I have a very restricted diet no dairy, nightshades, beans and pulses, high histamine foods etc... and it occurred to me that now I have started taking T3 do I still need to give soya, gluten, kale etc a miss?
It struck me that if I am effectively bypassing the thyroid I could maybe add a few things back in?
Really trying to find a better dietary balance and concerned about low calcium and protein
I would eat what you like and only exclude something if you are certain it causes problems. A restricted diet is much more likely to cause problems than any unproven limitation.
Many communities around the world live on high amounts of some of the foods you are omiting. e.g dairy in India and Europe, gluten in Europe and North America, beans and pulses in vegetarians.
Hi, thanks for your thoughts, sadly dairy and nightshades I find toxic but I'm hoping that the huge improvement T3 has made to me might also improve my digestive issues?
I have tried adding DAO enzymes when eating really fresh meat or beans which seems to help? I'm adding in actimel now they do a dairy free one.
I make my own sauerkraut but stopped eating it as they say to avoid for your thyroid health
I guess I'm asking do I really care about my thyroid health any more as maybe that horse has bolted?
You will soon become aware if you are developing more hypo symptoms and in that case you can reassess what you are eating. I do avoid soy generally (I am on T3 only) but eat brassicas as without them my diet would be (even more) limited. I have histamine intolerance and believe that developed after excluding grains and dairy from my diet (which I have since re-introduced, apart from wheat/oats that I am definitely reactive to). I agree with Jim that eliminating foods causes problems too as you are removing more nutrients.
Sauerkraut can be really beneficial to your gut microbiome, if you can tolerate it then I think you should continue.
I would change your last question to ' do I really care about my general health?' rather than just your thyroid.
I agree cutting things out can lead to further issues and ultimately deficiencies
Sauerkraut can be really beneficial to your gut microbiome, if you can tolerate it then I think you should continue.
I think you are right and I shall sneak some back in 😉
I would change your last question to ' do I really care about my general health?' rather than just your thyroid.
Yes that is the crux of the issue, my thyroid is likely a dead dodo so move on and help my overall health as best I can
Generally speaking if dairy is an issue for you then gluten will be too. You may not notice it immediately when reintroducing it to your diet but the effects will build up over time.
Some food issues may be MTHFR related. It's a gene which affects how you use folate and B12 and many with this gene mutation need to remove gluten, some others dairy as well and further more, soy. These foods apparently block the pathways of B vitamins so nothing really to do with thyroid. I discovered my soy issue when I removed dairy and bought replacement foods, many which were soy based and I've never been so ill!
Over time I would think that T3 will help your gut issues but it really depends what is causing them. Have you removed ALL high histamine foods, btw Sauerkraut is very high histamine so would be a bad idea to reintroduce. Have you done a low FODMAP elimination diet?
mastzellaktivierung.info/do...
There are now suppliers that stock low histamine meat: google.com/search?client=fi...
I've never removed goitrogenic foods from my diet. I don't ever eat them in excess and usually they are cooked well which I think reduces the effect.
Lastly, I can't see where you've posted your thyroid or vitamin results. Are they absolutely optimal now? For best results they need to be. What are they?
Hi Jaydee
Over time I would think that T3 will help your gut issues but it really depends what is causing them. Have you removed ALL high histamine foods, btw Sauerkraut is very high histamine so would be a bad idea to reintroduce. Have you done a low FODMAP elimination diet?
I'm hoping this might be the case, I have over the last 3 years removed all high histamine foods without realizing that's what they were! It's such a random mix like avocado, spinach and beef...
There are now suppliers that stock low histamine meat: google.com/search?client=fi...
I did try some hangar beef the other day (straight from the butcher on killing day 🤯) along with some DAO enzyme and it was ok! Generally stick to organic chicken which I use from the freezer... kinda gone off fish with the state of the oceans and mercury content 😕
I did initially start with low FODMAP and added in other irritants so I have a pretty comprehensive no go list... just spoken with GP and his advise was if you react to something better to avoid and supplement any shortfalls 🤔
I don't find gluten to much of an issue thankfully so I make long slow sourdough so I at least get some dietary calcium... I find barley is the toxic one! Especially malted which is sad as it's such a great flavour 😒
Some food issues may be MTHFR related. It's a gene which affects how you use folate and B12 and many with this gene mutation need to remove gluten, some others dairy as well and further more, soy. These foods apparently block the pathways of B vitamins so nothing really to do with thyroid. I discovered my soy issue when I removed dairy and bought replacement foods, many which were soy based and I've never been so ill!
