Thyroid Health and Low-Carb Diets: What Lower T3 Really Means with Dr. Ben Bikman

[@mr400meter]

I just dropped this case study of a patient of mine doing a keto-carnivore diet in one of Paul Saladino’s videos. She has a hx of hypothyroidism and for months has been on the carnivore diet. I checked her levels of thyroid including her free T3 and RT3. Her free T3 was 1.9 and RT3 was 12.9. I thought surely she was depleted and asked how she felt. She said she felt amazing with energy, and that her joints didn’t hurt. Take that for what it is worth

[@tamom64]

Yes! I think we look at people on paper and we need to be dosed on symptoms and how we are feeling

[@hannahmulligan1995]

She would likely feel better with her free T3 higher. People don't realize how bad they felt until they feel better. I had never previously been where I am now that I am on thyroid hormone. My whole life I had symptoms of both thyroid and metabolic dysfunction. Most people do, the general population also has to support their thyroid and metabolic health through diet and lifestyle. Dietary changes are necessary to address Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. The medication is also necessary. The thyroid takes 5-10 years to heal after (if) the autoimmune disease is put in remission. It cannot produce the amount of thryoid hormone that it wants to. Cells will become more sensitive to thyroid hormone when levels are low in order to correct what it is lacking. When I increased my medication, I had symptoms of being hyper for 1-2 days. I waited two weeks, then slowly increased the medication. 4-6 weeks later felt amazing, way better than I did before increasing the medication. Dietary changes and supplements are life changing for patients but so is the medication.

[@alaskabarb8089]

Yes, yes, yes - thrilled you’re covering this, thank you. Hypothyroidism tangled with insulin resistance - and loss of estrogen, is an absolute, confounding nightmare, that feels like slowly sliding down a cliff made of gravel - it’s hard to find any handhold. A year ago, I quit processed foods, sugar, upped protein and fats, vegetables, went back to the pool, tried to regulate my sleep cycle, spend at least an hour outside every day - no matter the weather, started taking iodine drops - basically everything one can think of. There’s been some small improvements in body composition, but am still insulin resistant, still have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism (despite being on T4 and T3) still 20 lbs overweight, still thick around the middle. I have abs of steel, surrounded by an inch of lard - like a Beef Wellington - meat wrapped in a layer of pastry, and the needle is stuck. Majorly stuck in every direction. I thought perhaps it might be some pituitary issue (with no axillary or leg hair for 20 years, though the internist said there didn’t appear to be an issue, but now says I’ve developed some autoimmune markers for RA.) 👀The more I think I’m headed on the right path, the more confused I’ve become. And I’m sure I’m not alone. At least the migraines and heartburn are gone -small mercies. 🫠 Anyway, I LOVE your channel, love listening to the Niagara Falls of information you have at your fingertips. The passion you have for your research is apparent - and appreciated. 🪔

[@ldpetchell]

Goodness your story sounds similar to mine. But it's been a long 25 year journey of bad doctoring. Diagnosed after my 1st child. Horrible symptoms for 15 of those year. Started keto 10+ years ago and working towards feeling better. Still trying to stabilize. Even switching to NP thyroid I still feel sluggish. My rt3 went down, but is not where it should be. This year started seeing a naturopath and got on HRT. More improvements, but needing to adjust. Makes me screaming mad that docs don't know how to help women with these symptoms. I love the description of your body! Same! Been working out for several years now, but can't get ride if that lard! Muscle are firming up though!

[@gchekibed2099]

Yeh, that "Beef Wellington" comparison cracked me up.

[@edwardbearjames2916]

I don't know that this could help you but I've had problems for 27 years until I started taking magnesium in the morning and it stopped with the overproduction of glucose from my liver.

[@monnoo8221]

Interesting configurstion, thanks for sharing. Upfront, some things are crossing my mind: cortisol, fructose, Insulin, NAFLD, systemic inflammation, and generalized mitchondrial disease. Besides that, if you take T3 it is not possible to diagnose hypothyroidism. Instead, either you are resistant to T3, or your liver is not producing T3 from T4, which brings us back to insulin and inflammation. It could be systemic unspecific, or chronic specific, meaning, caused by a bug. Your internist needs to measure cortisol, TSH, fasting insulin and hsCRP. Cortisol should be nomal as your sleep and rhythm is good, but you only know if you measure. If I would be in your shoes, I would definitely implement TRF 16/8, and take B1 + PQQ for energy production and healing the mitchondria (which wuld erquire a bunch of other subtle interventions) Finally, there is even the kind of exotic possibility that your gut is leaky like a sieve from hell. That could destroy glut4 insulin receptors, cause inflammation and insulin resistance,... so probably not that exotic. Here, bacillus bifidus and high doses of b1 can help.

[@ironmaidenfitness654]

Try carnivore for 90 days

[@lbanducci]

My T3 has in fact declined on a keto diet. Thank you for this information. Answers my questions about this anomaly. I feel better than ever.

[@ChasingStarz-Ou812]

What about the keto diet is the problem? Constant ketosis? Or low carbs? both?

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@ChasingStarz-Ou812 keto diet is not a problem, T3 goes down because you do not need as much when you lower the carbs. You body becomes more T3 sensitive as Ben talks about this in the video.

