A Diet Plan That Actually Works With Hypothyroidism

What would you recommend for calorie intake? I know people who bring their calorie intake down pretty low. Let me know how much you need?

this help me to stay focused on my diet

and helped me understand how the body reacs to carbs, and why I wasn't losing weight

it can get very depressing

I'm really glad to hear that this worked out for you. HOw much weight have you lost thus far? I'd like to hear how ou're doing if that's okay! :)

tuna bad, almonds bad...

i know several women who have hypothyroid symptoms but their basic hormone tests are low-within-normal, so they studied foods to avoid with hypothyroid and took other steps that seemed to alleviate some of their symptoms. while there seem to be no studies showing that certain foods weaken the thyroid, and it doesn't explain the susceptibility, their hypothyroid symptoms increase with consumption so they believe it's something to look at.

you may still want to get extensive testing and study up, because thyroid conditions can be complex, difficult to treat, and serious. but consider that the foods below may be affecting your energy and symptoms whether you're taking meds or not, or the amount of medication you need. (psst: see if your hair falls out more when you eat them!)

foods that seem to weaken the thyroid, even more so if raw:
cruciferous vegetables! including kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and other stiff-leafed greens
stone fruits INCLUDING ALMONDS, peaches, cherries (another health bummer!) apricots, plums/prunes : (
peanuts
carrots
soy, including soy oil, in mayo and many other products
millet
corn (another tough one! tortillas, cornbread, corn flakes!)
rye
spinach

not sure about oats, radishes, beets, celery, lentils, cashews, sunflowers seeds, canola oil. sugar, white flour, white rice, and other processed sugary and starchy foods are not good. i wonder if the list above would be, in comes cases, good for HYPERthyroid.

there might be foods i'm leaving out. i started at about.com. i weigh any source of information carefully and consider the source. look for corroboration an watch out for expensive mystery cures.

again, there doesn't seem to be a lot of research, but people's experience is real. and i can't find studies showing that these foods don't weaken the thyroid. it's amazing so little is known. then again, the problem appears to affect women more than men. and the hormones involved are very complex.

whole rice and wheat, certain fish, chicken and turkey, walnuts, pecans, mushrooms, cukes, zucchini, most beans, dairy foods, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and watery greens like lettuce seem fairly neutral. so these can be a baseline diet; add foods one at a time and check for symptoms. a lot of veggies and fruits daily is still essential.

coconut is supposed to increase the metabolism and support the thyroid...but watch the saturated fat. iodine and selenium are essential: make sure they are part of your diet as deficiency will cause hypothyroid.

a few other things to think about:

avoid tuna. it almost inevitably contains mercury, one of the most toxic and widely-spread pollutants. it is thought to disable the body's detoxification system. it may be a culprit in autism and cancer, allowing more toxins to accumulate in the body in a snowball effect as defenses are progressively weakened.

and while i believe the cause of hypothyroid is generally said to be unknown, mercury is thought to be particularly toxic to the thyroid, possibly because it competes with selenium and creates deficiency. amalgam fillings (the "silver" kind; especially if chipped/broken), broken and maybe intact flourescent lightbulbs, mercury thermometers, many vaccines, and tuna and certain other fish are sources.

the first thing i would do if i had hypothyroid would be to eliminate mercury exposures if possible. ideally get amalgam fillings replaced by a dentist with a mercury-free practice. or, cheaper, get them replaced with "porcelain" fillings. and if i needed a vaccine/booster, i'd seek mercury-free...haven't figured that one out. consider filtering your water.

dr. bock has done some interesting work based on prevalent toxins and serious health conditions. this book explains some of his theories, successfully tested in his pediatric practice. though the context may not match your health issues, you will find a lot to think about: . and no, i am not associated with any business enterprise. get it at the library if you can't buy it.

salmon and trout are usually better choices for fish. i recently tried tinned trout from trader joes and it seemed very mild-tasting and versatile. trout nicoise salad, anyone? chicken, fish, brown rice, whole wheat, and lettuce salads can be prepared a million ways. garlic helps with detoxification.

best wishes for your health.