I found the same! Interestingly my sister (2 years younger) who is getting to the point of needing Levo though not Hashi's experimented with this as she was vege and eating a lot of soy products.....cut them out and she dropped from TSH 4.4 too 3.2 added them back in TSH now over 5.3! Not very scientific I know due to fluctuations but she felt a whole lot better without the soy! But probably needs to concede and go on to meds 😔
Brother also recently started on Levo, not seen him for a while, turns out he is a total goldfish and had to take early retirement as they thought he had early onset dementia! I told him to get on and get his thyroid checked again and he is gradually coming back to life... he has been borderline for years but not picked up on 😡
Lastly, I can't see where you've posted your thyroid or vitamin results. Are they absolutely optimal now? For best results they need to be. What are they?
Vits and ferritin all low 'normal' June 2022.. I started T3 and supplements early August tested thyroid levels after 7 weeks TSH 0.01 T4 15.7 T3 7
So reduce T3 slightly and planning to test everything next week if I can work it around postal strikes
Sorry I do go on don't I 🙄 but it seems rude not to answer 😆
Vits and ferritin all low 'normal' June 2022
If you've been on this group long enough, you should by now realise the emphasis on OPTIMAL vitamin and ferritin results. If your levels are low, you won't be able to use your thyroid hormone properly and will end up with remaining symptoms despite optimal thyroid results.
Low vitamin levels can cause worse food intolerances and also symptoms in their own right. Have you been supplementing to raise levels?
Yes I found out all I know to be honest from this site and started supplementing to get to optimal levels in August but haven't tested yet as I thought I'd give myself 3 months as it can take time to get things moving in the right direction...
Hoped that adding T3 would also help get my other levels up.... it has made a huge difference in bringing me back to life but there is going to be some tweaking over the coming months and years as levels change
Sorry Eeyore, I realise I'm going away from your post but how did you get on with your endo appointment?
Hi Hedgeree, not seeing till early December but have just been speaking with a new (Old...sounded like Jacob Rees-Mogg) GP who was far more knowledgeable and said I might struggle to get what I need from the Endo but has arranged bloods for before hand so I can put a good case and agreed that supplementing to increase my iron, B12, Vit D and calcium was as good idea and that on the whole I need to balance 'what is available on the NHS' and self medicating.... which I thought was very honest sage advise for a change 🙃
Soy: best avoided because it impedes the uptake of thyroid hormone by the cells. Soy, in general, is not a health food, it has many downsides, so even if I weren't hypo, I wouldn't eat it.
Gluten: gluten doesn't really have any effect on your thyroid, that is a misunderstanding by those that insist gluten-free is the only way to go. The thing is, a lot of Hashi's people have Coeliac Disease. And, even if they don't have CD, they often have gluten-sensitivity, which means that eating gluten causes a lot of symptoms. Did you find that cutting out gluten helped? If it did, then I would stay gluten-free, if I were you. If it didn't, try eating gluten again and see what happens.
Kale: no reason why you shouldn't eat kale - if you feel so inclined! lol This is part of the goitrogen myth. Ignore it. If eating kale doesn't make you feel bloated, or whatever, there's no reason why you shouldn't eat it. It won't have any effect on your thyroid or your thyroid hormone replacement.
I make my own sauerkraut but stopped eating it as they say to avoid for your thyroid health
Who says that? Not anyone that knows anything about the subject. sauerkraut is very good for you generally, being fermented. And, as for thyroid health, if you're already diagnosed as hypo it's a bit late to be thinking about that! That ship has sailed and the thyroid is no-longer in the equation. So, enjoy your sauerkraut - I do! 
Excellent advise as always GG!
I don't like soy either!
I feel far worse on gluten free even if I can find some that doesn't have potato starch in it as I find buckwheat and amaranth intolerable!
If I avoid barley, wheat and oats are ok... I tend to go with long slow sourdough or make it with sprouted wheat and overnight oats just to make it easier on the gut?
Sauerkraut is a histamine issue but I think I shall sneak some in as it has so many other benefits and I am trying to benefit my gut biome.... as like you say my thyroid health is like flogging a dead donkey is my thinking too 🤗
Well, being gluten-free never did anything for me, so I don't bother with it.