[@ThomasWht13]

The concept of health in "The 23 Former Doctor Truths" book completely explains this. I wish I read it sooner

[@pavankumarv6849]

bot bot

[@SonnyDarvish]

As someone with diagnosed hypothyroidism, I really appreciate this video. Keto is where I metabolically and mentally feel the most comfortable, but it is hard to sustain due to social pressure, plus other anxiety-inducing and stressful factors in life. I know eating carbs will only exacerbate the situation and put me in a bad rabbit hole, but my key to a healthy and sustainable life is to find that right balance of not being sedentary and keeping carbs down to the needs of those physical activities. Also, sleep as much as needed and not procrastinate to induce anxiety. Gotta add that I also have ADHD and autism, which really don't help, but I won't use them as excuse. Thanks again for the lecture!

[@nancycy9039]

I haven’t found social pressure about following a keto diet for 3 years now. I don’t label it (out loud) as keto, but tell others if they ask, that I’m following a moderate fat, high protein way of eating. Then I might say, if specifically asked, that I avoid rice/pasta/potatoes because they raise my blood sugar too much (confirmed by blood tests)

[@risecopeman5409]

You will get there! I hope you will try high animal fat and butter carnivore plan for 90 days. It can help brain and nerve/neurons so much. I am healing from neurologic long covid. Carnivore plus a few supplements have made the difference. Plus exposure to early morning red light from the sun each morning for at least 15 min.

[@sophiacromwell8017]

@@nancycy9039Nice that you don’t encounter the kind of social pressure that many of us do!

[@ek1041]

There is such a need in the healthcare system to educate regarding this! Thank you so much!

[@bezoar21]

We need a list of "normal" lab values for folks on a keto diet - they are not always the same as metabolically unhealthy folks eating the SAD.

[@monnoo8221]

"not always" LOOOL ... you are absolutel right, i am completely p****** *** by those "normal" values, derived from a population, wherre 80+% of its members are metabolically sick

[@ssa8479]

@@bezoar21 good point!

[@KellyRyan-r2l]

Ken Berry’s “Commonsense Labs”

[@PpFragoso]

Qraw 3rd 3E sees🎉🎉🎉 4z5x5xz re😢rt😂q😂

[@KellyRyan-r2l]

@ ???

[@lisachelton4599]

After starting keto several months ago, my liver enzymes and A1C are in the normal range - that alone tells me that I am in the right track. My thyroid gland started feeling swollen, as though my TSH was too high... It was, but so was RT3. I tried increasing my dose, but that made it worse; the solution has been to reduce my thyroid dose. I surmised that this reduced need for exogenous thyroid hormones was because of improved liver function but it is apparently due to reduced need (or both)... Thanks, Dr Bikman!

[@StarvingMyselfToLIFE]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 congrats on this discovery!!!

[@monnoo8221]

now you know how self-experimentation feels 😎

[@MalindaTamlyn]

I went low carb in 2017 and lost 25% of my body weight (60lbs). I started feeling funny on my thyroid meds. I went to an endocrinologist, my doctor sent me, asking if I needed to lower my meds because thyroid meds are weight dependent. I was told no!! I have been on a healing journey ever since. Being over medicated made my thyroid swell and I stopped losing weight. No help out there, there needs to be more understanding of this.

[@simonwiltshire7089]

Low T3 and normal TSH is exactly what happened to me on keto.

[@Castus-en7op]

Dr Bikman, thank you for helping to connect the dots of thyroid function & please continue with this topic ❤

[@mikaelajasonnn3]

I started questioning everything, especially advice from government health organizations after reading 'Health and Beauty Mastery' by Julian Bannett, this book exposes so many shocking truths about the health industry.

[@nomadartlife]

Thank you so much Dr. Bikman. My son was born without a pituitary gland (34 years ago!). This amazing explanation of thyroid hormones is fantastic information for me (and I'll share with the hypopit groups I'm in). Decades ago much of this knowledge was still to be uncovered - in fact when he was born, we could test TSH but not T3/4. Totally agree with you - my wonder at how we are all (mostly) still walking around, grows daily. PS I'm on keto hence why I found you.

[@scotchfillet]

Everything you've described is exactly what I've experienced over 37 years without a Thyroid gland. At my worst health in my mid 30's I was a carboholic couch potatoe and was 35kg over weight. I needed 1800 mcg a week to get to normal levels. On a ketogenic diet I quickly (within months) had to reduce meds to1200 mcg a week. It's been that low for nearly 7 years now. I just wanted to add that's a 33.3% reduction or inversely, a 50% increase. Wow!

[@ssa8479]

THANK YOU for the analysis of low T3 and ketogenic/carnivore diets, it is very helpful. I have been keto/carnivore for five years now. But my search continues as I also have highTSH and below range total and free T4 as well as well below range total and free T3. I'm a 65-year-old man, 5'6", 135 lb, was on levothyroxine for 17 years. This year I finally found an endocrinologist who agreed to look more carefully at it, and I went off the Levo in August. Labwork in September showed the free and total T4 at 0.58 and 3.6, with the total and free T3 at 44 and 1.6. The TSH was very high at 44. A lab for TSH only (I was being cheap) showed it at 76. The endocrinologist was a bit shocked and advised me to resume the Levo (I was on a 75 mcg dose), but she was also intrigued because I had no symptoms of hypothyroidism. I'm high energy, sleep well and enjoy a mentally stimulating job. The next lab and appointment are early next month. If I continue to feel as I good as I do now, I'm going to decline the Levo again, and ask for the next appointment in July. If all is still good, then it's goodbye to the Levo. Nick Norwitz, of Oreo cookies + statins fame, had made a passing reference to low T3 not being an issue for those on a ketogenic diet because the T3 is more geared to helping carb metabolism. But this presentation by Dr. Bikman is more thorough and detailed. And now to figure out why I feel so good even though my TSH is so high.

