The Metabolic Classroom, Ep. 15: How Does Low Carb Affect Thyroid?

Watch the full livestream at www.insuliniq.com/
A low-carb diet can do a lot of good things, but does it come at the expense of the thyroid? We’ll review the evidence and explore the relationship between thyroid and carbs.
Resources referenced in this episode:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11167...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6865775/

[@island4603]

Im a 39 year old woman, who got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 3 months ago. I got a scan of my thyroid and it showed thyroid nodules, which caused my overactive thyroid. High THS, low t3 and t4. Tired, sleepy all the time, weight gain, weight loss, hair loss, bad skin, bleeding gums, brittle hair, shaky hands, severe brain fog, memory loss, trouble with words. The day I got diagnosed (3 months ago) I started carnivore diet. Now 3 months later, I got a scan yesterday of my thyroid and the can’t see any nodules 💯💪🏼 I only went on thyroid medication about 3-4 weeks, but tossed them out and started healing through carnivore. I have never felt better, and have tons of energy. Lost about 4-5 kilos and counting. I’ll never god back to SAD - carnivore for life🥓🍖🥩 Update the 4 of april 2024: Still on carnivore, but added a Little fruit, honey, dark chocolate and occasionally sweet potato. I still feel great, but when I eat carbs my heart rate goes up. I have high cholesterol, but low triglycerides and my blood sugar is normal plus my blood pressure is awesome! My doctor is so confused and wants me on statins even though I’m as healthy as I can be. He believed that my nodules disappeared because it was a post viral Covid symptom. Also I tester for autoimmune diseases, but I had none. I am no doctor, but I trust myself and this lifestyle more than anything.

[@ingridamador2022]

Did you take or do anything besides carnivore to shrink the nodules? TIA!

[@island4603]

@@ingridamador2022 no, nothing but meat, butter, eggs, cream and cheese. And lots of water with electrolytes. I tried to reduce the stressors in my life as much as possible and get good sleep. 😊 I still have some heart palpitations sometimes, but it’s so much better before.

[@karolinakowalik9720]

same here

[@SusieDancer-wm2ee]

I have the same issues, only no scan and no nodules to my knowledge. BUT, symptoms of both hyper and hypo at the same time. It is so confusing. I've been doing ketovore for months, but no changes in my symptoms. I did strict carnivore for awhile and did lose 25 pounds, but still have super high blood sugars and all these thyroid symptoms. And, I've taken a small dose of iodine for a year now. When will it change? I hear and read about so many people healing from all kinds of illnesses on carnivore and I'm so happy for you all.

[@heathercalmes2239]

@@SusieDancer-wm2ee Test for Hashimotos. We can swing hyper and hypo and hashis is a different beast than just hypo or hyper by itself. Most hashimotos people don't do well on iodine, gluten, immune system stimulant supplements, etc. There's a lot more that affects hashis than if you just had hyper or hypo.

[@darlafitzpatrick8770]

I could listen to Dr. Bikman's "tangents" all day. They're always informative.

[@solson6845]

My experience is after switching to eating low carb, my doctor had to cut my thyroid medicine in half per my lab work.

[@PJ-cu4cl]

you had hypo or hyper? and how many months did that take for the progresion? :) thanks

[@KenJackson_US]

I'm pleased to hear that. I'm hoping I can eventually ditch my synthroid.

[@jeepgurl1379]

Same thing happened in my case. I see my doctor twice a year, so in 6 months my NDT was reduced from 80mcg to 60 mcg. I am diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

[@AgaveRox]

Wow. Just the opposite happened with me. Keto really messed up my hormones, unfortunately; and I soo wanted to continue on it! I looked great on the outside, but felt horrible, cold, hairloss, etc… The studies the doctor is referring to mainly used Men as the test subjects, if I understand correctly. Men and Women can react differently to these kind of restrictive diets.

[@karolinakowalik9720]

same here

[@clindsay8362]

My TSH normalised better on a low carb diet and when I strayed back into higher (not very much higher) carbs, the TSH started to be slightly more like pre-low carb levels, so it looked like a direct response, and made me realise it's a really sensitive barometer.

[@kathykitten6]

I'm 63 was diagnosed Hashimoto's for at least 8 years now.. Did Healthy Keto for 3 mos. & I respectfully disagree with the guy on the bottom right. Prior to Keto my TSH & antibodies were going in the right direction, in fact my Dr. was astounded as to why this was so because I refused to take Thyroid Medication because Hashimotos is an autoimmune condition. If you work on correcting that, then the body will heal. Also my T4, T3 all normal. I decided I would try a KETO diet to lose some extra weight & I thought it would help my autoimmunity & secondary my thyroid, lower my TSH & Antibodies. Was I WRONG! At the end of 3 mos on Keto not only did my TSH & antibodies go in the wrong direction, I was shocked! I completely ran out of energy one day while walking. I mean completely! And it took a week & adding small amounts of carbs back into my diet to start to stabilize & feel warm again & regain some energy & strength. It was scary! I would be really cold in the evening, & normally I'm heat intolerant. And the Brain Fog was awful too! I am now in KETO recovery & I did it Correctly...Keto was a disaster for me!! I've been getting my antibodies & TSH, T4 T3 reverse T3 checked for a few years now, & have my own experience with which to refute your claims. There needs to be more research before claims are made about Keto & Thyroid Health. I am proof that there is more to learn about this subject so that no-one else gets damaged by a KETO diet. I will now choose a Low Carb whole food diet although gluten is still not friendly to my body yet so I will omit that. I just listened to Christine Omans video "How Keto wrecked my Thyroid" & Felt Vindicated....shes a nutritionist & a certified keto coach who now is putting videos up for people who need help after KETO wrecked them too! She's still not Anti KETO.....but recognized a huge pattern with her clients & is now working on researching why this is happening to people on Keto! I hope we all learn more in our journey to health, but we need to stay open to new DATA....

