Hypo - Thyroid

[Hockeychic]

Hi everyone, I have been here before and I am back.

I am going to Disney in late October and am trying to shed a few pounds so I can keep up with my family.

What is the best way to eat if you are hypo-thyroid, I have heard the Zone is one of the best.....from my hypo - sisters out there what has worked for you.

Thanks

[QuilterInVA]

My MD and RDA put me on 6 mini meals per day, lower carbs and more protein - works well. It's pretty similar to South Beach or Zone. I have 4 servings of starches, 8 servings of protein, 2 fruit, 3 milk and all the veggies I want.

[DaisyMaisy]

Hi,
My doctor never said anything about changing my diet. I am doing Weight Watchers though and she knows that I am. I am interested in hearing more about what foods are best. DM

[Viking mom]

Hi everyone!
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism approx. 12 years ago. Anyone else on lifetime medication?
I live in Norway and there isn't much information about our disease. Are there any foods we should try to avoid besides the normal taboos such as sweets and high fat foods?
Hockeychick mentioned The Zone. Why did your doctor recommend it? Do certain foods in that diet help to increase your metabolism? Quilter in VA recommended eating 6 mini meals / day. Does that also help to increase your metabolism?
Very few women in Norway have Hypothyroidism, so not much information is provided here. My doctor recommended that I make healthier food choices, reduce my portions, and take a 30 min + walk everyday. Basically, she advised me to lose weight gradually this time and to eat with my family. She did not mention any preferred foods for people with our disease.
Another question for you. Have you ever heard of a connection between Hypothyroidism and Rosascea? I developed Rosascea simultaneously with H. Anyone else have both H & R?
Viking Mom

[QuilterInVA]

A great website for thyroid info is www.thyroid.about.com. Limiting soy and raw cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli and other foods in that family is a good idea. They inhibit the thyroid function further. Higher protein is also good and stick to the "good carbs" - whole grains, sweet potatoes, fruit. Avoid white sugar, flour, pasta, rice, potatoes etc. The six meals a day keeps your thyroid funtioning at an even pace.

[Viking mom]

Thanks, Susan for the website address. Much appreciated. The precise foods to be avoided are the foods we most often eat in our family, such as potatoes and rice. Who would ever have guessed that broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage were vegetables to avoid? They are so healthy for us otherwise.
Viking Mom

[DaisyMaisy]

I am going to check out the website, thanks Susan. I was told that I would be on the medicine for life but nothing about diet. I have noticed that since I have started taking medicine I do not have as much cramping with my periods although the flow has pretty much stayed the same. Anyone else notice any changes anywhere?? DM

[Viking mom]

Greetings from Norway!
Do any of you have Rosascea as well? When I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism 12 years ago, I was also diagnosed with Rosascea simultaneously. Both hit me while I was pregnant with my second child. Anyone else become afflicted with H. and R. while pregnant?
Viking Mom

[trishiau]

Hey all, I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid 2 weeks ago. My doctor quickly put me on Synthroid which I have to take for a lifetime. He didn't mention anything to me about low carbs or dieting once I was diagnosed but he has always tried steering me that way. Also, I have heard that after two weeks on Synthroid, the weight is supposed to just melt away....is this not true? Anyone else on Synthroid? What were your results?

[petunia]

I've been on Synthroyd for almost 4 years and the pounds have NOT just melted away. It's a constant battle of the bulge for me. I have to lose more than 60lbs and it's hard. I've re determined myself to stay on W.W now, it's been 3 wks and I'm only down 2lbs but that's 2 lbs I don't have to tote around anymore. Of course my fat has had time to get very attached to me, so it really doesn't want to leave. Haha

[DaisyMaisy]

I have been on meds for 4 months and have not lost any weight. My dr. also did not say anything about avoiding certain foods. etc. DM

[QuilterInVA]

Most doctors don't know much about nutrition. You have to ask for a referral to a Registered Dietician to get real information.

Weight has not just fallen off for me, either, but I can probably gain faster than anyone!

[petunia]

I went to weight in yesterday and regained half of the two pounds I thought I'd lost. Didn't do anything different, but poof that stupid pound missed me, so it came back. Maybe I can lose it again this week.

