Vegetarian with Possible Thyroid Issue

Hi, my name is Roxy, I am 57 years old, I have Hashimoto's disease , which makes me hypothyroid. Plus I have a small goiter. Oh and lets not forget the pituitary tumor. All of these which makes it almost impossible to lose weight. I have never heard of eating meat being helpful for thyroid issues, although I do enjoy a good steak once in a while. lol. And I do eat meat sometimes. I am not a big fish eater at all. Hate tuna! if I eat fish I can only eat it blackened. So I don't taste the fish. haha. Anyways, I am on synthroid for my thyroid. Which my doctor has now lowered my dosage, and I have been having a very hard time losing weight, even though I log all my food, and exercise 6 days a week, not including walking 3 dogs every day for 30 to 40 minutes. I was up to 200 poiunds at 5' 1". The only way I could lose any weight it when I went on the "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" diet, juice for two months. Yup I did it for 2 months, not a bit of food went in my mouth at that time, just juice and smoothies, And I lost 35 pounds and then lost another 30 by just eating clean and exercising. Of course being on a higher dose of synthroid must have helped, because since the doctor lowered my dose, I have gained back 20 pounds. And am still exercising the same and pretty much eating the same. And of course I am more fatigued now too. Anyways enough of me, I wish you the best of luck, if you are a vegan and don't want to eat meat that is fine, I don't think meat will help you. But if you find out it does, let me know. Roxy.

I don't have much to contribute other than I have a history of thyroid issues in my family and I also don't eat meat. Luckily, I haven't had any issues so far. I am now very curious though, what is that meat provides to help with the hypothyroidism? I know that there can be some issues with excess soy, but it has never been brought to my attention that those two (meat and hypothyroidism) were connected. Is it a protein issue? Vitamin deficiency?

I am really interested in the answers here.

I am now very curious though, what is that meat provides to help with the hypothyroidism? I know that there can be some issues with excess soy, but it has never been brought to my attention that those two (meat and hypothyroidism) were connected. Is it a protein issue? Vitamin deficiency?

I am really interested in the answers here.

Per my endocrinologist, I haven't changed what I eat at all. And I lost weight.

And the Mayo Clinic agrees:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/basics/definition/con-20021179

Generally, there's no hypothyroidism diet. Although claims about hypothyroidism diets abound, there's no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.

I am just wondering why the OP says that she knows she needs to add meat back in. I don't understand what part helps with hypothyroidism (not weight loss). Lack of protein? Vitamin deficiency?

I had to go wheat free to help deal with the autoimmune portion of my thyroid disease. If you are a vegetarian are you eating alot of soy or using soy products to help bolster your protein? If so this can interfere with your thyroid medication. I try to avoid soy, but there are other plant based proteins that would work instead of specifically adding back meat.

For me just diet (counting calories religiously) and exercise (5 times a week with a training leader watching me and then 3 additional workouts on my own time) didn't work well for me. I was in a bootcamp program run by the military and the average weight loss was 26 pounds in the 12 weeks. I lost 2. After I changed to a grain free, low soy diet I was able to lose 10 pounds in one month. Every person is different in what works for them.