. Even my heart valve is a mechanical one because I couldn’t bear the idea of having a bovine valve.
Wow a mechanical heart valve! That is awesome. I’ve been vegan for 18 years now and it’s the best thing I ever did. I’ve been slowly changing over to gluten free as my husband is coeliac. I have never really thought about iodine until I was diagnosed as hypo. I have heard so much conflicting info about it. What do you do? I supplement B12 and also take vegan D3. My vit d and iron are always in the low range. I’d appreciate your views on iodine. Thank you
I also eat only a plant based diet. I supplement with iodine (Iodoral) and vitamin B2-B3 Cofactors based on research by Dr. David Brownstein, “Iodine. Why You Need It. Why You Can’t Live Without It.” You can order it on Amazon. He also has some YouTube videos that are very helpful. Based on his practice experience, of the 9,000 patients he has treated, over 90% are iodine deficient. Iodine is used in every cell in the body. It is especially important for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and sex organs. It stimulates cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death-what makes cancer cells deadly is that they are immortal-their cell death mechanism is switched off). Dr. Brownstein recommends an Iodine challenge test to check levels. He gives his patients 50 mg of iodine/potassium iodide and has them collect urine over 24 hours. The amount excreted is used to determine the amount stored in the body. I have been able to reduce my Nature-Throid from 2 grains to 1/2 grain. I highly recommend you take a look at his work. Good Luck!!!
I am on Lugol’s liquid – Iodine / Potassium Iodide. I do the whole protocol.
jeffreydachmd.com/wp-conten...
For how long have you been doing that?
About a month. I am also about 4 weeks reducing my Levo and now about 2 weeks with no Levo (I started reducing Xmas day and stop Levo Jan 25).
Iodine can cause some weight gain and not having the Levo could cause some weight gain so I am not wanting to make my iodine intake too high right now. I need to know how I do without the Levo to decide if I can live without it or not.
I am!!
I don't have any issues at all. It's not about the label on your diet, but about the balance of the diet you eat! Plenty of meat and dairy eaters have a very poor diet with lots of junk food. My diet consists of only natural food with masses of fresh fruit, veg, beans, pulses and nuts. I avoid soya as I believe it's a goitregen, but it's also a processed food so leads to other processed foods imo!
Plan your diet, plan your weekly menu, get some good recipie's, the Vegan Society is a very good start for a balanced weekly menu plan! You'll be good!!
Thank you! I find that people try and make out that because I’m vegan I am going to struggle, which I know is rubbish. I am healthier than a lot of my meat eating friends. I work for Animal Aid so have all the vegan info I need I’m just a bit stumped with iodine. Never really thought about it until now. What do you do?
You need to know if you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies.
If you do then probably best to avoid iodine
drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
If cause is not Hashimoto's then perhaps look at iodine test. SeasideSusie has some info on iodine tests
Go here. They can help. Iodine doesn't have to be avoided. facebook.com/groups/IodineW...
How do you determine if you have Hashimotos disease slowdragon?
Do you also have high thyroid antibodies? You need to know. Did GP or Endo ever test these? If not ask that they are tested.
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first
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I meant to thank you for this reply. I don’t know about my antibodies. Will gp test these routinely? I’m getting all my d, ferritin etc tested next week. I’ll post up the results. Thank you.
To know your existing levels of iodine then go for the non-loading test. There is a loading test, where you take iodine before hand, but that apparently is a flawed test.
You can get a non-loading test done with Genova Diagnostics but it has to be with ThyroidUK as your "practioner" as they don't deal direct with the public. Here's information in how to order the test and obtain the results
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/g...
And from downloading the PDF you will seen that the test is END25 -
Urine Iodine Test:
Specimen requirements: Urine
Cost: £71.00
Order Code: END25
Turnaround time: 5 - 10 days
I found this article, which I think has a healthy approach to the whole issue of soy etc. womenshealthnetwork.com/thy...