[@helenaocarroll]

Totally agree with you, I’m hypothyroid too , have been for over 24 years and since on Keto for last 6 months to lose weight after post menopause and fracture to sacrum due to no HRT ( I’m now on HRT with last almost 3 months) . My energy levels are on the floor. Keto is doing this and the fact that there wasn’t an answer as to the reason a commentator had developed goitres growing , typically cancer while on Keto for two years is extremely alarming. I’m stopping Keto today

[@barblacy619]

Then you have Neisha Berry who put her Hashimotos into remission with a ketovore diet. Certain low carb foods like turnip greens reactivates her Hashimotos. My guess is some people are sensitive to oxalates and other plant toxins which impact their thyroids (I have a euthyroid goiter and was oxalate poisoned). I avoid every plant but blueberries (1/2 cup a week), sauerkraut maybe a cup a week and sour pickles- a whole jar a week. All low oxalate. I’m doing fine and numbers stayed normal. Experiment and do what works for you. Bikman is a genius.

[@sandifortmann4161]

Same with me, wondering what carbs did you add back in?

[@helenaocarroll]

Since I wrote this I have decided to keep very low carb, practically Keto but I don’t guilt myself if I don’t keep to it. I did make a change though with my black coffee in the morning, I added an extra spoon and I feel better, have more energy. I think it’s a cortisol/ cortisone issue with me due to my injury , I think the extra coffee may help but I’m only shortly after Christmas where I had s few cheat days so I guess time will tell. The carbs I eat are from avocados, Brazil nuts, decaffeinated cappuccino ( 5g) coconut milk, hot dogs, bacon, sardines, dark chocolate, peanut butter (100%), glass of wine every now and then . My reverse t3 was never checked on my panel and I have a feeling that could be an issue so I’m trying to keep my cortisol in check by not fasting over 16 hours or being to strict even with fasting, over 12 is good

[@robinharbin2457]

I tried carnivore for 90 days 2 years ago to address Hashimoto's. It left me so sick! But I attributed it to histamine intolerance and store bought meat. Decided to try carnivore again this Jan 1 using only grass fed ruminant meats, salt, water, and electrolytes with a focus on greater proportion of fats from grass fed beef suet. Again, I am gaining weight, hurt all over and have very low energy. All my clothes are too tight just after 48 days. I'm so discouraged!

[@AlicesCoolBlueSwing]

Dr. Bickman should read Stop the Thyroid Madness- website or book. I usually think he's spot on, but he seems to be lacking knowledge regarding "normal lab ranges" and why they are not the end all be all for diagnostic purposes.

[@1Evaly]

I would suggest Dr Bikman do some research on the normal range for TSH. There is a debate about the range considered normal. I had a TSH of 3.0 several years ago, which is considered normal. I had almost every symptom of hypothyroid I could have. Cold, hair loss, dry skin, muscle and joint paint, fascists, very tired, etc. There is a broad disagreement among clinicians about what the real normal values should be. Many believe it should not be higher than 2.0 rather than 4.5 I feel better at close to a TSH of 0. I don't have symptoms of hyperthyroidism with my level close to 0, but that is considered too low by most test ranges.

[@peggidoug]

Dr. Mark Hyman, known for his founding work with the Functional Medicine Institute, says diagnostic tests do not provide the full picture of thyroid health; always listen to the patient and understand their symptoms too.

[@monnoo8221]

TSH is just not enough to measure. what about rT3, ant-bodies? Classically then it is assumed that there is a linear relationship between TSH and T4, and further down to T3. T3 then is assumed to cntrl the activity of the cells, again in a linear mode. However, that is valid only in an ideal world. Now, things can go wrong already here: cortisol can hinder the production of T4, and the potential of T3. Next, T4 needs to be converted to T3. That is affected by Zn and Se. Try (1) eating 1 can Sardines every 2..3 days, (2) supplement with 20..30mg Zn per day. If you deficient in those, you produce useless rT3 from T4. rT3 can be measured. And in that case, TSH would show up completely normal. Next, your mitochondria need to work and you have to have enough of them. If not, the cell simply would not react to the orders of T3. There are many ways to improve the functioning of mitochondria: 16:8 TRF, ketogenic, at least reducing carbs to 20% of calories, taurin, carnitine supplementation, improving the krebs cycle by AKG, improving energy production related to NAD+: 100mg B3 per day + TMG, high dose B1 for helping the leaky gut, improving insulin sensitivity, exercise etc etc The normal for TSH is indeed 3 +-0.5

[@SongbirdRanch2005]

I don’t have hypothyroidism symptoms but if I don’t take medicine my TSH tends to go high like 8.

[@MellisaFernandez]

1000% agree with you. I feel horrible anytime my tsh is close to 2. I feel optimal and amazing at 0 and even when my tsh occasionally goes into a mildly negative, -0.3, I feel even more amazing. Unfortunately the doctors won’t allow me to stay in negative tsh but they do listen to me about not being in a 2 and try to keep me around 0.5 to 1.5. I will say I did a low carb, not keto, but low carb, around 20-30 carbs per day and did no sugar for a year and I ended up needing less Armour thyroid because my thyroid functioned better on lower carbs and sugar. I also lost 60 pounds so maybe the reduced weight also made my body not need as much as my armour thyroid medicine. I also no longer needed my blood pressure medication. So all I can confirm for me the low carb low sugar was better for my body.

[@sharonnau3918]

I have Hashimoto’s for 25+ yrs. Overweight, insulin resistant. My tsh went up and free t4 and t3 went low subscribing to a low carb and then carnivore diet. Cortisol went up too. For me personally it was too much of a stressor. I had to stop. We’re all different and some things don’t work for everyone.

[@tamom64]

I had same problem, I'm also post menopause. My body was stressed on low carb, I lost weight but had heart palpitations and my thyroid levels were terrible! My t4 was turned into reverse T3 I had to stop low carb and fasting. I don't know what else to do. It's so frustrating!

[@heathercalmes2239]

This is where I am now except my TSH did go down to 3.2 so far but still not optimal FOR ME. I still have symptoms and t3 went down and t4 didn't change(still too low). I am perimenopausal as well. It's a struggle to determine what symptoms are perimenopause or hashimotos. Recently diagnosed hashis as I assumed all my issues were perimenopause so it took a while to get the hashis diagnosis. Slowly changing my diet up a little and focusing on healthy foods more that low carb only foods. .Also keeping a food diary and finding out what causes issues(gas, joint pain, etc) and cutting those out

[@ActivateMission2ThisTimeline]

​@@heathercalmes2239Watch out for plants loaded with antiNutrients like oxalates. If you stop eating these foods quick your body will start dumping its collection of these plantToxins.

