Hypothyroidism Cured With Diet (TSH Lowered from 2.6 to 1.2)

[EddyC]

Hey everybody,

I wanted to share my experience of curing my hypothyroidism with diet after years of trial and error.

Prior to my current diet I had tried veganism, fruitarianism, vegetarianism, paleo, and low carb. None of them worked, and now I know why.

There is a popular theory in the health sphere known as the Rate of Living Theory. It states that the lower your metabolism is, the longer your lifespan and the healthier you are. In my opinion this theory is flawed, and there's a massive amount of recent evidence showing the exact opposite (see video below). 

The problem with all of the diets mentioned above is that they all prescribe to this theory, which means they have the intention of lowering the metabolic rate (this is why you'll often hear vegans, low-carbers, etc. preaching caloric restriction and fasting). Therefore, their protocols are actually lowering your systemic energy production and worsening your thyroid function, which is obviously the exact opposite of what you want if you're hypothyroid. 

It was only when I tried a diet with the intention of raising the metabolic rate that I saw positive results. The protocol is commonly referred to as the Ray Peat Diet (it's based off Ray's Peat's work), and is gaining popularity very quickly for those who are hypothyroid. 

Here's a video from Danny Roddy (a big Ray Peat fan) explaining the bioenergetic theory of health. His advice has helped me so much (TSH lowered, hair loss reversed, body temp. rose from 96.0 to 98.6... I could go on and on).

 

Here's the protocol for anyone who is interested:

- At least 1:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorous (Can be obtained with sufficient milk and cheese, if you can tolerate dairy)

- Sufficient amount of sugar (from whole fruit if possible)

- Very Low Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake (these lower metabolism immensely) 

- Avoid nuts, seeds, oats, and beans (these contain goitrogens, lectins, phytic acid)

- Saturated fat and monounsaturated fats are good

- Don't restrict your calories. Have the intention of raising your basal metabolic rate over time. 

- Avoid vegetables with goitrogens and antinutrients (especially kale)

- Non-fatty seafood is great (shrimp, oysters, etc.)

- Muscle meat and eggs are good 

-Coffee is good (raises metabolism)

-Organ meats (especially liver) are amazing (best to be consumed 1-2 times per week) 

Also, totally cool if you don't agree with and/or can't tolerate certain foods from the protocol. I just think it's important to have the overall intention of raising the metabolic rate over time.

Just wanted to post my experience in case any of you guys could benefit. I know how hard thyroid problems can be. 

 

[TrynaBeTurquoise]

Excellent post!!

People don't realize how important raising your metabolism is. 

And anyone who still wants to reap the benefits of fasting while trying to raise or keep a high metabolism should not do calorie-restricted fasting, you want to consume all your normal or surplus of calories within the eating window. 

Also eating those veggies with goitrogens can still be doable if you cook them instead of eating them raw. 

[DrewNows]

This one's definitely interesting! Sounds like it would work. I have some questions and concerns. Diets are good for "managing" certain types of conditions, just like supplements, but to say this is curing of the condition only makes me wonder "for how long"? I am not sure who believes that lowering metabolism equates to longer living but i have heard of several who have reversed hypothyroidism through detoxification. Detoxification focuses on an entirely new modality for health, primarily the terrain theory and a mucus-less free diet allowing for cellular regeneration.  I've also met people who are not healthy as a fruitatarian or raw foodie because they did not do a proper detox, which includes cleaning out the bowels and getting the kidneys to filter. I am highly critical of what equates to a healthy diet, like food cravings, mental and emotional cleansing as well. After a healthy detox, and healing of the system, living off one meal a day as a raw vegan or vegan will yield to an abundance of energy and strength. Calories will indeed be a thing of the past and focus will be only on easily digestible fruit sugars for energy, rapid repair and recovery.

High vitality is not about lowering metabolic rate, but cleaning the system, the metabolic waste, allowing weaknesses to repair, and consuming primarily mucusless free, leading to a disease free lifestyle 

 

[LfcCharlie4]

@TrynaBeTurquoise yes!!! 
 

calorie restricted fasting I can imagine is fine for short term weight loss, but doing it long term is asking for Trouble, especially if you’re a pre-menopausal woman, that would destroy your hormones. 

got a question for you guys on here, what’s your protocol if someone asked you how to lose weight, I kind wanna draw up a rough step by step guide if my friends/ fam ask without going into too much detail and keeping it fairly simple.

