FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS

[DubStar]

Hello, Do the recommendations for foods to avoid for hypothyroidism (eg uncooked cruciferous) apply if you are medicated with ERFA? Same question for thyroid helpful foods and supplements.

I have been on Armour then EFRA for over 2 decades, tried to move to Metavive Pro which hasn't worked and am now back on ERFA.

I am aware of the thyroid eating/supplements recommendations so only need advice on whether it makes any difference if I am on ERFA.

(I don't need general advice on healthy eating etc)

Thanks

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Hi there, this is a very good question and beyond the main culprits of absorption or leaky gut health it can be quite individual.

The common ones for Autoimmune are:

Dairy and gluten - but not everyone struggles with these. Slightest contamination and I'm rushing to the loo.

Commonly avoided when taking Levothyroxine/Liothyronine - Soy and anything iodised/iodine (it can be in almond milk and salt products). I avoid soy, miso, tofu, teriyaki, sea weeds. Others swear iodine helps them, for me it makes me feel hungover without the party.

Others people worry about - goitrogens (cruciferous as you say, just eat cooked, I occasionally have some raw cauli or bit out of the middle of a brocolli spear as I'm cooking). I tend not to worry about these, but others do, I'm not the goitery type my thyroid is 'small' if I was I might think differently.

The rest is very individual, lots of members struggle with FODMAPs (legumes/dried beans/garlic/onions for some) and digestive complaints, lots also have issues with Histamine and can't tolerate certain foods. e.g Beef/tuna for some, looks like paprika is on that list for me. Sulphites too - I can't drink wine and eyes will puff up with a sulphitey sausage.

I've got lots of alternatives now - I get Coconut Aminos instead of Soy/Teriyaki.

Flora do a plant butter (blue writing on beige wrapper) that is just like butter in a block, and heats/bakes/cooks properly.

Flora do a plant cream (single and double) that is heat proof and makes wonderful potato gratin or peppercorn sauce, or just use cold for pouring. Hubby can't taste the difference.

Magnum have started doing a vegan icecream - blooming wonderful!

Hope that helps, was there anything specific that was worrying you?

[greygoose]

Recommendations for cruciferous veggies don't apply to anyone at any time. It's a myth/bad science/web of misunderstandings/whatever - unless you live exculsively on cabbage soup no-one is ever going to consume enough goitrogens (because they are what are supposed to cause the problems) to cause a problem.

What is helpful where supplements are concerned is taking only what you need, and avoiding things you don't need, like iodine and calcium. More is never better and can be worse than too little.

As for food, avoid artificial sweeterners, unfermented soy derivitives and highly processed seed oils, and eat what agrees with you. After all, one man's healthy diet is another man's poison. And there's nothing that is specifically 'good' for thyroid.

[DubStar in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated 😊

[greygoose in reply to DubStar]

You're very welcome.