[@Dreamopticsredlightglasses]

thanks, I take 50mg levothyroxine, I read recently that helps with T4 but not T3 and we need to bolster that, need to find something that does that easily, this was interesting, I like a mixed diet, it sounds like lowering my carbs and increasing meat consumption a bit could be good, I like vegetables so will not cut those out completely

[@nancycy9039]

⁠@@Dreamopticsredlightglassesyes, interesting ideas. I must however, liking something is not a good enough reason to consume it.

[@nancycy9039]

Sorry about the lack of editing in the above: the app will not edit, as the letters are all stacked upon one another when in edit mode, so the words are not visible, just one pile of white mishmash.

[@ssa8479]

@@Dreamopticsredlightglasses my fat intake is fairly high. About 120-150 grams a day. Protein 60-90 grams, carbs generally under 25 grams. The carbs include a few blueberries, a couple small strawberries, a few grams of walnuts and pecans, small amounts of carrots, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms. I have started ignoring the numbers on lab tests, prefer to go by how I feel. The primary doctor, whom I haven’t seen for over a year, looks at his laptop and the last lab test, doesn’t ask me anything, does no physical exam. I have a more vested interest in my health than the medical system does.

[@Dreamopticsredlightglasses]

@@ssa8479 yes

[@StarvingMyselfToLIFE]

I saw a testimony from two people who have had their thyroid removed..after a period of time of clean eating and fasting, one had reduced her med dose by 3/4 and the other eliminated the need altogether...this suggest, after the removal of the gland, and the cleaning up of toxins, the body was able to find alternative ways to compensate for the thyroid gland function...perhaps part two could explore this further??🤔

[@Jayla-dj2gj]

People are being told they've destroyed their thyroid because of being low carb. NIH need to start funding studies that actually matter. The new admin is being pushed to look at metabolic health. Lets hope they listen.

[@doug-low-carb]

When I was new to Atkins, I noticed that a lot of people stall. First I filtered by how much they had to lose. Keto won't take you below your objective ideal weight but mot people pick a goal 10 pounds too low. I started filtering them out. My filtered list still had a lot of people dropping out. Some as early as week 3. As I studied more and more, I noticed discussion about thyroid. We are evolved to survive famines. We can't evolve a response to calories because calories are not a chemical but our bodies are chemical engines. So we evolved stall responses to going too low and staying too low in either carb or fat as a proxy for starvation. Sure enough, nearly all of the people who stalled early had stayed at 20 net carb grams per day or less. We can conclude that low carb veggies are beneficial, but it's also an evolved famine response. Low carb may be good, but lower isn't better. That's obvious but false. We want ketosis, but we don't want the highest ketone levels we can get. We just want the lowest trace our measuring can detect. The risk of stalls is lower at the carb intake just barely in ketosis, which is typically around 50. Dr Atkins called this level CCLL. Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing. Low T3 levels are not thyroid damage. They are a famine defense. And each person has a different response. You'll find people who stayed at 20 or 0 who didn't stall. They insist that no one stalls, but watching new low carbers show vast numbers who stay at 20 do in fact stall and drop out. Thanks for explaining this better than 20 years of hormone study could get me to.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

Yes, Ben please work on this in your lab. I believe this is an epidemic as big as diabetes but doesn’t get the bandwidth. I would be interested in your take on the study that stated 80% of the population placed on thyroid replacement hormone should not have been put on it. I believe it was a study by Cornell University. Also take a look at a KZbin channel Rejuvagen, he reviews thyroids lab numbers. Look for his Lab Interpretation segments. Maybe you could do some research with his ideas in mind, or talk about is he on track?

[@LynnFirestonePA]

Loved this lecture. You are such a great teacher! I was wishing you had been my teacher at BYU so very long ago. I am learning and relearning so much in your metabolic lectures and my 73 year old (former biology teacher) brain is loving the challenge. Everything you said makes perfect sense and is very clear. I think your lab should indeed dive in and see about getting a new thyroid-health tracking indicator using T3 instead of T4. Also, I was wondering ... what about all of the other functions of T3 in the body? Are other body processes in jeopardy at all with lowered levels of T3 being caused by lower glucose in the blood. All of this must be in a delicate balance. Does glucose act on the thyroid directly at all in association with TSH or perhaps in the conversion of T4 into T3? If so then your premise here makes even more sense to me, indicating that glucose is an important regulator of T3 levels as well as TSH. I guess I am just wondering how the body "knows" it needs less T3. Perhaps this was all addressed in another video(s)?

[@rfolea2]

Holy moly, I was hoping you would cover this ...

[@patricia753]

I'm so honored to attend your lecture via KZbin!! Thank you!! ❤

[@carouseladventures2037]

Question I have is interestingly about the BTU’s burning fat as fuel. I’m wondering if the body actually produces more core warmth? It seems that our sleep pattern now requires a much cooler environment.

[@fpe1207]

Brilliant stuff. I searched dozens of thyroid expert videos trying to find if low T3 is a problem, given a keto diet. Nobody explained the linkage to the GLUT4 receptors. Happy for the explanation, sad about the state of medicine.

[@amydietz2151]

Thanks Ben. Mixed thyroid growth removed40 yrs ago. Labs always normal but a man mri ( for another reason) 5 years ago still showed a multi modular thyroid. Always cold and constipated. But I have a new doctor who will be the first to order thyroid antibodies. So at least someone is interested in investigating.