@DrewNows @TrynaBeTurquoise 

[TrynaBeTurquoise]

@LfcCharlie4

Well, keeping it as simple and general as possible imo. Could do many many ways but these are what have worked for me when I wanted to cut up:

1. Engage in exercise regularly with proper intensity/frequency to challenge metabolism and get good adaptations

2. Maximize Sleep + Keep Sleep/Wake Cycles Consistent

3. Minimize All Forms of Unnecessary Stress

4. Eat the cleanest diet possible (highest nutrient density to lowest processed foods)

5. Do Intermittent Fasting with a very moderate calorie deficit, not starving yourself. Some Re-Feed Days maybe once a week in a surplus would be useful (higher carb as well). This eating could be done intuitively as well just by consuming more protein/fats less carbs than usual

6. Use Ketosis as a tool at the beginning of the day for prolonged steady energy and introduce carbs after workout induced insulin spike later in the day (B Greenfield Style)

7. Strategically use metabolism raising/fat mobilizing properties of caffeine+ Do light to moderate physical activity in the morning before breaking fast +utilize Cold Thermogenesis as a tool (Strike/Stroll/Shiver method)

8. Do breathwork/meditation +other things that make you happy/give you purpose every day

 

 

 

[LfcCharlie4]

@TrynaBeTurquoise Thanks man, your list is very similar to mine, but if I’m giving advice I want it to as optimal as possible without the health jargon we talk aboht as most just want the results not the knowledge and deep study  

Screenshotted and will be sent when people ask! 
 

I was also going to ask I often break my fast around 12-3, with Oatmeal and a Smoothie, it’s a fairly high carb meal, but how could I have Oats later in the day to maximise Ketosis through the day? Unless just have the smoothie and then the oats a bit before dinner maybe? 

[DrewNows]

@LfcCharlie4 Id probably make the guidance as simple and empowering as possible (not at all by the books). Start with beliefs and make sure there’s a crystal clear image of what the goal (dream board shit), then to start imagining that’s exactly where they are now and how things would be different having attained this new version of themselves. Encourage self empowered, self love based thinking (of total control/freedom and abundance), working with their strengths 
It’s funny as I contemplated what I’d suggest I saw this teal swan video with the exact focus 

I always felt awkward helping anyone with weight problems because it’s not something I ever struggled with, but if someone’s serious about changing I’d ask to allow me to join them in their shoes (perspective) and clear out any limitations. I’d be curious to see how a hypnotist could influence a willing person looking to lose weight to transform 

[TrynaBeTurquoise]

1 hour ago, LfcCharlie4 said:

@TrynaBeTurquoise Thanks man, your list is very similar to mine, but if I’m giving advice I want it to as optimal as possible without the health jargon we talk aboht as most just want the results not the knowledge and deep study  

Screenshotted and will be sent when people ask! 
 

I was also going to ask I often break my fast around 12-3, with Oatmeal and a Smoothie, it’s a fairly high carb meal, but how could I have Oats later in the day to maximise Ketosis through the day? Unless just have the smoothie and then the oats a bit before dinner maybe? 

Honestly if you are very physically active I wouldn't worry about having the carbs to break your fast. Its not like you blood sugar is gonna do a huge spike and crash from oats since they are slow digesting. Especially if you do some sort of fasted workout some days the carbs to break your fast will be useful. I would say definitely include a significant amount of protein in that meal though, and above all observe how well you are able to digest it and your energy levels afterward. Overall its about finding something that is working for you and isn't bogging down your metabolic processes too much where you don't have the energy for cognition or doing what you want to after that first meal. Also its not like you are getting up first thing in the morning and eating carbs, its after your daily fast which gives your body than chance to tap into the fat burning. Some form of caffeine in that fast should be helpful as well but also monitor how that is working for you. 

[Elisabeth]

@EddyC How long have you had hypothyroidism? Was it only diet that cured it? 

I'm being a bit hopeful and suspicious at the same time, I've had hypothyroidism from child age so I wonder. 

[Leo Gura]

TSH of 2.6 is not that high though. That's within normal range. With real hypothyroidism your TSH might be 20 or higher.

