Keto for poor conversion

[Molly139]

I’m on a journey, through recommendations on here to optimise my vitamin levels to improve my conversion. I’ve been gluten and dairy free for 5 years.

What are your opinions on Keto? I’ve read Keto is good for thyroid function also read low carbs are bad for thyroid. What are your views?

[Lalatoot]

virtahealth.com/blog/does-y...

This article discusses diet, keto, thyroid

[Molly139 in reply to Lalatoot]

If I’ve understood this correctly: in summary a high carb diet is not required to maintain normal thyroid function, is that right?

[Delilahmy]

I have been hypothyroid for 35 years. Just started t3 last year. Constantly getting things changed tweaked etc.

I also have done Keto for 3 years. (A couple of breaks here and there). I had not heard that low carb is bad for thyroid and don’t understand why it would be. Carbs are generally of low to no nutritional benefit to the body. Out of the macros (food groups proteins fats and carbs) carbs are lowest benefit. Good luck

[Molly139 in reply to Delilahmy]

Did you notice any conversion or symptom improvements going Keto? Good luck with the T3 x

[Miffie]

I have been hypothyroid since childhood and T2 diabetic for around 15 years. I eat a low carb diet and it hasn’t adversely affected my thyroid function or lack of it. Now in my seventies I have a lifetime of dieting behind me and have found that cutting carbs is for me the most enjoyable way to eat. I usually manage under 50g of total carbs in a day. It’s seldom over 100 total carbs. It’s so long since I looked at diet advice I can’t remember how low keto is. I’d struggle to go under total 50 everyday. Good luck.

[Molly139 in reply to Miffie]

Thank you Miffie, that’s give me confidence to go ahead

[Miffie in reply to Molly139]

Hope it goes well. I find much less bloated feeling.

[radd]

Molly139,

I think the success of keto depends on how many years you were left undiagnosed hypothyroid, if you have lingering adrenal health issues and/or elevated thyroid antibodies.

Unmanaged hypo/hashi can skew our systems to such an extend we may never fully recover. I have read instances where blood glucose levels were reduced so far in the keto state that enough insulin wasn’t produced for good thyroid hormone conversion.

There is a piece of research showing healthy keto eating cyclists whom T3 levels fell after two weeks. In health their body were able to positively readjust by raising TSH to increase thyroid hormone levels but if meds are for total replacement there would not be any window of compromise but to introduce/increase T3 meds. And here it becomes complicated because T3 can raise blood sugars, the exact opposite of what you are hoping to achieve.

Thyroid antibodies are (unwanted) inflammation there to mop up what is destroyed but also cause other negative chains of event in the body. They are a contributory factor and signify the extent of chronic inflammation that could make the alkaline pH difficult to maintain, even inducing higher levels of inflammation.

In ketos initial stages your body will launch into gluconeogenesis to make energy before ketosis. When sugar levels dip cortisol (glucocorticoid hormone) is increased to ensure blood sugars remain stable (especially for the brain) by converting fat and protein into sugar. Evolving into true ketosis can take time and if your adrenals aren’t strong and healthy, this will compromise them further.

Some members have done well on keto and some have wished they never started it. I personally wouldn’t try it but eat a low carb diet. My adrenals went through hell for many years and now optimised thyroid meds are working well and cortisol levels have ‘normalised.

I would say remain mindful.

[Molly139 in reply to radd]

Than you Radd for taking the time to answer, you’ve given me some interesting and important information. I agree with you I’m going to try low carb first and take it from there.