Thyroids and Raw

[SekhemNefer]

Has anyone with hypothyroids (underactive) issues been "cured" by eating raw?

I am not sure I have this issue, or not. But I gain weight easily, but...I don't exercise. And I use a lot of soy products. Soy sauce, soy in my protein powders, my supplements have. And I just founds out that cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower), especially when eaten raw may affect people with thyroid problems.

I could just be fat, or a good also have a thyroid problem, but vow for 2009 to dedicate myself to being 100% in order to get out the obese body range. However, I want to also void foods that may mess with thyroids...as an experiment.

Also, is there any herbs or spices that can interrupt thyroid health. Any Ayurvedic, Chinese, or other kind of health theories on this?


Edit:

One site said that coconut oil can help people with thyroid issues, because of the fatty acids that help with metabolism.

[Dimond]

Veganforlife testimony:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26306

Maca is also suppose to be good for thyroid issues.

[rawstrength]

My mom, grandma, and aunts all have hypothyroid. I've never had it and I plan on never getting it. I eat brazil nuts, maca and coconut oil to help my thyroid. Veganforlife's testimony is amazing. I would get OFF the soy asap. I used to eat tons of soy as a cooked-food vegan. The mental clarity and physical lightness of not eating soy is incredible.

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen

Link above: This is important to all who suffer from HYPO-THYROIDISM

I was born with non-functioning thyroid, never has, never will. Lived with this condition all 30+ years of my life. Raw food has been my only way to keep my weight under control. I have even done the " Body for Life " -12week program, it did not do for me what Raw Food regimen alone has done. In one month of effortless (no exercise) and Raw - I had same weight loss as I did on 12 weeks of hard work (weight lifting+aerobic) and eating cooked (still with cravings).

NOTE: I am absolutely not promoting NO exercising, I am only showing the average person- no exercise, JUST RAW- Change of diet from cooked to Raw has its own healthy results, all from RAW FOOD LIFESTYLE!
I have a New Years resolution to add more exercising to my life. I know it is important to keep fit as it is to eat right.

[jurence]

Hypothyroid has been one of the most cured physical disorders by going raw.

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Hypothyroid has been one of the most cured physical disorders by going raw.
True, there is help- many with slight-moderate hypo have been cured. Temporarily? Don't know, raw would probably have to stay a lifestyle to keep it in proper levels.
However, not all can be cured. Especially if you are diagnosed with congenital hypothyroid (completely non-functional). Don't stop your own meds to find out. This could prove deadly illness to you.
DO NOT stop your meds without Dr. approval.

[HolyGuacamole]

Some thyroid conditions respond really well to raw.
I healed my hypothyroid in a remarkably short period of time on raw.
I eat kale, broccoli, and cauliflower like crazy but the soy... You gotta get off the soy. It's bad stuff. :(
For thyroid function, eat lots of sea greens for their high iodine content, and if you aren't averse to supplements, take bladderwrack.
I do think you would be exhibiting other symptoms, though - not just weight gain. And if you really suspect your thyroid might not be functioning well, you should take action of some kind (doctor, naturopath, your own regime, whatever) right away. A failing thyroid is a miserable thing to live with and affects so very much more than just your weight.

[SekhemNefer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen

Link above: This is important to all who suffer from HYPO-THYROIDISM

I was born with non-functioning thyroid, never has, never will. Lived with this condition all 30+ years of my life. Raw food has been my only way to keep my weight under control. I have even done the " Body for Life " -12week program, it did not do for me what Raw Food regimen alone has done. In one month of effortless (no exercise) and Raw - I had same weight loss as I did on 12 weeks of hard work (weight lifting+aerobic) and eating cooked (still with cravings).

NOTE: I am absolutely not promoting NO exercising, I am only showing the average person- no exercise, JUST RAW- Change of diet from cooked to Raw has its own healthy results, all from RAW FOOD LIFESTYLE!
I have a New Years resolution to add more exercising to my life. I know it is important to keep fit as it is to eat right.


Okay, I saw that goitrogen list, but that is a lot of food options. I shouldn't eat strawberries, mustard and collard greens??! (I am black...that's torture not to have them greens. I eat them raw.) No peaches, no pears, or spinach?

What if most green leafies are out of my eating list then what I am going to put in my green smoothie?

[SekhemNefer]

Some thyroid conditions respond really well to raw.
I healed my hypothyroid in a remarkably short period of time on raw.
I eat kale, broccoli, and cauliflower like crazy but the soy... You gotta get off the soy. It's bad stuff. :(
For thyroid function, eat lots of sea greens for their high iodine content, and if you aren't averse to supplements, take bladderwrack.
I do think you would be exhibiting other symptoms, though - not just weight gain. And if you really suspect your thyroid might not be functioning well, you should take action of some kind (doctor, naturopath, your own regime, whatever) right away. A failing thyroid is a miserable thing to live with and affects so very much more than just your weight.

