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Levothyroxine

Any  restrictions on the diet when taking Levothyroxine? How long before one starts seeing the effects of taking this med?
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Avatar universal
I also eat sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, Brazilian nuts (loaded with selenium) and hazel nuts.
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Avatar universal
Walnuts what?

I eat 4 to 5 half walnuts a day with 4 to 5 almonds and 4 to 5 pecans.  And I am a big peanut fan.  I emailed Planters asking them if they used iodized salt and they emailed back that they don't.

Yes, I was a vegetarian way before Hyper/Graves'.
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200220 tn?1361951554
Were all of you vegetarians before the thyroid issue.  I was diagnosed with celiac, high cholesterol, wheat,oat,rice,banana, tomato, and many other allergies that I can't remember right now, just before I found out about my thyroid.  The doctor told me to wait on the high cholesterol until my thyroid was under control to do something about it.  I started on the gluten free and wheat, oat, rice etc. free diet before the thyroid crushed me and I started into hypo hell and I haven't started back since.  I have been symptom free for 6 days PTL and my eyes are better also without the restasis just dry eye drops 4 times a day.  How did you learn to eat properly.  I cook for 6 everyday(assisted living in my home) and to go to a nutritionalist is very expensive.  What do you suggest to get started and does anybody know of a nutritionalist in Balto Md. that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and uses some regular food.  I don't like tofu or maybe I don't know how to use it.  I know I have to do something as I am gaining weight and my stomach hurts all the time so I use tums and papaya seeds to help it.  I am so glad to have you all to ask.   thanks lol linda
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219522 tn?1251760629
Walnuts
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Avatar universal
yes youre right graveslady - forgot to mention raw only with veggies and soy I've heard supposed problem is w/ unfermented meaning soymilke think that may include tofu but not sure about edamame but I eat all these but not in huge portion - thanks for the info about 30 grams - will keep that in mind as I do love soy
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Avatar universal
Said vegetables would have to be eaten raw and tons per day.  I am a vegetarian and I eat all the vegetables, raw summers and cooked winters.  This has not effect my levels nor my Graves' Disease.   Soy is another matter.  However, I have read where we can eat 30 grams a day before it has effects and then I think its fermented soy.

I love my veggies!
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Avatar universal
Thanks Terri. I am primarily a vegetarian and have been pretty much on the foods you ahve mentioned. This clears up the doubts i had of the veg i could consume- else it would have been very limiting for me.
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Avatar universal
I did lose weight after going on thyroid hormone but still think I have to be more careful than b4 having Hashimotos about gaining so I'm very careful to eat healthy - Ive developed lactose intolerance to milk - other dairy okay - also I eat almost no wheat/gluten - some people get problems with allergic type problems when they develop immune problems and some dont - I drink soymilk everyday in morn coffee but not many hours b4 I take my Levoxyl - I lived in Hawaii - asian folks have very little illness - husbands family japanese and only one with thyroid problems eats western food others don't - ??? when I lived there I ate loads of sushi, no wheat , lots of fruit & veggies and ate like crazy and lost weight - now on mainland we try to eat korean, japanese vietnamese much as possible - my theory I know but asian people who eat their native diet are very very healthy and live very long - anyhow take best care of yourself you can - also cruciferous veggies broccoli,, etc when raw supposedly interfere w/ thyroid - I think if you dont eat in excess or @ exact same time as taking thyroid meds you're okay from what I've read - and soy thing is only certain items - I love to eat so I checked into this too - hope some of that mess helps?
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your response. No I am not taking this as a diet pill. I have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. Have heard from many sources that to get the complete effect of Levothyroxine one should avoid certain foods such as Soy and soy products, certain vegetables that reduce the effects of this medicine. I have been reading how if one does not stay the course with this medicine one's Thyroid levels can be disrupted thereby bringing back the uncomfortable symptoms of hypothryoidism. Please help. thanks
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Avatar universal
Diet is a personal issue effecting each of us different. T4 is not  a diet pill nor is it  meant as a diet pill.

T4 thyroid medications will take from 6 weeks to 12 weeks for full affects in the blood for levels.

To feel better its up to your system, how long you were with thyroid issue before being diagnosed and how sever the thyroid issue.  Then, med. are not a 100% cure all, for other health issues sharing thyroid symptoms might be going on.  Some thyroid conditions are not curable but only treatable and comes with their own symptoms closely related to thyroid issues.
T4 medications should not effect weight either direction.
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