Does eating sauerkraut make you feel bad? If not, then there's no reason why you shouldn't eat it.
I've been told histamine intolerance is like starting with an empty bucket and if it overflows you have issues!
So it's not so much what but how much overspills the bucket! Which I thought was a brilliant explanation because I could often eat something one day but if I had the same the next I would feel awful.... overfilled my bucket! 🤢
So back to the old adage 'everything in moderation' especially when dealing with high histamine foods
Yes it's the same for me with histamine - 'bucket' theory explains it nicely. Actually I saw it in action a couple of weeks ago. I had Covid and literally couldn't eat anything for a week. Wasn't even hungry. All my histamine symptoms vanished. They gradually returned as I started eating again. It was nice to have a break!
I know exactly how you feel! Sometimes I just don't know what to eat as I just want to get off the merry-go-round.... so, I eat a bowl of gruel! Which sounds and feels Dickensian maybe they were on to something 🙄
You can always try goat kefir. The molecular structure is different and many that cant tolerate cow do well on it. I have. I try to eat sauerkraut everyday and its been good for my microbiome. Sardines with the bones are a good source of calcium
Hi Imaaan,
Thanks, I've ordered some with Fridays shopping 🤞... though it's the casein as well as the lactose that I can't tolerate but I'm very willing to give it a try... I used to make my own kefir and yoghurt and I still mourn its loss, I am back on the sauerkraut and making apple cider vinegar.
I'm just not sure about tinned fish and the histamine levels? I might try some next time the dogs are having them for their tea 😉🤗
If you're not familiar with goat milk, I'll let you know that it has an acquired taste. I had to try 2 different other brands before settling on my current. Hope it works out and let me know how you get on with it. Another option is camel milk which is available in the UK. It has a lot of benefits and its structure is completely different where you wouldn't have to worry about its casein or lactose.
Lucky you for being able to make your own kefir. God willingly I'll get the courage to try it.
😆...thought it might! The one coming is Odesea? I struggle with the whole food miles issue and try to source organic, local, seasonal if I can 😇
I'm not familiar with Odesea because I'm in Canada. Nothing beats local, seasonal and organic but sometimes you have to let go of those principles a little to help yourself when you're in a bind. If there was affordable camel milk in Canada, I'd jump on it.
You mentioned being interested in glandulars on another post, I'm currently using beef thyroid from ancestral supplements along with my thyroid meds. They source from New Zealand. Another brand is Nxgen.
Oh, forgive me I'm new to this whole forum thing and that I could be conversing with someone the other side of the world 🤣
Kefir is really easy to make if you have access to ideally unhomogenised milk
Thanks for the heads up with the other brands available I shall keep on with the research.... how do you feel it benefits you?
Edit... Bear Grylls endorsed... hmm... not sure how I feel about that! He'll eat anything 🤣🤣🤣
I do like the idea of this... previous generations seem considerably healthier, and they made much better use of organ meat
Across the pond 
Kefir isn't difficult to make I just lack the confidence of making it since I have digestive issues. Too scared to trust myself that I will get it right and not give myself food poisoning.
Noelnoel is the one that alerted me to both of them. I purchased the Ancestral supplements because my doctor refused to renew my t4 meds due to my TSH finally dipping below range. I had a lil t4 left over so bought the glandular thyroid to help out. I've been on it for less than a month but so far so good. When I first dropped my t4 to 6.25 mcg my body wasn't liking the change but after adding 3 pills of the beef glandular my symptoms settled down. So it seems to be doing something in my body.
That's great to know thanks, 6.25mcg is a tiny amount of T4 you are obviously doing something right 😉
I've just received my next experiment Total Amino, free form, full spectrum protein... now I need to go read the book to remember why and where it fits in🤣
I'm hoping it's going to improve my recovery after exercise as I'm keen to get jogging again.... hated it when I used to do it, but now I haven't been able to do it for 18 months as it wipes me out ..... 🙄
I've just received my next experiment
^^^ Lol....seems like I'm not the only lab rat on here. Hope the amino acid works out for you and dont forget to update us. It might be your missing link and you find yourself running marathons like an Olympian.
Btw...you have my two favorite characters on the show as your avatar. Loved their opposite personalities as a child
Underactive thyroid and what food to avoid
When do I take my T3?
No thyroid, on T3, do I need T4? 
