Are you tired all day and gaining weight like nobody's business? Perhaps it's time for you to get your thyroid function tested. When the thyroid is not functioning properly it can throw all systems in your body off. On this page I list symptoms, and information on the problems created by an under-active, or an over active thyroid. We will also learn what food and supplements may be beneficial.
Amazing that many people have no idea what a thyroid is, let alone it's function in the body, especially given that it controls so much of our body systems. Perhaps I would not have known either, if my sister wasn't diagnosed with Graves Disease hyperthyroidism, the over active thyroid disorder in her twenties. A young mother of two children she began to get the classic bulging eye symptom of Graves Disease. So I have been around someone who experienced thyroid induced metabolic problems for many years. My sister was into nutrition and natural supplements long before me, and has been dealing with her body issues from that standpoint successfully for the most part since. Her eyes look normal now too!
I have the opposite thyroid problem, caused by an under active thyroid called Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism. This condition causes the body to constantly gain weight, fall asleep often, be sensitive to cold, and get fuzzy thinking among other unpleasant symptoms. Do you tend to get panic attacks, have IBS issues, difficulty waking up, brittle nails, and hair loss? Looking back on my life I can see where I had many of the symptoms on the list below much earlier than when I was diagnosed. Since starting this blog I have now met people with thyroid nodules, others who have hypothyroidism like me, and those suffering with hyperthyroidism. Sometimes we swing between hypo and hyper thyroidism and have symptoms of both auto immune diseases. We can also be pre-disposed to get other auto-immune diseases like lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The thyroid is finally starting to get attention in health circles and perhaps now more people will become aware of it's effects on their overall well being. If you would like to read about my personal experience you can read my 3 part blog post here.
So how about you? Are you feeling out of sorts, and none of your doctors understand what's happening to you? Whether you are not feeling well, are in over drive with rapid heartbeat, extremely fatigued, losing weight, losing your hair, have brittle nails, panic attacks, insomnia, nervousness, or abnormal weight gain, this may be time to look at your thyroid gland as the possible culprit. If any of the symptoms described in the sections below ring true, get thee to an open minded endocrinologist, and feel better. It is important to remember that everyone will be different in their needs when it comes to medications that will work for them. More important will be to find an endocrinologist who will listen to you and who you can trust. They must be someone who understands that what is 'considered normal range' may not be normal for your particular body. Also it is imperative you get on an organic plant strong diet, you can read more about why below.
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck just above that area where the depression is where the neck meets the collar bone, just under your Adams apple. When your thyroid becomes enlarged many call it a goiter and that is where the term goiterogenic comes from regarding food. The thyroid is a major part of the endocrine system. The thyroid controls your metabolism, and many of the important functions in your body. So when the thyroid is out of whack from either the hyper or the hypo, you feel awful.
Hypothyroidism can also be a hidden contributor to, or mistaken for, other diseases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, heart disease, and obesity. In my case and in others that I know, you may be told you are depressed and need pharmaceuticals! Don't believe them! Get your thyroid checked out first! Quite often the symptoms of thyroid problems are mistaken for menopause as well. This was also my experience, as I kept thinking everything I was going through, was only happening to me because I was going through severe menopause. I was wrong! Read article here.
You should be aware that the BPA in plastics, such as drinking bottles, bottled water, or food packaging, leaches into people and causes endocrine disruption! Hello to the growing numbers of thyroid and diabetic peeps! BPA also causes cancer, allergies, weight gain and low sperm count. Mercury, other heavy metals and toxins found in the environment and processed food contribute to endocrine disruption. Use glass and safe ceramic food and water containers. Toxins in the environment are also bad for the endocrine system. Get some fresh air into your home or office space. Use chemical free personal care products. If you have a hot tub at home use an ozone purifier, as hot tubs can use too many chemicals which can upset thyroid function. Fire retardants in products are also bad for the endocrine systems function.
As there is an epidemic of obesity and diabetes, so is there a growing epidemic of thyroid issues. I hope you will visit my Inspiration page for informative documentaries that will help you to understand how our modern industrial pesticide laden food and water systems adversely affect the thyroid, especially the toxic fluoride in our water. Ah ha! You mistakenly thought fluoride helps your teeth didn't you... and I'm sure you did not realize these days it's an industrial waste often shipped from China. Please watch some documentaries and learn the dirty truth of this poison. I have included a good overall video lower down on this page so you can understand the problem. The fluoride chemical barrels are handled by people in hazmat outfits. Even toothpaste tubes say "do not swallow!" Think about it.... any real fluoride that actually would be beneficial to teeth is used topically, not by drinking it. Most European countries don't fluoridate their water. So what's in your water? How much are you drinking? What are you drinking and how are you storing your water? It would be best to drink natural filtered water in glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers. We purchased a fluoride filter. In fact I never had any positive effect on my teeth from fluoride at all. My teeth are a mess so 'they' are full of it! Yet my thyroid is wacked out! Why would you swallow something into your entire body soaking all your organs and cells in it because some one says it might help your teeth? Ludicrous idea. So why are they adding fluoride to our water? Did you know the evil Nazi regime put fluoride in the water of it's citizens to numb or dumb down the population? Well that is a whole other subject. You get the picture.
Back to what helps your thyroid. Let's be positive. Rebounding is a fantastic low intensity exercise for moving your lymph system, which in turn helps all systems in your body. Yoga and other low intensity exercise can also help to stimulate and activate the sluggish thyroid hormones. Hot saunas which make you sweat help you with the detoxification of all those nasty pesticides from your body that impair your thyroid function. I have a sweaty hot flash every hour, I sure do hope they are helping me to detoxify! Yikes!
Another important factor that affects your thyroid is your stress levels. Cortisol levels affect the thyroid and adrenal glands. Whatever you you can do to turn your mind off is always helpful to body function. Yoga, meditation, soothing new age music, walking in nature, petting a beloved animal, and laughter, are a good start to healing your thoughts. Maybe work or toxic relationships in your life will have to change in order to help you heal. Without your health you cannot function optimally. Think about your personal lifestyle choices. Doing just one thing does not work to heal you. There is no one magic pill. All things in your life, on all levels, must be balanced.
