Diet supplements and hypothyroidism
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You can also try Myso-Inositol Powder. It is suppose to help with cellular health and metabolism. I've just started it so I can't say if it will help you but it has helped a friend of mine that has hypothyroid.0
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The low carb thing is just the resurgence of a fad. Why it's so successful is that people who were undisciplined are now following a routine. Doesn't really matter what the routine is. The reason most of these fail in long term is that elimination diets are simply unsustainable and go against human nature. We are designed to eat.
I'm not so sure about this. I do think that elimination diets are easier for some people. Moderation is not as easy for everyone. Some do better taking certain things out of their diet and replacing them with other alternatives. Not everyone can do portion control -- or they find that more difficult than elimination diets. Or they simply feel better on elimination diets because they realize they were having a low level reaction to certain foods (like some see with grains on a Paleo diet)
I also think keto works especially well for those with insulin resistance issues. It can feel like the first time, they aren't always craving sweets or carbs. This is due in part to the high satiation with keto (i.e. protein and fats) and also because it does help improve insulin sensitivity (as does certain types of intermittent fasting). Since insulin resistance affects over 40% of the US population at either pre-diabetic or diabetic levels, it is a widespread problem -- one that many people don't realize they have.
So, doing keto for these people can feel like a mini miracle. They're not starving all the time or being plagued with strong sweet/carb cravings. If you've never experience such insulin resistant cravings, they can be very intense.
So, I think this is more than a fad. It's a very legitimate path which may be the best fit for certain people. It's not a good fit for me personally because of the way it affects my T3 levels, but it can be a GREAT fit for others.
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This is interesting. I haven`t read in this thread for some days, but I ordered a supplement from 1Body myself some days ago. Just waiting to get it. Sound great that you`re more alert! I hope to be as well. Heard so many good reviews for these thyroid support supplements, as they`re packed with the vitamins/minerals we need.I started taking a thyroid support supplement from 1Body about a week ago. It has a lot of the above mentioned herbs and minerals. I am finding myself feeling more alert now.
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@lindsey1979: I asked my doc what he concidered to be the best diet for us with hypothyroidsm. He said keto, without doubt. I can`t do it though. I can`t do the LCHF either. Too much fuzz for me. But cutting grains is something I can do, and that has worked before. I might give it a go again.0
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@lindsey1979: I asked my doc what he concidered to be the best diet for us with hypothyroidsm. He said keto, without doubt. I can`t do it though. I can`t do the LCHF either. Too much fuzz for me. But cutting grains is something I can do, and that has worked before. I might give it a go again.
It's interesting that he thought keto was the best diet without a doubt. Looking into the research and talking to my doc, he didn't give quite that strong of an endorsement. He said, it could be the best for certain thyroid folks, but some thyroid folks responded really negatively to it because it impacted their T3 so significantly (which it's known to do anyway, but just harder for those of with that issue to begin with). So, he told me, go ahead, give it a try but if you feel really run down within a few weeks/months, you're one of the ones that has the T3-impact (which I was). I followed the classic pattern of feeling great on it once adjusting (the whole "carb flu" thing was only for 3-5 days for me) and then about week 6 or so, it hit me like a wall. Back to feeling super fatigued, like I was fighting a cold and my body just wasn't recovering from my workouts. Unlike with a lot of other diets where you can cycle on an off with breaks or refeeds, doing so with keto isn't so easy. So, no keto for me.
He told me that a lot of his Hashi's patients that went untreated for a long time often have some level of insulin resistance so it's something he tests for right out of the box if they have any of the basic symptoms (difficulty with losing/maintaining weight, carb/sweet cravings, crash after high carb meals, etc.). He suspects it's one of the ways the body compensates when the thyroid stops working properly and you're untreated -- that and the adrenals can often be deficient.
He generally suggests a diet that is similar to Paleo -- not as strict as Paleo or gets into the various hype issues, but strong in fruits and veggies, no/reduced processed foods, eliminates gluten grain products (initially all grain products, but then can slowly add back in non-gluten sources if you like and have no reaction to them such as rice, oats, etc.), starts the same elimination issue with dairy and then add back in if you like and tolerate it well, etc. If you really love gluten stuff like bread, he'll suggest that you eliminate them for 6 months and then slowly add back in if you must so you can really tell if your body is having any sort of reaction to it --- and he said the vast majority of the people at that point aren't even interested in doing it (or things are just finally going well that they want to risk it).