[@islaadele1212]

My experience, too. Also found my cholesterol went through the roof on zero carb carnivore (650), Most worrying, my triglycerides were extremely elevated (328). My theory of this is that when your thyroid is low, your lipid metabolism may often be compromised. You might well have low stomach acid and bile flow and you struggle to digest fat efficiently. If you go on a high fat diet and your insulin is very low (my hba1c and fasting insulin were both rock bottom) then that excess fat you eat which isn't immediately burned by your sluggish metabolism, cannot be laid down in the fat cells - Bikman himself is very clear on this - fat cells will NOT grow in the absence of insulin. So if your lipid metabolism is damaged by your low thyroid, it seems like high triglycerides may well be inevitable on a high fat low carb diet. I've had to reduce my fat intake a lot. I'm currently experimenting with adding carbs back. I just hope I haven't done myself too much damage.

[@ConnieWobbles]

This was interesting, but I would have liked some mention of the role of cortisol when in ketosis and how it impacts the thyroid. There's a lot of talk about keto being an unnatural form of stress for the thyroid and higher levels of cortisol whilst on this diet having a negative impact on the thyroid. Just flagging that up for any future videos, thanks.

[@latinaalma1947]

Yes another person I subscribe to with keto videos has come down with hypothyroisim and after preaching total keto now is preaching low carb. This dietary stuff seems more and more to me so complicated as to be meaningless and totally unpredictable. I am a clincal.psychologist researcher and scientist. So I understsn science and multiple effects but when the same variable affects both upward and downward ie has different results AND there is little agreement on interactve effects it all starts to look like unpredicatble mumbo jumbo. I hope one day the science is much better. For example y GP wants me on a lower dose of Synthroid while my endochrinologist wants me on a higher dose...they just will NOT agree. Also the endochrinologist will not agree with the lab results from my local lab saying well MY lab is much more reliable wanting to question my labs all the time...she is a long trip away and I know from my previous husband who owned a lab with a partner...he was a dentist and that lab was in his building....that labs are certified and doctors often get favors etc from using one lab over another and of course it is a conflict of interest when a doctors is part owner of a lab and only wants results from that lab and that lab only...I think this is what is going on with the endochrinologist, that she has a financial incentive. I also was in her office once when two drug reps were there and when I went in she had gotten many boxes of Synthroid from the drug reps as samples stacked on a counter extras in bags. She was putting them into a drawer when I entered...she gave me some samples that day. I know that samples are routine my husband got lots of boxes of samples in the mail at our home. I wish I could trust her more, but I have known my GP for 20 yrs and KNOW that money is NOT his major incentive in life at all...he treated my mother for free as a professional courtesy and made house calls...we have been personal friends for many years and though she is a specialist and he is not, I KNOW he has my best interests in mind. These two have a running dispute about another lab finding of mine and it is odd because HE recommended her... grrrrr. Its tough to be a patient to know WHAT to do. Sybil Francis PhD clinical psycholgist and professor since 1979

[@dag118]

My keto diet and fasting ( 36 hour fasts twice a month) was followed by hashimotos and a problem with high cortisol. No idea if it was connected or not, but currently have gained 25 pounds in the last 6 months.

[@menarobertson84]

​@dag118 same for me😢 I hate this

[@eshaniking4421]

Prof Bikman, thank you for all your amazing interviews. Both myself and my husband started meat based low carb over a year ago. Whilst I now feel warmer and my decades long Reynaud's cleared up ( to my amazement), the opposite happened to my husband! He never used to feel the cold in winter and has been like this for the 34+ years I've known him but he is now constantly complaining of being cold. He has started wearing thermal vests and gloves. I strongly believe the low carb diet is the reason. I know you don't think it can be but please can you have another think through possible mechanisms as I believe this is a real phenomenon experienced by others too. I am reasonably well informed in biochemistry and can't work it out!

[@karolinakowalik9720]

too much protein? too low fat? rotation with different foods

[@dilettanter]

Maybe he’s missing something that changing to carnivore led to? Or exacerbated? We all have different systems and also different microbiomes which can throw in an additional factor He might not have been having issues with carbs and done better with some carbs?

[@eshaniking4421]

Perhaps. We have tried reintroducing some carbs but he is still getting cold fingers. He has lost quite a bit of weight but that in itself shouldnt have this effect - i too have lost weight and found the opposite ​@dilettanter

[@bintherdundat]

Is it worth considering that the way your husband internal temperature has reset itself to something more "normal"in the past 34 years has been the "abnormal"? I say this as a 64 year old male on carnivore since 2018. I was extremely overweight and I'm still probably 30 lb overweight. But I used to be the sweat master and now heat and high humidity bothers me less and less I don't even sweat like I used to. Just a thought. Also he may have less body fat after a year of carnivore it doesn't have to be just thyroid.

[@eshaniking4421]

@@bintherdundat thanks for your thoughts. I guess it's possible but he now gets very cold and his hands are freezing in mildly cold weather when I and others are perfectly ok. He does seem to have improved slightly lately with the introduction of a low level of carbs but now he's having sleep issues. He was always previously a very good sleeper. I wonder if like Paul Saladino, whether he actually needs more carbs or some other tweak to his diet.

[@mariettr125]

Always love me some Ben Bikman! How lucky his students and we are to have him explain this complicated science to us in such an understandable way!

[@Sandra-hq5pl]

Fantastic lecture! Thank you. I'm a nutritionist and I keep getting hashimoto's clients who are very anti low carb because at some point somewhere they read that low carb protocols are not only bad but downright dangerous for hypothyroidism. I'm so glad that what I've been preaching all this time has been confirmed by Dr Bikman. So, a huge 'thank you' from me.