I highly recommend if you suspect you have a thyroid disorder that you see an endocrinologist. Regular doctors generally do not have the expertise needed. I have had three regular MD doctors misdiagnose or ignore my hypo-thyroid condition. The first doctor overdosed me and sent me off to become a very ill hyperthyroid with heart palpitations. That doctor almost killed me, as my heart and all my body systems started to shut down. A major difference between doctors is that the endocrinologist actually knows what those numbers in your TSH lab tests mean. Regular doctors use only the cheat sheet of the lab tests 'High-Low' indicators to diagnose you. There is a discrepancy with those lab standards right now, and what endocrinologists actually know from years of experience to be true with their patients, is quite different. Three doctors looked at the same set of numbers on a lab report for me, and here are the three things I was told: Doctor "A" told me I had chronic fatigue syndrome, and that I needed to be on anti-depressants. Doctor "B" told me I needed to be on anti-depressant drugs as well, and got upset with me, because I rejected his diagnosis. I told both of these doctors I was a hypothyroid patient and my extreme debilitating fatigue was the result of my thyroid. Doctor "C" was my endocrinologist who called me immediately after getting a copy of my labs, and told me he was doubling my medication because he saw a problem with my numbers. My body then returned to a normal energy level after the correct diagnosis, and his paying attention to the important details. Take that big pharma drug pusher doctors! My new endocrinologist also discovered by going back through my medical records, that my labs had showed me to be pre-diabetic a year prior. Gee maybe I needed to know that too, since I became a full diabetic. Mistakes happen, don't believe everything a doctor tells you. A good endocrinologist will also have a sonogram done of your thyroid to check on the size.
Having said all of that, I have felt most doctors compartmentalize the thyroid as a problem in itself. I feel all my medical issues have been related and none of my doctors have spoken about that fact. My history of getting gestational diabetes, panic attacks, diabetes, breast cancer, uterine pre-cancer, and of course my thyroid issues seem related to me. ( I also have extreme menopause problems for the past twelve years such as hot flashes every thirty minutes, ten minutes, or even eight hot flashes in a row some nights. The hot flash issue is one I am still working on. That problem interferes with one's healing and needed sleep.) Now finally I found this awesome video series on the thyroid which teaches you about everything that goes out of whack being clues to overall body issues. Watch the informative video below and find other related thyroid videos by Dr. John Bergman too. This man really gets it and is sharing the knowledge!
A short video from Dr Alan Christianson explaining - 'Thyroid 101' - video here.
Hypothyroidism can also be a hidden contributor to, or mistaken for, other diseases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, heart disease, and obesity. In my case and in others that I know, you may be told you are depressed and need pharmaceuticals! Don't believe them! Get your thyroid checked out first! Quite often the symptoms of thyroid problems are mistaken for menopause as well. This was also my experience, as I kept thinking everything I was going through, was only happening to me because I was going through severe menopause. I was wrong! Read article here.
You should be aware that the BPA in plastics, such as drinking bottles, bottled water, or food packaging, leaches into people and causes endocrine disruption! Hello to the growing numbers of thyroid and diabetic peeps! BPA also causes cancer, allergies, weight gain and low sperm count. Mercury, other heavy metals and toxins found in the environment and processed food contribute to endocrine disruption. Use glass and safe ceramic food and water containers. Toxins in the environment are also bad for the endocrine system. Get some fresh air into your home or office space. Use chemical free personal care products. If you have a hot tub at home use an ozone purifier, as hot tubs can use too many chemicals which can upset thyroid function. Fire retardants in products are also bad for the endocrine systems function.
As there is an epidemic of obesity and diabetes, so is there a growing epidemic of thyroid issues. I hope you will visit my Inspiration page for informative documentaries that will help you to understand how our modern industrial pesticide laden food and water systems adversely affect the thyroid, especially the toxic fluoride in our water. Ah ha! You mistakenly thought fluoride helps your teeth didn't you... and I'm sure you did not realize these days it's an industrial waste often shipped from China. Please watch some documentaries and learn the dirty truth of this poison. I have included a good overall video lower down on this page so you can understand the problem. The fluoride chemical barrels are handled by people in hazmat outfits. Even toothpaste tubes say "do not swallow!" Think about it.... any real fluoride that actually would be beneficial to teeth is used topically, not by drinking it. Most European countries don't fluoridate their water. So what's in your water? How much are you drinking? What are you drinking and how are you storing your water? It would be best to drink natural filtered water in glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers. We purchased a fluoride filter. In fact I never had any positive effect on my teeth from fluoride at all. My teeth are a mess so 'they' are full of it! Yet my thyroid is wacked out! Why would you swallow something into your entire body soaking all your organs and cells in it because some one says it might help your teeth? Ludicrous idea. So why are they adding fluoride to our water? Did you know the evil Nazi regime put fluoride in the water of it's citizens to numb or dumb down the population? Well that is a whole other subject. You get the picture.
Back to what helps your thyroid. Let's be positive. Rebounding is a fantastic low intensity exercise for moving your lymph system, which in turn helps all systems in your body. Yoga and other low intensity exercise can also help to stimulate and activate the sluggish thyroid hormones. Hot saunas which make you sweat help you with the detoxification of all those nasty pesticides from your body that impair your thyroid function. I have a sweaty hot flash every hour, I sure do hope they are helping me to detoxify! Yikes!
Another important factor that affects your thyroid is your stress levels. Cortisol levels affect the thyroid and adrenal glands. Whatever you you can do to turn your mind off is always helpful to body function. Yoga, meditation, soothing new age music, walking in nature, petting a beloved animal, and laughter, are a good start to healing your thoughts. Maybe work or toxic relationships in your life will have to change in order to help you heal. Without your health you cannot function optimally. Think about your personal lifestyle choices. Doing just one thing does not work to heal you. There is no one magic pill. All things in your life, on all levels, must be balanced.
I highly recommend if you suspect you have a thyroid disorder that you see an endocrinologist. Regular doctors generally do not have the expertise needed. I have had three regular MD doctors misdiagnose or ignore my hypo-thyroid condition. The first doctor overdosed me and sent me off to become a very ill hyperthyroid with heart palpitations. That doctor almost killed me, as my heart and all my body systems started to shut down. A major difference between doctors is that the endocrinologist actually knows what those numbers in your TSH lab tests mean. Regular doctors use only the cheat sheet of the lab tests 'High-Low' indicators to diagnose you. There is a discrepancy with those lab standards right now, and what endocrinologists actually know from years of experience to be true with their patients, is quite different. Three doctors looked at the same set of numbers on a lab report for me, and here are the three things I was told: Doctor "A" told me I had chronic fatigue syndrome, and that I needed to be on anti-depressants. Doctor "B" told me I needed to be on anti-depressant drugs as well, and got upset with me, because I rejected his diagnosis. I told both of these doctors I was a hypothyroid patient and my extreme debilitating fatigue was the result of my thyroid. Doctor "C" was my endocrinologist who called me immediately after getting a copy of my labs, and told me he was doubling my medication because he saw a problem with my numbers. My body then returned to a normal energy level after the correct diagnosis, and his paying attention to the important details. Take that big pharma drug pusher doctors! My new endocrinologist also discovered by going back through my medical records, that my labs had showed me to be pre-diabetic a year prior. Gee maybe I needed to know that too, since I became a full diabetic. Mistakes happen, don't believe everything a doctor tells you. A good endocrinologist will also have a sonogram done of your thyroid to check on the size.