[chele2004]

I was told for many years that my thyroid was normal. I knew that was not the case! I did my research a few months ago and found a list of symptoms because deep down I felt something was not right , losing weight was a struggle, insomnia, hair loss etc. So i did my research on the internet and found a list of the best Thyroid Dr's listed by state. I made an appointment and had the necessary tests and guess what? I WAS RIGHT!! MY THRYOID WAS VERY LOW, IN FACT THE DR. MADE A JOKE AND SAID "IT WAS ASLEEP"..HEHEHE..Never give up and always get a second or even a third opinion if you know something isn't right. The Drug my Dr. chose for me is Armour. I have been taking it for 2 months with gradual increases so far Im up to only 30mg's I think he may up the dose again. NO weight loss here!..But with WW I KNOW I will accomplish my goals:D

[petunia]

Your right, with W.W (or any other good diet) and determination I know I'll lose. It may be slow but I'm determined to do this for myself. I told my husband the other day that I'm giving myself a year and, if I don't lose a significant amount I told him I would get lyposuction. I walk at least 30 min. a day not always a mile but I try to do at least a mile. But, 30 min regardless. Funny thing is, I havent lost on the scale but, I feel less bloated so that's good anyway.

[petunia]

LOst 2.8 lbs this week, I'm a happy camper today. If I move quickly maybe it won't find me by next week.

[redracer33]

Hi!
I'm 36 years old, and was diagnosed as having Hypothyroidism as well as a cyst on my thyroid in 1989. In 1991, I had to have one-half of my thyroid removed because the biopsy of this cyst came back "abnormal". Like others here, I will be on Synthroid for life.

As far as diet goes, I find that a diet lower in carbs works well for me. Weight loss is slow, of course, but I feel terrific. I read somewhere on the www.thyroid.about.com website that persons with thyroid problems need at least 50-60 grams of carbohydrate to convert thyroid hormones T4 to T3. If I can find the article again, I will post the link for those who may be interested in reading it.

Sincerely,
Kelly

[petunia]

I would love to read it. I go to that site but never saw anything about 50-60 grams of carbs. I don't know much about low carb diets, I've scanned through them but can't seem to figure out what I can and can't eat.
With Hypo there are soooo many foods we should eat in moderation that it really hard. For years I ate all the 'free' veggies that W.W said I could then found out there no good for us.

[petunia]

I forgot to mention that it's been 7 weeks of w.w and I'm down 10lbs. I've stopped eating radishes, limit my green vegetables (except lettuce) and I've tried to avoid soy as much as possible. Bet, finding products that don't contain soy is virtually impossible.
I also limit my intake of peaches and pears and gave up banana's.

[redracer33]

Well, I'm having a difficult time finding the article on about.com about needing at least 50 grams of carbs for T4/T3 conversion. However, I did find it mentioned on the message boards a few times.

So....I am writing to the Thyroid Expert at MayoClinic.com to see what his thoughts and opinions are about this topic. Hopefully, he'll respond soon. Stay tuned.... :-)

Kelly

[ceejay52]

I' m curious to know why we as hypothyroid patients should limit their green vegetables. Is because of the carb content?

Jeanette

[petunia]

I don't know either, I just typed in foods not to eat when Hypo and this whole list came up. I decided to try and eat my veggies in moderation and it seems to work for me. I don't know for how long it will last and maybe I would have lost this week anyway. I'll try anything to lose this weight. Short of starving myself. HaFoods to Avoid for hypothyroid


SUGGESTED should be eaten cooked and in moderation, unless otherwise noted to avoid it entirely:
Foods high in copper can suppress thyroid activity. These include: avocadoes, liver, soybeans and walnuts.

Almonds, Asparagus, Babassu (a palm-tree coconut fruit popular in Brazil and Africa)

Bamboo shoots ,Bok choy ,Broccoli , Brussels sprouts ,Cabbage , Cauliflower , Chick peas

(garbanzos) , Flaxseed (this is up for debate, do a google.com search)

Garlic , Groundnuts , Herbs of the Barbarea and Residea families , Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi,
Leafy greens (turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens) , Legumes (beans and peas)

Lima beans , Linseed , Maize , Millet (cooking seems to INCREASE goitrogenic effect)

Mustard greens , Nectarines ,Onion, Peaches, Peanuts (roasted are probably okay)

Pears , Pine nuts (pignoli), Processed meats ,Radishes , Rapeseed (oil) - from which canola is derived , Rutabaga, Spinach

SOY in all it's various forms -- AVOID

Strawberries , Swede, Sweet potatoes , Swiss chard, Turnip greens, White turnip ,Wasabi

Watercress



I hope it's ok for me to post this here.

[DaisyMaisy]

HI,
Why did you stop eating bananas?? I don't eat alot of the veggies listed above but I don't know if I can give up sweet potatoes. I am glad to see that carrots where not on the list. DM

[petunia]

I stopped eating the bananas because, in Mary Shamon's diet guide it suggested it. So I'll try and see what happens.