If you eat Kale, broccoli and cauliflower, then how is soy be bad to eat but the other things on the goitegren list is okay?

[Tea]

If you eat Kale, broccoli and cauliflower, then how is soy be bad to eat but the other things on the goitegren list is okay?

That's what I was wondering too ?

What I figure is, eat variety, moderation (taking breaks from foods ocassionally) and whole foods and you'll be fine.
Soy isn't an evil food, per se (nothing really is). It's eating it excessively and in it's very processed forms (i.e. soy isolate) when it can be harmful IMO.

What we tend to do is put foods (and other substances such as alcohol) in categories of "good" and "bad", therefore completely avoiding the "bad" ones and then indulging ridiculously in the "good" ones day in and day out. Everything is done in extremes. Who's to say a food is good or bad? Do we conclude this from one thing we have heard or read? From one intangible substance in the food?

[SekhemNefer]

Yeas ago, I was taking calcium tablets with isoflavonoids, or isoflavones...you know calcium pills made for women to also prevent hot flashes, because it was a popular believe that if women eat soy they won't suffer hot flashes during menopause, but my uncle told me to stop using that stuff because it wasn't good.

Soy is in everything, but I don't think we eat enough or over eat spinach, pears, spinach and green leafies for it to affect our thyroids unlike soy. I am going to ween myself off of it. I will throw away the soy sauce today. And avoid protein powders with it.
protein.

[HolyGuacamole]

If you eat Kale, broccoli and cauliflower, then how is soy be bad to eat but the other things on the goitegren list is okay?


That's what I was wondering too ?

What I figure is, eat variety, moderation (taking breaks from foods ocassionally) and whole foods and you'll be fine.
Soy isn't an evil food, per se (nothing really is). It's eating it excessively and in it's very processed forms (i.e. soy isolate) when it can be harmful IMO.

What we tend to do is put foods (and other substances such as alcohol) in categories of "good" and "bad", therefore completely avoiding the "bad" ones and then indulging ridiculously in the "good" ones day in and day out. Everything is done in extremes. Who's to say a food is good or bad? Do we conclude this from one thing we have heard or read? From one intangible substance in the food?


Well... I don't agree. Some things simply are bad, or not healthy to consume, period. If you accept that artificial sweeteners are bad for you, or better yet that there are other natural substances that are not safe, appropriate, or healthy for human consumption (Meat, anyone? Feces? How about toxic mushrooms?) then why does soy get an unexamined pass?

Google "dangers of soy" and "dangers of kale" and compare how many hits you get.

Honestly I am a bit baffled by your logic. Because kale or broccoli is OK to eat, then soy must be? There's no relationship. Soy is soy. Kale is kale. Broccoli is broccoli.

I was simply sharing what I've learned, to the potential benefit of another, and I stand behind it.
Everyone has to do their own research (and make their own decisions), obviously, and I encourage you both, if you are seriously wondering about the answers to the questions you posited, to do just that.

ETA that I do eat a tiny bit of soy in the form of nama shoyu and Bragg's. The quantity I consume is so minuscule and the occurence rare enough that I feel comfortable with this level of consumption, and that is a choice I make based on what I have learned. I do think that soy is generally not something I want to eat, but I eat little enough of it that I don't think it will affect my health.
However, for anyone with thyroid problems, mass consumption of soy products is just a no-no. If one thinks based on what they've read that they shouldn't eat kale or broccoli or cabbage or chard either, then more power to them. My own research and experience has not led me to that conclusion.
That I have healed my thyroid condition while eating this way only confirms for me that what I hypothesized based on my own reading was indeed correct.
I'm not here to convince you of anything. Y'all have to read and research on your own and decide what you believe and what's right for you.

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

That's what I was wondering too ?

What I figure is, eat variety, moderation (taking breaks from foods ocassionally) and whole foods and you'll be fine.
Soy isn't an evil food, per se (nothing really is). It's eating it excessively and in it's very processed forms (i.e. soy isolate) when it can be harmful IMO.

What we tend to do is put foods (and other substances such as alcohol) in categories of "good" and "bad", therefore completely avoiding the "bad" ones and then indulging ridiculously in the "good" ones day in and day out. Everything is done in extremes. Who's to say a food is good or bad? Do we conclude this from one thing we have heard or read? From one intangible substance in the food?