Having said all of that, I have felt most doctors compartmentalize the thyroid as a problem in itself. I feel all my medical issues have been related and none of my doctors have spoken about that fact. My history of getting gestational diabetes, panic attacks, diabetes, breast cancer, uterine pre-cancer, and of course my thyroid issues seem related to me. ( I also have extreme menopause problems for the past twelve years such as hot flashes every thirty minutes, ten minutes, or even eight hot flashes in a row some nights. The hot flash issue is one I am still working on. That problem interferes with one's healing and needed sleep.) Now finally I found this awesome video series on the thyroid which teaches you about everything that goes out of whack being clues to overall body issues. Watch the informative video below and find other related thyroid videos by Dr. John Bergman too. This man really gets it and is sharing the knowledge!
A short video from Dr Alan Christianson explaining - 'Thyroid 101' - video here.
Excellent overview and videos from Dr. Greger at Nutrition Facts about Thyroid Health here.
The article "Stuff Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Thyroid Disorders" on the website 'Functional Diagnostic Nutrition' has a great overview of all body systems that are involved in thyroid issues here.
The next thing I suggest is that you create a medical notebook to keep all your lab tests organized. You need to keep copies of your own test results! This helps keep you, and your doctors informed. Doctors and myself have found this tool fantastic, for preparing questions and finding those mistakes! You need to research your own body issues, and keep a log of things like blood pressure, weight, medications, and even bills. Go to my store or 'The Queen's Table Products' page tab above, where you can read more on this helpful idea!
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For the uninitiated, below is a symptom list of the possible results of thyroid dysfunction. Because metabolism affects every cell in the body there are many symptoms that affect the workings of the entire body, including the brain. I recently listened to a talk that stated there are more people suffering from thyroid problems than diabetes and heart problems combined. Many people just don't know it because they have not been diagnosed.
chronic fatigue, constantly sleeping
Dr. Mark Hyman gives a video overview below of the tests, medications, supplements, and things you should consider when you suspect you may have a thyroid condition.
Dr. Tom O'Bryan
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Dr. Alan Christianson - Talks about weight loss and the thyroid in this video here.
Classic "Hypo" symptoms in video below.
The video below talks about the Hypothyroid Body Type - We are fatigued. We gain weight! We are cold and wear socks to bed! We do not metabolize vitamins and supplements very well. It may seem like we have a case of early Alzheimer disease, because we have fuzzy thinking and forget so much.
The article "Stuff Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Thyroid Disorders" on the website 'Functional Diagnostic Nutrition' has a great overview of all body systems that are involved in thyroid issues here.
The next thing I suggest is that you create a medical notebook to keep all your lab tests organized. You need to keep copies of your own test results! This helps keep you, and your doctors informed. Doctors and myself have found this tool fantastic, for preparing questions and finding those mistakes! You need to research your own body issues, and keep a log of things like blood pressure, weight, medications, and even bills. Go to my store or 'The Queen's Table Products' page tab above, where you can read more on this helpful idea!
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"When the body doesn't have enough energy to function properly, each component of the body will malfunction in its own unique way." - Bruce Rind MD
chronic fatigue, constantly sleeping
mental fatigue, brain fog
memory loss
high blood pressure
strokes
peripheral vascular disease
peripheral vascular disease
high cholesterol
abnormal weight gain, obesity
cardiovascular problems
hair loss and brittle nails
dry skin
cold-intolerance
anxiety
dementia
depression
mood-swings
panic attacks
panic attacks
erectile dysfunction
severe constipation
digestive problems
muscle and joint pains
low sex drive
infertility
insomnia
increased susceptibility to infections
increased susceptibility to cancers
increased susceptibility to allergies
increased susceptibility to rashes
Weird factoid: Hypothyroid people don't have the last 1/3 or 1/2 of their eyebrows, and hyperthyroid people tend to have bushy or full eyebrows. My first husband used to accuse me of shaving off my eyebrows, even when I insisted that is just the way they are. My sisters eyebrows have always been fuller than mine, and a friend with Graves disease also has full eyebrows. Funny how I always wanted eyebrows like theirs!
Dr. Tom O'Bryan
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Classic "Hypo" symptoms in video below.
The video below talks about the Hypothyroid Body Type - We are fatigued. We gain weight! We are cold and wear socks to bed! We do not metabolize vitamins and supplements very well. It may seem like we have a case of early Alzheimer disease, because we have fuzzy thinking and forget so much.
We are a mess! We need to detoxify and get healthy! We need organic plants!
Treating Hypothyroidism Naturally - Discussed in the video below, improving hypothyroid function with a light box for melatonin production, supplements, nutrients, iodine, selenium, DHA, exercise, cold compress on neck, and causes of auto-immune conditions.
Hypothyroid patient Wendy, seen below, shares her experience using herb tinctures to restore hair. She uses 'Gods Herbs' from Robert Morse N.D.. She recommends you try the ones called: Circulation Upper for the hair/Lymph 1/Kidney & Bladder 1 /Start with those 3 tinctures/1 dropper (1/2? tsp) twice a day. Back off if you need to. Eat high fruit and leafy greens. Juice, smoothies. Took her 2-3 months to sprout hair.
Medication Tip:
If you are on Synthroid you may have noticed that the medication size of this pill jumps in increments of 25mcg (as in 25, 50, 75, 100 etc.). That may not work for everyone. If you are someone who needs something in between what is available on the market, you may need to get a pill cutter. These are sold in your pharmacy. Talk to your doctor after you go over your lab-work together, about trying this option, when your TSH lab reports indicate that you may need a touch more or less medication than is available in regimented pill form.
For example if 25mcg is too low and 50mcg is too high, you could cut a 75mcg in half and have a 37mcg. Or you could cut some 25's in half, so that you would take one whole 25, plus half of a 25 and that would equal 37. This method allows a smaller change in medication, and not such a big leap in either direction from what your body is used to having. Talk over with your physician what would be optimal for your situation, and utilizing a pill cutter for adjusting your Synthroid dose.
Should you take Synthyroid or the natural desiccated thyroid? The generic Levothyroxine does not agree with my body. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. You have to have a full lab work up and work with your endocrinologist on what medication would be best for you. My doctors prefer my TSH to be around 2-3. Some doctors like you to be around a 1. Standard lab tests that 'regular' doctors use have people at much higher levels listed as normal, and then the doctor will tell you that you are normal. This can be frustrating when you have all the thyroid problem symptoms, which is why I recommend an endocrinologist that leans towards a natural path with an open mentality and will listen to you. Only you can be your best advocate on your health. A new protocol for some suffering low thyroid levels is low level laser therapy. Do your research on everything involving your body issues.
Treating Hypothyroidism Naturally - Discussed in the video below, improving hypothyroid function with a light box for melatonin production, supplements, nutrients, iodine, selenium, DHA, exercise, cold compress on neck, and causes of auto-immune conditions.
