I'm taking Levothyroxine and I'm interested in how diet can help hypothyroid symptoms - any suggestions/advice/experience?

[Jackie]

Hi When I was over weight my endo said that the Diabetes diet was always best for thyroid disease. You can look it up, Diabetes UK and the American equivalent ( which is best ) ,. Basically few potatoes, not much fruit,especially grapes high fibre bread with seeds. Sweet potatoes and veg good especially green veg.If over weight make sure you have had a Free T3 tests as T3 lowers the weight normally and also effects the TSH ( lowers it ).

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Thank you Jackie.

I'm recently diagnosed and have become 3 stone overweight - nearly 1/3rd of my body weight put on during the time I was undiagnosed. I DO need to lose weight, but suspect this may be difficult with hypothyroidism. I'll look at the Diabetes diet...

I found out soya products were not good, so gave up eating this and as a vegetarian I had been eating a lot of soya. I've improved a lot since giving up soya and saw the programme 'Food Doctor' so wondered what else might help...

I haven't had a T3 test done but will ask on my next visit to the doctor.

[poing]

I have been hearing a lot lately about how a diet low in allergenic foods can help with autoimmune conditions. The main culprit seems to be gluten, but grains in general are not recommended. If you have Hashi's or Graves then you might want to investigate this further.

Wheat based products - even the supposedly healthy high fibre stuff - can apparently raise blood sugar as much or even more than regular sugar, so cutting them out can also be really helpful with weight control.

[Hidden in reply to poing]

Thank you poing - I haven't investigated gluten and will look into this. xx

[chlorophyle]

I have not persisted in taking levothyroxine. Did not like the tightness in chest, insomnia and headaches it gave me. When I stopped eating wheat my tiredness disappeared and TSH went from 53 to 6.6. Have not had it tested lately.

[Hidden in reply to chlorophyle]

Thank you chlorophyle. I've responded well to levothyroxine and my insomnia has gone and I sleep well at last. I will look into the wheat link - this will be hard as I love bread!

[Hidden in reply to chlorophyle]

When you had the headache and insomnia and tightness in chest or meant your dose was to high and need to let Dr know so they can lower your dosage. Hope this helps.

[zarjaz]

Hi Liza,

Yes, I gave up soya too.

I've been on Levo 75 mcg for 3 years but got increasingly tired over the past year. I saw a nutritionist/herbalist in July and she recommended the following:

Drink more water, breathe deeply, do 20 mins gentle exercise a day and learn to relax.

Give up gluten, caffeine, alcohol, smoking (of course), all sugar and dairy and eat a high protein low carb diet.

She also recommended some supplements: Pantothenic Acid (B5), to support adrenals, BioCare Mindlinx probiotic with L-glutamine to heal gut lining, and milk thistle / liquorice / garlic tincture to balance blood sugar levels and reduce stress.

I did most of this except haven't managed to give up all sugar and dairy (especially after giving up smoking in October) and over the past 3 weeks have indulged in all sorts of gluten/alcohol/sugar/cream/choc etc. But am getting back on it TOMORROW with a full on cleanse.

I really believe the dietary stuff has made a difference to my energy levels - in the Summer I was exhausted all the time and stopped work, I was having to sleep for two hours most afternoons and sleeping at least 10 hours every night. But for the past month or so I've not been sleeping in the day and just not feeling so desperately tired all the time.

I hope any of this is useful to you and good luck with your symptoms,

Zarjaz xx

[Hidden in reply to zarjaz]

thank you Zarjaz - I will also try some of your suggestions. I'm feeling so much improved since I stopped the soya that I'm wanting to look at other foods too. Congrats on giving up the smoking!

[zarjaz in reply to Hidden]

Have you heard of the book 'Honestly Healthy'? I've just ordered it.A friend had it for Christmas and it looks great. Dietary advice and recipes. There's a lot in it about alkalising too.

[Hidden in reply to zarjaz]

No - but I'll google it! Thanks!

[poing]

I reckon that pretty much every nutritionist dishes up the same dietary formula... no wheat, dairy, sugar, caffeine or alcohol, and the more enlightened ones say no soy as well.

If you feel motivated enough and can find plenty of alternative foods to eat, then go for it. But it can be very restricting, and there's no point taking things to that extreme if it just makes you miserable and stressed and hungry because you can't find anything to eat.

I've found plenty of reasons to give up gluten and soy, and try to completely eliminate those foods myself. It's easier to do if you really believe it's necessary.

To my mind, a little sugar or caffeine or alcohol are probably okay for most people... it's just a question of degree. Since all carbs are digested into sugars, it's not really about how much sugar you eat, but how many carbs. The occasional splurge on something with a bit of sugar isn't likely to be a big deal if the rest of your diet is normally healthy and not high carb.

As for dairy, I think it's way more complicated and that people can have moderate amounts of dairy if their digestion is working well. (Unless you have a true dairy allergy then abviously you couldn't have it). Butter and cream have virtually no dairy protein (casein) in them; yoghurt and some cheeses are very low in lactose (I think); and ghee has neither casein or lactose, but does contain fat soluble vitamins and butyrate, which are good for you.

[Hidden in reply to poing]

This is really sound advice and I agree that becoming extreme about nutrition may not be a good idea.

I was given no advice about nutrition so have been looking into it by internet websites. My diet is very good as a general rule anyway and giving up soy was easy. After the success of giving up soy I just wondered about experiences others had had with nutrition as an aid to the condition.

I will look at gluten next as it has been mentioned several times, but I'll remember not to go overboard.

Losing a bit of weight would be good as my BMI is now too high and my new body shape doesn't feel like me, but I'm not wanting to lose all the weight I gained when undiagnosed as this may be difficult, but I'd like to be within the healthy BMI and I'd like my clothes to do up again!

[Heloise in reply to Hidden]

Liza, I think you'll find vegetables in the cabbage family depress the thyroid. They aren't as bad if they are cooked. You can Google food that enhance or depress thyroid function. It's a shame since fermented foods are excellent probiotics.

[Hidden in reply to Heloise]

I'm now cooking all these veggies to beyond the crunch stage as I'd heard that this is ok. Bit of a shame really, as you say probiotics but also vit C

[bulldog]

can an underactive thyroid affect hair loss

[Hidden in reply to bulldog]

Apparently - yes... but it's not really relevant to my question ;o)