Low Iodine Diet

[ideawhiz]

I have to start a low-iodine diet before RAI testing soon.  I'm okay with most of the stuff I can and can't eat but I'm having a terrible time just thinking of not having coffee! I usually have 3-4 cups of coffee a day, always with milk (the Hispanic "cafe con leche" tradition!)  I can't live without it and if I don't have my coffee I get a terrible headache.  Some diets I've seen say I can have non-dairy creamers, other say to avoid that as well.  What can I do?  I am in panic just thinking about it!  

[Liz94]

You can have your coffee. I'm the same as you, if I don't have it I get a horrific headache. My doc told me coffee was fine and so was Coffeemate Non-Dairy creamer. I just wouldn't go nuts with it!

[Linda1068]

I had the same test done and all my doc told me was to definitely avoid shellfish and seaweed from sushi rolls. She told me those were high in iodine. When tests have to be done like that, it's best to just try to eat all of your meals at home so you can control your sodium/iodine intake.  Don't use Iodized Salt.

[nissah46]

Coffee is fine as long as it is not instant.  I started drinking my coffee black because of RAI, and never went back to having milk in it.
Trish

[ideawhiz]

Thank you everybody!  Coffeemate!  I can live with that! What I can't live withut is the coffee! Actually, nobody wants to be near me when I don't have my coffee.  I guess I was so focused on the AVOID list that I didn't pay attention to the ALLOWED list.  
What about rice?  Some sites say yes, others no.  I can manage that but I'm curious.  

[Liz94]

From what I remember you can have Basmati rice.  But you can't go to town with it, only maybe 1 serving a day.  I think the thing with rice is where it's grown which affects the iodine content. You can't really be sure about it so you don't really want to eat it if you can avoid it.

[mags59]

Ugh, I'm going through the same thing!  I'm drinking my coffee black, but I cannot wait until I can finally start putting milk in it again.  There's so much you have to avoid with the low-iodine diet.  I've found that most processed and pre-packaged food products contain something in them that I can't have.  As far as the rice goes, I'm not sure.  As you said, some sites say yes and some no.  I've been eating brown rice, but only once in a while.  I think if you at least just try to limit yourself with high-iodine foods, you'll do okay.  And definitely no iodized salt.  I've been using Mrs Dash Table Blend on everything instead, and I'm a saltaholic, but it's really not bothering me.  Good luck to you.

[ideawhiz]

Thanks everyone!  I'll keep you posted on my success!