[@intentionallyinpired]

I did low carb lost a ton of weight then I started keto my thyroid pooped out and I started needing more and more Levo going lower and lower carbs then started fasting. Kept gaining weight A1c kept going up. Added a little carbs back stopped fasting and blood glucose numbers started coming down .. any explanation for that..btw I was eventually diagnosed with hashimoto ..I can only go with my personal experience ❤️‍🩹

[@sunshinegirl1967]

@@intentionallyinpired Back in the 90's just before I went on T4 I tried the Atkins diet, very low carb, I'd guess it was < 10 g. I only lasted 2 days and didn't have any energy to move. Then I ate a fudge sickle and immediately sprang back to life. In 2013 I tried a version of paleo (moderate low carb maybe 50 g per day) for a while and lost a lot of weigh and felt good. I recall Dr Terry Wahls (I think) saying something about low thyroid patients need enough carbs for the insulin to help with thyroid production. Which is why I assume Atkins worked so poorly for me at that time. I still have carb cravings now but have been able to tolerate low carb for a year now. Was dx'd with Hashi's a few years ago and now am on Armour and finally have energy that T4 never gave me. But I now I'm wondering if I need to have my teeth pulled because of mercury amalgams in my teeth because my antibodies haven't improved with diet change. Yes everyone is unique. I don't think there's a one size fits all diet. I seem to do better with some carbs. Today I had 3 meals first time in quite a while. Usually do 1 or 2MAD. Then I went for my daily walk and noticed I felt so much better because I had more carbs today.

[@intentionallyinpired]

@@sunshinegirl1967 same here friend.. but the fudgesical part had me on the floor 🙃🤪🤪🤪🎉🎉 yes feeling better with a little carb although had 1/4 sweet potato first time in years got a pretty large blood sugar spike but pushing forward. Dong Christine Omar’s plan❤️❤️❤️

[@sunshinegirl1967]

@@intentionallyinpired that fudge sickle saved me! I felt so bad with no energy whatsoever. That's why I avoided low carb for so long. Interestingly too many carbs reduces my energy too and slows my thought processes. Is that how you felt after the sweet potato? I'm complicated. Not textbook. Good to know I'm not alone!

[@intentionallyinpired]

@@sunshinegirl1967 I felt ok after sweet potato. I actually added stevia butter and cinnamon to it so it was like dessert ..I didn’t feel super tired or anything but still trying to be ok mentally with adding carbs and upping my calories. I’ve been eating so little of calories so long I’m afraid my body will rebel🥺🥺but I absolutely feel it’s necessary to fix metabolism ♥️♥️♥️

[@Merzui-kg8ds]

Correction: free T3 is rarely measured in "normal" blood draws. Often, the patient must demand T3 be checked.

[@marianne1959]

That has been my experience as well!

[@SongbirdRanch2005]

My doctor simply told me that I don’t need to know my T3 level! It’s quite insulting

[@silviam2835]

Can never get enough of Dr. Bikman! Awesome and so informative!

[@PatriciaWilson-lz1qd]

It is really the elevated reverse t3 that those with Hashimoto's are concerned about!

[@samada33]

This is my personal experience and this is the information I’ve been trying to find for years. My doc told me to try a keto diet but when my T3 levels dropped, she took me off levothyroxine and put me on Armor thyroid. It didn’t make sense to me. I felt the best I’d felt in years, and I thought it was logical for my body to need / produce less T3 on keto. The armor thyroid, which is exogenous T3, made me hungry, I couldn’t do IF, and I gained weight. It was also a lot more expensive. I was so disappointed in my doctor for telling me to eat keto but not knowing the low T3 was simply part of what can happen.

[@forkswacarnivore7531]

Dr. Bikman & team, I took Synthroid for years due to lab work showing "hypothyroidism ". I switched to a keto diet to reverse a recent diagnosis of T2 DM. I ended up becoming a Zero Carb or Carnivore last December after seeing success reversing the diabetes no meds, no insulin...I switched over in an effort to solve digestive issues with debilitating IBS D & severe acid reflux. Not only did those issues resolve but my doctor took me off of the Synthroid for 6 weeks and then retested my thyroid and the labs showed I no longer needed meds for hypothyroidism. I don't know if it was T3 for me or T4 or TSH that had doctors over the last 20 years prescribing me Synthroid but I do know it was a ridiculously low dose..I question if it was even in the therapeutic range lol...symptom wise I was always cold except when put on a low dose..until I adopted low or zero carb...I began to get really cold so she took me off of the medication for that 6 weeks and tested everything again..as soon as she took me off (maybe a week later) My temperature tolerance seemed to improve. So when she told me my thyroid levels all aeemed within normal levels and with me feeling so awesome...I have never been on it again. I have no type 2 DM, average BS of 72 to 82 and an insulin resistance that I feel is improving daily...no acid reflux after over 20 yrs on PPIs...no IBS D and boundless energy! Being 50 now I feel awesome as long as I eat beef, butter, bacon, eggs etc... cheese causes incredible pain at the joints as do I suspect soybean oil might...I'm cutting seed or all other oils now as per Dr. Paul Mason's suggestions. Also...I used a shit ton of Redmond's Real Salt and I now began adding 2 drops of iodine in my morning coffee (Lugals 2%)..my blood pressure has improved as well, my lymphedema in my left leg is mostly gone & barely noticeable to the naked eye. I do get bored cauae I LOVE pasta, veggies and cheese and mayonnaise but without fail...everytime I pig out on any of those it is instant acid reflux, next day debilitating IBS D (like have to miss work) or incredible pain and stiffness where my ribs connect to my spine and in my hips, knees and fingers. I'm trying to learn my lesson I tell ya, had pasta 3 to 4 days ago...the final symptom I am dealing with...canker sore inside my mouth...I get them everytime I eat bread or pasta lol.

[@museitup4741]

Have you tried avocado oil mayo?

[@NansGlobalKitchen]

Did you have high BP and did redmond salt helped it? I have high BP and BS as well. I have no symptoms of diabetes or anything cravings for sweets etc. I eat low carb as well. I am scared and want to get healthy!

[@karend.9218]

Thanks for sharing all this. Best,

[@Ariella-mx3xq4cw6n]

Make BUTTER MAYO. Amounts are approx because eggs are different sizes. 2 eggs separated use yolk. Melt 200gram butter 100c. Mix using to emulsify ingredients. (Stick blender) Add back 1 or 2 egg whites depends how soft you want once cooled. Keto you can add about 4-5 ml apple cider vinegar & mustard according to taste.

[@lynng2886]

How does one know if iodine is needed?

[@SkeevyNix]

having been recently diagnosed as hyperthyroid though with very few symptom of hyper and potentially a few of hypo and a family history of hashimotos I found the tangents extremely informative!!

[@dralizairi]

Never enough of Dr. Bikman ! thank you very much.