The list was to make you aware, ONLY AWARENESS!
I did not say anywhere, " I never eat these." I was just wanting those with hypo-thyroid to be aware of which to be aware of as to not eat them in excess. I am very sorry I did not explain myself clearly, I do eat things on list, just not much-or very often.
I love all the foods on the list, I eat them much less, but knowing what is on the list, I can focus on foods not on the list as my "better for my circumstance list". Sorry to have gotten everyone upset. This was not my intention:(

[HolyGuacamole]

The list was to make you aware, ONLY AWARENESS!
I did not say anywhere, " I never eat these." I was just wanting those with hypo-thyroid to be aware of which to be aware of as to not eat them in excess. I am very sorry I did not explain myself clearly, I do eat things on list, just not much-or very often.
I love all the foods on the list, I eat them much less, but knowing what is on the list, I can focus on foods not on the list as my "better for my circumstance list". Sorry to have gotten everyone upset. This was not my intention:(

I think they were asking me why I thought kale, etc. are OK yet soy is not.
You didn't upset anyone, I am sure. *hugs*

[SekhemNefer]

YOu all got us wrong. We were not asking. We were saying if soy is bad for people with thyroid problems, they why weren't you having the same reaction with kale, broccoli and so forth. You are eating those items, yet no longer having thyroid issues...yet according to wikipedia they have the same chemical goitegren.

I know that soy is soy and broccoli is broccoli, but regardless of soy, broccoli and kale...goitrogen is goitrogen.

Just trying to figure it out.

[HolyGuacamole]

YOu all got us wrong. We were not asking. We were saying if soy is bad for people with thyroid problems, they why weren't you having the same reaction with kale, broccoli and so forth. You are eating those items, yet no longer having thyroid issues...yet according to wikipedia they have the same chemical goitegren.

I know that soy is soy and broccoli is broccoli, but regardless of soy, broccoli and kale...goitrogen is goitrogen.

Just trying to figure it out.

Sorry, but "saying" if ____, then why ____ IS asking.
And she and I were saying different things anyway. She was saying don't eat anything on that list generally (though she thinks some in moderation is OK) and I was saying I don't have trouble with the veggies and fruits but stay away from the soy.

"Goitrogen," by the way, is not a chemical, it is a quality.


Anyway, bottom line, do your own research and then you can draw your own conclusions.

[Tea]

Well... I don't agree. Some things simply are bad, or not healthy to consume, period. If you accept that artificial sweeteners are bad for you, or better yet that there are other natural substances that are not safe, appropriate, or healthy for human consumption (Meat, anyone? Feces? How about toxic mushrooms?) then why does soy get an unexamined pass?

Google "dangers of soy" and "dangers of kale" and compare how many hits you get.

Honestly I am a bit baffled by your logic. Because kale or broccoli is OK to eat, then soy must be? There's no relationship. Soy is soy. Kale is kale. Broccoli is broccoli.

I was simply sharing what I've learned, to the potential benefit of another, and I stand behind it.
Everyone has to do their own research (and make their own decisions), obviously, and I encourage you both, if you are seriously wondering about the answers to the questions you posited, to do just that.

ETA that I do eat a tiny bit of soy in the form of nama shoyu and Bragg's. The quantity I consume is so minuscule and the occurence rare enough that I feel comfortable with this level of consumption, and that is a choice I make based on what I have learned. I do think that soy is generally not something I want to eat, but I eat little enough of it that I don't think it will affect my health.
However, for anyone with thyroid problems, mass consumption of soy products is just a no-no. If one thinks based on what they've read that they shouldn't eat kale or broccoli or cabbage or chard either, then more power to them. My own research and experience has not lead me to that conclusion.
That I have healed my thyroid condition while eating this way only confirms for me that what I hypothesized based on my own reading was indeed correct.
I'm not here to convince you of anything. Y'all have to read and research on your own and decide what you believe and what's right for you.

There is money to be lost (dairy/meat industry) with soy & that is why there are more studies speculating about the dangers than there is with kale.
Furthermore you will find many places claiming soy is dangerous to the body because of the phytoestrogens. What they fail to point out is that a HUGE amount of plant foods have phytoestrogens. In fact flaxseeds have more than soy!
Additionally many plants have goitrogens, yet you rarely hear people making a fuss about kale when it comes to the thyroid simply because kale isn't abused in the same way as soy. Kale is generally eaten in moderation. Which brings me to my previous point of moderation or taking breaks from certain dominant foods in our diets once and awhile.
The soybean has been completely overdone in our culture. It is consumed DAILY continusly, just like corn and wheat.
Rather than keeping a balance with eating, we tend to go to such extremes where we consume some foods excessively and then completely eliminate others as "bad" foods.
I'm talking here about whole, edible foods.