This is the approach I take although my love of milk led to a love of soya milk, which I am trying to cut back on.
I personally had a pituitary adenoma for most of my life, which first made my hyperthyroidic, then hypothyroidic as it got bigger; then miraculously disappeared after 11 months as a vegan (apparently this is a thing); so I have secondary hypothyroidism and take Nature Throid for the T3's. I supplement with so much as I also have EDS.
Im vegan and have Hashimotos and since cutting out dairy I have felt so much better. If you have Hashimotos it is advised to have a low iodine diet until it is under control. Iv read supplementing with iodine can make you a whole lot worse x
There are plenty of proteins available. Nobody needs to eat dead animals. I use Garden of Life RAW Organic Protein.
I am vegan and still trying to determine if I am truly hypo. Being UNSUPPLEMENTETED may have caused hypo-like symptoms. TSH levels can be caused by many things in our diet. Supplement for iron, b-12, VitD3, Vit A, Vit k2, zinc, selenium, magnesium, IODINE, and C at the very least. facebook.com/groups/IodineW...
I'm not a big fan of dairy production/cattle rearing/processed meats but I struggle with iron. Anyway, I know many people who do manage ok - a lot of men, in particular, seem to do very well on it. As long as it's got lots of good fats, protein and low in stodge it can be a good move for some.
Proper vegan diets are very high in natural folate and you're better off absorbing what is natural. B6 (found in eggs and organ meats) - best in p-5-p form is also really important with low thyroid as it helps with adrenal function - taken with Magnesium and Zinc, so possibly worth supplementing. B5 is also important to adrenals, but is found in mushrooms - so you'll be ok there. B12 - you know - and we all need to keep this good.
Omega 3's are vital (anti-inflammatory). A diet high in Omega 6 (standard veg oils) and low in Omega 3 has been linked to inflammation, so make sure you're having something like flaxseed or echium seed oil.
Amino acids - I know vegans that supplement the essential ones - vital for collagen formation (along with Vit C). A lot of elderly people who eat a stodgy diet have very low collagen so they get a lot of muscle atrophy when they have hip / knee replacements.
Iron - you already know - my issue is one with conversion of non-haem iron to haem iron - for some of us this conversion doesn't come that easily. This is because of genetic factors that affect our enzymes and also that non-haem iron is often consumed alongside things that will chelate it. You need to get very clever with diet, but if you can accomplish this I'd be interested to learn. If you supplement then take with vit C away from meals, other supplements and meds.
So much info. Thank you. My diet could be better so I think I do need to go back to basics and cut out the junk. I supplement iron by using Spatone. I’ve always struggled with iron deficiency. I am pretty forgetful with my vitamins but when I do take them I feel so much better. I work for an animal campaigning group and we sell lots of vegan chocolate and goodies. Everyday I struggle with the lure of the chocolate cupboard!
I think you should PM Seaside Susie about the iron as I really don't think Spatone is going to be enough if your levels are very low.
I take ferrous fumerate (GP prescribed) and I far prefer it to ferrous sulphate (that contains lactose as a filler - it's almost like they don't know what to do with so much excess dairy they shove it into meds!!!!) The former has no fillers and is best taken with vit C. Does make a difference! You can get a genetic test done that looks at your ability to take up iron - but it's expensive.
I used to take ferrous fumerate but it made me constipated. I might get some more from gp xx
Another thing to consider is to make sure you keep foods containing the following iron-binding substances away from iron rich foods.
Calcium
Green Tea
Turmeric
Milk Thistle
Polyphenols and Tannins
Oxylates and Phytates
and, instead insure you have vit C and beta-carotene (vitamin A) rich foods that'll enhance absorption.
Thank you but it’s definitely not a shame that I am cutting out animal products. Whether an animal is raised in a factory farm or organic/pasture fed they all end up on the killing floor of a slaughter house. I will never be a part of that.