[@grahamedwards6824]

I had subclinical hypothyroidism and a positive anti thyroid antibody test. I initially took a small amount of Levothyroxine. Since changing to LCHF and doing some intermittent fasting, I find that I no longer need it....

[@kathleenwalton3311]

Awesome

[@SongbirdRanch2005]

I do LCHF too, but I still need levothyroxine. I am working on to get rid of the med. how high fat do you go?

[@grahamedwards6824]

@@SongbirdRanch2005 I think that the change took place after I managed to shed 10Kilos in weight. It seemed to alter several other ‘hormone levels’ as well. I am an octogenarian male and I had slight ‘love handles’ and ‘man boobs’ and they have virtually gone… My BMI is now at the lowest point of the normal range, and I have to make sure that I don’t lose any more.

[@kirshens]

Love the information would enjoy the coaches provide more interaction.

[@dag118]

Thank you for tangents! They are very informative 👍

[@kathleenwalton3311]

Just food for thought, no pun intended, how do we know that in Hashimotos that it's not the wheat causing havoc but the pesticide they use on wheat crops. From my understanding they pretty much drown wheat In the stuff. Thanks for the very informative video by the way

[@Ariella-mx3xq4cw6n]

Pesticides are bad for us. Wheat is sugar, and the body don't like sugar, or whatever name for sugar is used. It hates fructose but fructose dose not show in blood test. Only the liver can deal with it. i.e fatty liver

[@lynng2886]

Great question

[@ActivateMission2ThisTimeline]

We all have glyphosphate in our systems now. Best you can do is to minimize the amount with grass fed meat, organic plants, and RO water filtration.

[@titusnelson9499]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated conversation.

[@G.G.8GG]

Good information but so much needs to be qualified. Clinicians and researchers get attached to certain theories then try to apply them to everyone. But there can be a huge variation in conditions producing symptoms and within those variations, very individual differences in how each body is affected. Some genetic conditions can strongly dispose a person to certain metabolic and digestive issues, regardless of lifestyle, though lifestyle can certainly be helpful in living with them. Bottom line: how a patient responds to anything is particular to that patient! So much misery and lost time can be ascribed to experts of any persuasion trying to fit the patient into their particular box.

[@Marie.b]

Re: no evidence that low carb is a damaging to the thyroid, I'd say how the people feel , their symptoms and experience is evidence. People who are prone to hypothyroidism, can unwittingly cause a storm of health issues for themselves by simply changing their eating/diet habits .I like to ask if those studies , looked specifically qt the thyroid and whether they studies the affect on women alone.

[@Deb-wo4ut]

Dr Ken Berry’s wife Niesha has hashimoto and is Keto/carnivore ( mainly carnivore) with amazing results. They are both on KZbin bringing awareness about “The proper human diet” (dr Berry’s quote) and it’s many healing qualities. 👍

[@joykelly440]

This is very good information about how to maximize the thyroid's function & how to determine some strategies to decrease autoimmune effects on thyroid's function.

[@cketheridge2643]

Thank you very much 😘 you guys are very appreciated ❤️

[@CandleQueenCandles]

Wow! Great info! I’ve had hashimoto’s for 25 years and been on synthesis rollercoaster. I just learned more from This video than I learned in 25 years with this disease. I’ve been carnivore now for nearly 2 months and hoping to see some changes in my thyroid and energy levels!

[@chrystalbrown9600]

I learned a lot. Thank you 👍

[@bernadettebecher5668]

Fantastic podcast. Thank you.😃

[@kimiagudarzi9140]

He is saying that TSH won’t change on a low-carb diet. My TSH level was cut in half when I took a second blood test after I came off the keto diet.

[@maryw7972]

Excellent information! Thank You!

[@yuliaantonenkovolkova9041]

Dr Ben looks and sounds like a superhuman from the future. I'm in owe and deep respect. I'm learning every day listening to him.

[@knackfarm]

18:50 - Iodine! I was feeling a bit 'meh', carrying a few extra pounds but it was the mental medical anxiety I was experiencing that concerned me most so I popped to my GP for a bit of blood work. My TSH levels were high, though T3/T4 in the 'range' and pretty much everything else was fine. I considered my diet since returning to Australia and thought hmmm maybe I'm not getting enough iodine. Told my GP to leave my results with me and I'd get back to her. I had been living in Japan for 6 years prior to this, and was eating a Japanese diet which has loads of seaweed and kelp in it - great sources of iodine. I upped my water intake to 2 litres/day, I was already whole foods only but dropped my carbs a bit further, started having homemade miso soup twice a day with meals. 6 months later, recheck, TSH had halved, T3/T4 both normal (but they already were...). Oh, and I dropped 3.5kgs, a few cm's on my waist, and the anxiety disappeared.

[@the_fruit_2491]

35 years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroid. I subsequently had my thyroid removed, sadly! Move ahead till the age of 42 when I was then diagnosed with celiac disease. I believe I never would’ve had my thyroid out had I known I had celiac in the first place! Move forward to 3 1/2 years ago when I decided to go on a low carb diet. My thyroid levels decreased for the better, I started getting hyper thyroid because I was on too much Synthroid. They had to lower my medication three times, being on a low carb Diet. I hundred percent believe the correlation between celiac and Hashimoto. I believe the Hashimoto’s comes after celiac, or is a cause of. But being low carb absolutely improved my blood markers and I 100% believe that low carb influenced the changes in Synthroid amounts. I take a much much lower dose.

[@chuckk6971]

Great discussion!

[@cheddarpuff]

Another thought about lower T3 with "normal" TSH: Dr. Bikman suggested that maybe the body needs less T3 on Keto, or is more sensitive or something of that sort, like what happens with insulin (levels go down, sensitivity goes up). WHAT IF maybe what happens is that somehow the communication between body T3 levels and the anterior pituitary is affected. Maybe the AP can't recognize lower levels of T3 while on Keto? It's just a thought. Sort of like for years it was believed that some people have a gene that makes their urine smell from eating asparagus. Then it turned out, everyone's urine smells after eating asparagus, but some people have a gene formation that makes it impossible for them to smell the difference. Blows my mind!

[@HealthyWithNicole]

I have experienced lowered T3 after carnivore accompanied by hypothyroid symptoms. If labs are misleading, then we can’t ignore symptoms. I have seen this with many others and see similar comments below.

