Spirulina - not recommended for autoimmune thyroiditis

[RoadTrippin]

Like many suffering from Hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroiditis preceding my diagnosis I had severe stress induced IBS, which continued to flare up when my stress levels did. I've leran loads here including the supplements I need to take to improve my health because Hashi sufferers often have difficulty absorbing nutrients even from a healthy diet. I've just discovered the Nutribullet (juicer) and the fantastic recipes making it easy to take onboard healthy greens, nuts and seeds which it "extracts" - pulps - so it's it's already easier to digest, highly recommend this to anyone who wants to eat healthier especially vega/vegetarians.

However, mine came with a free pack of Spirulina which is marketed as the most nutritious food on the planet! I did a bit of research and it is NOT recommended if you have any autoimmune disease, Ms and others all listed, and confirmed by Izabella Wentz as likely to worsen thyroiditis, obviously I should have realised as I'd heard to avoid iodine and this is seaweed based. Be interested to know if anyone else has favourite recipes for the Nutibullet?

[msk1648]

No, I cannot help you.

[magsyh]

Iodine is rather controversial. Some say yes, some say no. Be careful of raw veg too in your nutrabulit things like raw broccoli cabage and cauliflour not good for those who are already hypo. I use iodine carefully as i have an iodine deficiency. This has caused my underactive thyroid. At the end of the day our bodies need iodine. Thyroxine has no way enough. I eat a couple of brazil nuts a day and i use a small amount of lungols iodine on my skin. It dissapears within hours. I do not have hashis so cant really comment on the effects the experts agree to disagree.

Its up to us we are all individuals so who knows?

[helvella]

You will find a complete mess if you try to understand spirulina.

Half the world claims it is high in iodine.

Half the world claims it is low in iodine.

Half the world claims it is seaweed-based.

Half the world claims it is algae-based.

Yes - the arithmetic could imply four halves. Which is about as sensible and clear as the information about spirulina.

My take is that most spirulina will be low in iodine unless grown in a medium with relatively high iodine levels. It is an algae rather than a seaweed.

Finally, the most difficult single thing appears to be stomaching it.

[RoadTrippin in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvalla, nothing's simple is it!!! If it's hard to digest I'll keep well clear, I had decided not to use it anyway, possibly give to my vegan daughter, as Izabella Wentz seems to know her stuff and advised against Hashi sufferers using it.

[samaja]

Just like with iodine it is a very individual thing. I had spirulina supplements and though I have Hashi's I never had any problems with them, same with iodine. But I have everything tested by my kinesiologist and it's a pretty accurate picture of what you can/need to take at a given time and when to get off the supplement/diet as well.