I eat such a tiny amount of it, but since starting it a few weeks ago my health has really gone downhill. Thank you for the into, I will cut soya out again and see if the symptoms abate again.
Here is a decent article on what to eat for thyroid support. Being vegan is said to support a healthy thyroid.
mentalhealthdaily.com/2016/...
Thank you. That's really useful, and reassuring!
Hi Hallebear and others, I am vegan (for over three years) and diagnosed with hypothyroidism over twenty years ago. What an good thread. It's been interesting reading people's comments. I don't avoid soy, kale or broccoli, just eat them later on in the day, and last year switched from soya milk to oat, because I prefer it.
That’s what I’ve stared to do hamble. I prefer oat milk to. This is an interesting read from one green planet onegreenplanet.org/natural-...
Animal foods are not healthy proteins, there is so much unbiased evidence that proves this now beyond any doubt and the current research shows how health promoting soy is, particularly for women - though the focus should be on unprocessed foods.
Samanthavictory,
Soy is definitely not good for us. This is very old fashioned information that it's good for women. It was thought to be at one time, because it can imitate sex hormones. But that it now known to be a bad thing! It is an endocrine disruptor, and the one thing that no one with a thyroid disorder (and no one who doesn't want to develop one) should eat.
Thanks for your post, I'm wondering if we're referring to different things as the most current research certainly points to soy being protective in terms of female health.
For quick reference, this summarises some of the recent-ish research: youtube.com/watch?v=vltbg3N...
However it relates to general female health so if you have any references relating specifically to hypothyroidism then I'd be very interested. I'm a researcher by trade but there's so much out there it's overwhelming!
Hi Samanthavictory, thanks for your very thoughtful reply. I watched the video with interest, but you're right he definitely doesn't mention anything to do with thyroid, not even to critique it.
This is the kind of argument I was aware of in general nutrition before I got sick and started reading about thyroid. I've never researched this topic in detail myself, but many of the most influential thyroid campaigners and writers have talked about it. I've just flicked through a few book indexes, and seen that both Mary Shomon and Janie Bowthorpe have sections about it. I may have got the two ideas mixed up when I say it's the ability to immigrate eostrogen that makes it dangerous.
I've definitely seen the whole industry talked about as one of those corporate hoodwinks, like sugar and smoking not being bad for you. The argument there is that it never has been a traditional food in China and East Asia as we're often told, but is a waste crop, and was only eaten fermented. But that its been spun and sold as a health food in the west.
Although I can't remember where I heard about that, so it's one of the things I try to hold an overall open mind about. There are so many journal articles about thyroid that directly contradict what I see in the forum month after month, and what the few researchers who clearly do understand the thyroids find, and then when you read the methods in detail you can see why they got those strange results. At this point I would be unsuprised if there are enormous numbers of articles supporting soy, regardless of whether it's dangerous or not, particularly as that is the corporate interest. Just as there are enormous numbers of articles denouncing T3 
It's really shown me that to understand something fully you have to read ALL of them.
I'd be really interested to hear what you find if you do decide to go searching, though. I also used to be a researcher. In sociology, and ironically shortly before getting sick, public health 
I don't know about China but I lived in Korea and visited Japan and it's certainly a staple in those countries but they also eat a lot of sea vegetables that are naturally rich in iodine and from my research I'm happy to believe that if you're getting adequate dietary iodine then natural forms of minimally processed, non GMO soy products are beneficial. I had thyroid problems before I started eating tofu and tempeh so I know it wasn't that that caused my problems and I never felt healthier than when I lived a plant based, minimally processed diet in Korea so it doesn't appear to be worsening my issue either. I also note that no one ever mentions the artificial hormones in dairy milk and wonder how many people who have concerns about soy still drink that (or beer or eat meat). However, it is definitely something I'm keeping an eye on as research seems to change almost daily and as you say you're constantly having to weigh up the 'agenda' - I could be completely anti soy next week (though I'd prob still sneak in a tempeh bacon sandwich now and again !
