I got my T3 levels tested three times. The first time they were low, and I was low carbing (Atkins). The next time I got them done I wasn't low carbing and they were normal. I had read a few places that low carbing effects your T3, but this actually proves it to me. I've switched to the IR diet, which isn't so drastic as Atkins.
Anyone else have this problem? T3 levels are the active part of the thyroid. This maybe why I was so tired all the time. My doctor says you can lose weight initially, but it screws up your metabolism.
Tori

hi,


I actually have been told this as well. I too am hypothyroid and was told by a doctor on www.thyroid.about.com that going under 50 grams of carbs a day will lower my T3. i usually am around 40-50 but i'm not really all that tired. I have been told that selenium helps with T4 to T3 conversion but don't quote me on that. It might be something to look into. What thyroid supplement are you currently on??

Danyele

Hi,
I'm not on a thyroid supplement because I'm not hypothyroid. The only time I ever had problems with my T3 was when I was low carbing. Did your doctor say low carbing was ok even with the effect on your T3 levels? I'm insulin resistant, so I low carb for that reason, otherwise it's impossible for me to lose weight.
Tori

hi,

I'm borderline hypo and started taking thyroid hormones (100 mcg) a year ago. That didn't help much so i was bumped up to 200 mcg which is a high dose and ended up in the ER twice. I then switched to natural thyroid and it helped but i was taken off of that by my endo. I then went to a naturopath who has brought my TSH from 4.2 to 0.9 and i feel much better. My naturopath told me to eat low fat which made me gain weight so i stopped that. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS so i have to be careful of my carbs for IR as well so when I told my gp that i was low carbing he thought it was a good idea as well as long as i didn't go to low.

Danyele

When calories drop low enough to slow your metabolic rate, whether you're eating low-carbs or hi-carbs, the net result is that the production of T3 will slow down. This is the body's way of conserving itself ... and is otherwise known as "starvation mode".

From an article posted in the archives of the former ketosis e-group: You can read the whole article here Resting Metabolic Rate. The abstract to the actual study is posted at Lowcarb Retreat, as part of Josh Yelon's research collection. The study had two groups of women follow a 1000 calorie diet ... one group was low-carb, other was hi-carb. Both groups showed reduced T3, but the hi-carb group showed a greater slowing in RMR. The low-carb group lost more weight.

So make sure you're eating enough calories to prevent "starvation mode" ... and you might consider using some guggulsterone. This is a supplement used in Ayurvedic medicine for improving blood lipids and cholesterol. It's also been shown to have some stimulating effect on thyroid function. Trainderdan has posted some good info about it. Check out these posts:

• http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...4049#post394049
  
• http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...2950#post312950
  
• http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...9874#post169874

Hope this is helpful

Doreen

Thanks Doreen for the info. My thyroid/energy is fine now that I've upped my carb intake. I'm also losing weight again.

Hey just wondering, how many carbs are you eating a day thats letting you lose weight again?

Re-introducing carbohydrates into your diet for a short period of time ( depending on your body fat percentage ) helps to up-regulate your metabolism and kick it out of 'starvation' mode.

One of the most important things to remember is to break your meals up into smaller meals ( 5 to 6 ) throughout the day, this keeps your metabolism going and constantly feeding on the food that you provide, leaving it no room to think you are not getting enough food and starting the process of entering starvation mode or resisting weight and fat loss.

Breaking up meals also helps any spikes in insulin ( due to whatever carbs are in your meals ) to level out and not cause such any drastic and sharp spikes in your insulin levels )

Make sure you're eating enough though, you can exercise all you want but if you are not eating enough your body is going to hold on to its weight.

Hi - Vicki P and everyone

I've just read your post with great interest - although
it was written back in August 02 I hope you are still
around the forum... Can you give me any info on the
IR diet as I'm not familiar with it ? Ie a book I could
get from Amazon pehaps ?

I'll try and be as brief as possible (always a struggle for
me ha ha). I'm also like a borderline hypo case - but was
not given any medication by the GP I saw in the UK in Oct 2001.
I've been trying to lose weight for over a year now -
2 months on Atkins and still no loss so I went to see a
doctor here in the Netherlands and have just got the results
back.

The real reason I went to get checked again is because I
have chronic insomnia (sleep has always been a problem
but never this bad) and the last few weeks have just been
hell - I am dragging myself around all the time. Cut a long
story short the doctor has diagnosed depression which I
initially refused to accept but he's put it down to mental exhaustion.