Hypothyroid patient Wendy, seen below, shares her experience using herb tinctures to restore hair. She uses 'Gods Herbs' from Robert Morse N.D.. She recommends you try the ones called: Circulation Upper for the hair/Lymph 1/Kidney & Bladder 1 /Start with those 3 tinctures/1 dropper (1/2? tsp) twice a day. Back off if you need to. Eat high fruit and leafy greens. Juice, smoothies. Took her 2-3 months to sprout hair.
Medication Tip:
If you are on Synthroid you may have noticed that the medication size of this pill jumps in increments of 25mcg (as in 25, 50, 75, 100 etc.). That may not work for everyone. If you are someone who needs something in between what is available on the market, you may need to get a pill cutter. These are sold in your pharmacy. Talk to your doctor after you go over your lab-work together, about trying this option, when your TSH lab reports indicate that you may need a touch more or less medication than is available in regimented pill form.
For example if 25mcg is too low and 50mcg is too high, you could cut a 75mcg in half and have a 37mcg. Or you could cut some 25's in half, so that you would take one whole 25, plus half of a 25 and that would equal 37. This method allows a smaller change in medication, and not such a big leap in either direction from what your body is used to having. Talk over with your physician what would be optimal for your situation, and utilizing a pill cutter for adjusting your Synthroid dose.
Should you take Synthyroid or the natural desiccated thyroid? The generic Levothyroxine does not agree with my body. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. You have to have a full lab work up and work with your endocrinologist on what medication would be best for you. My doctors prefer my TSH to be around 2-3. Some doctors like you to be around a 1. Standard lab tests that 'regular' doctors use have people at much higher levels listed as normal, and then the doctor will tell you that you are normal. This can be frustrating when you have all the thyroid problem symptoms, which is why I recommend an endocrinologist that leans towards a natural path with an open mentality and will listen to you. Only you can be your best advocate on your health. A new protocol for some suffering low thyroid levels is low level laser therapy. Do your research on everything involving your body issues.
I have been on 100, 75, and 50. As I lost more weight my meds amount went down. One day I started getting very high blood pressure, a fainting feeling, and strange sensations. I had lost weight during the pandemic time and it turns out my 50 Synthroid was too much meds for my new body weight. I currently am on 25 and we are monitoring if I will need to increase on the weekend in the future. We shall see how I do.
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Classic "Hyper" symptoms in video below.
Herbs and natural treatment protocol ideas found on a video here.
Why you should consider avoiding radioactive iodine video here.
Symptoms and natural treatments for "hyperthyroid" discussed in video below.
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Thyroid and the Adrenals
Ashwagandha For Thyroid and Adrenals
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If you have a thyroid condition you need to eat fresh organic unprocessed foods! This is because pesticides are endocrine disruptors and adversely affect the thyroid. At the very least wash your produce really well. Avoid sodas like Mountain Dew, Fresca, Gatorade and other citrus flavors, for they have chemicals that upset the thyroid. You really should ditch those no nutrition sodas anyway. Avoid white flour products and use only bromine free flours and bread products. Consider going grain free as all of those food cause inflammation responses in most people. It is also better to remove dairy as the protein in dairy also causes inflammation. These are the things that keep you fat. Yes I can say the "F" word because I was fat. If you use any soy it must be fermented Non-GMO free soy like natto and tempe, otherwise it is best to avoid soy products all together. Avoid daily stress in your life as the effects can last for six months on your body. The best exercise for us to do is heart racing "Burst" exercise four times a day for a minute or so each time. If we want to lose the weight that comes from autoimmunity we have to do the work in all areas of our life. I know it is not always fun. A great attitude about positive change will go a long way in motivating our mind and body to get out there and do this for ourselves!
Organic whole foods, green juices, and green smoothies have been a most effective way for me to improve and reverse many issues within my body. So I feel it is certainly possible that my thyroid has had improvements through my diet and lifestyle choices as well. Eating the way I speak about on this blog does not cause inflammation, and eating whole organic produce helps the body restore it's balance. There has been some association between Celiac Disease and thyroid issues. I have responded well to a mostly gluten-free diet, even though my blood tests came back as not having Celiac Disease. It is recommended that people with thyroid conditions follow a gluten-free and dairy-free diet. The gliaden in wheat causes auto-immune disease, lupus, bowel problems, diabetes, inflammation in joints, wheat belly and inflames the thyroid. Modern wheat has an opiate effect and there will be a withdrawal period of 3-5 days. Sadly I learned the inflammatory response can lasts for months!
I avoid the refined foods and beverages with a high sugar content, like white breads, white pastas, white rice, and processed fruit juices. Refined or processed foods will increase the rate at which dietary sugar enters the bloodstream. Your pancreas secrets insulin when it detects sugar in the blood. Since your thyroid gland regulates insulin hormone production, excess insulin production in response to sugar can make your thyroid symptoms worse. Eating these foods can also lead to Diabetes and high blood pressure. Please see my Diabetes page for tips about foods to eat that help with this condition, as well as my Substitution, Avoid, and Juicing pages above for help with your overall choices.
"Researchers in Poland have found that up to 50% of patients with Hashimoto’s have an impaired tolerance to carbohydrates. This means that after consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, their their blood sugar goes up too high, too quickly. This leads to a rapid, sometimes excessive release of insulin. These insulin surges can cause low blood sugar (reactive hypoglycemia), which can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nervousness, lightheadedness, anxiety, and fatigue. Reactive hypoglycemia is a huge stressor for the adrenals!!" - Dr. Izabella Wentz
Food, Medication, and Supplements
Thyroid medication should be taken on an empty stomach, and you should not eat for 30-60 minutes afterwards. I keep a glass of water and my meds on my nightstand so I can take them as soon I wake up. If you are rushing around in the morning for work by the time you take a shower and get dressed you will then be able to eat. Personally I wait an hour. Certain foods like walnuts inhibit absorption of your medication and should not be eaten till four hours after taking your medication. Too much dietary fiber can impair the absorption of synthetic thyroid hormone. Limit the use of the following and take only after four hours of taking your medication: (Check with your endocrinologist)
Walnuts, Iron supplements, Calcium supplements, Antacids, Medications such as sucralfate, (carafate),cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid) and soy.
Fat cells can inhibit absorption of your medication, so after losing weight on a plant strong vegan diet, your dose of medication may need to be reduced. That is a good thing, and it happened to me after I lost 70 pounds. Also the thyroid may swing, and your medication may change back and forth according to your body. I have also experience my thyroid acting up for a month and then settling down again.