You should track your Free T3 and Free T4. That's what matters most.

But thanks for sharing.

[EddyC]

@TrynaBeTurquoise Of course! And ya, well cooked veggies are all good IMO

[EddyC]

@DrewNows I think hypothyroidism is similar to diabetes in that the condition is managed, and never really cured. Also, I don't know much about detoxification but I'm totally open to it. If you have any resources or videos I'd love to listen

[EddyC]

@Elisabeth Totally get that you're skeptical. I got my first thyroid panel when I was 18 (I'm 22 now), so I I've only had objective numbers for 4 years. Although, I have had cold hands and feet as long as I can remember before I did the diet, so I assume I've had it at least most of my life. 

[EddyC]

@Leo Gura The normal range for TSH was around 1-6 in the 1950s if I'm not mistaken, and now I believe it's somewhere around 1-3. I think in the future the upper limit of the normal range will continue to drop in the future.

When my TSH was 2.6, my body temperature was 96.0 and I exhibited hypothyroid symptoms, so I think I was hypo at least to an extent. 

I got a full thyroid panel before and one about a year after starting the diet. I remember free  T3 and T4 rising and reverse T3 and T4 falling a bit. Can only remember the TSH off the top of my head unfortunately. 

But in my opinion temperature and pulse are the most important. I highly benefited the book Hypothyroidism, The Unsuspected Illness by Broda Barnes. He suggests diagnosing hypothyroidism with temperature and pulse rate, the way doctors used to do it before the TSH test was the gold standard. With proper thyroid function, the temperature should be around 98.0 in the morning, and slowly rise to 98.6 by the afternoon. The pulse rate should be around 80-85 I believe. A temperature and pulse lower than these would indicate poor thyroid function. I also love these metrics because they're so easy to track on a daily basis. 

[DrewNows]

@EddyC of course! here’s some material to get you started. Also there are several detox specialists and Facebook groups following the Robert Morse detox protocol you can connect with.
here’s his book and YouTube channel too (https://www.youtube.com/user/robertmorsend)

The Detox Miracle Sourcebook: Raw Foods and Herbs for Complete Cellular Regeneration https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935826190/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yP-MEb0SAMKWV

Here’s one testimonial for graves I found in a fb group 

Here’s a detoxification specialist who has healed her hypothyroidism and shares the journey, she’s awesome 

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by DrewNows

[Leo Gura]

Unfortunately hypothyroidism is a complex condition which can have dozens of factors. There is no one standard cure that works for everyone. There are dozens of different cures which address different root causes. I've tried many of them.

[DrewNows]

2 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Unfortunately hypothyroidism is a complex condition which can have dozens of factors. There is no one standard cure that works for everyone. There are dozens of different cures which address different root causes. I've tried many of them.

Looking for a cure is the wrong idea here but reversing “disease” is possible for just about anyone who believes cellular regeneration is possible. Using herbs is a way to speed up the process, but it also depends on how deep one is willing to dig during detox. It’s definitely no quick fix. I imagine you haven’t tried a prolonged detox @Leo Gura ? 

[Leo Gura]

3 minutes ago, DrewNows said:

Looking for a cure is the wrong idea here but reversing “disease” is possible for just about anyone who believes cellular regeneration is possible. Using herbs is a way to speed up the process, but it also depends on how deep one is willing to dig during detox. It’s definitely no quick fix. I imagine you haven’t tried a prolonged detox @Leo Gura ? 

That's what I mean by "cure". Anything that would stop/heal it.

Of course I've tried all sorts of prolonged detoxes and probably 50 different herbs, none of which worked for me.

[DrewNows]

42 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

That's what I mean by "cure". Anything that would stop/heal it.

Of course I've tried all sorts of prolonged detoxes and probably 50 different herbs, none of which worked for me.

Were you working under this modality of understanding health and the condition where all disease has only one cause? 

Did you work with a specialist? There’s some great herbal formulas and iridology is helpful for learning what areas and organs may need herbal support

Edited April 19, 2020 by DrewNows

[Leo Gura]

@DrewNows Dude, there are too many different protocols to try them all.

I've tried a bunch of stuff, but obviously not all the stuff that exists. It's exhausting trying them all.