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SkinnyKerinny wrote: »@linux40 I have struggled with carbs for so many years. The only way I've been able to deal with that is to not eat very many to begin with. Once I started doing much lower carbs (50 or so a day) then all cravings stopped almost instantly.
I have found the exact same thing! I keep my carb intake to about 50g a day (and no gluten) and my cravings are pretty much non existent. Not I just crave protein all the time. Which is a good thing I think.
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I take about 2000IU vit D, selenium 100mcg, vit B complex with zinc and 100% RDA of iron daily. When not on holidays I have a one espresso a day caffeine habit. I think supplementing with iron makes the biggest difference for me.
As to my diet I am slowly moving towards eating more protein and clean fats in my diet. However going below 40-45% carbohydrates for several days in a row makes me feel tired ( as in not having enough energy for exercising ) with no effect whatsoever on my hunger / sugar cravings. I think there is no one diet that works for everyone.0 -
allergictodiets wrote: »I think there is no one diet that works for everyone.
^This. My endocrinologist just told me "eat less." And it took a whole lot of trial & error to find what worked for me.0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »allergictodiets wrote: »I think there is no one diet that works for everyone.
^This. My endocrinologist just told me "eat less." And it took a whole lot of trial & error to find what worked for me.
I third that, I have been trying to figure this whole thing out for the past 2 years since I got it. I had a doctor give me a wiki page for hypothyroidism, and another on weight loss, I found out how to get away from him. I saw a nutritionist for about 6 months and that really helped enforce these two mantras that I now firmly believe (sugar is the devil, and can you pick up some barley or wheat and just eat it, no, then maybe you shouldnt eat that).
Different strokes for different folks. I don't think about carbs anymore (that sounds weird) its been about a week and my weight went down and I don't feel any different than before but, my weight went down and I have been taking some supplements like d3,c,b6-12, iodine, adrenal, and multivitamins. My husband has bread. I dont, and I refuse to cook pasta because for some reason those calories stick to me like glue. a gloopy gluteny tasty al dente glue that just cant be with me anymore
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Hi all,
New to the group
I`m diagnosed with Hypothyroidsm (and Hashimotos) - and finding it really hard to lose weight.
It takes really long time to lose just a few pounds.
I used to be on levaxine (what you guys might call levothyroxine) - but it really didn`t do me any good. Too many side-effects and too easy to gain weight. Now I´ve changed my meds and am now using Armour Thyorid, and it`s so much better allready. Also, I know it will be easier to lose weight, as I´ve tried them before...(just switched to thyroxine, because where I live, Armour costs a fortune..but health really does come first, right..?)
Still, I`m wondering about trying some kind of metabolism-booster, apetitesuppressant or something that helps me stay away from to many carbs (and meals). I´ve read some reviews for Garcinia Cambognia and seen some good results, even on people with Hypothyrodism. Is it safe?
How about Leptigen -or something else to recommend?
Please let me know if some of you`ve had good experience with supplements.
Thank you!
Hypo, Hemi-Thyroidectomy, was on Levo, now Armour. I haven't used either of those, but do supplement selenium, magnesium and Vit D - as those are frequently low.
I use Examine.com to look up supplements as they have studies and grades for the evidence on supplements. It is a great resource. They also have a 'condition based' list of appropriate supplements, but it costs $$ and I'm not doing that yet.
Doing very low carb diet helped get my food quantities under control and I feel much better over the day - no eat/crash cycle.