[@scottstevenson8989]

I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to out out these very informative 'lectures'.

[@meatdog]

This is timely. I just educated my medical provider on T3 AND reverse T3. She had no idea because she just looked at TSH, T4 AND Free T3 but did not really understand how to put it all together. She just looked at the lab "normal values" on the lab slip result.

[@Debbie3360]

And that’s the problem.

[@tamom64]

The doctors don't know how to treat me. I'm now seeing an integrative medicine doctor. Going low carb made me feel hyperthyroid. I'm on levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. After menopause, a Covid infection my thyroid seemed to look on paper like a needed more medicine, but more medicine gave me the symptoms of hyperthyroid. I had heart palpitations, fatigue, pounding heart, heart skips, couldn't sleep, feeling hot, my hair was falling out. My dose has been lowered and I feel amazing. Started doing carnivore and so far so good. My TSH has been 16 for the last 6 months, my T4 is above half on the lab chart and my T3 is below normal but I have no symptoms of hypothyroidism so my doctor is letting me continue as is and checking me in another 6 months.

[@BrJon-uh8cm]

Your argument makes a lot of sense and very concise.

[@hicham5788]

Brilliant insight! Finally, I have a convincing explanation for the low T3 levels observed in the ketogenic diet

[@hillarywolf5889]

I am a survivor of esophageal cancer, I can’t afford to be a member, I like your teaching a lot but at 77 and trying to live with side affects from other issues it is hard enough financially to live here in California. It’s sadly impossible to join you.

[@sueostergaard8691]

When I am faithfully following a keto or carnivore way of eating, my thyroid function improves. I need to take a smaller dose of my Armour thyroid. Non-keto, my dose is 4 grains/240 mg daily. Keto, my dose is 3 gr/180 mg. I'm at a place now where I'm following keto, taking 4gr daily, my T3 is normal but my TSH is still high. I added iodine into my daily vitamins to see if the TSH reduces.

[@lisabraswell7616]

How does this discussion relate to Hashimoto’s, especially if it is in remission? Thank you so much, Ben!!

[@gaiagoddess8009]

Are you actually in remission, or is your thyroid "dead"? I stopped producing antibodies, thinking I was in remission, but upon scan, my thyroid was shriveled up. 😢

[@v.annabonac2913]

Great lecture, thank you.

[@sofializzy4519]

Thank you so much Dr. Bikman! You are a true gem! ❤

[@dawnhabeck6364]

Thank you for the best teaching!!! Yes your lab does need to develop said test!! I will become an insider to stay tuned

[@karensuarez2113]

Your video showed up on my feed, new to your podcasts - really enjoyed your information. 69 YO female, normal weight, active, ketogenic diet for about 10+ years. Hashimotos about 18 years, Type 1 Diabetic (acute onset) about 12 years. Found a functional doctor and stopped listening to ADA and went keto, lowered A1C to low 5’s, take Armour thyroid. HRT since beginning of menopause. Get frequent bloodwork and am always tweaking thyroid hormone, mostly due to TSH jumping around. I cannot say I have typical Hashimotos symptoms, thankfully, but still carry antibodies of around 40. I feel my best when TSH is under 1. Currently it is 2.86, normal range, after Armour being bumped from 90mg to 120mg. I have tried adding T3, and it does work to lower TSH, but really want my body to do the converting ( if possible) instead of supplementing it exogenously. Plus, there was some filler in it that my system did not like. Armour thyroid has increased in price from roughly $50 a month to $72 and anticipate it continuing to increase. See doctor on the 9th and will ask for ND Thyroid and possibly a second script for 20-30 mg to take every other day. I can generally tell if I am getting too much thyroid. I am just trying to understand why my thyroid dosing goes up/down (over the years) and why TSH goes up/down - when everything I do remains the same. I realize there is a disease process occurring, but also don’t understand what might trigger, I guess, what some people might call a ‘flare’. Selenium/iodine/zinc, D/K/magnesium/B vitamins/trace minerals (and more) - no deficiencies. Thank you for all your information and look forward to watching more of your podcasts.

[@audrey3042]

It seems that TSH and FSH act similarly. Post-menopause FSH skyrockets when estrogen is depleted in the same way TSH seems to increases when T3 decreases outside of a Keto diet

[@mariehughey5390]

I have the book you have displayed. It really drove home how sugar disrupts our metabolism and gives us so many problems.

[@joen.8364]

I have seen some discussion lately how people are VERY low in iodine. There has been suggestion to take MUCH more than the RDA by some professionals, and the organs all need much more than the operating level of Iodine with regards to the thyroid gland. Can you share you thought on this and-do we really need both Iodine and Potassium Iodine, as in the "Lugol's supplements? Thank you so much for your expert perspective.

[@francesgraham5411]

In New Zealand where I live we buy iodised salt, as there is little iodine in our soils. As well you can eat seaweed to supplement

[@earthangel2590]

I would love to be your first subject of research which uses the research based on a low carb diet. I've been carnivores since the end of February. I've gained 15 lb, have all the symptoms and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism yesterday. They only tested using my TSH (27.6), T4 (0.41), T3 (2.0) and nothing else. Angry that they didn't do the full panel that I requested due to stmptoms and family history. I'm a 65 (tomorrow) female.

[@jay-remedy-plz]

A similar discussion is underway with the ratio between Total vs Free testosterone levels.