This exchange was playing on my mind a bit, as I'd made such a strong statement but then couldn't back it up 
I'm glad to see a few references have been posted! I'm a bit too sick to research this properly, but idly put the term 'endocrine disruptor' into a search engine. Loads of journal articles and reputable sources came up, and I quickly found that phytoestrogens - estrogen mimicking chemicals that occur naturally in foods - are being investigated alongside much more nasty-sounding man made chemicals like plastics and insecticides.
These papers tend to assume you already know what plants they are talking about, so I tried 'endocrine disruptor soy', and loads came up! Again, many journal articles, a review in Scientific America, other good sites.
This is the first article I grabbed: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2.... It acknowledges the possible benefits equivalent to HRT that the video mentions, but includes that it does unknown damage to the endocrine system, and research is only just starting on this issue.
So it's not at all hard to find excellent sources addressing the dangers of soy. I'm pleased because I was worried I was blowing you something that might be a myth.
The debate is still definitely there and the effects on the endocrine systems is such a tricky one as the tiniest change somewhere has a (currently) immeasurable knock on but almost everything seems to have an affect on the endocrine system and I really trust the team at nutrition facts.org who literally sort through every single study and make what I believe is an unbiased assessment of what's available at the time.
For me, I think the takeaway statement is eat as naturally and widely from nature as possible - it certainly makes more sense to me to eat a few portions of soy rather than meat or dairy that are both full of foreign hormones and endocrine disruptors and that we know without doubt are disease promoting!
All these sources suggest that a once or even twice a week portion of soy as a treat is probably alright. Particularly if you're no longer concerned about fertility and things of that nature. Although they also say the empirical work is only just beginning - so it could turn out to be either a lot worse or a lot better than current estimates. The most questionable is having many portions a week, and particularly for children.
Thyroid wasn't actually mentioned in any of the skimming I did. The danger is with sex hormones so very similar mechanism to the effects in the video. Altho of course that does impact thyroid hormones downstream.
I agree with you that unprocessed fresh plants are definitely better!
I am, fairly recent to strict vegan and now focusing on plant based rather than processed (though I defo do eat some processed still!) The more plant based I eat the more I'm needing to reduce my levo - I'm assuming it's because of the increase in beneficial vitamins and improvement in my gut biome but it's all relatively early days in terms of my diagnosis so can't be sure. Thanks for starting the thread - it's been really informative
Hello Hallebear (lovely name!). Yes, I am vegan (c 25 years) and hypothyroid and now doing very well. I keep soya intake to a minimum and am pretty well gluten free and sugar (all kinds other than naturally occurring in fruit) free too. How about you?
Just been reading advice in here about iodine - supplementation (with kelp and then with Lugol's iodine) made me worse.
And just seen SlowDragon's post - I am believed (by Professor interested in this) to have autoimmune thyroid disease which could explain why it made me worse. Also, the tests for autoimmune thyroid disease done by GPs are unreliable, someone else will explain why if you want to know.
Also, I supplement B12 and hospital recently told me my results show too high - this is not good as you will know because of the disruption to the other B vitamins.
Got to run - late for an appointment! Good luck.
Hi thyr01d, thanks it’s my dogs name, Halle, and also she looks like a bear! It’s great you are doing well. I’ve only been on thyroxine for a month so it’s all very new to me. I only drink soya milk on tea or coffee so happy to switch to Oatly. My husband is coeliac so I cook gluten free anyway. I can be a bit of a convenience food vegan so am having to start from scratch and get to know my slow cooker. It can only be a good thing. I think my next step is to have my blood test and see if the dose I’m on works and then try and find out if i have autoimmune thyroid disease. My colleague was supplementing B12 and she was quite sick because of her high levels. I hope you are back on track now. It’s surprising how unhelpful and ignorant gps can be about the thyroid. I’ve learnt so much from this awesome forum. And it’s nice to know I’m among some good, compassionate company, too.