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I couldn't lose weight either. If I lost anything it was 1/2 pound at best a month. This was reducing with in reason what I ate as well as excersing several times a week. Then I took my body temp and it was 94 not 98.8 or even just under it was several degrees low. Did some more serching and found out I was still hypo even though I was fine on my TSH. Found the website stop the thyroid madness lots of info there. I then upped my NDT dose which was only the starting dose of 60mg or 1 grain. I was then on 5 grains started to be able to lose weight. Dr. didn't think it was ok because my TSH was 0.12 or there abouts and he thought I was going HYpo but I wasn't came armed with info from the drug coming and site. They are used to working with synthetic drugs not natural so there is a difference on how the body reacts. I am pleased to say I am now losing weight at a reasonable rate. All those complates I had are now gone. I was under treated for over 9 years doctors telling me it wasn't my thyroid when I knew it was. I was right and now I am losing weight just a thought
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skinnyeascolady wrote: »I couldn't lose weight either. If I lost anything it was 1/2 pound at best a month. This was reducing with in reason what I ate as well as excersing several times a week. Then I took my body temp and it was 94 not 98.8 or even just under it was several degrees low. Did some more serching and found out I was still hypo even though I was fine on my TSH. Found the website stop the thyroid madness lots of info there. I then upped my NDT dose which was only the starting dose of 60mg or 1 grain. I was then on 5 grains started to be able to lose weight. Dr. didn't think it was ok because my TSH was 0.12 or there abouts and he thought I was going HYpo but I wasn't came armed with info from the drug coming and site. They are used to working with synthetic drugs not natural so there is a difference on how the body reacts. I am pleased to say I am now losing weight at a reasonable rate. All those complates I had are now gone. I was under treated for over 9 years doctors telling me it wasn't my thyroid when I knew it was. I was right and now I am losing weight just a thought
If it helps at all, my doc says so long as you're producing some TSH (at least for his Hashi's folks), then you're not overmedicated. Because if you were overmedicated, you wouldn't be producing any TSH at all. TSH simply isn't that helpful of a test if you have Hashi's because it's literally impossible to know how much of the antibodies are rendering the effective hormones (T3 and T4) ineffective. He follows TSH to make sure people aren't overmedicated, but that's about it. Otherwise, he relies on clinical symptoms and the Free T3 and Free T4 values.
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skinnyeascolady wrote: »I couldn't lose weight either. If I lost anything it was 1/2 pound at best a month. This was reducing with in reason what I ate as well as excersing several times a week. Then I took my body temp and it was 94 not 98.8 or even just under it was several degrees low. Did some more serching and found out I was still hypo even though I was fine on my TSH. Found the website stop the thyroid madness lots of info there. I then upped my NDT dose which was only the starting dose of 60mg or 1 grain. I was then on 5 grains started to be able to lose weight. Dr. didn't think it was ok because my TSH was 0.12 or there abouts and he thought I was going HYpo but I wasn't came armed with info from the drug coming and site. They are used to working with synthetic drugs not natural so there is a difference on how the body reacts. I am pleased to say I am now losing weight at a reasonable rate. All those complates I had are now gone. I was under treated for over 9 years doctors telling me it wasn't my thyroid when I knew it was. I was right and now I am losing weight just a thought
So happy for you, glad to hear you´re finally losing weight, and hopefully also feeling better?
Dosage means everything, and as you say, doctors aren`t really used to the natural meds. I find them to be way better than then synthetic, so much better effect from them, but my doc just shakes his head. The doc who gave them to me, is kind of "alternative", but I don`t care as long as it helps. I`ve also found the same as you, as long as you`re correctly (and enough) medicated, the weight will go. My (the alternative one) doctor tells me to really get to know my body. I´m using 3 grains of armour now, and he tells me if I feel bad for a period, just to up the dose. It`s a good thing I think, never been better after changing meds.
PS. Just started (a week ago) taking a supplement called Thyroid Energy. This has really helped me sleep better, but also it has given me that extra energy in the evening. Recommended! (It`s a supplement containing all the vitamins/minerals etc that we hypo`s need)
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I'm on Levo. Been on it for 2 years now and I have gained 26 pounds. I hate it. I felt great before the Dr put me on it in the first place. No symptoms before now I have all of them. I never sleep. Panic attacks, weight gain, losing my hair...you guys know the rest. I'm thinking about just stopping the medicine. I read all of the side affects and I think I'd rather risk not taking the drugs. My Dr keeps telling me my levels are fine. Help!!! I was down 70 pounds the day I started this nightmare!0
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I'm on Levo. Been on it for 2 years now and I have gained 26 pounds. I hate it. I felt great before the Dr put me on it in the first place. No symptoms before now I have all of them. I never sleep. Panic attacks, weight gain, losing my hair...you guys know the rest. I'm thinking about just stopping the medicine. I read all of the side affects and I think I'd rather risk not taking the drugs. My Dr keeps telling me my levels are fine. Help!!! I was down 70 pounds the day I started this nightmare!