[DaisyMaisy]

I think there is alot about having hypothroid that I don't know about and I am finding some things on the internet confusing. I don't have the money to see a dietician so any information that you can pass on to me is appreciated. DM

[petunia]

I don't know much myself. I surf the net and do a lot of try and miss. My doc never said anything about diet, but from reading about it I think that some foods should be avoided. Of course, what works for you may not work for me. So there is a lot of hit and miss. Since I started w.w again 11 weeks ago I have lost 11lbs. But, I do limit my vegies now something I never did before.

[QuilterInVA]

I do work with a dietician and she told me to limit broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and veggies like that because they inhibit the thyroid hormones from being utilized properly. Cooking does something to them, so if you limit raw that's good. Bananas and sweet potatoes are very high carbs. She has me on no more than 100 grams of carbs a day. High protein and low fat. No white starches or sugar. I've done really well with it.

[petunia]

I'm sorry I don't understand your sentence, do you mean limit eating them raw or limit eating them cooked? I'd be happy just to be able to eat them at all. Cabbage is one of my favorite's and broccoli is a close second, then peas, green beans and corn. God I hate this disease.

[DaisyMaisy]

I eat a banana a day for my heart, I remember the drs. telling Grandma to do that. I might eat one sweet potate a month, two in November and December (LOL). I don't eat corn or peas because of the carbs. so mostly its a can of green beans and raw baby carrots. I do eat manderian orange slices and applesauce or an apple a day also. But knowing what is better for me cooked and whats better for me raw is confusing.

[DaisyMaisy]

I was doing Weight Watchers but the leader decided she didn't want to be a leader anymore and there was no one else to take her place. The nearest one is too far to get every week. I didn't think it would be this easy to get back into bad habits. I am trying to get myself back to doing what I was when there was a WW, I had lost 40 lbs. so but had stopped losing and shortly after that I found out I had hypothyroid.

[lucy4174]

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid two years ago. Last year, I lost 40 pounds on a good diet based on the American Heart Association guidelines. I have kept it off so far but I am now seeing the scale go up again and I am really eating like crazy.

The weight does not melt away as far as I know it. It is a lot of hard work.

My TSH stayed regulated at around 4.5 once I started taking levoxyl until I lost the weight then it went to 0.36 and Dr. reduced my meds; that was six months ago and new test shows my TSH at 7.09 even though I have not gained the weight back YET.

I feel like a yoyo :(

[petunia]

I always feel like a yoyo. This week end I didn't do anything different and poof I'm up 3 lbs this morning. Go figure. Tonight I weight in maybe if I drink a lot of water today I'll pee it all out by this evening. Haha

[tubbychick]

Hi There.
I'm 21 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 16. I wasn't given any diet plan and was just given varying quantities of Thyroxine. Recently there was a lot of press in the UK about hypothyroidism and I found out that Thyroxine (I think it's simililar to Synthyroid) only provides you with T4 hormone which your body is supposed to turn into T3 but some people's bodys don't do this in which case you should nag your doctor to go on a combination of T4 and T3 therapy. I now take my thyroxine as usual (in a slightly lower dose) and then take two doses of liothyronine during the day. Since I satrted taking the combination I have lost my goiter, I feel healthier, my body shape is changing and although I haven't really lost any weight. I feel as if I could if I wanted to! If we're all going to be on medication for life then we might as well nag them until we get one which works!!

Good luck with it girls and if anyone comes across a really good hypothyroid diet I'd love to know about it!

[QuilterInVA]

COOKED broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower is okay. Raw is to be limited along with soy. Unfortunately, I think the weight falling off after you get on thyroid meds is a pipe dream. Most of us find it a lot of work and it is slower than 'normal' people. It is also important to be retested periodically. I do it every 3 months. If my meds need changed, then I have to go back in 6 weeks for a retest.

[bella1]

Hypo since the age of 11 also have a goiter. Also type 1 diabetes.I've read that even when your meds are working properly you will only lose a very small amount of weight.I think the benefit to having your level right is that you have more energy and move around more.

[petunia]

I would tend to agree with that. Since I've been on my meds I feel a world of difference. I'm no longer sluggish and blah. I'm still wayyyyy too fat but, since I walk everyday and cut down on coffee (to one pot a day) I just feel so much better. I only lost .6lb in the past two weeks, but I take it one day at a time. If I have a bad day I just start over the next. I will not be a prisoner in this body. Heck, even just eating right I feel so much better.
Jacki