Low Carb Diet for Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the body doesn't produce enough of a certain kind of hormone. That failure disturbs the natural balance of chemical reactions in the body. An underactive thyroid typically causes weight gain. To combat this, some patients have subscribed to the low carb diet craze to lose weight. Little research has been done on the scientific impact of low carb diets on thyroid disease.

The best way to combat weight gain is to take prescribed medicine, exercise four to five times a week and follow a special diet.

What a Low Carb Diet Is

Low carb diets became a craze in the late 1990s into the early 2000s. Dieters restrict or eliminate all carbohydrate foods during the initial two-week phase of dieting, then slowly introduce small amounts of natural or whole grain carbs back into their diets.

The South Beach Diet and the Atkins Diet lead the charge in published low carb diets, with many dieters touting their results.

Begin the diet in one- to two-week phases. Eat only protein and non-starchy vegetables during the initial, strictest two weeks. Foods in the initial phase include all meat, low fat dairy, fresh vegetables with the exception of carrots, corn and potatoes and eggs. Add whole grain cereals, bread and pasta into your diet in very small amounts during weeks three and four. Fruit can also be eaten in small amounts during this phase. All foods, with the exception of sugar and processed white products, are given the green light by the end of the diet.

The end result is that you should lose weight and reduce or smash your sugar cravings completely.

Dieting and Hypothyroidism

According to Cleveland Clinic endocrinologist Dr. Mario Skugor, diet alone cannot reverse the cause of an underactive thyroid.

However, diet can help to manage your condition, he adds. Pair your healthy diet with physician prescribed treatment for weight loss results. Diet alone cannot manage your underactive thyroid and promote weight loss, so seeing your doctor first is an important step to getting your condition under control.

Low Carb Diet and Hypothyroidism

Once you are under a doctor's care and are taking prescribed medication, you can begin a low carb regimen to kick start weight loss.

Follow the low carb diet such as Atkins or South Beach. Drink plenty of water and get exercise while following the diet.

Low carb dieting has one major drawback to people with an underactive thyroid--some foods that contain an excessive amount of iodine may exacerbate hypothyroid symptoms and weight gain. Foods such as seafood, sea salt, eggs, dairy products and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil should be examined. Because these foods play a major role in low carb dieting you should be selective of which proteins and vegetables you choose.

Instead of seafood, eat chicken or tofu. Steer clear of eggs and dairy. Eat organically grown vegetables to reduce the number of chemicals that are comingled with the soil.