Have your endocrinologist test your Iodine and selenium levels. Iodine is very important for the thyroid and can be found safely in sea vegetables or seaweed products. Refined table salt is not good for you. You will probably get more than enough of refined salt in any processed foods you may consume. If you must use salt, choose Himalayan or Celtic sea salt. Still seaweed is best source of iodine, and you can add dulse flakes to most savory foods you prepare. I like to eat a small piece of seaweed from a product called 'sea snax' on most days to be sure I am getting a bit of seaweed everyday. If your endocrinologist finds you are very low in iodine they may recommend a supplement. Once again Vitamin D is a related issue when you have thyroid problems. Make sure your Vitamin D hormone levels are checked by your doctor and check out my Vitamin D page as well.
During the time period I had been suffering from non-stop hair loss due to my thyroid, I also took an extra supplement of Biotin (B7) 1,000 - 2,000 mcg a day. Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, walnuts, avocados, and fish also will help supply protein to hair. You need to be sure you are getting enough zinc and iron. So I take Dr. Fuhrman's vegan multi-vitamin for women. Once my medication and organic plant powered lifestyle began to have it's positive effects on my thyroid, slowly my hair stopped falling out and began to grow back. Take heart, as you can improve the hair situation, it just takes time to recover. B-12 is important for vegans.
I find that taking pro-biotics and daily raw sauerkraut has helped my gut heal tremendously. Some people take pro-biotics for two weeks when they had an intestinal problem and others take them everyday. There are vegan options for these pills. I have found pre-biotics like digestive enzymes to be extremely helpful. Good gut health and friendly bacteria are your body's best friends since they influence the inflammation in your body and it is very important to keep your gut healthy as possible. Fermented foods are very helpful and popular. Start slow (to avoid toxin release overwhelming you) and build up your healthy gut bacteria over time. You can find many over the counter and in the refrigerator section of your natural food store. Hashimotos people also tend to have acid-reflux due to lower stomach acid which creates the same symptoms of those who have too much stomach acid. You may have gut infections and different bad bacteria that may need to be addressed as well. Treating them may take some time. If your healthy diet is not working to help you, then your gut may be the missing link in making improvements to your health.
Glutemine 5-15 grams can be helpful as a supplement. Remember to take supplements after talking with your doctor and start slow with your doses. Introduce one new supplement at a time so you know if your body has an reactions.
I did a post about supplements here that you may find helpful.
The Main Foods To Avoid
Flax seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Pine nuts, and Walnuts - Helpful to combat the dry skin caused by poor functioning thyroid. Eat walnuts 4 hours after taking your thyroid medication.
Berries - are very good for the endocrine system.
Sea Vegetables - Iodine protects the thyroid. Kelp, kombu, wakame, arame and dulse are excellent sources of iodine. As are miso, and celery. Read article here.
Beans - a good source of iodine, protein, and fiber.
What is up with this? Below is a list of the foods that some say with heavy use could possibly adversely affect the thyroid. These foods have excellent healing qualities, so a variety of these in your daily diet is very good. My doctors highly recommend I continue to eat these foods, so I am not overly concerned with other peoples warnings. Dark leafy greens rock! Still worried about eating raw Kale, Collards, and other cruciferous vegetables? Read Dr. Joel Fuhrmans article about this very subject for thyroid patients HERE.
Extremely Goitrogenic - SOY
Could be bad for everyone if it is not organic, as 90% of the time it is a GMO product. My own endocrinologist, and doctor recommended that I stay away from soy products and use other alternatives instead. Eating an occasional organic soy product once a month that was fermented like miso, or tempe would not be very bad. Since I have osteoporosis I do consume organic tempe or tofu once a week. It is also helpful for hormonal issues and breast cancer, which are also issues I must take seriously. Check videos on nutritionfacts.org for the latest information. Soy gets a bad rap.
Mildly Goitrogenic Foods
Both of my doctors said it was okay to consume the following known mildly goiterogenic foods for their important health benefits. I think you should remember that they do have many other good nutritional benefits, especially for fighting cancer. Three to four portions a day has shown no ill effects on my thyroid. It has been shown time and again that some of these foods are the most healthy to eat. So in my opinion, I say eat them, raw and steamed. Watch the video above called "overdosing on greens" about this question on quantity. You will see it would have to be such a huge volume to really make a difference. Anyway here is the list of foods that if you are curious would fall into that category Please note it does say "mildly." Don't 'stress' out over this list, as that would be worse than the negligible effect of these foods on your thyroid. You need to eat a variety of these foods for your overall good health and that concern is number one.
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Watch the video below of this woman's journey to health. She suffered from weight gain, and hypothyroidism, along with other medical problems. The change to raw foods saved her.
Crystal reversed her Hypothyroidism in five years. Read her story.
Another follower that was influenced by Crystal's blog.
Click below for mine and other thyroid people's article's who eat the way I do to lose the weight:
A Hypothyroid Sufferer explains how the Nutritarian Lifestyle finally allowed her to lose the weight.
Thyroid payient loses 30 pounds and comes off all medications after 21 day Green juice reboot. Also removed gluten, and eats a plant powered diet.
My own personal story told in three blog posts of my symptoms, original wrong diagnosis, crazy doctors, advice, and finding life again with organic plants and the nutritarian lifestyle.
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...(Revised Edition)
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause
Healing Hashimoto's: A Savvy Patient's Guide
Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled?: A 3-Step Program to: Restore Thyroid, Adrenal, and Reproductive Balance, Beat Hormone Havoc, and Feel Better Fast!
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease
Dirty Bombshell: From Thyroid Cancer Back To Fabulous!
Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health
The Immune System Recovery Plan: A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease
Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome
The Autoimmune Epidemic
Anticancer: A New Way of Life
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Plastic Planet - Netflix. You might also find it here. Important film for thyroid people concerning the many endocrine disruptors found in modern plastics. Use glass as much as possible my friends.
Fluoride History Article and Video
If you are new to The Queen's Table Blog you can become a follower on facebook, and learn about healthy eating, losing weight, and get the scoop on the latest science.
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Herbs and natural treatment protocol ideas found on a video here.
Why you should consider avoiding radioactive iodine video here.
Symptoms and natural treatments for "hyperthyroid" discussed in video below.
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Another type of thyroid disease is nodules on the thyroid. Sometimes when enlarged these will also be called goiters. Most lumps are are benign, but some are a form of thyroid cancer and you should always be checked by an endocrinologist and given a sonogram.
I know someone whose endocrinologist is the same as mine, and was diagnosed with thyroid nodules. She decided to go the natural route first and tried using "Young Living" essential oils for her thyroid. The next time she visited my endocrinologist he looked at her thyroid, and the nodules were gone! I confirmed this story with my doctor, and he told me it was true.
The protocol my friend used: She added 3 drops of a product called "endoflex" into a half gallon of water which she drank during the day. Externally she rubbed myrtle and lemon grass oil on the skin area of her thyroid on her neck. Eventually she put those oils into water to drink so that it dripped over her throat and thyroid area. Click on links to go to the website to learn about these oils. I have no personal experience with using essential oils. Although I am considering rubbing them on my neck area too, after I do some more reading about them in this book Essential Oils Desk Reference
.