After reading your post I'm wondering if Atkins is having the
same effect on my thyroid as you describe. Unf. they didn't
test for T3 so obviously I can't yet say that my experience is
similar. All I do know for sure is that my TSH was 14.3 in October 2001 and its now 18. Free T4 was not tested before but its now 14.8 which I'm told is within normal range.

As soon as I can find enough energy I will be going to see a specialist - and I've found a list of tests that I need to make sure are done - but I would appreciate any input that anyone has.
Thanks
Val

I was on LC about 5wks before my blood work. I informed my doctor and the results show a 7.67 tsh.

Could this be a direct result of a lc diet? I actually feel better on lc.

Tks

Hi all. Am VERY new to this forum but read with great interest about hypothyroid & LC diets. I was diagnosed a number of years ago, and switched from Synthroid to Armour Natural several years ago (had awful dark spots on my face from Syn.). Anyway.... what is "IR" diet mentioned in previous posts? I've been thinking I would kind of follow my own plan [+/- 50 carbs per day, hi fiber, lots of water, no "white" products] and from what others have posted, it seems the way to go, instead of "induction" or something similar. WHAT kinds of problems have y'all experienced with weight loss + hypothryroid?
Today is the first day I'm limiting carbs and welcome any comments/suggestions/etc. Also, anyone using a "Nutricounter"? I've seen it advertised and it looks good, but $$$. Wondering if anyone out there is helped by it? THANKS A MILLION for any response.

Try www.fitday.com It is free and will help you count your carbs, et al.

IR diet is Insulin Resistance diet. You can put that phrase in your favorite search engine and read all about it!

I did an actual induction and I think that really jump started me. My doctor flat out told me that people with hypo just don't process carbs like other people do. He also told me to read up on PCOS-while I don't have that, the symptoms are similar, I guess. He warned me that I probably would never get above 40-50 g of carbs a day-so you might want to start off below 50, even if you don't want to do an induction period. You can check out the CAD (Carbohydrate Addicts Diet) which starts you off at a higher carb level than Atkins does.

I also had the doctor increase my thyrpod meds, because according to some new studies, TSH should be between 1-2. I wanted mine lowered, and he seemed OK with that.

You should also check out this site:

http://thyroid.about.com/mbody.htm

Just thought I would share my experience.

Had half of thyroid removed due to a tumor so have to be on meds. Taking Unithyroid which contains both T4 and T3. Started LC on 4/23. Had thyroid checked 2 weeks later and it was UP. My doctor was very happy about it. I asked him not to lower dose as I wanted to keep it on the high side. He was willing to do that. I am still staying around 20 to 25 carbs on Atkins and losing, but slowly. I do not let my calories drop below 1400. And I eat 6 times a day - at least every 3 hours.

LC has been good for me. Evidently the half thyroid gland I have left is working better on LC. I still had hypothyroid symtons while on meds before LC. Feel wonderful now. More energy and sleep better than I have in years.

I also take a lot of supplements which is vital for the body to function correctly.

Good luck with whatever plan you choose.
Barb

Yes, guess I WILL start on Induction or close to it. Didn't mention before, but I also went OFF HRT 2 months ago. Been on it for 13 years after a total hysterectomy and felt it was time to get off it, and exercise more, up calcium, etc. Well, I can't take soy because it interferes with thyroid med absorption, so so far I'm trying "Promensil" (red clover extract) for the hot flashes but still getting 10+ a day (some pretty wicked!). Bodies are amazing things..........
Did get my walk in this a.m., and having good things for lunch & dinner. Need to keep at this every day.
Thanks for the website links for other info.

Hi, Vicky! I am hypothyroid as a result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and I had trouble with the way the Atkins wants you to eat carbs. I stalled. After I upped my carbs to around 60-75 grams, I started losing again. Also, as you probably know, hypothyroidism can lower your basal temperature. I have tried coconut oil and it raised my temp to near normal. I believe a lower body temp slows metabolism. But, of course, everyone is different. Also, I heard that people with hypothyroidism need a certain amount of carbs everyday--more than is allowed on Atkins. I am following a diet like the IR diet. It is much easier to follow and allows some foods that are forbidden in the Atkins Plan.

Just offering my 2 cents!

~ Lichen

P.S. Also, I find exercise extremely helpful! Even just walking. Two months ago I could not walk to the mailbox. Now I can walk around my acre yard, listening to music for at least 15-20 minutes without sitting down. Yippee!!