[LadyGrey]

#1060656

Does anyone have any dietary information post Graves treatment?

[Kimberly]

#1183936

Hello – We’ve heard from patients who have used various dietary approaches (vegan, gluten-free, paleo, anti-inflammatory, low iodine, eliminating food sensitivities), but there just isn’t a lot of good research to determine if one of these approaches is better than the others for Graves’. In general, though, patients who are hypERthyroid are advised to avoid foods/supplements that have lots of iodine, like the seaweed wrap that comes with sushi, supplements with kelp, or multivitamins with loads of iodine.

Patients who are taking replacement hormone should be aware of the guidelines to take the pills first thing in the a.m. and then wait 30-60 minutes to have breakfast. Also, calcium/iron supplements and soy should be taken 4 hours apart from replacement hormone in order to avoid interference with absorption.

Many patients also choose to minimize their intake of processed foods with unpronounceable ingredients and instead focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods.

Patients with TED often find that they have personal triggers – such as gluten, alcohol, salt, or sugar – that tend to increase symptoms.

[snelsen]

#1183937

And then there is me! I have not had any of the experiences or symptoms Kimberly mentioned. I eat like I have always eaten. No changes at all. I have no triggers.
Of course, avoid foods loaded with iodine, as Kimberly mentioned.

I encourage you to not to try to radically change your food intake for any reason, i.e., suddenly become vegan, gluten free, or anything else. They really aren’t relevant to Graves’.
Eat what you like (unless, of course, you have a fetish and craving for kelp, iodine cookies, seaweed, and extra iodine! (:
Shirley

[swhited]

#1183938

Hello,

As a fellow Graves patient and definitely not a medical professional, I also urge caution about adopting any radical dietary changes. It is so tempting as your thyroid plays such a large role in metabolism, and your digestive system responds so erratically to active Graves, Graves treatments and such. I know it often seems as if your digestive system will never work normally again. Plus the digestive symptoms are so awful and life consuming, you become so desperate you will try anything. Although eating a balanced, healthy diet is never a bad idea, any radical changes could confuse the issue and some of them might even be unnecessary or possibly dangerous.

I have experienced the gamut of horrid, embarrassing digestive symptoms, so I really do understand why you are hoping dietary changes will provide some relief. Just please take it slow and only make one small change at a time and give your body time to let you know if it was a good change or not.

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