[@grahamhobbs5491]

Could you give some insight into patients who have a non functioning thyroid on a ketogenic diet

[@monnoo8221]

as he explained, the conclusion that the thyroid is not working based on low T3 is not valid. key is hoow you feel: do you have dry skin,, brittle hair, feeling cold, feeling fatigued, foggy brain DESPITE you do all other things right? Or do you have antibodies? How is your mitochondrial health? After clarifying that you can start to think in this direction

[@gaiagoddess8009]

​@monnoo8221 - I have Hashimoto's and my tests after a while showed no more antibodies. After a scan, they said my thyroid is shriveled up.

[@jules7723]

I am an RN and have been on a 2 year journey now to resolve my Hashimoto's disease. I started out as carnivore then when animal based (adding back in carbs of fruit and honey), it was a transition away from junk foods/seed oils. I cut out all "cheat" meals including restaurants a year ago. I only had a reduction in thyroid medication (3x so far) when I added back the carbs, but when I did I started to gain weight. I recently switched back to a low carb, mostly animal products and have added back in some carb cycling every two weeks. I go back for bloodwork this month and I am curious as to what my TSH and T3 will reveal. There is no where for me to go to for what I need to resolve my condition, I am basically using myself as an n=1 study to see what I get. Even 100 grams of carbs (the minimum often recommended) is too much for me for weight control.

[@KenJackson_US]

Do you rely on your doctor's annual blood test? Or you get your own tests done more frequently?

[@jules7723]

@@KenJackson_US I am currently going to my healthcare practitioner every 3 months, she is well aware that I am trying to come off my meds. She is respectful with our interactions but I am not sure how much she is on board with my beliefs about this chronic condition (there is an intellectual curiosity that is missing, I have gone from 300mcg of Levoxyl to 88mcg). I have told her what I am doing but there are not many questions.

[@jules7723]

@@KenJackson_US I am going every 3 months to my healthcare practitioner while I try and come off my meds. She is supportive of this goal but there has been a lack of intellectual curiosity of what I am doing. Perhaps most patients she sees just wants the magic pill. I feel I have to use the medical industrial complex healthcare system because it is what my healthcare insurance will pay for. I would love to go to a naturopath, functional doctor, or the like but it is not the way our healthcare delivery system at least in the US is designed.

[@KenJackson_US]

@@jules7723 When I asked my doctor for the antibody tests that would indicate if I have Hashimoto's or some other hypothyroidism, he asked why. He said the treatment is the same in either case, so it doesn't matter. I explained I want to find the cause so I can eliminate it and thus not need to take levothyroxine. He was totally uninterested and unsupportive.

[@dalialovesdoggies4361]

Try not go go above 25 grams PER DAY

[@KenJackson_US]

Excellent! Now if only I could heal my thyroid and eliminate my need for levothyroxine. Sadly, my doctor displayed a total lack of interest. Does supplementing iodine make sense?

[@BrJon-uh8cm]

It only makes sense if you are deficient in iodine, a very easy way to check this is to buy colored iodine, put it on your forearm, if it is absorbed, you are deficient, then keep repeating until the body will not absorb it. I take natural thyroid hormone, since being on KETO, I feel like i am hyper, so probably should recheck the thyroid meds.

[@KenJackson_US]

@@BrJon-uh8cm I've off and on supplemented iodine. The problem is that it plays havoc with my sinuses. I'm not giving up on it, but it's a real bother.

[@dalialovesdoggies4361]

​@@KenJackson_UShow much do you use? What kind of iodine please?

[@KenJackson_US]

@@dalialovesdoggies4361 Either a 6.25mg tablet of Iodoral, which is Lugol's in a tablet, or half a tablet. Right now I haven't taken any for over a week, so my sinuses aren't too bad. I'll resume supplementing on Sunday.

[@irenemay6036]

Great information!

[@joanneferndale101]

Ben ❤❤❤ you're a hero 💖🙏💖

[@PrasantaDatta-f3g]

Well explained. Thank you so much

[@jlawr4427]

On Keto, if T3 goes down and TSH in normal, what does that say about "Reverse T3"? Could it be elevated causing TSH not to increase? If so, would the elevated levels of inactive Reverse T3 be a problem sending incorrect signals to the Pituitary?

[@Dreamopticsredlightglasses]

very nice lecture, thank you Ben 👍

[@braedenmoses]

So grateful sir, doing the great work.

[@sofijatrivunac5798]

Brilliant lecture. Thank you so much.

[@rfolea2]

So what do you consider "normal" thyroid hormone levels for folks on a low carb or even carnivore diet?

[@monnoo8221]

Mr. Data says: no data possibly available, because normality can not be defined, at least not for the next 40 years or so

[@ssa8479]

@@monnoo8221 I’m optimistic. With more keto/carnivore folks, and people like Dr. Birman, Dave Feldman with his Citizen Science initiative, and a host of others, we could get answers in a few years.

[@mariehughey5390]

Normal, unfortunately is based on averages. Our current population is metabolically unhealthy. So our bloodwork average is based on unhealthy. Most doctors and labs can’t really answer your very good question.

[@rfolea2]

​@@mariehughey5390​ Yep, exactly why I am asking Ben what he considers "normal."

[@RevJoan]

Oh, gee! I forgot one important fact that should have been included in my previous comment: I'm also taking 4-5 drops of Lugol's 5% solution a day! That is something I DID tell my doc and he said it would be fine. But, honestly, he said it so flippantly I'm not sure he had really thought about it.