Thanks for your lovely reply Hallebear - I have my daughter's dog here and I call her bear because she too looks like one, and from the back she looks like a giant white cat!
Mmm, I understand how it is for the GPs, they can't know about everything they are expected to diagnose and treat in this kind of detail.
It is really nice, as you say, to find other compassionate to animals people on here.
Tests for autoimmune thyroid disease done by GP’s are exactly the same as those done any other medical professional. They all order the same tests from the same labs. Who places the order does not matter. The results are the same. You either have antibodies or you don’t.
The two primary thyroid antibodies are TPO/ab and TG/ab, which are for suspected Hashimoto’s. Suspected Grave’s has other antibodies. There’s the lab test, then there’s the corresponding lab range for that test, then there’s whatever your results are. If your results are over the range, then you are positive for elevated antibodies against your thyroid, meaning you have autoimmune thyroid disease. That’s all there is to it.
Hello ShootingStars
I don't wish to be rude but you don't know all about it. A person's results may come back without elevated antibodies even though they do have Hashimoto's, several times. This happened to a family friend.
Also, I am seen by a Professor who has studied this in particular and his Consultant, and they say they are certain I have Hashimoto's even though my test results do not show elevated antibodies.
You can say that if a person has elevated test results that indicates Hashimoto's but it cannot be said that if results are not elevated they do not. That is a mistake GP's make.
May I ask, are you medically qualified?
I would not contradict you as I do not wish to be impolite to you nor to correct you but I feel it is essential that we give each other the best advice on here.
Hello thyro1d,
No worries, you're not being rude. I never claimed to know it all. I don't think anyone else here has either. This thread is full of people correcting each other, as are most posts on this site. Thank you for somewhat qualifying your statement about GP's not being able to diagnose Hashimoto's. You didn't provide any qualifiying details s to that statement in your post that I responded to, but hopefully you can see how I arrived at my response about lab tests and Hashimoto's diagnosis. I would love to hear more about your usual case, as others likely would too.
It's possible to have Hashimoto's symptoms before antibodies become elevated. 90-95% of people with Hashimoto's have thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO/ab). Less than 70% have thyroglobulin antibodies. You and your friend are very rare to have Hashimoto's and no elevated antibodies. Very rare indeed. Was this determined through thyroid ultrasound pattern detection, presence of lymphoid aggregates, transformed thyroid follicular cells, or another method? What made your doctor suspect Hashimoto's and lead him to pursue a method beyond thyroid antibodies to arrive at diagnosis?
Since you are such a rare case that your doctor is certain that you have Hashimoto's but no detection of elevated antibodies, it would be helpful to others struggling for a diagnosis for you to share the details of your rare case, as well as your friend's. I agree that it is essential to give each other the best advice and best options on here. The two of you are such a fascinating case. Are you seeing the same doctor? Please share the timelines and details of your diagnosis. In the absence of thyroid antibodies, what treatment protocol is recommended?
To answer your question, yes. There are many aspects of health, not just this system.
Best,
SS
Thanks ShootingStars for your reply but the point I'm hoping to communicate is that I am not rare, it is not rare for people to be mis-diagnosed as not having Hashimoto's because their antibodies do not come back as elevated.
I have been on here for some years and gladly share all my experiences and the information I have gleaned, though most of that is from others more knowledgeable on this site, like the administrators, Grey Goose, SlowDragon and several others.
If you would like replies to the questions about me personally please will you PM me and I will reply, I don't want to take up space in this thread with it because it's off topic.
I’m not getting in to an argument about why we shouldn’t eat meat. Our ‘ancestors’ did not factory farm their animals M.D. cause them intense suffering. I will never be responsible for the slaughter of a sentient being. Would you eat a dog or cat? Would you drink milk from a dog? Pigs are as intelligent as two year old children and more intelligent than dogs. Anyway, I’m not on being forum to debate meat eating. I’ve just realised that you weren’t aiming that at me but as a vegan I thought I’d stick my oar in.