I know someone whose endocrinologist is the same as mine, and was diagnosed with thyroid nodules. She decided to go the natural route first and tried using "Young Living" essential oils for her thyroid. The next time she visited my endocrinologist he looked at her thyroid, and the nodules were gone! I confirmed this story with my doctor, and he told me it was true.
The protocol my friend used: She added 3 drops of a product called "endoflex" into a half gallon of water which she drank during the day. Externally she rubbed myrtle and lemon grass oil on the skin area of her thyroid on her neck. Eventually she put those oils into water to drink so that it dripped over her throat and thyroid area. Click on links to go to the website to learn about these oils. I have no personal experience with using essential oils. Although I am considering rubbing them on my neck area too, after I do some more reading about them in this book Essential Oils Desk Reference
.
Hashimotos and Vitamin D
Diagnosing Thyroid Disease
Six Steps To Heal Your Thyroid By Dr. Mark Hyman
The Top Ten Take Aways From People With Hashimotos
Top Causes and Symptoms
The Thy-Gap - Labs Might Say You're Normal When You Are Not
Dr. K News
Nutrition and AutoImmune Disease
Thyroid Testing
Thyroid Disease: Are You Sick, Tired and Overweight?
Low Level Laser Treatment
Losing Weight With Hypothyroidism
Iodine Primer and Thyroid Tune-up
Perchlorates In Water Cause Hypothyroidism
Dr. David Brownstein
Hormone Imbalance Video
Seaweed Green Superfood Info
David Wolfe MP3 Iodine and Seaweed
Avoid Bromine Optimize Iodine
Kris Carr's Thyroid Guide
Diagnosing Thyroid Disease
Six Steps To Heal Your Thyroid By Dr. Mark Hyman
The Top Ten Take Aways From People With Hashimotos
Top Causes and Symptoms
The Thy-Gap - Labs Might Say You're Normal When You Are Not
Dr. K News
Nutrition and AutoImmune Disease
Thyroid Testing
Thyroid Disease: Are You Sick, Tired and Overweight?
Low Level Laser Treatment
Losing Weight With Hypothyroidism
Iodine Primer and Thyroid Tune-up
Perchlorates In Water Cause Hypothyroidism
Dr. David Brownstein
Hormone Imbalance Video
Seaweed Green Superfood Info
David Wolfe MP3 Iodine and Seaweed
Avoid Bromine Optimize Iodine
Kris Carr's Thyroid Guide
Ashwagandha For Thyroid and Adrenals
Thyroid Cancer possible causes
Is It Really Lyme Disease Causing Your Illnesses?
Nutrition and Auto-immune Disease
Is It Really Lyme Disease Causing Your Illnesses?
Nutrition and Auto-immune Disease
Organic whole foods, green juices, and green smoothies have been a most effective way for me to improve and reverse many issues within my body. So I feel it is certainly possible that my thyroid has had improvements through my diet and lifestyle choices as well. Eating the way I speak about on this blog does not cause inflammation, and eating whole organic produce helps the body restore it's balance. There has been some association between Celiac Disease and thyroid issues. I have responded well to a mostly gluten-free diet, even though my blood tests came back as not having Celiac Disease. It is recommended that people with thyroid conditions follow a gluten-free and dairy-free diet. The gliaden in wheat causes auto-immune disease, lupus, bowel problems, diabetes, inflammation in joints, wheat belly and inflames the thyroid. Modern wheat has an opiate effect and there will be a withdrawal period of 3-5 days. Sadly I learned the inflammatory response can lasts for months!
I avoid the refined foods and beverages with a high sugar content, like white breads, white pastas, white rice, and processed fruit juices. Refined or processed foods will increase the rate at which dietary sugar enters the bloodstream. Your pancreas secrets insulin when it detects sugar in the blood. Since your thyroid gland regulates insulin hormone production, excess insulin production in response to sugar can make your thyroid symptoms worse. Eating these foods can also lead to Diabetes and high blood pressure. Please see my Diabetes page for tips about foods to eat that help with this condition, as well as my Substitution, Avoid, and Juicing pages above for help with your overall choices.
"Researchers in Poland have found that up to 50% of patients with Hashimoto’s have an impaired tolerance to carbohydrates. This means that after consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, their their blood sugar goes up too high, too quickly. This leads to a rapid, sometimes excessive release of insulin. These insulin surges can cause low blood sugar (reactive hypoglycemia), which can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nervousness, lightheadedness, anxiety, and fatigue. Reactive hypoglycemia is a huge stressor for the adrenals!!" - Dr. Izabella Wentz
Thyroid medication should be taken on an empty stomach, and you should not eat for 30-60 minutes afterwards. I keep a glass of water and my meds on my nightstand so I can take them as soon I wake up. If you are rushing around in the morning for work by the time you take a shower and get dressed you will then be able to eat. Personally I wait an hour. Certain foods like walnuts inhibit absorption of your medication and should not be eaten till four hours after taking your medication. Too much dietary fiber can impair the absorption of synthetic thyroid hormone. Limit the use of the following and take only after four hours of taking your medication: (Check with your endocrinologist)
Walnuts, Iron supplements, Calcium supplements, Antacids, Medications such as sucralfate, (carafate),cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid) and soy.
Fat cells can inhibit absorption of your medication, so after losing weight on a plant strong vegan diet, your dose of medication may need to be reduced. That is a good thing, and it happened to me after I lost 70 pounds. Also the thyroid may swing, and your medication may change back and forth according to your body. I have also experience my thyroid acting up for a month and then settling down again.
Have your endocrinologist test your Iodine and selenium levels. Iodine is very important for the thyroid and can be found safely in sea vegetables or seaweed products. Refined table salt is not good for you. You will probably get more than enough of refined salt in any processed foods you may consume. If you must use salt, choose Himalayan or Celtic sea salt. Still seaweed is best source of iodine, and you can add dulse flakes to most savory foods you prepare. I like to eat a small piece of seaweed from a product called 'sea snax' on most days to be sure I am getting a bit of seaweed everyday. If your endocrinologist finds you are very low in iodine they may recommend a supplement. Once again Vitamin D is a related issue when you have thyroid problems. Make sure your Vitamin D hormone levels are checked by your doctor and check out my Vitamin D page as well.
During the time period I had been suffering from non-stop hair loss due to my thyroid, I also took an extra supplement of Biotin (B7) 1,000 - 2,000 mcg a day. Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, walnuts, avocados, and fish also will help supply protein to hair. You need to be sure you are getting enough zinc and iron. So I take Dr. Fuhrman's vegan multi-vitamin for women. Once my medication and organic plant powered lifestyle began to have it's positive effects on my thyroid, slowly my hair stopped falling out and began to grow back. Take heart, as you can improve the hair situation, it just takes time to recover. B-12 is important for vegans.