[@ssa8479]

@@RevJoan my endocrinologist, with whom I’m working to get off levothyroxine (off four months now), said to pause Lugol’s for a few weeks till the next lab since I also eat eggs every day and fish 2-3 times a week. She wants to see if that brings down the TSH. Regardless of the labs, I feel good and may resume the Lugol after the test.

[@CoyoteWindRanch]

Fascinating! Can’t join your group yet but I will as soon as I can, excited you started this!

[@carmentorrance2295]

Thanks Ben I had Hyperparathyroidism and had a parathyroid gland removed the surgeon told me it was bright orange. 🍊 18 months later I’m much improved. I have Celiac and Raynards and my body struggles to dispell chest/lung infections I’m on antibiotics now sigh ☹️ My tummy dislikes any medications. Lucky I’m tough.

[@carolkissler7772]

Thanks

[@benbikman]

Thanks, Carol. That is kind of you. Not expected but noticed and appreciated.

[@DonSchmitt-z5w]

Great topic! I’m trying to understand is whole system. I lost most of my pituitary due to a tumor about 27 years ago and have been taking Levothyroxine since then. I have been using a ketogenic diet for the past 20 months and have dropped weight from 230 to 170lbs. Thyroid levels have been stable but a generally feel cold. Also interested in the implications of iodine as I’ve greatly reduced my use of iodized salt. Related to the question posed about low T3 on keto, I wonder if average T3 has increased over the last 100 years as general metabolic health has gotten worse.

[@Robin-lr2zw]

Research Dr. David Brownstein. He is an expert in iodine. Here is a good video to start: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJzTl2WgYtaBgM0 -- His book, "Iodine Why You Need It" is excellent. Says we need both iodine & iodide and says that iodized salt is insufficient for our iodine needs.

[@DonSchmitt-z5w]

@@Robin-lr2zw, thank you for your recommendation. I’ll take a look at it.

[@katia7271]

Would be helpful to see a whiteboard with key concepts.

[@vadimkravets9209]

Fantastic lecture

[@laurelmartone73]

I have hyperthyroidism with very low TSH (has been as low as 0.005), but T4 and FT3 are in normal. Dr. Bikman, do you recommend higher carb diet for someone like me? I will say that a couple of years ago, when I was eating mostly carnivore, my TSH was closer to normal than it has been in over 23 years. I do have multiple nodules, and had 1/2 of my thyroid removed in 2005. Currently Only take 5 mg of methimazole 3x/week.

[@lautburns4829]

Damn, I always enjoy your lectures.!

[@monnoo8221]

key point is that there is no such thing as a functional hormone. They are messengers whose specific physiological effects across tissues is deterind by the differential distributions of receptors. Considering just the absolute level of a hormone, or measuring a hormone in a single shot does not tell much (and unveils a pofound ignorance about the workings of hormones), even when considering its releasing hormone. As in the case for insulin, where the test is called a tolerance test, which is kind of misnomer, together with HOMA-ir, which relates the hormone to its physiological effect, a test for the thyroid system would have to doa similar thing. Suggestion: triggering a cortisol response via a standardized, fasted, 10 min physical stress at 80% VO2max. The ratio of max elevation of T3 to baseline T3 is much smaller in resistant than in non-resistant people.

[@pampuskar4778]

Not on a keto diet, just reduced carbohydrates. After listening to your lecture, my last bloodwork showed normal T3 levels Low T4 and elevated TSH 18.5. My pcp is having me increase my NP thyroid medication. I don’t understand why my T3 is normal and TSH is high? Also my last A1C went from 5.2 to 5.7 . There must be some sort of connection with all of this.

[@marilynprowse4763]

What about if my thyroid was removed and I am doing the keto diet.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

You will need less thyroid medicine.

[@javiersosaescalada2824]

can you tell me something about hipethyroidism autoimune Graves disease

[@donnatodd4119]

Thyroid actions are crazy enough to begin with but when you add in Graves’ disease and its typical treatment of destroying the thyroid, it’s no wonder I can’t figure out what’s going on. My TSH is checked frequently and doc and I try to keep it on the low end of the acceptable range. I take Synthroid (thyroxine, so T4). But I still display symptoms of low thyroid, lethargy, obesity. Would it be helpful to have T3 and T4 levels tested? Per this discussion, logic tells me that if TSH is low, the T4 I’m taking is converting fine.

[@shannonhaley8068]

I had low thyroid symptoms until I took t3. Now I take Armor and feel so much better, It has both t3 and t4

[@MalindaTamlyn]

You should always get a full thyroid panel. TSH, Total t4, Total t3, free t4, free t3, Reverse t3, TPO antibodies, Tg antibodies

[@stepheneverhardt4731]

When I fast for thyroid blood work my numbers are all out of whack. When unfasted my numbers are all in normal range.

[@TerriblePerfection]

I was told not to fast before a thyroid panel.

[@toriwolf5978]

Just found your channel ! Do you have any videos on non alcoholic fatty liver? I was just diagnosed two weeks ago , cut out all surgery processed foods no fruits ect just doing keto/carnivore diet see if this helps ! Going for another ultrasound on jan31 so have two months left to try make a change to see if I can reverse it❤

[@OldCatsLady]

That woe will def help you. But u will have to do that long term not to get recurrence. Check Dr Ken Berry he has NAFLD videos. DR Chaffee also. You got this 😊

[@benbikman]

You may want to consider working with my coaching team at Insulin IQ: www.insuliniq.com

[@christinashawgo6510]

My TSH went to 34! I started desiccated thyroid.

