The Essential Supplements for a Vegan Diet

Studies show that while anyone can have low vitamin B12 levels, vegetarians and vegans are at higher risk, especially those who do not take supplements (1,2). Vitamin B12 is essential for protein metabolism, red blood cell formation, and nervous system health (3). A deficiency can lead to anemia, nervous system damage, infertility, and an increased risk of bone and heart disease (4, 5). According to the UMMC, there are some things you can do with diet and supplements to help reduce the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Eat a diet high in B vitamins and include plenty of fresh vegetables and sea vegetables such as kelp.

Dried Blood Spot Testing for Hypothyroidism

I’m not struggling to get out of bed, my energy levels are good, I’m focused, and now, after almost a month, the weight is slowly starting to come off. I’d never heard of this before, but I thought I would share that tidbit in case others have the same issue. If you’re inclined to try a vegan diet, you can go all-in by cutting out all poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy at once, or take a more gradual approach. Start by increasing your intake of omega 3s and eating an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in leafy greens and whole grains and low in processed foods.

• I was VERY skeptical of this explanation but I let him lower my dosage back to 112mcg.
• Therefore, one’s diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient-rich vegetables (a suggested ratio may be 20 percent meat, 80 percent veggies).
• UMMC recommends several natural supplements to improve the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
• Vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3s, iron, zinc, iodine, and calcium are key considerations to support long-term health.
• Packed with thyroid-supportive and nutrient-dense recipes, this plan aims to support your overall health on a vegan diet.

Why The Vegan Diet May Make Thyroid Function Worse

While low levels of TSH and high levels of T4 indicates hyperthyroidism. Some medications may alter TSH levels, so it is important to let your doctor know about all the medications and supplements you are taking. Some claim that vitamin K2, found in animal products and fermented foods, is essential, but research shows that the human body converts vitamin K1 from greens into the necessary forms of K2 (7).

I turned out to be cancerous so they removed 20 more lymph nodes just to be safe. My recovery went well and after a few days my surgeon called to tell me that of those 20 lymph nodes, about half were cancerous so she recommended Radioactive Iodine Therapy. As I’d discussed with her prior to the surgery, my husband and I had a vacation planned so we agreed that I would discuss the therapy with my endocrinologist when I returned in three weeks. Creatineis classified as a non-protein amino acid, meaning it is synthroid corn made from amino acids but is not directly involved in building proteins. Non-protein amino acids serve specialized functions outside of protein synthesis. Creatine fits into this category because its primary role is energy production, not forming structural proteins.

I recommend Synthroid over the generic brand because I’ve heard the generic isn’t as potent. In some cases, this conversion does not happen so while you may be taking Synthroid , you’ll still feel terrible. There is a medication that contains both hormones, called Armour, however it’s made from pigs’ thyroid hormones so it is absolutely not vegan. Synthroid contains cornstarch and lactose as fillers so it is not vegan either. Cytomel, from what I can find, is vegan but it contains gluten.

What Does a Vegan Diet Look Like?

Dr. Tripathi can be reached via her website drannitripathi.com should you have any queries regarding this article or wish to contact her for a consultation to improve your own health. The role of stress and sleep in autoimmune conditions 8 is becoming more evident. In fact, in a small randomised control trial 9 it was seen that an eight-week program of stress management led to a reduction in the autoantibodies in women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis remains the commonest type of hypothyroidism. This is an autoimmune condition where the body’s own defence system reduces the production of T3 and T4. In conclusion, I’d like to point out that I do believe that a well-adapted vegan or vegetarian diet can be much more beneficial to most people than the processed food-filled Standard American Diet.

Likewise, a move away from the inflammatory foods of the Standard American Diet will be beneficial to most everyone. While I am a big believer in the patient experience, and I always recommend trusting your own body as a guide as to what is working best for you, I decided to include antibodies as an objective measure. (A lack of active T3 can result in hypothyroidism symptoms — you can read more about that here). The results concluded that iron deficiency may affect thyroid metabolism in adolescent girls, which may put them at greater risk for thyroid issues.

Regular blood tests and a balanced approach will help you stay healthy and thrive on a plant-based diet. Reported health benefits of a vegan diet include weight loss, improved kidney function, possible protection against cancer, and a reduced risk of heart disease. Some experts claim eating these cruciferous vegetables could be beneficial. If you have autoimmune hypothyroidism,  thiocyanates may slow the absorption of iodine.

• Those with thyroid-related should eat a well-rounded, balanced diet and avoid any unnecessary dietary restrictions.
• Other foods you will need to evaluate on an individual basis, depending on any food sensitivities that you may have.
• When he told me that I had cancer, I struggled to hear everything he said afterwards but there was a high-pitched tone in my ears.
• I would choose Cytomel over Synthroid if I could but it really comes down to the doctor’s prescription and as of now, I don’t need T3 supplementation.
• If the research staff felt data entries required confirmation, or demographic data were missing, a phone call was made to verify these entries.

Get protein from cold-water fish, lean meats or beans, and avoid red meat. Interestingly, those who followed a lacto-ovo (dairy and egg) vegetarian diet were more likely to develop hypothyroidism, compared to those following the Standard American Diet. The most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis 10.

How plant-based diets affect the body

Since I have such a problem with constipation, bloating, and gas, the probiotic has really helped to make digestion a lot more normal for me. Searching for a vegan probiotic can be tough since many are made with bacteria from dairy cultures but there are vegan versions out there (like the one I use). My new endocrinologist explained that had she been my doctor at the time of surgery, she absolutely would’ve had me do the RAI. However, at this point in the game, with my blood tests being so good, she could not advise that I do the therapy. She said that I have a 15% chance of recurrence and should that happen, they would do the surgery again and then definitely do the RAI right away. I was sure that if it was anything serious, they would call me in and we’d talk about it in his office, just like they do in the movies.