I find that taking pro-biotics and daily raw sauerkraut has helped my gut heal tremendously. Some people take pro-biotics for two weeks when they had an intestinal problem and others take them everyday. There are vegan options for these pills. I have found pre-biotics like digestive enzymes to be extremely helpful. Good gut health and friendly bacteria are your body's best friends since they influence the inflammation in your body and it is very important to keep your gut healthy as possible. Fermented foods are very helpful and popular. Start slow (to avoid toxin release overwhelming you) and build up your healthy gut bacteria over time. You can find many over the counter and in the refrigerator section of your natural food store. Hashimotos people also tend to have acid-reflux due to lower stomach acid which creates the same symptoms of those who have too much stomach acid. You may have gut infections and different bad bacteria that may need to be addressed as well. Treating them may take some time. If your healthy diet is not working to help you, then your gut may be the missing link in making improvements to your health.
Glutemine 5-15 grams can be helpful as a supplement. Remember to take supplements after talking with your doctor and start slow with your doses. Introduce one new supplement at a time so you know if your body has an reactions.
I did a post about supplements here that you may find helpful.
The Main Foods To Avoid
Dairy - the mucus it creates clogs your lymph system. You need your lymph system working good to clean the toxins out of your cells. This is why cancer patients should not be consuming dairy products. The cow proteins may be causing your body to attack them and creating an auto-immune reaction.
White Flour Gluten products - Best to go gluten-free. Each individual needs to check how they respond by removing these culprits. Some people can use other high fiber whole grain items instead. Pasty white flour products are not good for many reasons as Gluten is also trigger for IBS and leaky gut symptoms, which are often a pre-curser to an auto-immune disease. Hello thyroid issues.
Processed foods - Switch to whole local organic or sustainable produce and farm fresh foods, to get the toxins and chemicals out of your endocrine system.
Table salt - This is too refined, bleached, and has way too much bromine, and chlorine. Better to get your iodine from seaweed which has far more iodine than table salt. Use Celtic, sea salt or Himalayan salt.
Sodas - Chemicals and bromine are not helping your thyroid at all! Avoid all diet sodas.
Water in plastic bottles - BPAs are disruptive to your thyroid function.
Soy - disturbs the endocrine system when taken often, and my doctors have told me to avoid soy. Although because I had a cancer diagnosis and have osteoporosis I still have soy once a week because it helps these issues. Make sure it is organic only tempe, miso, and tofu.
YOUR FOOD SENSITIVITIES - These will be according to your body.
Nightshades - some people have a sensitivity to these and only you will know by trying an elimination diet for awhile.
Corn - some peoples guts are sensitive to corn products and you will know by an elimination test period of a few weeks.
Table salt - This is too refined, bleached, and has way too much bromine, and chlorine. Better to get your iodine from seaweed which has far more iodine than table salt. Use Celtic, sea salt or Himalayan salt.
Sodas - Chemicals and bromine are not helping your thyroid at all! Avoid all diet sodas.
Water in plastic bottles - BPAs are disruptive to your thyroid function.
Soy - disturbs the endocrine system when taken often, and my doctors have told me to avoid soy. Although because I had a cancer diagnosis and have osteoporosis I still have soy once a week because it helps these issues. Make sure it is organic only tempe, miso, and tofu.
YOUR FOOD SENSITIVITIES - These will be according to your body.
Nightshades - some people have a sensitivity to these and only you will know by trying an elimination diet for awhile.
Corn - some peoples guts are sensitive to corn products and you will know by an elimination test period of a few weeks.
Foods That Are Helpful To The Thyroid
Avocado - My new favorite food and it's such a good fat! Also helpful to your hair and skin.
Brazil Nuts - If you know from a blood test that you are low on selenium then a doctor may say to eat one a day of these nuts. This for the selenium and selenoproteins that help regulate thyroid function and the immune system. Selenium also helps Vitamin E absorption. Don't over do eating them as too much is not good either. I have high selenium levels and I no longer eat Brazil nuts.Flax seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Pine nuts, and Walnuts - Helpful to combat the dry skin caused by poor functioning thyroid. Eat walnuts 4 hours after taking your thyroid medication.
Berries - are very good for the endocrine system.
Sea Vegetables - Iodine protects the thyroid. Kelp, kombu, wakame, arame and dulse are excellent sources of iodine. As are miso, and celery. Read article here.
Beans - a good source of iodine, protein, and fiber.
Dandelions - A very misunderstood plant, because Dandelion is a powerhouse of nutrition. It ranks in the top four of green vegetable overall nutrition. It detoxifies the liver, and just a small handful in your homemade vegetable juice, or in a salad is extremely beneficial. Read article here. I use dandelion daily in my juice or smoothies as one of my dark leafy greens. Buy the large organic dandelion greens, or grow your own. Common dandelions are much smaller and bitter, although they are all edible. Never eat any dandelions from a lawn that gets pesticide treatment, or from along the roadside. Common Dandelions are less bitter when small in the early spring, and when found in shady areas. The flowers and stems are also edible, and many people make wine from those parts. When you purchase dandelions from the store, be sure they are entirely green, as the ones with red stems are actually chicory and not true dandelion.
Dark Leafy Greens - helpful in growing back your hair after losing much to thyroid dysfunction.
Celery and Cucumber - Helps skin elasticity and to heal dry skin caused by impaired thyroid.
Water - Clean filtered water helps move things throughout your system and clean out toxins.
Wild Alaskan Salmon - The protein, fish oil, and selenium help with hair growth.
Quinoa - The healthy protein in this seed is helpful for building healthy hair.
Millet -
Green Juices - will keep your skin glowing! Maintains overall health of hair, scalp, and all body systems.
Carrots, Turnips, Cabbage
Flax Oil - Add an occasional tsp. of high quality cold-pressed flax oil into your smoothies once or twice a week.
Fermented foods - sauerkraut
Dark Leafy Greens - helpful in growing back your hair after losing much to thyroid dysfunction.
Celery and Cucumber - Helps skin elasticity and to heal dry skin caused by impaired thyroid.
Water - Clean filtered water helps move things throughout your system and clean out toxins.
Wild Alaskan Salmon - The protein, fish oil, and selenium help with hair growth.
Quinoa - The healthy protein in this seed is helpful for building healthy hair.
Millet -
Green Juices - will keep your skin glowing! Maintains overall health of hair, scalp, and all body systems.
Carrots, Turnips, Cabbage
Flax Oil - Add an occasional tsp. of high quality cold-pressed flax oil into your smoothies once or twice a week.
Fermented foods - sauerkraut
Helpful Thyroid Foods and Spices For Juicing
Carrots, celery, alfalfa, sprouts, small amounts of parsley used with other vegetables such as cucumbers and carrots, watercress, dandelion greens, Romaine lettuce, apples, dark grapes, Berries, cayenne, allspice, pepper, cardamom, Turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and coriander.