Lastly, I do not think meat is harmful in moderation (small amounts and different types of meat).
Healthy (antibiotic free, healthy animal etc.) meat of course!

Thanks for reading my opinions. :)

[PamRaw]

I am hypothyroid but it is medically-induced (meaning I was HYPERthyroid and had my thyroid gland partially destroyed through the "miracle of modern medicine" because they can treat hypo but not hyper). So I can't say from my experience.

However, cruciferous vegetables affect the uptake of synthetic thyroid medications, not the thyroid function itself, rendering synthetic hormones ineffective. I believe the same might be true of soy, but I don't recall. (There are many more reasons to avoid soy that have nothing to do with thyroid, though. I do eat Nama Shoyu and Braggs in limited quantities and I am sensitive to soy according to my holistic doctor.)

There are many other indicators of hypothyroidism besides weight gain. Have you checked out the other symptoms? It could be that you are insulin resistant. Or perhaps, since you say you don't exercise, you may simply be losing muscle mass and becoming "fatter." Fat doesn't burn the calories of muscle. Some of this may have been addressed above and I apologize if it's redundant but I didn't read through all the posts. Best not to guess. One of the better uses of doctors is that they can run tests. Just don't let them do anything to you until you check out more conservative, health-centered options.

Good luck!

Pam

[bsqmurphy]

Hi,

Over the course of 4 months raw, my thyroid has been healing itself. I've cut my synthetic thyroid meds down by 2/3 (with the help of my doctor) and expect to get off meds all together eventually.

Things that seem to make a difference in my body (yours may be different):

- I eat sea greens every day (spirulina, raw nori, kelp).
- Before I was raw, I noticed that even 1 cup of soymilk / day would cause me to need more thyroid medication.
- I eat a reasonable amount of cabbage, kale, pears but not much brussels, broccoli, peaches (because I don't like them much). I've never noticed a difference with these items in/out of my diet.
- Eating raw vegan has had the single biggest impact on my thyroid functioning than anything I've ever done.
- I get much better quality support in my healing process (eating raw, adjusting my medication frequently) from my natropathic doctor than my traditional doctor.

I hope this helps,
Bri.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Soy is definitely bad new for the thyroid before i became vegan and raw vegan, i simply replace my soy milk with rice milk and without making any other change, i lost 15lb. I didn't want to believe that about soy, but i found out that the soy we buy is sadly genetically modify, i am a living proof that soy affected me in a very negative way. I am hoping for some soy existing somewhere that isn't but this is the sad news about soy. Now kale and broccoli is absolutely fantastic with my body and it does miracles for me.

[SekhemNefer]

Weird, in 3 days I threw away my soy sauce and I was 229lbs and this morning I was 225 lbs. Go figure!
Nothing about my eating habits has changed at all. The only thing I will need to do is use up my protein powder with soy, but I got it from Trader Joes, so it says that it is non-genetically altered soy. After I used it up, I will be looking for a protein powder maybe made from hemp, or whey...without the soy.

[PamRaw]

Weird, in 3 days I threw away my soy sauce and I was 229lbs and this morning I was 225 lbs.

SekhemNefer, could be the insane amounts of sodium in soy sauce which causes water retention, too.

[Junebug]

Yes i know this thread is quite old, but I didn't find a newer one concerning this topic. I just have to share this as it makes me very happy today:

my TSH level more than halved in the last six months, despite i have LOWERED my dose of L-Thyroxin! I'm about 3 months high/complete raw now, and these where my values:
Dec 2009: 1.58
Jun 2010: 0.72

So yes, it seems to work! :D

(Didn't tell my doctor this, i think this would be too early. I will wait for the next test)

[NellieBelle]

Thank you, Junebug, for finding this thread. I hope that my raw diet will heal my thyroid too.

[VeganMainstream]

Call me naive, but I am curious, what does everyone have against soy? Is it because most of it is genetically modified now? Please post any links to research or studies done about the dangers of soy...

Thanks :)

[RawFlorence]

Wow, I know I'm a little late, but this thread has been a god send. I was in a myxedema coma a few years back when I was 25. I had extreme thyroiditis that was misdiagnosed. I was covered in hives from head to toe and my body was slowly shutting down.

I'm now 80% raw, and feeling amazing, I think I will go and get my levels checked in a few months.

As for soy, it also had a negative effect on me, I was raised a vegetarian, and for a bout 18 months before my thyroid problems, I was eating far more soy than I ever had before. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, all the info in this thread has been fantastic, I had no idea going raw could cure thyroid problems, I gravitated towards raw through my intuition, the body knows!