[@ssa8479]

@@christinashawgo6510 mine went to 44, then 76! But I feel great and don’t have any symptoms of hypothyroidism. Looks like the usual parameters may not apply to people on a ketogenic diet. I have no idea what the new normal should be in this scenario.

[@nancycy9039]

This is fascinating and I learned so much! What is the issue when TSH is elevated and T3 & T4 are WNL? I’ll try to research your other videos.

[@sheila7814]

I LOVE ypur lectures!!!

[@mr8966]

Bikman crushes it again!!! 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻. As an Albertan, are you a Flames fan or Oilers??? 🥅

[@WYO-KG]

So how does this jive with the fact that many women with symptoms who test normal for tsh, discover issues when a full thyroid panel is done? Also does excess thyroid med on a carnivore/very low carb diet result in higher blood glucose?

[@anjoliaisenbrey6456]

I needed to hear this! My naturopath is very open minded but we are currently trying to figure out why my cortisol is running higher in mornings and my thyroid could be better. She wondered if it was that I need to eat more carbs.

[@clutzfrmr3645]

So ask your naturopath if she is familiar with the "dawn" effect that naturally and normally raises cortisol in the morning due to circadian rhythms.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

No need to eat more carbs, you probably need a little fat in the morning to feed your body, not carb/sugar.

[@monnoo8221]

buy a whoop.

[@heartsoulholisticservices]

@@clutzfrmr3645 I definitely, will. Thank you! We did a 24 hour cortisol and mine is still high. She is pondering if it is my ketogenic lifestyle but I also have a hx of hyperthyroid which has resolved. If it's not the diet, I am just curious what else it could be. It's not near high enough to be Cushings and I sleep mostly fine.

[@angelamarshall2701]

@@heartsoulholisticservicesparasites? I had a bad parasite infection and mold toxicity that caused cortisol and thyroid issues. Also had to turn my wifi off at night to help in the recovery.

[@lenaeschneider9596]

I have been strict ketovore for 9 months. My T4 and T3 levels are normal, but my TSH went from 3 to over 16! No one, including my doctor, can explain what's happening.

[@ushamenon2775]

Thank you Dr

[@paularabago3569]

This would indicate then that a low carb diet is actually great for hyperthyroid and Graves’ disease right?

[@Cindy-ee5ou]

I was educated in biochemistry and molecular biology. This is hard to focus on while I’m eating and checking social media. Can someone advise what the bottom line is? If I’m on low carb, what do I need to do? My thyroid test was normal. Thank you.

[@cobyteune]

After nearly two years of being a carnivore my hair is drasticly falling out. I was low in vitamin D3, so I am taking that now, because I was very sick before that. In the summertime I can not easily go outside, because of severe hayfever. I hope my hair will turn around and grow again. I think D3 is also important for the thyroid to function.

[@Jayla-dj2gj]

Nothing compares to getting natural sunlight. The D3 pills are not good to depend on. I would get a Sperti D lamp if I couldn't go outside. Just be careful because they work really well and can get your levels up high. My hair falls out on Carnivore if my fats or proteins are too low. At 5ft 2 I need about 120grams of protein and fat to keep my hair healthy.

[@r.scottpage2840]

I’m carnivore with elevated TSH, normal T4, and low T3. My insulin is 1.5. I’ve come to believe my low insulin may be impeding production of T3, or converting T4 into T3.

[@cammieklund]

I think Paul Saladino needs to see this...😅

[@alicejohnson7819]

I just want to know why I am not losing. Maybe thyroid? I got a full metabolic blood count last summer. Nothing was said to me. I had little to no hormones so I am on bio identical hormones at present. I cut out coffee and cream… praying it helps

[@Debbie3360]

What if your hypo thyroid before you go keto, no antibodies

[@nancyfleecs-hu1bc]

Thank you 😊

[@louisecashd.c.3901]

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

[@doloresseames5067]

Do you feel that there is an optimal level of TSH that would be in a tighter reference range? If so, what would it be?

[@harlawood9811]

Thank you! My T3 is low and I have been doing keto for about 3 years. Lost weight and now maintaining. I still take Levothyroxine next to the lowest level and I wonder if I could get off of it? I’ve raised my iodine level a bit so I’m going to see if this helps to get me off the drug. Thank you again for this informational video. You’re the best! 😁👍🏻

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@harlawood9811 you might start by skipping one dose a week for 6 weeks. If all goes well, skip 2 doses a week spread out, for another 6 weeks. Go on how you feel. You might gain a little weight back while your body adjusts. If all goes well continue, or you could also try cutting a dose in half on one day, wait six weeks, cut another dose in half on another day. Good luck.

[@valeriewestphal2507]

I’m low in everything! TSH close to zero with low T4 &T3 with significant hypothyroid symptoms!😢On my 3rd Endocrinologist, so far nobody has been able to help me. I have myxedema in my legs, HR 34-36, low body temp, no spontaneous BM’s, terrible headaches and insomnia. I’m on Armour 180mg and still not changing anything. I need help, but can’t find it; slowly dying here.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@valeriewestphal2507 from what I understand about taking Armour, because it contains T3, and your TSH is low, your thyroid is not getting the signal to make more hormone, this most likely means you are over medicated. If you took your Armour in the morning before your blood was tested you are only testing what the medication is giving you, to test what your body is making, do not take your medication the morning of. If your TSH is still very low then you are over medicated.