Goitrogenic Foods: A Concern For Thyroid Patients?
" The Strange Case Of Goiterogenic Food Madness"
What is up with this? Below is a list of the foods that some say with heavy use could possibly adversely affect the thyroid. These foods have excellent healing qualities, so a variety of these in your daily diet is very good. My doctors highly recommend I continue to eat these foods, so I am not overly concerned with other peoples warnings. Dark leafy greens rock! Still worried about eating raw Kale, Collards, and other cruciferous vegetables? Read Dr. Joel Fuhrmans article about this very subject for thyroid patients HERE.
My doctors thoughts: "These cruciferous vegetables are goitrogens, yes, but only in the setting of (a hypothyroid patient) being low or borderline low in iodine (which I am), which is in part why we recommend getting enough iodine from a supplement just in case, and it also requires a very large amount (of goiterogens) to cause this effect. Soy is another goitrogen, but again only if the iodine is low and if you eat large amounts of it regularly. I wouldn't worry about it if you know you are getting enough iodine regularly (about 150 mcg-300 mcg daily average from food + supplementation). You can track this just to be sure by measuring the TSH, which if you are already on thyroid medication, this should be checked regularly."
If you are concerned with consuming too much raw spinach and kale, thyroid people can also use dandelion greens, and Romaine lettuce, in rotation with kale or spinach in green juices and salads. Dandelion greens are a fantastic dark leafy green with no harmful effects on the thyroid, and a great detox for the liver and kidneys. If you have thyroid issues, there are many people that recommend you lightly steam spinach, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale to remove those concerns. Overall I know the list below seems crazy, as these are the very healthiest foods. So as
a person who has had cancer, it is important for me to eat most of
these vegetables in abundance, because of their cancer fighting properties. So for
me, the cancer issue trumps the concern. Remember to always eat a rainbow of foods! Another helpful article by Dr. Mark Hyman on this topic here. A different opinion here.
NOTE! If you have kidney stone issues, remove spinach, collards, and beet greens from your diet according to nutritionfacts.org. They do have high oxalates. I eat more kale, cabbage and broccoli instead.
Extremely Goitrogenic - SOY
Could be bad for everyone if it is not organic, as 90% of the time it is a GMO product. My own endocrinologist, and doctor recommended that I stay away from soy products and use other alternatives instead. Eating an occasional organic soy product once a month that was fermented like miso, or tempe would not be very bad. Since I have osteoporosis I do consume organic tempe or tofu once a week. It is also helpful for hormonal issues and breast cancer, which are also issues I must take seriously. Check videos on nutritionfacts.org for the latest information. Soy gets a bad rap.
Both of my doctors said it was okay to consume the following known mildly goiterogenic foods for their important health benefits. I think you should remember that they do have many other good nutritional benefits, especially for fighting cancer. Three to four portions a day has shown no ill effects on my thyroid. It has been shown time and again that some of these foods are the most healthy to eat. So in my opinion, I say eat them, raw and steamed. Watch the video above called "overdosing on greens" about this question on quantity. You will see it would have to be such a huge volume to really make a difference. Anyway here is the list of foods that if you are curious would fall into that category Please note it does say "mildly." Don't 'stress' out over this list, as that would be worse than the negligible effect of these foods on your thyroid. You need to eat a variety of these foods for your overall good health and that concern is number one.
Pine nuts, walnuts, Peanuts, Millet, Cassava, Strawberries, Pears, Peaches, Kale, Cauliflower, Collard greens, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Bok-choy, Broccolini, Bamboo shoots, Chinese cabbage, Choy sum, Horseradish Kai-lan (Chinese broccoli), Kohlrabi, Mizuna, Mustard greens, Radishes, Rapeseed (yu choy) (used to make Canola Oil), Rapini, Rutabagas, Tatsoi, Turnips.
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Watch the video below of this woman's journey to health. She suffered from weight gain, and hypothyroidism, along with other medical problems. The change to raw foods saved her.
Crystal reversed her Hypothyroidism in five years. Read her story.
Another follower that was influenced by Crystal's blog.
Click below for mine and other thyroid people's article's who eat the way I do to lose the weight:
A Hypothyroid Sufferer explains how the Nutritarian Lifestyle finally allowed her to lose the weight.
Thyroid payient loses 30 pounds and comes off all medications after 21 day Green juice reboot. Also removed gluten, and eats a plant powered diet.
My own personal story told in three blog posts of my symptoms, original wrong diagnosis, crazy doctors, advice, and finding life again with organic plants and the nutritarian lifestyle.
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...(Revised Edition)
Stop the Thyroid Madness: A Patient Revolution Against Decades of Inferior Treatment
The Thyroid Diet Revolution: Manage Your Master Gland of Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss
Living Well with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...
Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease
Thyroid Eye Disease: Understanding Graves\' Ophthalmopathy
The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcome Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems
The Thyroid Diet Revolution: Manage Your Master Gland of Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss
Living Well with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...
Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease
Thyroid Eye Disease: Understanding Graves\' Ophthalmopathy
The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcome Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems
Healing Hashimoto's: A Savvy Patient's Guide
Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled?: A 3-Step Program to: Restore Thyroid, Adrenal, and Reproductive Balance, Beat Hormone Havoc, and Feel Better Fast!
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease
Dirty Bombshell: From Thyroid Cancer Back To Fabulous!
Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health
The Immune System Recovery Plan: A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease
Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome
The Autoimmune Epidemic
Anticancer: A New Way of Life
Click here to go back to the topic list for this page.
The Fluoride Deception - Fluoride is a genetic toxin that is added to our drinking water. Swallowing fluoridated water poses multiple health risks. Municipal water is fluoridated using hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFSA), an untested and unregulated chemical derived from the fertilizer industry. HFSA is added to the water without your informed consent and is a violation of human rights. Here is a link to a video of London Public Meeting on Fluoridation Jan. 25th 2012. As a citizen with thyroid problems I do not want any fluoride in my life as it damages the endocrine system. When I first heard about this I could not even believe that the government would do this, or that it could be true at all, so I ignored it. Now I know different. Here is a good interview from the films researcher on the fluoride problem. I found this thoughtful conversation from an Australian Radio Show in an area that was being forced to add fluoride to their water, give it a listen. Look on the back of your toothpaste tube where it states - if you ingest the toothpaste to call poison control. Is that crazy or what? Keep fluoride away from your thyroid.
Plastic Planet - Netflix. You might also find it here. Important film for thyroid people concerning the many endocrine disruptors found in modern plastics. Use glass as much as possible my friends.
Fluoride History Article and Video
If you are new to The Queen's Table Blog you can become a follower on facebook, and learn about healthy eating, losing weight, and get the scoop on the latest science.
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