[@richcollinsyt]

Could be from under-eating, not low carb per se.

[@yelenaangeleski3354]

We love your tangents, Dr. Bikman! 🙂

[@prathameshgaonkar7234]

He is right. My T3 was a bit low, but my TSH and T4 were in the normal range on a low carb diet

[@engin7787]

honesty is motto in every thing ,but particularly in resurge works on the human's health. I believe that seafood must be is a must in our diet,

[@thinkbeforesaying244]

Can you address the impact of ketosis on producing cortisol, which in turn blocks Thyroid hormone production? This is something I have recently heard from a nutritionist who did KETO for 6 years & has now had big problems with symptomatic hypothyroidism & weight gain, even though she has been very strict.

[@dubravkazirojevic47]

That’s exactly what happened to me…but I have been on keto and ketovore for 4.5 years…and I have Graves’ disease…overactive thyroid….this was about two years into my keto journey….my thyroid is a mess. Because of weight gain I became very restrictive and strict with my food and fasting….still gaining weight☹️

[@brandi6591]

Dr Bikman, I hope you start diving into knowing the thyroid better, knowing you’d be a powerhouse of knowledge once you do.

[@kirshens]

I was hypothyroid and now my TSH indicates slightly hyper. Cut my levothyroxine too much now im exhausted. So i need to reduce meds but not by half. 75 to 50 instead of 33.5. Been keto/carnivore for almost 3 years. Down about 60 lbs, 10 more to go.

[@docholliday7381]

Hi. I've been on a low carb diet for the last year. My current TSH is 0.55 mIU/L the range desided in my country is 0.4 -> 4.80. down from 0.61 from last year. I do not know what this means but my doctor thinks it fine.

[@marianne1959]

Been very low carb, ketovore for 4 months, lost 35 lbs and all labs are better except for TSH and T4 (labs never show T3). TSH is at 52 , not .52. T4 is .6. Doc was not happy :(. Started this to lower A1c which is progressing from 9.0 to 6.1 so far

[@Ann-Fl]

I am on low carb too for 7 months. My labs are similar to yours

[@richcollinsyt]

The danger isn’t that the thyroid will be damaged, but rather that chronic low energy availability will cause the hypothalamus to conserve resources by lowering TSH (via pituitary), resulting in “central hypothyroidism” (starvation).

[@DoctorSmartyPants]

Agree with everything here. Just a note though, in the case of the hashimoto's patient who went on low carb and over time lost weight and lowered her dose of synthroid medication, you can not just say it's because of thyroid gland improvement. It can be because her body mass went down and therefore, her dose had to drop. Just saying.

[@brandi6591]

So synthroid medication dosage is based on body weight??

[@DoctorSmartyPants]

@@brandi6591 yes, it is.

[@sdluedtke7803]

Thank you Ben !!!

[@gracelynmeade5640]

Thank you for this podcast.

[@insuliniq]

Thanks for listening

[@barbarastonehill7493]

Just got my bloodwork back and I have been adding iodine 3 drops a day and I have been on .50 mg Synthroid and my TSH was high at 5.89 on recent bloodwork been on Carnivore for two months.

[@goldstar846]

Just want to point out to Ben.Which I think will please him. I too have suffered from a multi nodule goiter on and off over 20 years. Every time I reduce carbs and sugars it retracts. Have dissolved a few times now. Every time I start eating poorly they return. 100% connected to diet and I would love to know the insulin connection. I have hyperinsulenimia so for me...I suspect it has to be a part of it but no doctor will even look at it. (australia)

[@markbarbdearman2157]

Really good breakdown on the question of low carb & thyroid. I need to know what’s happening on the cellular & hormonal levels.

[@MigoLinden]

Oh good news, I will buy the German translation to your book as soon as possible, Ben!

[@estherbartkiw]

Thank you Ben

[@dcspaniel]

My TSH did go up when I tried to switch from Levothyroxine 50mcg to NPH 30mcg. It was within reference range, but high. I have been low carb for several months. (T4 went down. T3 remained similar. REVERSE T3 went down some. free T4 went down.). I changed back to Levothyroxine. I wonder if I can ever get off thyroid meds on Carnivore? I am not Hashimotos, but just low thyroid due to “acquired atrophy of the thyroid gland”. 😢

[@laurawrld2097]

Husband has been on high complex carb diet and has been able to stay off his medication for years now, plus he feels great, and has great blood tests.

[@lynng2886]

What is high complex carbs?

[@What-The-Beef]

@@lynng2886Peas, beans, whole grains, and vegetables. In short, maybe the worst diet for metabolic health.

[@dawne5139]

I went vegan back in the early 80s. The lie was you could eat healthy, cheap. Total disaster. Gained weight, etc. My body morning weight dropped to 94/95 in the morning. Started taking iodine back then. Then I switched to switch to starving myself fat on 1200 low fat, high fibre calories a day. Government advice on eating. Lots of grass products. Very little meat. The little bit of fat from lamp oil. Body temperature stayed down. I live in Canada, where they usually just do one of three tests The one least likely to catch problems. I read Good Calories, Bad Calories 11 years ago. Over the years my morning body weight has slowly gone up. It is now consistently above 98 now. It took 11 years to get it up, but healthy low carb fixed the problem.

[@dawne5139]

I found out I was gluten intolerant when I was 47. Problems that existed since age five disappeared. Chronic constipation and arthritis in my knees. But I did not go low carb until age 53. But I would have the odd morning temp of 96 during those years between. Maybe once every few months. Also, I was more likely to be 95 and not 94. After going low carb it moved up to 96 consistently for years, then over the years the 97s started showing up. However, I did move from city water to well water a few years ago. That is when it went into the high 97s and then up into the 98s.

[@clacinatanner9163]

I was wondering how NOT having a thyroid , and having to supplement with synthetic hormone , would be affecting the metabolism?

[@shinelikeadiamond8954]

Have u found any information

[@iss8504]

I would like that info too. I have low insulin, low triglycerides, low carb diet and still stuck with 20 extra pounds i cannot lose. Menopausal but on hrt patch which does not cause insulin resistance. Frustrating. Estrogen is supposed to help your metabolism if not oral.

[@catobie1948]

Every body is different. Everyone metabolizes differently. There is not one solution for everyone.