I am hypothyroid. I am dairy free, vegetarian. I take vitamin B complex. I live on vegetables and soya mostly. I cook my main meal from scratch. I do believe I am low in iron.
"So, why were our ancestors, who ate almost entirely animal proteins, much, much healthier than we are today?????" Huh? We were dead in our 30's and 40's.
"Did we not evolve as humans by eating animal protein??" A protein source is not what causes evolution.
"Soy is dangerous, full of anti-nutrients, bad for the thyroid and estrogenic. Not to mention the fact that most of it is genetically modified!!" Rubbish. I would stay away from processed soy foods like burgers and such but would eat what I wanted of organic soy. Most studies use the processed soy as their study group.
Our ancestors didn't eat mostly animal proteins, this is a well debunked 'paleo' myth.
Thanks for the post but these 'references' are old, cherry picked, poorly designed studies. A review of all available data suggests otherwise though I am always looking for the most recent well rounded studies.
It makes no difference where the meat is from - that is just a marketing ploy. Animals are full of hormones regardless of whether additional ones are added and therefore when you slice a bit off and eat them you get the same hormones disrupting your endocrine system. If this wasn't the case then people wouldn't be consuming porcine derived thyroid products, which many people on this forum do.
The evidence that meat and dairy are disease promoting is indisputable - every reputable health and statistics agency agrees on this. There is no consistent message around soy and the current research suggests that soy has a protective function, particularly for women. All this research is readily available. There is no evidence what so ever that meat and dairy are health promoting, they may have isolated nutrients that are beneficial, but these can be better sourced and assimilated elsewhere and the negative effects of consuming meat or dairy isn't worth making that choice.
I do not wish to get into a personal dispute with you - this is not what this forum is for - and therefore I will not reply further. You can eat as much meat and dairy as you please and that is entirely your choice but it is clear from your remarks that you are not educated in nutrition, human evolution, food production and your opinion is not based on any form of science and I ask you to stop stating your opinion as fact.
I'm vegetarian and struggling
Vegetarian. And when my next batch of pea protein arrives I will be vegan. I've tried eating meat and being vegetarian and being vegan. Vegan more nutrients for sure. I take a multivitamin and occasional b complex and vitd and iodine. None of the eating styles helped me with hypothyroid. And the only thing that gets my ferretin up is taking thyroid meds. Thst is, no amount of meat or and supplements budged my ferretin. But taking thyroid meds does, even when vegetarian.
Hypothyroid sucks. I stopped meds 4 weeks ago and feel like shot. My old meds were ndt aka cow thyroid. So now I'm swapping to levothyroxine on Monday.
Go well xx
hello 108Optimist, just read your post about ferritin only going up when you take thyroid meds. I've been struggling to raise my levels with no success (on prescribed iron for over 2 years) and being vegan I really don't want to revert to meat. Maybe their being stuck is an indicator that my dose is not right yet or something. I think you have helped me, thank-you.
well if it helps, thats awesome.
The place where you may (i may get stuck on levo), is that as long as I am withing the range for T4, the doc will say its fine, and you have to take iron supps (which wont work).
What is really needed is a bigger dose of meds to get the T4 (and T3) up. Ferretin spontaneously increases with that (and without supps!).
I think it may be due to improved absorption. Having too little stomach acid is a classic symptom of hypothyroid.
As is slow intestinal transit. The slow transit allows populations of bacteria to build up in the small and large intestine. The bacteria fave food is iron, so they may be competing for the iron!!
I tested positive for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) via a methane breath test. This means there are bacteria in my small intestine (they should predominantly be the the large intestine, not small).
Remember that slow transit also results in constipation? And hard to pass dry nuggets!! Well when I get my thyroid up,I start pooping, and then I assume flush some of the bacteria out.
Hope that all makes sense!
Take care
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