Hypothyroidism and foods (x-rays, lose weight, surgery, dental)

[Mattie Jo]

Glad that I refused thyroid meds since I have 40 percent bone loss already. But have you checked to see if the natural one, Amour, promotes osteoporsis?

[Niners fan]

The amino acid L-Tyrosine and Iodine are good for thyroid function. You can get them at a health food store pretty inexpensively.

[southward bound]

This is an excellent thread...please keep it going. I'm learning things I never knew before. I only knew the soy thing, and it was a couple of years before I heard that. Doctors don't tell you this. They just give you the lab results and a prescription and send you on your way.

I tried Armour for a while. It was difficult finding a physician that was willing to work with me on it. Armour is difficult to regulate, as the strength is not consistent from one batch to the next.

What other foods are suppressors? Those previously listed take care of many of my favorites. I'll be down to purified water alone pretty soon.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by mmckenna

When you say "suppresses" the thyroid, to what degree? I mean, maybe the suppression is so minimal that a thyroid test taken at the start and end of a six-month period would really not show much of a change, like maybe 1 or 2 points?
Or do certain amounts of those foods (and how much?) counteract the benefits of the prescription meds some of us have to take?

I take Synthroid 175mcg, but still gained 90 lbs eating vegetables and fruit and chicken a few days a week. My blood work consistently comes back in range (I need a new doctor.) I want to get the most out of my meds and am hoping that dropping walnuts and adding Kelp will improve my metabolism. I've been Kelp on two weeks and nothing yet. It's frustrating.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by southward bound

This is an excellent thread...please keep it going. I'm learning things I never knew before. I only knew the soy thing, and it was a couple of years before I heard that. Doctors don't tell you this. They just give you the lab results and a prescription and send you on your way.

I tried Armour for a while. It was difficult finding a physician that was willing to work with me on it. Armour is difficult to regulate, as the strength is not consistent from one batch to the next.

What other foods are suppressors? Those previously listed take care of many of my favorites. I'll be down to purified water alone pretty soon.

Here is the article I found a few weeks ago and started me on my search for more information.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Niners fan

The amino acid L-Tyrosine and Iodine are good for thyroid function. You can get them at a health food store pretty inexpensively.

I started taking this a few weeks ago, but I've read it takes time to stick.

[Mattie Jo]

Yes, MainStreet, it will take time.

I eat a few almonds daily, but maybe I shouldn't. I have cut out the other things, but when summer comes I will eat peaches, plus I have a peach tree.

[Miborn]

If left untreated, hyporthyroidism can cause further problems, including changes in menstrual cycles, prevention of ovulation, and an increased risk of miscarriage.
Symptoms such as fatigue, depression and constipation, may progress and there can be other serious consequences, including heart failure.

A study released in June, 2000, at the World Congress on Osteoporosis in Chicago, Illinois, found that taking thyroxine (i.e., Synthroid) does not increase the risk of osteoporosis.

The research, presented by Dr. Martin Stenstrom of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, studied more than 750 women who were taking prescribed thyroid medication for thyroid disease.
Over an 18 month period, bone mineral density was measured, and compared to a control group who were not taking thyroid hormone.
No differences were noted in bone mineral density between those taking the thyroid hormone, and the control group.
An October, 1998 study reported on in the Journal of Gynecological Endocrinology found that levothyroxine suppressive therapy, if carefully carried out and monitored, has no significant effect on bone mass.

The spinach etc only affect the thyroid medication absorption into the body.
Calcium affects thyroid medication absorption if taken within 4 hours of calcium pill or drink with calcium in it.
I hope that this helps clear up some things.

I would also like to add that the thyroid affects every organ in the body.

[Mattie Jo]

Thanks for the great information.

[Miborn]

Here is also some information on Kelp, Iodine I ran across:

While some herbalists and vitamin proponents recommend iodine tablets or kelp supplements (which are high in iodine) for people with thyroid problems, you need to be extremely careful about any decision to take iodine or kelp supplements if you are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

The thinking behind taking iodine or kelp is that in many parts of the world, goiters and thyroid disease are related to iodine deficiency.

In the U.S. and other developed countries, iodine deficiency is not very common anymore, due to the addition of iodine to salt -- iodized salt -- and other food products.
In fact, the most common forms of thyroid disease found in the U.S. -- autoimmune thyroid diseases like Graves' Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis -- have nothing to do with iodine deficiency at all.

Actually, thyroids are extremely sensitive to iodine, and you need to be careful about adding too much iodine to the diet as it can irritate or aggravate the thyroid.
Most doctors say not to worry about some iodized salt, or the iodine present in a food item such as an occasional sushi dinner.
But even many prominent alternative doctors such as Andrew Weil and Stephen Langer advise against taking iodine or kelp supplements for people with autoimmune problems.

Kelp, Iodine, and Thyroid Drugs -- Thyroid Drug Information Database -- Thyroid Drugs & Manufacturers



amino acid L-Tyrosine
Drug Interactions

• Consult a health care provider if you are taking dopamine, thyroid hormone medication and/or contraceptive medications

Cautions

• Consult a health care provider if you have hyperthyroidism or Grave's Disease
• Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding
• Discontinue if you experience nausea, headache, fatigue, heartburn
  or joint pain

http://www.maisonradical.ca/Nouveau_Dossier/Nutravite/L_Tyrosine.htm


I also ran across this website:

the complementary medicine practice: hypothyroid nutrition fact sheet