[@toddjamison77]

Regarding the keto and carnivore being too low for folks with Hashimotos. I have hashimotos and my TSH was the same before / after switching to Keto. N=1 so your results may vary.

[@keywestfan2503]

To answer the TSH level question, the average TSH of someone with normal function is approx1.5ish. A TSH above 3.0 may potentially indicate a degree of hypothyroidism

[@iss8504]

Everyone has a natural tsh level. Mine was always 0.25. When it went up to 2 I felt like hell. Fortunately I had a baseline reading to correct back to. If u don't have that, the doctor will fix u to the normal range and gaslight you that you're fine.

[@latinaalma1947]

Mine ranges between 5.25 to 5.36 on Synthroid so it stays high. Diet seems to be undecipherable affecting me not at all. He. Wont say what is a target ideal I am out of the recommended range...too high My. Free T3 has risen from very low normal 2.4 range to 3.8.My thyroid gland is SMALL not large so iodine is likely not the issue. Mypresenting symptoms were hair loss sudden 20lb weight loss bedrideen and wildly rapidly fluctuating blood pressure within a 24 hr period. Now I have a 30 lb weight gain a year later slightlybetter energy buy not back to my unusual level, hair regrowth from Minoxidil.

[@jw6180]

In a nutshell, the panel provides opinions only. There is no evidence. I’d like to see studies on women as our hormone issues are more complex. Also, is it true that doctors supplement T3 for children on low carb diets (for seizure treatment) ?

[@Anonymous-fj2uo]

That's exactly what I was wondering!

[@Cattitude48]

I was wondering about that also. I believe the issue for women is much more complicated than this panel says.

[@dubravkazirojevic47]

I also heard that children are supplemented with t3 when on keto as part of the protocol for epilepsy. How is that explained….because my thyroid is messed up, although I have lost weight initially, but am now gaining weight although I’m stricter than ever☹️

[@richcollinsyt]

It can be a problem on ketogenic diets for childhood epilepsy because they are very low in protein (

[@jayjenkins4384]

I'm pretty sure that Ben SPECIFICALLY sited more than just opinions

[@denniswilliamson6899]

You have created an awesome team! Thank you!

[@sabrinacagle9028]

I was able to go off thyroid meds after being in keto for about two years for about 4 years. Within the last year, however, it TSH started creeping up and I had to go back on a 25 mcg low dose. Had to go to 50 to get back to normal but the free T4 was going up so lowered again to 25. It’s a never ending guessing game it seems.

[@rsween922]

Since going very low carb/carnivore in January 24, I have stopped taking my thyroid medication, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimotos years ago. In the past if I missed my meds for 1 or 2 days I'd feel it. I have felt no negative side effect of not taking my meds.

[@tatianagomezduran2539]

SI follow Dr Ben and has guided me in reversing nafld! Thank you for teaching me so much! orry, I just got labs and I am in a keto diet

[@PJ-cu4cl]

Can we have Mr.Ben do more educative videos on thyroid? I am 27yrs old. I'm pre-diabetic (diagnosed 2 days ago) thanks to COVID it all went south. I have hypothyroidism for 25yrs I believe. I've been on pills for decades.

[@potiskom]

Zero carbs and sugar can cure diabetes. My reading was 16, but with diet and exercise, I brought it down to 9. After 6 weeks, the reading was between 5.9 and 6.2. Since October 2023, I have been fasting for 16 hours and avoiding carbs. My reading is now 5.3.Unfortunately I am taking Synthyroid for more than 30 years ,If I switch to keto/carnivore diet will it interfere with my kidney function ??,my urate is not normal .I am thinking of Keto Diet now.

[@ActivateMission2ThisTimeline]

DidYouGetThoseConnvidJabbs?

[@martamcclay8690]

My thyroid levels were always good until 2 years strict carnivore when my TSH went up to 16 with low T3 free. I had zero thyroid symptoms other than some dry skin. I went on NP thyroid and have been on that for a year. Feel exactly the same before and after. Hope the NP doesn’t do any damage but now my TSH is close to zero with t3 free being optimal.

[@juliejenkins4743]

Is it possible to have insulin resistance of the nerves called neuropathy but not have insulin resistance in your blood work? I eat low carb A1c, 4.6. Hypothyroid. Low T4 low T3 for five years I’ve never been in range increase medicine or change to a new medicine and it still does not work on a high dose ..❤

[@yuliyagagnon]

Awesome speaking in Russian! Thank you for the great knowledges😁❤

[@reneecampos1261]

Would you know T3 drops with just a TSH and Free T4 test?

[@jamesrankin9833]

Good stuff

[@anitamcentofanti3277]

I also came off levothyroxin after many months on keto.

[@keywestfan2503]

Anecdotally, I have been carnivore for some time now. My TSH has crept up to 3.6.

[@ld9044]

❤❤❤ Dr. Ben !

[@northernillinoissasquatchr6260]

So if someone had lost weight and had liposuction and skin removal, less T3 is needed so lower levels do not indicate thyroid damage? I have been following KZbin channel for a while and she (a nutritionist) claims studies show that happens (it happened to her)

[@chuuweeforgaming518]

I have been following her for years and my observation is that she undereats for a long time. Even when she went carnivore she undereats. It is not optimal and hence her thyroid gets affected. I have hashimoto's. If I undereat I'll get some symptoms. And have you noticed that she isn't that strict even though she said she is strict? She eats chocolate after her meal although not every time but quite frequent. I do respect her choices so I don't say this in her channel. But in my opinion she blamed Keto for something she did (unknowingly).

[@Kas33345]

I was diagnosed decades ago with hypothyroid, was prescribed Levothyroxine (T4), and Amor (T3). Told my T4 was not adequately converting T3. I was also diagnosed with IR but was never given a diet to deal with it. Went keto then carnivore when my IR finally pushed me to pre-diabetes, now reversed and my Fasting Insulin is 4.4. My TSH went up and my T3 went down on low carb - lowest on Carnivore. My GP has referred me to another Endo Dr - have gone before and that Dr is the one who put me on both my meds. They want to raise my Levo and Armor. I am seeing a lot of improvements in other areas since starting my low carb lifestyle and have no intentions of going back to the Stardard American Diet - Food Pyramid that gave me Metabolic Syndrome in the first place.