[@valeriewestphal2507]

How am I over medicated if my actual thyroid levels, both T4 & T3 are very low? Not to mention my glaring symptoms of HR mid 30’s, myxedema in my legs, no longer moving bowels on my own, lower body temperature, etc. So no, I’m not over medicated. More like half dead, probably closer to myxedema coma. There are other things other than thyroid medication that can cause TSH suppression. I am also quite low in iron, but can’t get those levels up either.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@ all I can say is I am in a similar state. By lowering my meds my T3 and T4 have gone up. Because you suppress the TSH so much on the higher dose the system doesn’t seem to work, I had to go on a very low carb, no gluten diet and walk 1 hr every morning. It is your TSH close to zero that is messing it up. Backing off your meds will raise the TSH, you do not want it so low. It has completely shut down your thyroid gland when that low.

[@A1N0]

OK your head might explode on this one. I have no thyroid (cancer) and take Synthroid. I'm keto, pre-type2 and take Ozempic, which works well. A1C 5.6. Anything I should look out for? I don't take any T3. Its been 10 years since the cancer, so endo is lowering my thyroid levels to normal, they were elevated per protocol to keep TSH low. Unfortunately, knowbody understands this like you. Anything to watch out for?

[@sandyshores5550]

What is the difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine? Besides cost. Does it matter?

[@KenJackson_US]

My understanding is that levothyroxine is the generic name for the Synthroid brand name.

[@kellyjogriffin8811]

Active ingredient is the same. The inactive ingredients in the generic versions differ. The problem arises for some people because pharmacies often have no control over which manufacturers their distributors use to supply their generics, so that can change often. Some people with a have issues with certain inactive ingredients or, more often the inactive ingredients can the rate of absorption of the levothyroxine. So it can cause some adjustment between different versions of generics. The differences in rate of absorption is generally not enough to bother most people taking levels for hypothyroidism, but can be an issue for those who have had a thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer and their physician is trying to tightly control their levels for monitoring purposes. For those patients, their physician will often prescribed synthroid with no option for generic substitution.

[@loneranger7573]

I take ndt thyroid and I just cannot do keto, I end up freezing cold and feel horrible. I need carbs, at every meal otherwise I am severely affected by low body temperature. for what it's worth, synthetic thyroid pills didn't work for me, I need the ndt for the T3 in it apparently. I take 3 grains mostly, my tsh is suppressed to .17 or so. I tried taking less ndt, my hair thinned badly, and I gained 40 lbs in a year. Doctors don't know about NDT these days.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@loneranger7573 you are cold on a keto diet because you need to eat more fat. If you are fat adapted you will get very warm when you eat protein and fat. If you are not fat adapted you will stay cold. Check your blood ketone levels. Taking a T3 medicine shuts down the signal to the thyroid (TSH) to make thyroid. Most likely you taking this is confusing your bodies ability to make thyroid hormone on its own and causing a conflicting body signals.

[@ld9044]

Professor Ben!!! ❤❤❤

[@GiggleOutfitter]

Can you talk about reverse t3

[@2bberean]

I've been on levothyroxine most of my life for hypothyroidism and back and forth on Keto for the past 5 years (yes, its a struggle) - As I've dropped weight, I've noticed myself getting more hyper (and there are symptoms that go along with that - not pleasant), rather than hypo and have reduced my intake of the levothyroxine, thinking this was just a matter of needing less, due to less mass. Now, I realize that this may be a result of not requiring as much T3, so I may be overloading my TSH and moving to hyper mode due to the overuse of the medication. Q. How would blood work reflect this and how would a doctor be able to recommend a proper dose of medication given this change in T3 requirement? If I am showing lower T3 due to the Keto, but my TSH is high (due to the normal medication dosage), would that not prompt and attempt to increase the medication in order to boost the T3 to "normal" levels? I don't think most doctors get this relationship and could be mistaken in their approach to thyroid changes on Keto. Basically, I need to be very aware of my symptoms, and monitor my levothyroxine intake very carefully. I'd love to get right off it at some point but not sure if that's advisable. It's a challenge to manage but this lecture has been very helpful and I've got a better understanding now. TIme to get my blood work done again, I guess.

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@2bberean learn about calculating free T3 to free T4 ratio, use that to help get dosage right not TSH levels.

[@davidblackford5193]

Thanks Ben , as always , supberb. Out of interest i have been on a carnivore and dairy diet for over two years , there is some carb and galactose in the dairy so my carbs total to less than 40gms per day. My doctor diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, where my T3 and T4 levels are normal but my TSH is elevated. When taking Thyroxin my TSH levels normalize, and my T3 levels only slightly rise. So in my case on a very low carb and close to ketogenic diet my TSH is high , everything else normal. Not sure what this equates to. Any ideas appreciated. Look forward to next class room.

[@Lizz7711]

What if TSH goes up when taking iodine? Is this temporary? I had to stop my thyroid meds after being carnivore for a few months as I had a hyperthyroid episode (have been hypo for over 15 years) , but had also been taking iodine.

[@petermacdonald6332]

Signed up today. 👍🇨🇦

[@btudrus]

what about testosterone resistance (and I'm not refering to the genetic/developmental one which lies behind the intersex people but an acquired one in adult age...) ?

[@truebluebeth6446]

What if TSH is low and T3 is normal? Is that resistance too ?

[@MalindaTamlyn]

@@truebluebeth6446 no