Sorry to hear this! Doctors don`t really care, as long as the levels are "fine", then off course you are fine..Not!Sounds like my story - Levo made me gain lots of weight (one of the side effects from levo many don`t know about), losing hair, lightly depressed, no energy. Please, don`t stop your medicine, cause you need them if you`re hypo. BUT ask to change them. Lots of us have a whole new life when changing meds.
My story in short: First diagnosed some years ago, and doc put me on levo. Things just got worse. After a year or so, I saw another specialist, he said "try Armour Thyorid and see if it makes you better". It did. Bigtime. Half a year ago, back on levo, just because my levels were totally weird, and he said I had done something bad to my body by taking the NDT. Also, I thought, ok, let`s try levo again (stupid me), cause the Armour is SO expensive here in my country. 6 month and I crashed. Weight up again, too much in too little time. So I changed some weeks ago now and will never ever go back again.
I`ve started reading loads of articles and studies about hypothyroidism, and understand so much more about how it all works. No wonder my levels were "weird" on NDT, that`s how it is. NDT makes TSH go down to almost zero. And it`s fine.
Now, starting to lose weight slowly again, feeling better, more energy, happier, sleeping good...
Please, I know what you`re talking about, so find a doc who takes you seriously.
You can pm me if you have more questions. Good luck to you.
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Thank you for understanding. I feel so alone. Everything I once did to live....and lose weight doesn't work anymore. I feel like I'm going crazy and no one "gets it". THANK YOU.0
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Thank you for understanding. I feel so alone. Everything I once did to live....and lose weight doesn't work anymore. I feel like I'm going crazy and no one "gets it". THANK YOU.
I get it
Hopefully you`ll be able to change your meds, and your life will go in a positive direction. I know this is hard, really hard, but please, Don`t give up!!
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I'm on Levo. Been on it for 2 years now and I have gained 26 pounds. I hate it. I felt great before the Dr put me on it in the first place. No symptoms before now I have all of them. I never sleep. Panic attacks, weight gain, losing my hair...you guys know the rest.
I'm thinking about just stopping the medicine. I read all of the side affects and I think I'd rather risk not taking the drugs.
Do not stop taking your meds. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) is synthetic T4. The side effects are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including anxiety and insomnia—but not weight gain.
Perhaps you need to add liothyronine (synthetic T3) to your Synthroid, or switch to Armour (desiccated pig or pig + cow thyroid glands, which contain T1, T2, T3, or T4). Perhaps your dosage simply needs adjustment. A good endocrinologist will adjust your meds based on both levels + symptoms.
Get a referral to an endocrinologist. If your doctor is an endo, find a new one.0 -
I'm on Levo. Been on it for 2 years now and I have gained 26 pounds. I hate it. I felt great before the Dr put me on it in the first place. No symptoms before now I have all of them. I never sleep. Panic attacks, weight gain, losing my hair...you guys know the rest. I'm thinking about just stopping the medicine. I read all of the side affects and I think I'd rather risk not taking the drugs. My Dr keeps telling me my levels are fine. Help!!! I was down 70 pounds the day I started this nightmare!
please don't stop taking levo, worst case scenario of hypothyroidism is thyrotoxic coma and following that is death, you really need some sort of thyroid replacement drug. Go back to your doc and don't take no for an answer, suggest a non-generic levo prescription or ask for a different brand from the chemist they may do better or as others suggested ask for t3, NDT, armour there are options. Ask your gp to check iron and b12 too if they are low it can give similar symptoms. Also you could try taking it at a different time of day, i sleep a lot better since I started taking levo at night before bed.0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »I'm on Levo. Been on it for 2 years now and I have gained 26 pounds. I hate it. I felt great before the Dr put me on it in the first place. No symptoms before now I have all of them. I never sleep. Panic attacks, weight gain, losing my hair...you guys know the rest.
I'm thinking about just stopping the medicine. I read all of the side affects and I think I'd rather risk not taking the drugs.
Do not stop taking your meds. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) is synthetic T4. The side effects are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including anxiety and insomnia—but not weight gain.
Perhaps you need to add liothyronine (synthetic T3) to your Synthroid, or switch to Armour (desiccated pig or pig + cow thyroid glands, which contain T1, T2, T3, or T4). Perhaps your dosage simply needs adjustment. A good endocrinologist will adjust your meds based on both levels + symptoms.
Get a referral to an endocrinologist. If your doctor is an endo, find a new one.
Weight gain actually is a side effect for levo. It's less common, but it is one:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/levothyroxine-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20072133
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