HYPOTHYROIDISM*

SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENT AND ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Additional nutrients that may be helpful include L-Tyrosine (500-2000 mg daily taken between meals), Double Zinc Plus (25 mg zinc per day), Vitamin D3 (2,000-5,000 IU daily), Selenium (200 mcg daily as selenomethionine), and natural progesterone cream (1/2-1 tsp a day).

Please eat a diet that is low in fat (eat only lean meat, poultry and deep sea fish (a good source of iodine) in the amount of 3 to 5 ounces per day) and high in fiber containing foods such as organic vegetables, fruits, whole grains (e.g., brown rice, oat meal, kamut, and millet), beans, nuts and seeds (sunflower, chia, flax and sesame in small amounts -- 2 to 4 ounces -- are good). Read Diet for a Small Planet as a guide to healthy foods and diet. Try to eat smaller meals more frequently, each with a little protein, in order to maintain a more even blood sugar level (hypoglycemia often accompanies a hypothyroid condition). Eat an alkaline forming diet that maintains a near alkaline urine pH - follow the recommendations on the attached chart entitled "Effect of Foods on Body Chemistry." Vegetable juices such as carrot and carrot/other vegetable combinations are encouraged. Try eating Hank's Vegetable Soup several times a week. Avoid all sweets (sugar), alcohol, soft drinks, coffee (1 cup in the morning may be okay), processed/refined foods (white bread and pasta), and foods with artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. Drink purified or spring water, especially avoiding chlorine, bromine, and fluorine.  Eat an organic whole-foods diet as much as possible.  Try not to eat the same thing every day as this can lead to food allergy. Avoid fried foods, milk and milk products. Certain foods called goitrogens when eaten raw have the ability to block the uptake of iodine by the thyroid. These foods include: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and rutabaga.  If you have a problem with inadequate iodine, then these foods should only be eaten cooked.

Stress reduction methods should be practiced daily -- peaceful music, biofeedback or meditation/prayer may be helpful -- you may find it helpful to read Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. Please make sure to get reasonable amounts of exercise appropriate for you on a daily basis -- walking for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 miles daily is quite appropriate.

* Effective tests which indicate a hypothyroid condition include the Barnes Axial Temperature Test and the Tincture of Iodine Test.  Increased iodine intake can be accomplished by eating fish from the sea; taking iodized salt; eating kelp, dulse, and other seaweeds; or by supplementing with Nascent Iodine. Some physicians will prescribe the use of desiccated natural thyroid for treating hypothyroidism indicated by low axial temperatures. Axial temperatures greater than 98.2° F indicate an overactive thyroid which can lead to sweating, palpitations, excessive bone loss and other symptoms -- please visit your physician if your axial temperature is normally greater than 98.2° F.

Please note that many of those with hypothyroidism do not effectively convert beta carotene to Vitamin A and therefore build up an excess in the body. Often this can be observed by a yellow coloring in the hands. Please note that this is not a specific diagnostic test, but when combined with other tests such as those described above can provide an additional confirmation.

High levels of estrogen can block effective thyroid function. Women with PMS (usually caused by a relative estrogen excess compared with progesterone) and those on estrogen replacement therapy may find that they are experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism. In these cases the use of a cream containing natural progesterone may be very helpful.

References:
1.  Prescription for Nutritional Healing, James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., 1990
2.  Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., 1991
3.  Diet for a Small Planet, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Frances Moore Lappe, 1982
4.  Hypothyroidism, The Unsuspected Illness, Broda O. Barnes, M.D. and Lawrence Galton, 1976
5.  Solved The Riddle of Illness, Steven Langer, M.D., 1988
6.  Minding the Body, Mending the Mind, Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., 1987