[@insuliniq]

We agree. You’re doing great. Keep going. Thanks for watching.

[@Kas33345]

Thank you! I am a bit concerned about upping the meds. I am not a fan of meds, and I have not met an MD who doesnt seem to go there first. Current company not included. I have not been tested for low iodine, both my MD and ND, MD thinks TSH is enough of a marker. I do not agree. And my ND is afraid of it, stating too many 'influencers' are prescribing and causing other issues. I do not understand either position. If you are low, you are low, why wouldnt you want to test to see if you are and why wouldnt you supplement if you are? Retesting along with the other Thyroid markers. Iodine is critical for so many bodily functions including mucus memebrane health. I do not know if I should start supplementing on my own, or beg for the testing to see where I am at first. I have liquid Lugols Iodine 2% solution. And what of T2 and T1? @@insuliniq

[@1marinable]

@@insuliniq here is the link to video which quotes science paper from 1976 that directly links low carb intake with reduction of T3

[@1marinable]

@@insuliniq kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2mmaGCgl5Vki7c

[@insuliniq]

Thanks.

[@Antimatter22G]

As an ultrasound tech I've seen many people with multinodular goiters none of the FNAs have come back positive for cancer, so not sure what is meaning by multinodular goiters are just cancer.

[@Valoric]

Have you ever seen goiter nodules shrink? Been learning about how these growths caused by iodine deficiency/bromine pushing away the iodine in uterus, breasts, thyroids, etc. and patient reports of shrinking fibroids and nodules with iodine supplementation. Scared to try it because at the same time other health gurus blame excess iodine causing nodules and that iodine is being hoarded by the thyroid for some reason. Honestly thyroid and thyroid nodules seem like the biggest black box of modern medicine because there’s no real medical solutions beside surgery. Which seems absurd. There doesn’t seem to even be modern explanations of these things. Or any good studies.

[@chrisearl2217]

Though people became insensitive to insulin due to keep flooding their blood with it by over eating junk food, by what mechanism do people over produce thyroid hormon to induce a similar insensitivity? I don't think the analogy makes sense to be fair. Makes more sense that the body is not calling for more T3 because it means to down regulate the metabolism 🤔

[@mpoharper]

I am hyperthyroid, so would like to know more about that.

[@craigslitzer4857]

25:00 There's practically no evidence at all about a carnivore diet, for thyroid or for any other condition. There is only n=1. The lack of research around the carnivore diet is why I was so hesitant to try it. The benefits can be inferred, but if searching for direct supporting evidence, it's a wasteland, a void.

[@mariaisabelgarciavazquez9675]

It happened to me, but I never tho ught was cause if been in keto diet, but a I also have a bladder stones and I decided to quit the keto diet

[@rosalbadelriogarcia9598]

@30:00 #loneStarTick has a reactive mechanism where people get a specific enzyme damage I Or pancreas but I really think that if it was native to the USA indigenous were already consuming different animals and large birds.

[@bobmason5957]

Great show and discussion !! My TSH went way up to 4.5 from 2.0 when I moved to a low carb diet, I was in atrophy for long periods on OMAD fasting. T3 and T4 at good levels. I am taking 250 mg of iodine per day supplement.

[@MsPokiepie]

Did you have your thyroid antibodies checked? And i recently discovered, selenium is just as important as iodine, for healthy thyroid function. Some say more..

[@bobmason1499]

@@MsPokiepie Thank you so much! Let me look into selenium!!! Much appreciated!

[@jeannie920]

@@bobmason1499 I eat 3 Brazil nuts per day. That is supposed to be sufficient for thyroid function

[@denisedecker7330]

Dr Bikman.. I'm very low carb..4 years and i still have insulin resistance. I'm a senior. Is there any hope of ending metabolic syndrome? My waist is 42 inches didn't weight loss.

[@insuliniq]

Many people benefit from becoming part of the Insulin IQ Community. Perhaps you would find value there, through group coaching and like-minded people working on their metabolic health: www.insuliniq.com/insulin-iq-community-membership-signup

[@carolineyunker9]

Long covid has made my Hashi's 10 times worse. I want to treat and CURE my Hashi's. Not take meds for life. What is the perfect diet for me? Keto? Carnivore? Paleo? What carbs should I eat?

[@laurarazvan33]

Paleo

[@heavychevy4616]

thank u

[@ranicefreire2611]

The ketogenic diet made my goiter a bit bigger just after one month. I do only use ionized salt at home, I have a very clean diet. I always eat cruciferous every other day without problems, now I cant eat them often I get hoarseness voice and feel my thyroid....something about the keto diet ,for some people messes with the thyroid.Maybe you should investigate deeper before saying ketogenic diet doesn't cause problems with the thyroid. I had to stop ketogenic diet, I do not consume gluten and my thyroid do better without for sure

[@sportysbusiness]

Er, you do know cruciferous veggies CAUSE goiters, not the keto diet LOL!

[@kristabel71]

If you reread the post the goiter got larger after doing keto.

[@mchorselover53]

FYI Re: Hashimoto Find “Neisha” video explaining how it took her 2 years of changing diet to rid her body of Hoshimoto.

[@i11am]

It took me 9 months on carnivore to get rid of Hashimoto's.

[@reno720]

When you say get rid you mean you dont have antibodies anymore?

[@i11am]

@@reno720 yes thats correct

[@reno720]

@@i11am i am so glad for you.

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

My nephew was born with a deformed or not fully developed thyroid.

[@das6708]

Wow!

[@ny10980]

And they all sit there in wonderment of Mr. Bikman's encyclopedia brain!

[@Tanya-lp6rq]

Broda Barnes is the best Thyroid GP.

[@runemartinguldberg9056]

Why is Bart Kay upper left so quiet?

[@carlosjimenez6312]

That dude seems to be MUTE..

[@MelzCarnivoreJourney]

I cured my hypothyroidism by going carnivore. Obviously, I do the high fat version of carnivore. I also do longer water fasts 2 - 3x a month. Only eat 1 or 2 meals on "feast" days.

[@bettymk1]

The poor logic here is that you obviously don't understand thyroid hormones. You do NOT want T3 to go down. Especially if you're already hypo.

[@Jean-yn6ef]

💚🏜️ some people react to meat because of what the animal ate.