I've had hypothyroidism for 12 years and taking all the t4 meds but still had syptoms and could not lose weight then I went on Armour Thyroid that also has t3 support and now I'm at my ideal weight. I've read alot on this subject so please everyone have your doctor put you on t3 support along with your t4 support and see whay happens XD

Unfortunatly, the way to loose weight is to burn more calories than you consume. Basicly - you wont loose weight if you dont excercise. I used to say i couldnt fit in excercise with college, turns out i just couldnt be bothered, now i fit going to the gym 4 times a week with college, and i still have plently of time for coursework and things. If you want to loose weight, and you want it to stay off, you have to excercise, its just a plain fact. 8-|

i am suffering from hypothyroidism...i recovered from it two moths ago but now it has relapsed.Symptoms are - hair loss,depression,dryness,memory loss and weakness.but with all this i am having a constant weight loss.i have lost 2kgs of weight in 15days and i fear that my weight will continue falling this way.please suggest a proper diet chart.i am a pure vegetarian and cant have anything non-veg.i wish to know does this problem of hypothyroidism interferes with the pregnancy and how?

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about three years ago. unfortunately I never found any doctor helpful. Last month I went to my gp and asked him why after three years my weight is still not under control, I told him that my previous gp had told me that my weight would come under control after a year. He laughed and said, " they are all liars". Good thing is that my weight has stopped increasing but bad thing is that I find it really hard to lose it. There are some certain things which make my symptoms worse such as cauliflower, spinach , juices, processed food and sweet . Things make me feel better are water, zinc & multivitamins supplements.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 years ago. I am 22 years old and really active. I work out at least 3 times a week, eat 3 small meals a day and healthy snacks in between. Before I was diagnosed I gained 20lbs and have been trying to work it off ever since. The harder I try and more I put on. I am 5'6" and weigh between 165-175. I've talked to my doc and the only advice he gave me was to watch portions - he didn't listen to a thing I said because my "charts" were fine. Doesn't it matter if I still feel sluggish/tired, have missed periods and can't lose weight despite being so active? Anyone have any advice as to how I can lose some weight? I'm young and I'm tired of feeling self conscious because of this disease!

OMG it's not just me... I was put on med's for Hypothyroidism and instantly gained 20 lbs. My dr said to join a gym... So I started excersing 1/2 hour a day and I put on more so I joined a gym and did cardio/weights and put on more... I'm hitting the 40 lb mark and getting disgusted with myself. I'm now on an antidepressant because this is not "Me". I now go to a New gym and work out weights/cardio I take classes 3-4 days a week and workout minimum 1 1/2 hours. I am not "Lazy" but I'm disgusted. I eat so healthy its crazy. My only vice is coffee in the AM then its water only. I eat 3 servings of fruit/ 3-5 servings of veggies- 2-3 servings of protein a day... very rarely do I eat starch/breads.... following a low glycemic diet and can not loose an ounce. My levels came back fine on my last blood test plus I take more supplements such as selenium, B12, B, Fish Oil, Acaii, just to name a few... I can never get enough sleep but never give in to naps. I get 7-8 hours a night. What am I doing wrong? Not only that I got these lovely (sarcasim) welts on the back of my arms from my thyroid issues.. I will not wear short sleeves or tanks EVER. The DR said they will go away but its been 2 years and the prescription that might help is over $400.00.

I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few days ago, and even though i feel as though I've been hit by a bus, I still find the time to exercise. I think that if people want to lose weight, at the expense of feeling slightly more tired than you already are, i think that you should just exercise anyway..
I refuse to take my levothyroxin, I just feel as though I should just follow a thyroid stimulating diet that will cause my thyroid gland to release more hormone thyroxin..
What I am eating has caused me to lose 5lbs since my diagnosis..

***HINT: SPICY FOODS STIMULATE METABOLISM***

BREAKFAST I:
1/2 cup Plain Low-Fat Yogurt
1 Pkg Artificial Sweetener (If allergic to sugar substitute Brown Sugar)
2-3 Strawberries quartered

BREAKFAST II:
3 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp low-fat spicy salsa
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp skim milk
DIRECTIONS:
Beat the egg whites together with the olive oil and the skim milk..
Add the spices and salsa (I personally have the advantage of being Mexican, so I make my own Salsa Verde, which is very low-fat and stimulates metabolism). Mix thoroughly.
Add to a heated pan and make scrambled eggs..
Personally, I think it is DELICIOUS!! You wouldn't think that it was diet..

BREAKFAST III: (ON THE RUN)
Plain old bran cereal with skim milk

BREAKFAST IV:
3 egg whites
4 tsp skim milk
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup green + red bell pepper
red onion to preference
Make scrambled or as an omelet. It is awesome.


LUNCH:
This is where I tend to get stumped..

LUNCH I:
Two slices whole grain rye bread
2 tbsp low fat mayo
2 leaves of lettuce
2 slices tomato (sprinkle pepper on top)
2-3 rings red onion
2-3 slices of deli chicken breast


LUNCH II: Basically a variation of LUNCH I
Two slices whole grain rye bread
3-4 tbsp low fat mayo**
1 can of low salt canned tuna**
1 tsp olive oil**
1/2 tsp granulated garlic**
1/2 tsp pepper**
2 leaves of lettuce
2 slices tomato (sprinkle pepper on top)
2-3 rings red onion
2-3 slices of avocado (sprinkle pepper on top)
**Make a "tuna salad" with the tuna, mayo, granulated garlic, pepper, and olive oil**

DINNER I:
Citrus Pasta
1tbsp lemon zest
1tbsp orange zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp orange juice
1/4 cup butter, low fat
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 serving whole wheat pasta

Start with a quick sauté of the garlic in the butter and olive oil..
You then add the lemon and orange juice and zests.. cover and slow cook on low for 10 min
After that, you can put it over the pasta.. A quick tip for the pasta, is to add salt to the water, and also cooking oil.. This adds a new dimension to the flavour of the pasta, and also prevents it from sticking

DINNER II:
Fresh Lemon Chicken
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp tarragon
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4-1/2 cup of low fat butter

Melt the butter, add lemon and spices..
Pour over 2-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Cook on 350 in the oven for 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165

This can be served with a green salad with a simple olive oil/balsamic vinegar vinaigrette.. or the CITRUS PASTA above

DINNER III:
Simple, Delicious Pasta
1 serving whole wheat pasta
1/2 can low sodium tomato sauce (PLAIN, JUST TOMATO)
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp powdered oregano
2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup red wine

Cook this on low until it slightly thickens
Pour over pasta..
For some reason this is FANTASTIC..

I HOPE THIS TEMPORARILY HELPS..

I would recommend reading "The Thyroid Diet" by Mary J Shomon. The book gives real insight to thyroid disease. It lists foods to eat and avoid. I never really followed the diet plan but the information in the book is well worth the purchase. I have suffered for 3 years now and have tried several diets and exercise programs. I even hired a personal trainer...nothing. The only thing I have found that truly worked was limiting portion size of my meals and bicycling. Like most, I am not a big exercise buff but, I have found the love of bicycling. It doesn't seem like exercise to me. Plus, it will give you a total body workout. You will be amazed after a few weeks of riding how you can see your upper body start to get toned as well as your legs and butt. I am not taking the Nature-Thyroid. I am on Synthroid.

If any of you guys are taking the generic form of Synthroid this can REALLY take a toll on the body. I am a hairdresser with hypo and several of my clients are as well. Our bodies cannot process the generic therefore sending our body in a whirl wind as if we arent even taking the meds. Since I have switched to name brand my weight has stayed the same. Cutting carbs has seemed to really help me with losing a little here and there since they bog down the normal/non hypo person.


Have an awesome day!

you guys really need to check out the book called Thyroid Power. its opened my eyes to a lot of things bout this condition and tells you a lot of things your doctors does not.

I am in the same hypo issue. I have used Ann Gittleman's fat flush plan. It works. I don't feel nutritionally deprived as I did on Atkins and lost almost 20lbs in a month. Good Luck!